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Game 50: Huet, Habs blank Caps, Ovechkin 4-0
posted by Dave Stubbs at 21h57 EST on Jan 29
Huet made 35 saves to record his second shutout of the season, the first coming Nov. 5 against the Buffalo Sabres. It was his 15th career whitewash.
With the win over coach Bruce Boudreau's Capitals, the Canadiens remain six points behind the Eastern Conference-leading Ottawa Senators, 5-2 winners over the Islanders tonight on Long Island. The Habs hold a game in hand.
Montreal improved to 10-8-5 at the Bell Centre, a little less of a black hole for the home team, for an overall record of 27-15-8.
In name, at least, this was the same sport that staged an all-star game on Sunday in Atlanta. But where the annual “classic” was a sleepwalk, tonight’s game featured some heavy hitting and plenty of heads-up play – lest there be even more heavy hitting.
Canadiens defenceman Mark Streit opened the scoring with his seventh of the season off a one-timer on the power-play, fed by all-star blue-liner Andrei Markov and forward Michael Ryder at 9:46 of the first period.
You’ll not often see anything smarter or more opportunistic than Sergei Kostitsyn’s shorthanded goal at 16:53, 200-game veteran Tomas Plekanec anticipating a Capitals pass deep in Montreal ice, intercepting it and streaking down the rink.
Kostitsyn joined the rush, having burst out of the penalty box after a 33-second Capitals 5-on-3 with Steve Bégin also in the box, to convert the perfect, selfless pass from Plekanec for his fourth of the season.
Did we say opportunistic? The Canadiens struck once again at 18:25, Saku Koivu drilling home a pass out from behind the Washington net for his 10th, having been fed by Bégin. Koivu had begun the play, his head-man pass to Bégin missing its target, but Bégin chased down the puck for the pass back to his charging captain.
Kovalev rounded out the scoring with his 22nd of the year, banging in a power-play rebound, assisted by Plekanec and Streit.
Huet faced 15 first-period shots. Brent Johnson made 11 saves at the other end of the ice through the first 20 minutes. The Caps outshot Montreal 13-11 in the scoreless second.
The two teams meet again on Capitals ice on Thursday before the Canadiens return home for Super Bowl-weekend matinées vs. the New York Islanders on Saturday and New York Rangers on Sunday.
Canadiens players congratulate goalie Cristobal Huet on the netminder's second shutout of the season, a 4-0 victory tonight over the Washington Capitals.
Christinne Muschi, Reuters
Share the agony and ecstasy of Habs fandom and read live blogs from every game with Gazette columnist Mike Boone.
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And I thought the win over Jersey was impressive.
- Cristo usually plays his position very well but man could he move hit butt last night. We could easily nickname him the cat.
- Did they throw a blanket over Ovechkin and Semin or what ? I was not exactly overjoyed when Kosto came over (taking a job from one of our guys Hamilton) but he's making me look pretty silly now.
The fact that we have four lines humming at this time is a real blessing. Games will get tougher as we get in February and Carbonneau will use them wisely.
The only concern is of course the injuries. I believe most of us had negative thoughts when Kovy's thumb was shown in a plastic glass full of ice.
No one wants injuries, but it's been a long time since we had the depth to replace the regulars with a slew of competent Bulldogs. It's a good time to be a Habs fan...
nice pic :)
Been using it for some time now. I'll see if I can dig something else up this evening from home.
lol, hey no worries, I don't have a copyright
Smart dog in response to your information request earlier on Begin and Kostoplous.
"Seems like having these guys in the line-up is just a good thing. I wonder if one of you stats guys could check what our win-loss is with or without them."_________W__L_tie__pts__p-pts__Win%
Overall
Habs____27__15__8__62__100___62%
With
Kosto___25__12__7__57__88____65%
With
Begin___17___9__2__36__56____64%
With
Both____16___7__2__34__50____68%
nice.
Not overwhelming but the numbers do go in the right direction... and we're 9-8-6 with one or neither of them playing.
Thanks coutNY!
________________________________________________________________
Habs Fans! The FUTURE looks bright:
Plekanec, Higgins, Chipchura, A Kostitsyn, Lapierre, Latendress,
Price, S Kostitsyn, Komisuarus, O'Byrne
Is our goalie's name really pronounced "Hugh-ette" and not "Hugh-eh"? Our man on the TSN highlights made quite a deal about it, something about Huet's wife telling people the correct pronunciation: "it's 'hugh-ette' because his wife says that's how he wants it".
(I'm posting this both here and in Boone's latest "about last night" because I want confirmation. Apologies for the double post.)
Hu ett
are you guys kidding me??? first of all,,,,Kovalev has been the most consistent player amongst the ones mentioned for a trade...Lecav, Crosby, Ovechki...and oh ya...Sundin???? Kovalev is registering atleast a point per game if not a goal a game...
I dont care how many points Crosby has...where is he now...injured, mostly because of his eratic play...
TB sits in last...wheres Vinny??
Ovechki as we seen, gets shut out...hes a one man player playing against a team...enough said.
mind you I think these players are good too but who cares....we have a superstar in Kovalev that will bring us a cup....
oh ya I forgot..
Sundin? (Sardine)? I wouldn't want Sundin for free....hes a branded Laff...he has the logo stamped on his ass like a donkey...I dont care how good he may be....Id rather have Kovalev any day over Sardin...and his team smells like one too...
just face it....Kovalev is a great player...we have a Gretzky on the team and people want him out...95% of what he does on the ice is Perfect....thats 50% more than what most players on the team do....
if there is any bashing of a particular player to be done then turn your heads towards Higgins...only thing he is good for is to play keep away from the other team for 5 seconds tops until he loses the puck....
but....
there is no real reason right now to even bash any player for the team is playing great right now...the best hockey Ive seen them play lately...
Game against Boston, New Jersey, Washington....
lets just hope they keep it up against Ottawa...that will be the biggest game of the year (season)...
I want first place in the conference....Ottawa's balet has to come to an end...they've had it too easy...
they are fast though I give them that...
but lol they dont have a Kovalev...
Cheers and
Go Habs Go!!!!!!!
Keep KOVY forget the Sardine
Did you see Kovalev play last year?
The Habs have the most balanced squad and arguably the most depth of any team in the Eastern Conference. In this regard, they are right up there with the Sens and Pens. Despite the team's recent success, some posters have been discussing the merits of the team trading Koivu or other core players. Last night, we got a glimpse of what Koivu has to offer the team. There's absolutely no doubt in my mind that he would be one of the team's MVP's in the playoffs. Just consider what he's done in the post season in the past.
While you're entitled to your opinion, I think your rant about Higgins misses the mark. While his offensive production hasn't been great, in every game that I've watched recently he's played ex. well defensively. It takes more than one type of player to build a winner. Higgy is a winner and he's played more than a minor role in the team's recent success.
Hey Habster. I'm going to assume(?) you are referencing my reply as all 4 players mentioned were in my post. I NEVER said trade Kovalev the previous post was he could not think of anybody he would rather see in a HABS jersey I just mentioned 5 players I would like to see. With Iginla, Crosby AND Ovetchkin locked up for several years it ain't going to happen anyway.
well regardless, leave Kovy out of trade talks and just enjoy having someone on the team that is giving us hope for a Stanley cup since 1993,,,
AGREED. I just love watching him handle the puck like he has it on a string. Bye the way I do disagree with you about Sundin. He's big 6'3" plays centre and he'll go back to T.O. in the summer HOWEVER I don't think Gainey will be willing to pay what whoever is running the circus there will ask for if they ever get him to waive his no trade.
NEVER a Leaf captain with the habs NOOOOO
Gilmour?
LOL, some people have short-term memories and like to exaggerate over everything.
We can afford his 'rent a player' salary for the run...but we cannot give up more than a 15th round pick! ....definitely not a player trade.
But they'd never let him come here...its business and we are the enemy.
Can't have those weak leaf fans suddenly seeing the light of the Great Montreal Canadiens while Sundin makes a good run in the playoffs with us!
that would be disaster for their business....it truly would be the end of LEAF NEANDERTHAL NATION.
---------
1. Thank GOD we have Alex Kovalev.....at his PRIME
2. The BELL CENTRE should be rebuilt to sit 80,000 fans
3. Your not a Hab fan till you watch & UNDERSTAND "The Rocket"
4. We will win the CUP in 2009
can you imagine....the Laff fans would think and say the only reason why we won the cup is because of their Sundin...
we dont need to hear that nor do we need him to win a cup...
leave it up to Gainey...he knows how to bring a cup home, hes done it many times before here and in Dallas..
you know....if the laffs trade Sundin...that will be the biggest mistake in their franchise history....hes the best player they have...they have no clue on how to rebuild....they've never done it...the closest they got was when Quinn was doing it....and they fired him...lol
they will be bottom feeding for a long time now...
It would be even better if we win with Sundin, he was a laff for 12 years, never came close to wining one, he is a hab for 1/2 a season and gets one.....whats wrong with that?
I'm looking forward to our game against Ottawa next week. Reading the stats in yesterday's paper I noticed they are 23rd in the league on defense! I was surprised. They can be had, I believe.
that's a big no-no (well i suppose fans get away with it)
the only game on the horizon is in washington tomorrow night
The team is Happy....they're winning and the guys are happy to be playing together. This is a good sign.
I'm hoping things get better and the Habs dominate in the play-offs....fingers are crossed, that they get over the hump and represent the East in the Cup final.
I'm not saying a win...cause if its Detroit for the West....there'll be trouble.
Keeping the faith..... Go Habs Go!!!
Yikes!
I've said it before and I'll repeat myself Gainey should try sign Huet to a 2/3 year contract let him mentor Price/Halak there is no rush 57/25 game split next year 41/41 the following then 25/57 the third. Of course this depends on how they are playing. Higgins and Komisarek CAN"T be offered new contracts until July 1st because they have more than a year left on their existing contract.
I'm hoping that more than a few will sign for a little less like Heatley and Spezza did in Ottawa because they can see where the team is headed.
I agree re Huet. Earlier in the season, I was thinking they should trade Huet since they were so deep in goal and needed another top notch forward. However, with Price struggling and Halak sitting on the bench unproven this year, I think they should keep Huet for 1-2 more years. Just make sure he doesnt' get a no-trade clause. Next year at the deadline, if Price and Halak look like they're ready to be 1-2, then trade Huet.
Another option would be to trade Halak this year and see if they can get a good forward for him, but I doubt it. I would only do that if a team was desperate enough to give up something really good for him. It's a risky move because Price hasn't come out of his slump yet. It would also be a tough sell because Halak hasn't had a chance to show what he can do (this year).
Lastly, with the team playing this well, that top-notch forward that I thought was needed is less of a concern. Obviously, it would be nice to have him, but they can probably do some damage in the playoffs with the current lineup. I do think they need another top line forward of Kovalev's stature and a tough guy like a Chris Niel before they are cup contenders.
I totally agree with you on Huet, we need him for at least one more year if not 2 more. I have also said that. If we dont sign him we will be taking one step back.
TO SHILOH ~ I was thinking back to your comment yesterday and you had me second guessing myself that the NHL did not have OT historically during the regular season except for a breif time prior to the current system.
~Shiloh Tue, 01/29/2008 - 17:07.
"There is nothing incorrect about my description. If you lost in OT historically, you were in a playoff game!!"
WRONG...Not sure when you think NHL started, but the NHL has had OT since the 1920's (that's a long breif period)
1921-22 Overtime limited to twenty minutes.1928-29 Ten-minute overtime without sudden-death provision to be played in games tied after regulation time. Games tied after this overtime period declared a draw.
1983-84 Five-minute sudden-death overtime to be played In regular-season games that are tied at the end of regulation time.
1999-00 As before there will be a five minute sudden death overtime when the score is tied after three periods, but each team will play "four on four", with four skaters and a goaltender.
It was not until 1999 did they introduce the automatic point at the end of regulation.