Habs For Breakfast - The Biggest Of The Biggest Games Of The Year

The Canadiens are not standing quite on the edge yet, but the outcome of their season rests on tonight's outcome.

Can the Habs continue to outhit, outshoot, outchance, and outplay the Flyers and still lose?

Will the Flyers keep on complaining about officiating that's been kinder to them than they know?

Will Brière continue to whine about no one talking about what the Flyers are doing right?

Two things will answer these question in Game 4. For starters, it would be nice if the Canadiens scored the first goal for a change. Secondly, Carey Price will bounce back, because he's a character kid and is confident he can do better.

And yes, Price will play. Coach Carbonneau is being coy with the media, and perhaps Price as well, when he calls it a game time decision. Forget about it. Anyone who thinks Halak is about to play hasn't been watching hockey long enough to understand that it's just not done in this situations, for three reasons.

It throws the team into a panic mode.

Halak has played what, 4 games with the Canadiens this season? You want the players to feel confident out there, not concerned. The have faith in Price and he would be their choice, no doubt.

Again, from a coaches standpoint, the move isn't about shaking up a team that has done alot well except score. It is teams who lose or win together, and replacing the goalie would absolve the players and their recent mistakes.

It's not a different goalie who will help the team convert all those missed chances. Halak will not create better zone coverage and defensive conscience. All he would be doing is stopping that first puck.

Think about it?















Will It Be Price Or Halak? - Gazette

"The decision to start Carey Price in the Canadiens net tonight was not made yesterday. Or at least it was not announced. Coach Guy Carbonneau says we won't know until 7 p.m. whether Price or backup Jaroslav Halak will get the call to face Philadelphia in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference semi-final, the Flyers leading the best-of-seven series 2-1." - Dave Stubbs

Hospital Visit Created Fan For Life - Gazette

"Win or lose tonight, nothing can dampen Robert Vanden Abeele's enthusiasm for the bleu-blanc-rouge. The retired customs officer has been a loyal Canadiens fan since 1955, when he turned 17 and Habs legend Maurice (Rocket) Richard paid a surprise visit to his bedside at St. Mary's Hospital - not once, but twice." - Alan Hustak
















Look For Price - Gazette

"Carbonneau has little choice as the Canadiens hope to avoid falling behind 3-1 in the best-of-seven series. While Price has not played well in the three games against the Flyers - he has a 3.79 goals-against average and an .853 save percentage - the Canadiens have to look at the big picture." - Pat Hickey

Flyers, fans not feeling love from refs, hockey world - Gazette

"There's nothing like a dose of paranoia - that feeling of us vs. them - to get folks jacked up for a hockey game. The feeling here in the City of Brotherly Love is that the hometown Flyers haven't been getting enough love from the officials in their Eastern Conference semi-final showdown against the Canadiens." Pat Hickey

"Penney's From Heaven" - Gazette

"Steve Penney has a better idea than most about the pressure Canadiens goaltender Carey Price is under these days.That's because Penney - like Ken Dryden and Patrick Roy - also once shouldered the hopes and dreams of hockey's most storied franchise as a hot rookie goalie in the Stanley Cup playoffs." - Mark Cardwell

















Price's Cinderella Story Takes An Unhappy Twist - Globe Sports

"I don't like talking about my feelings," he says when the grilling is over and the cameras and microphones have finally retreated. "Maybe it's just a guy thing." Carey Price smiles, but the smile is tired and slips away as fast as a Montreal Canadiens lead in recent playoff games. The thing is, everyone wants to know about his feelings." - Roy MacGregor

Was Brière Right? - Lions In Winter

"Our outrage at first must surely have been fueled by our fear that what Briere said may be true. But, at the same time, we all watch hockey and we know the Flyers don't have any Kostitsyns, any goaltending prospects and were for the most part the same team that managed the least regular season points in recent memory." - Topham

A Fly On The Wall - The H Does Not Stand For Habs

"A conversation between Guy Carbonneau and Bob Gainey today:
GC: (deep breath) Bob, I want to start Halak next game.
BG: (steeples fingers, regards Carbo intently) Hmmmm...I don't know about that Guy.
GC: Well, Bob, the kid is shaken. He's nervous when he plays the puck, he's missing long shots through the simplest of screens, his glove is slow and he's getting down on himself when he allows a goal. The team is expecting him to give up the lead every game, and it's hurting their confidence.
BG: Well, we've got a lot riding on Carey, and we don't want him to feel like he's failing." -J.T.

Price: "Je n'ai qu'à rebondir" - La Presse

"Carbonneau pourrait-il vraiment décider de faire appel à Jaroslav Halak, qui n'a reçu que deux tirs en troisième période lundi et qui n'a pas joué depuis le 29 mars dans une défaite de 4-2 encaissée à Toronto?" - François Gagnon

Des arbitres qui favorisent le CH? - La Presse

"Pendant que nous, par ici, on se demande ce qui se passe avec Jesus Price, à Philadelphie, eux, ils se posent une autre question, bien différente mais tout aussi douloureuse: les arbitres seraient-ils du bord du Canadien?" - Richard Labbé

Price n'est pas le seul à blâmer - RDS

"Le premier but de Scottie Upshall a été marqué quand il avait la vue voilée. Le deuxième, celui de Mike Richards, a dévié sur Mike Komisarek. Le troisième but des Flyers compté par R.J. Umberger est survenu à la suite de deux revirements. C'est sûr qu'il est là pour réparer les erreurs de ses joueurs mais ses coéquipiers n'ont pas bien joué devant lui en deuxième. Quand un gardien fait les arrêts clés alors que le tien ne les fait pas, les chances de gagner sont très minces." - Benoît Brunet























Price reste de marbre - Le Journal

"La faune médiatique l'attendait en grand nombre à son arrivée dans le vestiaire, elle qui n'avait pu le rencontrer à la suite de sa contre-performance de la veille sous l'ordre de Guy Carbonneau. Pour vous montrer à quel point c'était fou, disons que le jeune gardien n'aurait absolument aucune chance de voir la rondelle si les Flyers pouvaient placer autant de joueurs devant son filet." - Marc de Foy

"On doit aller chercher le premier but" - Le Journal

"Ne soyez pas étonnés si Patrice Brisebois effectue un retour au jeu ce soir pour le quatrième match de la série entre le Canadien et les Flyers. Le vétéran défenseur a rejoint les siens dans la Ville de l'amour fraternel, lui qui a raté les deux dernières rencontres en raison d'une blessure à une jambe. Brisebois s'est blessé durant une séance d'entraînement, samedi dernier." - Marc De Foy

"Personne ne parle en bien des Flyers": Daniel Brière - Le Journal

"Les Flyers ont de la difficulté à obtenir le mérite qui leur revient. Aucune équipe ne voulait affronter les Capitals en première ronde et ils ont réussi à les éliminer." - Pierre Durocher

More from Habs Inside Out, RDS, La Presse, and Le Journal

Oh yeah, and if you enjoyed the "Fly On The Wall" scenario by J.T., here's a look back on one that was posted here last summer.
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Interesting Canadiens Trivia, Facts And Numbers While You Wait For Game 5

Here's some past and present Habs tidbits to amuse and titilate you until the game five puck drops.

Not bad, for a whole four games into a playoff career!

Of all the goaltenders who have started at least one game in the 2007-98 playoffs, Carey Price leads or is tied for the lead in several categories. Most wins (before last night), our boy Carey with 3. Shutouts? Carey tied with one. Best save percentage? Price again at .956. Price also has the best goals against average, at 1.19. What other stats categories are left? Assists? He'll get one, but no one has any yet. Price was second in time on ice at 251:21, second most for goalies playing the first 3 games and about a dozen minutes behind leader Jose Theodore at 263. Price has stopped 110 shots in four games, 4 less than Martin Gerber has stopped in 3 games.

Oddly, Price has the best career save percentage of all goalies in Canadiens history with a .920 stat for 2007-08. How'd he manage that you ask? Well, they have only been doing the math since 1984, so Dryden, Durnan, Vezina, Plante, and Hainsworth don't figure in. Cristobal Huet is tied with Carey at .920 as well. Patrick Roy, the father of a fighting goalie in the Q sits 12th since 1984 with a .904 rate. Two Habs stoppers that made brief third period appearences in the Canadiens goal stopped everything. Olivier Michaud made 14 3rd period saves against the Oilers in 2002, and Randy Exelby stopped the one shot he faced in 1989. More on Exelby in a bit.

There are 13 former Montreal Canadiens playing in the present playoffs. They are: Chris Chelios, Theodore, Stephane Robidas, Cristobal Huet, Mike Ribeiro, Dainus Zubrus, Aaron Asham, Donald Brashear, Mathieu Schneider, François Beauchemin, Radek Bonk, Craig Rivet and Sean Hill. The Habs also have 3 former coaches in the playoffs ( one who's summer they are about to fast track ), one brother, and a son in law.



















In the 1915-16 season, when the Canadiens first won the Stanley Cup, their coach was Newsy Lalonde, who also happened to be the team's captain and the NHL's leading scorer that season. Years later, another former Canadien won a major NHL award ( no, not the Jack Adams Trophy, smart guy!) while coaching his team. I'll put the answer to that bit of trivia at the bottom of the page while you old timers wrack your brains. A clue would be: this player won the award while coaching a team other than the Habs.

Some round numbers: Matt D' Agnostini became the 700th player to wear a Habs jersey in the NHL on April 3, 2008 against Buffalo. After 71 goaltenders, D' Agnostini was the 629th skater. Gregory Stewart became number 701 one game later. Michael Ryder's next regular season goal in a Canadiens uniform will be his 100th. It will tie him with Serge Savard at number 54 on the Habs all time list. Alex Kovalev's next regular season point will be his 200th in a Habs jersey. He currently sits 70th all time, tied with Mathieu Schneider. Larry Robinson's career plus minus with Montreal is a fat plus 700. Wow!

Former Canadiens defenseman Guy Lapointe was a major prankster and general all purpose comedian. The Gazette's Red Fisher once said that Guy was his own biggest fan. Lapointe, in addition to being a power play specialist from the blueline, was vital to his team as well by being a clown and keeping things loose and stress free. Players would return from practice and find their shoes nailed to the dressing room floor or filled with shaving cream.

One time during the 1973 playoffs, the Canadiens were preparing to face the Philadelphia Flyers in the midst of their terrorizing Broad Street Bully era, and on the morning of one game, a group of Habs players were gathered together and staring off silently from a hotel balcony, an obvious sign of tension for what lay ahead. As visions of brawling fights and high sticks swinging filled the players minds, Lapointe sensed the impending feeling of doom while quietly looking around for a few seconds. Seeing the fear in his team mates eyes, lapionte dropped to his knees, cupped his hands together and raised them skyward. "Let us now pray", said the defenseman, as his brothers in arms buckled beside him in laughter. Players had tears streaming from their eyes and the laughs lasted a good while. Lapointe's goof had done the trick and the tension was erased. After losing Game 1 of the series, the Canadiens came back to win the next four, on their way to Stanley Cup number 18.


















Patrice Brisebois ranks 9th on the Habs all time list of most seasons played. He is 17th in most career games with 834. Saku Koivu is 23rd in games played with 727, and 34th in season with 12.

I'm a big fan of watching the annual NHL Entry Draft. I like all the trade drama, the talk of future stars and the wheeling and dealing of draft picks in the later non televised rounds. Each draft has over 200 chosen players, most of which you will never hear from again.

In 2000, Canadiens GM at the time, Andre Savard was involved in a couple of deals wherein teams swung multiple picks one team's way in order to move up in the draft order and select a player they coveted. The Mighty Ducks had it bad for Ilya Bryzgalov that year, and gave the Canadiens 3 draft choices in order to take the Habs 44th overall pick and select the goalie. In return, Montreal received Anaheim's picks for rounds 3, 4, and 5, or 78th, 124th, and 145th overall, who respectively became Josef Balej, Michel Ouellet, and Ryan Glenn. Balej was the player Bob Gainey dealt to the Rangers for Alex Kovalev. Ouellet, who is now with Tampa, was not chosen by the Canadiens in the 124th slot. Montreal traded picks number 124 and 145 to Pittsburgh in order to move up 10 positions and select Christian Larrivee, a big center with Chicoutimi in the QMJHL. Larrivee didn't exactly pan out. After a whole 11 games with the Hamilton Bulldogs over 2 seasons, he is now a member of the Rodovre Mighty Bulls in Denmark. The Habs in the end, might have been best off staying put, but it's strange sometimes how these things work themselves out. Just another proof that drafts are often crapshoots.

Mikko Koivu, Saku's younger brother, was drafted one position ahead of Mike Komisarek in 2001. Had the Wild not taken Mikko, one wonders who the Habs would have taken if presented with the choice?

Jacques Plante played 33,226 regular season minutes for the Montreal Canadiens from 1953 to 1963. If you break that total down it becomes 7 months, 20 days, 10 hours, and 46 minutes. That would be like going between the pipes on October 1st at midnight and staying there until May 20th of the following year, at a quarter to 11 in the morning! Former Habs goalie Randy Exelby spend a whole 3 minutes in the Montreal net in 1989. It was long enough for Exelby to be credited with having an NHL career stat as a Canadien player and slightly longer than it took Habs starter Patrick Roy to run to the Habs dressing room and relieve himself. They are not called relief goalies for no reason!

Answer: Doug Harvey coached the 1962 New York Rangers while winning the Norris trophy for best defenseman.
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Habs For Breakfast: Over in 5?

Could it all be over for Boston tonight? Will they be joining the Leafs and Senators on the links?

Not so fast, right?

Sixty minutes of grinding it out, but the canadiens will be doing themselves a big favor by scoring a lot earlier than the 39 minute mark. Should they get on the board quick, you'll see the worst of the Bruins come out.

Keep an eye out for Habs aiming at Chara's ribs, now that good old Harry Sinden let the cat out of the bag.

Heard on CKAC yesterday that Aaron Ward is goners for the season with a mushed up knee.

I predict a classic tonight!

Canadiens Wary Of Bruins Comeback - Gazette

"Overcoming a three-games-to-one deficit in the NHL playoffs might be a rare occurrence, but it has been done. And Steve Bégin had a front-row seat for one of those comebacks." - Herb Zurkowsky

Bruins Keep Chara's Ribs Under Wraps - Gazette

"If the Boston Bruins are eliminated by the Canadiens, maybe they can blame it on Zdeno Chara's rib injury. What rib injury, you say? - Pat Hickey

Hitman Bégin Has Bruins Running For Their Lives - Gazette

"In the Canadiens' dressing room a half-hour after Tuesday's game, perspiring so heavily that he probably needed scissors to remove his longjohns, Bégin was considering not what his team had just done, but what it still must do." - Dave Stubbs

Morale Booster At The Bell Lifs Players To A Special High - Gazette

"One lineup change tonight: The seventh man is dressing for the Canadiens. We can safely assume that Game 5 at the Bell Centre will be a sellout. That's 144 in a row - with the prospect of at least two more if the Canadiens beat the Bruins and advance to the Eastern Conference semifinal round." - Mike Boone

Three Little Words Break Linguistic Ice - Gazette

"Okay, so which three words when strung together are like music to the ears of countless Quebecers? No, not even "free cold beer" does the trick. The words would be, of course, "et le but" - though, depending on the intensity of the situation, "but" can be stretched into a 10-second "buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuut." - Bill Brownstein

Now That's Fan Loyalty - Gazette

"I go way back. When I was 17 in 1938 and playing high school hockey, I was a practice goalie for the Habs. I was the target for the team for two months," Boosamra said with a chuckle yesterday." - Alan Hustak

Wharnsby: Did Sinden break a golden rule? - Globe Sports


















Carey Price Experienced Beyond His Years - HNIC Blog

"Perhaps it’s a testament to just how impressive the young Price has been this season that no one thought to ask his coach anything about him until the very end. But how many rookies, let alone rookie goalies, can enter the maelstrom of the NHL playoffs and act like he’s playing on his backyard rink?"

Toronto Sun Writer Takes Jab At Habs Fans - Habs Inside Out

"Alright Habs fans, you might want to take a deep breath before reading the article by Mike Stroble as he slams Habs fans, calling them whiners, among other things." - Kevin Mio

Bruins And Habs: Poles Apart - Lions In Winter

"This series is heating up. The games are interesting. The banter between fans almost more so. I have been reading around a bit and it got me thinking about how I cannot relate to anything Bruins fans say about their team, my team or, indeed, hockey." - Topham

13 To Go....1 To Bury The Broons - Four Habs Fans

"Now I'm going to do something that makes me feel icky: Breezer is playing well. Hell, he's been the only defencemen that has made a solid outlet pass, and he scored on an absolute bullet of a shot - everyone watching the game down at the Rose & Crown (shout out to Bryan and Fezworth!) thought the puck had gone over the glass, such was our collective disbelief that Breezer could play the role of offensive hero - or indeed anything other than pylon." - Panger76




















Price redirige les éloges - RDS

"Les statistiques des gardiens sont directement liées au rendement de leur équipe, a-t-il expliqué. Depuis que je joue dans les rangs juniors, j'ai observé que les gardiens au sein de bonnes équipes ont de meilleures statistiques. Les gardiens qui font partie d'équipes moins compétitives en montrent de moins bonnes."

L’apprentissage se poursuit - RDS

"On savait déjà fort bien que le Canadien édition 2007-2008 pouvait étourdir plusieurs adversaires avec sa vitesse et sa créativité en attaque. On sait maintenant que cette formation peut gagner en séries éliminatoires, même contre des rivaux comme les Bruins." - Pierre Houde

Carbonneau trouve la presse trop sévère - La Presse

"Les Bruins ont bien joué", dit-il "mais ils doivent maintenant faire ce qu'aucune équipe n'a pas réussi à faire contre nous cette saison, soit nous vaincre trois fois de suite."

Une marée rouge qui dérange - Le Journal

"Ça me donne le goût de vomir", a éructé Melissa Mitza, qui tentait, avec les autres partisans des Bruins, d'enterrer les chants des amateurs du Canadien. "J'adore qu'on ait une rivalité si forte, mais je déteste les fans de Montréal, a-t-elle ajouté. Croiriez-vous que, sur l'autoroute, un gars m'a montré son cul et qu'il avait un logo du Canadien sur une fesse?"

More from Habs Inside Out, RDS, La Presse, and Le Journal.
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Reconsidering Brisebois

I've never been a charter member of the Patrice Brisebois fanclub, far from it. It's not easy to convert me, either. It's hard for me to put my finger on exactly why this is. He's has always left me indifferent to much of what he does on the ice. That's always one of the first words that comes to mind when I think of Brisebois - indifferent!

When Brisebois scored last night what would become the eventual contest winner in game 3, a little thought came to me.

"Oh no, am I going to have to write about Brisebois now?", I silently dreaded.

I was hoping for the remainder of the game that the Habs would add a couple more in the third, or that Claude Julien's forehead would pop a vein in anger making him look like a bipolar Hulked out Humpty Dumpty and give me something else to write about than Patrice.

I'ts not that I dislike Brisebois - he has many likeable traits - it is that I cannot love the notion of Brisebois as a Montreal Canadien. Somewhere else should be there, you know.

Heck, here's a guy who has spent 15 seasons donning the CH and has won a Stanley Cup with the Habs in 93. I ought to have some appreciation for what he brings.

But no, empty is all he has ever left me.















When Bob Gainey brought Brisebois back to Montreal as a free agent at the beginning of this season after having bought out his contract two seasons ago I was baffled by the move.

I understood it, as a depth move. I kinda got the experience thing. The former Hab angle, that would have mattered more to me had it been another player, say Mark Recchi.

At first when I heard the news, I thought it was a joke. A friend of mine who likes to get my Habs colours in a twist, approached me last summer: "Guess who the the Habs signed today? Brisboihahahaha!"

Patrice, the booed one, the bought out one, the Paris midseason vacation one? Come on, Bob, what's up?

When this season began, there was Brisebois dressed and in the lineup when many felt other players belonged there more. He started off doing okay, but then the old visions of him came tauntingly back into his game. Pucks hopping over his stick at the blueline on the PP, pinching when he shouldn't be and causing two on one's, and the always predictable getting beat to the outside where a veteran defenseman should be strongest.

Soon enough, with the steadying of Josh Gorges, a healthy Francis Bouillon, and the call up of Ryan O' Byrne, Brisebois was back where most were most comfortable with him - in the pressbox.

As the regular season wore on, and the Habs climbed in the standings, Brisebois became an afterthought of sorts until injuries hit Francis Bouillon and Mike Komisarek and the Canadiens needed his services in the final games.

The playoffs began, and to everyone's surprise, Ryan O'Byrne is sitting out, and Brisebois is dressed. My dread was reborn.




















Did you ever get the impression that if Bob Gainey and Carbonneau were baseball pitchers, that they would serve hitters nothing but a steady diet of off speed changeups, curves, and knucklers?

For the life of me, I couldn't figure out why they would risk playing a 37 year old veteran seemingly at the end of the line in place of a towering stud rookie like O' Byrne against a physical team like the Bruins. It didn't add up for me, and the head scratching continued.

I tried to find and understand anything I could like about the player many refer to as the Breezer, and I came up with shreds of appreciation for a few little things about him.

Honestly, I liked that HE wanted to return to Montreal to play. I can't say the price of his contract rankled me like the $ 4 million per deal he signed here last and was bought out of. At $700,000, and for the experience he has, let's just admit that it was interesting.

I liked that he had the gonads to return and prove something in a city where he has been mistreated to some extent. Maybe misunderstood is a n equally apt word.

At the Habs Fans Summit last October, I really liked it when Brisebois was the one Canadiens player who walked into the rink right off the streets. No big darkened window SUV zoming into the parking garage for this guy. Brisebois walked in off La Gauchetière, comfortable in his surroundings, sucking in the Montreal hockey atmosphere while fans stepped up to chat and seek autographs. I'd have thought the he'd be the last one to act such a way.

With that gesture, I began to understand that perhaps Montreal was one of the few cities where Brisebois was wanted, but that he wanted the experience of playing here again even more. It certainly appeared that way to me.

During this season, which has been a trying one for Brisebois at times, he has never complained about his icetime or made any statements detrimental to the team. When on the sidelines, he set an example for others who have had to sit out as well.

Though I like it when a player is mad about being left out, I like it even more when they keep their views to themselves and work harder to get back in the lineup and remain there.

There are surely other facets of Brisebois' game, demeanor and experience that fans are not privy to. Players on the teams he has been part of have always credited him with being a team player first and foremost. Perhaps no one knows Brisebois as a team mate better than coach Carbonneau.

Maybe it is time to forget what Brisebois has been. Perceptions change as people and players grow. Different roles make for different assessments.

I'm talking about Brisebois. I'm talking about myself, as a Habs fan who wishes to be fair.

Seeing Brisebois as something other than indifferent, for myself now, brings a more current appreciation. In four games this spring against the Bruins, he has been one pleasant surprise. While he still brings the same package as a player, and still makes similar mistakes at times, I have noticed that he has been steadier more often alongside Roman Hamrlik. Oddly, I have noticed his toughness and his confidence more than I ever did before.

Last night, when Brisebois unleashed that howitzer that Tim Thomas admitted he lost track of, I forgot about much of what's annoyed me concerning the player.

It started with the surprise of how the goal was scored itself, beginning with not finding the puck for a split second after it entered the net. Then it was the joy, the sheer joy and look of relief that flashed across Brisebois' grin when the camera zoomed in on him. The awkward moment gave way to a sweetness of sorts that made it all seem just right.

Brisebois, who ironically still employs a wooden stick, had earned this moment.

By being an old Habs warrior, against the Bruins in battle, he caused what has so far been the biggest turning point of the series, at a time when the outcome of the game, and perhaps the series itself, was up for grabs.

That deserves a hard earned measure of respect.

After the game, when questioned about the goal, Brisebois said the put everything he had behind it. Great quote!

I'm ready to like Patrice Brisebois again.

Like it's 1993, and a fresh start has been earned.
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Habs For Breakfast: Smiling Gainey Edition

When I listen to games on CKAC or watch on RDS, the intonation of Carey Price's name en francais is starting to sound more and more like "Carry Priiiiiize!

I think it is high time that every fan who doubted how Price has been brought along by Gainey and Carbonneau admit they were wrong about it. From that draft day in 2005, right up until this trade deadline, and all steps in between, all moves involving Price have been questioned.
Listen.....I think it has stopped now!

Gainey deserves much credit for how he has handled Price. With Patrice Brisebois scoring the game's lone goal last night, I think we actually caught a glimpse of Gainey's smile from the TD Banknorth pressbox.

One more win against these pesky Bruins, and we can start disliking another team for ten days, but let's not get ahead!

Price Puts Bruins On The Brink - Gazette

"A perfect blend of young and old has given the Canadiens a chance to clinch their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series against the Boston Bruins on home ice Thursday night." - Pat Hickey

Coach Carbo Plays Cards Close To Vest - Gazette

"You can tell it's playoff time because the Canadiens' camp was clothed in a veil of secrecy before Game 4 of their series against the Bruins. While there was speculation head coach Guy Carbonneau would add Ryan O'Byrne's size and muscle to the defence corps and assign Mark Streit to a forward line, the coach refused to tip his hand." - Pat Hickey

Habs Price In The Zone - Gazette

"Bob Gainey took a chance when he moved Cristobal Huet at the trading deadline, but rookie Carey Price is making the general manager look good. On a night when Huet was being shelled by the Philadelphia Flyers, Price added to his impressive résumé by picking up his first National Hockey League shutout." - Pat Hickey

Price Shuts Out Bruins For 3-1 Series Lead - TSN

"The only thing that makes it special is that we only won by one," Price, 20, said of his 27-save performance. "But it wasn't only me out there. I thought everybody deserved a goose egg tonight. I wish a shutout like that can be under everybody's column."

Habs Put Bruins On The Edge - Globe Sports

"To Montreal Canadiens fans, the pages that have been yanked off calendars since they last celebrated a playoff series win seem to go back further than 48 months — but now their team is in a position to end the dry spell." - Tim Wharnsby

















Price Fantastic As Montreal Sqeaks Out A Nailbitter - Lions In Winter

"You could tell right from the beginning that this game was going to be close and whenever a game is close the goalies are usually the key. Price made one save that kept us ahead in the game and that was absolutely phenomenal." - Tobalev

On The Job Training - The H Does Not Stand For Habs

"They've learned when the opposition smothers the players who carried the team all year, the supporting players must step up and be the heroes. Smolinski, Kostopoulos, Brisebois...all scratches this year...have been the warriors leading the team into the fray. They've bought the team time until the high-flyers can adapt and make the contributions they're expected to make." - J.T.

4-15-08: Canadiens 1 Bruins 0 - Theory Of Ice

"Is there anything more excruciating than a one-goal playoff game? One-goal regular season games are usually just dull, the kind of situation where you’re just as likely to get exasperated with your own team playing conservatively as with the opposition and scream for someone to just fucking open up a little. But now that it’s the playoffs, a full period of dump-in lead-protection is somehow the absolute height of drama." - E

Montreal With A Big Shutout Win Made Me Very Happy Tonight - Dennis Kane's Excellent Montreal Canadiens Blog

"Whew. That was as blue collar, lunchpail as you’re ever going to see. It was playoff hockey, tough, close, hard- working, well-earned chances at either end. And Montreal won the big one, a 1-0 shutout, and it doesn’t get any better, or any more beautiful than this. Up three games to one and going back to Montreal." - Dennis Kane

Du grand Carey Price - RDS

"Le gardien Carey Price, d'un calme légendaire devant son filet, a brillé pour mériter un premier jeu blanc en carrière en séries. Il a bloqué 27 tirs dirigés vers lui. Il s'est signalé à plusieurs reprises notamment en première contre la recrue Milan Lucic, qui a été frustré après s'être faufilé entre deux défenseurs."

Des succès mérités pour Patrice - RDS

"Patrice Brisebois se distingue depuis le début des séries éliminatoires, car il prend son rôle très au sérieux. Il veut prouver à tout le monde qu’il est encore en mesure de jouer à un très haut niveau." - Benoit Brunet

Carbonneau aime Milan Lucic - RDS

"Il a été de loin leur meilleur joueur, a dit Guy Carbonneau. Il joue très bien. J'aime sa façon de jouer. Il est physique, il est rapide et il s'implique. Il n'est pas salaud. J'aime vraiment le regarder jouer."

Carbo: "C'étais un must" - La Presse

"C'est le genre de match duquel on ressort avec des ecchymoses et des sacs de glace", a soutenu Carbo. "Mais c'est du hockey agréable à jouer et agréable à regarder. Tout le monde était engagé." - Marc Antoine Godin

"J'ai mis tout mon poids sur mon bâton": Brisebois - Le Journal

"On avait l'impression que Patrice Brisebois flottait sur un nuage après la victoire obtenue à l'arraché. Le vétéran défenseur de 37 ans a su profiter d'un beau jeu d'Andrei Kostitsyn pour marquer l'unique but de la rencontre." - Pierre Durocher

Un 700,000 $ bien investi - Le Journal

"Voici une façon différente d'analyser un match de hockey pour le propriétaire George Gillett. En marquant l'unique but de cet affrontement endiablé et en permettant à son équipe de remporter une victoire qui pourrait faire toute la différence dans cette série, Patrice Brisebois a représenté pour Gillett le meilleur investissement de 700000$ qu'il ait fait cette saison." Betrand Raymond

More from Habs Inside Out, RDS, La Presse, and Le Journal.
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Carbonneau Needs To Make Adjustments

The analysis of a game should never be measured by the final score.

After the Canadiens narrow 3-2 overtime win game 2 of the series, one could sense the gap between the Bruins and the Canadiens was closing. Despite the fact that it was the Habs 13th straight win over the Bruins, it hardly looked by the the Canadiens play that they could commandeer such a streak of domination. Regardless of this series being a first against eighth seed, there isn't that big a difference between the teams in terms of overall effectiveness.

Looking back over the Canadiens run over Boston, the assessment that the Bruins did a whole load of dumb things to enable a 13 game losing streak would be just.

Over this season, and stretching back to 2006-07, the Canadiens have always found a way to beat the Bruins. Often, it was a case of the Bruins becoming frustrated with losing to Montreal, and somehow beating themselves.

There is much to be learned from continuous losing to the same team in same way over and over again, and the Bruins have been able to make the correct adjustments. On the Habs side, the biggest danger is complacency, and that is something that a team can never adjust to until after it happens.

With game 4 fast approaching, this is where the two teams sit.

When a coach gets the sense that something is slipping away from his team, he has the choice to react strongly, or simply place faith in his players bouncing back.

It's a tough read for a coach, to scan around the room, or look down the bench, and take the pulse of a team that has been winning and decide changes are imminent. His reactions can be misconstrued as over reacting, and on the flipside, his silence and faith can enable the complacency to set in. It's a hard call to make either way, but often a decision has more impact than not making one does.

The storyline of game 2 had the Bruins gaining ground on the Canadiens, who were fortunate things went their way in overtime. Without the benefit of a day off between games, Boston coach Claude Julien didn't hesitate to make a change and send a message to his troops, dropping the potentially offensive, but so far ineffective Phil Kessel from the lineup.

Guy Carbonneau for his part, adhered to the "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" motto, and was likely left second guessing himself.

Many people were perhaps caught off guard by the fact that Carbonneau chose to make no adjustments. Perhaps the coach didn't see the cracks forming. There was nothing in Saturday's game for a coach to be alarmed about, but Carbonneau's patience with certain players will be questioned as the series wears on.

With as many as six players on the Habs card offering less than stellar results so far, many thought Carbonneau would be ready to tinker by game 3. Names mentioned as being a little off have included Michael Ryder, Tomas Plekanec, Alex Kovalev, Mathieu Dandeneault, Mark Streit, Josh Gorges, and Patrice Brisebois, so Carbonneau is not at a loss for places to start making changes.

Even though some big names have been pointed to by some, don't expect Carbonneau to do anything as drastic as Julien has.

















Plekanec and Kovalev have been shadowed and keyed upon moreso than they have been all season. It's a playoff thing and nothing else.

The often maligned Brisebois is safe as well, having just playing some of his most alert hockey all season. With his defense partner Roman Hamrlik being so effective in all areas, the Bruins has constantly pressured Brisebois' side, and he has responded with toughness beyond expectations.

Josh Gorges has been the goat of a few tentative moves, and it is in all likelyhood due to his pairing with the more adventurous Mark Streit, who hasn't played a whole lot of defense for the Canadiens this season. For his part, Gorges normal game will return with the steadiness Francis Bouillon brings as a partner.

Streit, bluntly put, is out of place on defense and getting pounded more and more. He may have been the Canadiens third leading point getter this season due to powerplay time on the point and forward line duty, but as a rearguard he has revealed himself to be a liability. Perhaps assessments on him have been harsh - his positional instincts must be confused after almost 80 games on the wing - but excuses aren't what is needed in his case.

Mathieu Dandeneault offers an honest effort every game. The fact that he cannot physically complement the right side of the pounding Lapierre and Latendresse duo with the same carsh and bang shouldn't be a knock on him. In his place, Mark Streit offers no more weight, but when it comes to having natural defenseman play that wing, Streit brings more creativity by far.

The case of Michael Ryder must concern Carbonneau greatly. This season Ryder has placed more emphasis on his play without the puck, and has come away a more solid forward in that regard. Unfortunately, it has come at the expense of his scoring chances. Ryder is not in his usual slot positions when receiving the puck, and still has trouble telling the difference between a playmaking opportunity and a dump in when a clear shot at the net hasn't presented itself. It might be time for the coach to cut the deck in response to what Ryder creates offensively and what he gives away to other teams by not recognizing what really is a scoring chance.

Adding in that the Habs have been pushed around more than they'd like, it is time for adjustments. The more physical Ryan O' Byrne would be a welcome addition, and should Francis Bouillon be cleared to go, a ripple effect might be felt through the Habs starting lineup.

If for no other reason than to shake off some complacency, it could be a good call by the coach.


















Bring in the tall and pounding O' Byrne, move Streit back in to a more comfortable role alongside Lapierre and Latendresse.

Sit Dandeneault.

Play Bouillon if he's ready if for no other reason than to calm the steady Gorges at the expense of Patrice.

Have a one on one with Ryder, and make him understand that there is a kid named Gregory Stewart that they will not hesitate to give another start to. Stewart did more in his first NHL game with top standing in the East than Ryder has done in three games since the playoff puck was dropped.

Shake some foundations. Rattle an ego or two. It has worked all year - witness the effort given by grinders named Kostopoulos, Smolinski, and Begin - the Habs best line in this post season - who have all sat out games uncomfortably this season while inhaling the message.

The Canadiens will be able to exhale easier if they should return to Montreal with a three to one lead in games.

If the Bruins tie up this series tonight in Boston, the Canadiens will no longer be facing an adversary they have beaten in 13 consecutive game.

They will be matching up against an opponent that has the momentum from back to back wins, in what amounts to a best of three series.
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Habs For Breakfast, With A Side Order Of Foul Tasting Bear

Looks like the Bruins aren't willing to play the pushovers everyone assumed they would be. I don't have much to add beyond what I wrote here Saturday night, after it looked like the Habs stole a game. They almost stole one again on Sunday....or we're they robbed?

I guess it would depend on one's point of view.

The Canadiens have to start burrying those scoring chances, because they are diminishing.

The Bruins have managed to implement their trap game with much challenge from the Canadiens speed, and Tim Thomas is playing better with each game. We have ourselves a playoff series folks.

Like the picture above suggests....get out those hard hats boys!

Bruins Strike Back - Gazette

"I came on for the extra skater," Savard said. "Schaefer made a great play for us. He's had a tough go this year but he worked through it. He draws the penalty on the rush and then he set me up. I was yelling at the top of my lungs but I knew he saw me." - Pat Hickey

Habs Better Listen To Wake Up Call - Gazette

"Maybe the Canadiens got the wrong idea about this series during the first two minutes Thursday night, when Sergei and Andrei Kostitsyn pulled off a pair of goals on the first shifts of their first playoff stint, a feat that will never be equalled. Easy? Posh. These Canadiens were going to brush les Broons aside like so many teddy bears." - Jack Todd

Savard Gives Bruins New Life - Globe Sports

"The Canadiens were headed toward the Bruins' end and when it appeared that Steve Begin was about to drift a shot on Boston goaltender Tim Thomas, the Montreal defencemen headed for a line change. But the puck was turned over and the Canadiens were caught. In the attempt to cover up and get into position, Montreal centre Bryan Smolinski was called for a penalty on Schaefer, but the call was delayed because the latter kept the puck alive.'' - Tom Wharnsby

Bruins Climb Back Into Series By Beating Habs In OT - TSN

"It's no secret, we don't have a lot of dancers over here," Savard said, sporting a Bruins hard hat awarded to the team's hardest-working player of the night. "We have to play one way, we're a lunch-bucket team and we proved that tonight. We have to take the body hard and make it hard on their defence going back and create chances off of that. That's what we did."

Habs Fan A Season Ticket Holder For 55 Years - NHL.com

"From the Canadiens string of five straight cups between 1956 and 1960, to the terrifying image of a motionless Lou Fontinato after he crashed head-first into the Forum boards, Larocque has witnessed history time and again for one of the most storied franchises in North American sports."





















Habs Finally Fall To Bruins - Lions In Winter

"The best play I saw tonight by the Habs was the result of a typical Brisebois miscue in which he pinched at the absolute wrong time allowing a 2-on-1 to happen. Breeze-by lived up to his name when a penalty to David Krejci was just ending and he decided to go fishing in the offensive zone. The pass from Kostitsyn went awry and it meant an opportunity opened up for Boston. With so little time left in the game at the time (9 minutes) a goal would have certainly ended it. Price, however, once again bailed out his 'defenceman' and made an incredible save when the Bruin decided to shoot. This play kept us in the game much longer than we actually deserved." - Tobalev

Make Way For Mo - The H Does Not Stand For Habs

"The momentum Boston gained from that game...finally seeing their workmanlike, desperate hockey triumph over their regular-season masters...can't be disregarded. They're on a high and they're ready to come out with just as much enthusiasm in game four, only now they have a measure of confidence." - J.T.

Time To Regroup And Get The Power Play Back On Track - Dennis Kane's Excellent Montreal Canadiens Blog

"During the regular season, Montreal’s power play looked like Sophia Loren - beautiful, lovely, graceful, nice to watch. But in this playoff round against the Bruins, Montreal’s power play resembles a drunken Brittany Spears. Kovalev’s overtime goal in game two was a power play goal, but that’s it. The only one in three games."
















"C'était du hockey de séries": Komisarek - La Presse

"On avait l'occasion de les placer dans une situation difficile. On n'a pas réussi même si on s'est bien battu à chacune de nos présences. Ce fut un match âprement disputé", a ajouté le robuste défenseur qui a distribué huit mises en échec.

Des centaines de partisans à Boston - La Presse

"Les joueurs du Canadien ne seront pas entièrement dépaysés lors de leur séjour à Boston. Des dizaines, voire des centaines de partisans de l'équipe ont fait le trajet Montréal-Boston afin d'assister à l'un des deux matchs présentés au TD Banknorth Garden"

Carbo: "On savait bien qu'ils finiraient par nous battre" - La Presse

"Carbo a expliqué que le surnombre qui a mené au but gagnant de Marc Savard était le résultat d'une malchance. Le changement de défenseurs s'est effectué à un moment inopportun et, d'une certaine façon, ça a forcé Bryan Smolinski à commettre une infraction." - Marc Antoine Godin

Partisane du Canadien, elle a ses billets de saison depuis 55 ans - La Presse

"Le femme de petite taille, dont les jambes dépassent à peine de son chandail du Canadien trop grand pour elle, détient des billets de saison depuis 1952. En 55 ans, elle n'a raté qu'une poignée de matchs.'' - Andy Blatchford

Canadien en trois… il faudra recompter! - La Presse

Finalement ma bande de petits comiques, le Canadien ne battra pas les Bruins en trois matchs. Et vous savez quoi? Il ne les battra pas en quatre non plus. Même que s’il dispute d’autres matchs à l’image de celui de dimanche, la série sera pas mal plus longue que les plus pessimistes l’avaient prédit, sans compter que le spectre d’une élimination en première ronde pourrait se pointer le bout du nez. Bon! On ne paniquera pas tout de suite. - François Gagnon

Bégin : "Il faut patiner si on veut gagner" - Le Journal

"Les meilleurs joueurs du Canadien dans cette défaite contre les Bruins ont été fidèles à eux-mêmes du début à la fin de la soirée. Seuls Bryan Smolinki, Steve Bégin, Maxim Lapierre, Mike Komisarek et Carey Price se sont pointés dans le vestiaire après le match." - Marc De Foy

Lapierre: "Les Bruins jouent avec plus de confiance" - Le Journal

"On ne s'attendait pas à gagner la série en quatre matchs, a commenté Maxim Lapierre, l'un des meilleurs attaquants du Canadien. Les deux équipes ont bien joué et la victoire aurait pu aller d'un bord comme de l'autre en prolongation. À vrai dire, les deux équipes méritaient la victoire." - Pierre Durocher

More from La Presse, RDS, and Le Journal
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Stolen Win Could Mask Playoff 101Lessons For Young Habs

There are many elements a team needs to win come playoff time, and you will often hear extolled the virtues of timely scoring, lucky breaks and bounces, and goaltending so solid it steals the occasional game.

Both teams profited from timely breaks in this game, and it could be said that Montreal simply had the last good break.

A team would be wise not to count on such things happening on a consistant basis, and focus and apply the virtues of hard work instead.

In game two, the Canadiens took a foot off the pedal slightly, and might have cost them had they not had certain things come their way. They did just enough of these things right to edge the Bruins, but they also took their gaze of what worked best for them in game one.

As could have been expected, and to some degree it was, the Bruins came out much hungrier in the second game. I'd guess that getting beyond the five minute mark of the game without being behind on the scoreboard would constitute some sort of moral boost to the Bruins. From then on, and even after falling behind by two goals, they continued whittling away at the Canadiens until their efforts created their own lucky breaks.

I was a little concerned while watching the Habs chasing their tails for a few precarious moments in the third period. Montreal were up two goals, but Boston had controlled more of this game by that point. A pair of discipline and soft play boobs later, and the score was tied.





















Oddly enough, once Boston finally managed to work all the way up to knotting the game, their worst side reared itself again and it bit them where it hurt most.

Despite the Habs not giving their most inspired performance in game, a silver lining emerges from this close call. Had they lost and headed to Boston with a win apiece, the series would have been anybody's to win. Now a Boston team that has not found a way to beat montreal in 13 straight contests are now faced with the trying task of having to pull off the trick in four of the next five games, if the series lasts that long.

There's one notion that should never be cast aside or forgotten about this edition of the Habs - and that is how young and inexperienced it is.

It will not win a Stanley Cup without first learning to face and deal with adversity.

The young Habs ought to have learned a few things about themselves from game two. The silver lining is that it cost them nothing. A free lesson courtesy of the Boston Bruins.

Teams often learn to win through losing. Winning erases the focus on all kinds of small details and little things gone wrong, wheras losing magnifies those mistakes and concentration lapses.

The good news is that with another game today, the Canadiens have as littler time as do the Bruins for studying what failed to work.























There is a danger with a young team becoming overconfident in victory.

Don't get me wrong, confidence is always a good thing. But with such a young team, a fear of losing, and the lessons learned from it, also has it's worth.

Possibly gone unnoticed in all the playoff frenzy is that the Canadiens have now won 5 games in a row for the first time this season. That's nine wins in their last ten games, or an overall record of 16-5 since the trade deadline, for those who put stock in such things.

Being hot and on a roll at the right time of the year is all good, but again, and eye must be kept on the things winning masks.

I'll be curiously watching to see if Guy Carbonneau makes any lineup adjustments for game 3, because staying the course with same players might invite complacency after an average performance by the team. Don't be surprised to see Ryan O' Byrne inserted into the lineup with either Mark Streit moving up from defense, or Patrice Brisebois sitting one out.

This thought is not to fault either player particularly, but the entirety of the Habs game of speed is very dependant on it's transition game. Where the Bruins found success tonight, was in exploiting the defence pairings.

Roman Hamrlik was so effective on Thursday, that the Bruins steered clear of him and worked on Brisebois enough to wear him down. Josh Gorges is used to working with the stay at home Francis Bouillon, and not with the rushing, chance taking Streit.



















The buffer in sheltering the Habs errors in this win was Carey Price. In his first two NHL playoff games, Price has given up 3 goals on 57 shots. In game 1, he was beaten by a deflection less than ten feet in front of him, when two sticks dropped in front of him, with one causing the changeup that dribbled through his pads. In game two, Price was beaten on a rebound that changed direction on Gorges stick, and another on a 5 on 3 powerplay, where only Gumby could have stretched out wide enough to make the save.

Game two's first star was also it's biggest burglar. He has yet to be beaten on a shot that he should have stopped, and has been positionally sound enough to stop some he has had no business seeing. I cannot recall too many teams that have gone deep into springtime hockey where a goalie didn't rob opponents of a win or two or ten.

In fact, Price has been so focused and dependable that the team in front of him may soon begin to take his night's work for granted.

That would be playing with fire!

Looking 180 feet down ice, should the Canadiens continue to expect Tim Thomas to give up 40 footers to Roman Hamrlik, rebounds to Sergei Kostitsyn, and narrow angle shots to Alex Kovalev?

Expecting what has happened in two games in Montreal to become deja vu in Boston is unrealistic. The game three scenario will be a totally different one.

Perhaps it will be a chance for more lessons to be learned by these young Canadiens - lose or win.

And this young team has to profit from all the lessons in can get. As Bob Gainey put it, for many of them, this is Playoffs 101. Study hard - and no cheating!
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Beliveau Unsure How To Handle The Roy Hot Potato

Robert L Note: Here is the translation of Marc Antoine Godin of La Presse's conversation with Jean Béliveau on the subject of whether or not the Canadiens should retire Patrick Roy's jersey. No further comments from me on this, I've emptied the tank!

Within the Canadiens organization, no one is more venerable than Jean Béliveau. As straight a man as there is and esteemed by everyone, no one doubts of his stature.

Even Béliveau, who sits on the commitee responsible for jersey retirements, doesn't know where to begin in regards to whether Patrick Roy should be in line for the honour.

"Honestly, I don't know what I would do", he admits, upon being raeched on the subject."Must we separate on ice achievements from public life? Should we be waiting in his case? These are certainly questions the commitee must ask themselves."

The players whose numbers hang from the rafters of the Bell Centre played out their careers in an era when the media coverage was much lighter than the present one which has brought Roy's candidature into question. Certain players among them also slipped into questionable conduct at times.

Still...

"I don't recall a case as visible as this one", Mr. Béliveau points out. "With situations such as the one we were all vitness to last Saturday gives cause for reflection."























"I am obviously very disappointed by what went on. It wasn't the brand of hockey I enjoyed playing or watching.

"Veteran sports journalist Red Fisher, who has also sat on the commitee in charge of honouring jerseys, has implored the Canadiens to give this one additional consideration - in light of the recent events, but especially given past episodes.

"That's one point of view", big Jean says, without going into detail. "What disturbs fans most, from what I understand, is that this isn't the first time this kind of conduct has occured with Patrick.

"Within the Canadiens dressing room, opinions are unanimous: Roy's number 33 belong with the others.

"He has to be recognized as a hockey player", insists Patrice Brisebois. "The numbers speak for themselves, just as they did with Guy Lafleur."

"Of course, it is not up to me to judge, but Patrick is a winner who's done whatever it takes to win".

"What goes on in junior hockey and the NHL are two totally diffent things", suggests Guillaume Latendresse. "It alters none of what he has done for the organization."

"He's the greatest goalie in history, according to many", adds Maxim Lapierre. "He helped the Canadiens win two Stanley Cups..."

If left up to Guy Carbonneau, who is caught between a rock and a hard place in this issue, he's content to leave it with those whose mandates it is to use their judgement on this.

"It will soon be the teams centennial year and the organization has always made the right decisions", Carbonneau says. "They will sit down and think it over, ask questions, and arrive at the right decision."
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Canadiens 4 Bruins 2 Highlights

Did Alex Kovalev sell his training tips video tonight or what?

Kovalev's two second period goals might just be the prettiest pair of goals he's scored this season, and they couldn't have been more timely as they lifted the Habs from a sludgy first half of the game.

Good as it was to see O'Byrne back and Lapierre having a standout game, one has to be concerned about the loss of Mike Komisarek. The extent of the injury is not yet known but with the minutes he eats up, the hits he dishes, and the shots he blocks, it will be very difficult to fill his slot.

I hope Carbo isn't thinking Brisebois again! Reader Wamsley informed me earlier today that the Habs are 17-16-6 with Brisebois in the lineup, which means they are 27-8-4 with him on the pines.

Or to put it another way, we are the Maple Leafs when he dresses and the Red Wings when he's absent.

Take a leave Breezer, here's some free tickets to Paris!

Carey Price was solid as a rock again tonight, being beaten by only a deflection and another shot after he was bumped on a play that deserved a closer look by officials.

Guillaume read my morning post it seems....

Latendresse made a great play to feed Koivu on an angled pass off the backboard to led to Ryder's winning goal. He did all the little things in a big way tonight.

Here's the game clip from Habs TV.

Time For Carbonneau To Get Playoff Serious

There wasn't much to like about losing to the Blues on Tuesday. The loss was followed by all kinds of talk that the Canadiens took the game too lightly.

No kidding!

The Habs were damn lame against the blue notes, and by the time they realized there was a competitor playing for pride on the ice, they couldn't gain enough edge to get back in it.

Since I took the youngest to see "Horton", I'll use a Seussism for an analogy for what went afoul.

The Habs were lame,
The coach was the same,
And that's the name where I aim the blame

Yes, Guy Carbonneau, in hindsight, is at fault for this one. He too, took it lightly.

I almost blew out an eyebrow frowning over a quote on radio CKAC this morning when Carbonneau was asked in hindsight if perhaps the Habs were in fact guilty of taking the Blues lightly. He skated a Latendresse pivot around the question before polishing this turd something along these lines:

"St. Louis is an opponant that we don't know very well. We don't play against them often enough to be familiar with them. Maybe the players knew the Blues weren't doing well. Things like that happen sometimes."

"WHAAAAAAAAAT CRAAAAAAAAP", was my reaction as I drove over a schoolbus.















Now I like Carbonneau. I like him a lot. But that comment cost him my vote for coach of the year. I'll put him down third behind Bruce Boudreau and Lindy Ruff on my imaginary ballot.

None of his answer washes with me because you don't reply with a "maybe" while absolving your team.

And you don't absolve your team after such a loss, even with that handy and lame excuse at the ready.

If I had been a reporter in the room after hearing that, I would have earned a menacing stare with my next question.

"But Guy, it is your job to prepare your team, is it not?", I would have asked, ducking the flying bottle of Cristill Light.

How on God's ice can he admit to lame pre - scouting of the Blues? Who are the Habs pro scouts and what is their assignment again? Do they not look at teams tapes of recent games as well as when teams were faring better to get a complete picture of the opponant they are about to face?

Legitimate questions, don't you think?

If in the coach and coaches preparation of the game, those in charge glanced at and skipped over minute details of their opponants good and bad habits and tendencies, then I am really scared for the playoffs.

Taking any opponant lightly at this time of year is unforgivable. It sends a frightful message that turns gamers into passengers real quick.

In coaching, you never make excuses for your players, because trust me, they will use them. Players are like that. Not all of them of course, but give some a window to crawl from the fire and they're out there. Whether it is in the form of bad pre - game prep or weak post game assessment, some players will jump all over that opportunity to absolve themselves that is platter handed to them from ther coach.

It's all very much inexcusable!





















Even worse, Carbonneau's biggest sin was in the lineup he dressed for the game, which was a sure sign of an upcoming night off.

I didn't have much problem with Carbonneau giving a bonus start to Jaroslav Halak after a solid Islanders game, but combined with the other moves he made, it created a detrimental domino effect across the lineup.

If Carey Price is going to be the go - to - goalie from this point on, then he must be used in not only must win games, but the apparent easy looking ones, if for no better reason that to back up the notion that this is a serious game on the line - as they all should be this time of year.

I'd have said to Halak, "Nice game kid, you've earned another start - in the first game after we clinch a playoff spot, maybe. Keep working hard."

Now the biggest problem I have was in inserting Bryan Smolinski and Patrice Brisebois in the lineup in lieu of Maxim Lapierre, Steve Begin and Ryan O 'Byrne. I understand the virtues of keeping certain elements fresh at this time, but dressing both, combined with Halak starting against a down and out team was playing with fire while drinking gasoline.

Smolinski and Brisebois have both had numerous opportunities to play of late, to validate their existances, and give the Habs some smoking games.

I could rant off on the faults of the two endlessly here, but I'll suffice to say that the pair rarely bring it. It's just not good enough to be "good enough", these two have to be excellent to re - enter the lineup. In the end, they're just too damn soft of players to throw out unless there are injuries. Black aces they ought to be.

When players see who is in the lineup, it sends signals.

"Coach ain't worried", goes around a room in a hurry - virus like!



















There has been a drop in intensity about the team since the western road trip and it coincides with the reintegration of these two players into the lineup. They aren't getting the message to "bring it or you're out" because it is not being delivered by the coach.

It's been delivered to Tom Kostopoulos, and he gets it in spades.

The Canadiens need the contributions of Lapierre and O' Byrne. They need their crunch and attitude and youthful exhuberance. The league knows the book on Brisebois and Smolinski and how to play against them. They could pull out a five year old scouting report and not go wrong. The kids are wild cards. Not as well known, and able to light fires or piss them out in a hurry.

Begin brings intensity and confidence. I'd like to see a stat of the Habs record when he dresses. I'd be willing to bet it is impressive.

Hopefully Carbonneau is finished with his expiriments. It's time to send a signal to the team that it's serious time now and that the margin for error is zero.

On Tuesday, there were maybe four or five players at best who played as though something of value was on the line. Other than Kostopoulos, I found that Grabovski and Sergei Kostitsyn had their usual edge and that Chris Higgins was very much focused on what his coach has dictated as his defined role a matter of days before. Kovalev was desperately trying to do too much again, like last season, in light of his line's funk - not a reassuring sign.

The rest of the players caught on a little too late.

Tonight, the Bruins might as well be playing for the Stanley Cup - they want to beat Montreal so badly!

It's up to Carbonneau to dress a serious playoff time team tonight to show the players it is serious business time.

After all, they've scouted the Bruins!