No changes for Habs

I'm not sure if anyone has seen this, but apparently one of the reasons Lapierre and Laraque were scratched was because of what Lapierre said on RDS' post-game show Saturday night. He said something to the effect that Laraque told him he doesn't need to be an instigator (light fires under oppenents are the words he used) anymore (now that Laraque's there), but we all know that that is and should be Lapierre's role. There's a video about it where Jacques Demers gets really angry and basically says that Carbo is the coach not Laraque and that Lapierre should see it that way... It's called "On s'ennuie de Streit et Souray" and it's on rds.ca ... they first talk about the Power Play without Streit and Souray and then after they talk about Lapierre and Laraque. Enjoy! "You can take the money and not be happy. Or you can take the dream." - Alexander Ovechkin

We have good enough players, stay the course and get Laps back in on Thursday with Begin and Tom. In Bob we Trust.

I take a shot at dissecting the remaining Habs game in November. I'm at http://dennis-kane.com/

I heard on the team 990 that the habs are trying to get Shanahan. I wonder if his leadership would help the habs. but it couldn't hurt I guess. Tho we already have Lang at age 38, Kovalev 35, Koivu 34, Hamrlik 34, Breezer 39. Do we really want a 40 year old? what do you guys think?

TSN is saying that Claude Lemieux is looking for a comeback. Give him a tryout, nothing to lose.

Must be nice to be genius couch potatoes. Everyone is slaming Carbo and the entire team. Last time I checked the standings we had 10 wins in 17 games. Any other year all the fans would be happy, this year everyone wants the coach fired and 1/2 the team traded. For God's sake, it's early in the season and the team is doing pretty darn good. It doesn't matter that they are not in first place now. Let them sort things out which I am sure they will. If a need arises I'm sure BG will take things in hand and make a call up or trade. I would sooner have them going through this rough stretch now than in May or June. Once they get their act together this team is unbeatable, no team can skate with them and they will get over this hump, just give them time. Last week Kovy scored the shootout winner and was the hero of Quebec, now people are slaming him too. Maybe if you were actually in the dressing room you might know what is going on with the team but your not and neither am I. This is not the time to panic. I, for one, am happy with the team that we have, another Dman wouldn't hurt but it isn't required yet. Not every fan is going to like every player on a team but look at the team as a whole, if there was internal problems GB would sort it out in a heartbeat. There is a big CH on the chest of everyone of those Canadians sweaters and I believe every player on this team is proud to wear it.....

I think a good step in the right direction would be for the best oldest player who is the least without reproach this season to speak up and assume a greater leadership role in the lockerroom: Roman Hamrlik.

No changes? I can't believe it... I can't stand having Tanguay, Koivu and Kovalev on the same line. And how about we try BGL in front of the net on the power play, Holmstrom style... just for a game. See how it works out. In the last number of games our boys have simply not been paying the price to get the puck. They don't mind the "dump", but forget to "chase". We have one of the fastest clubs in the East. Pound the puck in through the trap and get two guys barreling into the end zone on the other side to get it. If they have to get hit, so be it. People continue to talk about how the fourth line has been the best. Take notice - this is the only line being agressive on the forecheck. Begin, Dandy, and Tommy K are the only guys who are going into the corners and battling for pucks. Maybe what we need is a fourth line guy on each of the top three lines. Bring some energy to these lines and demote a few of the non-inspired to the fourth unit or ban them to the press box. I don't mind losing a game, but I get really frustrated when it seems like your team isn't even putting in the effort! Price has to face 48 pucks, holds the team in the game in Carolina, and they reward him by doing what?? Again, I know it's way too early to panic, but if you let these things slide they only get worse. Carbo and the coaching staff - and the leaders in that room, be they first liners or fourth liners, need to call each other out and get back to playing the way we, and they, all know they are capable.

I wrote this in the Other Wing when it mentions panicky fans....There are some good points in the article, but last year was a lot different than this year. Last year: No pressure, easy schedule, a powerplay that OFTEN bailed out average play. When the powerplay stopped clicking last year, we saw what happened in the playoffs. This team this year isnt that much different, it isn't a tougher team and the schedule is tougher, and injuries are bound to affect us. And while the talent on the team is good, its not that much beyond any other NHL team like most Montreal fans seem to think. This team has to learn to play tough and fearless or else...

For the love of god carbo, at least go back to the opening night roster(u know when we were winning and playing well). Do we need another night of zero scoring chances to prove the a pleky-higgy-ttb line doesn't work? Remember last year when we tried ttb,dandy,streit and smolinski with koivu and higgins when ryder couldn't get the job done? Its the same thing, just a different center. The problem was finally solved when a call up was made (sergei kostitsyn). Kind of like alot of posters are suggesting now with d'agostini. koivu-kovy does not work, and will never work. Tanguay fits nice with koivu, but the other winger should either be lats,higgy or ak46, not kovy. A note on d'agostini, he leads the dogs in goals,points,pp goals,sh goals and shots on goal. He has 57 shots on goal(more then any hab player also) in 16 games. The guy loves to shoot the puck and is obviously good at it. He is a much better option then ttb on the top 3 lines.

CKAC is saying something about Gainey meeting with Sundin "par courtoisie". Ex nihilo nihil fit

Comparing This Year to Last : The 30 team Look (see how we stand on points, goals and goals against) .. by James Mirtle ..... http://www.fromtherink.com/2008/11/19/665526/comparing-this-year-to-las

Why is everyone panicking? yeah the habs have played like crap, but the wings also played pretty shitty at times last year. Remember that 7 game skid they had? ~Listen to the rooster! He knows what he's saying!

None of us are privy to what happens behind closed doors, that is obvious. Equally obvious is that something DID occur between Carbo and his players. Kovalev has decided not to play the way he can and it has affected the other Russian players on the team. Kovalev is the undisputed leader and spokesman for the Russians and his opinion of Carbo will be reflected by them as well. I guess you could trade or try to punish Kovalev, but with so many Russians on the team that would be suicide. We all remember how the fiasco with Samsonov killed the team two years ago. BG has to get rid of Carbo to clear the cancer in the team before it completely consumes it.

oh come on! Lapierre! When your 4th line looks like it has more offensive potential than your entire team put together.. there is a problem Koivu, Kovalev and Tanguay.. just don't seem to have anything? I dunno anymore. Maybe I can play right wing? Meh... as long as the habs make it into the playoffs.. I don't care.

I think theres more of a problem than changing lines.The team does not show the desire or pride,something is getting them down and dont belive its Carbo.acouple of years ago someplayerrs didnt like Julien and would,play for him.I think the same problem has creeped in and dont change the coach change the players who are causing this.

So the all star voting seems to be getting a little fishy. Sid the Kid just jumped up 10'000 votes while Tanguay didn't move at all. It seems that the NHL isn't cool with the habs being the starting 6 after all.

It's not differential equations gang. The same lineup with a decent work ethic alone would yield much better results. I still covet my trio of reliable 50-goal scorers on the fourth line though. This just in: Pleks has put the cocktail dress and six inch heels in storage. He plans to wear flats and try slacks tomorrow night against the Sens!

I posted this early today, but I think it applies to the juggling act of Carbo that we are talking about. I love Carbo, but does his style of coaching, speedy and highly skilled type players really work out. Can you really take the Rocket, Lafleur, Cournoyer and turn them into shot blockers and defensive specialists and hip checkers, of coarse not!. But you can make up lines with all three type of players. You can not make a line with three fancy Dans on it. The same goes for making up a line that has three solid fore checkers on it that don't back check. Carbo has had enough time now to evaluate his players, to make up four lines that compliment each other and stay with them long enough so they can learn how to play with each other, game in and game out. You can not build team play if you have not built your team. Learning how to coach takes time and experience for sure, but the clock is about to strike midnight for Carbo to get this team to bond. Some nights we look like an audition for slap shot 3 out there.

Sens have a depleted lineup ,I guess that means we 're going to murder them ..right?

The real test is going to be Sat. night. Boston beat the crap out of the whole team both physically and on the score board. If we don't get up for this one in a very huge way in Mtl. and on St. Patrick's day, we can kiss this season good-by. You can't buy pride, it is either there or it is not.

The lines of Kovi, Koivu and Tanguay and Pleks line have worked so great for us and looked so in sync that there is no reason to change them. Nope. I also would not change anything in on the PP. Great team all around. Was last night the best game they've ever played?