Bleacher Report - Articles by Harani T.

My Ironic Encounter with Juan Martin del Potro in Montreal

Harani T. — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 10:45:38 -0400

Aug. 12, 2009

It was a bright, sunny Wednesday morning in Montreal. Since I worked at the Rogers Cup, I had access to the grounds and had specially requested Wednesday off so I could go check out all the players' practices. It was indeed a loaded schedule with the top 10 in action throughout the day.

At 11 am, a friend and I headed over to Court Four, where the world's No. 1, Roger Federer, was due to arrive at 11:30 am. Already jam-packed with about a few hundred people, there was hardly any room to move.

As the time approached, the place was filled with people who eagerly waited to get a glimpse of the Swiss Maestro. With the sun soaring at 35 degrees Celsius, we watched him warm up and start hitting balls. To be honest, it was quite uneventful and was supposed to last two hours.

So, slowly, we squeezed out of the crowd and came to a open spot.

I looked up at Court Four on the opposite side to see a tall, lanky player clad in a pink Nike T-shirt and white shorts hitting some balls. I looked closer and indeed realized it was Juan Martin del Potro—barely anyone watching his skills, practicing with his coach.

We had already planned to go watch his scheduled match at 1 pm against Jan Hernych. There was no one else, so we decided to stick around and watch him for a while until he wrapped up.

As he came to the exit gate, there were six people waiting for him to get his autograph, and he did sign. However, no one said or asked him anything, and he was silently signing. As he signed my picture and went on to my friend, I said, "Wish you good luck in your match today."

He turned around with a big smile on his face and said, "Thank you so much for your support." He seemed to be really pleased by what I had told him.

As he won yesterday, the irony of this situation just came to my mind: the fact that practically no one was there to watch del Potro and Rog had the crowd. Sometimes, it's better to be left alone than to be constantly followed.

(On a side note, Andy Roddick had asked for a separate indoor court because he couldn't take the noise from the crowd).

Del Potro played a fantastic game yesterday and is totally worthy of his title.

Vamos!

Habs Recipe To Success: New Funky Wierd Shocking Lines Right From Carbo's Brain

Harani T. — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 19:37:46 -0500

As an ardent fan of the Montreal Canadiens, I compare ourselves to the Titanic. We're all on this big ship sailing together, rooting for our favorite Habs. At the moment, the ship is sailing to dangerous waters and we, the people travelling are on the verge of holding on to our dear life.

I say this because if you are a true fan, you would never jump out and try to save yourself. It is physically impossible. And all we can do is hope to survive and we will if we stick together instead of calling everyone out.

Today, the Montreal Canadiens held an 80-minute practice in which coach Guy Carbonneau desperately pulled out some new lines. At this moment, I will take anything for a win. If you haven't found out yet, Tomas Plekanec has been suspended for two games for tripping Grebeshkov of the Edmonton Oilers.

OFFENSE

So, the lines as announced by Carbonneau are as follows:

Alex Kovalev - Saku Koivu - Tom Kostopoulos

Andrei Kostitsyn - Chris Higgins - Sergei Kostitsyn

Max Pacioretty - Maxim Lapierre - Matt D'Agostini

Georges Laraque - Steve Bégin - Tomas Plekanec

I like the Koivu-Kovy rekindling of the old mates who created magic once upon a time. Who cares? With Pleky out, someone needs to center Kovy. Tom Kostopoulos creates traffic and usually drives the opposing defensemen nuts. So, this could actually work.

As for the second line, I think it is a very smart decision by Carbo to put Higgins at centre. With the number of empty nets he misses, it doesn't matter where he plays and he just had to feed the puck to the one of the brothers. Just the fact of being together motivates the Kostitsyns.

I have always wished to see the third line together. It look absolutely lethal. Not because of the skill level of the players but because they constantly play like they care. They want to play and it shows on the ice. Lots of speed and intensity to be expected.

The fourth line seems like a typical grinding line. The hard work from Bégin and Laraque can absolutely help. I'm not saying, they'll score, but it's enough if they do their job.

DEFENSE

The defensive end seems to struggle of late but there is not much that can be done. Andrei Markov had five giveaways in the game against the Oilers. But no matter with whom he plays, he's the one who control his movement.

So, I feel that unless the guys take it upto themselves and put their heart into playing their positions, we cannot win. The time we spend in the defensive takes over the majority of the game that every single mistake they make is magnified.

GOALTENDING

Carey thought ''he worked his bag off'' at the practice today and in the audio, he sounded pretty freshened up barely 24 hours after allowing seven goals in Edmonton. Jaroslav Halak gets the start tomorrow (Friday) night against Colorado.

Hopefully, I think Price should be playing in Vancouver because it is his hometown and he will want to prove something to his friends and family. So, it would be justified that he get the start. And to face Luongo on the other side, he should be pumped even more.

We can put end it to this earlier than we think. You'll be surprised at what 60 minutes of hard work and effort can do. Go Habs Go!

Shocking Lines Out Of Carbo's Magic Hat When Habs Face Oilers

Harani T. — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 18:41:54 -0500

We all know the current situation of the Montreal Canadiens who have lost eight of their last ten games going into tonight's match-up against the Edmonton Oilers.

After the pathetic loss to the Calgary Flames on Monday Night, the players held a closed door meeting for almost 30 minutes. This is said to bring some change.

Yesterday morning (Tuesday), instead of taking them to a punitive practice, the coach drove everyone to a fun day at the bowling alley. Apparently, they all bonded together and very quite happy to do something besides hockey.

As for the game against the Oilers, Guy Carbonneau has shaked his line up in a major fashion. He will dress all eight defensemen, with Josh Gorges and Mathieu Dandenault playing as forwards.

I was utterly shocked to see these combination because they seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. There is maybe one line that I feel can score and the rest...let's just say it's blah!

Here are the trios for you to look at:

Max Pacioretty - Saku Koivu - Matt D'Agostini

Alex Kovalev - Tomas Plekanec - Mathieu Dandenault

Andrei Kostitsyn - Chris Higgins - Tom Kostopoulos

Josh Gorges - Maxim Lapierre - Georges Laraque

Andrei Markov - Mike Komisarek

Roman Hamrlik - Ryan O'Byrne

Patrice Brisebois - Francis Bouillon

Carey Price

Injured: Guillaume Latendresse, Robert Lang, Alex Tanguay

Pressbox: Sergei Kostitsyn, Steve Bégin

Are you shocked by these lines? How do you think the game will turn? Does Dandenault deserve to be on the second line? Should it be Sergei Kostitsyn sitting out?

Montreal Canadiens' Current Situation: How Is the End of the Season Looking?

Harani T. — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 20:51:56 -0500

I will use this article to come back on the major topics surrounding the Montreal Canadiens at this moment. The Habs have lost five of their last six games and recently lost Robert Lang and Guillaume Latendresse to injuries.

It will be an analysis of all the facts that contribute to the team and will have an impact on the remainder of the season. While reading, do remember that the Canadiens currently have 64 points (29-18-6).

Goaltending

After a slow return from injury and many disappointing performances, Carey Price need to shake it off and return to play like we have know him to.

Everyone has to go through long stretches and it is too bad that Price's difficulties have to come at the same time as the team and add to the burden.

It is no lie that Price needs to give solid performances and occasionally steal games like he did earlier on this year when he kept the team in it for a long time. And Jaroslav Halak has to get his share of starts for him not to rust off on the bench. They just need to provide us with the chance to win every night. In the words, avoid the softies.

In my opinion, the problem between the pipes is the easiest one for this team to solve. There needs to be a LOT done of offense and defense.

Injured Reserve

Saku Koivu and Christopher Higgins have rejoined the team after being sidelined for a long time. However, upon their return, two players have since been sent to the hospital to replace them.

Robert Lang is said to be done for the season with a torn Achilles' tendon. Guillaume Latendresse suffered an upper-body injury when he violently went face-first into the boards Sunday.

Return of the Wounded

Georges Laraque has only practiced with the team once and told the media that he would require at least three full-contact practices before returning to the lineup. The enforcer would surely add a new dimension to the team, which everyone says lacks physicality.

Alex Tanguay's 10 goals and 16 assists in 34 games and the fact that he is still fifth in scoring demonstrate the important role he plays on this team. His constant effort and hard work, along with his passing skills, will tremendously help partially fill the void left by Lang's loss.

Forward-defenseman Mathieu Dandenault is said to be ready to return anytime in the nest few days. It is to be noted that he was quite efficient in his natural defenseman role before he left.

The Young Kids Are Doing Well

To start off, Matt D'Agostini's right-hand shot is highly useful in many situations. His speed and acceleration is a huge plus, as he has the capacity to outhustle many players.

His only downfall is his defensive coverage. He is a minus-7 in his 28 games. With some more work, he can better develop his talent. It is to be noted that he is a small forward who lacks size.

One thing I think Max Pacioretty does really well is draw penalties. Now, if we could only cash in on those opportunities, it would be sweet. His size, speed, and unexpected moves make his opponent panic and thus hook, hold, or trip him.

Once again, his lack of experience makes him prone to defensive errors like his Bulldogs teammate. He is minus-5 in 13 games.

Ryan O'Byrne, who has been up and down between the Canadiens and Hamilton, seems to have improved his play during his stint in Hamilton. The complaint we had earlier about him was that he wasn't using his size enough to deliver some solid hits. In the game against Boston, O'Byrne dished out six hits.

It is a beginning, and if he doesn't score on our own goalie he can't be a threat to our team. His occasional mistake could be alright to deal with if everything else falls into place.

Alex Henry was called up from Hamilton for the game against the Boston Bruins. Henry is 6'5" and 220 pounds and adds a lot of size on the back end. But due to the very short duration of his play (just 7:24), it is hard to point out his flaws and strengths.

Alexei Kovalev

You all had to see this one coming. Alexei Kovalev has been in the NHL for 16 seasons and he has lots of experience playing the game of hockey. Known to the Montreal fans as "L'Artiste," he carried this team on his shoulders last year with an 84-point season.

The whole uncomfortable fact in this situation is that we have already witnessed the tricks the Russian superstar can pull out of his magic hat. His highlight-reel goals and perfect shot from the faceoff circle are his trademark moves. And if you say he is getting old, it's only been eight days since the All-Star game.

The success of this team relies on the success of Alex Kovalev. Being the veteran on this team, he has to be the example for the others who have to step it up. If he himself plays in an uninterested manner, it is hard for others to follow.

Coach Guy Carbonneau

Although he has been questioned by many because of the decisions he makes, I feel that Guy Carbonneau makes some bold moves that not every coach would.

Benching your star player knowing controversy will arise takes a lot of courage. Also, he sent Sergei Kostitsyn to the pressbox because of his lack of intensity, thus making the right call.

The only thing Carbo does which everyone questions is the constant juggling of the trios. A lack of stability in his lines is quite confusing, but he still holds the team's best interests at heart.

I strongly disagree with comment that suggest that Carbo has lost the room. I believe that he is not pushing it too hard over the limit. It is a touchy situation but we will come out of this flukey period.

Power Play

The power play is a cause for concern and it has a direct influence on the stats of many players. Tomas Plekanec, Andrei Kostitsyn, Alex Kovalev, Saku Koivu, and Andrei Markov have all seen less production because of the failure of the power play.

Of late, the power play has witnessed a surge with a minor change in technique. It's very simple: getting shots from the point through to the net, having some traffic circulating, and pouncing on loose pucks. This ''strategy'' seems to work. Sergei Kostitsyn can work the point and Hamrlik along with Gorges get most of their shots through.

But it has looked nowhere near dangerous and that has to change if we want to contend for a cup.

Anyone Say Defense?

The defense of the Canadiens lacks a puck-moving player who has the capacity to make a good first outlet pass. Apart from Markov and Komisarek, all the other defensemen cannot excel as much because of their size. Josh Gorges and Francis Bouillon are often neutralized by bigger forwards.

Roman Hamrlik plays well but occasionally makes mistakes that often costs the team. However, his experience and position are always a plus.

A defenseman is probably one of the more immediate needs of the Canadiens at the moment and Bob Gainey has to look into toughening up the back end.

Above All, "Every Team Needs a Heart!"

The Habs experienced a lot of success prior to this losing stretch mainly because they rallied together to overcome their injuries. Everyone gave it their best effort and the team got victories by showing tough character and never giving up.

Slowly, that seems to be slipping away. However much you try, without everyone having the urge to win, it is clearly not possible. They all seem to understand their mistake but coming back and making is just insanely frustrating.

That pretty much sums up the whole situation with the Montreal Canadiens at the moment. I think I have pretty much covered every aspect. If there is anything to add, feel free to comment!

Canadiens' Robert Lang Possibly Out for the Season in Loss to Bruins

Harani T. — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 22:15:45 -0500

The Montreal Canadiens, in their barbershop jerseys from the 1912-1913 season, were up against the mighty Boston Bruins. The game certainly did not lack intensity due to the already heated rivalry amongst the two teams.

This won't be a recap of the game but a numeration of the many notable events that took place during pace of the game.

The Injuries

The most impact was caused by the injury to Robert Lang. It was quite impossible to tell exactly what happened except for when we saw Lang down on the ice. His experience, constant effort, and his never-say-die attitude have been exemplary and his contribution has been extremely important for the Habs.

It was released that he probably tore his Achilles tendon which would mean that he would be sidelined for the remainder of the season. In addition, this may also end the career of the 38-year-old Czech. For a man who smiles even at the face-off circle, he will absolutely be missed specially because he leads all Canadiens forwards in scoring.

In addition, Guillaume Latendresse also left the game with an upper body injury. Matt D'Agostini was also strongly hit into the boards but returned to finish the game. You also have to note that in Saturday's game against the Kings, Josh Gorges was elbowed by Denis Gauthier and did not play against the Bruins.

The injury bug has hit the Habs again but the Canadiens did maintain a very strong record while they were missing key players. Time will tell if it can repeat itself.

The Intensity and effort

The Canadiens delivered 48 hits. A notable nine hits by Mike Komisarek who also had five blocks in the game and six hits a piece for Ryan O'Byrne and Guillaume Latendresse.

Overall, the Habs managed to keep the powerful Bruins to a mere two goals (one empty-netter). The team played with urgency and responded quite well to physical play of the Bruins.

The goals were once again scored on two giveaways by the defensemen which has been issue on the blueline. This is a plus point for the Habs who have been struggling keep momentum rolling their way and keeping the opposition to a low score.

Alexei Kovalev

The superstar of the Canadiens took two unnecessary minor penalties in middle frame only three minutes apart. Later, during the third period of the bench, it appeared as if coach Guy Carbonneau had decided to bench Kovy.

In addition he was the least utilized forward on the team with a mere 11:34 of ice-time. When asked, Carbo refused to speak about what had ticked off concerned the Russian player but he did mention that it wasn't the penalties which bothered him.

Now with Lang on the sidelines, it seems as if Kovy has to step up to carry this team further in the season. We all know what he is fully capable of doing after the last season stretch and a good Kovy definitely makes for a more complete Canadiens teams.

Montreal Canadiens Snap Out of Losing Skid With Comeback Win Against LA Kings

Harani T. — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 22:23:30 -0500

The whole hockey town of Montreal has been in panic mode for the past several days mourning over the four consecutive losses of their favourite team. During these rough times, the Habs stumbled in games against teams like Atlanta, Tampa Bay and Florida.

The loss to the Panthers was one that was unacceptable by any fan and the media sure made a big deal about. In addition, goaltender Carey Price's show of displeasure the game, tossing his bag around. In his interview with the media, he also dropped the f-bomb on national television.

It was a bad loss because even the coach said that the team lacked character and that itself is a big statement. The game today against Los Angeles was important for the Canadiens who, through the losing stretch, gave up the first goal and allowerd more than four goals per game.

The decrease of physicality, the confusion in the defensive zone, allowing many break-aways and below-par performance from the star players were all factors which contributed to this sequence.

Soemthing was wrong with the team. Coach Carbonneau then decided to do some line-juggling and decided to have one ''plugger'' (energy player) on every line. Sergei Kostitsyn had to watch from the pressbox because of his lack of contribution previously.

The game started with some jump from both teams and the Habs looked hungry for a victory. The first goal which the Kings thought they had scored was disallowed upon video review. Few minutes later, the Kings did score the first goal, yet again putting the Habs on their heels. In the same period, Tomas Plekanec later picked up a lose puck to tie the game at one.

The second period once again got off to a strong start. After a goaltender interference minor, the Canadiens were on a powerplay during which Denis Gauthier threw a dirty elbow in the face of defenseman Josh Gorges who was thrown off balance.

Andrei Kostitsyn scored just three seconds into the ensuing five minute major penalty. However, two bad giveaways by the Canadiens' defensemen lead to two goals for the Kinsg in the second period to give them a 3-2 lead.

In the beginning of the third period, the Habs seemed to play with no urgency getting only four shots on goal during 18 minutes. But Christopher Higgins scored a goal with two minutes left to tie the game on just the fifth shot of the period. There is a lot of controversy surrounding the goal because Higgins took down 19-year-old defenseman Drew Doughty to score the goal.

The Kings believed it should've been a penalty but fortunately for the Habs, it was ruled a goal. With 23 seconds left to play, during a powerplay, a slapshot from the point by Markov found its way through Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick. It was eventually accorded to Saku Koivu who seemed to have tipped it in.

The Montreal Canadiens who were two minutes away from dropping a fifth straight game could thank Carey Price for the 12 saves he made in the third period including three breakaways by Frolov. Those key saves allowed the Habs to stay in the game and battle back for this victory.

Although this comes as a huge sigh of relief for everyone, it is more reassuring. Going into tomorrow's matinee match-up with the mighty Boston Bruins, the Habs will feel like they have chance at this and the hockey Gods haven't cursed them forever. As Carbo pointed out, it's better to go in with a victory than a five-game losing streak.

Tomorrow presents a big test for the Habs who have always suited up to the mark against quality opponent. It will sure be a classic game not to be missed for sure.

What did you think of the hit on Gorges? Should Higgins should've been suspended? Do you think the Habs are ready to face the Bruins tomorrow?

Montreal Canadiens Take Early All-Star Break, Drop Two In a Row

Harani T. — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 00:23:04 -0500

The Montreal Canadiens have lost two straight games in two night suffering back-to-back losses against the lowly Atlanta Thrashers and the New Jersey Devils.

In the two-game span, the Habs were outscored 9-3. This begs the question of the lack of offense and poor defensive coverage. It is a blatant reality that we need another defenseman on this team.

The Canadiens, however, have to be credited for an exceptional run after the Christmas break with a mere four losses and nine victories. Not many teams who lose their top scoring line and No.1 goaltender would be able to maintain such an impressive record and for that, the Habs can be commended.

However, that is not reason to see a decrease in work ethic and energy before a six-day break. The last six periods of play have been demonstrations of fatigue and laziness. In the NHL, in any given game, it comes down to who wants it more and who is ready to give that extra push. That determination, which has dominated the spirit of these Habs, seems to have disappeared.

For example, in Boston, the number of hits by the Montreal club was 28. The total number of hits combined for Atlanta and New Jersey is 26. Just because there is a greater rivalry with Boston, should we be tempted to hit them more? Or are Atlanta and New Jesey so bad that you expect to win without the physical component of the game?

Next, if we talk about the defensive end, players seem to lack grit and confidence in their outlet passing and overall decision-making. This uncertainty, extra seconds of hesitation, certainly causes many to take an unnecessary penalty, fall, break their sticks, be out of position and hence, leads to ineffective play.

When such situations happen, a team needs a goaltender to occasionally ''rescue'' them in these rough patches. Jaroslav Halak allowed three goals on 14 shots and was relieved by Price in Atlanta. This also affects the overall mentality of the team and hence, offense only becomes secondary.

In the case of the New Jersey game, Carey Price was making his first start of 2009 after missing three weeks of play. He could be blamed for the first goal, but otherwise he was pretty much left there alone.

The intensity was lacking and most importantly, the chances were there, the finishing wasn't. Each time a rebound was in the area, there were no Habs jersey in sight, everyone had returned to the defensive end. Players not being able to take risks to make a play shows the amount of confidence they have on their team.

The issue is a growing one and the solution would be cool off during the All-Star break and then start fresh with new energy...sort of like the Christmas vacation after which everyone seemed to re-find their game. A long Western Swing is about to come for the Habs and they need to be up and running for that.

36 more regular season games which need to be played by everyone. One player can't win a game. All 23 players present at 100% and you always have a chance to win.

-The Drive for 25-

Carey Price Is Back: Goaltending Back to Normal for the Habs

Harani T. — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 22:36:02 -0500

The Montreal Canadiens organization has reassigned goaltender Marc Denis back to their AHL affiliate, the Hamilton Bulldogs. When the Habs' No.1 goaltender Carey Price injured on his ankle on Dec. 30, 2008, Denis was called up to serve as backup for Jaroslav Halak.

In his stint up with the bigger club, Denis only played a short period of 20 minutes where he relieved Halak who had allowed three goals on 21 shots. Denis allowed one goal while facing seven shots in that short span.

The biggest news for any Habs fan would be that of the return of Carey Price who has missed eight consecutive appearances. His ankle caused him many difficulties and he couldn't even skate up until last Wednesday.

Another point to note would be that coach Guy Carbonneau, in his post-practice address to the media, precisely said that if his No. 1 goaltender couldn't play a game this week (Atlanta Thrashers on Tuesday or New Jersey Devils on Wednesday), he should probably forfeit his appearance in the 2009 All-Star game. The game is being held in Montreal and Price was voted into it by the fans.

A day after this was said, Price had miraculously recovered and skated for an hour with his teammates. While the Canadiens went to the Nation's capital to square off against the Senators, Price continued to practice on his own.

Following today's team practice, the Habs have declared that Price is ready to play simply by sending Marc Denis back to the Bulldogs. Now the only question left is to know if he will start on Tuesday or Wednesday.

I strongly feel that Carbonneau won't be starting Price back-to-back especially because he is returning from injury. So, I think that Price should be starting on Tuesday against the Thrashers. Usually, goaltenders have shaky starts when they come back after a long break (three weeks for Pricey).

This move would suggest that Halak has to start Wednesday. And this would also be a way to reward Jaro for his excellent performance while covering the nets during Price's absence. He has five victories and two losses with a 3.33 goals against average. Most importantly, he bounced back after a bad start which was a 4-1 loss to the Devils.

So, I feel that it would be best for him to get the start this Wednesday against New Jersey because it would be the perfect chance for him to redeem himself and play again in the hometown of the Devils.

So, now that the goaltending situation has come back to normal, Saku Koivu should be next in line to make his return.

The only question which is left to be debated is to know if Price is really 100 percent recovered or if he went through this speedy recovery just to be able to participate in the All-Star game, is he really alright?

Anyhow, I just want a healthy Price for a long playoff run and he is bright enough to know what is good for him and for the team. He will for sure not make a wrong decision and put his health in jeopardy.

All-Star Game: Western Conference Complete Roster Announced

Harani T. — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 05:23:06 -0500

The NHL has announced today the complete roster for the Western Conference in the 2009 All-Star game held in Montreal, Quebec. Here is the complete list of players and their respective teams:

Forwards:

*Jonathan Toews (Chicago Blackhawks)

*Patrick Kane (Chicago Blackhawks)

*Ryan Getzlaf (Anaheim Ducks)

Dustin Brown (Los Angeles Kings)

Pavel Datsyuk (Detroit Red Wings)

Shane Doan (Phoenix Coyotes)

Milan Hedjuk (Colorado Avalanche)

Jarome Iginla (Calgary Flames)

Rick Nash (Columbus Blue Jackets)

Mike Modano (Dallas Stars)

Joe Thornton (San Jose Sharks)

Keith Tkachuk (St. Louis Blues)

Defensemen:

*Brian Campbell (Chicago Blackhawks)

*Scott Nierdermayer(Anaheim Ducks)

Sheldon Souray (Edmonton Oilers)

Dan Boyle (San Jose Sharks)

Shea Weber (Nashville Predators)

Nicklas Lidstrom (Detroit Red Wings)

Goalies:

*Jean-Sebastien Giguère (Anaheim Ducks)

Roberto Luonga(Vancouver Canucks)

Niklas Backstrom (Minnesota Wild)

Note: * indicates starter

Are your favourite players there? Who could also have been a good choice? Tomorrow, the league will unveil the roster for the Eastern Conference team.

Can Jaroslav Halak Pull It Off Like Dustin Tokarski of Team Canada?

Harani T. — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 15:55:05 -0500

Dustin Tokarski

Gold-medal winning Team Canada goaltender Dustin Tokarski started off the World Junior Championship by facing less-skilled teams and did not face many shots. Therefore, he wasn't teasted early.

However, the first test he face was Team USA. In that game, he looked rather shaky allowing three goals on nine shots in the first 12 minutes of play. However, his team bailed him out for his mistakes. And he finished the night allowing four goals on 27 shots. But many times, he looked shaky and required assistance from his defense to block shots.

Next, it was the semi-final matchup against the Russians. Each time Team Canada scored a goal to take the lead, they saw it erased as Tokarski let the lead slip four times. A miraculous goal by Jordon Eberle with Canada 5.4 seconds away from elimination gave a new life to the Canadians.

After a 10-minute scoreless overtime, the game was to be decided in a shootout and Dustin Tokarski had to be sharp. The first Russian shooter hit the post and Tokarski made a save on the second shooter to take the win for Canada.

Going into the final game agaisnt the powerful Swedes, the question on everyone's minds was the young goaltender's to bounce back as goaltending had to be far superior and played a key role against the Swedish attack.

Many people, from media to fans, felt unsure and there was a lack of confidence about Tokarski that surfaced in the preceding days of the final. However, Team Canada coach Pat Quinn did not look back on his decision to stick with Dustin Tokarski.

As the game started, Canada gained an early lead and Dustin Tokarski seemed strong and steady.

He was indeed spectacular throughout the game making 39 saves on 40 shots, many of them brilliant. He was specially the best penalty killer of Team Canada which was shorthanded seven times.

His performance proved that mental strength plays an important role and can change anyone's game. Many even said that he built on his performance in the shootout in order to bring his A-game and beat Sweden.

Jaroslav Halak

While Carey Price is sidelined by a lower-body injury, the Montreal Canadiens made the call to backup netminder Karoslav Halak to take over the starting duties. Halak, who has always put up excellent performances which made people say he was destined to be a No.1 goaltender has gone through rough times in his past two starts.

Against the New Jersey Devils, the Slovakian netminder was beat twice on nine shots in the first period. He equally looked bad on the goals because they were weak shots should've been captured. After allowing another goal in the second period, he was pulled to make way for Marc Denis.

In his previous start against the Florida Panthers, Halak let in two goals in the first period on 14 shots. The Montreal Canadiens offense then bounced back to score four unanswered goals and limit the opposition to five shots on goal through all of the second period. In third period, the Habs saw 4-2 and then 5-3 leads erased away by the Panthers. Halak was beat three times on 12 shots and that forced the game into overtime.

The overtime was scoreless and the game went to a shootout. Halak appeared to be a transformed goaltender in the shootout making himself look big and tall and stopping all three shots. Although one player missed the net and another hit the post, Halak made one important save and ended up getting the win.

After two lacklustre performances, Montreal Canadiens coach Guy Carbonneau has decided to go with Jaroslav Halak in goal tomorrow when the Habs visit Madison Square Garden for a date with the New York Rangers.

We all have seen the potential the 23 year old goalie has and he sure does not lack talent or skill. It has just been a hard two games. However, the media and fans of the Habs have been on a rage wanting him sent down to the AHL or even traded. Tomorrow would be Jaro's turn to rebound and prove that he still has winning capabilities.

Hence as a comparison, Dustin Toakrski's path through the World Juniors could be set as an example for Halak to get inspiration. We'll have to wait and see until tomorrow if the Habs' back-up goaltender answers the call and delivers what is required of him and gain back the confidence from everyone.

What do you think? Will he conquer the attacking Rangers? Would he be shaky again for a third time in a row? We'll all find out tomorrow!

Montreal-Florida: A Statistical Look at the Canadiens' 6-5 Shootout Win

Harani T. — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 15:21:03 -0500

The Montreal Canadiens coming off one-day rest after a 4-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils were facing the Florida Panthers who were coming off a 6-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins just 24 hours earlier.

I am going to write this as a kind of interactive piece. I was attending a wedding and couldn't watch the matinée game between the Montreal Canadiens and the Florida Panthers.

Only having watched the highlights and taking a look at the statistics, I will try to establish positives and negatives the Habs can take out of this game. For those of you who watched the game, you can counter my points. There has to be some things that totally don't make sense if only regarded with statistics, so you can correct me!

The Positives:

1. The third line of the Canadiens (Guillaume Latendresse-Maxim Lapierre-Tom Kostopoulos) might have been by far the best line on the ice. They each averaged 18 minutes of icetime including two minutes of powerplay time and around three minutes of penalty killing each. Maxim Lapierre has a 59 percent win percentage on the face-offs.

More importantly, Tom the Bomb and Latendesse had six shots each on goal, the most by any Hab and Lapierre had three shots. Often called the energy line, these three guys could have very well sparked the game by seeing these numbers.

2. The Kostitsyn brothers had an excellent game. Andrei Kostitsyn scored twice on only two shots in the victory. Specially looks like he responded well to demotion from the first line. He played alongside his brother on a trio centered by Robert Lang.

Sergei Kostitsyn had two assists, did not take any penalties and notably was a plus-four on the night. Along with that, he also blocked two shots. Considering the fact that there was a lack of production on his part for the past five games, it is a positive point.

3. Robert Lang refound his scoring touch as he netted his twelfth goal of the season. He also helped set up Andrei Kostitsyn's first goal of the night earning third star honours.

4. Steve Bégin only played 10:54 but managed to deliver seven hits, attempt one shot on goal and block another one. His hard work and determination must have shown again in this game. The team also had a hit advantage of 31-7 which further demonstrates the physical upside the team can bring on.

5. The Canadiens managed a total of 45 shots on goal which is one of the highest totals this season. Considering the total number of important offensive players who are injured including captain Saku Koivu, Christopher Higgins and Alex Tanguay, the Habs seem to be pulling out well.

6. Another great accomplishment was to see that all of the Habs' goals were scored at even strength. Last year, that used to be a problem with our team. We all know that in the playoffs, one cannot solely depend on powerplay opportunities. So, the even-strength production is definitely good to notice.

The Negatives:

1. If I look at the statistics, Jaroslav Halak let in five goals on 25 shots. Even I didn't completely see the situations they were scored in, this was an important start for our back-up goaltender to redeem himself after allowing three ''soft'' goals to the New Jersey Devils.

Coach Carbonneau trusted him and gave him the start. Looks like he didn't help out much because he allowed five goals and wasn't able to conserve the lead which was created by his teammates on two different occasion (the Habs lead 4-2 and then 5-3 at one point). What did you think of his performance?

2. The Canadiens watched their two goal lead slip away twice and then finally had to sum it up in a shootout. However, they were the more rested team and should've been able to keep the Panthers away. A lack of effort and underestimation of the opposition could have impacted the play of the Habs.

3. Another striking statistic was the number of giveaways. There were a total of 20 giveaways by our Habs compared to a mere seven by Florida. A significant four giveaways by Jaro as well.

4. Perhaps, there can be a lag in defense as well. I am saying this because it is not characteristic of the Habs to give up five goals. Even though the goaltender is at fault on a some occasions, the defensemen also have to take their share of the blame. An area which could be worked on and upgraded is the defensive end.

5. Last but not the least, the major roadblock at the moment for the Habs is their sliding powerplay. They went 0-for-5 on the night. I don't know how bad it looked but also according a shorthanded goal surely doesn't help. We have known it to be a problem but sometimes you need it to work more than others and nothing seems to be moving.

6. On another slightly negative note, Matt D'Agostini seems to be invisible again. Demoted to the fourth line, he had a mere nine minutes of play time and also has two penalty minutes. Is he going to refine his scoring touch? Did he play like he cared?

A mixed game in terms of a statistical analysis. An overall look at the game shows the position of the Montreal Canadiens at the halfway mark. There are many flaws which could be corrected but also many things that we are doing well.

It allows one to see where we are lacking and where we are improving. Despite injuries, the Canadiens are keeping a winning record (22-10-6) and that is the most important thing. A win is a win!

Don't forget to comment!

Canadiens-Lightning: Montreal Looks to Sweep Through Florida

Harani T. — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 04:51:46 -0500

The Habs continue their tilt in Florida tonight with their second game in two nights in the Sunshine State. After a six-day hockey-free vacation, les Boys seem to be just about ready to bring their game to another level.

Everyone takes turn stepping it up. Carey Price has been huge in goal, and has been the difference through many of the difficult minutes. In his last 11 starts, Pricey has allowed the Canadiens to notch at least one point (seven wins and four OT losses). He will get the start in goal once again with no changes in the line-up.

The Tampa Bay Lightning are enjoying one of their best runs of the season, seeking a season-high fourth straight win tonight when it faces the surging Canadiens at St. Pete Times Forum.

Although still among the league's worst teams, the Lightning (10-16-9) have been better lately, winning three straight to move out of last place in the Southeast Division. After Olaf Kolzig managed to hold his fort in a 3-1 winning cause at the Bell Centre, Mike Smith will get today's start in nets.

Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis are touted to be the two most dangerous players on the Bolts especially when they play the Montreal Canadiens.

Montreal has has two consecutive games with two consecutive hat-tricks. On December 27, Andrei Kostitsyn and his first natural hat-trick in the NHL with the only three goals for Montreal that night.

Last night, against the Florida Panthers, third-line centreman Maxim Lapierre notched his first ever multi-goal game with his first career hat-trick in the NHL. Now, a third one in a row wouldn't be too much to ask would it?

If I had to pick a candidate, it would have to be Tomas Plekanec who has played remarkably well post-Christmas. Added the fact that he was speared by Vincent Lecavalier which was not called, look for a Pleky in fire!

Those who watched the game between the Bleu-Blanc-Rouge and the Panthers at the BankAtlantic Centre would know that it looked more like the Bell Centre. The ratio was 10:1 of Habs fans and it was the first sell-out of the season for the Panthers.

The chants of ''Go Habs Go'' and ''Carey! Carey!'' and the famous ''Na Na Hey Goodbye!'' could be heard loud and clear. Along with cheers for every Panthers Penalty and Boos raining down after every Panther goal.

Look for the same kind of atmosphere tonight as well. The ''snowbirds,'' as they are called in Florida, will fill up the arena.

I would like to add a note on the team play of the Canadiens. It is always nice to see a team which sticks together. In last night's game, Carey Price seemed to be the target of the Panthers. However, his teammates stood up for him and even took roughing penalties for defending their goaltender. Great team spirit!

And when Lapierre scored his third goal, the happiness on the other players' faces was just Priceless. No shades of jealousy or hatred. They worked together to win as team. Good going les Boys. Let's crush the NHL in the second-half of the season.

Canadiens Lineup:

Andrei Kostitsyn - Tomas Plekanec - Alexei Kovalev

Alex Tanguay - Robert Lang - Matt D'Agostini

Steve Bégin - Maxim Lapierre - Tom Kostopoulos

Guillaume Latendresse - Ben Maxwell - Sergei Kostitsyn

Andrei Markov - Mike Komisarek

Roman Hamrlik - Josh Gorges

Francis Bouillon - Patrice Brisebois

Alexei Kovalev's OT Winner Lifts Canadiens Past Sabres 4-3

Harani T. — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 15:51:06 -0500

Photo: Alexei Kovalev celebrates his OT winner with teammates Robert Lang, Andrei Markov and Matt D'Agostini (Getty Images)

The Buffalo Sabres, coming off a 5-0 victory over the Los Angeles Kings, met the Canadiens in the Bell Center for a Saturday Night match-up. Ryan Miller who made 41 saves was back in net for Buffalo while Jaroslav Halak was in the crease for Montreal while Carey Price recovers from injury.

Lacklustre First

In their win against the Flyers, the Habs imposed their intensity and gave an uplift to the tempo of the game right from the first minute. Against the Sabres, it was faultering at many occasions.

The Canadiens were held off the scoresheet while Derek Roy found the back of the net for the Sabres. A fight between Georges Laraque and Andrew Peters took place with the big heavyweight of the Bleu-Blanc-Rouge put it away with no difficulty.

Impressive Second

At the beginning of the second frame of play it looked as though the Habs were just trailing with no energy or passion. As soon as the first powerplay was handed out, things started to change. Sergei Kostitsyn's slapshot from the blue line beat Ryan Miller serving as the equalizer to make the game 1-1.

The Habs picked up the pace and played with intensity after the tying goal. However, Alexei Kovalev's offensive-zone minor penalty for holding led to a goal by the Sabres and the Habs headed back to the dressing room trailing by a goal.

Solid Third

The Canadiens came back with a mission to win, great defensive coverage along with good rushes provided opportunities for the Canadiens. The equalizer was a Roman Hamrlik slapshot that was deflected by Alex Tanguay and found the back of the net.

Ryan Miller seemed to be frustrated by Georges Laraque's presence in front of the crease. Miller wanted an obstruction call however it was a valid goal upon review.

Jaroslav Halak was shaky at times but held his ground in the third period. Alexei Kovalev's second holding penalty of the night cost the team on the scoreboard once again with a Buffalo goal.

Roughly two minutes after Kovalev's return from the penalty box, he put together an offensive play with a beautiful pass which lead to Sergei Kostitsyn's second goal of the night tying the game for the third time.

Powerplay OT

The Canadiens had the chance to put the game away at the very beginning of the extra period when they benefited from a 4-on-3 powerplay but they were unable to cash in.

Alexei Kovalev's speed forced Buffalo's Jochen Hecht to take a holding penalty with 37 seconds left on the clock. Guy Carbonneau's timely use of the time-out proved useful when several seconds as Lang won the faceoff helping Kovalev to score the winner.

Positives of the night:

-The Canadiens managed to get 46 shots on goal, a drastic improvement and a big achievement against a team like the Buffalo Sabres. Kovalev led the team with 8 shots (1 goal) and Sergei Kostitsyn followed with 7 shots (2 goals).

-If there were a human version of a pinball, it would have to be Steve Bégin. During the second period, in a single shift, he hit four players in a row bumping out every moving object in his sight. His strong forechecking not only energized his teammates but disturbed the visiting Sabres.

-Matt D'Agostini is a very skilled player. His speed and vision combined with his hardworking attitude makes him a great attribute to this team. The only thing left is to see if he will keep doing the same after he is guaranteed his spot.

-Big Georges Laraque is a beast. He is surely an annoyance opponents and being on an offensive trio with Alex Tanguay and Robert Lang does not make him look out of place. His puck possession and dominance in the offensive zone was unbeatable.

-Sergei Kostitsyn has unblocked. Three goals in two games certainly is a step towards success. His time on ice which was increased by his brother's absence due to injury has proved to be useful.

-Alexei Kovalev wore the ''C'' well. I liked his determination on getting back at his mistakes. He acted as a captain should've and earned his team the extra point they deserved for showing character and not giving up.

-Two pwerplay goals and two games in a row has to be happy news to any Canadiens fan. The Habs, who struggled to score on the man-advantage have finally found alternatives. Although one of the worst in the league, these bright spots seem to be guiding the team in the right direction.

Things which need improvement:

-Tomas Plekanec seems to be quite invisible in the past few games. Considered one of the top two centers on the team, his lack of production all aspects causes worry. He seemed to be lost during the game dumping the puck and making long passes making him look uncomfortable.

-Jaroslav Halak was solid when called upon but could use some help in rebound control. Although he was excellent on key stops, his puckhandling is equally be questionable. Carey Price is the number one goaltender but in emergency cases, Halak has to be ready and solid to earn the Habs the win.

-The Canadiens have to be more alert and ready in the first period of the game. Although they have possiblity and skill to come back, it is always important to start with a bang! Unless they impose their intensity, it will be hard to follow through with an effective game plan and hence be a downfall for the Habs.

-Ben Maxwell, the newly acquired center to replace Saku Koivu has a lot to learn about defensive play. He is a very offensive minded player and has to do some work on his defense.

What did you think about the game? Alex Kovalev did not get a star (First Star: Sergei Kostitsyn, Second Star: Steve Bégin, Third Star: Ryan Miller). Do you think the Kovy deserved a star? Comment below.

Pregame Preview: Montreal Canadiens Host Philadelphia Flyers at the Bell Centre

Harani T. — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 05:48:48 -0500

The Montreal Canadiens (16-9-5) host the Philadelphia Flyers (17-7-6). Both teams are in the second positions of their respective decisions. In the two previous meetings of the season, each team snatched one away. The Habs won the first meeting 5-3 in Wachovia Center, and the Flyers took revenge 2-1 at the Bell Centre. Now, the tides have changed for each team.

Montreal is in a three-game losing skid and Philly is on a five-game winning streak. Ever since the both teams faced each other in the second round of the Playoffs last year, it's always been an entertaining matchup, especially because of the physical play of both teams.

I'll take a look in depth at the Montreal Canadiens' situation and things they need to solve to find the victory path again!

Finally Back Together!

Guy Carbonneau has rejuvenated his top scoring line from last season. Andrei Kostitsyn, Tomas Plekanec, and Alexei Kovalev were touted to be one of the best and scariest line combinations in the league. However, after 16 games together, the chemistry was lacking and they were separated. For today's game, the coach has tried reassembling this line. Now, it is left to see if they can get it going again!

The Return of Komisaurus

Mike Komisarek, one of the top defensemen of the Habs who was injured in a fight against Milan Lucic, will be back to his position tonight. Komisarek is known through the league for his physical play (second highest number of hits last season) and his immense support by blocking shots (first in the league last season).

Additionally, he is seen as a leader in the locker room, also having been behind the bench for seven games during his injury. We have to wait and see if he was indeed the missing spark for the Habs.

Sheriff Laraque

Georges Laraque returns to the game after being sidelined by a groin injury. He will play on the fourth trio alongside Steve Bégin and Sergei Kostitsyn. He will be a very much needed component because the Flyers like to be physical. During the series, they ran the goalie quite a numbers of times and attacked our star players. Having a player like Laraque on the ice is certainly helpful is keeping them within limits.

The Power Play

The Canadiens, whose power play is ranked 28th in the league, will have to be extra careful against the Flyers, who have scored 12 shorthanded goals. It will certainly be a challenge for the Montreal power play, but if they score, a confidence-booster.

Still struggling to find their best man on the point to accompany Andrei Markov, the Habs have tried Alex Tanguay, Sergei Kostitsyn, and Robert Lang. Recently, Alex Kovalev asked to be put on the point. We'll have to see who stays there on a long term.

Halak...Again

Since Carey Price's injury, Halak has been given the duties of the No.1 goaltender. In his three previous starts, although miraculous and amazing at times, he has lost all three of the games. His obvious difficulty in rebound control has haunted him on many occasions. But when called upon to make the key stops, he's always there.

Today will be the team's chance to fetch him a victory by generating offense, and his responsibility will be to allow them to stay in the game.

The lines for tonight

The Habs will be rolling with three centres tonight because they have returned Ben Maxwell to the Hamilton Bulldogs. Here are the lines.

Andrei Kostitsyn - Tomas Plekanec - Alexei Kovalev

Alex Tanguay - Robert Lang - Matt D'Agostini

Guillaume Latendresse - Maxim Lapierre - Tom Kostopoulos

Sergei Kostitsyn - Steve Bégin - Georges Laraque

Andrei Markov - Mike Komisarek

Roman Hamrlik - Josh Gorges

Francis Bouillon - Patrice Brisebois

Halak

I'm excited for the game tonight. I don't really know what to expect, but I'm sure we are in for a roller coaster ride.

What do you think about these lines? Is Carbonneau right to assemble the AK46 - TP14 - AK27 line again? Leave your comments!

Real Montreal Canadiens Surge With 6-2 Slaughter Of The New York Rangers

Harani T. — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 12:48:13 -0500

Last night, against the top-seeded team in the eastern conference, the Canadiens hosted their 99th birthday party. There were two points on the line. In front of great legends of both clubs, one manages to solidify its identity as a team while the other struggled to stay alive.

At the end of the night, it looked like every single New York Ranger had given up with possibly the exception of their so-called star goaltender Henrik Lundqvist. Losing is one thing but how you lose is a complete other story.

Bottom line is: The Rangers were out-everything-ed last night. The Habs totally dominated the play. Here’s a look at the statistics (surprising enough Montreal leads the way in all of aspects):

Goals: 6-2

Shots: 39-20

Hits: 24-15

Takeaways: 16-4

Blocked shots: 25-14

Points: 2-0

Plus/Minus: Montreal Canadien: +25

New York Rangers: -25

Fourth line magic

Bégin-Lapierre-Laraque, who are the energy-players on Guy Carbonneau's fourth trio, scored two beautiful goals. The second goal of the game resulted from a nice cross-ice pass by Maxim Lapierre who usually opts to shoot and surprised Henrik Lundqvist.

Later on, three minutes into the second period, from Laraque's pass, a rebound was picked up by Lapierre as the Rangers' goaltender couldn't find the puck. One has to admit that these players worked hard and played the role well. Defensively and offensively!

Matt D'Agostini

Personally, I feel that his arrival has changed something in the team. The atmosphere is different especially because of D'Agostini's talent. His speed, his vision of the game and his shot (seen from his goal last night) is a threat to everyone on the ice.

For veterans, perhaps fear of a trade (perhaps Higgins) and for Guillaume Latendresse and SergeiKostitsyn; the fear of staying in the pressbox. His play also shows that, if you work hard, you can earn a place. The only thing left to see is if he can maintain consistency. Only time will tell.

Andrei Kostitsyn on a roll

Senior Kostitsyn has scored on each of last three games. Since he was put on the fourthline for one game, he has come back much stronger and concentrates much more on bringing on the talent he always had. It's always a good thing to have one of the ''veterans'' show up at every game. He equally forms a very effective trio with Captain Saku Koivu and newcomer Matt D'Agostini.

Coach K

With Mike Komisarek behind the bench, he has a 100 percent winning record. Some would call it superstition or maybe even luck but it could it actually be something that he does. He is seen talking to players, giving them suggestions. It is actually a motivation not to sit in the pressbox for a long number of weeks. He can actually feel part of the team.

Team Spirit

The most important thing for any team is their unity. For those who watched the game last night, you would have seen the victory celebrations of the Habs. Pushing and shoving Carey Price and goofing around. Nothing other than that could contribute to the way of play in and outside the game. In terms of team play, hats off to the Canadiens.

The benchees

I personally think that people are simply exaggerating over the Guillaume Latendresse/Sergei Kostitsyn saga. The two players are not playing because they failed to prove themselves in the first quarter of the season. Since we have already witnessed their capabilities, it is normal to blame them for not working hard enough. A small break and they might break-out when they come back. It's not the end of the world, we simply have more personnel than we need. So, it is obvious that mistakes cannot be tolerated.

Up for discussion

Let's hope that this is just the beginning of many happy moments for the Habs. What do you think on the Guy Carbonneau's decision to keep Guillaume Latendresse and SergeiKostitsyn in the pressbox? Do you think one of them deserves to go back to AHL? be traded? Are people just too paranoid to break a winning formula? Do comment!

Photo: Habs Inside/Out

(Henrik Lundqvist watches as the puck enters the net on a shot from Andrei Kostitsyn.)

Question To The NHL: Duration Of A Hockey Game 60, 40, 30, 20 Minutes?

Harani T. — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 09:50:31 -0500

It's being more and more apparent that many teams fall apart either giving up a big lead or just letting themselves be dominated, dejected. It's also called giving up.

My question is that what does it mean to give up? We have all witnessed the capabilities of our favorite teams over a long period of time. At least one or two nights, for sure, they have made us proud fans. So, once we have a bar raised high and see the potential in our team, it is certainly devastating to see them drop the ball.

When you start thinking about it, it has actually become an issue. We mostly go around saying ''They didn't put much effort last night!'' but aren't they supposed to every night?

All these players play hockey as a job. They get paid to be on the ice and score, defend or goaltend.

However, opposite to us, these men only have to work 60 minutes a day, with day-long breaks, a big summer vacation along with a lot of travelling. On the other hand, they get to be on national TV, become stars, earn a lot of money and do something they love.

When we, the people, think about work, would it be justified to stop working in mid-day because you're tired? Imagine doing that once in a while. Even though people shrug their shoulders and hold hope (not saying that it's wrong), how many times can we tolerate this?

Come to think of it, we, the fans are the sole reason of existence of this sport and the franchise. It's like we supervise from the heights of the arena, to make sure our workers are doing fine.

I found it important to write this article now because the NHL has changed. The teams have no excuse saying they have no talent. Every team in the NHL has different characters, different people with different abilities who got where they are by trying.

It is equally essential to realize that if there is a winner, there will be a loser. There is a way to lose. Losing because someone had to go on a toilet-break or another had a headache is just dejecting. We as the fans accept the loss!

Seriously speaking, hockey is a job for all these guys. Like any other post, it involves money but you need to work for it.

Currently in the league, many talented and capable teams are failing to do well because of the lack of effort of many of the teammates. They can't say it is impossible because we have all been there to see them do it earlier. It's a no escape situation. The only way they can get out of there is by working harder.

They wanted to be hockey players. Let us see them do it!

What's your take on this topic? Too much money so no need to work? Think about it!

Canadiens-Red Wings: Montreal Bounces Back Huge against Stanley Cup Champs

Harani T. — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 15:24:56 -0500

Entering the Game

Going into this game, Montreal was coming off winning only three of their last 10 games. They lost three of them in shootouts, and four in regulation.

Even though the last game had shadows of last season’s Habs, they failed to push through. Going into Joe Louis Arena tonight, the most beneficent team was definitely the Stanley Cup Champs.

Only suffering two losses in 20 games, the Red Wings currently hold the best powerplay unit in the league, with the Habs trailing miles behind at the 23rd position.

The Canadiens have played very few good games so far in the 2008-09 season. And their opponents have not all challenged their abilities.

Playing against Detroit was the ultimate test. It's a team with all potential first-liners and the most touted defensive duo, comprised of Lidstrom and Rafalski. Along with the Canadiens’ lack in offense, we were in for quite a matchup.

As you may have all seen, the Bleu, Blanc, et Rouge turned the tables and came up with what I personally feel is the best 60 minutes effort so far this season.

Let’s do a breakdown of the game and see where we stand, and how one game can make a difference in our play.

Experimenting First

The first period was kind of used like a tryout for our team. They exploited the chances and actually played what looked like a well-coached scenario. The tight playing by both teams led to a scoreless beginning.

However, the Canadiens had to suffer the loss of Alex Tanguay due to an injury coming from a hard hit by Stuart. After completing that shift, the leading scorer unfortunately did not return to the bench.

Canadiens Turn Scoring Machine in Second

Going once (fourth line): After getting a sense of the type of plays by the Red Wings, the Canadiens used it to their advantage and scored three unanswered goals. The first was a dump-in from the back of the net to the front by Lapierre, which went off a Detroit player’s skate. This made it a 1-0 Montreal game!

Going twice (first line): After Hamrlik took a penalty for hooking, Gorges forced a rough play by Hossa, who annulled his team’s powerplay and gave a one-minute man advantage for the Canadiens.

Surprisingly enough, the Habs cashed on the opportunity and Plekanec scored his fifth goal of the season with a pass that came from Kovalev. It was now 2-0 Montreal!

Gone (second line): Higgins, who was on the second trio along with Koivu and Kovalev, scored a nice goal, which led from the captain’s set-up for his teammate. For his first goal since the hat trick against the Ottawa Senators, Higgins used the opportunity, and made it 3-0 Montreal!

Textbook Lead Protection in Third

The Red Wings were all over the ice during the third period, but to no avail. Carey Price came up big on many saves, particularly on Lidstrom.

Limiting themselves to a mere four shots on goal versus 16 by the champs, it was defensive hockey for the rest of the night. Although they were trying, the Wings weren't trying hard enough.

Fortunately, the white jerseys pounced first on the puck whenever they got a chance and dumped it deep into the offensive zone. Johan Franzen put an end to Price’s second shutout bid when he undressed Ryan O’Byrne to beat Price on what was a beautiful goal.

At the end of the night, the hole was too deep for a comeback and the Canadiens happily took the win. Their next game is against Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals.

My Favourites

Man of the Night

Although many could be in this category, I would have to hand it to Carey Price. He made 32 saves against the Detroit Red Wings, and is a great achievement for any goaltender.

The feeling of beating the Stanley Cup champs in their own home is the cherry on top. Price constantly stayed focused. What made me put him here was his play after the Franzen goal.

When Detroit was forcing scrums around, he dealt very cautiously with rebounds and handled the puck greatly. Also, it was the first I saw Price borrow Gorges’ stick, and use it to make the save, then return it.

Nice going, Pricey!

Invisible Man of the Night

It definitely had to be Alex Tanguay tonight because of his injury. Otherwise, everyone showed up. It was a complete team effort and that showed character.

They always backed each other up and did not try and make miracles happen. This probably occurred because they knew they were up for a big challenge, and the neutral zone transition was an important reason.

Line of the Night

In my opinion, the fourth line worked their fannies off tonight. One goal in their second consecutive game is a great additional support, and they deserve a mention. Their speed and aggression were much needed, especially against a less physical team like Detroit.

What I appreciate the most is that they don’t try doing anything fancy and stick to simple plays. Fortunately, it pays off.

Breakout of the Night

I personally feel that Tom Kostopoulos was amazing tonight. Perhaps his best game of the season. His presence in the offensive and defensive zone was a tremendous display of his ability.

The one thing we usually say is that "Tom the Bomb" has a huge heart. Tonight, we witnessed that he has tremendous skill and deserves a third line spot.

Goal of the Night

This would go hands down to Tomas Plekanec. Not because it was a powerplay goal, but because of the effort put together by Alex Kovalev to direct the puck to Andrei Markov, and then retrieve it back to put the puck on Pleky’s stick.

It was seriously a beauty to watch. And giving a slight cushion to the Canadiens, and a huge confidence booster for the rest of the game. Also, the second goal attempt which was waved off was the fruit of perseverance and determination from the player. It shows that he didn’t give up.

Heart of the Night

I am willing to give this to Ryan O’Byrne. For a 24-year-old, after the own-goal nightmare he went through, he bounced back and showed that he was not defeated by what had happened. His mistake was the talk of Hockey World the whole day yesterday, but I must say he played an awesome game.

And on letting Franzen score, I think it would have happened to any defenseman in his position. Anyway, there is nothing to regret about letting the Stanley Cup Champions’ lead scorer undress you. It can’t be worse than what happened against the Islanders. So, I would say good recovery.

On the Minus

The Canadiens’ tallied face-off win percentage was a mere 36 percent. It is not the end of the world, but it would be better to have consistency because there are teams who can set up plays coming off face-off wins. It might be the only small tick the Canadiens would have to improve.

I am also not sure if we can call the powerplay a done deal. It's not completely strong and back on track, but doing something is always better than doing nothing.

These are my notes on the game. Please do comment and nominate your favourite players of the night. I will try and compile the results and let you know in my next post.

Tell me your picks for:

Heart of the night

On the minus

Goal of the night

Breakout of the night

Line of the night

Invisible man of the night

Man of the night

Photo: Habs Inside/Out

Montreal Canadiens–New York Islanders: No Luck for Habs

Harani T. — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 08:26:19 -0500

O’Byrne's goof was only one of the most obvious mistakes in many games to come. But, unsurprisingly, there were many other mishaps which did not favour the Montreal Canadiens last night in their shootout loss against the newly born New York Islanders. Here is my take on this game where many good things failed to come our way.

Very Lucky First

Right off the bat, the Canadiens allowed the first goal to be scored against them on power play, the 10th time this season. Not a good sign.

17 seconds later, Steve Bégin pounced on a lose puck coming from Joey MacDonald’s big rebound. The fourth line was solid and looked like they were not improvising at all, they did what was asked of them. In addition, the slapshot by Josh Gorges for a goal with the man advantage was lucky enough to escape everyone and end up in the end of the net. Okay, so after that everything should have shaped up well...right? Right...only until the end of the period.

Unlucky second...

The referee Chris Lee was quite special. He called "almost" fairly to both sides although a little late sometimes. But the biggest mistake he made was to blow the whistle to early thinking that Joey McDonald froze the puck when it was clearly lose. Had that been fair, Andrei Kostitsyn’s goal would have been legitimate. The first event that showed the unluckiness of the Habs.

O'Byrne's lucky third

Ryan O'byrne's first goal in a Montreal Canadiens uniform was a beauty (sarcastically speaking!). A nice shot directed right at the net and it went in. The crowd was going nuts. Not because they were happy but because it was towards Carey Price’s net that he took the shot. The 24-year-old’s inability to follow the play and recognize the delayed penalty. I mean...it was a blind pass but when you do not see everyone coming back to defense, a light should go off in your head. Unfortunately, the short lapse of time lead to an stupid and avoidable mistake.

Unbelievable overtime

Unbelievable is the right word. For the number of open nets and chances the Canadiens missed in the five-minute sudden death. Alexei Kovalev was in front of Joey MacDonald, who, once again, gave up a BIG rebound. So much for being a star player, Kovy could not bury it and did not strike the right corner (he preferred the middle for some reason)Next, it was Andrei Markov’s turn to screw up. Literally! With the commendable shot that he has, Markov was maybe a meter away from the crease and decided to try and make a pass instead of shooting. Result: giveaway!

Unbelievable was also Price. On the positive side during the overtime and negatively in the shootout. The 21-year-old who had to face shootout in seven of his outings with the Habs, winning four of them, he was outplayed by two players of the New York Islanders. Andrei Kostitsyn and Alex Tanguay could not score against backup goaltender Joey MacDonald.

Guy Carbonneau’s coaching notes

The puck to the net formula that Carbo’s been preaching seems to have finally settled in the brains of our players. The success comes from scoring and to score, the puck has to approach the net. Mere "beautiful passing" does not earn points. The Canadiens played what looked like text-book lead protection in the second period. Except for the unexpected gaffe, everything would have moved smoothly.

I think the lines from yesterday should stay put. It will do some good to at least leave the players together for a few more games. It might help to get back the chemistry and synchronised play.

Coming Up

The Montreal Canadiens get ready to face the current Stanley cup champions, the Detroit Red Wings tomorrow night at Joe Louis Arena. Currently the hottest team on the powerplay, indiscipline could eventually ruin the Habs tomorrow. Against the Islanders, the Bleu, Blanc, Rouge gave away two goals while being on the penalty killing sequence which is not necessarily a good sign.

How did you feel after the shootout loss? Any feelings about tomorrow’s match-up? Do comment!

Photo: Habs Inside/Out

(Price watches as Richard Park's shot beats him on his gloveside)

Frustrated Carey Price Explodes In The Canadiens' Locker Room (Humor)

Harani T. — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:02:21 -0500

Guy Carbonneau said today during his press conference that he wished someone stood up in the locker room and took charge of the team and make every one follow him. If you have seen the Montreal Canadiens play recently, you might have noticed that no one seems to be fitting with one another.

And then after last night’s game against the Carolina Hurricanes, it was obvious that the goaltender of the Habs, Carey Price, stood out because of an exceptional, stellar performance.

So, I decided to come-up with a script of his rant in the locker room. If specially the Montreal Canadiens lose tomorrow’s game against the Senators, they would break Price’s record of shutting out the Sens two games in a row and here is what he would say the next day morning in the locker room. It is a dramatization. If you think I am offending anyone, please let me know because this article is written with humorous intent.

''Ok! I’m done with this crap (Price hits his stick on the floor and it breaks! Everyone stops talking, listening to their iPods)…I have something to say and you all just sit there and listen.

"Half of you freakin' call yourselves veterans! I'm f***ing 21 and I am working my ass off to keep you in a game, to give your damn souls a chance to win. Plus, take this, I earn like 750 000$ which is like way less than all of you. I have no complaints but still I do overtime, I don’t mind.

"I want to keep my job or in case, you all start a losing streaking, I want to be able to find a job somewhere else. And if you keep me from holding a good record, I’ll leave you.

"You all better start moving coz I'm not gonna slack off and you better not to. I'm sick of this. I'm frustrated coz I'm left there all alone, in these big huge arenas. And you know what humiliates me, most of time, you people decide to lose in some other arena where they don’t even cheer their own team. You know how hard it is. The day I was butt-ended by Grabovski, I should’ve known what was coming. Here are my tips!

"D-E-F-E-N-S-E, in other words

Ryan O’Byrne

You, mister! Have to start burning all those calories you have got for that huge size of yours. Right now you are letting yourself be burned! Stop thinking about abjinx or whatever these media people tell you because if you don’t act, I’ll tell you what’ll happen. Hamilton Bulldogs sound familiar?

Patrice Brisebois

First, could you come closer because I want to make sure you hear me! Stop trying to feel wind in your hair when passing by my crease. All you have to do is keep flyin' to the other end and stop hitting the posts. Remember that goal of yours which I could have stopped but too bad the other goalie couldn’t? Replay that in your mind.

Andrei Markov

On the powerplay, you stay on the same spot for so long before you make passes, I can even see what’s going on. What’s happening? At this rate, you’ll be marking your favourite spots in every arena. Please learn to check, backcheck, forecheck and stop taking those bad penalties at the wrong times.

Roman Hamrlik

Man, you block a lot of shots but not much as I do. Remember when you got injured on your toe? I had to save Breezer’s a** soo many times. I almost had a heart attack. Speaking about attack, that scoring streak you had at the beginning of the season, please bring it back on. We need serious need help in that department.

Mike Komisarek

You just broke your hand on the stupidest fight at the stupidest time. That should be enough to punish you. I mean come on why would you fight when we were losing 6-1. Lame…very Lame (shakes his head). You hit everyone too hard and then they come back to haunt you. Good job! The only good thing is that you rush to my rescue, not all time, but most of the time, you think you’re superman or something.

Josh Gorges

Curious Gorge! Tell me one thing, are you a defenseman or an attacker or a neutral zone player. Because from my view, you are all over the place. Not to say that’s a bad thing but you might be comprising important duties. On a side note, you can’t really score on net, so let someone else do it! And by the way, don’t forget to think of a new trick to do when we win. (Aside: Wonder when that’s gonna be?)

Francis Bouillon

You scared the hell out of me when you took that puck in your throat. Again, I almost had a heart attack. I’m too young for those and one suggestion, finish your checks when you are behind my net and don’t make passes which don’t reach our players. Avoid that because you won’t allow me to have a break. Otherwise, my friend, you seem to be working alright!

"That's just the beginning, now Halak, just pass me that bottle of water and then I'll talk to the rest you! Next Page.....

F-O-R-W-A-R-D-S: All of you call yourselves forwards but you always end in my side of the rink right in front of me and that shows how backward you are. Play your position will you?

Andrei Kostitsyn

You! You get hit, and hit pretty bad I felt sorry! After that, you come back and look like a little boy lost in the crowd the amusement park in Belarus. Where is your stuff from last year? From what I heard, you didn’t have a concussion but could it have been a slight memory-loss?

Sergei Kostitsyn

I advise that you detach from your brother because you seem to be also lost on your own in the mess. I know you’re 21 too but look at me! You have to show your talent because if not, the KHL is waiting to pay you big money.

Robert Lang

Man! Oh Man! You know, you cannot score in an empty net. I could even do that all the way from my end you know. The past two games, it was acceptable you know. But, why did you have to bring the new technique you know of scoring on your knees, now that’s just more work for me you know!

Tomas Plekanec

You look like you are the one who was trying the hardest. At the beginning of the season, you looked pathetic. Luck was not on your side. And the Islanders game,you were on fire. That’s who I wanna see. Oh by the way…don’t get shoved into the other team’s bench... t looks embarassing!

Alexei Kovalev

You were the star last year. Is that so? Well, this year, the signs are not on your side. You want me to tell you something…You look LOST in translation. Every single goalie’s figured out your moves…that’s why DVDs are not so great ideas. Told you so! Also, if in the middle of the game I push someone towards you to get you injured, don't take me wrong! I'm just trying to generate some spark in your eyes.

Alex Tanguay

You my friend can relax because you pay the Price well. I like you. Nice checks, nice goals, beautiful passes, such a gift to watch you play. Now if you can stand up and show some people a few things, it would be much appreciated.

Saku Koivu

Captain K…I don’t have to point out anything to you. Oh Right! I’m doing all the talking. You think you can pass me your jersey coz I think it fits me better. I'm doing your work so I suppose you do something. On the ice, you are better than last year so no complaints…just don’t have any flashbacks.

Guillaume Latendresse

Could you ever be consisten so that the Quebecers can see what you can do? Glimpses of good checks, not enough speed, so-so passes and not being able to score on an empty net. not very impressive in my eyes. Make a name for yourself.

Tom Kostopoulos

Did I mention that you have a big heart? One more thing, you definitely cannot score right at the net so please pass the puck. Keep rushing and the energy will stay up.

Mathieu Dandenault

Speedy Boy. I agree that you can skate but when you make passes, it’s the jerseys with the CH on them. Give the puck to our friends not our foes. If you can only do that, your trio will be a potential mega success.

Maxim Lapierre

Only one word to you. You are sitting in the pressbox…waiting for what? Go ask Carbo why he benched you. To learn stuff from BGL?

Steve Bégin

I should call you Stevie Wonder for the amount of work you do. But I suggest you calm down because in all this mess, no one actually pays attention to you. Stop trying so hard. And maybe you might influence everyone in this room to change.

Georges Laraque

Big Georges. Let me get one thing straight. You were brought down here to protect me and everyone other vulnerable soul present here. In hopes of not having to suffer bullying, you were going to fight. Now, looks like you ain’t doin’ nuthin’. And you’re being paid to watch every game from the VIP seat.

Christopher Higgins

One hat trick and it’s the end of the world for you. You just crashed. Go look up the definition of consistency in the dictionary and recite it to us. Because period to period, you seem to be changing from rookie to veteran and then back again. Act and react!

Jaroslav Halak

Big Bro…Don’t do much. Just sit there pretty with you ugly ball cap. If I need anything I’ll call you like if I’m sick, you be ready.

"That’s it! I have had enough! Enough talking and time wasting! I think we are now well prepared to go face the Senators and earn me my third straight shutout against Ottawa. Those who understand my feelings and if you are ready to fight, follow me.’’

As Price recites these lines, there is a beep which is heard. He turns his head and there lies his alarm clock which read 4:30am. It was all a dream. Carey Price sat up in his King Size bed, thinking to himself:

‘’Oh would I ever love to do that! In my dreams!’’

I used this article as a way to point out the obvious flaws in every player and the situation of the team. If you think that all I did what bring out only the negative aspects, you are right.

My goal behind that was to say that if these minor things are corrected, we are en route for a potential Stanley Cup run and will have a very strong team. Please don’t forget to comment and tell me what you think? Does Carey Price really have the nerves to stand up and explode in front of his teammates? Ever?

Montreal Canadiens Facing Major Roadblocks!

Harani T. — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 16:17:08 -0500

The Canadiens might start to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Although the Habs’ fans started getting all worried and jittery in their seats, this team manages to save face with this victory. I chose to write this as an editorial because I want to put the spotlight on the flaws and the strengths since for the past few games, it hasn’t changed much.

WEAKNESSES

1. You’re right! It’s the Power Play!

On the power plays, the Habs are 0-for-20 in their last few games. It is a striking downfall since it was their principle instrument to success in the 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons. The other teams in the league feared playing against our team for the strategy we used. Now it’s seems to be a glaring misunderstanding on the whole.

They have to be patient but sometimes, the goal is put the puck in front of the net. We used to pass-pass-shoot-rebound-score. At the moment, we are: pass-pause-pass-pause-shoot-rebound-pause-cleared. Desperate need that needs to be solved!

2. First Period Lazyness

Every time the Canadiens jump on the ice, it’s like they want to start off slow and build up. And in the last two games, the opponents managed to score first. And when that happens, it seems to wear out the whole team. They start playing slower and are prone to allow more goals.

If they can avoid that, another possibility is to play with fire and intensity and get that first one in. That’s what Carbo’s guys should do. It is indeed a small detail but it can ultimately win us games.

3. Lack of Physicality

We could be called a soft team or a tough team. If all the players can forecheck like Captain Koivu, the possibilities could be infinite. We have the potential to become the power of the west. Playing physical means winning one-on-one battles (which we haven’t done so far) and controlling the puck in the neutral zone.

4. Inconsistent goaltending

The lack of trust in goaltending can lead many teams down the drain. In our case, even though it is not that conspicuous, it does play a role. I am not saying in any way the Carey Price or Jaroslav Halak are not good, they are amazing in their own right. But when Price posts a shutout against Ottawa, the other players had to have some amount of confidence and then letting six goals in is certainly not consistent.

If Carey Price can be as good as he was against the St. Louis Blues every night, we will be set!

5. Discipline

Taking routine penalties has been part of almost every game we have seen the Bleu, Blanc, Rouge play. In some situations, it is acceptable to take penalty when you see the opponent will have an absolute scoring chance. But, what we have been doing is getting lazy penalties. Tripping, holding, hooking, interference are all calls which can be avoided most of the time. Penalty killing wears out many players on the ice including the goaltender. Even if we only allowed four goals while being one-down, it is a tiring two minutes.

6. Yes...again....Defense

Protecting your own zone is part of the game and the Habs are having difficulty finding the right techniques. Perhaps, the lack of another solid defenseman is a factor. At the moment, Markov fails to perform. His exceptional debut seems to have worn out. Hamrilik, Bouillon and Komisarek are the only defensemen who seem to do their job properly. At the moment Komisarek is out on injury.

Gorges makes mistakes occasionally but does make great plays. Both Brisebois and O’Byrne seem to have trouble in the debut of this season. Too many giveaways in the neutral zone and their deficit in helping the goaltender is costly. We are at a point where lack of synchronism and miscommunication cannot be excuses.

7. Alexei Kovalev

The star player of the team is not performing as well as expected. The man who carried the team on his shoulders last season shows no sign of expertise this time around. Except for a few glimpses here and there, it is pretty much dead. It is not helping him much also that the opposing teams having figured out his tactics and anticipate his usual moves. He has to unblock because we need him and also if he wants to preserve him place in the most-celebrated franchise of the NHL.

STRENGTHS

1. Guy Carbonneau

However much people complain, I have to conclude that the coach of this team is doing a good job. It is not easy to make bold moves and Carbo has proved time and time again that he is not afraid to make changes and bench players.

The fact that he doesn’t heed to the media and sticks to his own plans shows the type of coach he is. Many might say that he is incapable or leading such a talented team but as he always points out: ‘’Talent is not enough’’ For example, the game against the St. Louis blues saw many juggles in the line the formation looked like:

Alex Kovalev – Saku Koivu – Alex Tanguay

Christopher Higgins – Tomas Plekanec – Tom Kostopoulos

Andrei Kostitsyn – Robert Lang – Sergei Kostitsyn

Mathieu Dandenault – Steve Bégin – Guillaume Latendresse

To come up with such drastic changes and completely dismantle your first trio shows the courage in Guy Carbonneau. I say that he is a reason for the success and control the Canadiens have at this time of year. He is driver of the team.

2. Ability to bounce back

Even during the game and trailing, the Habs are one of the teams which can be considered for a comeback. They can pull through from behind and put in the effort. Sometimes too late and often right on time. It is not necessarily a good thing but it is reassuring to know that we do have the capacity to do that. And on a game-to-game basis as well. After a devastating loss, the team to rebound and show what they are made of. Especially, when we are talking about the Montreal Canadiens, there is no question of a many-game losing streak.

3. The fans

It is true that the fans are there to criticize every single move o their team but, they do not give up belief. Their optimism and support is a must for the Habs. For example, in Scottrade Center in St.Louis, the arena seemed hardly awake. Even our players felt bad for the team which wasn’t being cheered in their own building. So, I would say that the real fans who stick with their team through all the tough times should be appreciated and deserve a mention is pushing this team to their limits for a win.

I also want to add that, in my opinion, there is no need for panic. Early in the season with a record of 10-4-2 is not disappointing at all. If you remember my article about the season debut, you might realize that I had pointed out more strengths than weaknesses at that time. And today only six games later, things have changed.

I’m sure things will change again after the next few games too. Hockey is a roller-coaster ride with your favourite team. Have fun and Enjoy. Don’t forget to comment! And make sure to tell me if I missed something.

Lucky Montreal Canadiens Steal a Point from Columbus Blue Jackets

Harani T. — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 16:40:08 -0500

A game which ended 4-3 in shootout and helps Montreal only have 1 regulation loss in eleven games. The Candiens now are (8-1-2) earning of 18 out of 22 points. An impressive start indeed for a team who has figured everything out quite yet.

Not a bad First period

Usually, the Montreal periods love to have skipped playing the first period because there always end up making synchronization mistakes, lack of speed and bad turnovers.

Today, I think they had a goal to play a good first period. Even though the first 7-8 minutes were like ‘’Here we go again...’’ The Habs picked up their pace and were on a roll firing shots past rookie goaltender Steve Mason who made a few big saves for his team.

The only penalty in the whole period was an advantage to the Canadiens which was fruitful adding the seventh goal to Tanguay’s scoresheet.

A shaky Halak

Jaroslav Halak got the start today after resting for 12 days and was back in the nets. Although he made some good saves, he gave up a ridiculous amount of rebounds. When you have a player like R.J. Umberger parked in front of your net, it is a merely stupid gesture to let the puck bounce out in the open. More about Halak and the shootout below.

Quiet Second Period

Shots were 8-7 Canadiens and it didn’t pretty much didn’t look good for both teams. The Habs had to put up with defensive play of Hitchcock’s crew. In addition, taking 5 penalties which could have easily been avoided (Koivu right of the first faceoff on a powerplay! Very smart!). Both teams survived and it was time to see what Carbo could rake up between the periods to get his team going.

WOW! Brisebois...A shock

The last person I would have expected to score today would be Brisebois. The defenseman whom most of us complain about for making big mistakes and sometimes even give up goals, hit a slapshot which screened through at least five players and the goalie. But again, whatever he may do, it doesn’t cut it for me. In my eyes, a single goal doesn’t change anything in his way of play.

Third Period Chances

The Canadiens had remarkable open nets and lots of potential goals which missed the mark. However shots we 10-8 Blue Jackets with two goals finding the back of the net for each team. Christopher Higgins and Robert Lang missed a couple of times in front of the net and Andrei Kostitsyn showed glimpses of set-ups which were often destroyed by the Blue Jackets’ defense.

A moment of hope leads to Brotherly love

After all the negative comments directed toward Sergei Kostitsyn this week, I felt bad for him. No one can deny the work he produced and his support to the team last year. With 41 seconds left on the clock, Sergei banked in a shot from his older brother. It sure gave him the boost of confidence because he made sure the Canadiens left the building with a least a point in hand.

Overtime errors

The biggest mistake of the 5 minutes was Alex Tanguay’s decision behind his own net. For once, Halak was alert enough to stop the puck on the spot. Then, Koivu missed a big rebound off Mason’s right pad. Then, Brisebois tried another slapshot which was wide. The Canadiens even had to survive short-handed in the overtime due to a hooking penalty taken by Tomas Plekanec.

Man (Men) of the night

As you can probably see through my observation, no one really seems to deserve such credit. However, on the whole, I would have to hand it the fourth line of the Habs. Maxim Lapierre, Georges Laraque and Tom Kostopoulos were undoubtedly the best line out there for me tonight.

Combining a total of eight attempts, the aggresivity of this line ought to be commended. One tip for opposing teams: Don’t ever try to steal the puck away from LaRock because you won’t get it and probably end up injured. Sometimes, I even feel bad for Kostopoulos because of the many misses. He tries really hard and it showed.

Another player who deserves a special mention should be Josh Gorges. Even beside Andrei Markov, he was the best defenseman out there (except on that lame call for interference which was his first of the season). He cleared the puck on most of the penalty killing sequences and absolutely did what was asked of him.

Silent Night

It was a quiet night for Christopher Higgins. Guillaume Latendresse who saw only nine minutes of ice-time was equally dull today.

Last but not the least, Andrei Markov. The reason I put him in this category was simply because he seemed very unsure of himself today. Despite getting a little over 28 minutes of ice-time, he failed to make the mark.

Bottom line: we all know he can play better. Had he fetched a point today, it would have been in the history books (for getting a point on six consecutive road games).

The shootout

Even though I don’t think Guy Carbonneau should have pulled a Ron Wilson (even though we saw Price jumping up and down on the third goal! that was nice to see!), Halak was not ready for a shootout and it showed through his play in the game.

However, I believe Halak got nervous and started panicking today. It can be seen in his eyes when there was a close-up right before the shootout. And Carbonneaus decision to send Andrei Kostitsyn to shoot second, it would have paid off had he scored.

The coach decision would have been maybe influenced by the fact that Steve Mason (Columbus Blue Jackets Goaltender) is a rookie. So, he must have seen the way Kovalev, Koivu etc. scored. Sending the older Kostitsyn was a new technique because of his rare appearances in such situations.. Unfortunately for us, it didn’t pay off.

On a side note

The play of the Habs make me think ... ‘’Will we be getting lucky everytime?’’ It seems that this team has some support from somewhere unknown because we all know that they haven’t just yet played a full 60 minutes at full potential.

If they are able to fetch points simply by normal play then, we won’t be anything more than a mediocre team. And for the moment that is my only fear. It is that we might not be taking our performance as seriously as we should because we are winning anyways.

Anyhow, Carbo seems to say otherwise. And the Habs sure didn’t look liek they were tired. They tried but they didn’t possibly try hard enough.

‘’Price is the moon, Halak is just a passing-by star, sometimes there, sometimes not.’’ -Me

Hope you all like my recap of the Canadiens-Blue Jackets game. Feel free to leave me any comment. Looking forward to tomorrow’s game and the return of Price versus the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Six Reasons Why I Love Carey Price!

Harani T. — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 08:03:11 -0500

As you might have already found out, Carey Price has been elected by the National Hockey League (NHL) to be on the ballot for the voting in view of the All-Star game which is to be held in Montreal during the weekend of January 25. A

team of different players for each conference will be put together and and will compete in a friendly All-Star game. For that, the fans can also vote for their favorite players to be part of the game.

From the Montreal Canadiens, the players who are on the ballot are: Alex Kovalev, Saku Koivu, Alex Tanguay, Andrei Markov, Mike Komisarek and Carey Price.

Carey Price is a great athlete. I sincerely feel that being only 21, he absolutely deserves to be on the All-Star team and show that it can make a difference if you give the effort. Personally he is an example of perseverance and hard work.

So, in this piece honoring Carey Price, I wanted to trace back all the reasons why I am one of his craziest fans.

1. The Montreal Canadiens

Playing for a historical franchise such as Montreal is probably the best thing Price could have done to shape his NHL career adequately. Him being part of this team is one of the main reasons we accord so much attention to Carey.

2. The Mega Accomplishment

It is not everyday that a 20-year-old makes the jump for the NHL so quick, especially being a goalie. If it was a forward or even a defenseman, teams have back-up options but in the case of a goaltender, a team who dosn’t make the right call can end up in big trouble.

So, having won the World Junior Championship for Canada and also getting the MVP of the tournament sure earned Price his spot. But, this didn’t happen overnight. So, his passion and drive to be where he is today is impressive. No one can deny that.

3. Calmness

It is quite rare that you see a goalie with such precise technique. It is one thing to make the necessary saves but it is another thing to make it look easy or hard. In the case of Price, he really makes his job look easy. Even though Martin Brodeur is an awesome goalie, he has his own style.

Price’s style demonstrates a very poised person. He understands his job and doesn’t panic or even look tensed. Especially with his experience (or lack of), he knows his position and goes with the flow.

If you also carefully notice, most of time, the team defends him when someone goes overboard against Price. He usually just walks away. But when time comes, like the against Minnesota Wild where he held back Mikko Koivu for fighting, Price showed character. He knows when it is appropriate for him to make the move.

4. Perseverance

We all have our bad times. With all the crap directed at him after the playoff series, one ought to at least feel a little defeated. But what do you know? At the debut of this season, Price was back and I really mean BACK! A simple example of his quality could be observed in the game against the Islanders.

He did let in a ‘’bad’’ goal which was disappointing and it was the first time he actually expressed his feeling by hitting the stick against the ice. And even when he let in four goals in two periods and had a calm third period. He came up HUGE on those few last saves. In order to be able to have that quality, one has to be very mature.

5. Humor

It is quite amusing as fans to see how the players celebrate. Price and Gorges, close friends as they call it, find new ways of celebrating victory. In one game, they exchanged helmets (hilarious!) and the next one they had a cat-n’-mouse show. It is nice to see players getting along and to know and understand the little humor which helps them get along better just makes the game that much more interesting. Also, Price to the reporters: ‘’I’ll poison you if you come over for dinner!’’

6. Confidence

Another interesting point about Price is that luck seems to be on his side. He does work hard but most of time, he is the one who has the most amazing (in a sense Impossible) saves. For example, take the against Detroit on September 30 or the backhand save in the playoffs against the Bruins could all be recorded as saves of the year.

To be able to reach out like that and dare such moves can only be done when we are confidence. Price, so far, has embodies only confidence. He has never been overconfident nor hav i seen him double-guessing himself!

Although his age might be an issue for many, I personally feel it as an advantage. He has a great career in front of him and for sure, like Carbonneau said ‘’He won’t know it if he doesn’t live it’’. That is absolutely true.

As for the All-Star team, I feel that he deserves a chance. With all the hype of the game being held in Montreal and the amount of fans there to support him, I am sure it will be possible. Carey Price will be in nets in the All-Star game.

On a side note, I was going to write an article on the Price-R.J. Umberger (yes...the player who scored 8 times on Price during the 2008 playoffs) ,but unfortunately that won’t happen. At least, not now.

Guy Carbonneau has put Jaroslav Halak in the net for the Columbus game and Carey Price will face the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Do comment and feel free to express your opinion.

NHL Stars and Their Striking Celebrity Look-Alikes!

Harani T. — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 12:49:00 -0500

I found these pictures a while ago on a website and it remained saved on my computer. While browsing, I came across them and had a pretty big laugh. So, just thought I should share them. These pictures were originally featured on SportsIllustrated.com in April 2008.

SKATER STARS

1. Montreal Canadiens forward Alexei Kovalev looking like film actor Sean Bean

2. Washington Capitals forward Alexander Ovechkin looking like James Bond villain "Jaws," Richard Kiel

3. Montreal Canadiens defenseman Andrei Markov and Mr. Bean

4. Philadelphia Flyers forward Daniel Briere and the legendary Paul McCartney

5. New York Rangers forward Chris Drury and actor Luke Wilson

6. Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin's striking resemblance to Nick Jonas

7. Detroit Red Wings forward Henrik Zetterberg looks like actor Jared Leto

8. Calgary Flames forward Jarome Iginla compared to Mike Tyson (this one's funny!)

(Although I think he kind of looks like Barack Obama! Kind of!)

9. Ottawa Senators forward Jason Spezza and British actor Lee Evans

10. Colorado Avalanche forward Joe Sakic and musician Harry Conick Jr.

11. San Jose Sharks forward Joe Thornton and Welsh actor Rhys Ifans

12. Boston Bruins forward Marco Sturm compared to a shot of Adam Sandler

13. Minnesota Wild forward Marian Gaborik looking like actor Rick Schroeder

14. Washington Capitals defenseman Mike Green and actor-model Channing Tatum

15. Detroit Red Wings defenseman Niklas Lidstrom and Neal Patrick Harris

16. Ex-Colorado Avalanche forward Peter Forsberg looking like Ryan Reynolds

17. Anaheim Ducks forward Ryan Getzlaf and Josh Duhamel

18. Pittsburgh Penguins forward Sidney Crosby and Andy Samberg

19. Anaheim Ducks forward Teemu Selanne's striking resemblance to Rufus Sewell

20. New York Rangers defenseman Wade Redden compared to Matt Dillon

HERE'S A LOOK AT THE GOALIE STARS!

1. San Jose Sharks goalie Evgeni Nabokov and Ben McKenzie

2. Calgary Flames netminder Miikka Kiprusoff compared to Glen Hasard

3. New Jersey Devils injured goalie Martin Brodeur matches with John Corbett

4. New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist striking resemblance to James Blunt

5. Boston Bruins goalie Tim Thomas is Drew Carey (You see that?)

6. Dallas Stars netminder Marty Turco looks like Rick Hoffman

Alright! I posted all of them! It was long...hope you all enjoyed looking at these. It actually gave me an idea of putting some together myself. If you have ideas, please pitch in. We can create our own bank of stars. Do comment—which ones are you still laughing about? Which one was totally off?

Canadiens-Islanders Highlights NHL Saturday Night Showdown

Harani T. — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 02:51:31 -0500

The NHL schedule for Saturday, Nov. 1 held a list of 12 games involving 24 teams. If we look around the league, many surprises were awaiting the night that followed Halloween. Let’s start by looking at the games, one at a time, and evaluate their performances. I will have a detailed analysis on the Montreal Canadiens-New York Islanders game because it is the only one I watched completely.

Warning: Try counting the number of teams with Goalie Trouble Syndrome!

Montreal Canadiens at New York Islanders (Canadiens, 5-4)

A pretty special game in its own way. The team which holds the current worst record in the hockey league played without their No. 1 goaltender who was injured against the Habs who were said to be one of the best in the league and off to an exceptional start. Sounds very easy to predict right? Wrong.

Even though Guy Carbonneau mentioned that his team wasn’t going to underestimate the Islanders, one cannot help but sympathize. Awful first two periods for the Canadiens. With the exception of Kovalev's goal, the rest was all Islanders. Through two periods, the Habs were outshot, outhit, outhustled, outskated and outworked. They were OUT.

The Islanders were consistently first on the puck, won every battle, controlled the neutral zone and gained the Canadiens' blueline with dismaying ease which led to the scoring of four unanswered goals heading into the third period with a 4-1 lead. The Islanders won the game right? Wrong!

Right when I was ready to turn off the television because of the slow and shaky start in the last period, Alex Kovalev got a high-stick in his face. Then, something triggered me to sit along and watch for a couple of more minutes. There was no call, Kovalev came back and was on fire. It seems to have triggered some energy because earlier in the game, Kovy had seven giveaways.

Payback night! It was the night for Plekanec’s line and he had two goals and two assists. Higgins also netted his first of the season. Frans Nielson of New York also scored a pair for his team. Although Carey Price let in four goals, the 21-year-old did not lose his composure coming up big in the final minutes of the game to reward the amazing work of his teammates.

It was a good game where a team showed character. One team had enough talent to come back and fight and the other team just didn’t know what to do with their lead because they are not used to winning so much.

However, the Canadiens emerge with the win which has a sour taste, no one actually played a normal OK game on the Habs. There is also goalie trouble awaiting the Islanders who have lost Rick DiPietro on an injury for a period of 4-6 weeks.

Did Guy Carbonneau say something special after the second period?

"Yeah, you don't want to hear that."—Tomas Plekanec (Montreal Canadiens)

Edmonton Oilers at Carolina Hurricanes (Oilers, 3-1)

The first game of the day started in Carolina where Edmonton was looking to bounce back and end a two-week losing streak. Although Carolina scored the first goal, the score was tied by Horcoff exactly 20 minutes after in the second period on a power play. After that, it was a two-way game as both teams battled hard to get the puck deep in their zones. One statistic that jumped at me was Carolina's power-play percentage, which is 12 percent. A team as tight as the Hurricanes struggled to score on six different opportunities.

"We got some really fortunate goals."—Ethan Moreau (Edmonton Oilers)

Dallas Stars at Boston Bruins (Bruins, 5-1)

Tim Thomas clearly displayed amazing skill and brilliance in his goaltending which was a key to Boston’s 5-1 win against the Stars. The particularity in this game was the march to the penalty box and the tension between the teams as Boston was piling up the goals. Precisely, the Bruins had a total of 77 penalty minutes and the Stars, 69 minutes (two major fighting and two misconduct penalties on both sides).

However, Claude Julien’s crew showed their improvement and ability to compete against bigger, tougher teams. Marty Turco is having trouble because he was beat five times on 25 shots. The Stars may have to come up with a new plan to solve their problem if they want to be successful. Having Sean Avery is not the solution to everything!

"Then we make one mistake the whole period and it's in our net."—Dave Trippet (Dallas Stars Coach)

Washington Capitals at Buffalo Sabres (Sabres, 5-0)

Alexander Ovechkin was in Russia on a personal visit and wasn’t present in Washington’s matchup against the Sabres. Whoever said that he carried the team on his shoulders would have been very happy to see them struggle. However, in my opinion, José Théodore wasn’t in full form today and that might have cost them the game. He let in three goals in the first period and couldn’t redeem himself to stop the two next ones.

In Buffalo, Thomas Vanek is a player who can score (two goals on the night) and Ryan Miller is becoming a star goalie. On home ice, the Sabres shut out all 29 shots put forth by the Capitals. It is also clear that the Washington team does not hold an impressive record (5-4-1).

"Right now, I'm trying to stay hot."—Thomas Vanek (Buffalo Sabres)

New York Rangers at Toronto Maple Leafs (Leafs, 5-2)

Perhaps one of the first times where Toronto has to be credited a 100 percent for their play through the game. Having secured a 2-0 lead, the Rangers maybe got a little overconfident in the third period. Within a short span of barely five minute, the Leafs found the end of the net five times. It is important to note that all the seven goals by both teams in this game were scored at even strength.

So, from where did Toronto get all this energy? Perhaps, the surprise of the night! Stephen Valiquette would have probably dreaming about his shutout and got caught in the middle. It was a quite interesting game and the player who earned the first star, Mitchell, scored his first two goals of the season in the victory.

"I just fist-pumped as many times as I could."—John Mitchell (Toronto Maple Leafs player)

Atlanta Thrashers at New Jersey Devils (Devils, 6-1)

In this very predictable game due both teams’ records and roster, the Devils emerged with a win but only with a loss. Martin Brodeur, who has been having a bumpy ride this season, was injured in his elbow when did a split to make a stop. According to the coach, he then dressed and left home without talking to anyone.

It is significant to know that Brodeur is only seven wins aways from breaking Patrick Roy’s record of 551 NHL career victories. Apart from that, the Devils completely dominated the first two periods with six unanswered goals and took the win.

"Obviously, he's pretty important for us. We all hope it's not anything too serious."—Jamie Langenbrunner (New Jersey Devils Captain)

Chicago Blackhawks at Columbus Blue Jackets (Blackhawks, 4-3)

A game which ended in a shootout goal by Jonathan Toews secured the win for the Blackhawk. Cristobal Huet faced 51 shots and only allowed three goals. Both team showed their skills and the Blackhawks were indeed outshot 51-24. Through 11 power-play opportunities, only R.J. Umberger’s goal managed to find the inside of net. An intense game where the visiting team surged with the win.

"They threw a lot of pucks at the net. We made a few mistakes, but overall I think most of their shots were from the outside, which is fine."—Cristobal Huet (Chicago Blackhawks)

Ottawa Senators at Tampa Bay Lightning (Tampa, 3-2)

The Ottawa Senators opened the scoring with a power-play goal by Vermette. Then it was a pretty tight game until the mid-second period where both teams scored in a 29 seconds apart. Then, Mathieu Carle scored the goal late in the third which had the game tied moving in to overtime. Shots were three-a-piece during the five-minute sudden death. In the shootout, big man Artyukhin, an unlikely candidate on his first shootout sequence, netted the game-winning goal for Tampa Bay. Steven Stamkos (14 minutes of ice-time) was nowhere to be found on the scoring sheet in the game.

"I just had a hunch about Arty. I thought, let's put the big guy out there and see what he could do."—Barry Melrose (Tampa Bay Lightning coach)

OK, folks! That’s all I could do for tonight. I will work on updating the other four games sometime soon. In the meanwhile, don’t forget to comment. Also, if I made any mistakes, feel free to correct them.

Montreal Canadiens prevail against the Wild

Harani T. — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 16:13:17 -0400

GOING INTO THE GAME

The Montreal Canadiens entered this game against Minnesota after having suffered and survived against the Carolina Hurricanes in a shootout victory. The first & second periods of that game were struggling moments for the Habs who managed to emerge with the win. After a day-long break, the city of Minnesota awaited the team who was in full-form. Ryan O’Byrne, after having made many mistakes, was a healthy scratch along with Bégin and Georges Laraque. Coming off a rough game, the Canadiens had two possibilities: get their act together and perform excellently or struggle through the game and blame it on Minnesota’s skill and competence.

The Minnesota Wild, on the other hand, enjoyed a season debut with no regulation losses until October 29 when Dallas put a period to their hopes of continuing their streak. Their team, which relies mostly on Mikko Koivu’s line, returned home in the wee hours of October 30. There were two possibilities for their gameplay: bounce back from their defeat and bring their A game or play a tired game because of their back-to back schedule. Marian Gaborik, the star of their team, was on injured reserve. Another setback for the Wild was that their No.1 goaltender, Niklas Backstrom let in 3 goals on 13 shots and was replaced by Josh Harding. The backup goaltender was in the nets for this game.

THE GAME

Slow Start

The game started off by Plakanec failing to make the right decision and not fore-checking Stafford who was able to make a pass from behind the net to Brett Burns who scored 1:31 the game. Now, just when it looked like one of those dreadful games, Bouillon scored his 2^nd goal of the season (he reached the same stage only in his 80^th game in the 2007-08 season) 3 minutes later to tie the game.

Penalty Period

The second period was filled with penalties for the Montreal Canadiens. The referee Chris Lee, in my opinion, made the right calls (except the one on Hamrilik) and it was noted as a major problem for the Habs. Guy Carbonneau got so frustrated that he was standing up on the bench and showing his disapproval. Including three 5-on3s, the Wild were on the powerplay for a total of 10 minutes. However, the opposing team could not manage to get the puck deep in the net. Beyond Carey Price’s few amazing saves, the Canadiens Penalty Killers have to be mentioned and because they did keep up with the attack of the Wild.

Nevertheless, the Habs cannot entirely be credited for excellent play because there were equally other reasons why Minnesota was unable to score. There were many synchronization problems amongst the players and the passes were not completed. That is the main explanation why the Canadiens feel so relieved with the Win because had the wild played their regular game, the situation would have completely changed. On a side note, the game-winning goal by Markov was scored on a 5-on-3 powerplay for Montreal. A shot from the point was enough to seize the win.

Hanging in there

Carey Price was kept alert throughout the third period as the Wild tried incessantly to score. It was clearly one of his best game because he fought hard to conserve the 1 goal lead. He stood tall and held himself very well in position. The Canadiens also showed their fore-checking capacities; especially Komisarek and Andrei Kostitsyn who were really efficient on taking the puck away for the opposition. Mikko Koivu became the Plekanec of the Wild when 7 of his shots came really close: hitting the post, teammates missing the big rebounds. Speaking of Plekanec, it is actually very unfortunate that he can’t find the net. The frustration shows in his face and his play demonstrated hope.

Mistake of the night

Robert Lang missed a beautiful scoring opportunity even after having beaten Josh Harding. A redirection towards the top of the net would have been enough for the goal. Confidence was a lacking element in his play. Had it been Alex Tanguay in that position, it was highly probable that it was a goal. Is the shining of Tanguay too much to handle for Robert Lang? He hasn’t been the same player we saw at the beginning.

Defense!

Remember how I mentioned that the Canadiens’ defense needs improvement? Well, the two goals of the night were scored by defenseman and it worth mentioning the play by Josh Gorges. No penalties and tons of blocked shots, I thought he deserved a star. They seem to be pulling together.

Silent Night

Sergei Kostitsyn, Alex Kovalev and Robert Lang had rather normal nights where they did not seem to be involved and the energy wasn’t in them. Kovalev was turned on but wasn’t his usual self. Brisebois equally had his share of silence when he was seen not making many mistakes as in previous games. Perhaps, the rest was well-needed for the veteran.

Best lines of the night

On the Habs’ side the fourth line was undoubtedly amazing! They were hard-hitting, controlled the puck and maintain good speed. It was rather disappointing to see their efforts go to waste each time there was a penalty. An exception would be Dandenault’s bad penalty where he lost his stick and manged to trip another player. Maxim Lapierre had a great night and did not make many mistakes.

Guillaume Latendresse again proved many people wrong by demonstrating his skills out there. He passed the puck well and set-up many sequences for his linemates. The Markov goal was triggered by that line and they did a job overall. Saku Koivu got his first penalty of the season slashing his brother Mikko Koivu.

The Scrum

Towards the end, the Minnesota Wild were desperate for the win and took the Philadelphia lane. A person who surprised in the mêlée was Carey Price who was seen holding back Mikko Koivu. A usually poised and elegant Price who moves away from fights stood up yesterday. It was a side of the young goalie we hadn’t witnessed before.

Also, did anyone notice the number of sticks that broke? I counted at least six times where there were broken sticks? Pretty unusual in one game!

AT THE END

Considering all these aspects of this match-up, we can evidently see that the Habs learnt a lot from this experience. It is not everyday that they get to play against a team as strong and the Wild. Obviously, this victory will be well accepted taking into account that the Montreal Canadiens were not the most beneficial team entering the game. The Habs need to learn to play for a full 60 minutes. If they can do that, they can be a very solid team. In summary, it wasn’t a totally-deserved win given the circumstances but there are shades of a good team, it was more of discovery period. Next up, the Canadiens will be facing Mark Streit and his team, the New York Islanders on Saturday.

This is only my second article and I am experimenting new ways of writing without sounding boring. Any suggestions or feedback is most welcome. Don't forget to comment!

Montreal Canadiens Season Debut Report!

Harani T. — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 12:49:17 -0400

The Montreal Canadiens represent hockey in many ways.

Attracting a house-full audience at every appearance, the Habs are more than being a provincial team. Canada talks Canadiens.

However, the fans who support this franchise are more than normal. They live and die with it. They also tend to refuse to accept their victories, and sometimes find it unreal that their team lost.

A cherry on top is the centennial season which is in progress this year. It adds to the excitement. I'm not saying there wasn’t enough before—there is just a new dimension this year, because all eyes are on Montreal.

Not only do the fans have great expectations after a spectacular 2007-08 season, but also the 25 Stanley Cups coming home—"Oh, my God" comes to people’s minds. All there is to say is that it is a long journey to that victory.

Merely 10 percent complete, the Canadiens may now sit comfortably in their position. But do they really deserve to belong there? To figure this out, I have put together a report of the Canadiens’ performances in the first eight games of the season (six victories, one loss, one shootout loss).

The Powers of the Habs

1. Through the first few games, one can’t help but notice the chemistry in Tanguay-Koivu-Latendesse line. The fact that these three players gel together helps the team in more than one way.

First, they get the puck deep in the net and actually score goals. Second, it motivates the team because they represent the possibility of realizing that victory is possible, because they have kept the team alive in many games.

2. Andrei Markov is another asset who is contributing to the success the Canadiens are having this year. A player who is expected by many to be a potential Norris Trophy candidate is all about doing his job more than satisfactorily. A solid defenseman who logs an average of 25 minutes of icetime is certainly a good force in this time of game.

3. The fourth line doesn’t get much recognition, but is a factor which forces many power-play opportunities. Their aggressiveness and hard-hitting style helps to keep the team at a good speed. Lapierre, Dandenault, Kostopoulos (really good this season), and Bégin are maybe not the most-prolific goal scorers, but they are a strength to the team.

4. Goaltending is a rather controversial issue once again for the Canadiens. Some people think it’s a positive outcome, and some think it negative.

In my honest opinion, I think that Carey Price and Jaroslav Halak are doing what is required of them. Amazing on some nights and just alright on others. Of course, they would want to take back some of the shots but hey! It’s part of being a goalie.

However, we shouldn’t forget that goaltending does not only depend only on the person in the crease but also on the other players on the ice. Now, that is a potential weakness of the Habs.

5. The Canadiens equally excel in team spirit. Though of various ages ranging from 21 to 37, they show that they stick together. Admit it or not, but it is a positive influence on the team. Fors example, if you watch the pleasantries they share in after-game celebration, you see no fakeness, but just true team spirit.

Motivation is important in any sport. If one single players doesn’t co-operate or tries to play all alone, it will definitely affect the team. So far, on the Habs, everything’s cool!

The downfalls of the Habs

1. The major weakness of the habs as many would clearly have noticed is the power of the defense. A team cannot proceed to win solely by attacking. Protecting their own zone is part of the game and the Habs are having difficulty finding the right techniques.

Perhaps the lack of another solid defenseman is a factor. At the moment, Markov, Hamrilik, Bouillon, and Komisarek are the only defensemen who seem to do their job properly. Gorges makes mistakes occasionally, but does make great plays.

Both Brisebois and O’Byrne seem to have trouble in the debut of this season. Too many giveaways in the neutral zone and their failure to help their goaltender by completing the screen of the other team would like to do has been costly.

A perfect example would be Brisebois, who was statined in front of Halak in the seventh game against Anaheim. That goal obviously made a difference. Defense is a point that requires immediate attention.

2. I have also noticed that our players, with the exception in parts of the game against the Hurricanes, do not hit hard enough to obtain the puck. Also, they give the puck away very easily.

Early in the season, it may not look that damaging, but as games come versus teams in the Western Conference or even the Penguins, it will hurt if we cannot control the puck.

Additional remarks

Even the though the number of strengths proves to be much more than the number of weakness, the trouble we are having is serious. If Carbonneau comes up with adequate methods fill the two voids, the Habs will pretty much be the team to beat.

At the moment, luck is in their favour and it is a bumpy ride. Once these get solved, the Montreal Canadiens will be a solid contender. Happy Season!

Thanks a lot for the read. It is my first article, so feel free to comment and suggest on points that I can improve for the times to come.