Wow, this is turning out to be one of the best finishes in both conferences that we have seen in years.
Let's start with the EAST of course,we are still hanging on to the 8th spot thanks to the point we got out of the BUFFALO game on saturday.FLORIDA is a meager point behind us and BUFFALO is still very much alive just 4 points away.One good thing is that the RANGERS have been losing and we are now only one point back of the 7th spot.Tuesday's game promises to be a good one as the BLACKHAWKS are in town coming off being shutout by LUONGO and the CANUCKS.
In the west the race is completely crazy,only 6 points separate 6th from 11th,so anything is still possible.If the playoffs started today COLUMBUS,NASHVILLE and ST-LOUIS would be in....
I would like to know someone who called that early in the year.
Looks like ANDREI will be back in the lineup tuesday and BOUILLON's return is scheduled for thursday night's game vs.ISLANDERS.PRICE should get his 4th straight start and the line of KOIVU-KOVY and TANGUAY should remain intact as they amassed 19 points in their last 3 games,TANGUAY being the best one with 8 points in that span and definitely making a run at first star of the week.
ENJOY THE GAME TOMORROW...
GO HABS GO !!!!
MARC OUT
Monday, March 30, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
VINCENT!VINCENT!VINCENT!!!!
Good day all!Well after a little fresh air and a convincing win(mind you against the lowly ATLANTA THRASHERS)everybody seems to be breathing a little easier even though we're still in 8th spot and are facing yet another team that is out of the playoffs.Bet you VINNY and the boys would like nothing more than play spoilers tonight at the phone booth.
As you can see from my headline,the whole city has VINNY fever once again.The only difference this time is that it's not brought on by some dreaming bartender in some west-end watering hole.
This time it was thrusted back in our minds by an article published in the NEW YORK POST yesterday.Indeed yesterday the NEW YORK newspaper printed a story stating that LECAVALIER would be traded to MONTREAL at draft time and even went as far as saying that a deal was already in place.If you look at the financial situation across the NHL in the USA it would make alot of sense for some teams in trouble to unload some salary over the summer.
The only worrisome issue here is the fact that a couple of other teams would possibly be able to make an offer to the LIGHTNING brass.As it stands LOS ANGELES and TORONTO would be likely to make a run at the big number 4.Another issue to be addressed is the fact that if we do pick up VINNY and his ginormous contract you'll have to be able to juggle contracts around in case of a salary projected to be going down in 2 years...Let's leave that to BOB and his accountants shall we.With that in mind you also have to keep some of your good offensive players so that in the eventuality that LECAVALIER considers moving to the HABS,you still have to possess some skill players to play with him.That puts a different spin on the list of UFA'S
to sign or release over the summer.
Ok that's enough of that,tonight he is still the enemy....
GAINEY is keeping the same lineup,including CAREY PRICE between the pipes.Let's see if the first line can continue what they started tuesday night, but more importantly,i would like to see the 2nd line(PLEX-SERGE -ANDRE)start producing again and i also want to see LAPIERRE and LATENDRESSE keep playing like they have the last 3 games.Sounds like HIGGINS will still be on the 4th line with METROPOLIT and DANDENAULT as they not only scored on tuesday but also did a good job on the penalty kill and covering the THRASHERS top line...
Good news!!!BOUILLON started skating with the team again but don't expect a return this week as his groin is still tight and these sort of injury needs alot of time so that they do not reoccur.
ENJOY THE GAME TONIGHT!!!!!
PREDICTION:HABS 3-2
GO HABS GO!!!!!
P.S ROY FOR HEAD COACH IN 09-10
MARC OUT
As you can see from my headline,the whole city has VINNY fever once again.The only difference this time is that it's not brought on by some dreaming bartender in some west-end watering hole.
This time it was thrusted back in our minds by an article published in the NEW YORK POST yesterday.Indeed yesterday the NEW YORK newspaper printed a story stating that LECAVALIER would be traded to MONTREAL at draft time and even went as far as saying that a deal was already in place.If you look at the financial situation across the NHL in the USA it would make alot of sense for some teams in trouble to unload some salary over the summer.
The only worrisome issue here is the fact that a couple of other teams would possibly be able to make an offer to the LIGHTNING brass.As it stands LOS ANGELES and TORONTO would be likely to make a run at the big number 4.Another issue to be addressed is the fact that if we do pick up VINNY and his ginormous contract you'll have to be able to juggle contracts around in case of a salary projected to be going down in 2 years...Let's leave that to BOB and his accountants shall we.With that in mind you also have to keep some of your good offensive players so that in the eventuality that LECAVALIER considers moving to the HABS,you still have to possess some skill players to play with him.That puts a different spin on the list of UFA'S
to sign or release over the summer.
Ok that's enough of that,tonight he is still the enemy....
GAINEY is keeping the same lineup,including CAREY PRICE between the pipes.Let's see if the first line can continue what they started tuesday night, but more importantly,i would like to see the 2nd line(PLEX-SERGE -ANDRE)start producing again and i also want to see LAPIERRE and LATENDRESSE keep playing like they have the last 3 games.Sounds like HIGGINS will still be on the 4th line with METROPOLIT and DANDENAULT as they not only scored on tuesday but also did a good job on the penalty kill and covering the THRASHERS top line...
Good news!!!BOUILLON started skating with the team again but don't expect a return this week as his groin is still tight and these sort of injury needs alot of time so that they do not reoccur.
ENJOY THE GAME TONIGHT!!!!!
PREDICTION:HABS 3-2
GO HABS GO!!!!!
P.S ROY FOR HEAD COACH IN 09-10
MARC OUT
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Say it ain't so bob,say it ain't so...
Greetings and salutations to all...
Today folks i'm simply going to write about some of the latest statements made by bob and some of his players yesterday.
O.k before you say that i'm not nice i would like to refresh your memory about what BOB GAINEY had to say yesterday about fans that booo at the Bell center.BOB said that he found SOME of the fans strange for booing on saturday or when they boo good players from other teams.He also said that this was a minority that takes advantage of certain situations to express themselves.First of all BOB,on saturday against the LEAFS,i think pretty much everybody was booing (except for LEAFS fans)at the mediocre performance you and your team was giving in front of their home crowd.Strange BOB?really?5th loss in a row..to TORONTO...in a game where only one line showed up...really BOB?STRANGE????Come on...you're smarter than that BOB!!
Oh yes!!Let's not forget the gem CHRIS HIGGINS came up with...according to HIGGINS,he's not to worried because he says the same fans that boo are the same ones that wave the lil' flags after a win...real smart CHRIS!!!if you think we didn't want you back next year,well guess what,we know our hockey and we know an overpaid,underachiever when we see one.Really good approach guys,you've lost 5 straight badly,and to teams you have no business losing to and your idea is to turn on your fans...tisk tisk.
I tell you what,if i paid 175$ a ticket and 10$ a beer,you're damn straight i'm going to boo your lazy,unproductive team.
Now it's been confirmed that CAREY PRICE is starting tonight vs.ATLANTA in a game that becomes more than a must-win as we are tied for 8th spot(thanks CAROLINA)with FLORIDA
with a game in-hand.I know i have said that i didn't think we would ever see SERGEI back in MONTREAL but this is obviously a panic move trying to kick start something.(plus PATCH hasn't scored in about 25 games!!!).
So enjoy the game tonight,let yourslf go and express yourselves any way you feel works for you...that's right BOB...if you can't stand the heat,get out....
My prediction:HABS 4-1
GO HABS GO!!!!
MARC OUT
Today folks i'm simply going to write about some of the latest statements made by bob and some of his players yesterday.
O.k before you say that i'm not nice i would like to refresh your memory about what BOB GAINEY had to say yesterday about fans that booo at the Bell center.BOB said that he found SOME of the fans strange for booing on saturday or when they boo good players from other teams.He also said that this was a minority that takes advantage of certain situations to express themselves.First of all BOB,on saturday against the LEAFS,i think pretty much everybody was booing (except for LEAFS fans)at the mediocre performance you and your team was giving in front of their home crowd.Strange BOB?really?5th loss in a row..to TORONTO...in a game where only one line showed up...really BOB?STRANGE????Come on...you're smarter than that BOB!!
Oh yes!!Let's not forget the gem CHRIS HIGGINS came up with...according to HIGGINS,he's not to worried because he says the same fans that boo are the same ones that wave the lil' flags after a win...real smart CHRIS!!!if you think we didn't want you back next year,well guess what,we know our hockey and we know an overpaid,underachiever when we see one.Really good approach guys,you've lost 5 straight badly,and to teams you have no business losing to and your idea is to turn on your fans...tisk tisk.
I tell you what,if i paid 175$ a ticket and 10$ a beer,you're damn straight i'm going to boo your lazy,unproductive team.
Now it's been confirmed that CAREY PRICE is starting tonight vs.ATLANTA in a game that becomes more than a must-win as we are tied for 8th spot(thanks CAROLINA)with FLORIDA
with a game in-hand.I know i have said that i didn't think we would ever see SERGEI back in MONTREAL but this is obviously a panic move trying to kick start something.(plus PATCH hasn't scored in about 25 games!!!).
So enjoy the game tonight,let yourslf go and express yourselves any way you feel works for you...that's right BOB...if you can't stand the heat,get out....
My prediction:HABS 4-1
GO HABS GO!!!!
MARC OUT
Sunday, March 22, 2009
OH GOD ...PLEASE MAKE IT STOP!!!!
WOW,i mean,wwwwwooooooowwwww!!!
First of all i would like to wish a happy st-patty's to everyone,have fun at the parade....
I don't even know how to start this because words like awful,sad and anger are starting to not be enough for me to express some of the feelings i have to hold in...luckily last night i was working(not so lucky if you were sitting at my bar listening to me loosing my mind)but always well equipped that i am,my trusty cellphone would ring at every goal and send me into a tirade,even when it was for habs goals...
If anything this loss brings me a little relief in terms of the heat CAREY PRICE was getting,if you've read me before you'll remember my stance on goalie performance vs.team performance.I think last night was a perfect example of that...soft defence,odd man rushes,bad goals...There cannot be too many guys playing comfortably on that team right now,if you're nervous about your goalie letting in soft ones obviously you're going to be nervous and over think everything and vice-versa...Right now both goalies are going thru tough times or is it the whole goddamn team!!!Yes that's what i've been saying all along,now let's all get off the goalies backs shall we..
I saw 15 guys ready to go play golf last night,in front of their home crowd to boot,i say 15 because you can't throw the LAPIERRE line into that basket.This kid is impressing me right now with is tirade after the game where he clearly called out pretty much the whole team for not being ready to suffer to win.At a boy MAX you 're scoring big points with me and the whole city i'm sure...By the way anybody seen the captain????Shouldn't he be the guy doing the calling out...things that make you go @!#$%^&^&*!!!
Well thanks to the COLUMBUS JACKETS we're still in 8th spot after they beat FLORIDA last night but from the looks of things there will not be any easy games 'til the end...who said we have an easy schedule,we can't buy a win.
So ATLANTA on tuesday,TAMPA on thursday and BUFFALO on saturday,all teams that are out of contention for the playoffs,which are always the most dangerous teams to play this time of year.Imagine how much fun these teams have making our lives difficult...Don't forget bring your paper bag to the games this week...Hey let's relax a bit,spring is here and with 3 wins this week we're right back in the thick of things...
So seize the day, get hammered,heckle any hab you see and read me tomorrow...
p.s PATRICK ROY FOR HEAD COACH 09-10
MARC OUT
First of all i would like to wish a happy st-patty's to everyone,have fun at the parade....
I don't even know how to start this because words like awful,sad and anger are starting to not be enough for me to express some of the feelings i have to hold in...luckily last night i was working(not so lucky if you were sitting at my bar listening to me loosing my mind)but always well equipped that i am,my trusty cellphone would ring at every goal and send me into a tirade,even when it was for habs goals...
If anything this loss brings me a little relief in terms of the heat CAREY PRICE was getting,if you've read me before you'll remember my stance on goalie performance vs.team performance.I think last night was a perfect example of that...soft defence,odd man rushes,bad goals...There cannot be too many guys playing comfortably on that team right now,if you're nervous about your goalie letting in soft ones obviously you're going to be nervous and over think everything and vice-versa...Right now both goalies are going thru tough times or is it the whole goddamn team!!!Yes that's what i've been saying all along,now let's all get off the goalies backs shall we..
I saw 15 guys ready to go play golf last night,in front of their home crowd to boot,i say 15 because you can't throw the LAPIERRE line into that basket.This kid is impressing me right now with is tirade after the game where he clearly called out pretty much the whole team for not being ready to suffer to win.At a boy MAX you 're scoring big points with me and the whole city i'm sure...By the way anybody seen the captain????Shouldn't he be the guy doing the calling out...things that make you go @!#$%^&^&*!!!
Well thanks to the COLUMBUS JACKETS we're still in 8th spot after they beat FLORIDA last night but from the looks of things there will not be any easy games 'til the end...who said we have an easy schedule,we can't buy a win.
So ATLANTA on tuesday,TAMPA on thursday and BUFFALO on saturday,all teams that are out of contention for the playoffs,which are always the most dangerous teams to play this time of year.Imagine how much fun these teams have making our lives difficult...Don't forget bring your paper bag to the games this week...Hey let's relax a bit,spring is here and with 3 wins this week we're right back in the thick of things...
So seize the day, get hammered,heckle any hab you see and read me tomorrow...
p.s PATRICK ROY FOR HEAD COACH 09-10
MARC OUT
Friday, March 20, 2009
This cloud is losing it's silver lining
Well,if the silver lining of this cloud was making the playoffs,it's fading fast.Once again quite a disappointing performance all around in a situation where nothing less than two points would have been acceptable.
Allright where shall i begin...ah yes,let's start with the positive,when your best player is a guy who hasn't played in two months you know you're in trouble.Like a flashback, the line of LATENDRESSE,LAPIERRE and KOSTOPOULOS was by far the best out there for the habs from the openning faceoff.LATENDRESSE with two goals(incuding a beauty on his second of the night)looks like he's been away from this team enough not to be poisonned by whatever has been afflicting his teammates.Maybe they should quarantine him knowing how strongly and rapidly this malaise is spreading.Once again the leaders(if any??)were quite invisible last night,with KOVY still trying to dipsy-doodle thru three guys and KOIVU just not doing enough for me to even notice his jersey number one has to wonder if any of these guys are really still even bothered by the idea of being done in little over a month.Defensively we were again just terrible,from KOMISAREK to BRISEBOIS they all looked the same to me on this night...Allowing JARKO RUUTU to dance around you and score on a shot that i'm sure CAREY PRICE would like another shot at is UNACCEPTABLE,this guy is a glorified DARCY TUCKER and you just made him look like a superstar and gave him a chance at being on the highlight reels all week with HABS shaking their heads in the background.
I've been getting alot of heat about my confidence in CAREY PRICE so like a big man i am going to address that very issue...Bad game,bad goals,yeah some were pretty bad but as a goalie i can only blame him for the RUUTU goal which was soft by any standards.It's fine to blame the goalie when things are not going your way,but please,PPPLLLEEEAAASSEEE!!!Don't tell me that the all around team performance doesn't affect the performances of your goalies.Hockey as so much to do with confidence(in yourself and your teammates)that more than in other sports the weekest link in the chain really weakens the group.I will give you this,HALAK has to start saturday against the LEAFS.If i'm BOB GAINEY i'm not over thinking this,lines stay the same,start HALAK and let these bums decide their own fate because let's face i doubt BOB or alot of these free agents are coming back next year.Thanks for picking the centennial to shit the bed!!
Bon now i'm angry again,so let's look at our situation,we are tied for 8th spot with CAROLINA one point up on FLORIDA but with a game in-hand(mind you these games in-hand scare me more than anything).It's crunch time,start HALAKvs.the LEAFS and then come right back with PRICE against ATLANTA.
DON'T GIVE UP JUST YET,if the playoffs started today we would play WASHINGTON which i think we can beat,we've showed that if you shut down OVECHKIN-SEMIN and BACKSTROM you've got a good shot at winning especially with JOSE between the pipes.I tell you friends do not throw in the towel because if we do squeak in against BOSTON or WASHINGTON these guys might surprise you and give you more than one round in the playoffs.In the mean time,if you are going to the game this week how about letting BOB,MR BOIVIN and MR GILLETT know exactly how you feel by wearing that wonderful 240$$ jersey with a bums name on it accompanied by a brown paper bag over your head,because face it, this is embarassing...
Think i'm kidding, watch the game next saturday(vs buffalo)and you will see me sporting that exact outfit...
Come on now we ain't dead yet...but barely breathing...
GO HABS GO!!!!
MARC OUT
Allright where shall i begin...ah yes,let's start with the positive,when your best player is a guy who hasn't played in two months you know you're in trouble.Like a flashback, the line of LATENDRESSE,LAPIERRE and KOSTOPOULOS was by far the best out there for the habs from the openning faceoff.LATENDRESSE with two goals(incuding a beauty on his second of the night)looks like he's been away from this team enough not to be poisonned by whatever has been afflicting his teammates.Maybe they should quarantine him knowing how strongly and rapidly this malaise is spreading.Once again the leaders(if any??)were quite invisible last night,with KOVY still trying to dipsy-doodle thru three guys and KOIVU just not doing enough for me to even notice his jersey number one has to wonder if any of these guys are really still even bothered by the idea of being done in little over a month.Defensively we were again just terrible,from KOMISAREK to BRISEBOIS they all looked the same to me on this night...Allowing JARKO RUUTU to dance around you and score on a shot that i'm sure CAREY PRICE would like another shot at is UNACCEPTABLE,this guy is a glorified DARCY TUCKER and you just made him look like a superstar and gave him a chance at being on the highlight reels all week with HABS shaking their heads in the background.
I've been getting alot of heat about my confidence in CAREY PRICE so like a big man i am going to address that very issue...Bad game,bad goals,yeah some were pretty bad but as a goalie i can only blame him for the RUUTU goal which was soft by any standards.It's fine to blame the goalie when things are not going your way,but please,PPPLLLEEEAAASSEEE!!!Don't tell me that the all around team performance doesn't affect the performances of your goalies.Hockey as so much to do with confidence(in yourself and your teammates)that more than in other sports the weekest link in the chain really weakens the group.I will give you this,HALAK has to start saturday against the LEAFS.If i'm BOB GAINEY i'm not over thinking this,lines stay the same,start HALAK and let these bums decide their own fate because let's face i doubt BOB or alot of these free agents are coming back next year.Thanks for picking the centennial to shit the bed!!
Bon now i'm angry again,so let's look at our situation,we are tied for 8th spot with CAROLINA one point up on FLORIDA but with a game in-hand(mind you these games in-hand scare me more than anything).It's crunch time,start HALAKvs.the LEAFS and then come right back with PRICE against ATLANTA.
DON'T GIVE UP JUST YET,if the playoffs started today we would play WASHINGTON which i think we can beat,we've showed that if you shut down OVECHKIN-SEMIN and BACKSTROM you've got a good shot at winning especially with JOSE between the pipes.I tell you friends do not throw in the towel because if we do squeak in against BOSTON or WASHINGTON these guys might surprise you and give you more than one round in the playoffs.In the mean time,if you are going to the game this week how about letting BOB,MR BOIVIN and MR GILLETT know exactly how you feel by wearing that wonderful 240$$ jersey with a bums name on it accompanied by a brown paper bag over your head,because face it, this is embarassing...
Think i'm kidding, watch the game next saturday(vs buffalo)and you will see me sporting that exact outfit...
Come on now we ain't dead yet...but barely breathing...
GO HABS GO!!!!
MARC OUT
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Can we still squeak in???
Well friends,first of all i would like to welcome you to my blog,which i have created because of popular demand and the fact that i finally decided to write some of my MONTREAL CANADIENS rants...
Today march 19th 2009,we are now in a two way tie for 7th with 11 games left.I refuse to come back on Guy Carbonneau's firing(mostly because every other media outlets are wasting our time explaining what he said.)Instead let's discuss what really matters today and in the days to come.
Well,well when i first saw the lines Bob Gainey has for tonight's game in ottawa i couldn't help but think that this is something i've seen before...
Plex with Kovi and Andrei
Koivu-Tanguay-Higgins
Lapierre-Tenderness-Kostopoulos
Stewart-D'agostini-Patch
First of all the third line was bound to be back together since i think it's fair to say all three guys had their best moments this season before tenderness's injury...In terms of the first line i also agree with putting them back together only because even in neutral,these three have not accomplished anything with anybody else on the team.One of my biggest disappointments this year as been Andrei,who by the way could still have 30 goals by the time it's all over.I truly believe that Carbo's,and now Gainey's stubbornness to play him with Kovalev has cost the kid .
Now let's discuss my favourite subject...yeah that's right goaltending...As of today i am in complete agreement with Bob Gainey's approach,we are going to live and die with JESUS PRICE.Now come on!There's a reason why there's a number one and a number two,even though Halak as helped us tremendously in certain periods this year Price still remains the number one goalie in Montreal.Enough with the flip-flopping(of lines and goalies)and let's see if this team can recreate some of the magic we saw last year.
Now,tonight's adversaries have won six of their last seven and are enjoying making life difficult for teams fighting for playoff spots.The Ottawa Senators still possess probably one of the top lines in the league(alfredsson-heatley-spezza)and come next year will,for the first time in five years,have a top shelf goaltender in Pascal leclaire.Don't be surprised if Ottawa tries a trade come draft time to try and land JOHN TAVARES in the nation's capital.(Remember all the rumors about Spezza around the trade deadline???)
Enjoy the game tonight,looks like a good young goalie duel between Elliot and Price,also let's see if our first line can create a spark for a team that needs an inferno!!
GO HABS GO!!!
CHECK ME OUT TOMORROW FOR POST GAME COMMENTARY AND SET UP FOR SATURDAY AND THE DIRTY LEAFS!!!
p.s:PATRICK ROY FOR HEAD COACH IN 09-10!!!
MARC OUT
Today march 19th 2009,we are now in a two way tie for 7th with 11 games left.I refuse to come back on Guy Carbonneau's firing(mostly because every other media outlets are wasting our time explaining what he said.)Instead let's discuss what really matters today and in the days to come.
Well,well when i first saw the lines Bob Gainey has for tonight's game in ottawa i couldn't help but think that this is something i've seen before...
Plex with Kovi and Andrei
Koivu-Tanguay-Higgins
Lapierre-Tenderness-Kostopoulos
Stewart-D'agostini-Patch
First of all the third line was bound to be back together since i think it's fair to say all three guys had their best moments this season before tenderness's injury...In terms of the first line i also agree with putting them back together only because even in neutral,these three have not accomplished anything with anybody else on the team.One of my biggest disappointments this year as been Andrei,who by the way could still have 30 goals by the time it's all over.I truly believe that Carbo's,and now Gainey's stubbornness to play him with Kovalev has cost the kid .
Now let's discuss my favourite subject...yeah that's right goaltending...As of today i am in complete agreement with Bob Gainey's approach,we are going to live and die with JESUS PRICE.Now come on!There's a reason why there's a number one and a number two,even though Halak as helped us tremendously in certain periods this year Price still remains the number one goalie in Montreal.Enough with the flip-flopping(of lines and goalies)and let's see if this team can recreate some of the magic we saw last year.
Now,tonight's adversaries have won six of their last seven and are enjoying making life difficult for teams fighting for playoff spots.The Ottawa Senators still possess probably one of the top lines in the league(alfredsson-heatley-spezza)and come next year will,for the first time in five years,have a top shelf goaltender in Pascal leclaire.Don't be surprised if Ottawa tries a trade come draft time to try and land JOHN TAVARES in the nation's capital.(Remember all the rumors about Spezza around the trade deadline???)
Enjoy the game tonight,looks like a good young goalie duel between Elliot and Price,also let's see if our first line can create a spark for a team that needs an inferno!!
GO HABS GO!!!
CHECK ME OUT TOMORROW FOR POST GAME COMMENTARY AND SET UP FOR SATURDAY AND THE DIRTY LEAFS!!!
p.s:PATRICK ROY FOR HEAD COACH IN 09-10!!!
MARC OUT
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
