The Drive for Twenty Five

Vacation...

2009-07-27T17:32:00.000-04:00

Tragically Hab and The Doc are currently on vacation, but we'll be back, ready to blog Gomez, Mara, Moen, Cammalleri, Gionta, Spacek and all your other favourite Habs.

Can you say Stanley Cup 2010?

Interesting signings...

2009-07-05T17:01:00.001-04:00

Gionta, Cammalleri, talented but tiny. Spacek, perhaps a really good, quiet move for a puck-moving defenceman. Hal Gill, beast, giant, slow.

A new team, a new identity. More promise? On vacation now, but more to come as the summer unfolds.

And what of L'Artiste?

Gomez a Hab

2009-06-30T17:16:00.000-04:00

Higgins to the NYR...wow...as per TSN.

Thoughts on the Draft

2009-06-27T19:20:00.001-04:00

Pretty good summary of the Canadiens' picks can be found here:

http://habsinsideout.com/boone/20778

As for the overall feel, it didn't seem as though things were quite as unpredictable as you might have otherwise guessed. The first 30 picks went largely in order of what the experts had predicted, and there wasn't much movement in terms of players being swapped or huge jumps in pick position.

The night started off with the big news of Chris Pronger being traded to Philly, and that was really it in terms of impact moves until earlier today when the Flames acquired the rights to negotiate with Jay Bouwmeester. In perhaps a bit of a surprise there was hardly any noise at all from the hometown Habs, although with UFA season kicking off on Wednesday that will surely change in the very near future. Right???

Feeling Drafty

2009-06-26T11:40:00.000-04:00

It's the big day in Montreal, as the NHL holds the first round of it's annual entry draft. Many questions will hopefully be answered before the day is out, including:

-What order will the top three prospects (Tavares, Hedman and Duchene) go in, and who will they go to?

-Will we see any trades (picks, players or both)? Rumors continue to swirl about Lecavalier, Bouwmeester, Kaberle and others, so will anything actually come to pass?

-What crazy scheme will Brian Burke orchestrate?

-How soundly will Garry Bettman be booed?

-What position will the player from Minnesota that the Habs draft in the first round play?

For the answers to these questions and more, tune in to TSN tonight at 7 PM.

Come on Molsons...

2009-06-22T18:15:00.001-04:00

Bring us Vinny.

Habs Sold

2009-06-20T18:30:00.001-04:00

Looks like deja vu all over again, with the Molson family set to take over majority control of Les Habitants from George Gillett pending the necessary league approval.

The price of the transaction is expected to be in excess of $500 million.

No word yet on what effect (if any) this will have on management and the roster with the entry draft set for this coming Friday in Montreal. It's expected that more information to those ends will come out later in the week as details on the sale are expanded.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=282431

Congratulations...

2009-06-14T17:10:00.000-04:00

to the Pittsburgh Penguins, the 2009 Stanley Cup Champions...as I predicted. And many of you did, too!

Alex Emelin signs in Russia

2009-06-09T06:07:00.002-04:00

Well that's too bad. Habs could have used him.

Oh well. Better get Vinny.

Quick hits...

2009-06-08T13:47:00.001-04:00

What a final it has been so far...this blogger says it goes seven.

Some quick rumours...TEAM 990 reports that Vincent Lecavalier purchased a house last week blocks from the Canadiens practice arena in Brossard. This is VL's third Montreal-area residence, but the proximity to the rink, and the suburban location, is puzzling. The previous two pads are a condo downtown and a house in the neighbourhood where he grew up. A sign of things to come?

TEAM 990 also reports that the Canadiens should announce a resolution to the coaching staff situation later this week. Kirk Muller and Doug Jarvis have both sat down with Jacques Martin and been formally interviewed. I'm betting Muller stays and Jarvis goes down to the AHL.

Predictions on the staff: Muller, Lever (he's Gainey's guy), Marc Crawford (a few have rumoured him, he has a Cup, get him on there), and David Marcoux as the goaltending coach (he of Calgary fame).

Jacques Martin to coach

2009-06-01T13:06:00.001-04:00

Apparently, Mario Tremblay will be an assistant. Back to the scene of the crime...

So Martin went from a new candidate to coach in four hours. You gotta love Montreal.

That Was Fast...

2009-06-01T13:05:00.002-04:00

Jacques Martin is the new head coach of the Canadiens. A press conference is scheduled for 2 PM to officially introduce him.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=280562

Winged Wheel Keeps on Rolling

2009-06-01T09:11:00.003-04:00

Up 2-0, and without their Hart Trophy candidate? Did anybody expect this from an "old" team playing on short rest?

For those thinking that the Pens can still take this, recall that in 32 previous series where a team has gone up 2-0, that team has won 31 times. Also, does anybody really see this Detroit team losing 4 of the next 5? Seems pretty unlikely to me...

Pens in Seven

2009-06-01T08:02:00.003-04:00

They'll come back.

And also: a new coach in Montreal? Rumour is Jacques Martin.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2009/06/01/habs_martin/

Red Wings/Penguins: The Sequel?

2009-05-25T09:55:00.000-04:00

It's looking more and more like we're going to be seeing a repeat of the Finals from last season with both the Pens and Wings holding commanding leads over their opponents in the Conference Finals. Unlike last year though, these Penguins have experience to draw on in a potential championship showdown, while the Wings remain an unflappable model of consistency. Should be a really interesting series.

Oh yeah. And if that wasn't good enough on it's own, there's also the Marian Hossa defection to spice things up even more. While the Penguins/Capitals series may have had the marquee names, this one has the potential to be just as good (especially considering what's on the line).

Currently on vacation...

2009-05-17T17:18:00.000-04:00

...but that doesn't stop predictions.

Wings in seven.

Pens in six.

And these Briere for Price rumours are an absolute joke.

Another Year...

2009-05-12T10:25:00.002-04:00

...and another season where a Canadian team won't win the Cup. As Habs fans, I don't know if we should be happy or sad that we're still the last northern franchise to take the title way back in 1993...

Thankfully though, the second round hasn't been lacking in excitement this year (Canadian draught notwithstanding). The Caps/Penguins series is headed for a climactic Game 7, the Blackhawks have shown that youth and inexperience can be overcome with raw talent, the Red Wings continue their methodical pace, and the resurgent Hurricanes stand on the brink of eliminating the mighty Bruins. Certainly lots of things to keep your attention while you wait to see what becomes of the Habs over the summer.

Another interesting storyline that has arisen this postseason pertains to the goaltending situation for Team Canada in the 2010 Olympics. Going in, it seemed like a two-horse race between Luongo and Brodeuer, but neither of them exactly set the World on fire with their respective performances. Has this opened the door for another contender to step up (Cam Ward or Marc-Andre Fleury perhaps?), or will the two big names still be there when it comes time for the selection camp? Feel free to comment or vote in the poll to let us know what you think.

Donald Sutherland

2009-05-06T22:52:00.000-04:00

Off topic, but...is it just me, or does Donald Sutherland now do the voice-over for every other commercial? on television? And every other one is done by his son Kiefer. And the odd one is then done by Dennis Leary.

Whatever happened to James Earl Jones?

Come on, Bettman...

2009-05-06T09:42:00.002-04:00

Let Balsillie have the Coyotes. Let him move the team to Canada.

Make it seven.

http://www.makeitseven.ca

More Predictions - Round 2

2009-04-30T11:25:00.003-04:00

Hey, just because the Habs are done doesn't mean we'll stop posting. There will soon be trades and a draft to start thinking about, and we'll do what we can to provide updates and commentary where they're possible.

Until then, there's still playoff hockey to be played. For Round 2, I'm going to go with:

Detroit over Anaheim in 6

Chicago over Vancouver in 7

Washington over Pittsburgh in 7

Boston over Carolina in 7

Nothing like a little dissension amongst bloggers to keep things interesting...

Also, for actual expert picks we direct you to the wheel-spinning monkey.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/feature/?id=11809

Predictions - Round Two

2009-04-29T22:52:00.002-04:00

Anaheim over Detroit in seven.

Vancouver over Chicago in six.

Pittsburgh over Washington in six.

Carolina over Boston in seven.

And the train came off the tracks

2009-04-24T22:08:00.002-04:00

That thunderous thud on Wednesday night was the Canadiens' 100th season coming to a halt. And wow, what a disappointment. The Doc did a good job breaking down what happened, and has written a bit about what he figures might happen. My five big questions heading into the off-season:

1) Will Vincent Lecavalier be a Canadien come September?

2) What happens with Carey Price - can he get his confidence back?

3) Speaking of goalies, will Jaroslav Halak be back as a Hab? Or will he walk?

4) Can Tomas Plekanec regain his 2007 form?

5) Will Bob Gainey return as Habs GM?

As always, we welcome your thoughts, discussion and poll voting.

Interesting Article

2009-04-24T15:45:00.001-04:00

A good read on the Habs' current situation by Elliotte Friedman.

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/blogs/2009/04/canadiens_season_far_from_a_lo.html

Swept Away

2009-04-23T09:50:00.002-04:00

Sadly, the once vaunted Centennial Season came to an inglorious end last night at the hands of the Bruins. While it's obvious that the Habs were fighting an uphill battle without Markov, Lang, Boullion, Schneider and Tanguay in the lineup, I think it's safe to say that the better team won this series. Boston was just too good in all aspects of the game this year, and while you would have liked to see the Canadiens field a full lineup to try and make the series a bit more competitive, I'm not sure that it would have ultimately made much of a difference other than in the number of games that would have been played.

While the Bruins now move on in their quest for the Cup, the Canadiens will be forced to endure a long summer of questions. With 10 players from the roster coming up for UFA status, we'll likely see a lot of movement before the start of the next season. Additionally, the coaching, management and ownership situations are all in states of flux themselves, so it will most certainly mean some tumultuous times for the team to endure in the coming months.

Random Thought For the Day:

-Does anybody else have a really bad feeling about the situation in goal for the Habs next year? Through his actions, Bob Gainey has made it clear that as long as he's around Carey Price will be the starter (for good or bad). The problem I see with this is that Jaroslav Halak would have given the team a better shot at winning down the stretch (not letting him start Game 3 was criminal), and yet he was overlooked in favour of "The Franchise." After his continual mistreatment by the team this season I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Halak walk, which would be a shame given what he could have done with the right opportunity.

Unfortunately, this becomes an even bigger problem when you factor in the fragile state of Carey Price these days. The fans absolutely gave it to him last night, and the mock cheers and Roy-esque salute after an easy save in the second period were more than a bit worrisome. It's entirely possible that the team and fans could have seriously damaged his confidence through their respective treatments of his game, so going forward it's going to be a delicate situation to see just how it all plays out...

Hmmm...

2009-04-22T22:46:00.001-04:00

...Habs in eight?

Seriously, congratulations to the Bruins.

Pushed to the Brink

2009-04-21T09:45:00.004-04:00

It all started so well too. For the first 15+ minutes last night the Habs looked like they might be able to make this a series, but sadly, reality eventually caught up with them. You just can't expect to beat a #1 seed missing the likes of Markov, Schneider, Lang and Tanguay, and that's exactly what showed down the stretch. The Bruins (despite a shaky start) played disciplined hockey in all 3 zones last night, and now have up to 4 chances to end the Habs' Centennial Season. After the last few weeks of losing (7 in a row now) and injuries, I'm not sure that it'll take more than 1 or 2...

Random Thoughts From Game 3:

-I know that Price played pretty well last night all things considered, but after Game 2 I was sure Halak would get his shot. He has a lifetime GAA of 1.82 and SVP of .943 against the Bruins, and as evidenced by the Washington series, a change in net can drastically alter the fortunes of a struggling team. Guess Bob likes Carey too much for that to happen though...

-Yannick Weber looked really good last night. Pairing him with Markov next season should make for a solid PP tandem.

-What's up with all of the noise/booing from the Montreal crowd during the American National Anthem? They always seem to do this, and it just looks petty. I know they hate the Bruins and all, but save the displays for the game itself. I'm sure the American players and owner of the Canadiens would also agree...

Lang and Markov skating and shooting today...

2009-04-20T11:39:00.000-04:00

...a guy can dream, right?

Down 2-0...

2009-04-19T18:35:00.000-04:00

We Shall Overcome.

Down 2-0 Heading Home

2009-04-19T13:05:00.001-04:00

It wasn't even close last night either. The Habs were crushed 5-1 by the Bruins, and dominated in virtually every aspect of the game. The team now returns home needing to beat the Eastern Conference Champs 4 times in 5 games to win the series; a long shot at best.

Interestingly, the team hasn't won a game since Andrei Markov left the lineup (they're now 0-6), and even though his return would certainly increase spirits, I'm not sure if he'll be healthy enough to be the contributor that the Habs will need him to be. I suppose anything is possible though, and if the series is 2-1 after Monday night then it'll be a whole different situation. Not a lot to go on I know, but right now it might be the best that they've got...

Thoughts and Questions After Game 2:

-Should Milan Lucic be suspended for his hit on Maxim Lapierre? Some suggest that he led with his glove and that the shot was no cheaper than the Lapierre hit on Kessel after the empty net goal in Game 1, but it's certainly a tough call to make.

-Who exactly should start in Game 3? History tells us that Gainey likes Price, but is a GAA of 4 and a .875 SVP what the team needs right now?

-What lines will we see next game? The shuffle will likely continue to try and get things going, but how will it work out? Maybe Gainey should try the Carbonneau route of pulling names out of a hat?

-For all of those people who answered the poll question with the Habs winning this series (and there were a bunch of you), what have you seen so far to suggest that it's still possible?

Good things to take from game one...

2009-04-17T12:46:00.002-04:00

Well, sure, the Habs lost, but they looked pretty good towards the end. However, there's no such thing as a good loss. That said, a few positives:

Laraque did a good job opening up some ice for Koivu and Kovalev. That said, if they're down Saturday, after the second he definitely, DEFINITELY should not be on the first line. He played 14 minutes for crying out loud!
Latendresse threw some nice hits in the corners. Perhaps he takes BGL's spot on line one?
Christopher Higgins is a defensive beast. Wow did he look good.
Price played well. We just need more urgency in his game. There's a difference between calm and lazy. On the first Bruins goal, he was lazy.
Glen Metropolit is a great defensive player.
Mathieu Schneider is tough as nails. The guy has one shoulder and was one of our best defencemen.
Patrice Brisebois has to sit. He's just not physical enough.

This series will go six or seven - and the Habs will win. That was the real Bruins. The Habs can do better. Especially if Markov and Bouillon get back - and they both skated yesterday.

Habs in six.

Round One to Boston

2009-04-17T10:30:00.001-04:00

In what was a hard game to really assess, the Canadiens fell 4-2 to the Bruins last night. The Habs certainly showed some positive signs (Carey Price was very solid for example), but the fact of the matter remains that the loss will only build confidence for Boston.

Going into the game, I felt that the Canadiens needed to win to plant some doubt in the Bruins. While it looked for a while like that might very well happen, the Chara goal on the powerplay in the third seemed to eliminate all momentum that the Canadiens had enroute to the eventual loss. The Habs almost certainly need to win this next game to have a realistic shot at winning the series, so we'll see how they react on Saturday night.

Random Thoughts From Game 1

-Georges Laraque probably shouldn't be on the top line in place of Tanguay, no matter how much you think he "deters" Chara...

-Do the Habs have a second line? Whatever happened to Kostitsyn and Plekanec anyway?

-That was a cheap shot from Lapierre on Kessel after the empty net goal. It's not like he was even taunting or anything. He basically smiled and then got punched in the face. The same goes for Komisarek wailing on Hunwick after the game ended. I guess you could say that the team was trying to "send a message" or something like that, but I worry about those types of things motivating Boston more than anything else...

It begins

2009-04-16T01:35:00.001-04:00

And then the Lord said, let there be battle.

Kovalev. Koivu. Tanguay. Price. Schneider. Latendresse. Lapierre. Komisaurus. Kostitsyn. Plekanec.

Let's get it on, Boston.

Great series breakdown

2009-04-15T14:33:00.002-04:00

Check it out:

http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog/Eric-Engels/Analysts-Unanimously-Pick-Bruins-over-Canadiens-Depth-Cited-as-Main-Reason/82/20663

Why Montreal will beat Boston

2009-04-13T14:30:00.001-04:00

1. Andrei Markov will return.

2. The Canadiens special teams are statistically better.

3. Carey Price will outplay Tim Thomas.

4. Bob Gainey will outcoach Claude Julien.

5. The ghosts just won't let the Bruins win. Won't happen. The Canadiens always have the ghosts in the playoffs. And the Canadiens ghosts can beat the heck out of the Bruins ghosts. I don't care who's in net.

Prediction: Habs in six over Boston. Price, Markov, Kovalev lead the way.

Habs ghosts in four over Bruins ghosts. Maurice Richard with nine goals, Aurel Joliat with six, Jacques Plante with three shutouts. Eddie Shore with a couple for the 'Ruins.

Predictions: Round One

2009-04-13T14:27:00.002-04:00

San Jose-Anaheim: San Jose in six. But the Ducks could surprise. Key to series: Joe Thornton.

Detroit-Colombus: Detroit in five. Key to series: Chris Osgood.

Vancouver-St. Louis: Vancouver in six. Key to series: Can Sundin take it up a notch?

Chicago-Calgary: Calgary in six. Key to series: Gotta be Kipper.

Boston-Montreal: Montreal in six. Key to series: The return of Andrei Markov, and special teams.

Washington-NY Rangers: Washington in five. Key to series: Sean Avery.

NJ-Carolina: Carolina in seven. Key to series: The Cole-Staal combination.

Pittsburgh-Philadelphia: Pittsburgh in six. Key to Series: Sid the Kid.

Get ready Boston

2009-04-11T22:30:00.001-04:00

Because we're ready for you. Bring it on.

Trouble Bruin?

2009-04-11T21:55:00.001-04:00

Talk about backing into the postseason...

The Habs lost their 4th straight game tonight by conceding 2 shorthanded goals in just under a minute, and will now head to Boston to open up a first round series on Thursday night against the Eastern Conference Champion Bruins. Interestingly, the Canadiens finished the season with an identical record as the 9th place Florida Panthers, and only qualified for the final playoff spot through a fortunate tiebreaking situation. Not exactly a ringing endorsement of their play down the stretch to be sure. It is also becoming clear (if it wasn't before) that the absence of Andrei Markov on the blueline is a serious concern. Should he not be ready to go for the start of the playoffs, the Canadiens will be in tough against a rugged and talented Boston team.

Fortunately, not everything was bad in the 3-1 loss tonight, as Carey Price single-handedly kept the team in the game with a number of remarkable saves. It's that type of performance that the team needs out of him if they hope to pull off the upset, so at least it provides something to build from as the team readies for the second season.

Who Will It Be?

2009-04-11T13:10:00.003-04:00

Washington? Boston? We'll know soon enough. If the Canadiens top the Penguins this evening, and Philadelphia beat the Rangers tomorrow, Montreal plays Washington. Which I presume they'd prefer. Otherwise, it's Boston, version 32.0.

And why Washington? Well, I have three words for you: Jose The Odour. Even better? Not only is he bad, our goaltending coach taught him how to play. The book's out on Jose.

And for those wondering: Tim Thomas has never won an NHL playoff series.

I smell an upset...

No Loss Unrewarded

2009-04-10T11:05:00.004-04:00

Despite losing their third straight game last night, the Canadiens still locked up a playoff spot thanks to the overtime point. They now sit at 93 points, and thanks to holding the tiebreaker over the Panthers are assured of a postseason berth even if the two teams finish tied in the standings (i.e. Montreal loses on Saturday and Florida wins).

The game last night was a chippy affair, with plenty of evidence (especially in the second period) that these are two teams that clearly don't like each other. With the return of Mathieu Schneider and insertion of Yannick Weber the Montreal PP was again successful (if unspectacular), scoring 3 times with the man advantage. A bit of secondary scoring was also evident (Matt D'Agostini had a pair), and Carey Price played a relatively solid game despite throwing in a couple of noteworthy errors. Unfortunately, the problem with the team still seems to be an inability to play and focus for a complete 60-minute game, and that is clearly something that needs to be fixed if they have any aspirations of making a postseason run.

With their playoff spot now assured, the main question that remains is who the Canadiens will face in the first round: Boston or Washington. That will depend on the outcome of the games over the weekend, as a Rangers win or Canadiens loss means a return matchup with the Bruins, while should the Rangers lose and the Habs manage a single point against the Penguins then it will mean a series with the Caps. Each possible opponent has their own relative strengths and weaknesses to be sure, so it's hard to say who the Canadiens would feel is a better matchup. Either way, I'm sure most people following the team are just glad to see them in, and will be more than happy with any first-round opponent given the alternatives that were looming a few weeks ago.

The Verdict: Matt's Back

2009-04-09T12:27:00.000-04:00

Mathieu Schnedier returns tonight for the Montreal Canadiens, partially torn rotator cuff and all. It's a Passover miracle for Schnedier, after being told days ago that his season was over. Hopefully, this gutsy decision to play through pain will spur the rest of the team on.

Still no word on Andrei Markov.

Go Habs Go.

This is now going well

2009-04-08T15:24:00.002-04:00

Another day, another loss. Still no new news on Schneider or Markov. Price looked good for most of the Rangers game, but he still seemed shaky. At least Dandenault and Metropolit seem to be performing.

A win and they're in. Boston tomorrow.

Ottawa

2009-04-07T17:15:00.001-04:00

Well that went well...until the last 5 minutes.

Price versus the Rangers. This is the biggest game of the season.

Habs.

The Thin Blue Line

2009-04-06T12:32:00.003-04:00

That's what the Habs are faced with tonight. No Schneider. No Markov. Doug Janik slots in for his first game. And a power play that has been 37% for the past six games lies in wait.

Can they get it done sans the big two?

UPDATE

Schneider gone for the season with a rotator cuff injury. Markov gone for 3-4 weeks with a reported left-knee injury.

Can it get any worse?

The solution: Yannick Weber.

Bob, make the call.

4 Points

2009-04-06T10:50:00.001-04:00

That's what the Habs need in their remaining four games to guarantee themselves a playoff spot. While it's also possible that even 3 points might be enough, that could also bring tiebreakers into the equation depending on how Florida and New York finish out. While the position the Canadiens will occupy should they make it into the postseason still remains to be determined (anywhere from 4th to 8th are all possible depending on how things fall), with all of the doubts that were lingering about the possibilities of even making the playoffs a few weeks ago, locking up a spot will be a good first step. Once you're in just about anything is possible, and with the top line firing on all cylinders a deep run wouldn't be as inconceivable as it once was.

With games against Boston, the Rangers and Penguins later this week, it would likely benefit the Canadiens to take advantage of the chance for 2 big points against Ottawa tonight in Montreal. This is the last game against a team that isn't playoff-bound/desperate for points in the standings, so now would be the ideal time to add on a bit of insulation in the standings before the tough final stretch kicks in.

Game time is 7:30 EST from the Bell Center (RDS and Sportsnet).

Leafs left blowing in the wind

2009-04-05T21:44:00.003-04:00

And another great game by Mr. Alex Kovalev, with 4 points. Jaro Halak comes up big again. But mostly, the team dominates a weak opponent. That said, the Leafs have played well lately, so this one counts.

Ottawa tomorrow. And after a Penguins loss today, it's a big, big game. If the Habs win, they're up to sixth, and the playoff possibilities look that much more solidifed.

Big Game Tonight

2009-04-04T14:31:00.002-04:00

Rangers currently losing to Boston, Panthers lose last night, if the Habs win they are within striking distance of 4th or 5th. Will Kovalev, Koivu and Tanguay lead the way? Is Halak up to the challenge? Will Gainey be 5-0-1 in his last six?

It's going to be good.

Habs Rock the Island

2009-04-03T21:33:00.003-04:00

5-1, and looking good. Komisarek is, once again, a beast. The AKA line is on fire. Kovalev is the man. And Halak does a good Price impression.

Habs-Leafs. Saturday. 7.

Interesting take on the Habs coaching situation

2009-04-02T16:55:00.003-04:00

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/30014695/

It's a good read. Bill Clement suggests Jacques Lemaire may be the Habs guy come fall.

Flu Shots Are Free...

2009-04-02T13:05:00.001-04:00

... yet you wouldn't think so given the problems Montreal has had with the bug. Carey Price is the latest victim, forcing Jaroslav Halak back into the starting role tonight on Long Island (his first game since a 5-2 loss to the Leafs on March 21). Mark Denis has been recalled from Hamilton to serve as the backup.

In other lineup news, Sergei Kostitsyn will also miss the game tonight after suffering an "upper-body" injury on Tuesday against Chicago. Roman Hamrlik is expected to play, but could always be a late scratch after being forced to leave the game against the Blackhawks in the second period by an odd collision that resulted in a cut to his face.

Game time tonight is 7 PM (TSN).

Solid Homestand Comes to a Close

2009-04-01T14:10:00.001-04:00

It isn't even an April Fool's joke or anything either.

With an impressive 4-1 win over legitimate playoff contender Chicago, the Habs ran their record on this most recent 5 game homestand to 3-1-1. The win last night was critical in the standings too (imagine that...). With Florida having defeated Ottawa earlier in the evening, the 2 points kept the Canadiens 1 clear of the Panthers for the final playoff spot in the East (with a game-in-hand as well).

The race to the postseason continues to tighten, with positions 5 through 9 in the East separated by only 4 points. Realistically, none of those teams are safe at this point, and even though most talk centers on one of Florida or Montreal missing out, it isn't out of the question for the Rangers, Penguins or Hurricanes to fall as well. Needless to say, the next 12 days will see a huge number of changes in positioning as the contenders struggle to distance themselves from the pretenders.

For the Canadiens, they need to prove that they can win on the road and against weaker teams in their last 6 games if they want to make it in. With visits to Long Island and Toronto in the next four days, those are 4 points that will be critical to earning a spot in the postseason. After that, things get tougher as they finish out at home versus Ottawa, in New York and Boston, and wrap up against Pittsburgh.

Thankfully, Bob Gainey seems to have the team playing solid defence, and Carey Price has regained some of his confidence from earlier in the year. While secondary scoring remains a bit of a question, it's certainly something that seems like it can be fixed given the talent available on the roster. The drive for the playoffs is in full force, so we'll see how the team reacts tomorrow night against the Isles.

Blackhawks Downed

2009-03-31T23:18:00.001-04:00

I know, corny title. But great game by the Habs, as they hold the NHL's 3rd highest scoring team to one goal. Carey Price looked brilliant, and the Canadiens played as a team, putting forth their best effort, arguably, of 2009. Unbelievably, that was the Habs first win against a playoff contender since February.

Montreal must now hit the road to face the Islanders and Toronto. However, they're in better shape than they were a week ago, with one point separating them and Florida, a game in hand, and a game in hand on the one point ahead Rangers.

Oh, and Bob Gainey did it: he got the team to .500 since he took over. Way to go, Bob. Now keep it going. And win the Cup.

Bring on the Bruins?

Well they blew that one

2009-03-29T20:45:00.002-04:00

At least Price was better in the shootout, and Kovalev looked good, but the Habs should have won that game. They're just making things harder on themselves as they go.

It's the most wonderful time of the year...

2009-03-28T12:03:00.001-04:00

Spring is here, the sun is shining, the air is fresh, and the Habs are battling it out for eighth. How nothing changes.

A huge game tonight at the Bell Centre, after the Leafs did the Habs no favours and lost to the Sabres 5-3. The Canadiens must beat the Sabres to keep them at bay in the race for eight.

Puck drop at 7:05. CBC West and Quebec. Should be a good one.

Winning In Spite of Themselves?

2009-03-27T19:35:00.000-04:00

For about 55 minutes last night the Canadiens looked like the dominant team so many people predicted they would be at the start of the season, yet it was the other 8 that almost sent them to what would have been a heartbreaking loss in their playoff push. With less than 10 minutes to go in regulation the Habs squandered a 2-goal lead against an awful Tampa Bay squad, and it took an OT marker by Saku Koivu to salvage a much-needed second point. Does the end in this case justify the means? Hardly...

This is still a team that lacks consistency, and can lapse in and out of focus on what seems to be a regular basis. Last night it was an inability to convert on scoring chances that nearly cost them the game, since there was no way it should have been only a 2-goal cushion given the opportunities that were presented. The Canadiens were 1-for-9 on the PP, and missed a number of cross-crease opportunities and open nets. That sort of thing just can't happen if you want to beat teams ranked higher than the bottom three of the league.

Tomorrow will likely be a better indication of just what the team is capable of, as the Buffalo Sabres visit the Bell Center. Should they manage to beat Toronto tonight Buffalo will be only 5 points back of the Canadiens for the 8th spot in the East, making tomorrow a desperation game in terms of the standings for both teams.

The question now is this: will the Habs manage to play like it's one?

Gameday - Lightning v. Habs

2009-03-26T11:04:00.001-04:00

This could be a tough one. Vinny and St. Louis always do well in Montreal, and have won two of three against the Habs thus far this year.

Can the Habs maintain momentum?

Can they score six again?

Can Georges Laraque be any more useless?

Wait...

2009-03-25T10:15:00.000-04:00

The Habs actually won a game? Been a while since we could say that.

The Kovalev/Koivu/Tanguay line exploded for 11 points last night, and the Habs managed to beat the visiting Thrashers 6-3 in a must-win game that at times actually looked like one for the home team. Granted, this wasn't the stiffest competition as Atlanta sits in 27th spot overall, but given that Montreal has looked like some club teams could beat them recently it was still a good win all the same.

Unfortunately, certain issues still remain, as it seems that on any given night only 1 line can score while all of the others simply fill in time. Balanced scoring would go a long way toward making this team something resembling a contender, although as long as the "good line" changes every night I guess that will keep the opponents' defenders guessing.

Carey Price was adequate last night (stopping 22 of 25 shots), but did allow his trademark weak goal and often looks completely disinterested with the game as a whole. You still can't quite be sure what to expect from him down the stretch, and the team clearly needs a solid contribution to make any sort of serious run.

Regardless of these issues, the fact still remains that the two points from last night gives the Canadiens sole possession of 8th place in the East. With games against Tampa Bay and Buffalo on the schedule for this week there is still a reasonable chance to make up some ground in the standings, and any team that gets into the postseason has a shot at making some noise in a run to the Cup (look at Edmonton a few years ago), so who knows what to expect at this point.

One ain't bad

2009-03-25T07:34:00.001-04:00

But...it was the Thrashers. Kovalev, Tanguay and Koivu looked great together. Carey Price had flashes of brilliance. And Mathieu Dandenault was extremely strong on the backend as the Habs beat Atlanta 6-3. Two is a streak: we'll find out Thursday.

A great read on Bob Gainey

2009-03-23T22:54:00.002-04:00

From the Globe and Mail's Roy MacGregor...

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20090323.MACGREGOR23/TPStory/

The changes continue

2009-03-23T17:21:00.002-04:00

Pacriotetty down, Kostitsyn Jr. up. The big three on the first line. Can Kovalev-Koivu-Tanguay work? I would have preferred a flying Frenchmen line of Latendresse-Lapierre-Tanguay. I'm not one to put much stock in the French player debate, but I must admit, has anyone looked as desperate to win as these three the last few weeks? Perhaps Kostopolous, but that's about it.

Can the big three come through? Can Lapierre repeat his performance from Saturday? Can Carey Price or Jaroslav Halak get through a first period period without giving up a goal?

We'll find out tomorrow.

Unbelievable...

2009-03-22T09:48:00.002-04:00

This team is so bad it is unbelievable. Absolutely unbelievable. Who would have thought we could fall this far, this fast?

Incredible.

Remember the All-Star Game?

2009-03-21T21:55:00.001-04:00

Back when Alex Kovalev was the toast of the town and things were bright and cheery in Montreal? Those were the days...

The Habs suffered a 5th straight loss tonight (5-2 to the visiting Leafs), and now sit at an abysmal 1-3-2 with Bob Gainey behind the bench. Excepting another solid performance from Maxim Lapierre nothing worked well, and it's getting to the point where it's difficult to figure out just why the team has seemingly quit on the season. The effort just isn't there any more, and it's looking less and less like it's going to be coming back any time soon.

On the plus side, with Florida losing in regulation tonight the Habs maintain their tenuous 1-point edge for the coveted 8th place position in the East (and the privelege of getting thrashed by Boston or New Jersey in the first round of the playoffs).

Keep those postseason dreams alive...

Kostitsyn benched for tomorrow

2009-03-20T16:36:00.000-04:00

No Andrei Kostitsyn tomorrow against the Maple Leafs.

Oh good. Finally. I'm glad coach Bob has the good sense to bench our leading scorer when we can't score.

...

*sigh*

You Know...

2009-03-20T09:20:00.001-04:00

...it's beginning to look as though Guy Carbonneau may not have been the main problem plaguing the Canadiens after all...

After getting a win in his first game behind the bench, the Habs have dropped their next 4 under the supervision of Bob Gainey and still look like a team destined to miss the postseason unless something drastic changes in the very near future. Carey Price was shaky in allowing 4 goals on just 15 shots last night, and was replaced early in the second period by Jaroslav Halak (who played yet another solid game in relief). Price was notably upset in post game interviews, and you have to wonder how many more mediocre outings his confidence can stand. I know he's Gainey's guy and all, but it's looking like he may not be quite ready to lead this team into the playoffs just yet. He is only 21 years old after all, and the lack of a veteran presence to support him at times like these seems like a bit of an oversight.

It's not fair to put all of the blame on Price though, since the entire team (excepting the phenomenal Kostopoulos/Lapierre/Latendresse line) didn't look ready to play a critical game last night. The lack of focus and motivation is quickly becoming the norm for Montreal (regardless of who's behind the bench), and you have to wonder if there's any way to fix it in time. The Habs return home on Saturday night to face the Leafs, and can probably expect to receive a hostile "welcome" from their home fans given their recent performances. This is likely their last chance to stop the bleeding, so they better make the most of it if they want to be taken seriously as any sort of playoff contender.

OttaStraw

2009-03-19T23:37:00.002-04:00

Well that's gotta be it. The camel's back is broken.

Can Bob find a new camel?

If the seasons wasn't on the line Tuesday...

2009-03-19T15:56:00.001-04:00

...it is tonight. Habs v. Sens, in Ottawa, 7:30. It's a must win for the Canadiens, in every sense of the word.

Carey Price starts in goal.

A frustrating loss, and a coach past

2009-03-18T15:00:00.002-04:00

The Habs lost another last night, in a shootout, to the Rangers. Doesn't matter how they lost - it was a loss. Great game by Carey Price - until they lost. The Habs head to Ottawa this evening, where hopefully they win. Otherwise, they'll be losers of four in five since Bob Gainey took over as coach from that other guy.

"It's the first time I have been fired."

Speaking of Guy Carbonneau, he addressed the media today, his 49th birthday. He said he had "no idea" he was going to be fired, and that it caught him by surprise. He also said, not surprisingly, that he is not happy he was fired. He said he is still cheering for the team and hopes they make the playoffs and go far.

Wow. What a 100th season. Whoo. Hoo.

Hurray for the Loser Point!

2009-03-18T11:20:00.002-04:00

In another game of ups and downs, the Habs fell to the visiting Rangers 4-3 in a shootout last night. There were times where the team looked competitive, but things still seem to be a work-in-progress as it pertains to a complete effort.

Case in point was the third period, where the Canadiens were outshot 16-5. If you were to only look at the box score and see that they scored 2 goals on those 5 shots you'd likely assume it was an efficient period, yet the score clearly doesn't tell the full story. The Markov goal was essentially a gaffe by Lundqvist, and were it not for that, the Canadiens would have lost another game at home during this crucial stretch drive. There just doesn't seem to be adequate focus to play an entire game, which is odd, since the switch to Gainey behind the bench was supposed to address that very problem. The powerplay was also less than stellar (1-for-6), and despite a great regulation and OT, Carey Price looked vulnerable in allowing all three Rangers shooters to score in the shootout. I know that it's essentially a hit-or-miss situation when you get to that point, but I still think that you need your
"franchise" goalie to make at least 1 save if you're going to have aspirations of going anywhere.

Fortunately, things weren't all bad, as Maxim Lapierre put in another inspired performance and scored a nice goal for his efforts. Andrei Markov was also solid with a goal, two assists and a +2 rating. There were certainly signs that the team may still have enough talent to make the playoffs, but they need to get it together in a hurry if that's going to be the case.

The next game is Thursday night in Ottawa against the Senators (6-3-1 in their last 10).

Tanguay Out

2009-03-17T14:22:00.001-04:00

Source: Montreal Gazette

Habs-Rangers Preview

2009-03-17T14:05:00.000-04:00

Tonight's game is the biggest of the year, at least so far and maybe overall. Gainey's had us doing basic drills, and a victory would be a huge confidence booster and give us some breathing room. Price needs a big game as well. Kovalev is back, Tanguay is a game time decision. Should Tanguay be too ill, Latendresse is in.

Go get 'em boys.

These Habs need work

2009-03-16T10:15:00.002-04:00

What an embarrassment Saturday. Outshot 48-23. Outplayed, like men against boys. And what happens? The team gets Sunday off. And Monday morning. Practice this afternoon.

Now, I'm not one to question Bob Gainey, but this team needs work. They need conditioning. Now. Clearly, something is wrong. It looks like Tomas Plekanec, Tom Kostopolous, Glen Metropolit and a goalie vs. the league. That's awful. Come on guys, let's get this going.

One can only hope that Alex Kovalev comes back Tuesday and things start flying again. The post-Guy era is quickly souring for many. But there is still time.

Question of the day: What happened to Mike Komisarek? How has he gone from dominant #1 to invisible #4?

(cue Carmen Sandiego music)

Where in the world is Michael Komisarek?

Standing Ovation in Montreal

2009-03-15T12:55:00.000-04:00

Not for the reason you might think though. The Habs played another abysmal game in losing to the Devils 3-1, and were soundly booed throughout much of the third period and as they left the ice. The standing ovation was instead reserved for Martin Brodeur, who tied Patrick Roy atop the all-time wins list with career victory 551 last night. Forced to make only 22 saves it wasn't even much of a challenge for him, and were it not for a goal by Tomas Plekanec (who continues to impress) midway through the first period, he would have added another shutout to that impressive total on top of the historic win.

With the loss, the second Bob Gainey era now sits at a mark of 1-1-1. More disconcerting than just the record is the complete lack of defensive effort (to go along with a sputtering offence), allowing a staggering 48 shots on goal last night. For anybody still thinking that this is a legitimate playoff team, you have to question just who they'd be able to beat in a first round match up with the effort we've seen in the last week or so...

The 8th-place Rangers will be the next opponents to visit Montreal (Tuesday night), and with playoff positioning slipping away this will likely be a must-win situation. Whether the team will be up to that type of challenge remains to be seen

Big Game This Evening

2009-03-14T18:37:00.003-04:00

Brodeur goes for 551. Habs go for 2 points. Pittsburgh lost this aft, room to gain ground. Will Les Boys come through?

Jaroslav Halak starts. Brisebois plays #1000. Gainey coaches #3.

New Coach, Same Old Habs

2009-03-13T15:05:00.000-04:00

It didn't take long for the luster of the Bob Gainey era behind the bench to wear off, with the Habs falling 3-2 in OT to the lowly Islanders last night. Were it not for another outstanding performance in goal from Carey Price there wouldn't have even been 1 point to show for things though, as the Canadiens were again hopelessly outworked for large portions of the game (a disturbing trend). Interestingly, rather than being rewarded for his solid play Price will instead be riding the bench on Saturday night, with Jaroslav Halak drawing back in to face the visiting Devils.

This trend of sitting the hottest goalie is a bit confusing, since this is the second time in a couple of weeks that it has happened (Halak lost his starting position after 4 consecutive wins even after recovering from the flu). With Carbonneau behind the bench you could at least chalk it up to his lineup roulette, but with the much more calculating Gainey in charge it just seems a bit out of character.

In other lineup news Patrice Brisebois will play career game #1,ooo on Saturday night, replacing Ryan O'Byrne. The bigger story with respect to milestones will invariably come from the visiting Martin Brodeur though, who looks for victory #551 to tie Patrick Roy atop the all-time list.

Game time is 7 PM from the Bell Center.

Habs pay the Price

2009-03-13T00:10:00.003-04:00

Or, rather, Price played his heart out and the team let him down. A 3-2 loss in overtime gives the Habs a point, but they were dominated late by an Islanders team that sits last in the NHL. Carey Price made nearly 40 saves, however, and if there's one positive out of this game, it's that he has now had three solid starts in a row. Carey Price is back. But where are his teammates?

(with apologies to Alex Kovalev, who has the flu, did not play, and is thus not missing)

Parlez-vous francais?

2009-03-12T13:55:00.001-04:00

Don Lever doesn't, and as a potential candidate for the presumable vacancy that the Canadiens will have at the head coaching position going into next season this has become something of a hot-topic issue in Montreal. Should it be a requirement that the next coach of "Les Habitants" be functionally bilingual in a predominantly French city, or should he only be selected based on his coaching credentials rather than what language(s) he speaks? Logic would suggest that finding the best coach for the position should supersede any other "secondary" concerns, but we all know how well logic prevails in the media firestorm of Montreal.

Needless to say, it should be an interesting situation that will play out in the coming months as a decision ultimately nears.

Big game tonight

2009-03-12T12:10:00.003-04:00

Yan Danis returns to face the Habs as the starting goaltender of the New York Islanders. They're 4-1-1 in their last six, and Montreal born goaltenders such as Danis often do well at the Bell.

Alex Kovalev is doubtful due to the flu.

This could be a tough one.

New Poll

2009-03-11T17:17:00.000-04:00

Well, based on our numbers, some 15% of you believe that the Habs will win the North East. That seems a little far fetched, but we welcome your optimism.

Please do vote in our new poll, regarding playoff opponents!

Three Solid Periods

2009-03-11T11:50:00.001-04:00

Well, if you count OT as a full period anyway...

The Habs managed a 4-3 victory over the visiting Oilers last night despite playing one of the worst second periods in recent (and distant...) memory. Fortunately, other than that aberration the team actually looked quite impressive in the first game under the Bob Gainey regime, carrying the rest of the play and getting solid contributions from virtually the entire lineup. Carey Price continued his renaissance, and Saku Koivu scored late to tie the game and again in OT to seal the victory. The one obvious blemish was that the performance of Alex Kovalev was somewhat lacking (his only "contributions" came in the form of minor penalties), but given his strong relationship with Bob Gainey and his solid linemates, it is unlikely to be a prolonged slump.

The Habs continue their extended home stand on Thursday night, when they welcome the New York Islanders. Although recent games against Eastern bottom-feeders like Atlanta have been far from inspiring performances, you can be sure that Gainey will have the team prepared and focused for this one at a key point in the season.

What a game

2009-03-10T22:15:00.001-04:00

Carey Price makes the saves when they matter. Saku Koivu scores to tie it and then scores again to win it. Glen Metropolit with his first goal as a Hab. Ryan O'Byrne hitting anything that moves.

Habs 4, Oil 3.

Go Habs Go.

Habs v. Oil

2009-03-10T13:26:00.002-04:00

A big game tonight under a new coach, or is that an old coach? Bob Gainey takes the helm for his second stint as interim head coach, overseeing his troops at home against the Oilers. Is it a coincidence this coaching change came as the Habs started a homestand, where they have a much better record than on the road? I think not. Look for the Habs to start strong, and win at least six of the next ten. I think even eight of ten is possible.

Of note, the Oilers had their rookie dinner on Sunday, an NHL tradition that every team has. Why this late? Because the Oilers had three days off in the city that loves to party, Montreal. However, word is the Oilers veterans are a tad groggy after staying out all night on the rookies' paycheques. Perhaps this gives Les Canadiens an advantage?

Carey Price starts in goal. He was drubbed last time he faced the Oilers, only three weeks ago.

Should be good.

NOTES

Sergio Momesso, everyone's favourite ex-Hab, has been named an assistant coach in Hamilton
The Canadiens will now practice every day out of their Brossard facility, and no longer at the Bell Centre
The Canadiens now has three assistant coaches: Jarvis, Muller, Lever. Who heads up top on a headset, and who stays behind the bench?

Changes

2009-03-10T11:15:00.002-04:00

With the sudden firing of Guy Carbonneau yesterday afternoon, the Canadiens will presumably finish their Centennial Season with Bob Gainey behind the bench. This isn't the first time that this has happened, with Gainey taking over from Claude Julien and amassing a record of 23-15-3 in 41 games during the 2005/06 season and leading the team into the postseason. He evidently hopes to repeat things this year, citing eight weeks of underachievement as the driving force behind the move.

While it isn't uncommon for the coach to become the scapegoat for an underachieving team, I was a bit surprised to see Carbonneu take the fall during the year. I had him finishing the season with the team before being moved out over the summer, so this certainly comes as a surprise to most parties involved. Conversely, we've seen Lou Lamoriello fire coaches with 3 games left in a season where the Devils set a regular season record for wins (again the unfortunate Claude Julien was the victim), so this sort of sudden move isn't exactly uncommon. What remains to be seen is how the Canadiens as a team react to the change. We won't have to wait too long to find out, as they're home to face the Oilers tonight (7:30 EST start).

124 Victories in 230 Games

2009-03-09T17:11:00.000-04:00

And with that, the Guy Carbonneau era is over. Wow.

Bob Gainey takes over, assisted by Don Lever and perhaps Pierre Gauthier, perhaps Kirk Muller, no announcement yet.

unconventional      adj 1: not conforming to accepted rules or standards; "her             unconventional dress and hair style" [ant: conventional]      2: not conventional or conformist; "unconventional life styles"         [ant: conventional, conventional]      3: not conforming to legality, moral law, or social convention;         "an unconventional marriage"; "improper banking practices"         [syn: improper, unlawful]

     4: Bob Gainey

Habs Win???

2009-03-09T11:35:00.001-04:00

Who saw that one coming?

For the first 25 minutes the Habs looked hopelessly outclassed, yet a goal by Andrei Kostitsyn early in the second period surprisingly squared the game at 1. From there, the Canadiens went on to score two more times on only 19 total shots and coasted to a 3-1 victory over the Stars in Dallas. Carey Price was again outstanding, making 30 saves and keeping the team in the game during a first period that saw the Canadiens take 9 minor penalties and put forth about zero effort.

Despite the win, things are certainly not all well in Montreal. The startling lack of effort and discipline last night should never have amounted to a win (the stagnant Dallas powerplay helped things immensely), and more games like that will yield significantly different results down the stretch. As well, the team seems destined for a goaltending controversy with Carey Price wresting control of the starting position from Jaroslav Halak on account of an ill-timed bout of the flu. Halak was clearly the better choice before falling ill, and it seems reasonable to suspect that he'll be a bit upset about his new position on the bench.

Notes:

-The team returns home on Tuesday night to face the Oilers.

-Patrice Brisebois should likely be back in the lineup for game #1,000 of his career; an event that will greatly impress his legions of adoring fans in Montreal...

Carey does Dallas

2009-03-08T22:41:00.004-04:00

And it pays dividends. Carey Price was stellar, stopping 30 of 31 shots, as a lackluster Canadiens team won 3-1 over the Stars in Dallas. This was a game the Habs looked poised to lose, with 16 minutes in penalties in just the first alone (versus 2 for Dallas). All the minor infractions seemed sure to add up to Dallas goals.

Yet, the Habs came out in the second, allowed only 2 shots on three and a half minutes of straight power plays to start the period, and stormed back, led by Andrei Kostitsyn, Alex Kovalev, and Chris Higgins. Higgins goal sealed the deal, and came on a goof by Marty Turco, who misplayed the puck behind the net.

Carey Price is apparently back (where did he go?), and in that way that only goalies can, he has gone from disaster to hero overnight. That's two great starts for Carey in a row, only one of them wins but both of them solid.

The Canadiens are back home on Tuesday.

Price gets the start in Dallas

2009-03-08T16:15:00.002-04:00

Not sure about this one, we'll see how he performs. He looked good Friday, but Jaroslav Halak is mighty p'd off that he's not starting. After all, he did win four in a row before the flu forced him to sit.

Can anyone say goaltending controversy?

As well, can anyone say 10th place in the East? That's what happens with a loss: the outside looking in. From a Porsche start to a Chevrolet finish. This years Canadiens are the General Motors of hockey teams.

Without a win tonight, they'll really need a bailout.

Thrashed

2009-03-07T12:15:00.001-05:00

Despite a much improved performance from Carey Price, the rest of the Canadiens didn't seem to bother showing up in Atlanta last night and the result was an ugly 2-0 loss. This follows on the heels of a 5-1 drubbing in Buffalo on Wednesday night, and seems to mark a distinct lack of both effort and urgency from the team as a whole.

The return of Alex Tanguay to the lineup did not have the desired effect on team scoring, although with just under 14 minutes of ice time it's clear that he's still rounding back in to game-shape after missing an extended period with a shoulder injury. Perhaps more disturbing were the body of special teams play, with the Canadiens taking a number of undisciplined penalties and the powerplay going ice cold after a brief stretch of success. Although the outcome wasn't greatly affected by either of these factors last night, if the Canadiens were playing a team with aspirations for Stanley rather than Tavares it would have been a much worse result to be sure.

Now sitting only 2 points clear of 10th place in the East, the Canadiens need to pull things together quickly or they'll be on the outside of the playoff picture looking in. We'll see if they manage to right the ship on Sunday in Dallas (a 6 PM EST start), or if the gradual wreckage of the once vaunted Centennial season continues.

The Price is right, but the team is wrong

2009-03-07T09:44:00.003-05:00

Well, the Canadiens move on from a pathetic showing in Atlanta, shut out by that eight time vezina winner Kari Lehtonen (note that these comments are dripping with sarcasm). Five minor penalties in the first did the Canadiens in, but so did the lack of effort all the way through as Carey Price battled back from an eternity of "confidence problems," and had his best showing since before the all-star break. Sure, it was the Thrashers, but Price stood tall, making some great stops on Rich Peverley and Ilya Kovalchuk.

However, it was not to be, and the Habs go down 2-0. All of you voting in our pool that the Canadiens will catch Boston might need to see a doctor, because the Canadiens couldn't catch a cold right now. In fact, the chances are better that they finish out of the playoffs than in the top four. This pundit says that if the Canadiens don't win two of their next three, they can start booking tee-off times.

And a message to Saku Koivu:

Oh Captain! My Captain!

Rise up and hear the bells.

Rise up - for the flag is flung - for you.

The Price is right?

2009-03-06T14:06:00.002-05:00

Carey Price starts again tonight, as Jaroslav Halak is too ill to play. This could be a rough ride, with Ilya Kovalchuk shooting the lights out this season. Or perhaps Price can break out of this funk and get his mojo back.

We'll know soon enough.

The deadline day that was

2009-03-05T10:00:00.000-05:00

Some great commentary from Elliotte Friedman at CBC:

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/blogs/2009/03/gaineys_silence_spoke_volumes.html

A Wednesday to forget...

2009-03-04T22:13:00.003-05:00

If you're anything like me, you probably turned on TSN this afternoon, or logged onto your favourite hockey websites, or turned on your local sports station, anxious to find out who the Canadiens had added for their coming playoff run. The answer: no one. And after tonight's game in Buffalo, maybe there won't be a playoff run.

This team looked bad. 1999 Canadiens bad. And Scott Lachance was nowhere in sight. Really, what happened? I know Carey Price was in net, but they were soft, and asleep after the first ten minutes. It's sad that Carey Price starts are now predictable losses. He was an all-star six weeks ago.

I must say, if I was on a team that didn't make a move at the deadline, perhaps I'd see it almost as a vote of non-confidence. And maybe that would affect my confidence.

But Gainey got Schneider. And Metropolit. That was good enough. Wasn't it?

As a sidenote, I really, really wish the Habs had grabbed Gary Roberts off of waivers. He's the jam that this sandwich needs.

Another Year...

2009-03-04T15:25:00.003-05:00

...and another quiet deadline for the Canadiens pending some sort of late-breaking activity. It'll be interesting to see what Bob Gainey has to say in his upcoming press conference, which is scheduled for 3:30 from Brossard.

With trade talk now firmly behind them until the offseason, the Canadiens can turn their focus to the Buffalo Sabres (who they'll face tonight at the HSBC Arena). The Habs put their four game winning streak on the line, and are expected to start Carey Price in goal with Jaroslav Halak forced out of the lineup on account of the flu.

Many fans will be disappointed by the lack of trade activity from the Canadiens today (and the inevitable indictment by the TSN crew during the broadcast of the game tonight will do nothing to improve the situation), so hopefully the team can pull out a victory to ease at least some of the sting.

Olli Jokinen to Calgary close

2009-03-04T13:16:00.000-05:00

So says Bob McKenzie on TSN.

UPDATE: Done. Deal for Lombardi. Makes Calgary that much better after the earlier Leopold addition.

D-Day: 2009

2009-03-04T07:44:00.003-05:00

All quiet on the Eastern front for Les Canadiens, so far. The biggest rumour to emerge over night has Phoenix sending Bryzgalov and Morris to Philadelphia for Biron and Lupul. but I cannot imagine Biron waiving his no trade clause to head to Phoenix, so I say this one dies before it happens.

Boston is apparently after Mattias Ohlund as Chris Pronger negotiations have broken off. (Sportsnet)

Habs out of the Jokinen sweepstakes

2009-03-03T21:35:00.001-05:00

According to Pierre Lebrun at ESPN, the Habs were hard after Jokinen but cannot make the salary cap numbers work. Thus, they have abandoned Olli as an option.

Gerber to Leafs?

2009-03-03T19:53:00.000-05:00

This qualifies as the most bizarre rumour of the day:

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/blogs/2009/03/new_life_for_gerber_with_maple.html

It makes sense if it allows the Leafs to dump Toskala, but it seems highly unlikely.

Montreal, Boston rumours

2009-03-03T17:06:00.003-05:00

CKAC in Montreal reports that the Canadiens are interested in Michael Nylander. My take: How? He makes $4.75 million. Not to mention he's old and fairly slow. Doesn't make sense. I call bull.
Boston radio reports that the Bruins have offered Patrice Bergeron and draft picks for Chris Pronger. My Take: This is close to the rumoured deal from the weekend. I could see this one happening.

Bob McKenzie is now saying the Vancouver Canucks have entered the Jay Bouwmeester sweepstakes.

Catch the waive!

2009-03-03T12:45:00.005-05:00

Waived so far today:

Miroslav Satan

Brendan Morrison

Aaron Voros

Gary Roberts

Craig Adamds

Erik Reitz

Eric Perrin

John Sim

Mark Bell

Peter Olvecky

and more surely to come...

UPDATE

Ryan Smyth could be heading to San Jose for a package including Jonathan Cheechoo. Source: Denver Post
Bob McKenzie of TSN suggests that to get Jay Bouwmeester, the Philadelphia Flyers would move goaltender Martin Biron and go with Antero Niittymaki as their starter for the playoffs. He notes that the Bruins are taking a similar approach with Manny Fernandez.
Dominic Moore and Nik Antropov healthy scratches tonight for the Leafs (tsn)

More rumours

2009-03-03T12:00:00.008-05:00

Keeping you as up to date as we can...

Pierre Lebrun at ESPN says that Derek Morris will likely be going to either Philadelphia, Boston or Washington.
Sean Avery...is a New York Ranger, again.
Wild sign Backstrom to 4 year extension. He is OFF the market. The Red Wings better start looking elsewhere, fast.
Anaheim waives Brendan Morrison, NYR waive Aaron Voros (Sportsnet)
Rumours abound that Miroslav Satan has been placed on waivers by the Pittsburgh Penguins

Looking Out for #1?

2009-03-03T11:00:00.000-05:00

In an interesting discussion on TSN's "Off The Record" last night, the panel brought up the idea that the number of players on the Canadiens with contract uncertainties heading into the offseason has been a significant detriment to the quality of play of the team. This can be seen to manifest itself in two ways: players pressing too hard to try and score in the hopes of earning a better contract (ultimately leading to inconsistent play), or players avoiding intensive physical/defensive styles to limit injuries that would hurt their contract chances.

Two questions to throw out to our readers then:

1) Do you think that the number of players with uncertain contract status for next year has really been a contributor to some of the struggles the Canadiens have had?

2) Should Bob Gainey work harder to sign/extend his free agents during the season, or is waiting until the offseason still the more prudent choice?

75 trades...

2009-03-03T09:59:00.005-05:00

On deadline days in the three years since the lockout. I'm no mathematician, but I'm going to go out on a limb and predict 25 trades tomorrow. A few rumours from today:

Anaheim GM Bob Murray says Scott Niedermayer "is not available"
Dominic Moore and the Leafs are a million per year apart on a contract, the Toronto Star calls his trade inevitable
Give teams (including Les Canadiens and Calgary) are still bidding for Olli Jokinen
Jay Bouwmeester is likely staying in Florida
The Minnesota Wild are leaning towards dealing star goaltender Niklas Backstrom. My Take: This could be THE move of the deadline. If the Red Wings grab Backstrom, watch out
The Bill Guerin trade watch continues, and the belief is he is headed to Washington, should they be able to trade Michael Nylander

UPDATE:

TEAM 990: The Devils are pursuing Anaheim defenceman Scott Niedermayer, and will do so right up until the deadline.
SI's Jim Kelley says the Sabres are making inquiries of "every available goaltender," suggesting that they are not comfortable with Patrick Lalime down the stretch.