Log in & Sign up
You are not logged in.
About last night ...
posted by Mike Boone at 0h59 EST on Mar 10
The win moved the Canadiens seven points ahead of Tampa Bay. It was crucial because the Lightning have played three fewer games. Even if they win them all – and the team we saw last night doesn't look capable of that – TB would still be a point behind the Canadiens.
Similar story with the Rangers: five points back with two games in hand.
Atlanta trails the Canadiens by six points, but even if the Thrashers were to win their three games in hand, they'd have fewer Ws than the Canadiens and would be behind per the tie-breaking formula.
But all these scenarios aside, the Canadiens control their destiny.
"They're going to win all the rest of their games," my friend Mitch Melnick was saying – in jest, I think – after the game.
A 17-game winning streak?
Not likely ... but possible.
Before the Olympic break, a late-season surge would have been inconceivable.
But the team that looked doomed to early tee-offs after dropping back-to-back games against Philadelphia seems to have benefited hugely from 17 days off.
Maybe it was a good thing that Brian Burke snubbed Gomez and Gionta for Team USA.
I doubt Glen Metropolit was short-listed for Team Canada, and he's recaptured his early-season form. Playing in his 400th NHL game, Metro scored his career-best 15th goal – his ninth on the PP.
Roman Hamrlik and Jaro Spacek – who had to play brutal minutes during Andrei Markov's long absence – weren't picked for the Games and are well-rested for the stretch run.
I think one of the little-heralded keys to the Canadiens' surge has been stability on defence.
The three pairings have been together since the regular-season resumed and are playing equal, low 20s minutes (except for Ryan O'Byrne, who gets no PP and little PK time).
The D is still smallish and susceptible to the kind of aggressive forecheck they endured in San Jose.
There are, however, fewer sharks in the Eastern Conference. The slot if being protected, rebounds are being cleared, shots are blocked (21 last night, five by Hal Gill) and zone clearances are rarely laborious.
A tightened-up D and four forward lines able to spend stretches ion the opponents' end – props to the Dominic Moore/Travis Moen/Sergei Kostitsyn unit on that score – have made life easier for the Canadiens' goaltenders.
Jaro Halak was not spectacular last night. But he made the saves he had to in racking up win number 20 – a career high.
If Melnick's scenario plays out, maybe we don't see Carey Price until the Canadiens have clinched a playoff spot.
But let's not get ahead of ourselves.
When a knee-on-knee hit by Mattias Ohlund left Tomas Plekanec flat on the ice, 21,273 at the Bell Centre and all the fans watching RDS held their collective breath and saw the playoffs KOed along with Pleks.
He returned to action, but tghe team MVP will benefit from the rest Jacques Martin is giving his players today.
They've earned it.
• • •
Twice during his postgame press conference, Jacques Martin praised Mathieu Darche's intelligence, as evidenced by the fact he's a graduate of McGill University.
Hey, that's my alma mater, too.
But I majored in Hedonism during the 1960s.
Darche's degree is in economics – and the veteran is playing like he understands the difference between AHL and NHL contracts.
• • •
The return of Mike Cammalleri can't come soon enough for the struggling Pleks line and comatose Andrei Kostitsyn.
The interesting question: What happens when MAB is ready to play?
The power play needs Bergeron, but the D doesn't.
Fourth-line forward?
Probably, with Metro and ...
Tom Pyatt and Ben Maxwell will go back to Hamilton. But Martin will have to pick who – among Darche, Sergei and Maxim Lapierre – watches the game from the pressbox.
• • •
Bulldogs win ninth in a row – a franchise record.
Habs Inside/Out main RSS feed
If I was betting, Lapierre will sit when the berg returns. But, if Bergeron plays the way he was prior to his injury, Maxim will be back in quick enough.
MAB had no points in his last 5 games and hasn't scored a goal in 15. He was also -6.
Because as much as he gives us fits when playing D he's plain and simply awful as a forward.
Sergei is one of Jacques' most trusted forwards, if you can believe it (considering how their relationship started). He plays the toughest minutes of anybody not named Markov and comes out a positive. To think he'd be benched in favour of a disastorous 5 on 5 player (while the team is on a win streak without his PP abilities) is ridiculous. Sergei is WAY more valuable than Bergeron.
The last two spots will be between Darche, Lapierre, and Bergeron. That's if this team actually does get to full health, of course.
Having a completely defensively responsible line that can skate and pressure on the forecheck like Moen-Moore-Sergei will be HUGE in the playoffs, providing they get there. There's also some offensive ability on that line, too.
Sergei also has the added bonus of not looking out of place if a top 6 guy is knocked out of a game and he's asked to step up.
The way the team is playing right now, I don't think MAB has a lock on a spot when he returns. I've always maintained that playing MAB is a move borne of desperation. He's weak defensively and adds nothing as a forward. Would you replace Darche with him? Because that's the type of scenario you would be looking at once Cammalleri and Laps return. If the Habs could dress 21 players, he's the perfect 21. Unfortunately, the NHL is a 20 man league.
It's all about effort and intensity. When the Habs bring it they can play with anybody. Then again, you can say the same about so many other teams. Still, I'll take this team over last year's as will all of us her on HIO. Keep it going...
Ya, the brothers K need to get their butts in gear and fast! Habs need that 1st line scoring!
Read more:
http://www.habsaddict.com/2010/03/montreal-tampa-bay-streaking-habs-roll.html
I get bummed every time McGill is mentioned. My daugher was accepted to its engineering program last year [only 200 students accepted] yet she chose to go to RPI instead. I even tried to bribe her by promising to buy her a condo. I was looking forward to visiting her and eating smoke meat sandwiches.
Laps should sit. What a pretender. I dont understand the worship of the guy.
What worship? I just don't want to see another Lattendresse. He has skill he just never uses it. I don't understand why he plays so reserved most nights.
worship in that I know ppl who think he's the future and hot *** etc etc. Good to know that he has skills. Wish he'd use them.
His shootout goals prove he can deke and aim, while his ability to dangle some nights shows he HAS talent. Thing is the other 90% of the time he's just floating out there or missing passes, or just causing trouble / taking penalties.
I think he needs another stint in Hamilton personally, though I don't know if that's possible?
What about Paul Mara? Did he fall off the face of the earth or something?
follow me on twitter --- http://twitter.com/spoons91
What a shame eh? He's not been of any use so I can't argue. O'Byrne pretty much stole that 6th spot making it hard for Bergeron or Mara to be of any use. When Bergeron comes back he can be the PP specialist if dressed and Mara.....well he can continue to eat hot dogs in the box.
I think they are missing three important players...P.K. Subban should be on this team. Unfortunately there is no room for him right now.
Pre Game
C'mon Gary, do it. Do it. During his comments last night, Pierre Boivin laughingly quipped “...Pour le moment, l'equipe [Habs] des Quebecois...”. In other words, the Habs are the team for the people of Quebec as a whole cause there's no franchise in Quebec City at the moment. All I want to know is this: How can Columbus already have their BJs when a more-deserving Quebec City can't even have its 'Diques?
It's a beautiful day in the neighbourhood. Houde and his checkered sweater vest. Kinda s*** my mother had to force me to wear back when I was a wee lad.
Someone buy Brunet a laptop. During the pre-game discussion, Houde was clutching a stapled, multi-paged printout. Brunet? One sheet of looseleaf. His “analysis” was effectively that it's good when Gionta scores and bad when Marty St-Louis does. Painful. Does Benoit keep a pad of looseleaf in his knapsack for the Metro ride to the Lucien l'Allier station, you know, to scribble this fluff down? Houde did not look amused.
Game
Not happy about the call. Found this picture of Tampa coach Rick Tocchet reacting to the too-many-men call early in the first period. He should really try to get more sleep.
As the other team, you know you have problems when: The Habs effectively clog their slot, thus cutting off your passing lanes, and you have difficulty setting up. The Habs are first to the puck for two out of three periods and capitalize on that with a crisp transition game. The Habs are penetrating your zone with relative ease and going full out to your net. Unlike many a night at the Bell Centre, the guys looked relaxed and the short passes were, for the most part, unbobbled. AK46 excepted. Hang in there Tomas.
Gomez, Pouliot, and Gionta. I wants me another helpin' o' 'em sweet pataters!
New reffing conspiracy. By the end of the first period, the Habs had only received one penalty over the course of the previous five periods. I'm on this: The effin' NHL is trying to prevent the Habs from padding their PK efficiency stats by not calling anything. Frickin' Bettman and his bigwig cronies.
Perhaps Claude Rains could play him in the biopic. Don't know about you but, with the exception of some hustle after the game was effectively out of the reach midway through the third, I barely noticed Vinny. For the most part displaying zero secondary effort, this isn't the first time the big guy doesn't show up for a Habs game. Stamkos, on the other hand, never stops. Ever.
Every cloud has its silver lining. Gill first passes the puck to Vinny in the slot, who subsequently whiffs, so Hal courteously puts it directly on Stamkos' tape on the other side of the net. Stamkos delivers. No worries, folks, they're both in Gill's regular season pool and the standings are getting tight.
Post Game
It's the little things that make a difference. Again, maybe it's just me, but the games are slightly more enjoyable when Subway(TM)-free.
Bring on the Oilers!
JD
Good one JD. However, I've seen that Gill "pass" to Stamkos a dozen times now and I believe it was a sloppy clearing attempt as he tries to fire the puck away but muffs the the shot and it dribbles directly to Stamkos. (Oh crap, now that I have used the words "sloppy" "muff" and "dribble" in the same sentence I may have turn in my HI/O decoder ring)
Problem is, after reviewing last night's game, the NHL has awarded Gill an assist on the play.
Something to do with an obscure NHL rule going back to the game's early days; i.e. "...ifsoever the skated gentleman in possession of said puck peers athwart and, erelong and with great swith, peradventures a goal by the opposition, a goal assist shall forthwith be bestowed upon him..."
Clearly time to update the ol' rulebook.
Forsooth! The tome of rules governing such is past due. Updates are required.
In other news: NHL sues former Coyotes owner Jerry Moyes, for breach of contract, aka putting the team in bankruptcy and trying to sell to Balsillie.
"love cannot drown truth, Nefertiti"
Ya know ... I don't know what Jimmy Balls did to deserve the way he gets treated by the league. This is an NHL that has cosied up to crimminals and cheats. Now they are going after a guy who did all that could be done to make hockey work where hockey doesn't work. It blows me away. Perhaps this is normal in The Excited States and it's just that I am an ordinary Kanuk. I have never actually sued anybody ... is that normal ??
People sue a lot more down there...
"love cannot drown truth, Nefertiti"
Talking about McGill, I majored in a great program, cobbism with a minor in perseverance. Living in Mtl. I use to dream of attending such a fantastic school as sometimes I use to walk on their campus.
Back to the game at hand.
It has taken all year to put this roster together through acquisitions, promoting our kids and finally developing a chemistry that works. We are peaking at the right time and we will get deeper into the playoffs than most expected this year.
Every game is a play off game right now, enjoy the ride boys and girls.
It's a beautiful campus... in the summer. I'm logged into HIO from McGill right now!
I miss the hot dogs
At least you did it in the 60s, Boone, not now... thank god for that. The images....
Habs were ok last night. I wouldn't get too much ahead of ourselves and start dreaming about playoffs. They have gone on 3 and even 4 game winnings streaks this season only to come back and suck donkey balls in the next 5 games. So let's not get carried away just yet. The team is still very fragile and one injury away from offset balance and JM playing MAB on the first line. Been there, done that.
Hopefully they manage to stay healthy the rest of the way and play the win 3 lose 1 scenario and squeeze into the playoffs by the skin of their teeth.
I miss donkey balls.
I'm still doin' it ...
I'm impressed.
Was just looking at some NHL contracts. Did anybody know that Nick Backstrom, 4th leading scorer in the NHL, makes only 2.4 mil? Duncan F. Keith is gonna make 1.5 mil this year (his big contract begins next season). Ryan Kesler, around 1.4 mil.
Function of the draft and free agency rules. I'm actually all for an abolishment of the draft...with a hard salary cap and guaranteed salaries in place, we don't need to also force younger players into specific situations, often against their best wishes..
If there is a young hot-shot prospect (Stamkos, Tavares, etc.), let them sign for whoever they want. If they want money, they go to the highest bidder. If they want Cups, let them go to contenders. Take a discount to play for your hometown team, or take the money from a rebuilding team? Signing day would be a heck of lot of fun. There is simply no way a team can load up for bear and still be able to bid for the top young prospects. It forces more of the onus onto the GM's. The rules as they stand reward teams whose management do a miserable job.
One extra caveat to this would be put a maximum duration on contracts (I'm thinking 5-7 seasons, tops). It would make the league a lot more interesting.
Seems like a majority of the players who SHOULD make big bucks don't, and the ones that do usually don't deserve it (Crosby, Malkin, Ovechkin types aside).
I mean really, did anyone expect 15 goals from Metropolit? Or that Rask of all people would steal Thomas' job? Just can't predict stuff like that. Eventually those players get the money and roles they deserve, just takes time and consistency.
I must be technologically impaired,but
does anyone know how to download the RDS Video highlights of last nights habs and TB video?
"But Martin will have to pick who – among Darche, Sergei and Maxim Lapierre – watches the game from the pressbox."
Yapierre IMO. He's had a terrible season - regressed in fact.
Give me Darche and Sergei.
_________________________________
"Obviously it would be great, but they don't really hang conference titles in this rink. They raise Stanley Cup banners." - Carey Price
I also majored in Hedonism with a minor in Engineering. I don't believe they offer that program anymore, sad thing.
I know Gui has a bunch of goals with The Wild but I really like this Pouliot guy and I got a feeling there is more to see.
Spacek has a team best +12 right now. He may not be the offensive player we were hoping for but he's been pretty damn solid. I remember how Gorges always used to get props for leading the team in that category, well it'd be nice if Spacek got the same appreciation.
I think that's awfully impressive for a guy who's playing on the wrong side of the ice this season. It also tells me that he's more than made up for all those give-aways he's responsible for.
I think people either don't know or simply forget that he's playing on the wrong side. Good point.
Look like the kids are alright! http://theahl.com/a-successful-season-one-record-at-a-time-p141292
"I lined up next to him at a faceoff, looked over and said "Hi Rocket". All he did was growl." -Gordie Howe
I like it: setting a record for setting records.
Playoff team?
Giant -Mexican -Chicken
AK46-Pleks-Cammi
SK74-Moore-Moen
Darche-Metro-MAB
Marky-OB
Spaceman-Hammer
Gorges-Gill
Halak
Price (back-up)
Mara-Laps (press box)
Pyatt-Maxwell (back on the Farm)
the 3rd line will henceforth be called SK mo-mo
in honour of the Roughriders (oske wawa!!)
It has to be Lapierre riding the pine, he hasn't earned a spot like the others have. He's not tough, can't score and can't fight so what does he bring these days?
Not much.
At least sit him until he learns to work for his spot.
I don't think Laps should sit. SK is one of the lamest players on the roster. Sergei sits IMO. Laps brings more energy and smarts than SK, too.
inb4 flamebait
Agree
It's a MAB MAB world.
boone - did we watch the same game last night? my take is very different from yours
1) Halak was EXCELLENT - way better than the way you describe his effort - without the deflection off Moen and that excellent pass from Gill tape to tape to Stamkos??? oops! - this is a 5-1 game - St Louis' goal was a world class back hand on semi breakaway
2) it was not at all a good night for the tampa defence - in fact, they looked terrible - gomez is allowed to walk right to the net off the boards, darche's 2 goals, metropolit's and pouliot's were the result of a tampa defence (and centreman defence) that was SOFT and MISSING D -ZONE COVERAGE ASSIGNMENTS
Sorry - I hope the HABS run the table - Melnyk grew up in my old stomping grounds not far from Souvenir School and Western Laval High- I'm a big fan of Melnyk's - but.....
do you think that Gomez, Darche, and Metropolit will be allowed that amount of TIME AND SPACE if front of a well guarded NHL net??
Tampa looked terrible - as did Boston lately - Ananheim and even LA when we played them - these are ALL NON CONTENDERS - teams going no where this year.
Edmonton and Boston again are next - so this can continue;
we have games against Senators, and Sabres coming up - will we beat playoff bound teams as well???
one great big ball of negativity.......
great we won!!!
is that better?? :-)
I agree with your view on the game. Habs caught a break with a defensively poor TB corps. TB play was soft in all zones. When the Habs play teams that cover the net and the neutral zone well, they struggle. And, Halak was definitely sharp and better than average making some key saves late in the third. And, the goals that went in on him were near impossible to stop.
A similar story unfolded in SJ, but the Sharks are a lot better than the Lightning and pulled off a win. Sens and Sabres won't roll over.
1 - to me, excellent would imply that he would have stopped one or two of those 3 goals. He played well and did what he had to do. He difinitely earned a win but unlike other games, he didn't have to steal a win.
Not all games and scoring chances will be this easy but at least the habs showed enough interest last night to take advantage of very weak d-zone coverage by TB and similar goaltending. It's happened to us on many occasions so it is nice to turn the table a bit.
You gotta hope they can turn depending on the level of competition...they've surprised us before this year with their character. I'm not thinking they will all of the remaining games, but 60% of them would be nice and suffice.
Halak made key saves on Stamkos and Lecavalier on chances from right in front of the net; I saw some great saves.
could he have saved the deflection off Moen - maybe if it would have been re-directed at him
could he have saved the shot by Stamkos from just outside the crease after the unfortunate play by Gill - nope
very clean game by Halak - the type of game that teams need to keep winning - excellent work.
LA Kings have more points than anyone in the east except Pitt/Wash. I think they will make the play-offs.
absolutely correct - I meant to say that Kings played a terrible game that night against us; but it does look like they will make the playoffs.
It's looking like an LA - Phoenix 1st round showdown.
That would be some series.
Also for someone (me) who never gave BG credit for anything i have to admit the trade fro Lats for Benny has been working out fantastically. Good to see Lats doing well and even better to see Pouliot doing well i really like this kid he is really starting to get it going would be exciting to see what he can do in a full season after creating some chemistry with Gio and Gommer.
Nice to see a guy who has worked hard to get back into an NHL lineup get rewared with a couple goals -- congrates Mat Darche
To whom it may concern: Why was my account deleted?
You tripped our Negativity Detector. It uses highly sophisticated algorhythms to delete the accounts of annoying contrarians who are bringing everyone down for no good reason.
Not to be confused with the Timometer or the Tankometer which filter out the annoying negativity but still allow the humorousness to pass through.
Usually f-bombs will get you kicked
Can't the team suspend Max Lapierre for the rest of the season??? Maybe he could hang with BGL. Maybe he could visit Hamilton for good. Maybe he could be the waterboy.
I just don't want him on this team, he is literally USELESS.
Last night's game marked Halak's 50th career win in 89 games!
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________ "This kid is going to win a Stanley Cup one day and hopefully I'll be with him when that happens" - Saku Koivu
.562 ...that's a decent winning %.
Here’s one for the Statisticians: When the Montreal Canadiens have scored 5 goals in a game, how many goals per game did they score in their next 1-2 games?
Last Month, 5-3 over the Penguins than shut out by the Bruins 3-0, then 6-5 over the Capitals and only a pair against the the Flyers in a 3-2 loss.
February: 5-3 over the Stars, than a 4-2 loss to Ottawa. 6-0 win over NYR, than a 2-1 loss to the Senators the next game.
December: 5-1 over the Bruins, than a 3-1 win over the Flyers. 5-1 win over the Canes, than a 3-2 win over Toronto. 5-4 win over Florida, than shut out 1-0 by Buffalo.
November: 5-3 win over Colombus, than a 3-1 loss to Pittsburgh.
October: 5-1 win over the Islanders, than a 5-4 win over NYR, which then went to a 3-2 win (SO) over the Islanders. A 5-4 win over Toronto (SO Win) than a 5-4 loss to the Thrashers.
So basically, 2010 has produced a terrible next-game scoring record after a 5-goal game.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. http://habsandhockey.blogspot.com/
So then what you're saying is that Carey is going to start the next game. ;)
_____________________________________
Cheer for the crest on the front of the jersey, not the name on the back.
I love Gomez's comment about starting to look like the team we should have been all year. We've seen flashes of it, but the guys are only now finding the level of consistency, intensity and urgency necessary to play well night after night. Part of the problem has certainly been the horrendous injuries, which have meant that we have yet to play a full game with a healthy lineup; we started game 1 without Hamrlik, who was recovering from a virus, and lost Markov in the middle of it; and on New Year's Eve we started a game against the Panthers with everyone but lost Andrei Kostitsyn before the end of it. We are still missing two key members of the team, and Pelkanec's line and the powerplay have suffered accordingly, but barring further injuries, we should be healthy for the crucial last few weeks.
I really believe the famous gelling process, for which we were willing to allow about 20 games, has actually taken most of the season, which, when you think about it, isn't that surprising. A bunch of guys from different teams and different systems are thrown together under a new coach; it's going to take a lot of practice and play for them to learn where each other is on the ice, how to cover for each other, how to function as a unit. I think we're starting to see the results of all that work. The chemistry of the lines looks better, passing is better, zone clearance is less laborious, the team is overall more cohesive than earlier in the season.
And the Olympic break was a huge benefit, especially for our older players but also our small forwards. Hamrlik and Spacek were certainly tired, perhaps Gomez and Gionta as well. Everyone now looks energized and focused, and we're no longer seeing the sluggish starts that were so typical of the team earlier. Our last two games before the Olympics were so disheartening that I was about ready to give up on the team and found getting back to NHL hockey after the great Olympic tournament a distinct letdown, but now I'm starting to feel very excited about this team, especially when I cojmpare their intensity and determination to the lacklustre efforts of last year's team this time last year.
Another W which was expected.
We are playing catch up hockey and will it be enough?
Check the Eastern Conference Standings and Atlanta, New York and yes even Tampa Bay are breathing their necks behind us with games in hand and they could go on a winning streak like our Habs.
I dunno, I still feel we'll fall short for a playoff spot, the games we should have won in the regular season will catch up to us.
Another W for sure against Edmonton is guranteed, right Habs fans?
Glad to see the Bulldogs playing great hockey! Great value for your money.
Grit and character begins in Hamilton.
"We will win the Cup one day only with ? in the nets "
Even if we don't play and the teams behind us win all their games in hand we are still ahead by points and wins. We are not the ones playing catchup,its the rangers,tampa and atlanta who are playing catchup.We control our own destiny. Must suck for you that we won't finish 12th or 13th like you said we would in your many useless and clueless "mark my words" predictions. How about those bulldogs? Funny since you complained all summer about lever being let go and boucher being hired.
Leafstv "telling their fans they deserve to win for over 40 years"
Habs on a roll and the sky is still falling?
Yes, the games we should have won will hurt us but the games we should have lost will help us...it's all about balance...82 games is a long time and at the end of the day after all is said and done, we will be where we deserve to be.
The bottom line is that if the Habs make the playoffs they'll be on a roll going in as opposed to last year's slide from 4th to barely making it in at 8th. Should they make the playoffs I think they'll offer up serious competition if not an upset to their 1st round opponents. This coming from your friendly neighbourhood HH.
Could depend on the matchup. I'm not crazy about them playing the Penguins, Sabres or the Devils, but think they could give the Capitals (although that is now tougher after their trade deadline moves), Senators, or Flyers fits.
And not a hint of armour in sight. I'm with you HH.
I's like to see this team stay intact with Cammy replacing Maxwell. I'd rather Pyatt than Lapierre right now and MAB can be the 7th D on the bench and not the 12th forward on the ice.
What's this about not seeing Price until the playoffs? If the Habs make the playoffs it'll be because of Halak and despite Price. If the Habs make the playoffs we shouldn't see Price any more this season after that. If the Habs don't start Halak in the playoffs I'll seriously have a conniption. If we see do Price before the playoffs it should be for 1-2 games tops to give Halak a break and then we should only see Price next season, possibly in another team's uniform.
"maybe we don't see Carey Price until the Canadiens have clinched a playoff spot". I'd prefer never seeing Carey Price in Habs uniform again!
JM has done a good job. A new team, ten new players to be integrated into a team unite, ten players lost for ten or more games to injury. A team picked to have to fight for a playoff spot by most pundits if healthy, has staid in the race all year despite crippling injuries. To suggest that it has done so without crediting the coach exposes a great lack of knowledge about the game and what it takes to coach in it.I cant believe some here are calling to replace him given the record and circumstances without having finished a full yr on the job.The Ahl is not the NHL, and our last calder cup winning coach was let go last spring .Get a grip and take your meds , all in all Martin has done just fine job, in
You're right. He's a motivator and a genius.
...trivia question
...PK Subbinator has the second-best +/- in the AHL at +38 ...IF He maintains this He also will break an Hamilton Bulldog team record
...which former Bulldog and current Canadiens' defenceman holds the existing Bulldog team +/- record ?
...would You believe ...Marc-Andre Bergeron (+/-34 2002-2003) ?
...maybe a BIT premature to say WHAT significance PK's AHL +/- will mean in the NHL ? ...though I can't wait until PK is One Of Ours
Habitant means PASSIONATE HOCKEY
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=423049
One player that is really starting to bring a lot of ?s. Sergei. What's up with him? He had a golden chance to play on the 2nd line and prove what he can do and he bails.
When he should shot, he passes, etc...
There are some sparks here and there, but that's what they are. Sparks. I really hope something happens with him. He was good at the olympics, what happened?
------
Komisarek: 0 - 4 - 4 (-9) http://www.nhl.com/ice/player.htm?id=8469460
Sergei is bringing so little to the team. He should sit IMO.
Not all players who produce in junior translate that into their NHL career. Carbo is a prime example; he tore it up in junior only to end up as a defensive specialist in the NHL. SK is playing smart defensively and is being a responsible checker. His production points to him being a 3rd liner and there's nothing wrong with that. Not every player can chalk up points like Sid the Kid.
Good comment.
I also like SK74 alot but agree he needs to start producing. Hes averging 14mins of ice but 11Pts in 35 games is just not good enough for someone with his offensive ability. Maybe he can develop a chemistry with Dominic Moore as his centre but next season will be his make or break season because down on the farm, Brock Trotter is tearing it up.
Trotter's not as big as SK74 but he is also turns 23 in September (SK74 turns 23 on Mar 20). In 61 games this year hes leading the Bulldogs in points with; 28G, 36A for 65Pts and is +25. Its funny how no one even mentions his name as a potential call-up. Its always PK Subban people want.
I hope SK74 can pull it together because his time is running out.
sk74 did produce in junior..he will be 23 this month..if he does not produce next year he may need a change of teams( like what happened with pouliot)
I don't think he and JM mix at all. It's similar to the Filatov Versus Hitchcock issue in Colombus that had Filatov jump earlier this season (although the Jackets still have his NHL rights) to play in the KHL becausse he just couldn't work with Hitchcock, he'll likely be back next season with Hitchcock gone. I don't think Sergei ever really got out of JM's doghouse even though he came back playing a strong two-way game form the Dogs, which is something JM should really like.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. http://habsandhockey.blogspot.com/
all young guys don't mesh well with JM...he's known to rely more on veterans. that being said...the kostitsyns should stay on as depth players as they have the skillset to be top 9 players on every team in the NHL and come at a relatively cheap price (4 million for both of them).
- Team Halak V.S. Team Price...Montreal Canadiens Fans are similar to 14 year-old Girls going through Puberty.
I realize, after his section about McGill, that I have a man-crush on Boone. I blame the Stoli.
Habs are gellin' like Magellan!
-Dustin-
"The good thing about drinking during games is if they lose, you're too drunk to care during and too hungover to care after." - J.T.
Interesting: only Moen, Gorges, and Plekanec have played every game this season.
"love cannot drown truth, Nefertiti"
Now you've gone and jinxed it...
I hope you're pleased with yourself mister.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. http://habsandhockey.blogspot.com/
My main worry about possibly beginning to do well is that we'll keep JM for another year and not bring GB up from the Dogs.