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About last night ...
posted by Mike Boone at 8h13 EST on Feb 14
Andrei Markov played 30 brilliant minutes last night. His skating and playmaking are off the charts. If, as expected, Roman Hamrlik reurns on Saturday, Canadiens have three solid defence pairings: Markov-Mike Komisarek (who will have to be at his physical best against ther Flyers), Hamrlik-Ryan O'Byrne, who was excellent last night; and Josh Gorges (playing the right side, where he's more comfortable) and Francis Bouillon (another moose who'll be useful against Philly).
Higgins played a great game and so did Saku Koivu. There were signs – admittedly, against a Florida team missing five regulars – that the Captain's line is about to shake off its lethargy. Sergei Kostitsyn is not completely in sync with his linemates, but he helps out with his hockey sense and smart positional play
A Koivu line resurgence is essential because as good as Tomas Plekanec-Andrei Kostitsyn and Kovalev have been, they can't carry the team for the next six brutally-competitive weeks.
And the supporting cast is going to have to step up.
Accepted wisdom is you stand pat after a win, but Guy Carbonneau may be tempted to tinker with his third and fourth lines.
I'd like to see Max Lapierre centring Guillaume Latendresse and Mark Streit. Because the Flyers are in town, Tom Kostopoulos and Steve Bégin should flank Bryan Smolinski (who was a team-leading 7-4 on faceoffs last night).
• I liked the PK last night. Steve Montador's goal came at the end of a Florida power play and was a fluke deflection. Pleks, Kovy, Koivu and Higgins are great in shorthanded situations.
• Objects in the rear view mirror may be closer than they appear: Canadiens have three more games against the Buffalo Sabres.
• Michael Ryder: Trade the poor guy already. This is torture. Package him with Dandenault and Halak for Jarett Stoll or Chris Gratton.
• Breeze to the pressbox until further notice.
• If, as last night tantalizingly suggested, Carey Price is about to get World Juniors/Calder Cup hot, this city will go bananas.
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Thanks teacher i'll do that.
Hi hab fans i'am back.Just thought i would check in before this big home and home with the flyers.This could be a turing point in our season.Don'nt get me wrong we will be in the playoffs.But these flyers are for real.It would be nice to walk out of this with 3 points.My take on the trades montreal should make.I like our cap but i think he is getting a little old in the tooth.Taking penalties at bad times and thats because he can't keep up with the young bucks.Ryder, what happend to him.On abrighter note u have to like this jorges kid wow is he ever getting it done as they say on cjad.Chow for now folks GO HABS GO.
Hey Postie Jim, Welcome.
I think it might be better if you posted on the Flyers-Habs gameday article by Dave Stubbs on the main page. This one is old and not sure if anyone will read it now.
TSN reports that leafs are making a playoff push...i hope they finish 9th...and miss out on stamkos and any other valuable draft picks..
They're last in the conference, and second-last in the entire league. Just exactly does that qualify as a "playoff push"?
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"All bow down before the Komisaurus Rex!"
Chuck, I'm with you. The truth is the Leafs are making a push for last overall. They want to give the impression that they haven't thrown in the towel...but anyone who lives within a 100 mile radius of Toronto, and reads newspapers or watches TV knows that the Leafs, and the Toronto media, have bought into the "first pick overall in the draft" possibility.
And, the cynical side of me says they will have the first pick in this summer's draft. Case in point, the Penguins were a dying franchise, but a franchise headed by Mario Lemieux. The league did not want to lose that franchise...presto, first pick in the Sid Crosby draft! Now, the Leafs carry a lot of weight in the NHL...a ton of weight! Think about how much revenue the Leafs generate for the league. The league will hold it's little behind closed doors "lottery" and presto, the Laffs will have first pick. It's still all good though, because the Laffs will ruin that pick by placing so much pressure on this kid to carry the team to the promised land.
Yup, cynical....but don't bet against my scenario.
TommyB. - If the laffs do get 1st overall who sayes they wouldn't trade it to Detroit for Chris Chelios and AAron Downey.
hey as much as the toronto media and fans have bought into the top pick idea...the team hasn't...go check TSN and read how stajan and belak are all about making the playoffs...it's pretty funny. belak wants it to be a cinderella story...maybe they'll make a movie about it... 2008 Leafs Miracle: we made the playoffs.
What else would you expect a player to say?
belak and his 2 mins of ice time a game,lol
I think Matelas Bonheur made a smart decision to advertise on this site.
It helps make Dave and Mike's baby even more of a success. It is truly an innovative idea that worked.
Ryder, Danadeneault, Begin and a draft pick for C Marcel Goc from San Jose!
"We will win the Cup only with Carey Price in the nets"
san jose doesn't need another underachiever.
Goc? 3 NHL seasons and he's accomplished 40 points...what can he do for us?
But he's good at faceoffs.
OK, I'll bite.
What can Marcel Goc offer us that would be better than picking up anyone else?
Is that you wish or are you know something the rest of us don't?
As nice as it would be to have Ryder's 25 goals per season, the Canadiens are the 4th highest scoring team in the NHL. Quite impressive for the Habs!
You are correct Kevin, lots of goals. But did you know we are in 20th place with our goals against. Very large problem for us. Because this is a total team stat.
Ian - Even with all his offensive stars, Scotty Bowman was a stickler for having the lowest GA total in the NHL. Defense first.
The Original 24 Cups
Ian
True. But we are ranked 3rd(tied) for differential of GF and GA, which, to me, is a more telling statistic.
Looks like you young guys all had your StatFlakes this morning.
They are nutritious and crunchy. Part of a healthy diet. :)
Gilbert
It occurred to me today that the standings might be a bit different today if Ryder was up around 20 goals. It is quite possible that we would actually be ahead of the Senators right now. Pretty crazy, but it goes to show you how much his lack of production has actually hurt. Too bad, I like Ryder alot, what a terrible year personally and teamwise to have a slump.
The other stat that jumps out for the coming weekend is that Daniel Briére is a -20. Now that's wild on a team like the Flyers...
Makes sense, as I remember Ryder as being the guy that scored a lot of tying, winning and go-ahead goals in the last few years. Those key goals are considered by coaches and GM's when assessing what a player brings to the ice, as opposed to the guy who scores one during the last minute, when his team loses 4-1 anyways, or who scores the 8th goal to beat the laffs 8-0.
also noted by tsn, canadiens held a optional skate, and only nine players took part (Hamrlik, S. Kostitsyn, Latendresse, Lapierre, Ryder, Begin, Huet, Price and O'Byrne).
i thought there would be more guys that have been healthy scratches would be out there. i.e. dandenault, kostopolous.
good to see both goalies out there though
Wasn't Kostopolous heading over to the 110% studio to settle some issues with that racist idiot?
What issues with a racist idiot?
A guy on 110% last night repeatedly called him Tom Kosto f****n polos. I almost fell off my chair. Wasn't it George Carlin who coined the "words you can't say on television". All that aside it was a stupid racist xenophobic joke the kind you would expect from their ilk. I thought PJ Stock was going to cork him one!
Why would anybody be even watching 100%? This show is so absolutely horrible. I probably watched 2 or 3 episodes in the past and just could not stand all the screaming and tripping over each other to provide their "invaluable input".
When you have likes of Rejean Tremblay on the show, what do you really expect?
There's the Habs annual blood drive today and many of the players have certain times to show up at this event rather than all being there at the same time.