Audio: Ill Kovy takes a seat

posted by Mike Boone at 19h25 EST on Mar 12


audio.jpg

Alex Kovalev missed morning skate because he's under the weather (which is sunny and cold today in Montreal) and stayed home.

He's been declared an unhealthy scratch for tonight's game against the New York Islanders, putting Matt D'Agostini and Max Pacioretty on Tomas Plekanec's wings.

Carey Price starts in goal. Patrice Brisebois is a healthy scratch, meaning he must wait another game to play his 1,000th in the NHL.

AUDIO: • Gainey English & French  • Higgins  • Pacioretty  • Gorges, on Streit, etc. 

(And thanks to Team 990's Andie Bennett for Bob en anglais.)




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ifitwasnt4kovalev's picture

Nahlsy's picture
That was like 3 years ago, I was at that game

Wow! He is fiesty and I think he has done that in the NHL? He isn't that big but when he wants to he plays big, and that it happened to Downie is bittersweet!

Mr_MacDougall's picture
Here's the deal with the Streit issue, if he were added to the current roster would he make us an INSTANT cup favorite? My answer is an obvious ne... NO!!!!! C'mon people, he went after the money, 18 million over 4 years, he'd be an idiot not to take that deal, thats Saku money, and Streit is no Saku. Ian I respect your insight but I have to disagree with you on this... as far as i'm concerned the more Euro's going out, and young Canadian kids coming up the better. Streit will, and never has been a gamebreaker... not even close to our old boy Sheldon.

Puck Bard's picture
Agreed, but Streit sure was exciting to watch as a Hab... just sayin'

hey is there any chance i can watch the game online?

Try here http://atdhe.net/ they lately have been posting the game link just after gametime Try also http://www.justin.tv/ and/or http://www.ustream.tv/ Good luck, the last couple of games have been really poor streaming

Nahlsy's picture

ifitwasnt4kovalev's picture
mitch fritz , laraque's only loss of the year.......will stewart get him back?!

Xtrahabsfan's picture
Yo dude LARAQUE FINNISHED ON TOP OF THAT FREEKISLY BIG Fritz and the only way Stewart could beat him is with a bat!

habsguy's picture
BGL got it handed to him....

ifitwasnt4kovalev's picture
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYpWd5JQE3M watch the fight again, laraque lost that one

filincal's picture
Laraque landed the better/harder punch to the face...plus overpowered him to end up on top. I BLEED BLEU BLANC ET ROUGE!!!

Laraque is not the one who had to get his face looked at after the game from a blow to the head

SmartDog's picture
Tough call.... Fritz did surprisingly well for the first 5 seconds..... but I think Laraque got in the most solid hit, and most of all it was a quick fight. ~ Listen to the smart dog - he knows his poop!

slamtherimtim's picture
now that guy is a goon mabe when stewart is hitting him with the bat he should look for a way out the building

slamtherimtim's picture
lol

I have been reading some of the comments below about Streit and if he should have been signed. Like Ian, I was a big supporter of Streit. Even now I would like to see an analysis of how many times streit was on the ice when Kovy got points. I bet it was a high percentage. Anyways...Ian goes on to say below that Carbo was the one would did not show up for the playoffs. I have always liked Carbo...but some things make me wonder. One large one that struck me lately was when I was watching TSN on Monday. The were showing the highlights of when Iginla scored his 30th goal of the season and they were saying what a super star he was. The very next set of highlights was Boston, First in the confrence and who was scoring goals? Ryder...21 goals this season...only 9 less than super star Iginla. Now...lets not get carried away, I am not saying Ryder is as valuable as Iginla....but last year Carbo had Ryder as a healty scratch? Two seasons at 30 goals, then Carbo turns him into a healthy scratch and now it looks like he is back to 30 goals seasons. Hum? Makes me wonder. Anyway...got off topic here...I would have liked to see Streit sign but not at 4.5 mil Richard B

habsoloutly's picture
It's really amazing how selective peoples memory can be and how hindsight is always 20/20. The facts are that Ryder was given every chance in the world to play for the habs....he started the year on the first line and with plenty of powerplay minutes.......he didn't produce, he was given time to produce and didn't. Then he was moved to the second line, and didn't produce.....then he was moved to the third and fourth lines, and didn't produce. The NHL is a performance driven league, if your on the first line and you don't produce the coach will give you a chance by moving you to the second line, and then the third line, then the fourth, and if after all those chances and ice time you don't produce the coach moves you to the pressbox and brings in another player and tries to light a fire under your butt. People who say Ryder wasn't given a chance in Montreal either didn't watch the season or are delusional. I even saw an interview with him where he admitted he had a bad season. Carbo made some bad decisions this year, but he gave Ryder nothing but chances to stay and play.

The point was not that he was not given a chance. The point was that under the coaching system his play suffered. Coachs don't just decide who plays and how much, but they run the systems, insturct players and try to motivate. The point was that Ryder had the ability...but he was not given the tools to play his best. For example...he was instucted to stand in the slot on the PP last year...vs standing on the left post the year before. That was not his decision...it was coaching. Richard B

Led's picture
Absolutely, habsolutly. It was painful to watch how bad Ryder was last year, and most of the season before that. Selective memory; far too many people suffer from it.

Ya...the season before that he only scored 30 goals. Richard B

vaya_'s picture
http://www.rds.ca/canadien/chroniques/271001.html kovy not playing tonight per rds. their article originally stated that he was unsure about playing, but this was changed a few minutes ago.

sholi2000.com's picture
To no one in particular. Gainey is a genius. With the cap going south, the Canadiens have all the room in world to make the team into another contender, where other teams who signed a crap load of players to mid millions are going to be hurting. I foresee a couple Red Wings on our team this coming summer oh and because I love the team so much, #25 :) sholi2000.com God Bless Our Infantry 2PPCLI

Ian Cobb's picture
AGREE Shane. Getting very sad going to all the repatriation ceremonies, again today in Trenton'

sholi2000.com's picture
I know. I use to believe in the cause, but we just don't have enough Battalions there. We take ground, eliminate hundreds of Taliban/Other, then leave and they move back in. Then they kill whoever was seen talking to us. If only they would take the Koran into the 21st Century then all would be well, but instead they stay in the stone age. My unit has lost so many in the past three years.....anyways. Sorry about the sob story, not meant to bring anyone down. Looking forward to the game tonight. Win or lose I love the Canadiens! sholi2000.com God Bless Our Infantry 2PPCLI

Ian G Cobb's picture
Not a problem, we need to know.I go far to often to Trenton after they fly over my house bring them back. Stay in touch with me, got to run now to Jims to watch the game on RDS.

ManApart's picture
You are right on there Ian. That's why I was/am not sure about Vinny. Look at the Rangers and Flyers. Redden,Gomez,Drury,Briere. Is it me, or does it seem that teams sign players to huge contracts and then want to unload them within a year or two lol. Briere,Malone,Smyth,Richards,All the Rangers,Heard runours about Cambell,but not sure. Even Vinny. Some pretty dumb Gm's out there. Hey there Sather. I say we wait for KOVALCHUK! next year, before going DePietro.

The Cat's picture
There are some dumb GMs out there but dont fret, the league as always wont stand pat and let them suffer while those that do know what theyre doing are in the process of getting the last laugh. It doesnt work that way in the mickey mouse league.

Xtrahabsfan's picture
Vinny's been playing injured this year and still has good numbers,he's got komosititi"SHOULDER probs"and made healing worse fighting for his soft team.We need a couple of superstars to elevate the team,show em what's possable.The problem with Kovy is he does stuff no one can and is a one man globe trotter,lol

Xtrahabsfan's picture
Thats cause Streit tanked last play-off's !

Ian Cobb's picture
Don't think so my friend, Carbo tanked.

WestHab's picture
Marki tanked as well. Hot Hand Halak or Pray to Plante for Price.

Xtrahabsfan's picture
you have me there Ian

aemarchand11's picture
So, Boston fans dont have much to say lately eh? After bashing our troubles all year it seems that the Bruins are starting to crumble. Pretty bad timing i would say. Wouldn't it be nice if we could string together a solid 7-9 game winning streak and then be nipping at their heels for first place in the division. It may not be likely, but if we can keep going it could happen. Even if we dont, I would rather go into the playoffs playing good hockey then bad. ____________________________________________________________ Please Beware. Maple Leaf products may contain traces of Lysteria.

Seems to me it would take a miracle of monumental proportions to catch Boston now. If we won all our remaing games and Boston went 50-50 on theirs, we would both have 109 points. Neither scenario seems likely I'm afraid.

ManApart's picture
Easy to say in retrospect. I liked Streit. I don't remember anyone screaming to sign him before the season ended and I do remember everyone talking about how crazy the Islanders were for signing him to the big contract that they did. I'm very skeptical that Streit would have signed long term here, without assurances that he would be a full-time D-man. Hindsight is 20/20.

Ian Cobb's picture
I said on here before the end of the season many times last year that he was one player that we needed to sign.

vaya_'s picture
after his horrible playoff run (save that excellent goal against the bruins) most fans deemed him too soft for the playoffs. i loved streit but he had a tough end of season with us, which might have hurt fans' opinions of him last summer.

Ian G Cobb's picture
Mark Streit or should I say Gilles Trembley because they both play the same game, could have been signed for less money than he is making now. And we should have. What he brings to the table you might look for tonight. Watch for how many times the puck touches his stick in the game at both ends of the ice. He plays a very quiet game, but oh so effective, even on a very poor team. Paired up with the right partner, he could make my 3rd defence man any time. Smart, good skater, reads the ice well with great positioning capabilities.

twocents's picture
Ian, Gainey offered him 2.5 million early during last season. Streit turned it down. Stubbs reported this in November.

Ian Cobb's picture
We could have had him for 3 for two years. With the cap dropping like a stone, a lot of the long term contract are sure going to sink some clubs in the next few years. Great that Bob has a lot of the contracts up for negotiations this year. Great GM

twocents's picture
Well, we might think we could have, but we're not the ones signing the contracts. It's only a guess. And remember he did not show up in the playoffs.

Ian Cobb's picture
Carbo was the one who did not show up in the play offs ,ERIC

twocents's picture
Well, Ian we are all entitled to see it however we see it. I am sure that Carbo's lack of PP adjustments were a factor, but other players did show up regardless, like Kovy in the Boston series, Breezer, Koivu in the games he played and in the Philly series especially. Anyway, my point is that it is easy to use hindsight now, and I know you were on this last year too, but the fact remains we are only guessing to say that Streit would have taken way less to stay here. We know for sure he wouldn't accept 2.5 muillion. Would he have accepted 3 million? We'll never know.

Thats it Ian Streit even said the reason he did not sign here was he wanted to play defence

ManApart's picture
Was reading earlier posts my many people about Kovalev on this thread. It is unbelievable how over rated he is by some. Best Hab since Lafleur!? Bring him back as captain next year for 5mil a season!?? I am an admirer of his dazzling skills, but lets face it, they are good for practice and All-Star games but not much else. Outside of last season, he is no more than someone the other team keeps their eye on during the PP. I wish he were mre consistent and played a grittier style, but that's not Kovy. I get tired of "he's so talented" comments. 16 goals = nothing special in my book. Reminds me a bit of Richer back in the day, except Richer was a lot better production wise.

My response to that top ten list...lol Top 27000 most influential Sportswriters list...... I am going to start this list at the bottom and I will update it daily for the next 74 years or so until we make it to the top of the list......... Starting what should be a fun ride in the number 27000th spot is none other than resident THN contributor John Griggs.....his ability to sidestep reality and omit Saku Koivu from a recent top 10 Finns list earns him a place on my list. He also managed to list Teemu Selanne in 8th spot behind the likes of Pekka Rinne, Kimmo Timmonen and Joni Pitkanen? .......even at this stage of their careers there isn't a GM in hockey who wouldn't take Koivu or Selanne over any of these guys in a heartbeat but ol Griggsy? managed to scoot past his editors better judgement and get this nonsense in print for the world to read.......hats of John!!.....number 27000...come back tomorrow to find out who made 26999 on our list.

Bryan's picture
I think it's pretty obvious he's basing that list off of current performance. You'd have a hard time saying Saku has a spot on that list based on this season alone. Lifetime? He's top 5. _______________________________ In Saku we trust.

wd40's picture
lol i saw your post on THN... i bet his top 10 Swiss players list would have excluded Streit.

Gr8stFranchizEvr's picture
yeah, and i think there have only ever been 10 Swiss players in the NHL!!! (i don't really know that, but i know there aren't many)

g's picture
Well said!!!

TheDagger's picture
I am going to hold you to this list!! Also, the next few days of your list (27000-26995) will all be occupied by THN writers.

db's picture
I go to Montreal Juniors games just to be in the same building as Andie Bennett

g's picture

lavie's picture
Anxious to watch Gainey and Co. "face to face" in Scotiabank Place on Mar. 19th!

D Alcorn's picture
Just reading comments about meeting Philly in the playoffs ... Does anyone know what is happening with Laraque (real version if possible) these days ? ALWAYS Habs - Dave Mex

Mr_MacDougall's picture
Apperantly Gary Bettman wants to sit down with George and discuss the proposed fighting rule ammendments, seems odd to me.. is there an NHL goons union with Laraque as the President? As for his health, I thought he was mnonth-month with chronic back problems.... whatever month to month means. And he would not be a factor against Philly anyway.

Ian G Cobb's picture
It means he does not brush his teeth, they are yellow, like that code feeling in his back.

D Alcorn's picture
Well, I'd certainly agree that BGL is a non-factor in terms of anything tied to the skating aspects of the game. The other dimension that will inevitably surface with Philly, however, is the scrapping. On this front, Greg Stewart is good - actually, he's very good, but Philly is just too deep in goons for him to handle all of it alone, plus he is not in the same weight division. Didn't Philly pick up another 'talent' from the Western Conference (PHX ?) at the deadline ? ALWAYS Habs - Dave Mex

Habhopeful's picture
stewart can go toe to toe in terms of fighting class with Carcillo/Asham...He should not, will not, wont, and musnt go with Riley Cote...out of the kids league, god help him if he does and if he comes out fairly good from that fight if it does happen, I'll love him more... "I went to see a fight the other night...And A hockey game broke out!" ~Rodney Dangerfield~

aemarchand11's picture
Stewart has stated he doesnt care who it is, excluding the heavyweights (See Chara, Laraque, Brash, Belak etc..) but he would fight all whom you listed above. He said in the heat of the moment people do things they may not normally do, and fighting those guys is probably what he is referring to. Stewart had 170PIM in Hamilton, he fights often whether he is an enforcer or not. This guy is a firecracker, I love it. _________________________________________________________________ Please Beware: Maple Leaf products may contain traces of Lysteria.

Habhopeful's picture
i love him too but even laracque said Cote is the next big up and coming fighter and ive seen cote fight, hes a heavywieght and id be afraid for stewart if he fought cote, i love the fact that he wouldnt be afraid to fight anyonje but if your including brash and laracque in there, cote is in there class... "I went to see a fight the other night...And A hockey game broke out!" ~Rodney Dangerfield~

aemarchand11's picture
Stewart has stated he doesnt care who it is, excluding the heavyweights (See Chara, Laraque, Brash, Belak etc..) but he would fight all whom you listed above. He said in the heat of the moment people do things they may not normally do, and fighting those guys is probably what he is referring to. Stewart had 170PIM in Hamilton, he fights often whether he is an enforcer or not. This guy is a firecracker, I love it. _________________________________________________________________ Please Beware: Maple Leaf products may contain traces of Lysteria.

Gainey & Price(with the help of the team of course) is taking the Habs Express all the way, non stop to the stanley Cup Finals. ALL ABOARD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!CHEW CHEW CHUGALUG YOOYOO.......

Gr8stFranchizEvr's picture
what about the rest of the team??? they're not as important i guess...

The Habs have what it takes to beat anyone in the league. Gainey has to bring it all together. What happened to the Boston fan(s) on this site?

The Cat's picture
Just cause the habs won a game, barely at that, we cant talk this way. Bostons still 16 points ahead and 43 less goals allowed. The bruins got to suck a lot more before they get to the level of suckage the habs are. But it never fails: one win and the cup is next...

longbow's picture
Ya...those Broon fans are rather conspicuous by their absence.Could it be cuz they suck all of a sudden.Reality check in Bean Town. Vox Populi,Vox Humbug! -- William Tecumseh Sherman

I think Komisarek needs to redeem himself by taking on Lucic. I truly believe that Carbo did not what him to fight Lucic and held him back. Overall I think this has bothered Komisarek and Gainey has to give him the green light to fight Lucic.

Mr_MacDougall's picture
think he may be hurt? rib cartelidge torn perhaps?

mrhabby's picture
bruised ego.

maybe, he looks to be shooting the puck just fine.

habfan53's picture
U think so? I thought more than a few looked weak and right on the defender.

longbow's picture
Well then,he is off.He usually shoots hard and nowhere near the defender. Vox Populi,Vox Humbug! -- William Tecumseh Sherman

TheDagger's picture
Once he starts pounding some into the shin pads then we will know he is back!

this right handed left handed thingy does matter. I agree that if the guy can't hit the boards never mind the net then I'll agree/. Who wants him on the ice. Metro is a 4th line guy no argument there but who lead in power play goals this year. Was it not Lang (right handed) and wasn't Smolinski a righty as well?(not that he led the team in anything) but don't forget he had only been with Guy for one game and I don't think it's a terrible thing for a coach to put a guy in a different situation to see how he delivers.

I would put Lang out there...Smolinski....that drove me nuts especuially with Ryder sitting onthe bench...pure stupidity that was. With all due respect to Lang (who I would put out in 5 on 3's still) he definitely leads the team in missed wide open nets....despite his being out for a while there isn't even a close second.

Mr_MacDougall's picture
I'd rather Higgins shooting right handed than Metro, seriously though, if we don't have a righty then we don't have a righty, ans Metro is not a righty worthy of ice time on a 5-3 in a game we're losing 1-0, whats that say to your so-called stars? it says your coach is an idiot and should be fired... and he was.. BG would never have Metro out there

G-Man's picture
Funny how everyone forgets Koivu losing those 2 face-offs in a row, but heap praise when he finally delivers something other than excuses as to why his team lost, again. __________________________________________________________________________________ Beliveau is the best that ever was.

over at thn.com john grigg Counts down the top ten active finnish players in the league and saku koivu Is not one of them-thoughts anyone

Bryan's picture
I think he's basing it off of current performance as opposed to career achievements. Saku hasn't been a dominant player (save for the playoffs <3) since '06-'07. I was a little shocked not to see him on the list either, but he has a valid argument. _______________________________ In Saku we trust.

likehoy's picture
after jarri kurri and teemu selanne, is there a greater finn than saku koivu?! - SAKU KOIVU'S HAND OF GOD.

Matti Nykanaan

captaink4life's picture
That's unbelievable. Who's on the list? _____________________________ Koivu for Prime Minister :) Drive for 25!!

Mr_MacDougall's picture
my only comment is that he lead the last Olympics in scoring and the Finns to a Silver, Has a Playoff PPG ave of 1, although, my opinion is clouded by my love of Saku... I know he'll bring it when it counts

habfan53's picture
For the record 45 points 50 games played +12 1GWG 40PM

Fire_Laraque's picture
Yeah, he's right. "Kovi's BACK!!!!""

Mr_MacDougall's picture
Does anybody think we can catch Philly and have home ice against those dirty Flyers in the first round?

Ian Cobb's picture
Not only catch them, but we are going to beat them in the play offs in 6 games. Thus sayist the Gainey Lever coaching team.!