3P 00:00:
Is it over? I dozed off.
3P Break:
Oh well, no more hockey till after Christmas, right?
3P 5:30:
Carbo looks like he wants to hurl. Tough to choose which player to target.
3P 6:24:
Woo-hoo, no shutout. Sergei makes a perfecty pass to Markov. And did you see who was slow getting back?
3P 8:00:
Houde points out that two legendary franchises went for a crap today (my phrase, not his): the Green Bay Packers and the Canadiens.
Yankees were idle.
3P 11:00:
What do we think, shutout?
I think so.
It would be fitting.
3P 12:30:
Who's the old biker sitting behind the Dallas bench?
3P Break:
Question for th panel: in which game have Canadiens sucked worse, this or Detroit at the Bell Centre?
I say this one. Detroit is Detroit. Tonight it's a total failure of will and inability to compete with a good, but not great, hocky team.
The Leafs would not let themselves get smoked like this.
Brutal..
3P 15:57:
Dirty hit by Markov on Ribeiro is penalized and a scrum leaves Morrow laughing. Pedneault says Dallas sent a message with a few early hits. He's right.
3P 16:46:
Would Muller admit that third goal was terrible ... and how about the fourth?
3P 18:48:
I'm gonna open a vein.
Hamrlik makes a horrible giveaway and Ribeiro makes no mistake
3-0
Ribeiro: a goal and two assists.
3P 19:17:
I love the guy, but Christopher Higgins is in a bit of a funk.
3P 20:00:
After last night, Canadiens still haven't won a game they trailed after two periods.
Between periods:
Koivu is 5-9 on faceoffs, and a few of those losses came in the offensive zone on the PP ... Benoit Brunet talks about the prevailing style, especially in the Eastern Conference, of conceding plays on the perimeter. Wrong approach with Ribeiro, whom Demers is praising as though he were the second coming of Gretzky. He also makes the point that dump-ins on Turco are utterly futile ... Alain Crête says Dallas is running a hockey clinic on the Canadiens. Absolutely true. I hope they study the video.
2P 3:36:
Another PP. And some good chances. Kovy hits the post while Latendresse is being cross-checked. Then an ugly sequence, followed by something new: four forwards and Hamrlik. To no avail.
2P 5:30:
Vintage video of Carbo, as a Star, flattening Forsberg. He needs guys who play like that.
2P Break:
Pleks and the Kostitsyns are doing absolutely nothing against tough Dallas checking. They look soft and ineffectual.
2P Break:
Not as bad as the first period. But there's been nothing resembling a good shot on Turco. Still, 2-0 is respectable and maintains the illusion that this is a game.
2P 9:00:
Man, that Morrow is tough. He flattened Bouillon ... and that isn't easy.
2P 10:30:
Houde says you can't say the carrots are cooked for tonight. But they've been at a rlling boil for a while here.
2P Break:
A decent shift by the Lapierre line. But the Koivu and Pleks lines have done nothing. And Dllas is exploding in transition and harrying the Canadiens D.
2P 14:30:
Kovalev on Koivu line. The Q line and Chipchura lines are intact .... and at least they're tryin'
2P 15:30:
Here come the line changes: Pleks with the Kostitsyn brothers.
2P 17:08:
Price makes a great save. He's getting no support.
2P 19:00:
Canadiens look tired and out of it. I want this to be over.
Between periods:
Pleks line, playing against Ribeiro, are all minus-2 .... Canadiens outhit Dallas 12-7. Odd, because it looked like Dallas was dominating physically and winning every battle ... That Ribeiro trade will haunt Gainey for the rest of his career. Jacquews Demers says that kind of talent is very, very hard to find and it's up to the organization to work through the follies of a player's youth.
1P 00:00:
Can't get any worse than that, can it?
1P 1:47:
Markov for hooking. Canadiens just getting mashed in their own end.
1P 3:40:
Good chances on the PP, but Turco is inelegantly effective.
1P 14:24:
Replay shows Morrow hooking down Hamrlik to liberate himself for the second Dallas goal.
1P Break:
A Canadiens PP. Any chance of a shot?
1P 6:30:
This is the worst men-against-boys ass-kicking since the Detroit game.
1P 8:26:
Hmmm, I wonder who's playing foot ball on the other channel. Ryan O'Byrne leaves Brendan Morrow (Carbo's son-in-law) alone in front of the net, and Ribeiro finds him.
2-0
1P 9:00:
Shots are 8-3. Houde says the two PPs broke any rhythm the Canadiens might have wanted to establish. True that.
1P Break:
The PK has given up 13 goals on 44 chances in the last 14 games. Not good at all.
1P 10:09:
It's all Stars. Winning the physical battles big-time.
1P Commercial break:
Horrible start. Two PPs for Dallas. Extended pressure in the Canadiens' end. Nothing resembling offence on Turco.
1P 12:21:
That was textbook. And Ribeiro gets an assist.
1-0
1P 15:00:
Another PP. Price is going to have to be awfully good.
1P 18:00:
Ribeiro against Plekanec ... and it wasn't pretty.
1P 20:00:
Great: Mick McGeogh
Nice hair, Mickey Ribs:
Don't be strolling into a western bar with that 'do.
Player to watch:
Sergei Zubov. Kovy won't be able to work him like he worked Zhitnik.
Fashion note:
Hey, Bob Gainey, Carbo and Doug Jarvis in pinstripes. What, did they all get a deal?
More pre-game:
I hate Dallas. On Nov. 22, 1963, it was the scene of the most traumatic event of my adolescence. I hate "America's Team", the Dallas Cowboys. I hated Roger Staubach. I hate Terrell Owens (but I like Troy Aikman). If I knew more about the Stars, I'd robably hate them, too. Maybe by 10:30 or so ...
Pre-game blather:
In charcoal pinstripes, Pierre Houde and Yvon Pedneault look like they're auditioning for Godfather: The Musical ... Bob Gainey told Pedneault the Ribeiro deal was "a very good trade for Dallas." The rationale: Bouillon and Dandenault hurt before last season, Souray playing with a bum shoulder, rookie coach whom Gainey didn't want to saddle with a leaky defence corps. So he pulled the trigger on Janne Niinimaa .... The Ribeiro highlight reel: very impressive. Count me among those who thought he was a total dog in Montreal. What the heck do I know? ... Jacques Demers says Cristobal Huet's problem in shootouts is he doesn't move. Benoit Brunet wonders about Huet's conditioning, coming off an injury and lengthy inactivity. He's a guy who's neverplayed more than 42 games in a season .... Praise for the Québécois line. Nicknames, anyone? The Q-Tips?
Cautiously pessimistic:
I don't see Canadiens winning this game. Third in four nights. Ridiculous travel from Atlanta to Dallas. Stars are hot. But I'm so enthused by what we've seen in recent games, particularly the play of the kids, that I'll be satisfied with an honest effort for as much of 60 minutes as a road-weary team can manage. And please don't let Ribeiro light up Carey Price.
Share the agony and ecstasy of Habs fandom and read live blogs from every game with Gazette columnist Mike Boone.
Habs Inside/Out main RSS feed
Well maybe growing up in the 70's and being a young adult in the 80's and 90's has spoiled me with the success of the franchise. Maybe I should lower my expectations and be happy with a mediocre team, as both Mjames and Bill seem to be. Lets look at team Canada's success in international play. Don't see any Euros there. We seem to be out playing most of the other teams. That is the point, growing up in Canada seems to elevate a players level with the idea of playing for the Habs or the international team. There seems to be a sense of pride and going that extra mile. Why not try making up the team with about 70 percent Canadian and the rest a mix as apposed to being a 50/50 split. I remember one interview with latendresse in between periods and his remark was "Well we need to remember what crest we have on our chest and what that means". Seems like a remark from someone growing up as a boy in Canada and his love for a team. And for more info I had the pleasure of knowing Dan Daoust. Who was drafted by the Canadians and was traded to keep Carbo, because they only needed one defensive forward at the time. I was talking to him one night before a game and was telling me how disappointed he was being traded. He was almost in tears when talking about the trade. He told me that when he was drafted by the Habs he was in seventh heaven, being drafted by the team he watched and loved growing up. He was never the same after that and that’s my point. Look at Ryan Smyth once from the Oilers. I'm not saying the European players are not any good it just seems to be the passion to go that extra mile doesn’t seems to be there. You have to remember that hockey is not the number one sport in Europe it's soccer and now talk to some one in Europe about soccer and see what kind of passion comes out in the conversation. It would seem that the only European player the Habs have that has some kind of passion is Koivu. Yes yes Kovalev is talented, but he seems to have only two gears fast and neutral. Look at what all the commentators say about him. They say he is very skilled and talented and if he showed up every night to play he’d be dangerous. Ah that’s it, that’s how the Habs are playing. Maybe we should change the name of the franchise from The Montreal Canadians to The Kovalev Canadians.
Great post. I have followed the Habs from NYC ever since I became interested in the sport in the late 1960's. We have indeed been spoiled by the success that the franchise has had over the years most notably the dynasties of the late '50s, late '60 and pretty much the whole decade of the '70s. The runs that I enjoyed the most, however, were those of '71, '86 and '93 when we weren't supposed to do it. The planets aligned, we were backstopped by a fabulous goaltender, and it just came together like a puzzle. I long for a season like those. I thought that we were on the verge of attaining critical momentum in the last two series against the 'canes, but Therrien's meltdown and Justin Williams' near blinding of Koivu stopped us dead in our tracks. I think if we could just put together a decent run, the current crop of players would once and for all find out what a treat it it to play hockey in Montreal when you're winning. It has to be one hell of a rush. Maybe then they would understand how really special it is to wear that Crest.
We've been discussing this topic on Boone's blog as well, feel free to check it out and comment :)
Has anyone considered the option that dallas is just a much better team than us, and would have probably won even if we didnt play as poorly as we did?
Sometimes you just run into a better club me thinks.
There is more of a problem with this team from the inside.How does it play a fast game one night and then die the next.What goes on inside to take away the motivation .criticism no praise . I dont know but something is killing the spirit on this team and Gainey better get on it quick or the team will be finished for a long time.
It was sick to watch Mikey Ribs tear up the Canadiens last night but wasn't it fitting revenge in a sense that the Habs gave this kid up for nothing really (a lame defenceman).
That's not my point though. Montreal is the worst place for a local kid to be a high draft pick. The expectations of the fans and the media leads the organization to make some baffling choices. In Ribeiro's case he made the team out of junior (a la Gui) and was not allowed the time to develop properly and was unceremoniously shipped off to Dallas. In Gui's credit, he has been playing well of late but he should have had the time to develop in Hamilton as well. Look at Higgins and Komisarek! I just hope that Carey Price is not being force fed to the lions due to the high expectations of the fans and media alike. Bob Gainey of all being should not be one to succumb to this pressure.
After going thru the motions a little something off topic > P.K.Suban..http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/288399
I thought Riberio played a good game, his game. I remember him doing that when he was with Montreal, until the going got tough or the game was important, when he disappeared. If the Habs had shown up, and put a little shoulder to the wheel, like Kovy did, the Mikey would have faded away.
I don't think second guessing the trade is worthwhile. The thing is most fans were glad to see Ribs go, and not very many were happy with the return Montreal got. Me, not having any idea how it works, I sense enough was enough with Riberio. They were going to get rid of him, and got something they thought they could use for him. Look at Samsonov, they had to pay someone to take him.
Anyhow, best of the season, some really interesting comments here.
It was December 23rd,
and all through the rink,
the Habs were playing s**t hockey,
and man did they stink.
The Stars crossed the opposition blue line with flair,
While the Habs D let them by with nary a care.
What was worse, and downright scary
Was the play of the goalie named Carey.
Mickey Ribs crossed the line,
slow as a tortoise,
But not one D man touched him,
Not even O'Byrne the rhinocerus,
When all was done and said,
The Stars had 4 times seen red,
While I, too pissed off at those 3 colours I bled,
Shouted out, "Hellfire!" and went to my bed.
Merry Christmas Habs fans, and to all a Happy New Year!
Gilbert
Gilbert
The thing that worries me now is that Carbo will think he's justified in putting BreezeBy back in there. And then Smokes.
The thing that worries me now is that he would be justified in putting BreezBy back in there.
http://yearofthehab.blogspot.com
What really gets me is the lack of effort and intensity. If they would play with effort and intensity and still loose it won’t be as bad at least the effort would be there. They looked like they started the Christmas break early tonight. I wish they would have told Carbo and the coaching staff and Dallas that they are breaking early for vacation. This way the 2 points could have been given to the Stars and no ones time would have been wasted tonight watching that load of &*^$. My feeling is that this team is gutless and heartless they have to many Europeans on the team and to many Europeans on any team equals gutless and heartless. Lets look at the team of the 70’s and from 1986 and 1993. There were not many Europeans on those teams and they had success. If you want to compete and have success heart and guts you need Canadian born men to be the majority on your team not European boys.
Your post is like the Habs season. It starts out fine and then falls on its face with your mad raving about the Euro players.
mjames
Frank, Don Cherry called, he wants his soul back.
http://yearofthehab.blogspot.com
Dallas was quite a success in the old cluch and grab hochey era and was also one of the previleged big spender in the preCap era,... they werent modelled to make a nice and smooth transition in the newNHL,... I am totally amazed on how well adapted their game is for the newNHL but even more so at the little time it tooked them to get there.
They practically have a no name roster and most Montrealer would think that any team having a listless top line with Ribeiro on it as their center would be in deep trouble,... yet this team showed us how hochey is supposed to be played, they were entertaining, fast, cohesive, displayed exemplary execution and were lethal all the same,... like the Red Wings,.. they toyed with us and did with poise and flash.
The Dallas organization had to changed their phylosophy and strategy in order to get there and I doubt that it would have happen had they kept their old school boy of the previous era,... Gainey, Jarvis and Carbo.
The central focus now in Dallas is puck possession and the top lines are encouraged to take offensive chances without getting crucified when turning the puck over do occur,... this is the reason why Ribeiro's talent are now in full display.... this approach, phylosophy and system is required for skilfull and creative players to shine..... and have their team succeed in the newNHL.
Agreed
mjames
Its hard to think that a team being coached by so many past players that were so good on D is having this much trouble with the pk.
Why so many O zone penalties?
They happen over and over.
I just dont get it
A few observations which the earlier posts have already addressed in one form or another.
I wanted us to take it to Dallas not the other way around. It is discouraging to see every team take it to us while we sit back and let the opponent skate into our zone unmolested. I can live with mistakes and give aways but this passive style does irritate me to no end. We will never win like that.
Another thing I noticed tonight is that our team had no will to win. We were going through the motions. I am not pointing fingers at anyone just making an observation. We were pushed off the puck in every instance. Dallas was laughing us . If I was a Hab player I would not be pleased with that display.
I really don't care whether Riberio stuck it to us or not. I just hope that if we do make a trade we get something in return. I do not like giving players away. I hope Gainey, if and when he trades someone, gets something in return. I do not want to give up on our younger players no matter how many mistakes and give aways they make.
mjames
Well, you should care that Ribiero stuck it to the Habs. Another bad trade, and a poor system. There are a lot of teams with lesser talent yet higher in their caliber of play.
Carbs looked as if was in a Purple Haze. His players were in the game, but he wasn't.
1) You can't stop the opposition from attacking with one Hab inside the opponents blue line. The Sens always have 2 inside the blue line.
2) Don't blame the players. Kovalev handles the puck like a wizard, looks around, and sees no one to pass to. Same applies to Koivu or Higgins. Clearly, a bad system.
Best wishes to all this Holiday Season.
"Trust your car to the man who wears the Star" - Stalin
Well, you should care that Ribiero stuck it to the Habs. Another bad trade, and a poor system. There are a lot of teams with lesser talent yet higher in their caliber of play.
Carbs looked as if was in a Purple Haze. His players were in the game, but he wasn't.
1) You can't stop the opposition from attacking with one Hab inside the opponents blue line. The Sens always have 2 inside the blue line.
2) Don't blame the players. Kovalev handles the puck like a wizard, looks around, and sees no one to pass to. Same applies to Koivu or Higgins. Clearly, a bad system.
Best wishes to all this Holiday Season.
"Trust your car to the man who wears the Star" - Stalin
Hey Carbo how about a long ice time on Christmas day!
Erik - i think he's married but best of luck with your request. Sounds romantic.
I blame the coaching & would can the works of them especially Rollie Melanson!!!
Carboneau & Muller are in over their heads with this team & it seems the game has passed by Dougie Jarvis. Don Lever did more in one season with the Bulldogs than Jarvis could at all!!!
As for Melanson both Huet & Abby started off hot last season & went into the tank. He did absolutely nothin for Theodore's career upon his arrival & he seems to have the Kid going down on his kness way too early as well!!!
It's a common theme with Montreal goaltenders since Melanson has been coaching them, they are all going down into the butterfly too early.
Give the works of them the boot & start from scratch!!!
Don Lever knows many of these players, Brian Sutter has been a positive with evry team he has ever coached, Pat Burns(????) or maybe even Bob Hartley, he won a Cup with the Avs & was originally in the Habs organization!!!
Bruce Boudreau coached the Hershey Bears last year (the team that Hamilton beat in the Calder Cup finals). Boudreau has done a wonderful job with the Caps since he took over for the team (just look at how Washington outplayed us on Thursday).
If Carbo is axed, I think Lever deserves a shot with the big club.
we tried that and gave up on julien (in my opinion, prematurely and unfairly). . . not going to happen any time soon.
my only keeper would be melanson. . . who i think is better than you give credit for. . .
as for the other coaches, only burns or hartley are okay. . . lever too fast and unproven and i think sutter sucks.
Show/tell me what Melanson has done with the Habs goaltending to make a positive impact on any of them???
huet has improved and been surprisingly great, leading the league in save percentage two years ago, third this year, and at the lead at the all-star break (when he was chosen for the team) last year despite little knowledge of him prior to his arrival here.
halak came in and was great last year.
price - too early to tell.
tell me what he's done so poorly? theodore sucked once traded and is only now partly regaining his form despite a new goaltending coach and great success from the guy he now essentially backs up under that team's goaltending coach.
The Event Summary is now updated, & Hamrlik, who has been our best plus player all year, was -4. Coach will have to straighten him out on the system. O'Byrne was -3 (poor rookie might be benched again), the Kostitsyn brothers were -2, Plekanec -2, and several with -1. Markov at +1, was the only plus player.
Nine players had nil shots. They are like Ryder, & are forgetting how to shoot. I wonder who Carbonneau will call out for this game. He always blames Price, so that's a given. I will have to wait for the rest.
Look on the bright side, the Habs may not be all that entertaining, but at least we are!
Post new comment