Canadiens Get On Track With 60 Minute Effort

Last night's 4-0 whitewash of the Ottawa Senators was just what the doctor ordered!

There were several key plays, great performances, and turning points in the game, but stood out most was that the game was a unified effort in which every Hab showed up to play.

None of us could ever know, but it is possible this game might have been won starting with a team meeting called on Monday prior to practice.

It was no secret that despite getting off to a 8-2-2 start that the Canadiens were playing some sloppy brand of hockey. It all caught up to them the past weekend. The meeting called by the coaching staff surely caught the club off guard, and for the moment it seems as though it has served to bring all on board back down to the ground.

What the players offered last night was a true measure of the character of the team - it was a character win.

The Canadiens grabbed the lead, held it, kept the Senators scoring chances to a minimum, and capitalized on the mistakes they forced. They had many great scoring chances, but took less risks offensively, and never allowed Ottawa into the game.

























Carey Price, in registering his first shutout of the season, was not overworked. It is a testament to the team effort that all he needed to be in this one was solid and not neccessarily spectacular.

It was also heartwarming to see a couple of players who had been squeezing their sticks tightly of late hit the scoresheet. It was a breakout effort for Chris Higgins, who always seems to create more chances than he can capitalize on. The most curious part of his night, were that all three goals were untypical of his play. He seemed invisible to Senators all evening, coming out of nowhere to net a hat trick, unsuspectingly.

As good as Higgins performed, he might not have been the best Canadiens player on the ice.

Saku Koivu and Tomas Plekanec had a few good scoring chances during the game, but their best work came in shutting down Jason Spezza, who wasn't a threat by any means in this game. Of course, Spezza often makes it easy on other centres by being easily outworked on all 200 feet of ice.





















The Senators Dany Heatly should see Mike Komisarek in his nightmares for a spell. The Canadiens big defenseman was on his case every time he entered the Canadiens zone. Komisarek seemed on a mission to make Heatly come unglued.

The steadying influence of Roman Hamrlik is unfortunately more evident when he is missed. Not as obvious tonight was the fact that the Canadiens defenseman played their game, and gave the Ottawa forwards practically no clear paths to the net. In consequence to Hamrlik's return, Ryan O' Byrne might have had his best game of the season so far. His did make one near fatal boob, when he pinched, allowing a Heatley breakaway, but his blunders were kept to a minimum and his patience and poise were returned to his game.






















Another point of note, is that the Plekanec and Kovalev penalty killing duo is gaining some grit. The had the Senators power play unit - their most devastating asset - off balance all game.

Kovalev's performances are often measured on the scoresheet, but he put in a great effort on a night when his offensive contributions weren't as badly needed. He had all kinds of puck possession time that translated into chances in this game. He did everything but capitalize.

The effort by the entire team was a timely one. It helps in part remove some of the doubt that may have seeped in from a string of horrid showings of late. With a trip to Boston up next, they might need to be even better on Thursday.

Photos courtesy of Habs Inside Out / The Montreal Gazette / Peter McCabe

How Gainey Could Fill Hamrlik's Doughnut? (Or, Gainey's Search For The Next Craig Ludwig)

While the 2008-09 season is still young, and the Montreal Canadiens are doing as well as possible could be expected with a haul of 17 of 20 potential points, the ultimate goal for the campaign is to bag a 25th Stanley Cup in it's centennial season.

The expectations are high, and anything less than a Cup final participation will be seen by many as a disappointment of sorts.

It has been suggested on many fronts that the Canadiens shoot for moon in this season, and continue to seek to acquire players who will take them to the promised land.

With an 8-1-0-1 record, spotting where the club needs an ungrade at present, is trickier than what it appears on the surface. The team is winning consistently, with a couple of ugly gains thrown in, is scoring at a decent clip, is playing sounder 5 on 5 hockey than they have in years, and overall the team is allowing less goals per game than it has in recent memory.

So what's the problem exactly, and why are fans and media alike clammoring for upgrades?

For starters, it has something inherant with being a Habs follower, that gets a playoff discussing off and running after the season's first game is in the books. It amplifies from there.

Soon, as other clubs have there woes, rumours begin as to who exactly on the available market could be of help to the Canadiens. Next thing you know, snazzy shooters the likes of Marian Gaborik and Ilya Kovalchuk are being speculated with much foundation.

Certain insightful fans of the team - and there's about a million of them with a concrete opinion - suggest that there is a hole that needs filling on defense.

Looking at the composition of the club so far this season, it is apparent that they have sufficient offence to see them through. With nine interchangable gunners up front, the club has the benefit of six "Joe the Plumbers" to fill out the fourth line duties on a given night. The depth at forward allows for some confident navigation through injuries, as we have witnessed so far.

In goal, Carey Price and Jaroslav Halak have been fairly consistent thus far, with each having had one off night that is of little concern.

On defense, Andrei Markov, an All Star, is paired with Mike Komisarek, an all purpose meanie who blocks shots and pounds with a wrecking ball's ramdom precision. A solid an experienced Roman Hamrlik hightlights the second pairing, often placed with either of veteran Patrice Brisebois or greenhorn Ryan O'Byrne. The third due is the solid is unspectacular Francis Bouillon and Josh Gorges, both efficient enough to see the club through. An emergency option lies in forward, and former defenseman Mathieu Dandenault, who could surely handle a few shifts when the penalty box holds three reargaurds or when injuries hit.

But that is all well and fine in the here and now. Canadiens fans meanwhile, are discussing the second, third and fourth rounds of the playoff, and they see a doughnut next to Hamrlik that begs for filling.

As time passes, it is becoming apparent that the play of Brisebois and O'Byrne will not suffice in that role. O'Byrne will be a good one - one day, but lacks the experience at present while enduring the rough road bumps that are what becoming a regular NHL defenseman is all about. Brisebois, on the other hand, has all kinds of experience (most of it wearily undemonstrated), but is too old in his game for it to be depended upon.

The outcry, if you will, has little to do with what is being asked of those players as it appears both are better suited in the roles of a fifth and sixth D-man. Breaking up the Bouillon and Gorges duo to fit one alongside Hamrlik, only brings the issue back to square.

It is clear that for the Canadiens to upgrade, this is where the need is most required.

The problem is, fourth defenseman are not in abundance, and teams looking to deal a potential suitor to the Habs will be greedy for quality returns.

I've no doubt that sooner or later, GM Gainey will start staring into the doughnut, and it will hypnotically gain in size. Something will need to be done.

After all, you only get one chance to win a Stanley Cup in a 100th season once!

Gainey captained the unlikely 1986 Cup champs, a team taken a great length by Patrick Roy, some savvy vets, a fermenting crew of quality youngs, and some able role players. Gainey, as seen by his retirement ceremony last season, has a fondness for the Joe Plumbers workers of the lunchpail crew, and it is likely that he seeks out such a type to fill the apparent void.

The kind of player he may target, could easily resemble former defenseman Craig Ludwig, an unsung player on that 1986 squad.

Ludwig paired with a young Chris Chelios, while Larry Robinson tandemed with Rick Green. Further down, Gaston Gingras, absent from the regular season, ate up PP time and stole Petr Svoboda's (a gingerbread Brisebois if there ever was one!) role, with Mike Lalor added to mix.

The bulk of the work went to the Robinson, Green, Chelios, Ludwig quator, and the were all employed well above 20 minutes per game.

Ludwig was a low maintenance, stay at home, with an angry lumberjack's temperment. His disposition was personified by his stickwork, and he was all shoulders and elbows in his crunches. His first pass was a solid and consistant efficient clearing, and his game held no delussions or surprises. He was what O'Byrne may one day become. Unfortunately, the role Ludwig fillled, is now being taken up to some extent by Hamrlik, who is losing some of his true game by having to be wearly of his partner's failings.

In order to bring the best out of Hamrlik and reduce his workload, a Ludwig of sorts is sought.

Now fans hoping for a splash in acquiring a defenseman, name players like Florida's Jay Bowmeester, or Nashville's Shea Weber as top line players on their want lists. Other names I have heard in pure speculation have included Jay McKee of St. Louis, Matt Schneider in Atlanta and the Leafs Tomas Kaberle - all doubtful for varying reasons..

Once caller into CKAC yesterday said Gainey should even make the Ducks an offer they can't refuse for Chris Pronger!

It's doubtful that Gainey is on speaking terms with Brian Burke from a two year old misconception, but maybe targeting Francois Beauchemin, a free agent next summer, is a sounder and more probable fit next to Hamrlik.

One interesting option could be Nicklas Havelid, a 35 year old vet with the Thrashers who would fit in nicely. He's inexpensive at 2.9 million and a UFA next season, and holds Atlanta's D together most nights. Ruslan Salei and Adam Foote of Colorado are salaries in the same ballpark with an added season that fit the mold.

Detroit's Brad Stuart is signed long term, but word is he is available, as he is standing ion the way of Niklas Kronwall's progression. Would the Wings deal with Montreal? Stuart could be the Habs perfect one year solution, and his contract could easily be turned over a season from now.

Sean O'Donnell of the L.A. Kings at 36 has an interesting resume. A member of the 2006 Ducks championship, and at 1.25 million in his final contract year, a Habs scout should check his foot speed to see if he fits in with fleet footed younger boys. O' Donnell would strictly be a depth addition, should the Canadiens see fit to work Gorges in alonside Hamrlik.

Would Minnesota part with 28 year Martin Skoula, an other skilled vet with Cup experience, and a cheap 1.9 M pricetag?

It doesn't look promising for a return of Mathias Ohlund to vancouver next season. The UFA could be a trade deadline darling that Gainey, with an alluring package could snatch earlier.

Ideally, what Gainey will look for is to acquire someone by the mid season mark. Working a defenseman in takes time. Thirty to fourty games before the playoffs is ideal. The salary would have to be mid range, and preferably expire at season's end without complicating next year's salary issues.

Some of the names mentioned above may or may not be attainable without a great sacrifice of prospects, picks and roster names. Some others might be had by simply swapping O' Byrne, and a third rounder. The Canadiens could also dangle former first rounder David Fischer, who has been slow to come around, but has shown some late bloomer upside of late.

What Gainey would offer in return is anyone's guess, but my take is that such a move would not test team chemistry. The prospects not going anywhere, anytime soon are Max Pacioretty, Yannick Weber, and Ryan McDonagh. Matt D' Agnostini's name will come up, as will goalie Jaroslav Halak's.

Beginning on Friday November 7, the Canadiens play their next 13 games in the following 23 days. It will be a rigourous test. It should also answer some questions regarding Hamrlik's doughnut.

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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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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 - April 15, 2008

Plekanec Looks For Goals, Grit - Gazette

"Plekanec enjoyed the best season of his NHL career, scoring 29 goals and adding 40 assists. But he tailed off toward the end of the campaign, scoring twice and assisting on four in his final dozen games. Since netting a pair in Buffalo on March 28, he's gone seven games without a goal." - Dave Stubbs

Steely Price Keeps His Cool - Gazette

"Price hadn't yet seen it, but he joked about Sean Avery's already famous mating dance Sunday with New Jersey's Martin Brodeur, waving his stick and hands in the goalie's face as a bizarre distraction during a Rangers power play. Yesterday, the NHL announced that any repeat performance would earn a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct. "It's almost an unwritten rule - you don't stand in front of someone and go like this," he said, laughing as he waved his palm back and forth a half-inch from a reporter's face." - Dave Stubbs

Power Outage - Gazette

"During the regular season, the Canadiens led the NHL with a success rate of 24.2 per cent and they were even better against the Bruins, scoring 10 times in 34 chances for a 29.4-per-cent clip. The difference? It seems to be more a matter of what the Bruins are doing right than what the Canadiens are doing wrong." - Pat Hickey

Look For O' Byrne To Play Tonight - Gazette

"You know that old cliché about a change being as good as a rest? Well, the Canadiens might get a taste of both as they prepare for Game 4 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series tonight against the Boston Bruins." - Pat Hickey

Montreal The City Of Brotherly Amour - Star

Real Hockey And A New Spiritual Leader Of The Moment! - Woodshed

North Of 60 - Montreal Canadiens.com

"Did someone say overtime? If so, no one is more familiar with the extra frames than Canadiens defenseman Patrice Brisebois. Sunday night’s contest marked the 31st time that the 37-year-old blue-liner was a part of a game that needed more than 60 minutes to decide a winner. Despite the 2-1 loss to the Bruins, Brisebois holds a pretty remarkable record when extra hockey is required in the postseason, with his team emerging as the winner on 20 occasions to this day." - Heather Engel

Greatest Pests Of All Time? Avery Has A Long Way To Go - Greatest Hockey Legends

"Sean Avery is a very good pest, and a very good player. He can score goals. He is a devastating hitter. He will back up his actions, at times, with his fists. In short, he is a very effective player. He probably is the best pest in the game today. But in recent days I've heard and seen a few sources anoint him as the best pest of all time. That's when I say perhaps these people need a little history lesson." - Joe Pelletier

No, No, Not Streit - Lions In Winter

"There's an elephant in the room. And, all people can talk about is Mark Streit. After listening to the Habs Inside/Out Puckcast and reading this from François Gagnon, I am amazed about the Streit backlash. Even if you're one of those reporters who relies entirely on stats to remember what happened two games ago, it would be hard work making a case that Streit has been the worst player on the Canadiens. If you have been watching the games intently like 95% of the population of Montreal, then, in my opinion, the case would be even harder to make." - Topham

Montreal's Biggest Game Of The Year Is Tuesday Night - Dennis Kane's Excellent Montreal Canadiens Blog

"I’m sure Guy Carbonneau and his coaches are working hard to overcome Boston’s recent adjustments, which have seen the Bruins bottle up Montreal’s attack, and Alex Kovalev especially. For me, it all boils down to the power play. Get that back on track and the series will end quickly." - Dennis Kane























En series, le talent ne sufit pas - RDS

"En séries éliminatoires, la recette est la même pour toutes les équipes qui doivent réunir cinq ingrédients pour espérer gagner. Il faut de l'intensité, un travail d'équipe, du caractère, de la discipline et du talent. Je vous dirais que le talent vient au dernier rang en importance dans la liste des ingrédients et au niveau du talent, les Bruins ne peuvent pas rivaliser avec le Canadien. Au cours des deux derniers matchs par contre, les Bruins ont démontré beaucoup d'intensité, un grand travail d'équipe ainsi que de la discipline avec les résultats que l'on connaît." - Bob Hartley

Des jouers n'ont pas relevéle defi - RDS

"Les deux premiers trios du Canadien doivent offrir du meilleur hockey. Le trio de Tomas Plekanec, Alex Kovalev et Andrei Kostitsyn n’est pas à la hauteur en ce moment. Ce trio doit augmenter sa vitesse et jouer avec davantage d’intensité." - Jacques Demers

Plekanec: "Je joue comme une fillette!" -La Presse

Attendu par les journalistes comme il est attendu par ses couvreurs des Bruins de Boston depuis le début des séries éliminatoires, Tomas Plekanec savait qu'il serait montré du doigt pour la piètre qualité de son jeu. - François Gagnon

Streit jouera oû on lui demandera - La Presse

"Limité à une passe en trois matchs, il a été incapable de mener convenablement l'attaque massive du Tricolore, qui n'a marqué qu'un but en 18 occasions pour une efficacité de 5,6%. À des lieux de l'efficacité de 24,2% qui a permis à la meilleure attaque massive de la LNH de marquer 90 buts en saison régulière." - FRançois Gagnon

Des changements à prévoir - Le Journal

"Carbonneau a bon espoir que ses hommes retrouvent leurs moyens dans le quatrième match qui sera disputé ce soir. "On a livré 82 rencontres en saison régulière et on a bien réagi toute l'année après une défaite", a-t-il aussi rappelé. - Marc De Foy

Une aide inattendue - le Journal

Si le Canadien est parvenu à résister à l'agressivité des Bruins jusqu'ici, il le doit en bonne partie à l'énergie générée par son quatrième trio. Trois joueurs plutôt mésestimés en saison régulière s'affichent actuellement comme les vedettes obscures de la série. - Bertrand Raymond

Quand Price chate Cash.... - Le Journal

"Je tente de jouer sa chanson intitulée Hurt, mais je peux jouer seulement les trois premiers accords pour le moment." Cette pièce est un remake de Ninth Inch Nails dans lequel Cash évoque les regrets qu'il a éprouvés par rapport à sa vie familiale et conjugale. - Marc de Foy

More from Habs Inside Out, RDS, La Presse 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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Habs For Breakfast - March 9, 2008

Baptism Of Fire For Habs Young Guns - Gazette

"There has been a lot of talk about the importance of experience in this series and both teams offer a mix of seasoned veterans and raw rookies. Much has been made of the fact that the Habs have 10 players with no NHL playoff experience and that group includes 20-year-old goaltender Carey Price." - Pat Hickey

Higgins Prepares For Playoffs - Gazette

"A mature voice and a leader in the dressing room and on the ice as an alternate captain, Higgins admits he's hardly the go-to guy for younger players seeking insight into the nuances of the playoffs. He has only six postseason games to his credit, all against the Carolina Hurricanes in 2005-06, scoring once and adding three assists in that series." - Dave Stubbs

Getting Chara Off His Game Key For Habs - Gazette

Chara had a goal, three assists and a minus-6 rating in the Bruins' eight losses to the Canadiens this season. He also had a team-high 31 penalty minutes against Montreal, though that's a misleading statistic; he earned 25 of them on Nov. 17 when he pretty much lost his mind in one incident. But Chara's discipline can be fragile, if not invisible, especially if he's laid into often. Montreal was the NHL's highest-scoring team, with its most prolific power play. The equation, then, is simple: Bruins minus Chara could equal big trouble for Boston." - Dave Stubbs

Coach Julien The Underdog Once Again - Gazette

"The irony isn't lost on Bruins head coach Claude Julien, who finds himself in the same situation he was in 2004 when he coached the Canadiens. The Bruins finished second in the Eastern Conference that year with 104 points, 11 more than the seventh-place Canadiens. The Bruins were heavily favoured in the playoffs, but the Habs won the series in seven." - Pat Hickey

Bleu, Blanc, Rouge In The Red? I Don't Think So! - Gazette

"Multiply the capacity of the 21,273-seat Bell Centre by 41 home games during the 2007-08 season. For purposes of this exercise, we won't count the five exhibition games the Canadiens played at the Bell Centre in September. That works out to 872,193 paid admissions. At an average ticket price of $70, revenue from attendance was $61 million." - Mike Boone

Montreal Going Giddy Over Surprising Habs - TSN

"They captured their fourth straight Cup at a time when winning a championship in Montreal was no more of a spring phenomenon than potholes or drinking beer on a terrace. The mayor could announce that the Stanley Cup parade would be held on the usual route and everyone knew what he meant. Indeed, winning cups were so routine then, Montrealers never even bothered to riot." - Michael Farber

Canadiens Watch: Don't take Bruins Lightly - The Hockey News

"An optimist would say the Montreal Canadiens couldn’t have scripted it better. A pessimist, or at the very least a believer in the law of averages, would say watch out for dropping shoes. The Canadiens have beaten the Boston Bruins in 11 consecutive games. Recent playoff history has seen the Habs push the Bruins from the post-season in 2002 and 2004. Montreal holds an incredible 23-7 playoff series advantage all-time on Boston." - Ryan Dixon

Montreal Aware Of Julien's Resume - Globe Sports

"If the Montreal Canadiens start to feel a little too confident about their first-round playoff matchup against a team they dominated this season, the Boston Bruins, all they have to do is steal a glance at the bald, plump man behind the opposition's bench. Bruins head coach Claude Julien stands as a reminder of how an NHL playoff upset can be pulled off." - Tim Wharnsby

Easily Excited? - Lions In Winter

"It’s really the only sport in town, and in that building the fans get excited and get excited pretty easily." - Claude Julien

A Few Of My Favorite Things - The H Does Not stand For Habs

"Kirk Muller and Claude Julien screaming at each other at the end of a Canadiens' blowout of the Bruins. That was so bloody entertaining. I half expected them to go, and it made me laugh to see Muller so riled up." - J.T.

Here's Hoping The Flames Get Through And Lose To The Habs In The Final - Dennis Kane's Excellent Montreal Canadiens Blog

"If there’s one team I wouldn’t mind seeing come out of the western division in these Stanley Cup playoffs, it would have to be Calgary. Of course, Montreal would take them out quickly and effectively in the finals, but that’s not why I want Calgary. It’s because they were nice to me and a Russian couple a long time ago." - Dennis Kane

Begin prevoit la turbulance - RDS

"Steve Bégin sait qu'il va être un joueur marqué, à compter de jeudi. Le pugnace attaquant du Canadien s'est fait de nombreux ennemis dans le camp des Bruins de Boston, au cours de la saison régulière."

Hamrlik est charmé pat les partisans - RDS

"Ayant connu la fièvre des séries dans les uniformes des Oilers d'Edmonton et des Flames de Calgary, Hamrlik trouve que les amateurs de Montréal sont plus fanatiques que ceux de l'Alberta. "C'est pour le moins particulier ici, a-t-il affirmé, mardi. J'admets que je suis quelque peu surpris. Je ne m'attendais pas réellement à ça. Les amateurs sont plus enthousiastes qu'à Edmonton et à Calgary."

Le Canadien, une equipe trop jeunes? - RDS

"Il y a longtemps qu'on attendait un virage jeunesse à Montréal. Déjà muni de bons jeunes joueurs, le Canadien a décidé de faire confiance à une autre vague de petits nouveaux cette année. L'éclosion des frères Kostitsyn et la tenue du gardien Carey Price devant le filet ont contribué à la saison de rêve du Tricolore."

Le vrai test de Price - La Presse

"Carey Price n'a pas encore disputé un seul match en séries et déjà, Bob Gainey s'est fait demander d'établir un lien entre son jeune gardien et des légendes comme Ken Dryden et Patrick Roy! C'est qu'à l'instar de ces deux grands, Price se voit confier le filet en séries éliminatoires dès sa première saison, et surtout sans avoir amorcé la saison en tant que numéro un." - François Gagnon

Gorges mis K.O. par Gainey - La Presse

"Ma première réaction? Je suis sonné. Vraiment. C’est impressionnant de recevoir un tel compliment de la part de ton patron. Mais quand ton patron s’appelle Bob Gainey, avec tout ce que ce nom évoque, c’est encore plus gratifiant", a lancé Josh Gorges une main sur le front."

Komisarek: "Si Bergeron joue, il doit être conscient de ce qui l'attend" - Le Journal

"Je me prépare moi-même à retourner dans le feu de l'action après avoir subi une blessure», a dit le défenseur, blessé à la hanche après avoir été frappé à répétition par les joueurs des Bruins lors du dernier passage du Tricolore à Boston, il y a près de trois semaines." - Mike Komisarek



O' Byrne du même moule que Price - Le Journal

"Décidément, ils ne sont pas nerveux, les géants de la Colombie-Britannique. Ryan O'Byrne est aussi calme que Carey Price à l'approche de son baptême du feu dans les séries de la coupe Stanley." - Marc De Foy

L'intelligence bien avant la robustesse - Le Journal

"Les propos de Milan Lucic selon lesquels il entend secouer le pommier des joueurs du Canadien n'avaient pas atteint Montréal quand on a rencontré ses éventuelles victimes après la séance d'entraînement d'hier. De toute façon, les joueurs du Tricolore ne s'attendent à rien de moins." - Marc De Foy

Visionaire ou chanceux? - Le Journal

"Il y a plusieurs mois de cela, Pierre Boivin m'avait fait une déclaration que beaucoup de monde, pour une raison assez évidente, avait prise avec un grain de sel. Il n'écartait pas la possibilité que le Canadien profite des fêtes du centenaire, en 2009, pour célébrer sa 25e coupe Stanley." - Bertrand Raymond

More from RDS, La Presse and Le Journal De Montreal
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Looking Back On A Successful Regular Season

What a difference one year can make!

Last season, the Canadiens rode the hot goaltending of Jaroslav Halak, in for the injured Cristobal Huet, trying desperately to cling to an elusive playoff spot.

In 11 games from March 10 to April 3, Montreal were 9-2, and saw their hopes of advancing to the post season vanish with consecutive losses in their final two games.

The 6-5 heartbreaking loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on April 5th did them in.

That final game was a fair representation of what 2006-07 was to the Canadiens. It all about breaks, bounces, and unpredictability.

For certain followers of the team, the ending result was dubious - a happenstance of the oddball calamities that inflicted the team. Some knew the Canadiens were a better team that the record showed.

For others, it was testimony that the Habs were still at square one. Faith, in the big picture for doubters, was fleeting.

So, what happened this season? What were the causes of behind the Canadiens launching from tenth place a year ago into the top spot in their conference this season?

It all started with the believers in the team, the GM, the coach, and the entire organization, understanding that the end result last season was not a true reflection of where the Canadiens were at.

No one panicked, no one was fired, the blueprint was not blown up.

Instead, the continuity of faith in the plan was reaffirmed.























General manager Bob Gainey hit the summer free agency period with a Plan B that might have worked out better than his Plan A.

When the homerun swing for Daniel Briere and the attempted resigning of Sheldon Souray failed, Gainey went for depth. Subtracting Souray, Radek Bonk, Mike Johnson, Janne Niniimaa and David Aebischer from the starting lineup, the Habs GM latched onto Roman Hamrlik, Bryan Smolinski, Patrice Brisebois, and Tom Kostopoulos, and with them, brought in character and experience.

Gainey's best moves may have involved doing his homework in regards to the Canadiens youth corps.

With over a half dozen prospects ready to contribute in Montreal, he managed every case perfectly.

Young players on the table in off season discussions included Price, Halak, O' Byrne, Grabovski, Lapierre, Latendresse, the Kostitsyn brothers, and Kyle Chipchura.

Many organizations follow structured means and motto's where each player is treated the same, when it comes to making it to the National Hockey League.

Gainey treated every player scenario individually based on a progression expectation. He tested skills, maturity, and and compatibility in each player, and learned exactly where each one stood.

When training camp broke, Gainey dispatched Lapierre, Halak, O' Byrne and the younger Kostitsyn back to the Hamilton Bulldogs. Many thought all four had earned a spot - but there are only so many openings.

Opinions were divided over the camps of Latendresse and Sergei Kostitsyn, and the cases of Price and Grabovski making the big club caught many by surprise.

In certain cases Gainey was examining reaction and adaptation. He kept a pulse on maturity and an eye on domination in the AHL.

The fate of the Hamilton Bulldogs be dammed - Gainey wasn't in this to win back to back Calder Cups!

The tests that Gainey layed out for individual players paid great dividends. Eight of the nine players are currently with the Canadiens - save for Chipchura, who likely a victim of depth.

Price played well, but not steady enough to satisfy the team. A stint, a reality check of sorts, in Hamiltom at mid season served him well. He has been a different netminder since his callback, to the point where Gainey did not bat an eyelash in dispatching Cristobal Huet to the Capitals so that Price could assume his destiny.

Max Lapierre coasted when he should have been focused in camp. His easing off the gas pedal cost him a Hamilton reminder. He returned to the Habs with renewed dedication.

Halak brooded upon his send down, a victim of numbers. No fault of his own, the Canadiens needed to learn what Price was capable of at an NHL level, as they had an impending free agent goalie to assess. After a shakey start, Halak reaffirmed his AHL dominance and his NHL worthiness.

Andrei Kostitsyn and Guillaume Latendresse shared a similar microscope. Both had qualities worthy of being solid NHL'ers, but their work habits represented question marks.

For Andrei Kostitsyn, it was an application to a more physical game that was being looked at. Intensity and a willingness to pay the price were his faults, and patiences were tested when he was sat off on occasion.

For Latendresse, the Canadiens organization kept a close eye on his dedication to learning. Not blessed with wingers of size, the Canadiens needed the big winger for his physical element as much as his scoring. A different approach was applied to his learning curve and there was a marked improvement in his on ice awareness while he maintained his offensive numbers.




















Grabovski and Chipchura were left to duel it out as fourth line center and eventually both were sent back to Hamilton.

Grabovski had lost his spot with the team initially for two main reasons. The first, which had nothing to do with his play, involved the Canadiens getting good offensive contributions from everyone to the point where he was not really needed. The second was the fact that Chipchura had outplayed him and it didn't do any good for him to be sitting around.

Chipchura's half season was a positive one, where he often looked very instinctive for a player of his young age. He did a lot of things well, but when measured against Maxim Lapierre in a similar role, his role and roster spot became expendable.

Sergei Kostitsyn was a revelation of sorts. He had been scoring at a point per game pace in Hamilton when called up and he has never looked back. He offered a physical dimension Grabovski did not have and also was a most compatible winger on whatever line he was given to play on. He also had a profound effect on his older brother, and somehow having the two together brought out the best in Andrei.

O'Byrne came as advertised and hasn't disappointed. He is a patient and poised defender who does not try to do to much. His size and his reach demanded a big league tryout and he passed it with steady play. O' Byrne seems to improve with each passing week, and I recently heard one assessment by a former NHL coach who said that O' Byrne is ahead of Mike Komisarek at the same stage.























In the grand scheme of things, it was important for Gainey to find out exactly what he had in all this youth. They were all tested at the NHL level and though trial and error Gainey and Carbonneau learned what their youngsters were capable of bringing to the team. Seeing each indivudual player as a piece of a larger puzzle, enabled the team to find out exactly where other individuals fit.

What helped speed up the process for Gainey was the Hamilton Bulldogs surprise Calder Cup win in 2007. That bought players experience they could not have gotten otherwise, and not only was it beneficial to their progression as professionals, it also expediated Gainey's evaluation of his best prospects.

An abundance of talented youth injects a great faith in a team when every player understands their role. It can cause division and individualism if players feel their jobs or roles are threatened.

None of this seemed to occur with the Canadiens this season. Most players who were sat out for a game or two were quickly brought back into the lineup to contribute. One has to assume that Carbonneau understood how to manage not only his players, but their personalities.

Dealing with the ego's of third and fourth line players, as well as the extra defenseman the team carried, was crucial to not causing a division and the creation of player cliques.

It is obvious that both Carbonneau and Gainey learned a great deal about how to proceed with this from the Stanley Cup win of 1986.
















The storyline of the Canadiens 23rd Cup will always center around the exploits of Patrick Roy's rookie season, but in truth it had as much to do with how a team with 9 rookies at any given time learned the hard lessons of bonding for the betterment of team goals. Veterans and newcomers that season ran into conflict upon occasion, but this season the Habs seemed to steer right by such problems.

The tales of Alex Kovalev playing big brother to many of the European talents on the team is but one example of possibly many in regards to how this team gelled almost from the start. Veteran players such as Koivu, Hamrlik, Markov, Smolinski, Brisebois, and others surely were as supportive of the team first scheme.

Much has been made of Gainey's off season chats with Kovalev and the dividends they have paid, and rightfully so. For a player to show up with a freshened attitude, and who turns himself from a team cancer to it's most outspoken leader, it has an unestimable trickle down effect on the overall chemistry of a team. Leadership needs to come from many areas on a winning team, but when it is sought and found where it should be is most reassuring, especially on a young squad seeking guidance in their initial seasons.

Many decisions were made by team managemant throughout 82 games. There are always lineup substitutions, line mate changes, callups, demotions, off ice incidents, and game plan alterations. Players all have their opinions on what they believe works and doesn't work. When decision made by Carbonneau or Gainey produce the desired result time after time, players cease to question the motives or means, and simply place faith in those decisions as being best for the team.























When Bob Gainey chose to part with Cristobal Huet at the trade deadline, he had to consider many evaluations. Gainey had to not only know for certain that Price was ready to handle the starters role, but also have a solid idea how the players themselves would react to it.

Huet was obviously a respected and appreciated team mate. Many mourned his trading away, but few doubted Gainey in knowing that it was the right thing to do. There were no players questioning the risk of the move or Gainey's bravery in being so decisive at a crucial time.

Gainey obviously has his thumb on the pulse of team, otherwise he would not have risked such a trade. He had to now that his team had faith in Carey Price and the character to soldier on.
In the 19 games in the post Huet era, the Habs went 14-4-1 to finish out the season.

In looking back over what has been the 2007-08 regular season, you will find all kinds of individual benchmarks, career years, and shining statistical notes. Numbers are spit out about how the Canadiens have not done this or that since whenever, and it all adds up to one big sexy spin.

The angles and views build great confidence, from players down to fans, but it is wise not to get too caught up in the allure.

What the Montreal Canadiens did best in this season was build, gel, and progress.

They are getting closer and closer to that Holy Grail destination, and if 2008 doesn't turn out to be the year, we can be comforted in the knowledge that a foundation has been poured, secured, and cemented for the future.

Regardless of how far the Habs go into this playoff, what has been learned along the way should serve them for years to come.
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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!

Canadiens Must Adapt To The Climate Of Opponants

Dropping from first to fifth with a single loss seems like an extreme proposition, but that is exactly what happened when the Canadiens fell to the Ottawa Senators 3-0 last night.

The Habs, along with their fans, were riding a euphoric wave with the team in top spot. The loss should be taken in perspective and the desolate knee jerk overreaction needs to be nipped in the bud.

Despite the score, or the shutout, this is one loss that doesn't deserve a doomsayers autopsy.

Things change fast in the cluster standing of the Eastern Conference. The Devils team that the Canadiens undid so neatly just two days ago now finds itself back on top.

Saturday night, with a win against the Islanders, the Canadiens could be right back where they were prior to the drop of the puck on Thursday.

Last night, our red, white, and blue pride found themselves strangled by a pair of goals God himself could not prevent.

Carey Price, for all the accolades thrown upon him, remains mortal. A deflection goal followed by a dubious over the crossbar tip in that seemed to be waved off initially were what sent Montreal in a hole they never dug out of.

What is most disheartening is that the Canadiens cannot seem to beat the Senators this season. Montreal has lost five to Ottawa, a team they have only beaten once this year. The two remaining games between the rivals will go along way towards settling which team takes top honours in the East.

It's not so much that the Habs can't vanquish Ottawa, it's just that they have yet to learn how to.
As with many things when dealing with a young squad, learning to overcome a fierce opponant takes time, patience and steady progression.

Every rival approches battle differently and what works against certain teams doesn't always apply to others.























The Canadiens are a team that utilizes speed as it's main artliary. They force opponants back with their offensive thrust with the goal of creating turnovers, mistakes and penalties that will lead to scoring chances and goals. Their weapons work against the majority of teams because the Canadiens are deeper at most positions that their foes.

It is not uncommon for teams in progression to hit a snag in the form of a team that is capable of disrupting their game flow.

Ottawa does this to the Habs. New Jersey used to have the same effect.

As a team that has gotten where it is by sticking to the notion of playing their own game and forcing the opponant to adjust, Montreal must now learn how to bring to their game an extra added dimension. Against Ottawa, a team they match well against, the Canadiens need to employ different tactics. They need to divert the Senators focus and upset their method of doing things.

Last night the Canadiens weren't dominated by a large margin of shots on goal. They actually outshot Ottawa 28-24. The Senators best defensive pairings blocked an additional 24 Habs shots. The Senators led with 17 shots fired wide, to the Canadiens six. In the hits department, the Canadiens had the upper hand as well, 33-23, with 6 credited to the Sens Mike Fisher.

Montreal won 57% of the faceoffs as well, a number above their normal rate of performance.
The difference on the scoreboard at the end of the game was the only place where the Ottawa showed supremacy. It reflected their 2 power play goals from three shots taken during five man advantages. The Canadiens shot seven times during four chances and couldn't find the mark.





















What the Habs failed to do last night was compete heartily in the emotional department. With Ottawa gaining an early edge they systematically shut down the Canadiens with low risk plays and positional poise. They took no chances from the time it was 1-0, and the Canadiens sadly fell asleep.

The Canadiens rarely crowded the crease after shots or before them. They didn't hit as often as they had the chance to and when they did it was often a polite "just doing my job" kind of bump.

I didn't see the face wash gloves come up - a great and useful tactic in frustrating opponants that goes uncalled 99% of the time. Chris Neil was absent to police the proceedings yet Montreal did nothing to get under Daniel Alfredsson's skin. They did little all game long to disturb, upset, irritate, provoke, or inspire Ottawa to become unglued.

Players such as Wade Redden, Jason Spezza, and Fisher are easily rattled this way, but the Habs let them be. Ottawa were able to implement their game with ease, as their lines were rolled with hardly a disruption.

Meanwhile, the Canadiens continued on, trying to play their game against Ottawa, long after the contest seemed settled. Perhaps the Habs were fearful of taking penalties, but you can't approach a game with such fears and expect to compete.

Where was the size and command from Komisarek and O'Byrne? Where was the usual grittiness deployed by Koivu, Higgins, Bouillon, Kostopoulos, Latendresse and Lapierre?



















The Habs seemed to throw all their hopes in the Kovalev line's efforts and Carey Price stopping the Ottawa big three.

What I'm most anxious for, is the return to the lineup of Steve Begin, who surely wouldn't tolerate such a lowering of arms in battle. Begin would've been eating the boards wood to get at the Senators last night, and the team misses him big time.

The Canadiens have accomplished a large amount of experience growth this season. They have done it to the general surprise of many teams in the league who are now coming prepared to thwart what the Habs do best.

The recipe for winning at this time of the year changes, and it often depends on whether a team can adapt it's game to suit an opponant. Simply settling on being an offensive machine won't cut it.

This young team must now adjust.