About last night ...

Since Mike Boone talks about how the Chipchuras, Bégins and Kostopoulos lack pugilistic hutzpa here's an article my son sent me on Sportsnet by Georges Laracque published on Monday, January 5, 2009 titled The Rock's last word at http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/blogs/2009/01/05/laraque_last_word/. It's all GL's philosophy on fighting. Interesting reading. Good reading, Georges D

Brian vs Goliath: Hot Sens Rookie to Start in Nets vs Habs .. by Bruce Garrioch/SunMedia ..... http://www.ottawasun.com/Sports/Senators/2009/01/16/8048111.html .................. Gerber Dignified, But Departing .. by Ken Warren/Ottawa Citizen ..... http://www.ottawacitizen.com/sports/Gerber+dignified+departing/1182956/s... .................. Sens Rediscover a Few Things .. by Wayne Scanlan ..... http://www.ottawacitizen.com/sports/Senators+discover+good+things/118295...

For tonight's game i would put D'Agostini on the Lapierre line in place of Tommy K to get him going and insert Greg Stewart into the lineup to give #6, he's lost a step due to the injury, and his ankle time to mend and also play him against the Devils. There's no urgency these days so we should give our wounded ample time to recover cuz we got the depth. These two games for Stewart will give him a look and also give the Ritalin crew on our site what they have been crying for.

Tidbits from the Eastern Conference .. Seth Rorabaugh/Empty Netters ..... http://community.post-gazette.com/blogs/emptynetters/archive/2009/01/17/... ........... Tidbits from the Western Conference ..... http://community.post-gazette.com/blogs/emptynetters/archive/2009/01/17/... ............. Newsmakers in the NHL: John Madden's Controversial Goal .. NHL FanHouse ..... http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2009/01/17/newsmakers-in-the-nhl-john-maddens-co... ............................. Suspensions in the Alexei Cherepanov Case .. by NHL FanHouse ..... http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2009/01/16/khl-hands-out-suspensions-in-cherapan...

It really is mind boggling sometimes, but if Don Cherry just stuck to stating his opinions on the game and the issues pertaining to the game, he would be a perfectly great analyst. The absurd racist comments he makes at times completely undermine is credibility. They are absolutely unnecessary. I guess it adds to the 'entertainment value'. I can be a fan of his at times as he has great hockey sense but the politics and derogatory comments need to stay out. Splurge

Regarding the ongoing debate over Don Cherry: I could care less whose uncle he is or what anyone thinks he has done for the game. The man is a xenophobe and a racist. He has proved this fact repeatedly. There is no excuse and no defense for that, and it has nothing to do with hockey. I have family members in the U.S. who are older and racist and I call it like I see it with them. That he is allowed to spew this filth on a weekly basis is a national disgrace. To defend him without addressing this issue is to miss the point. Any good he does or anything constructive he says will always be tarnished with this fact. Sorry if this lacks tact, but there is no excuse for tolerating or defending racism.

this last game was a snoozer for sure and with our upcomming schedule for the next 10 games or so we will be palying bottom feeder teams i hope the guys use this oportunity to get into a good groove and rack up some important points for the end of the season wich will be an interesting one again this year it seems. i wanna see hungry hockey were we blow out these teams not merely get by and collect 2 points i want the other teams to sit in there locker rooms after the game and think "wow those guys made us look like a junior league team" even if our team is made up of 1/2 ahl and softmores guy atm

Yesterday Al Strachan had a blog:'Cap having Negative Effect on Teams' .. Fox Sports ..... http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/story/9079294/Cap-having-negative-effect-on... ............... SURPRISE: Barry Melrose Rocks Blog Disagrees: 'Al Strachan Doesn't have a Clue about Cap Crunch' ..... http://melroserocks.blogspot.com/2009/01/al-strachan-doesnt-have-clue-ab...

Thanks for the in depth "about last night" Mike, I enjoy reading your writing, especially the longer posts.

Guys, why isn't Guy Lapointe's number retired?

The open net at the end of the game was funny. It was like the guys saw it, knew they would win the game, and were just trying to get the game over ;-). If the puck went in great, if not, please just let the clock run down. I think like a lot of fans do. BGL at 230/240 and healthy can be a plus player with >10 goals and maybe 25 points. He needs to be able to play 12 minutes a game though. It seems if they take him past a fight and five he hurts something. Might be too heavy beyond 220. I sure wish he could play to his potential though.

In a discussion earlier this p.m., krob and habsrule1 and I regretfully got into it over the merits of Don Cherry. Don happens to be HR1's uncle, and unforetunately it became personal. having already stuck my neck out, I feel obliged to clarify my views here. My opinions will differ from theirs. Don is not MY uncle, but if he was, I imagine I'd come to his defense as much as HR1 has. Krob posted a list I asked for, so I will meet him half way on this. I've copied and pasted your work krob, I'm impressed by what you brought forth. I'll add my thoughts to it. Where it is we disagree, I hope we can do so without name calling and insults. Here goes: -"He has brought the game into households that otherwise wouldn't have watched it." I don't know about this. I tune in to watch HNIC. Some people do tune in for Cherry. I do know a guy that used to tune in just for Coaches Corner. He wouldn't be alone. I wouldn't go so far as to say he's made HNIC prosper, but he's a big part of it's entertainment value. But they made him, and not vice versa. -"He always advocates respect on the ice." 100% true, and in his forum he should absolutely do that. He does an excellent job at it too! -"He praises and thanks the grass roots of Canadian hockey at every opportunity (the several hundred thousand volunteers)." I was one of those volunteers for 11 years. Cherry is a great booster of all levels of hockey. He's brought great recognition and acknowledgement to those selfless folks who put in all kinds of time into this facet of our social fabric. Just don't confuse Canadian Minor Hockey thriving because of Don Cherry, though. It's a success because of the individuals involved. That said, his promotion of it likely has helped flow a good bit of Government money into keeping it healthy. -"He brings a personality that has been marketable enough to make him known even south of the border and his contribution to the income of the game is something that is a benefit to every player and employee of the league." Don isn't seen south of the border the same way he is perceived up here. I'm sure his contribution has brought some income into the NHL, but I doubt that it is in a big way that would make a significant difference. His marketable personality has benefitted himself though. -"He teaches the basics of the game and is always quick to point out the things a player should never do (shoot wide on an odd man rush, block shots improperly, screen your own goalie, play the body not the puck, take away time and space, stand your ground or lose it forever,etc)." True, not to sound condescending, but he'd make an ideal minor hockey coach with what he preaches, and how he gets it across. - "He teaches the importance and relevance of being a teammate not just a member of a team." Don's always been "All for one and one for all." There is no other way to be in a team sport. -"He teaches honour, loyalty, respect to those who paved the way for you, he teaches to never forget your roots and where you came from. Absolutely. Those are always good manners and traits to pass along. -"Here is one some of you harping about compassion will hate to swallow...for all of his toughness he is brought to tears nearly every week for a soldier, or minor hockey player,etc he doesn't even know....a real animal and neandrathal that Cherry is...how many hockey men cry on national tv and then have the balls to get right back up there and preach tough hockey." That is very true. I've seen it more than once. He's never been an animal and he's old school perhaps, but hardly neanderthal. His compassion could be extended to some other areas, but I digress. -"Is there a bigger supporter of Canadian hockey alive.....would the world juniors and national teams be fawned over as they are without Don backing them for so long? Think about it...were they before Don?" There isn't a more popular supporter of the Canadian Juniors than Cherry, but before he came onto coaches corner, the program Hockey Canada runs as it is now, didn't exist in the same form. It has grown exponentially because it is expertly run. Because it is run so well it has become successful and Canada has regularly won gold medals. Because Canada has become a perennial winner, it is televised and covered in great detail. Sorry, but all of this happened without much more than a thumbs up from Cherry as far as I can tell. -"How many of you remember sitting around listening to Don with your parents or friends to a memorable episode of Coaches Corner." Of course, but that's entertainment. -"Don also teaches humility as he always the first to admit that his players and especially Bobby Orr are a main reason he is where he is today." Yes he teaches humilty, but he's hardly in a medium where he can practice it consistently. -"Don helps promote the Prospects game every year along with Bobby Orr to give the game more credibility and star power (you know those kids listen to every word he says)." Yes, he does help promote it, but again, it would all run fine and dandy without him. I watch it to see the kids, personally. -"Don teaches persistence and tells kids to never give up and stop listening to people who tell you you can't .....he preaches for parents and coaches to never give up on kids." And that's the right thing to do. -"Don preaches the benefits of hard work and the importance of always giving your all and putting the sweater before the player." As it should be. -"Don tells parents to stop meddling with coaches and push their kids too hard and always emphasizes the importance of fun in the game...even at the professional level....he is always quick to show clips illustrating comeraderie and sportsmanship." And those aren't negligable points. As a hockey, that's advice I need once in a while too. I'll toss one in of my own. Cherry has created a pretty cool chain of restaurants in his name, that has given employment to thousands of Canadians, my niece included. ------------------------------------------------------ All your points taken together prove to me what I already understood, and some things that perhaps I have overlooked in assessing him at times. He's definitely a great Canadian in a multitude of ways. He has his shortcoming here and there, but frig, don't all of us. Cherry is a great promoter of many aspects and facets of the game. That said, I feel that we must not confuse his endorsement and moral support of several great causes and undertakings as being the fundamental reasons behind their continued existence and success. Cherry might just back a lot of things with his own hard earned bucks - he seems to be that kind of guy! If one chooses to ask "What would all these things be without Don Cherry?", that is their take. One could also suggest "What would Cherry be without all this to get behind?" I think it is a fair question to ask. While recognizing all that Cherry has contributed, it is understandable, and without doubt that he is an icon of hockey in Canada. I would back him up all the way, should he get a nod for the builders category in the Hockey Hall Of Fame. --------------------------------------------------- In discussing Cherry in several emotional posts scattered about in today's threads, I admit I've come down hard on him in places for the things I thought he wasn't. I maintain my personal opinion that Cherry was a good NHL coach, and not a great one. I also stand by my view that he is overesteemed as a hockey thinker. It should never have gotten to be about me in any way, as my hockey resume is dreadfully short compared to many, never mind an NHL icon. I regret that it came to what it came to. I was all just my own personal view based on what it is I believe I know. Paul is Cherry's nephew, and that is pretty cool. Obviously, he knows his uncle a great deal better than any of us, especially including me. I apologize for how I treaded this earlier. I asked for a response to a question earlier from both krob and Paul. Being that I made the request, and time was taken to respond to it, this is my best to meet that halfway.

For the record; sorry it's broken. You can only hear certain songs. But here they are: 1. The HABS are 2nd in their Division ooh yah yah! 2. The HABS are 4th in the Conference ooh yah yah! 3. The HABS are 6th in the League ooh yah yah! Songs I'm hoping to play when the record is repaired: 1. Get off the band-wagon before you're pushed uh huh! 2. Love the team or cheer for another uh huh! 3. Be thankful you're not married to a Leafs fan da ding! There's so much to cheer for. Let's get onside and Les Canadiens will triumph, create memories for years to come and give us what we want: #25.

I didn't find the game all that boring. Not a classic, but it was fast and both teams worked hard. At least it wasn't frustrating, which is what I found the third period of the Boston game. In his post-game comments, Carbo said that after Tuesday's emotional game, he was afraid the team wouldn't get up for this one. I think the last game against a lower-seeded team that they weren't prepared for was the Tampa game early in December. It seems that, like the second half of last season, they're taking each game seriously. This, combined with their ability to win without their number one goalie and a whole forward line, means they should have a great second half. I even think we could still catch Boston, although the focus should not be that but just winning the games one at a time. After his two shaky games, Halak has really settled down. He still gives up rebounds, but overall he's much more solid and his puck handling is better. He seems to be the kind of goaltender who needs to play regularly to stay focused. I love the Lang Kostitsyn line. Lang is so smart, his passes, his reading of the play, how he knows exactly where to go on the ice. Who knows if Plan A would have worked as well as Plan B is?

Fun poll for a Friday afternoon: Which forwards on the Canadiens are worse than Latendresse? I will start with Begin, other than that, I'm not comfrotable naming anyone. Any thoughts?

For a change guys...go read this piece on Carey Price http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?section=magazine&id=3836512 Btw...he told RDS that he expects to come back in a game next week. I'm guessing New Jersey. He really wants to be in the All-Star game and if he's alright why not? Get well soon Pricey!

You Want Stress? Try Being the Canadiens Goalie - A Look at Habs Carey Price .. by Lindsey Berra/ESPN Magazine ..... http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?section=magazine&id=3836512 ............................................................ The New York Times Morning Skate: Injuries, Goalie Injuries and the K C Shuffle and much more .. by Stu Hackel ..... http://slapshot.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/15/the-morning-skate-goalie-in...

Here is the weekly 3 stat report on how we compare in the 30 team league as of last night. Not much change from last week where we were in 6th place out of 3o teams. First is Goals Against- 114, we are alone in 6th place, same as last week. Second is Total Points-58, we are still tied in 5th place with Calgary. Third is Goals For -136, we are in 6th place with Calgary, better than 8th place last week. Even with injuries we are staying close to the 6 best teams in the 30 team league. Wonder if we move on up the ladder when we get our injured back after the All Star break?

All about the coaching. And staying focused as the Preds valiantly tried to hyp-mo-taz the Habs to sleep. Good times. Pre-Game: > Is the Preds' David Legwand aware that RDS must be, by the looks of it, using his DUI arrest photo for their forward lines graphic. > Bonk! I'm employing it in the sound effects context. Pure coincidence. Game: > Preds came out flying on their very first shift and settled into an aggressive forecheck. Here we go again. Fortunately, all was forgotten by the second shift. I have no doubt Trotz tattooed (tootooed?) the word “forecheck” on their collective foreheads during the first intermission. It was back on for the second and third periods and slowed down an otherwise very fast Habs transition game. We scored on the power play but were held to only two shots over two opportunities. > Jordan Tootoo is Darcy Tucker without the mouth. Wouldn't want to see him in a Habs uniform. Props to Begin for trying to settle the score on the Gorges cheap shot. Think Bouillon would have been a better dance partner and almost was after pasting the little weasel early in the second period. > Kovy always plays better when he's mad. After getting whacked around a bit early in the first period, you could almost see the switch flip. “Don't make me angry, you wouldn't like me when I'm angry.” It appeared that he actually started lapping some of the Preds on that extended dipsy-doodle. I'm just thinking out loud here, but it might not be such a bad idea to have one of those little kids, who skate around the Bell Centre ice before the Habs come out, drive his flagpole into Kovy's skateblades as he jumps onto the ice or just spear him outright. Again, just a thought. > Halak's play of late certainly suggests his earlier stumbles were rust and nerves. He's not as steady nor confident as Price, but he's been consistent. Kudos to Carbo for being relatively unwavering when the temptation might have been to play Denis more. Not sure why, but I don't recall the tie Carbo was wearing last night. Maybe that's a good sign. > The k.t. Lang line is really gelling. You don't have that kind of drop-pass fest without a lot of chemistry. Unfortunately, Lang's shot went way over the net; it was straight out of the Bob Gainey-Mike McPhee School for the Advancement of Puck Shooting. Fortunately, Santorelli immediately returned the favour by seeing if he could actually get one over the filet protecteur behind Halak. New All-Star Skills Competition category? > In fact, that whole empty-net missing session by the Habs at the end of the third was almost a Gainey tribute, of sorts. That or they were all trying to endear themselves to the wise ol' GM to avoid being shipped out in any Lecavalier trade. Post-Game: > Ranking very closely behind the Dodge Ram ads in terms of presenting a distillation of pure nonsense are the Subway ads. The ones with the monkey. There is no escaping the tremendous irony when, at the outset of the commercial, Subway tells us they are about to challenge our IQ. If I somehow liked Subway – i.e., if rainbow-hewed “roast beef” was my bag – the ads alone would keep me out of their establishment. That and the growing suspicion that the “roast beef” is actually monkey meat. “If the meat doesn't have a rainbow on it, it's not Finian's.” > Speaking of eating at Subway, Nashville is coached by Barry Trotz. Bring on the lowly Sens! JD

Don's my uncle and if any of you knew your *** from your elbow, you'd know he knows his stuff, even though you don't agree with him. He won the Jack Adams for a reason. Can't wait to see all your resumes! Go Habs Go!! "I can't hear what Jeremy(Roenick) is saying because my Stanley Cup rings are in my ears" - Patrick Roy Habsrule

What's the street price for a pair of tickets in the reds?(Bell Center)

As for our poor pugilistic showing, Carbs should insert Stewart into the line up. He has had some great tilts in the AHL.

Chris in Guelph, I am with you 100% about grapes the raisin. And I know him personally.