The third period is halfway over in Dallas and Montreal is getting chances. This game is exciting, Tanguay, Koivu, and Andrei Kostitsyn are clicking well and Kovalev shot the puck (and scored).
The team is playing good defence and they are actually playing a tough but smart game. They are not backing down but not doing anything stupid to end up in the box.
I guess being on the bubble to make the playoffs is starting to sink in and hopefully the team can finish the game strong and build from this.
Only time will tell but hopefully in the next 20 minutes we are celebrating a victory.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Habs Lose a Snoozer
Montreal's game last night against the Atlanta Thrashers was a boring game to watch and left me with a bad feeling that Montreal can't seem to score goals.
It was nice to see Tanguay back in the line up and he was banging away showing no signs of hesitation which is important after coming back from an injury. He passed the puck very well and made the line with Higgins and Koivu much stronger.
Price was the bright spot on a dismal game because he came up big time after time and kept the game close from beginning to end. The offence really let Price down.
It was nice to see some toughness finally from a team that has always been considered soft and that they tend not to stick up for each other, like when Kovalev got rocked in Buffalo. Ryan O'Byrne laid the beats down on some poor thrasher.
Lets hope the Habs find their offence or else it is going to be a struggle just to get into the playoffs.
It was nice to see Tanguay back in the line up and he was banging away showing no signs of hesitation which is important after coming back from an injury. He passed the puck very well and made the line with Higgins and Koivu much stronger.
Price was the bright spot on a dismal game because he came up big time after time and kept the game close from beginning to end. The offence really let Price down.
It was nice to see some toughness finally from a team that has always been considered soft and that they tend not to stick up for each other, like when Kovalev got rocked in Buffalo. Ryan O'Byrne laid the beats down on some poor thrasher.
Lets hope the Habs find their offence or else it is going to be a struggle just to get into the playoffs.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Habs Blown out in Buffalo
After a very promissing start against the Buffalo Sabres and some unlucky bounces, the Habs got lit up by some costly mistakes.
The game started out very well, Montreal had 18 shots in the first 15 minutes of the game and then gave up a quick crapper and then another costly mistake gave the Sabres a 2-0 lead and then the game fell apart.
This game would have gone completely differently if Kovalev would have potted one early on his two good chances or if they would have put one in the net in the early period power plays. However, they couldn't get one and the wheels fell off the tracks quickly after that.
Thank goodness Tanguay should be back soon because Koivu's line has been unproductive as of late. They need to get more lines firing or else there will be very little hope in the playoffs, if they make it.
The game started out very well, Montreal had 18 shots in the first 15 minutes of the game and then gave up a quick crapper and then another costly mistake gave the Sabres a 2-0 lead and then the game fell apart.
This game would have gone completely differently if Kovalev would have potted one early on his two good chances or if they would have put one in the net in the early period power plays. However, they couldn't get one and the wheels fell off the tracks quickly after that.
Thank goodness Tanguay should be back soon because Koivu's line has been unproductive as of late. They need to get more lines firing or else there will be very little hope in the playoffs, if they make it.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Trade Deadline Came and Went
Well another trade deadline has come and gone and Montreal and Bob Gainey specifically has made no changes. Montreal was reportedly linked to a number of players such as Bill Guerin and Olli Jokinen, but these players went else where.
I trust Gainey that he made the decisions based on future and present requirements and that in the long run, it will be best for the team. It would have been nice to see a big center come in and fill the role that Robert Lang had but it didn't happen and I will not cry over it.
Remember last year when Gainey traded Huet and most people were like 'huh'. Well, that worked out just fine. The other thing to keep in mind is that he did improve the team with Schneider, it just didn't happen on trade deadline day.
Tonight Montreal will be playing against a Sabres team that is missing the number one goalie and will be missing another player because of trades so lets hope that the team can rally together and get Price a win and get him rolling.
Look for Price to play with an edge to make sure Carbonneau thinks twice about play Halak when he is healthy.
I trust Gainey that he made the decisions based on future and present requirements and that in the long run, it will be best for the team. It would have been nice to see a big center come in and fill the role that Robert Lang had but it didn't happen and I will not cry over it.
Remember last year when Gainey traded Huet and most people were like 'huh'. Well, that worked out just fine. The other thing to keep in mind is that he did improve the team with Schneider, it just didn't happen on trade deadline day.
Tonight Montreal will be playing against a Sabres team that is missing the number one goalie and will be missing another player because of trades so lets hope that the team can rally together and get Price a win and get him rolling.
Look for Price to play with an edge to make sure Carbonneau thinks twice about play Halak when he is healthy.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Trades Deadline
Hi There!
Unfortunately I have been extremely busy lately and have not had a chance to post anything but I am planning on making more time for this. I have been learning how to be a father, which is a great experience, and also trying to get my new website going which is a free online, movie organizer. You should check it out at http://www.mymovieorganizer.com.
Anyhow, what can I say about the Canadiens. They went through an absolutely horrific slump and seem to have come out of it with 4 wins a row and big reason for these wins is the power play which is ticking along at over 40% since the trade that brought back Schneider. I remember him the first time around and he has got some spunk back and is really turning around a dismal powerplay unit.
As for the insanely talented and streaky Kovalev, I was nervous that he was going to be gone, but he took his break in stride and has come back with fire and is showing why he could potentially be the most talented in the league. With out Kovalev, Montreal is not going any where in the playoffs so it is essential to keep him going or else the season is over.
Carey Price has also been an interesting player this year and I think he needs his confidence back and then he will prove everyone that he is every bit as good as our expectations and that he will bring Montreal a stanley cup. I think that Halak has been a great backup in Price's struggles but unfortunately I do not see a lot of trade market for Halak so I don't expect him to go anywhere, but then again, no one thought that Huet was going to get traded last year.
Andrei Kostitsyn is growing and is really using his quick release wrist shot, which is a canon and can be deadly from anywhere inside the blue line. I think Andrei has 50 goal potential.
One thing this season that I have been dissapointed with is Carbo's line changing. He seems to have difficulty adjusting his lines for different situations. When Kostpolous is out on the ice with 1.5 minutes left to go in a game and we are trailing by 1 goal, I don't like it. We need a goal, put out an offensive unit. Shake things up, throw out a combination of guys to go for it.
Anyhow, things are looking up in Hab land and I still think that they can make a run in the playoffs with the current squad. Don't expect Gainey to sell the farm to pick up a rental player!
Unfortunately I have been extremely busy lately and have not had a chance to post anything but I am planning on making more time for this. I have been learning how to be a father, which is a great experience, and also trying to get my new website going which is a free online, movie organizer. You should check it out at http://www.mymovieorganizer.com.
Anyhow, what can I say about the Canadiens. They went through an absolutely horrific slump and seem to have come out of it with 4 wins a row and big reason for these wins is the power play which is ticking along at over 40% since the trade that brought back Schneider. I remember him the first time around and he has got some spunk back and is really turning around a dismal powerplay unit.
As for the insanely talented and streaky Kovalev, I was nervous that he was going to be gone, but he took his break in stride and has come back with fire and is showing why he could potentially be the most talented in the league. With out Kovalev, Montreal is not going any where in the playoffs so it is essential to keep him going or else the season is over.
Carey Price has also been an interesting player this year and I think he needs his confidence back and then he will prove everyone that he is every bit as good as our expectations and that he will bring Montreal a stanley cup. I think that Halak has been a great backup in Price's struggles but unfortunately I do not see a lot of trade market for Halak so I don't expect him to go anywhere, but then again, no one thought that Huet was going to get traded last year.
Andrei Kostitsyn is growing and is really using his quick release wrist shot, which is a canon and can be deadly from anywhere inside the blue line. I think Andrei has 50 goal potential.
One thing this season that I have been dissapointed with is Carbo's line changing. He seems to have difficulty adjusting his lines for different situations. When Kostpolous is out on the ice with 1.5 minutes left to go in a game and we are trailing by 1 goal, I don't like it. We need a goal, put out an offensive unit. Shake things up, throw out a combination of guys to go for it.
Anyhow, things are looking up in Hab land and I still think that they can make a run in the playoffs with the current squad. Don't expect Gainey to sell the farm to pick up a rental player!
Monday, November 17, 2008
Habs Coming out of the Slump?
It has been a tough couple of games for the Canadiens has they have lost their scoring punch. Coach Guy decided to shake up the lines against the Blues in an attempt to get some more offence. With the line of Tanguay, Koivu, and Kovalev as the top line, they generated some offence but failed to bury the puck when necessary.
The real slump for the Canadiens as of late has been a power play that hasn't scored a goal in a number of games, I think it might even be four games now. It will be interesting to see what happens next game with the lines to see if Guy leaves them in the adjusted format, re-adjusts them again, or goes back to the lines that scored the most goals in the 2007/2008 season.
On a side note, my wife and I have a new baby girl and she will 'hopefully' one day be one of the Montreal faithful. Last night was her first Canadiens win and the goal scored on Saturday night by Tanguay was the first goal she saw. Obviously she wasn't exactly aware of what was going on but I am hoping it will plant some roots for the little one. And don't you worry, she already has a fully stocked closet of Canadien's outfits.
Montreal needs to find it's goal scoring touch if they want to show the world that they are the class of the Eastern Conference and a legitimate contender for the Cup.
The real slump for the Canadiens as of late has been a power play that hasn't scored a goal in a number of games, I think it might even be four games now. It will be interesting to see what happens next game with the lines to see if Guy leaves them in the adjusted format, re-adjusts them again, or goes back to the lines that scored the most goals in the 2007/2008 season.
On a side note, my wife and I have a new baby girl and she will 'hopefully' one day be one of the Montreal faithful. Last night was her first Canadiens win and the goal scored on Saturday night by Tanguay was the first goal she saw. Obviously she wasn't exactly aware of what was going on but I am hoping it will plant some roots for the little one. And don't you worry, she already has a fully stocked closet of Canadien's outfits.
Montreal needs to find it's goal scoring touch if they want to show the world that they are the class of the Eastern Conference and a legitimate contender for the Cup.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
This Season is Going to Rock
Well, after a long long off season, or so it seemed, the NHL season is set to begin again on Saturday. How will the Canadiens do this year? I predict that they will finish in the top 3 in the Eastern Conference and after that, the playoffs will depend on the performance of Carey Price.
We have all seen a goalie win a game or even a series and Price has the skills to do that for the Canadiens. Montreal's offence should be stronger this year with the additions of Tanguay and Lang. It would have been nice to see Sundin as a Canadien but Gainey could not afford to wait any longer on him as this team is full of unrestricted free agents and this year he wants to make a run for it. Look for some minor tinkering through the season if the requirement comes because the Canadiens have a lot of young talent to use as trade bait.
I see big strides for Plekanec and the Kostitsyn brothers. Last year they all came out and showed big promise and I expect this year will be another great leap. Kovalev appears to be at camp quicker and just as determined as last year so we will just have to wait and see which Kovalev takes the ice.
However, with all the additions of players and the advancement of others through maturity, this team will only go as far as Price. Price is a year older, a year more mature, and has experience in the playoffs with all the emotions that go with it. Price went very high in many hockey pools this year which can only mean that most people are expecting great things from Price.
The season is about to begin and Habs fans are in for a ride.
On a different note, I read that the Canadiens will be introducing a new Goal Song this year. Some song by Quebec natives Simple Plan. I am not sure I am on board with this but I have not heard the song yet. More to come later.
We have all seen a goalie win a game or even a series and Price has the skills to do that for the Canadiens. Montreal's offence should be stronger this year with the additions of Tanguay and Lang. It would have been nice to see Sundin as a Canadien but Gainey could not afford to wait any longer on him as this team is full of unrestricted free agents and this year he wants to make a run for it. Look for some minor tinkering through the season if the requirement comes because the Canadiens have a lot of young talent to use as trade bait.
I see big strides for Plekanec and the Kostitsyn brothers. Last year they all came out and showed big promise and I expect this year will be another great leap. Kovalev appears to be at camp quicker and just as determined as last year so we will just have to wait and see which Kovalev takes the ice.
However, with all the additions of players and the advancement of others through maturity, this team will only go as far as Price. Price is a year older, a year more mature, and has experience in the playoffs with all the emotions that go with it. Price went very high in many hockey pools this year which can only mean that most people are expecting great things from Price.
The season is about to begin and Habs fans are in for a ride.
On a different note, I read that the Canadiens will be introducing a new Goal Song this year. Some song by Quebec natives Simple Plan. I am not sure I am on board with this but I have not heard the song yet. More to come later.
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