Game 31: Habs snap losing skid with 5-2 win

Hey Guy's Habs played good --- please dont assocate Milbury with Don Cherry or the Bruins guys a stiff...excepted 2 jobs in a month and baile don both within 2 weeks of taking them

Great game!! The offence looked good. D'AGS has been a super addition. When Koivu and Higgins get back the team will have three lines that can score. Defence was fantastic as Richards, Gagne, and Carter were really shut down. Komisarek is excellent. During a Philly charge he blocked three consecutive shots!!! GO!HABS!GO!

To be honest, Kovy's comments about getting a goal for #900 make me sick."That's the main thing I wanted to do and not get an assist for 900th point'. You almost get the feeling he would have refused to set someone up up to avoid having an assist be his 900th point. It really cuts to the heart of what is wrong with him and why he shouldn't be wearing the 'C'. Let's just hope he starts potting them at a regular pace and serves the roles he is good at, consistently.

it was a solid win..far from spectacular but a much needed win. overall team defense was suspect and we were lucky the flyers were a little off. we played tough and good teams score when the opportunity presents itself. i still feel we need another stud dman to help out in front and bring some stability to that part of our game. Dispite all the talk about how BGL is useless..ha we need him ,his mere presence is felt by other teams and with Komi back we play bigger.

"Good Habits" Habs Rise To Flyers Challenge http://www.habseyesontheprize.com/2008/12/19/697526/good-habits-habs-ris...

I agree that Milbury is the wrong guy for a Habs game. He is the heir apparent to Don Cherry. His comments about Kovalev were, in the least, infuriating. CBC does their best to negatively influence fans against the Habs. Does it work? No way. Habs fans are as loyal as ever and I'm sure the ratings on Saturday night reflect that. I know of many people, including myself, who tune in to RDS rather than watch HNIC (even if the Habs are on CBC which is very seldom). Did CBC think they were tossing the Habs fans a bone by showing these Thursday night games? Sure, they increased Habs' broadcasts, but on Thursday night? Come on. Even this coming Saturday, they're showing Tronna in Pittsburgh. Meanwhile, our Habs are staying on Canadian soil hosting Buffalo, but unless you live in La Belle Province, you must watch on RDS (which I will). There...it's off my chest. Go! Habs Go!

My prediction before the game ?... 4-1 Habs I'm going to the Casino tonight... Habitant means PASSIONATE HOCKEY http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=423049

I watched the game on RDS' Canadiens Express....the team looked good, but their defensive coverage still needs some work, I only caught the first two periods but it looked like they left players open in the high slot often....and with the snipers the Flyers have, les Boys were lucky that only one of those opportunities went in against them....keep talking and yelling at each other on the ice....ESPECIALLY when your opponent is alone with all the time in the world to blast the puck from the slot.

Great to have Komisarek back, I think the team has more confidence with him in the line-up. Even saw glimpses of last year's Kovalev. Hope his scoring touch is back.....GO HABS GO !!

I guess HAB-STUDENT was right. There must have been 10 or 12 occassions when I said to myself, "boy, do I miss O'Bryne tonight. We will not poosibly win without his toughness." Go Habs Go!! "I can't hear what Jeremy(Roenick) is saying because my Stanley Cup rings are in my ears" - Patrick Roy Habsrule

Nice to see Kovy enjoying a game again. Hope it continues. You couldn't wipe the smile off his face last night, esp after the goal....

I love Lats & Lapierre together!!....Lats always plays better with Laps...c'est l'intensité éléctrique francophone...I really hope those two stay together forever...I also love Begin at center...hopefully carbs keeps him there this time!

Last season, around this time of year, the Habs separated themselves from the pack and started to gel as a team. This season has been a roller coaster ride, but the signs of them coming together and becoming a contender are there. Hard work and dedication to the details of winning are being displayed by all 4 lines. When Koivu gets back (February?), the depth of the team that BG has put together will begin to tell. Gilbert 2008/09 is the season of the Habs

Did you all see the hit that Kovy put on Kimmo Timonen in the corner? I knew that Kovy was focus for this game and it showed tonight. The team gained energy from that and took the game to Philly. Do you see Carbo talking to his players behind the bench and got himself into the game as well. Carbo probably coached his best game of the season last night. Carbo did a lot of things right for a change. Here is my six sense worth. (1) Kovy demonstrated early in the game when he hit Kimmo Timonen with a bone crushing hit in the corner that brought the crowd to their feet. Kovy was in the game all night long and scored a beauty and games 1st star. (2) TP-14 was outstanding in the face-off circle tonight and that was a key in gaining control of the puck in your own zone. (3) Habs PP is finally starting to get back on track. Scoring 2 PP goals tonight has to be a plus. They move the puck around quickly and never game Philly a chance to get set. Keep moving the puck around until they find the open guy for a great scoring opportunity. (4) D'Agostini scores the 1st goal by using his speed and set the tone for the rest of the team to compete. His play has motivated the rest to play hard and scoring chances will come by outworking the other team. (5) SK- 74 and GUI all scored a goal tonight. That has to be a plus and maybe these 2 will continue to score in the coming games. All in all they are starting to play like they can. Carbo has to be very pleased. (6) The return of Komisarek was a huge success and he played hard all night long. His play has helped the rest of the D to play their game as well.

Milbury: Surely there are sufficient Canadians to have as a play by play colour man on these broadcasts who meets the requirements of being biased, ignorant and thus controversial. I thought the CBC filled that quotient with Don Cherry. Isn’t one Boston biased, bitter and twisted loud mouth on HNIC sufficient? Milbury, whose credentials as a “hockey-man” are dubious at best, ( ask his former employers in Long island and Boston), continually contradicts Jim Hugheson with his obvious and crude attempts to instigate controversy adding little or nothing.

Kovy wins faceoffs!

See what happens what O'Byrne doesnt play! PLEASE keep not playing him. Well done tonight boys! Welcome back Komi!!! Oh, and really glad to see Halak post a victory, he deserved it.

You know what guys? This site has become a complaint fest. Thanks to guys like Habs Prof, or whoever else is crapping on anybody on the Habs You love the young guys on the Bulldogs so much, why dont you ask them out for dinner date to le mas des oliviers? You love to crap on O'Byrne, maybe you should buy him a beer and tell him how to do his job. You love to sh*t on Gui, well maybe you should teach him the skills you think he is lacking. And if Breezer is really that bad, maybe you ought to put down your beer, maybe you should profess to no.71 himself and tell him how to play defense! And if you think Carbo has communication problems. Well, maybe you should look at yourself and see why you're spending hours on this website complaining about one man's effort at his job. Yeah Prof, why dont you send it in?

wow. going to the net finally.lats is playing better and using his size to stay in front of the net where he scored.about time carbo figured out thats where most goals are scored from and did somthing about it. kovey musta downed a few pre game red bulls and was great tonight, and notice koveys goal wasnt top right corner bread basket like usual,goalies have figured him out, his goal was low left.komi 's return deff helps.dags is f'n unreal whata skater,scorer.his work effort seems to have rubbed off on the rest of this team. now weve gotta play at this level every game and not slack it when we play lower teams as weve been doing. awesome game, we beat my bosses team and a got to rub it in !! go habz go!!

It's obvious that BGL has a bad injury"hip" and it's not going away.I also noticed Begin has leg or foot probs as well and I'm thinking Kovy's not as fast as last year from a lower body problem.I think it would be a good idea to let them heal for a big finish and use the farm team the way it's meant to be used when it's as talented as it is ,plus it's good for development of the young guy's.I don't see it hurting at all ,just making it a faster ,hungrier team ,while preparing for the big finish with the vets.

Komi "Once we realize that we have to be a hardworking team and nothing will come easy, WE WILL BE A HARD TEAM TO BEAT." Bob sign this guy. --------------------------------------------------------------- Stupid people do stupid things. Smart people out smart each other

Personally, I like Sergei-plecs-kovy, and andrei-koivu-dago though i think which ever way you arrange the kostytsin's on those lines it would work. Andrei, however, is a more dominant player and it make less sense to put him with Kovalev, at least for the sake of Andrei's development.

I do worry about Brisebois on the ice and I don't think the Habs can win the cup with him as one of the top 6 defenseman on the team. However, I prefer him in the lineup way more than having Rynn "the purse snatcher" O'Byrne in the lineup.

I just got back from the game. Quite a game. My son Jean-Philippe and I celebrated a wonderful demonstration of speed, passing and grit by the Habs. I also just read about Milbury's comments. You know, you get offended when somebody you respect surprises you and says something you don't appreciate: like when Red Fisher a couple of weeks ago took Kovalev to task. Right or wrong, I was somewhat offended by Red's comments because I respect him. Now comes along Milbury. Water off a duck's ***. Don't waste your breath about this idiot. Kovalev has been working hard from day one and now is beginning to reap the rewards of his efforts. Blame a poor PP for his lowered production. If you really want to blame someone, blame Bob G for letting Streit go when he could have kept him for a song, around 3M. But to waste your breath on Milbury, I say he's CRAP. That's all. And the CBC for hiring him. Long gone are the days of intelligent and fair commentary with the likes of René L and Gilles T or Danny G and *** I. About the game: a hell of a demonstration of speed and beauty the Habs put on. And not just Kovalev but D'Ags, Sergei, Halak and especially Lats. Lats, 6 shots, 4 hits and some PP time produced 1 goal and 1 assist. BTW, forget his -2. When this kid realizes he can produce on a regular basis, and Carbo plays him more and more on the PP, he'll definitely move up in the line-up. Remember, nobody among the forwards has his size. Something I believe Bob and Carbo realize. Now, all he has to do is continue as he's been doing the last 2-3 games. What I take away the most from this game is the play of the 'kids': Lats, D'Ags, Sergei, AK, Halak in nets who's beginning to play like a number 1. Also don't forget a kid of 23 by the name of Gorges. Now, it's a question of chemistry and momentum and Coaching. Let's see the Habs win the next two and then we'll begin rolling. Georges D Mats who? Frankly Martha I don't give a damn...where he plays. I like Lang a frickin lot. He's for real. As for the above comment on Brisebois. I appreciate both the comment and Brisebois if that makes any sense. i.e. Brisebois has been carrying a load O'Byrn should have carried 70-30. It's been the other way around. Brisebois 70 and O'Byrn 30. I believe Bob G should get us a robust D by trade deadline. Otherwise, we're a little too light.

Couple of cents from the peanut gallery: (1) Great win against a strong team. And to think we are missing some key players like Koivu, Higgins and A. Kostitsyn (for the 3rd period). Very impressed with the result. (2) It's a little thing but when the Flyers were laying on the pressure late in the game, Carbonneau smartly called a time-out to rally the troops. Not long ago he wouldn't have done so but he did tonight. (3) Seems like the young guys have gotten the message to perform or sit. That goes to Mr's Lapierre, Latendresse and S. Kostitsyn. (4) Georges Laraque doesn't do much but if dressing him serves as a detterant from other teams like the Flyers gooning it up then I'm all for having him in the lineup. He should just stand in front of the other goaltender as his skating is useless. I'm fearful how he will be in the next 2 years when his skating deteriorates. He does bring an element of toughness to the team that was lacking and he seems to be a stand-up guy. (5) Can't underestimate the impact of a Komisarek. That guy is a great addition to the lineup and I hope to high heavens Bob Gainey resigns him. Because you know teams from his hometown area (Islanders, Rangers, Devils) will make every effort to sign him as a UFA. (6) Mats who? We don't need that big lug. He's simply after the money and we don't beg for anyone to play for our team. I'll take 1 Robert Lang over 2 Mats Sundin's any day. Skill is one thing. Heart and desire to wear the CH is another. (7) I realize that a lot of people are upset over Mike Milibury's comments. I agree he's a tool. The asinine statements like Stock's gem "That's the only hit Kovalev will make all year" irrtiated me to no end. However, when I look at Milbury, PJ Stock and Don Cherry I find one commonality. Either they were not good enough to stick on our team (i.e. Stock) or we prevented them - repeatedly - from winning a Stanley Cup. There is a reason they are all now 'on-air personalities' and not coaching, managing or scouting for NHL teams like Gainey, Carbonneau, Muller, Jarvis, Lemaire, Robinson, Lapointe and other Habs alumni. (8) I've been irritated with Kovalev recently and even asked openly if he should be traded but I must give the man credit. He showed up tonight and played hard. Perhaps wearing the 'C' indeed means a lot to him. (9) Our power-play did better tonight but that is because we had guys who weren't affraid to go to the net. I'm not sure we need a Mark Streit or Sheldon Souray replacement as much as we need a 'Tim Kerr' type of player. Someone who is unaffraid to go to the front of the net and get the snot beaten out of them. Perhaps Latendresse is that person or Laraque to a certain degree. (10) I do think we need more depth on defence as it worries me that O'Byrne doesn't seem ready and Brisebois is 37 years old and a full season will take its toll. I think a player like Boumeester would be great but not at the cost of Higgins, Pacioretty and a 1st R. I'm sure Gainey will pull the trigger on the right deal when the time comes.

Anyone hear of a "stick swinging" incident today at practice with Komi, and Sergei K?? Brophy mentioned it on sportsnet...

For those who didn't know, Sundin signed with Vancouver. I guess he chose money over a chance at a contender. Not that I care much but I guess it seals the deal for all respect lost in Leafs nation. Either way I am happy our boys came out to play tonight and whopped the Philly Flyers! Great games by Begin, Guy, Sergei, and Kovey!

What Milbury said tonight was slanderous and in some places, could maybe be an easy lawsuit. He got way too personal but he's an idiot so it's expected. http://dennis-kane.com/

Any news on Kostitsyn? _______________________________________________________ Check out my blog: http://canadienscentral.blogspot.com/ Leave a comment, give me feedback. Go Habs Go.

Typical of the HABS.......... Capable of the very best....... and the very worst.....

Gee I'm going to sleep well tonight, team effort wins the day!

Kovy scores... Habs win... I'm happy More stuff @ aroundthehabs.blogspot.com

Anyone listening to the CBC would have been sickened by the bias and bull *** Milbury was spewing all night. His only excuse must be that he is still "concussed" from Robinson beating the crap out of him in the 80's fight that by the way Milbury started. His hatred of the Habs is so obvious then he makes comments like we have been whining since Tuesday about all the penalties, I seem to recall that Carbo didn't say word one about the snow job we received Tuesday. Also criticizing AK27 like he did. At least Kovy has one thing you will never have Milbury, A ring!!!! The fact that CBC has him on staff once again proves their hatred of the Habs and to stick him on a Habs telecast only clinches the deal. This is the guy who signed Yashin to a 10 year deal and he wouldn't have AK27 on his team, what a joke Milbury and the CBC are. I will switch to RDS in the future, I know little french but they will make more sense than the CBC idiots. By the way great game boys, let's build on it and win this weekend. Go Habs Go !!