Huet

The Gazette's Red Fisher writes this morning that everyone around the Canadiens dressing room was smiling last night after they defeated the Boston Bruins 6-1. From owner George Gillett, who celebrated his 69th birthday, to Bryan Smolinski, who got an assist in his 1,000th NHL game, the positive feelings were everywhere. But Fisher writes that the Habs wouldn't have been in a position to win the game had it not been for the performance of Goaltender Cristobal Huet, a sentiment echoed by Pat Hickey's article in this morning's Gazette.

The Gazette's Pat Hickey writes that developing a goaltending controversy in Montreal might be difficult because Cristobal Huet and Carey Price are rooting for each other despite their desire to play.

"It has to be like that," Huet said. "The coach is going to use the best goalie, the guy who's playing the best during the games and that pushes me, for sure, to be better and get the job done."

Read Hickey's complete article here.

Canadiens coach Guy Carbonneau made it clear that his No. 1 goaltender on Oct. 3 will be Cristobal Huet and despite the critics calling for Carey Price to take Huet's job, the statistics tell a different story.

Although Thursday night's win was Huet's first of the preseason, Pat Hickey writes that Huet left little doubt that he's the man going into the season. Of the three goalies still in camp, Huet has the lowest goals-against average and the best save percentage.

Canadiens coach Guy Carbonneau made it clear that his No. 1 goaltender on Oct. 3 will be Cristobal Huet and despite the critics calling for Carey Price to take Huet's job, the statistics tell a different story.

Although Thursday night's win was Huet's first of the preseason, Pat Hickey writes that Huet left little doubt that he's the man going into the season. Of the three goalies still in camp, Huet has the lowest goals-against average and the best save percentage.

Cristobal Huet stands – in this case, kneels – his ground Saturday vs. Ottawa.
Pierre Obendrauf, Gazette

Canadiens head coach Guy Carbonneau has said in the past week that Cristobal Huet is his No. 1 goaltender, and he expects to give the steady veteran the final two starts of the preseason this week to get him ready for the Oct. 3 season opener in Carolina vs. the Hurricanes.

On Saturday, having played his first full game since last April 7, Huet called Price the goaltender of the future for the Canadiens. But Huet, who made 17 saves in his team's 2-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators, sees himself as the club's goalie of the present, at least, and he's sharply focused on being ready for the start of the season.

Huet missed 20 games last season, having suffered a torn hamstring on Valentine's Day. The injury required surgery and extensive rehabilitation, and he returned to action for a period on April 5, then played the Canadiens' final game, April 7 in Toronto.

Huet can expect to start Thursday's home game against Boston and the Canadiens' final preseason game on Saturday in Ottawa.

Below is a feature on the third-year Canadien that appears in Monday's Gazette.

Cristobal Huet stands – in this case, kneels – his ground Saturday vs. Ottawa.
Pierre Obendrauf, Gazette

Canadiens head coach Guy Carbonneau has said in the past week that Cristobal Huet is his No. 1 goaltender, and he expects to give the steady veteran the final two starts of the preseason this week to get him ready for the Oct. 3 season opener in Carolina vs. the Hurricanes.

On Saturday, having played his first full game since last April 7, Huet called Price the goaltender of the future for the Canadiens. But Huet, who made 17 saves in his team's 2-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators, sees himself as the club's goalie of the present, at least, and he's sharply focused on being ready for the start of the season.

Huet missed 20 games last season, having suffered a torn hamstring on Valentine's Day. The injury required surgery and extensive rehabilitation, and he returned to action for a period on April 5, then played the Canadiens' final game, April 7 in Toronto.

Huet can expect to start Thursday's home game against Boston and the Canadiens' final preseason game on Saturday in Ottawa.

Below is a feature on the third-year Canadien that appears in Monday's Gazette.

Alex Kovalev grabbed the spotlight from Sidney Crosby last night at the Bell Centre after a three-point night that included the overtime winner as the Habs downed the Penguins 3-2 in the first of back-to-back exhibition games.

But the Canadiens' blue line took a bruising during the game, with Andrew Archer sent to hospital for X-rays after a fight with Georges Laraque in the first period and Mathieu Carle suffering a knee injury in the second period.

The Gazette's Pat Hickey writes that on paper, the Penguins had a clear advantage because of their lineup's NHL experience. The players dressed for the Pens combined for 194 NHL goals last season, while the Canadiens lineup scored only 78 goals.

Habsblog.com has a look at a new mask for Canadiens goaltender Cristobal Huet.

Have a look at the new design here.