PIT v MTL - LOSS 3-1 Summary

Well, as expected one team brought their playoff ready performance, and one dragged their sorry carcasses around for 60 minutes... And the Penguins showed why they will once again be a Stanley Cup favourite.

The Habs didn't play that badly. Their shot total was not indicative of their number of chances (shots gone wide, off the post, or blocked). I thought the game was actually pretty even, and wow oh wow did Price play a great game. He slipped up on Malkin's goal, but maybe you shouldn't leave a guy with 113 points in the crease completely alone with a chance at a rebound. Price then came up with spectacular saves in the 2nd, going coast-to-coast TWICE to keep the Pens from running away with the game. Honestly, I haven't seen Price play so well all year. If fans wanted to see Price ready to steal a game, this was it.

So what happened? The team let him down, quite simply. When you're goalie bails you out time after time, you have got to score for him. The Canadiens had their chances, but no finishing touch. Then they disrespect his performance with a shorty 2-on-0 (Schneider made a desperate play and missed... problem was, Weber was down by the hashmarks, instead of covering the line like Markov). On that chance the Pens score... making it 2-1. Price might have dropped his shoulders a bit, but again, the team has got to score! Then they let Krsi F&^king LeTang go end to end, and have all day to wind up at the hashmarks?

The Gazette seems to think Price should've had that LeTang shot. Hogwash. Even in slow motion you can't see that black blur of the puck; it didn't slow down until it his 3 diffferent parts of the net. I'm surprised it didn't break the sound barrier. No goalie playing today would have stopped that; perhaps Price gave up the angle, which is his only fault (he probably played the pass instead of the shot).

This was my biggest issue with the Habs performance. Their goalie played like he was on fire; ready to steal them a game and make a difference; and the team could not do anything with his effort. I know Tanguay was out and Laraque (with 4 quality chances and only 2 shots) in, but how would you expect a young goalie to react when he plays his best game of the year, and you can only score 1 stinking goal?

Mason in Columbus won games, because his team would score timely goals. Brodeur has been doing this his whole career; playing well, and his team shows respect by scoring on their chances. Patrick Roy let in 3 goals a game -- but his team would show him respect and score goals in order to win.

Price has got to be feeling like: what else do they want?

I'm pretty mad at the Canadiens right now, and at the press for once again claiming Price let them down. You can't win games scoring 1 damn goal. You can't win the Stanley cup losing 4 games in a row, and claiming goaltending is the problem when you can't score on empty nets.

I'll have a playoff peak later in the week. Most of me wishes that this year was over.

PIT v MTL - Predictions

Hard to predict what's going on in this one; both teams are pretty much set for the post-season dance. Montreal would be nuts if they wanted to try and get to Washington instead of Boston, considering their success against the hated Bruins.

Pittsburgh is in a 3 way lock; and can go anywhere from Home Advantage against Carolina (or Philly) or staying where they are and taking on New Jersey in the first round. For them, it would be silly to buy their plane tickets early, so they should just focus on winning their last game.

Crosby always likes coming to town, and although the Habs have managed to shut them down in the past, they are a different team today, with everyone healthy. Fact is, the Habs should just focus on staying healthy and having a good game also; bringing the same intensity they had in Boston.

I'm not sure where the team's head is really at; but I suspect they'll be torn between being happy this season is over, and wanting to give their fans a nice going away present.

Habs inside/out is reporting Tanguay will sit, and they'll have Laraque and Stewart playing. Or they could just be giving those big guys some practice ice and resting Tanguay before the game, who knows.

Who cares?

We're in the playoffs, and a loss changes nothing. Look forward to an open-ended game today; not a lot of trapping, but a lot of shots.

Predictions

• Habs LOSE 5-3
• Both teams get over 30 shots

Wouldn't be surprised if...

• Both team dial it in tonight, and its a pretty low intensity affair

Enjoy the last game of the 100th season everyone! A win would sure be a nice way to kiss this bullsh*t season good-bye!

MTL v BOS - LOSS 5-4 Summary

Well, I was expecting a close game, a physical game, and for Phil Kessel to hurt us. But I was also expecting a low scoring affair -- 5-4? Wow, it sure was an exciting game!

I never counted our team out of this one; even down 3-1. The reason? They were playing with too much composure. They were fighting for the puck, making smart plays, and putting in a solid team effort. Mike Boone will tell you all about it. And I really like our new guy Weber.

And once again the Canadiens have managed to win by losing. With the tie game, they have guaranteed that neither Buffalo nor Florida can't catch them in the standings. Except Florida; who, with a win, will have 93 points and 41 wins; the same as Montreal. But the second tie breaker goes to Montreal, whatever it may be.

So bring on the Playoffs! ... Really? Do you really want to watch this team lose in the playoffs? Get matched up against a team that is prepared, eager to go and looking to win? I don't. I'm tired of watching my team stink it up while other teams run over us like a prairie dog on the Trans Canada. Take this wounded, broken animal and put a bullet in its head, and lets start fresh for next year...

• Price isn't gonna steal us any games.
• The Defence is still easily pushed aside. Think they won't send someone to finish Schneider if the Habs have won 3 games?
• Koivu and Kovalev don't have the longevity to get us deeper than the first round, if even that
• Too many other players are still MIA, and one game doesn't change that.

What we saw last night was Tim Thomas get rattled. Not sure how we did it, but we did. But more importantly, what we saw was Tim Thomas shut the door; he washed off the second period, and shut us out in the third, and power-play OT, to win the game. That is what a winning goalie needs to do: shut the damn door. So what that means is in the playoffs, even when the Habs are winning, we'll still be able to lose. Because this year, Tim Thomas is ready to win.

What we've managed to do, is in this elustrious 100th year, give our most hated of enemies and bitterest of rivals a clear and direct shot at cutting our jugular, and pissing in our punch bowl.

After 100 years, Boston will have their sweet revenge. As Will Hunting said: "How do you like them apples?"

And even if if if we manage to beat Boston, which would be glorious and awesome, I doubt this Habs team will be able to beat anyone else -- because they game they brought last night was sure not the game they bring to other rinks.

A win v. Pittsburgh gives us a shot at playing Washington first round. I'll wait until see it, before I tell that story :)

MTL v BOS - Predictions

Every time I predict the Team will step up, play a solid team game and earn a hard-fought win, they fail miserably and play aweful. On the other hand, every time I have predicted them getting crushed by a massively superior opponent (Detroit, San Jose, Chicago?) they come out all guns firing and steal one.

So I dunno what to predict tonight when Montreal visits Boston. But I'll try anyhow :)

Predictions

• Habs LOSE a close one; maybe even a shootout.
• Low scoring afair; like 2-1 or 3-2.
• Boston's big players shut down our "skill"
• Kessel, who only shows up when he feels like it, will probably feel like it today.
  

Wouldn't be surprised if...

• Habs get crushed. Boston smells blood and weakness, and will want to make a statement before the playoffs.
• Florida beats Atlanta tonight.

Surprise me, Les Boys!

MTL v NYR - LOSS 3-1 Summary

Once again the team was faced with a high pressure game, and once again only a couple players showed up.

This loss had a lot of fans upset; once again pulling out their hair and looking for answers. Blaming goaltending, coaching, and in my case, the socks I was wearing. Fact of the matter was, we sent boys and sensitive artistes to war, and they got run over by soldiers.

The veterans were aweful, and the kids were not capable of dealing with the momentous task at hand. Why? Why is it that our young talent can't find their game? Why are the veterans afraid to lead? Why does the team show up scared to play hockey on nights they need to play well?

Doesn't matter. The injuries to this team have turned out to be vital. The team was obviously still on the recovery trail, and not ready to face this kind of setback. I dunno what team would really; Anaheim without Neidermayer and Pronger... Detroit without Linstrom and Rafalski... Pittsburgh without Gonchar and Whitney.

Tonight we needed stellar goaltending; we got good* goaltending. We needed strong centers to help shoulder the defensive load, win faceoffs... we got floaters and poke checkers. We needed big shots and stinky goals... we hit posts. We needed veterans to lead the way; our best players were those with typically the least amount of icetime. We needed defence, and got Komisarek's jock. (it saved a goal in the third, after Price went spinning out of the net.)

* sometimes not so good

Wash it off boys, 2 games to play, and we need 1 point to get our tickets to Boston. If we even want to prolong this massive 4 month long punch in the stomach.

The Good
Higgins, Metro and Dandenault played great. Lapierre and Latender did alright. D'Agostini had a lot of harmless shots. Price made 41 saves. Komisarek hit Avery pretty good, then his jock saved a goal.

The Bad
Hamrlik and Brisebois were painfully lacking. Koivu was aweful tonight, although he did hit the post with 2 minutes to go (far too little too late). That line had 1 official shot, from Kovalev. Pleks and AK46 were nowhere to be seen.

The Ugly
Poor Josh Gorges had a terrible game. He was at least as responsible for the 2nd goal, as he should have given Price either the pass option sooner, or made sure Avery didn't hit the goalie. In defensive zone coverage, he spent most of his time turning it over and falling down, or spinning around on the spot. There was little to no backcheck by the Big Lines early in the game, hanging the weakened D out to dry.

2 more games: either we get a point (unlikely) or maybe Florida will drop one (unlikely, they play loser teams) but we we can still get those tickets to Boston.

It would be an Epic limp into the playoffs.

MTL v NYR - Predictions

I'll try and keep this short. I believe the Rangers are very beatable, even without Markov and Schneider. And no, I haven't been smoking anything interesting lately.

If Markov and Schneider were playing, I would be very confident of a win; along the lines of 4-2. Without them, our defence obviously suffers, and our offense suffers also -- from break-outs to offensive pressure. So how are the Habs going to overcome?

I get the impression that Price is gonna out-play Lundqvist, and our big line is gonna pay off. Kovalev, Higgins and Komisarek all like playing in NY, but haven't had much luck there lately. So they are do! And I think they'll be able to spark Plekanec tonight.

Predicitons

• Habs win a close one. If it goes to a shootout again, well, coin-toss.
• Price has a big game.

Wouldn't be surprised if...

• Avery draws a couple penalties out of Koivu and Komisarek. Neither seem to have much patience for bull-sh!t lately.
• If the Canadiens don't focus on containment, then NYR will end up punisheing them. All five players have to work on limiting the quality shots, and one-timers from the slots!

I hope the Canadiens can bring their game tonight. Yesterday was disappointing, and they are all still probably a bit dazed by losing their big D line. A couple playershave to play more minutes then they are used too; and back-to back no less. This is not an easy challenge; but Rangers have to win, so playing a solid defensive game and keeping it close will play to the Habs favour.

Lets see if Gainey can truly prepare his team for this challenge; I think they are up for it.

go habs go, etc....

Panic! Panic! Panic! Not really.

Although I only watched part of the game last night, I did catch the highlights on NHL on the fly, so I saw the goals.

It looks as though Halak did not have a strong game, and the defence couldn't handle Heatly.

The news of Markov and Schneider being out for the year absolutely floored me. I didn't see the action at the end of the Maple Leafs game (like I mentioned, I was out at a TO bar and they all but killed the game in the third) but when I saw the highlights I just felt terrible.

After this up-and-down season, to have 2 key pins pulled on the Montreal Canadiens grenade is just so disappointing. It seems like just when the Habs battle back from their setbacks, they get knocked back down the hill.

So are we done? No playoffs? No run? Out in 4 if we make it in?

I dunno. Honestly, the Bleu Blanc Rouge were do for a loss; its OK. They were riding a big high, and had to get knocked back a bit. Like I said; they weren't going to win the next 4. So technically the loss yesterday was not really a major setback.

Problem is, against a beatable team, the Habs played like they missed their 2 best defenceman. Not in that the goals were stinkers -- goals go in, its a fact of life -- but the team seemed a bit tentative and reluctant out there. Halak especially looked nervous. After the game Komisarek was still bitching about Grabovski's hit. Problem is, its over. Nothing can be done; so once again the Canadiens need to find a way to win despite being given a terrible poker hand.

I still think the Habs can surprise one of the three teams they play this week; I have a feeling Price will be ready to take control of the game and help out his defencive core.

Gotta start by beating the Rangers tonight. Florida has an easy ride in, so be prepared for them to get points. Expect a split with Philidelphia and NYR. Its real easy for the Habs to pack up and go home now... but by the same token if they stop thinking about must wins and missing players, focus on the ice and the game, I am sure they'll sneak one out.

What a fascinating twist to this already insane season!