After a rough start to the season, the Canadiens are showing all the skeptics that hockey is played on the ice and not on paper! After losing 5 straight, the Habs are on fire with four consecutive wins. I must admit they looked horrible in the west. But after taking 4 of 6 at home, the Habs are at a respectable 6-5 and are in 7th in the conference. Not bad for a team who was expected to miss the playoffs. I’d like to make a shout out to all Beanertowners and TO fans!!! How does it feel rotting at the bottom of the division??? (as you can see I’m a true Bruins/Leafs hater!).
Let’s talk Rangers game!
So so performance in goal by Halak… But he continues to win. Stop talking about goalie controversy please… It’s a very simple decision. One goalie is hot the other is not… Hummm what to do. Stick with Halak as long as he’s winning. No matter how many goals he allows a goalie is juged by the amount of wins that he has. Save percentage and GGA are just measurables.
That being said… I like the “new’ Canadiens. I think they have created their identity. A grinding team with a rocket first line, a second line that is able to light it up, and 2 other lines who can cause trouble with the forecheck. About the forecheck… gotta love the 2 man forecheck system implemented by Jacques Martin. The Habs don’t have the skill that other teams have but if they continu grinding it out… good things will happen.
What a game by Mike Cammalleri scoring a hat trick including the OT winner! What patience on his shot that left Lundqvist hoping it would hit the bar. And hit the bar it did (not the one he wanted), knocking the water bottle out of this world!
Monday’s game was the second meeting in a week against the Islanders… but the game was very different. The Habs lack of discipline left them shorthanded 7 times and allowing NY to score their two only goals with a man up. Two penalties for too many men involving the two same lines… lack of focus!
Jaro Spacek’s first of the year was the result of a tape to tape pass from the office (Greztky style!!) by Metropolit… the pinching Spacek lit it up with a high one timer. Nice one.
Travis Moen has been making Gainey look good… another ugly goal for this guy. That’s what we need from him. Stand in front of the net, take cross checks to the head, an occasional low blow from the goalie. Players like Moen are priceless. gotta love him.
The OT goal… What a great individual effort by Tomas Plekanec. He made Mark Streit look like a clown by simply avoiding him and feading the puck to Roman Hamrlik with an accurate saucer pass. Hamrlik shelfts it to make the fans roar!
Are the Isles the Oakland Raiders of the NHL? Who the heck is running this team? (Garth Snow.. the year after he retired from being a career backup goalie…). What horrible defence… they make the Habs defence look like an olympic caliber squad.
Mark Streit… wasn’t even good enough to be a defenceman with the Canadiens. He was playing winger on the 4th line. This guy is nothing but a powerplay Dman.
Bruno Gervais… #2 DMan??? What do you expect him to do playing with Streit?
Brendan Witt… 34 years old… his best years are behind him
Same goes for Martinek.
Andy Sutton… Makes Hal Gill look good… Need I say more?
Jack Hillen… he’s a prospect… will make mistakes.
Honorable Mention: Mike Cammalleri for being the NHL’s second star! Keep it up mini-me! Wake the hell up award: Max Pacioretty for not showing us that he’s NHL ready.I say send him to Hamilton, it can only do him some good to rack up some points and get the confidence back up. Silent Hero: Josh Gorges. If you don’t here a defensive Dman’s name during a game… it’s a good sign!
Next time… We’ll talk head hits ad low shots! Don’t miss out on your chance to share your opinion!
What’s up people!! This being my first time here, I’m going to get rolling with the offseason and then I’ll hit last nights game vs the Islanders. Let’s talk acquisitions!! I do believe that Big Bob did one heck of a job attracting some big names… Many people here in Montreal criticise the Gomez move. I’ll tell you one thing, we gave up Higgins (Did like him but injury prone), Valentenko and McDonaugh if I’m not mistaken. Valentenko will never play in the NHL, Mcdonaugh has not progressed much since being drafted and I think that Higgins has worn out his potential. So let’s talk Gomez… overpaid, lazy… Granted but look at it this way. Let’s say Gomez stays in NY… Saku is gone, Kovy might have stayed and all the other unrestricted free agent also go. Are you gonna attract Mike Cammalleri or Brian Gionta with… Tomas Plekanec as your top center? No way! Great move to pick up those 2! Mike Cammalleri is in the words of our great Don Cherry a “good ol’ Canadian Boy”. It’s also well thought to match Gionta and Gomez who were both playing the best hockey back when they were together.
Travis Moen! Don’t forget that this guy was a hot topic at the last trade deadline. I think he’s the closest thing to a power forward on our squad. Good move and he’s off to a good start.
On D is where it gets tricky…
Hal Gill, I know this guy is enormous… but please… he’s horrible. I would rather play shorthanded than to have him on the ice. At least we could “ice” the puck. I’m wondering if Gainey didn’t just want to bring the average height of the team up. BAD MOVE!
Paul Mara, I like this guy. Physical along the boards plays well defensively… Good move
Jaroslav Spacek, I’ll be honest… he’s disappointing. You would expect this guy to step up with Markov being injured and all… nope! 4 million a year for a #5 Dman? common Bob Bouillon could have given you way more than Spacek or Gill! This remains an ok move considering that he is reliable defensively…
M-A Bergeron, I like this guy! We need an annoying Dman. You know the one who won’t be shy to lay out a dirty hit here and there. He’s also an asset on the PP. His speed is also a big help on D.
Quick comment about some departures… Saku Koivu, Love this guy but he needed a change of scenery. Both sides will benefit from his departure.
Kovalev, never liked him never will! Lazy… waste of talent. This guy should be a top scorer every year but his lack of effort limits his impact.
Sergei Kostitsyn, Ya i know hes not gone… But this guy has to smarten up! He should be on our second line right now! Do your thing and Hamilton and make the coaches look bad for sending you down. If you still want to be traded then at least you’ll spark some interest somewhere. I do think it’s time to give him a shot though! Let’s bring him up.
Last nights game Let’s face it, the islanders are horrible! But the Habs did play a great game! Props for that. It’s nice to see an all-out effort from everyone. Our first line continues to silence critics about their lack of size with their extreme speed. I mean the cameraman should get a raise for being able to follow these guys! Our goals weren’t all nice, but those ugly goals are a result of hard work and determination. Let’s hope to see some more of that. Next game in NY on Saturday… Don’t think it’ll be as easy!
