About last night ...
posted by Mike Boone at 7h09 EST on Jan 9
Playing their second game in two nights, the Canadiens duplicated their excellent performance in New York.
The Leafs have more team speed than the Rangers (for now: it will be different once Burke dumps the Euros). But the Canadiens played a strong game in the neutral zone and there were few occasions when Toronto was able to gain the blueline at speed or freewheel through the Canadiens' end.
The team is playing a system and playing it well. Considering their injuries, the Canadiens have been amazing.
Alex Kovalev has been superb – an inspiration to his younger teammates. Kovy flashes enoughof his magic to set hearts a-flutter among his adoring Bell Centre faithful, but he's being smart about it. The turnovers have diminished, the scoring touch is back and the big gun seems geared toward a great second half.
Max Pacioretty scored another goal and continued to work well with Kovalev and Tomas Plekanec. He's bound for Hamilton once Christopher Higgins and/or Alex Tanguay are ready to play, but Max-Pac will be on the team next season.
I think what we've been seeing, since the injury bug hit, is the near-term future of the club. With all those looming UFAs, it's encouraging that Maxim Lapierre, Guillaume Latendresse, the Kostitsyn brothers and Josh Gorges are stepping up into important roles.
Now if they can get Carey Price back ...
Jaroslav Halak was very good last night. He faced 24 shots through the first two periods and stopped 23 of them. Jaro looked confident and in control, despite the Leafs' efforts to jam the crease and unsettle him.
That said, I'd like to see Prce back soon. The current rumour is he has ankle problems. Price is not on the ice, and that's not good now that serious hockey has begun.
It will be very serious at the Bell Centre tomorrow night, with Washington in town. Then the Canadiens are in Boston on Tuesday.
Two games agains the Eastern Conference elite ... which the Leafs aren't.
Against the kind of inferior opponent thagave Canadiens fits earlier in the season:
• The power-play added two more goals.
• Tom Kostopoulos ran his fight record to 0-127.
• Josh Gorges played the third period up front on the fourth line.
• Yannick Weber looked nervous in the first period but settled down.
• Roman Hamrlik played his usual rock-solid 22:33.
• Francis Bouillon took on a bona-fide heavyweight (and May evidently is not up on the arcana of the Georges Laraque Code, which prohibits fighting smaller guys).
• My man Sergei opened the scoring and would have pounded the snot out of Mikhail Grabovski.
• Mike Komisarek was not goaded into fighting.
• And save some kind words for Patrice Brisebois, whose three assists moved him past J.C. Tremblay into fifth all-time among Canadiens' defencemen. He won't catch Larry Robinson, but Breeze has been a valuable memeber of this club for two seasons.
Prediction: Breeze will be coaching Weber, Ryan McDonagh and P.K. Subban.
Another prediction: tomorrow's game will be better.
Comments
12next ›last »
Submitted by Hammer on Sat, 01/10/2009 - 14:17.
I find it amusing that some folks are willing to trade Price, or make claims that he has or never will be a Luongo. As someone who lives in Alta and has followed the Canucks for over 35 years I beg to differ. The entire Canuck team is built around a defensive system with Luongo at the helm. in fact they remind me of the Wild, defense first at all costs, then look for the breaks. This benefits Luongo greatly. That been said he is still an excellent goalie.
As for Price, folks to judge him with less than one years NHL experience is head shaking.Thinking about trading him for a 29 year old centre man, regardless of where he was born, or the skills that he possess would be foolish. A hockey team is built from the net out, just like a baseball teams success for the most part is based on pitching. Potentially this young man, can do what other goalies such as Dryden and Roy have done and that is land the Habs a cup. A centre only plays 18-20 minutes a night, the goalie is on the ice for the whole game and has a much bigger influence on a games outcome. Therefore, forget about #4, get another puck moving D man and take a run at the cup.
Submitted by sidhu on Sat, 01/10/2009 - 12:54.
On waivers: Jason Jaffray (Vancouver) and Lasse Kukkonen (Flyers)
Submitted by EastCoastHab on Sat, 01/10/2009 - 12:42.
Kostadis, excuse me that I had to go look up "PONTIFICATE" to get all you have written, (express one's opinions in a pompous and dogmatic way).
Now that I am up to speed I agree with everything you have said. The way he speaks to the media reminds me of the big bully everyone had in school that could never step up to the plate if challenged. This is why it is going to be very interesting how he deals with utter failure.
Let's face it, he is so limited with player movement right now and the few people he has to trade I am not sure what he will get back in return.
Therefore, I also look forward to us beating the Leaf's for a long time. To me, a leaf loss is almost as good as a Habs win.
Thanks for the word.....I will use it in the future!
Submitted by kostadis on Sat, 01/10/2009 - 12:40.
I don't know how many of you watch the ducks, but stuck on the west coast, I see more of them than I care about.
Burke's genius is overstated. The 'nucks never amounted to much while he as there. And if Pronger hadn't quit on Edmonton, there is no way the ducks win the cup. Burke didn't land Pronger, LA landed Pronger. If his team was anywhere else, there is no way Pronger goes there.
Burke's teams play good-old-boy hockey. They mug you up and down the ice like it was going out of style. They trip, the grab, the hook, they thwap.
His teams play ugly.
But all that would have been something we, in the west, could endure, if it wasn't for the fact that Burke is the high priest of the church of burke. When Trevor Linden's jersey was being retired he felt compelled to publicly point out that because he wasn't invited he was being slighted. And then there was the embarrassing to hockey Low rants.
Burke is a blowhard who pontificates, and now he has the biggest pedestal in hockey. He gets to make his speeches on a much bigger stage with a much bigger amplifier.
In the 1970's and 1980's the bruins tried to beat the Habs up. We focused on more skill than thumping, they focused on thumping more than skill. We beat them 9 consecutive times in the playoffs.
I look forward to thumping the leafs for many years.
http://eastmeetswest.krung.net/east_meets_west/2009/01/jan-9-at-the-foru...
Submitted by EastCoastHab on Sat, 01/10/2009 - 10:14.
Brad May will be a fan favorite in Toronto for about 2 weeks, then even leaf fans will realize how much he will hurt the team instead of helping them.
Not worth the conversation actually, this just helps the blue and white spiral downward in the standings and the respect factor. I am so glad we (The Mighty Habs) are going in such a different direction!
The game that was televised the other night by sportsnet had the comparison of the leafs now and how they can be the Habs in 5 years with drafting and good management from within. Sorry folks, with Burke and the other management it's going to take much longer than that. I hope Burke got a real good contract because his credibility will be shot to SH*T when it's up for renewal.
(Sorry about the spelling...it's Saturday)
Submitted by nightmare_49 on Sat, 01/10/2009 - 09:41.
Newsmakers in the NHL: Steven Stamkos gets a night off (here's the weight room,Steve) .. by NHL FanHouse ..... http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2009/01/10/newsmakers-in-the-nhl-steven-stamkos-... ............ Great move by Rick Tocchet as Stamkos was going down the same path Lats went down, a media gem first then a hockey gem when it should be, a hockey gem first then a media darling. It didn't take long for Tocchet to realize his Chosen One needed straightening out.
Submitted by nightmare_49 on Sat, 01/10/2009 - 09:20.
On the Washington Capitals: There will never be Another Dale Hunter .. Japer's Rink ..... http://www.japersrink.com/2009/1/9/715490/there-will-never-be-anothe ........................................................... Franchise on the Rise - Lighting the Lamp Sure is Fun .. by Thomas Boswell/Washington Post ..... http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/07/AR200901...
Submitted by RH on Sat, 01/10/2009 - 08:58.
Brad May might as well have picked on one of the Habs trainers if he was going to disregard the enforcers "code". He's already the most popular player on the leafs roster, here in Toronto for his actions against Bouillon, and his complete and utter stupidity in CHARGING from across the ice and plowing Lapierre into the boards. Anything to keep your job though, I guess. This guy's a disgrace.
Submitted by nightmare_49 on Sat, 01/10/2009 - 09:12.
rh - Seeing that BGL is on the IR, i wouldn't hesitate in bringing up Ryan Flynn, Ryan O'Byrne and Alex Henry as our Knuckle Air Lift from Hamilton for the next laffs game. It would prove to the league that Carbo isn't the purse behind the bench that he is projected to be. Besides being a 'D' Henry has played forward, but not gracefully.
Submitted by kostitsyn_2 on Sat, 01/10/2009 - 03:20.
I wanna see Sergei pound the living hell out of Grabovski.
They should've let him done it yesterday, that would have been a great way to end the game ;D
Submitted by sidhu on Sat, 01/10/2009 - 01:29.
Loic Lacasse posts a shutout tonight for the Bulldogs
Submitted by sidhu on Sat, 01/10/2009 - 01:26.
Sundin takes an offensive zone penalty with 2+ minutes to go in a tied game.
St Louis scores on the ensuing power play.
Take that Sundin! Gotta love it!!
Submitted by Mr.Hazard on Sat, 01/10/2009 - 01:13.
Article on Gorges, NHL.com
http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=402837
Ex nihilo nihil fit
Submitted by spirit of the Habs on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 22:28.
Boone says Max Pac is bound for Hamilton but I'd keep him. Send Dags down tho he's been pretty ineffective after his nice start.
2008-09 Montreal Canadiens - Stanley Cup or bust!
Halak is Garbage!
Submitted by Mr.Hazard on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 22:04.
Gazette SPORTS front page shows Lapierre's goal and the caption says "Lapierre roofs one". If I remember correctly it was five-hole? MISTAKE HAHA!
Ex nihilo nihil fit
Submitted by likehoy on Sat, 01/10/2009 - 00:04.
lapierre almost never shoots low so it's a ignorant mistake.
"ONE CUP, ONE PRICE."
Submitted by likehoy on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 17:11.
http://www.tsn.ca/blogs/darren_dreger/?id=262431
interesting to note that lecavalier was offered to vancouver for luongo
therefore the only way we'll see lecavalier in a habs jersey is if carey price is sent the other way...not likely.
"ONE CUP, ONE PRICE."
Submitted by Batalla on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 17:15.
It'd take more than that. No way VL4 gets traded within the conference unless the package is much more substantial than a sophomore goalie.
http://habsbros.blogspot.com/
Submitted by Chris on Sat, 01/10/2009 - 09:14.
Go to most other cities and ask them who is more overrated, Price or Lecavalier. You might not like the answer. ;)
Seriously, though...what is harder to find? A starting NHL goaltender with potential to be a superstar or a superstar centreman with size that can fight, skate extremely well, score and set up other guys?
Submitted by Chris on Sat, 01/10/2009 - 13:46.
In the past 15 years, the Stanley Cup finals have featured 20 different goaltenders: Brodeur (4), Roy (3), Osgood (2), Hasek (2), Vernon (2), Giguere (2), Belfour (2), Ward, Khabibulin, Richter, Fleury, Emery, Roloson, Kiprusoff, Irbe, Kolzig, Hextall, Vanbiesbrouck, McLean and Hrudey. I think that statistic alone indicates that elite goaltenders aren't nearly as critical to winning the Stanley Cup as people might believe.
I like Carey Price and I think he has a bright future in the NHL. But I would argue that if you swapped him out directly for about 1/3 of NHL starting goaltenders, Montreal's record doesn't change significantly. Take the blinders off and see Price for what he is: a very good NHL goalie that has the potential to be great. But he has yet to demonstrate a proven track record in the NHL, and his only playoff appearance left a bit to be desired. That playoff appearance demonstrated the truth about NHL goalies...with the exception of generational talents like Roy or Brodeur, the goaltender is often as good as the team in front of him. This is how guys like Cam Ward and Chris Osgood have won Stanley Cups while guys like Roberto Luongo have not.
Submitted by Hammer on Sat, 01/10/2009 - 14:28.
He is only 21!!! How can he have a proven track record, therefore, the premise is flawed.
Submitted by Chris on Sat, 01/10/2009 - 16:05.
In 5 years, when Price is in his prime, he might have been signed away as a RFA by the Oilers because he wanted to be closer to home. Or he could have blown out his knee. Or he could flake under the pressure and lose his game, a la Jose Theodore. So when you make your argument, you are basing it on how you project he is going to turn out. I sure hope you are right, because we're both Habs fans. But I remember the lessons of Jose Theodore very, very well.
In the end, I'm playing devil's advocate: I would not trade Carey Price at the moment because Montreal does not have the organizational depth in goal that it had two years ago. But I will also state unequivocally: it is far, far easier to find a Carey Price, either in the draft or as a free agent, than it is to find a Vincent Lecavalier.
By the way, I would be curious to see who you have as better NHL goalies than Osgood and Ward. Personally, I would take Brodeur, Luongo, Lunqvist, Miller, DiPietro (when healthy), Kiprusoff, Nabokov, Price, and Backstrom over both those guys. In a 30 team NHL, that puts Ward as my 10th best goalie. Osgood I would rank a few rungs lower based on his play this season and over his career. Middle of the pack goalies are average for me. Guess we just differ on definitions.
Submitted by Gr8stFranchizEvr on Sat, 01/10/2009 - 15:36.
not taking any sides on the issue, but Vinny LeCavalier will produce lots of points and be a clutch player for any team for another 8-10 years, barring injury.
Look at Sundin or Sakic or Jagr for other examples of the same. And when they slow down offensively, they offer more in the room by way of maturity and experience.
Submitted by Gary320 on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 22:47.
OVER-RATED? ARE YOU SERIOUS? LOL.
Anyway. Me to I wouldnt trade PRice for Vincent. But I would trade anyone else for him.
Submitted by Chris on Sat, 01/10/2009 - 13:42.
Roberto Luongo is a MUCH better goaltender than Carey Price at this point in their careers (Price may get to that level, so don't take it as an insult), and he couldn't get his team into the playoffs last season. If your team sucks, its rather silly to pin the blame on one player, regardless of position.
Submitted by Chris on Sat, 01/10/2009 - 16:26.
Perhaps I should re-phrase. Roberto Luongo is one of the top two goaltenders in the game and had one of the most dominating seasons in recent memory from that position and couldn't get his team into the playoffs. If your team sucks, it sucks. Comparing Luongo's first two years with truly abysmal Islanders and Panthers teams to Price's first two seasons behind a relatively talented support cast is equally ludicrous to my comparing Price and Luongo, present-day.
Let me reiterate: the goalie is important. But you keep making it sound like I am implying it is Carey Price or a wide-open net. Answer this question: swap Steve Mason, Marc-Andre Fleury, or Cam Ward for Carey Price in Montreal's net this season and give me a fair assessment for the team's record and their statistics. If you honestly think that there will be a dramatic difference, then we can respectfully agree to disagree.
Now, swap Rick Nash (for Andrei Kostitsyn), Evgeni Malkin or Eric Staal (for Plekanec or Lang)...do you think that Montreal's record will be significantly better or worse?
My point this whole time has been that goaltending, for all the hype that it receives, is probably the easiest position to currently find a quality player. I think it is hardest to find a quality defenceman, followed by left-wingers, right-wingers, centres and finally goalies. As such, I find it very difficult to give the "franchise" tag out to goaltenders in this day and age...there are simply so many good ones out there (some teams have two or three) that the downgrade there isn't the same as it is at other positions.
Submitted by doug on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 16:54.
It's funny to me that everyone looks at this year as a major drop-off for Kovalev. He's on pace for 63 points and trending up recently, making 70 points very achievable, especially if PP picks up. His point totals in the past:
1992-93: 38 points
1993-94: 56
1994-95: 28
1995-96: 58
1996-97: 35
1997-98: 53
1998-99: 53
1999-00: 66
2000-01: 95
2001-02: 76
2002-03: 77
2003-04: 45
2004-05: lockout
2005-06: 65
2006-07: 47
2007-08: 84
2008-09: 63-75 (expected)
Mean: 58.4
Sure there's more scoring than before, but what's the case to support all the hysteria? Last year was a bit of a recent aberration and this year he'll be back in his range. I'd sign the guy.
Submitted by Batalla on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 17:13.
Your stats would hold more meaning if they were points-per-game. 28 points in 94/95 sounds low, but he did that in 48 games, not 82.
Now with that being said, I still agree with you. It seems as though we hold Kovy with higher expectations, so when he doesn't achieve those expectations, we run him out of town. But then what do we have? A team with Kovalev is better than a team without.
http://habsbros.blogspot.com/
Submitted by likehoy on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 19:11.
anyone with kovalev's skill set will have high expectations...it's not fair to us he doesn't put his skill to the task often enough.
"ONE CUP, ONE PRICE."
Submitted by gincognito on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 18:26.
I posted this back on December 19 of last year (I think it was my second post of a similar nature):
"Good stuff, but not sure of your Kovalev math. I've got him at 0.77pts/game (0.23 goals and 0.55 assists) which would put hiim at 18G, 45A, and 63pts. Not spectacular, but not far off his career average of 0.81pts/game (0.34 goals, 0.48 assists).
Given his streaky nature, 63pts gives him his 6th best point total in a 15 year career. Expectations were high due to last year, but stats-wise, this guy is pretty much right where he should be. Oh, he's also +6 compared to a career of -11 before this season."
I for one think he is doing what should be expected of him and have thought that pretty much since the beginning of the season.
Submitted by doug on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 17:50.
Ask and ye shall receive; average points per game
1992-93: 0.58
1993-94: 0.74
1994-95: 0.58
1995-96: 0.72
1996-97: 0.78
1997-98: 0.73
1998-99: 0.69
1999-00: 0.80
2000-01: 1.20
2001-02: 1.13
2002-03: 0.99
2003-04: 0.58
2005-06: 0.94
2006-07: 0.64
2007-08: 1.02
2008-09: 0.78
Career: 0.81
Submitted by longbow on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 21:23.
Honestly,for a guy with his talent,it ain't that good.67 points a year from a 1st line winger?Me thinks we are too bedazzled.
Submitted by CHsam on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 21:40.
oh well. Ignorance is bliss, especially when he starts dangling the puck a bit
Submitted by Adam on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 16:52.
So what I don't get is why so many people have said they were disappointed by last nights game (specifically Boone and Red Fisher). I honestly haven't enjoyed a game that much in quite a while. Sure it got messy, but both teams were playing with real passion. Which brings me to a question: why exactly do SK and Grabs hate each other so much? I know it has to do with Grabs whining last year and skipping the team flight to go be with his agent, but is there anything more specific? After all, the Belarussians were all buddies last year from what I remember.
Submitted by doug on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 17:54.
According to TSN article he was angered by statements Grabovsky made to Russian or Belarussian newspapers about the Kostitsyn brothers.
I agree: one of my favorite games to watch in a long time. As far as Boone and Fisher being in agreement, the latter is the former's idol, so it's not a mutually exclusive opinion!
Submitted by New on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 17:29.
We're all used to the highs and lows. Having the Habs rule is confusing.
I don't think SK hates Grabowski. He just has no use for him as a) a person or b)a player. As a leaf he probably likes him fine, right there, at the bottom of the league and heading to the KHL. SK was just trying to help Grabs on his merry little way.
Submitted by Chris on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 16:12.
I'm sure many would disagree with this notion, but this is NOT our year to make a run at the Stanley Cup. It is A year amongst what I hope are many years that we will be a strong contender.
Detroit, Anaheim and New Jersey have shown that you win Stanley Cups by being in the mix, year after year. Some years you get upset in the first round. Those years are not fun. Some years you win the Stanley Cup. Those years are definitely fun.
Like those teams, the Habs must continually tweak the roster to continue to stay at or near the top of the heap. But there is a fine line between making moves like Detroit and New Jersey, who manage to secure top end players without giving up too much of their depth, and a team like Pittsburgh or Nashville who load up on talent hoping to make an ultimately futile splash and damage their short-term future in the process.
What this means is that trying to secure an elite top-end talent by trade is probably not in the works: guys like Lecavalier, Kovalchuk and the like are really not that likely to end up in Montreal until they are free agents. And top-end free agents sign with teams that are Stanley Cup contenders, not with teams that sacrificed their depth the season(s) before. Our best hope is a second tier, solid NHL veteran with a no-trade clause who wants to come to Montreal because they have the pieces in place to be a contender. Those guys can often be had a little cheaper as their GM's hands are tied in the negotiations.
Submitted by Bill on Sat, 01/10/2009 - 09:29.
I could not agree more; very well put. You can build toward being a contender, but you can't put a specific date in place for winning the Cup. You build a farm, build a team, build a system, as the Habs have been doing since Gainey took over. He has made mistakes, and will make more, but that will be overcome by the general progress.
Is this the Habs' year? Only if they get lucky. I say this team can beat anyone, but so can a lot of teams. Boston is the obvious favourite in the East, and Jersey will be very tough again; then there's the West!
This is still a developing team, and one that - if no radical moves are made to bring in rentals - should be "in the mix" for quite a few years.
Submitted by doug on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 17:00.
Makes sense to me. Don't mortgage the future for a one year deal, and don't get caught up in the Habs' Centennial hysteria. Steady as she goes; we've got a solid team and a bright future and just need to keep our eyes on the horizon: very rarely do the trade deadline add-ons get you more than they cost in the long run. I'd only make an exception if for cap reasons we don't think we can keep people next year and we can get something who is signed longer than this year: the free agents don't tend to come here so that's the only part I'm skeptical of us being able to achieve.
Submitted by joeybarrie on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 16:52.
I disagree. We are doing very well this season. A few bumps, however we are currently missing KEY players. Doing this well with what we are missing shows what this team is capable of doing. If we continue to play like this consistently then we can make a run for the cup. Especially if Bob gets another impact player. What we are missing this season is the sniper ability of Souray and Streit on the powerplay. We are strong 5 on 5, if we can get the pp strong and be mentally prepared for each game, we can go all the way... Look at Pittsburg from last season and how different they are doing now, Ottawa same thing. In 1993 we went on a good run and made it work. We have a good mix of solid vets and eager youth. Our boys know how to win. THIS IS THE YEAR. The best thing is we look to be capable of being solid for many years to come. So if it doesn;t happen this year, we go again next.
Submitted by Yeats on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 16:35.
I agree with your post entirely. Could the Habs win the Cup this year? Sure, but a lot of things have to go their way. (As they have to even when you have a perrenial contender.) Unlike last year, they have to get to the playoffs healthy. They need, like pretty much all winners, excellent goaltending. And, they need luck. It could come in the form of some favorable bounces or another top-notch team being eliminated. Sure, the voting for the Conn Smythe Trophy was close between Roy and Lemeuix in 1986, but Steve Smith should have been one of the top five vote getters for the Habs. The more often that you are in the mix, the greater the probability that the planets will align in your favor eventually. While it should certainly be celebrated proudly, the Centennial is in many ways a huge distraction. Assuming that the squad is near the top of the League table, there will be enormous pressure on Gainey to do something before the trade dealine passes to add that "missing" piece or pieces. Given the number of prospects in the pipeline, there will be calls for dealing some of the future for a better chance in the present. Will Gainey bite? I don't think so. I have to believe he takes a much, much longer-term view of the team and would not mortgage the future.
Submitted by likehoy on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 15:30.
nothing to cheer about my friends...with washington (who are on fire and the odor isn't playing as bad as he smells) and boston (our nemesis) for our next two games...we could be yelling to blow this team up by tuesday night!
pivotal games...gotta solidify our claim to being the real deal by manhandling both teams...and i'm not saying 6-0 blow outs both games...but to beat them at a tight checking game 3-1...3-1 games tell the most about teams...both teams played tight defensively...game was 2-1 and then 3-1 by the empty netter...that's how it's done in a lot of playoff games. it's a good way to let the other teams know "your scorers can't beat us"
"ONE CUP, ONE PRICE."
Submitted by Gr8stFranchizEvr on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 15:29.
BTW, I was not impressed by the officiating last night.
I know they had their hands full, but seriously, giving out 10 minute misconducts like candy at a fair should not be allowed.
And, let the nut-jobs duke it out (Grabs vs. SK) - it might have settled the issue once and for all. If they wanted to stop a fight they should've quickly intervened before the lopsided bouts of Bouillon or Tom started!
I hope those refs get an earful from the league.
Submitted by Number31 on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 23:02.
My only "bwah?" moment with the refs last night was the 10 minutes for "hugging". I mean...since when is roughing a 10 minutes misconduct? The max I ever saw was 4... I didn't even see Gui/Grabs fight really, they were just talking so that was 10 minutes for chewing each other out. But whatever.
Submitted by likehoy on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 15:36.
i was thinking about this potential belorussian feud in class today...it may be one of those epic NHL stories to tell your grandchildren about...two highly skilled belorussians that hated each others guts and would go at it all the time...
then i wondered how things would be back on the national team? i bet both kostitsyns will run grabs out of the team...under the premise of "if grabs plays i'm(skost) not playing" and then andrei k going "if my brother doesn't play, i'm not playing"
"ONE CUP, ONE PRICE."
Submitted by Big Bird on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 15:11.
Mike - Good to see you back. Before I read any post game reports the next morning I always check out ABLN first. Don't disagree with anything you wrote but I'd prefer a Robinson, Lapperriere, Chelios (if he retires) or Raymond Bourque before Brisebois behind the bench. He's given good service but he's prone to glaring defensive liabilities so I'm unsure if he'd make a good coach. Maybe I'll be proven wrong. (It's happened before...)
Submitted by likehoy on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 15:19.
Brisebois can solve our anemic powerplay...other than that...i'd like him to stay as far away as possible from our young dmen.
"ONE CUP, ONE PRICE."
Submitted by Habsrule1 on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 15:27.
I think he would be a great choice for a D coach. He's very calm with the puck and more often than not, he makes the right play. He's not the most talented guy in the world, but I think he'd be a great teacher. If he could just teach guys to have half the passion & desire he has, the money will be well spent.
Go Habs Go!!
"I can't hear what Jeremy(Roenick) is saying because my Stanley Cup rings are in my ears" - Patrick Roy
Habsrule
Submitted by likehoy on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 15:34.
a lot of people have came out to say brisebois was a terrible teammate prior to re-signing with the habs. PJ stock yesterday on the radio said he hated brisebois as a teammate...but respects him now. Pierre McGuire (on the team 990, not TSN...cause on TSN he's incredulous) said that brisebois entered the league very immature, but went on to say that now at his age, he's passionate and doing what he has to do to win.
brisebois's game, to me, is not ideal to be applied as a coaching methodology...i'm open to be wrong but he's functional and not exceptional. Then again as they say..."those who can, do it; those who can't, teach it" or something to that matter :p
"ONE CUP, ONE PRICE."
Submitted by Habsrule1 on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 15:45.
Hey, you never know, but I've seen Breezer on the bench talking to the young guys.
What P.J. says really is irrelevent, and so is how Brisebois acted 16 years ago. I really have no idea if he can coach, but he just gives me the idea that he can by watching him on the bench and listening to his intelligent comments during interviews.
That being said, if we could get Robinson to do it, who's going to argue with that?
Go Habs Go!!
"I can't hear what Jeremy(Roenick) is saying because my Stanley Cup rings are in my ears" - Patrick Roy
Habsrule
Submitted by sidhu on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 14:53.
Boone, someone you recommended the Habs target, Cam Barker, has been a healthy scratch for three straight games. In case we need insurance (I don't know how long Dandy is out), he may be someone to think about.
Breezer, to his credit, has been playing much better of late. I'm not just speaking of the assists, but he seems to have minimized (though not erased) the mental blunders in the D-zone.
Submitted by nightmare_49 on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 21:32.
Sidhu - Smart thinking on your part about Cam Barker (3rd overall-2004) but i wouldn't jump to any conclusions due to him being a healthy scratch. The Black Hawks have 8 defenseman that are playing good this year and five of them have been fighting for three spots all year (the one time injured Wisniewski being one of them). Unlike our coach, Quenneville likes to give his 'D' a segment of a few consecutive games to show themselves rather than a few shifts. This is Barker's best year by far so i would not expect the Hawks to let him go right now as they have a lot riding on him having selected him third overall but at this time last year he was really struggling and the fans were on his case and could have been had. Brent Sopel (RD) seems to be the 'D' that the Hawks are dangling or maybe Aaron Johnson. Matt Walker a UFA pick up (we could of had him) last summer is a tough 'D' and he can fight which the Hawks need so he has the inside track and he's Quenneville style of 'D' man. Keith, Campbell and Seabrook are the Hawks top three naturally.
Submitted by likehoy on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 15:18.
if cam barker can't crack the hawks' lineup...he might not be able to crack ours in the end...especially at the price tag a 3rd overall pick could be going at.
we need a cheaper and just as efficient solution...joel bouchard would be a great addition.
"ONE CUP, ONE PRICE."
Submitted by Mike from Ktown on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 14:34.
Tommy K does have at least one win, going back to 2006
http://www.hockeyfights.com/fights/27853
He has a few draws in there as well, but a bunch of losses.
I love the heart on that guy, normally going up against people who have a few inches and 20 pounds on him.
Submitted by New on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 17:57.
He's just lulling them into a false sense of confidence. When he's ready Tom will pounce.
Likely be in an oldtimers game...but still, they'll never see it coming.
Submitted by doug on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 14:56.
Amazing that he's a good looking guy given how much he's had his butt kicked. I think he should be told to not fight, though. I like the effort, but as soon as he starts I get this little sense of embarrassment. If he has to fight, he should never be allowed to do so in road games: would only serve to get opposing fans riled up.
Submitted by JD_ on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 14:28.
Love the post-game comments, Prof. Boone.
Apologies for longish post. Good times.
Pre-Game:
> Those closeups of Michel Lacroix – the Bell Centre announcer – talking into his microphone creep me out. Stop it RDS. It's disturbing.
> Speaking of “royally” creepy, Burke should immediately dress Salming. He doesn't need to do anything but stand on the blue line and smile at oncoming forwards. “I am Borje Salming. If you skate past me, I will eat your family.”
> Hard to believe that that distinguished Sean Connery character was the goofy-faced Peter Mahovlich. Half expected him to announce that “We will sell no wine before its time.”
> Carbo's ties are like my faucets: hot or cold. Last night's paisley-like abomination brought me back at least 20 years. He's doing it on purpose. Crazy guy.
Game:
> Halak vs TossedSalad. Thought it might be like a Cottonelle (tm) toilet paper challenge: see which one is softer. Halak played well, though. He doesn't cover a lot of net and never will. Would improve with more agility but would have to maintain five-hole discipline. To quote Joel “Demers Has A Man-Crush On You” Bouchard: “One pad down!”
> The Habs are an awesome 4-on-4 team.
> I'd love to pick up Kaberle for the PP but he will have to ease up on the Timbits.
> The Loafs are small. For now. Hopefully for Burke, the asking price for gooning up isn't more draft picks, in particular for bewildered old vets like Brad May.
> Guimauve-Laps-Bomb. Awesome. A keeper. I'm really pleased for Guimauve, who I've cr#pped on in the past. He's finally realized he is a third-line plugger and not a first-line sniper. Keep it up.
> Love the Bomb. All heart, no hands, no fists. It might help if he didn't look so terrified before every fisticuffs. He could learn from Bullion – Gord Miller's interpretation – who rolled up his sleeves and looked like he was going to mix paint before taking on a tough guy twice his size.
> SirGuy-Tongue-Andrei. The Brothers Kostitynov play well together, in particular with a less flashy centreman anchoring the whole thing. Tongue looks like he's having fun.
> Happy as heck for Breezer. Making squat (everything's relative) to play in Montreal, keeping his comments to himself, and playing mostly solid. He tries to do too much sometimes – and sometimes gets caught – but he's smart and has a heck of a laser. If he'd had today's wisdom ten years ago, things would have been different.
> Chips needs more seasoning. Dags is getting oddly lazy. Is he hurt?
> Ah, Grabsy. Hee hee hee. You're just as crazy as your former friend, SirGuy. It's going to be fun.
Post-Game:
> For those of you who watched l'Antichambre after the game, you will have heard Bertrand Raymond's initial rant. Crete was looking at him like you might look at someone having a fit of dementia. Although I like Raymond, I immediately sent him an email to respectfully point out that his comment was “ben niaiseux”. He responded this morning with two points: (1) He is in a position to know these things; (2) It is what it is. Admittedly, his response was about as intelligent as my intial one.
He's dead wrong. Perhaps he needs to get out and hang out wit' da regular folk more often.
Bring on the Caps!
JD
Submitted by Chorske on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 19:03.
Haha, you and my girlfriend need to have a sit down about Carbo's ties. It's the one thing that makes her sit down to watch the hockey game. That and the minor crushes she develops on the players.
She's always following the same pattern: oooh, who's he, where's he from, is he good? Is he with us? He's CUTE. EW, did he just spit? WHY do they have to spit, it's disgusting. Oooh, and who's HE? Where's HE from? etc. etc.
The other thing that grosses her out is when they skate around with their mouthguards half out of their mouths. WHY DO THEY DO THAT, she exclaims- clearly she's never had to chew on a piece of molded plastic for an hour.
Submitted by doug on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 14:54.
Incredibly entertaining read. Well done! You should have your own column. . . or do like 70% of the population: start a blog!
Submitted by doug on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 13:46.
Advanced apologies for the length of this thesis(!):
We're seeing the first stretch in which the Canadiens are playing like we hoped the Canadiens would play, and the younger generation in particular (with the notable exception of the lost scoring touch of Pleks, who I still think is valuable because of his hockey sense and defensive play) is maturing before our very eyes. We are indeed incredibly deep and will need to make some tough decisions come next year, when we'll have tough choices to make regarding which two to keep amongst Lang, Koivu, Kovalev, and Tanguay. However, the youth movement and its affordability will allow us to do so with eyes wide open. One of the biggest questions I have is how can we get the following for next season: a big body (although I'm surprised and impressed by Latendresse's first display of hockey sense in the last few games: keep it up, Lats!), another defenseman, and a real sniper.
It's a tough situation to go through for the Habs because we always wait for the off-season to make a free agent signing, and always come home empty handed. As such, the only way to get the players we need are through trades, and we may be in the situation where we have to bite the bullet and make a trade at the deadline that gets us that missing link not just for this season but for a few more to come: a Kovalev-like deal but one in which the player has one more year on his contract. Given the redundancy of fast, passing, peripheral, young players, we can move some of them - but they are also cheap. Moving one of the four vets mentioned in the first paragraph (Koivu, Kovalev, Tanguay, Lang) is unlikely. So, what to do when you've got this need to shore up for now, a need to shore up for the future, an unclear picture with regards to some UFA amounts, etc? My thoughts:
* Get some clarity on pricing now. What does Kovalev want? Koivu? Komisarek? These are the three I would want in a uniform again if the price is right, and I want to know their expectations and get some price certainty now. If it looks risky or unclear, or if they play a game of chicken, then I look at Lang. Tanguay, in my view, you let go: we've done fine without him for the last six weeks when on or off the ice.
* Deal for Schneider, whose cap hit is acceptable for this year and won't take a spot from our defensive ranks as they grow into roles in the years ahead (McDonagh, Webber, Subban, Yemelin, etc.): this should NOT be expensive - they are out of the playoffs and why should they pay the salary
* Figure out what it takes to get someone from another desperate team that brings either big body (Nathan Horton) or superstar skills (Kovalchuk), swallow hard, and do it. I'd live with providing a lot of B+ talents (e.g. Higgins, Pleks, prospects, picks) for that one superstar we haven't had in ages.
Submitted by coachdoug on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 14:44.
Agree with almost the whole Thesis...
What if when the guys we are missing come back we are good enough for a cup run? Crazy idea huh? I have been saying big trade all year myself.
If the current squad is missing so much talent and winning then the addition of the talent missing might do it?
Sounds logical but this team has played pretty illogical all season!
Schneider is a possibility, again always in lieu of the big fish we get the bargain old fish! Never the big deal!
Submitted by 24 Cups on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 14:18.
Doug - Schneider makes $5.5 mil so you would have to pro rate that over the remaining games he would have left once he was traded here. You would want to wait until the last second (salary wise) so we would land up paying him for 19 or 20 games. That's around the $1.3 - $1.4 range. We won't have a really good handle on our cap space until all the sidelined guys get back. He's injury prone but then again who isn't these days in the NHL!
Going For The Brass Ring - 25 Cups In 100 Years
Submitted by The realst on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 13:07.
Does anyone know the Habs record -last year included-when kovy wears the C?
Submitted by twocents on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 13:27.
11-4-2 I believe. But, its such a small sample size it's meaningless. If we grabbed a 17 game period from the beginning of this season, when Saku was playing, we were 11-5-1 from game 2 to game 18. We had an identical stretch last year in February/March while Koivu was playing too.
Submitted by ebk on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 12:30.
Kovalev gets to much credit when this team wins and to much crap when it loses. He's played pretty well all year, the puck is just starting to go in. It happens to the best of them. His 5 on 5 play is better than last year and if they get the PP working, I expect him to have a huge 2nd half.
Last night was Sergei Kostitsyn's 89th NHL game. In his first 82 games, he has scored 15 goals and produced 42 points. 42 points is a outstanding point total for a NHL rookie. He would not have won it but if his rookie year wasn't broken up over two years, he would have been in the running for the Rookie of the Year award. Not bad for a kid some people absurdly suggest belongs in the AHL.
For his age and skill level, Sergei is a pretty unique package. His defensive game is light years better than most young hockey players and he plays with an edge of assholeness that suits him well. Sergei sees the ice, although sometimes he only sees Andrei, better than any other Hab not named Kovalev or Koivu. He has a long and productive career ahead of him in the NHL and I'm hoping it's all with the Canadiens.
The team has gone 8-3-1 without Koivu and is starting to play they way many of us expected them to. It's quite remarkable that they are playing this well without Koivu, Tanguay and Higgins. It bodes well for Gainey being able to add the final pieces to the Habs 25th Stanley Cup puzzle.
Submitted by notbigbird on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 13:20.
I was flabbergasted when some called for his demotion so prematurely. I thought that he was usually trying and showed flashes but hadn't hit his groove. I don't think the younger set on this site understands the disadvantage of being young and inexperienced.
Submitted by twocents on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 12:44.
Earl, I am in total agreement on Sergei. Not only is he good and going to get better, he does, as you point out, offer a unique mix of skills and attitude. The fact that he has reacted to his benching the way he has, instead of the way some here predicted(sulking, losing confidence...) only makes the future look better. That's what those tests are for, to see what you really have in a player.
Submitted by 24 Cups on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 13:04.
"they are playing this well without Koivu, Tanguay and Higgins" and Price! BTW, Brisebois had a great game last night.
Going For The Brass Ring - 25 Cups In 100 Years
Submitted by Habsrule1 on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 13:12.
Brisebois has been really, really good so far this season....much better than ANYONE expected.
The boys on the Team 990 were apologizing this morning for having laughed when Gainey signed him!
Go Habs Go!!
"I can't hear what Jeremy(Roenick) is saying because my Stanley Cup rings are in my ears" - Patrick Roy
Habsrule
Submitted by EastCoastHab on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 12:24.
The meathead (Grabovski) suspended 3 games!
Take a seat there buddy. Perhaps the big addition May will play extra time.....
Submitted by gincognito on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 12:22.
Harumph. My brilliant comment has been pegged as spam and is awaiting approval. I guess y'all will have to wait to ponder my claim that Bouillon loses points for not taking off his visor after accepting the fight invitation (but he still comes out with more points than that May goon).
Submitted by Gr8stFranchizEvr on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 15:23.
Puhlease!!!! May is a goon that never should've tried to pick a fight with a much smaller player (no dis' on Bouillon - he's tough). I wish he'd learned his lesson by breaking a bone or two in his hand on Bouillon's helmet. Bouillon's not a fighter. He just stepped in to dissuade May from chasing a weaker opponent.
No pun intended, but hats off to Frankie for taking on an oversized buffoon!
Submitted by gincognito on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 15:56.
That's part of the reason that I said he still comes out with more points than May (whom I've loathed since his Sabre days). If it was a fight that came from a scrum, if May had jumped him or if he told May "I'll go, but I'm not dumping the helmet" than fair play. However, it was obviously a planned bout and whether or not he was subbing in for D'Ags (whom no one would have let fight May), I'm not comfortable with the premeditated decision to exchange punches while wearing a visor. Don't get me wrong, I'm not comfortable with folks hitting the ice bare-headed either. So, I guess, what I'm saying is, if you opt to wear a visor, you should keep the gloves on.
I don't know. Maybe we should ask Laraque about it.
Submitted by gmd on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 13:46.
I'm in agreement, I was pretty disappointed when he didn't toss the helmet. I hate it when guys fight when they have a visor.
Submitted by Chris on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 14:53.
I hate when guys die because they tossed their helmet. Accidents happen...wearing a helmet is mandatory for a reason. Chucking it before something that has a high risk of you ending up smacking your head on the ice isn't brave, it is moronic.
Submitted by Chuck on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 14:20.
To be fair, Bouillion wasn't even a willing combatant. He shrugged his shoulders at May as if to say, "Why do you want to do this? I'm not interested."
__________________________________
Submitted by The Professor on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 15:47.
Not the case - was at the game and Bouillon mouthed "next faceoff" to May after the Tom K-Mayers bout. May and Bouillon were poised to go at each other before Kostopoulos fought and I was looking right at them and they both had a very confused look when they realized there was another fight going on. Hence the "next faceoff"
Submitted by Chris on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 14:49.
Bouillon filled in for D'Agostini, who May was trying to goad into fighting.
Submitted by The realst on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 11:56.
For the last two plus years this team starts and ends Ak27.does anyone think its a coincedence that the Habs are 8-1-1 in their last 11 games and kovy has 6 goals in that span?
Submitted by twocents on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 12:12.
And A. Kost. has 6, Lang 5, Latendresse 5, Sergei 4, Lapierre 4, Pacioretty 2 in 3 games.
Hamrlik has 7 pts in that stretch, Markov has 6, Brisebois has 6.
Submitted by Gr8stFranchizEvr on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 15:24.
good point - the team wins best when everyone plays 110% for 60 minutes
Submitted by Dintrox on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 11:52.
Shame on those officials that didn't let sergei and grabs go at it. I don't think there was anyone at the Bell( save maybe ron Wilson) that didn't want to see Grabs get what he deserves. Expect the disciplinarians at head office to hand out some fines and suspensions.
Not a pretty game, but a good thumping of the Leafs always leaves me feeling good the next day...
Submitted by twocents on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 11:36.
Since this is a bit late in response, I will post it up here.
I agree wholeheartedly with J.T.. What we are seeing is the coalescing of a team. I think to point to Kovy above others is missing the point. Sorry Mike, but as I said last night, I believe these are the dividends of the adversity this team has been through since last April. Starting with it's second round defeat this team has been reconstructing its inner dynamics. It has been ugly at times but, transformations usually are.
No more looking to a guy like Kovy to carry them, they will all carry their share and be accountable to each other. No more waiting around or excuses. One is down, another steps in. No finger pointing amongst players, no counter productive cliques. The scoring problems, the embarrassing losses, the listless play, the negative media environment, the trade talks, the wild inconsistency, the incredible stream of injuries and Carbo's tough love, singling a few out. It has hardened them, all of them, they are becoming a 'team'. This team has proven it can win while missing very important pieces. I think it is showing it can weather the loss of anyone. I for one, believe you could switch Kovy and Koivu right now on the D.L. and the team would still be winning.
I think the whole coaching staff deserves kudos. Carbo above all because he leads the coaches. I think Carbo has consciously been breaking down the former dynamics of the team, seeing how fragile it proved to be in the playoffs last year. He has been steadfast in the storm and deserves credit for not capitulating to the pressure to mimic last year's approach. Gainey deserves credit too for his well established patience and seeing this through before making rash decisions.(Not that I am sure he is capable of those)
Submitted by notbigbird on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 13:17.
Although I waffle on the coaching staff, this was a really good post that helped me to see things in a different light. Thanks.
Submitted by Morenz7 on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 11:46.
"you could switch Kovy and Koivu right now on the D.L. ..."
Bite yer tongue, my friend. Bite yer tongue.
Submitted by twocents on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 11:56.
My point isn't about Kovy or Koivu, it's about the team believing in the 'team', instead of in individuals.
Submitted by Morenz7 on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 14:43.
I know, but with our luck I fear it's exactly what would happen!
Submitted by twocents on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 14:54.
OK then, consider it bit.
Submitted by Chuck on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 11:43.
Speaking of Kovy, I was really impressed with the way that he handled the last 30 seconds of the game. Even though he had the puck, he made no attempt at a last-second rush up the ice. Just calm, cool, collected puck possession to run out the clock. And some folks wonder why he'd be playing late in a blow out.
He did the "C" proud last night.
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Submitted by Chris on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 12:20.
I agree completely...I was very impressed with Kovalev at the end of the game. There was nothing to be gained by trying to generate more offence...run out the clock and get on with the celebration.
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