Bleacher Report - Articles by Jason Hitelman

A Montreal Canadiens Fan Wishes Old Friends Good Luck

Jason Hitelman — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:57:26 -0400

I'm feeling a little bit ashamed.

With the exception of Saku Koivu, I never took the opportunity to wish our free agency departures good luck with their new teams.

I know a lot of you may be thinking that I'm saying this tongue-in-cheek, but I'm not (save for a burly, blonde defenseman). I really enjoyed the team that we had and I believe that everyone played their part to the best of their abilities (for the most part).

I hope that Alex Kovalev enjoys his new role as an Ottawa Senator. His magic certainly will not go unnoticed by the fans. It's quite unfortunate that he heeded his agent's advice rather than that of his own heart.

Alex Tanguay will surely flourish in his one year with the Lightning, and provided he plays through some pain, he will most likely get another shot to sign a big deal in the NHL.

Tom Kostopoulos was always a spark-plug with the Habs. His heart was huge, but he had hands of stone. With no shortage of talent on the Carolina Hurricanes, Tom the Bomb can act like a pinball all game long without even worrying about touching the puck.

I welcomed Mathieu Schneider with open arms when he joined the Canadiens and he certainly reciprocated as a powerplay specialist. I'm sure he will complement an already strong Canucks blueline quite well. I do hope his shoulder holds up, though.

After trading both Christian Ehrhoff and Brad Lukowich to free up cap space for Dany Heatley, the San Jose Sharks will most definitely add Mathieu Dandenault after his tryout is complete. The fleet-footed veteran will make a more than capable seventh defenseman for the Western Conference powerhouse.

Mike Komisarek has a very good chance of becoming the Toronto Maple Leafs' top scorer. Good luck, I hope it was worth it.

Unfortunately, Francis Bouillon and Robert Lang have not yet received contracts. Injury is a tough thing—it has been plaguing Frankie B through his entire career and very possibly could have ended Lang's. Luckily, boys, it's not officially too late until you retire. Good luck.

I was able to watch some of our newcomers play in the first Habs preseason game against the Panthers last night. My night ended with a smile because of some dazzling performances.

Hopefully, tonight's game will be as enjoyable and new faces will be in the spotlight.

I know it's tough to say goodbye to old friends, but I sure like making new ones.

Scott Gomez: Montreal Canadiens' Captain?

Jason Hitelman — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:16:15 -0400

Scott Gomez spent two seasons playing in New York and they definitely weren't the greatest years of his career.

After thriving as a New Jersey Devil, the NHL's first Latin-American player crossed the Hudson River only to put up sub-par, un-Gomez like numbers for the New York Rangers. It wasn't quite what he expected.

It wasn't quite what Glen Sather, Rangers fans, or quite frankly, anyone who followed his career expected either.

Scotty was the cream of the 2007 free agency crop. He was the player to sign if you were a general manager. Sather may have overpaid for him, but if you look at some of the other signings of the offseason (Daniel Briere, Chris Drury, Ryan Smyth, Sheldon Souray, and, ahem, Roman Hamrlik), the price tags were pretty hefty all around.

There was no debating that Gomez was one of the most talented, nifty skaters in the NHL.

But he was disappointing—most notably because of his salary.

No one was as disappointed as Gomez himself, who said that he was embarrassed by his performance as a Blueshirt.

Well, everyone deserves a second chance.

Welcome to Montreal, a city in which you will most likely only get one chance to prove your worth. There is no room for error...I'm sure that Scott Gomez has done his homework and realizes this.

Gomez has been to the promised land twice—he was a key component in the last Devils' Cup victory in 2003.

He has dealt with the media—under the blazing hot New York camera lights—with grace and candor. He always seems to know what to say at the right times.

Man, I wish there was a spot available on the Habs for him to do the same.

Oh wait.

Could this have been in Bob Gainey and Jacques Martin's plans all along?

It can't be argued that it was always a headlining issue to bring in a new cast of characters with a different set of leadership qualities.

Why not bestow the honoured "C" on the centerpiece of the offence? Gomez is, after all, the only one of the new pieces that was acquired through trade rather than free agency.

Wouldn't it be nice to show him how much he means to us?

Nothing would truly welcome him quite like bestowing the captaincy upon him.

The management knows this just as well as I do.

A happy employee is a good employee.

Let's see just how happy this employee can be given the opportunity.

Montreal Canadiens: With Training Camp Comes a New Hope

Jason Hitelman — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 11:32:22 -0400

Training camp is finally upon us.

After months of criticizing, hypothesizing, and speculation, we can finally bear witness to the brand spanking new Montreal Canadiens.

The five-year plan is over—a new one is about to begin.

Scott Gomez, Brian Gionta, Mike Cammalleri, Travis Moen, Jaroslav Spacek, Hal Gill, and Paul Mara will be donning the storied bleu-blanc-et-rouge and will undergo all of the fan and media scrutiny that players of the past were forced to endure.

If they are truly passionate about the game they play, being a member of the winningest franchise in NHL history is a privilege. If they aren't ready, well, they better get ready because there is nothing quite like it.

Hell hath no fury like a Habs fan scorned.

It's time for these boys to get on the ice and skate like they've never skated before.

It's time for them to build some chemistry with each other—it shouldn't be too difficult for a couple of American guys who have been playing together since the age of 15.

It's time to hit hard and show the rest of the league and the pundits that size up-front doesn't matter when you have it at the back-end.

Playing a responsible defensive game should be easy as pie with a trap guru like Jacques Martin as the head coach.

Scoring goals should be a cinch with the likes of a former 48-goal scorer in Gionta and a present-day sniper in Cammalleri. If young Andrei Kostitsyn would like to live up to his potential and turn on the red light a little more often, now would be a very good time.

The power play unit should be an improved one. No one can quite see the ice like Scotty Gomez, not to mention Andrei Markov. Jaroslav Spacek can silence a lot of critics by putting some shots on net, even though he's "over the hill" at 35.

Let's get that dominant top-ranking unit back.

It's a potential redemption year for young Carey Price. Don't worry, kid, everyone will be chanting your name again when you start making brilliant saves. I have faith.

It would certainly be preferable if all of these factors worked in Bob Gainey's favour at the beginning of the season, but let's face it, it may take some time.

The team may not get off to the scorching start that they did last October. If they do, all the better. But if everything works out like I think it will, they will assuredly finish better than the 100th Anniversary Edition did.

As we all know, talk is cheap.

Let's watch some hockey.

Saku Koivu: Montreal Canadiens Fans Will Miss You

Jason Hitelman — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:55:23 -0400

Today is bittersweet for me.

On one hand, I am elated about the free-agent signings. Bob Gainey finally got the impact player(s) he's been looking for all these years.

But not without a loss.

Yes, I'll miss Alex Kovalev—even through all the theatrics and tantrums, disappearing for weeks at a time, he was our most talented player. There was nothing quite like watching him skate around the opposition, as if to see if they were paying attention. And his shot was, well, magnificent.

Alex Tanguay gave us flashes of brilliance last season, but his injuries hindered my feelings towards him. I knew that he was an excellent skater, playmaker, and bonafide winner—but why couldn't he stay healthy?

Despite this, I'm still a little bit confused that he hasn't been offered a contract yet.

Goodbye, Mike Komisarek, I don't even know what to say about you.

But above all else, I am truly saddened that I will not see my beloved captain in a Habs uniform to end his career.

Saku Koivu was, to me, what a Montreal Canadiens player should be. Though he was undersized and often injured, he played like he could take on the world.

My most recent fond memories of Saku are from the past postseason.

Though the Habs were being completely dominated and destroyed by the Bruins, Koivu incessantly slammed into Zdeno Chara against the boards whenever he possibly could—David versus Goliath.

David once had cancer, but he came back.

David almost lost his eye, but he came back.

He once broke his foot in the last month of the regular season, but he came back in the playoffs. It was clear that nothing would keep Saku Koivu from putting on his Habs sweater and playing to his utmost capabilities for his team.

He dealt with scrutiny from a certain unforgiving media outlet. It's not exactly easy to learn a third language in adulthood—perhaps we should have let that one slide.

Yesterday, he was asked if he was offered any contracts. He said he had been offered a couple, but was reluctant to accept any.

Koivu said he still wanted to play in Montreal and was waiting to see what happened with his team before he decided.

Unfortunately, Bob didn't see Saku in the plans.

Change had to come in the form of Scott Gomez, Mike Cammalleri, and Brian Gionta: The Montreal Canadiens' new No. 1 line.

We can only hope that these three little guys will give as much to the "bleu, blanc, rouge" as Saku did. If they do, then as they say, "Size doesn't matter."

I grew up watching Saku Koivu—he is my captain.

He will always be a Montreal Canadien in my heart.

I like to think that he'll always be one in his own heart, too.

Are the Montreal Canadiens in Limbo?

Jason Hitelman — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 09:23:21 -0400

Alex Kovalev, Saku Koivu, Alex Tanguay, Mike Komisarek, Robert Lang, Tom Kostopoulos, Mathieu Schneider, Francis Bouillion, Mathieu Dandenault, and Patrice Brisebois.

Shockingly, none of them were nominated for this year's Hart Trophy, which Alex Ovechkin brought back to Washington.

More importantly, none of them have been inked to any sort of contract by Bob Gainey and the Montreal Canadiens as of yet.

Now, I'm not trying to be an eager beaver, but shouldn't the wheels be in motion by now? After all, it is June 19—I feel that we're due for at least one signing.

I've always been Bob Gainey's greatest supporter; My motto has been "In Bob We Trust" ever since he took over the reigns as general manager. I've come to a point, one week before the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, when Mikael Johansson just isn't going to cut it.

I feel like the Habs are in hockey purgatory right now—it's almost as if the team doesn't exist.

Thankfully, I felt the same way about the Pittsburgh Penguins before last season began. They had all of their money tied up in their superstars, they had to let most of their role-players walk.

There is, however, a bit of a difference between the 2008 Penguins and the 2009 Canadiens: They had Crosby and Malkin, while we have Kostitsyn and Pacioretty.

I'm getting nervous.

I know that everyone thinks that Kovalev is going to sign in Montreal because a Russian tabloid told them he was. I, on the other hand, am a tad more skeptical. If it was such a sure thing three weeks ago when the story broke, why hasn't it happened yet?

Spending $6-7.5 million for an aging superstar is ludicrous, by the way.

Saku Koivu wants to stay in Montreal, but wants a deal before July 1. I believe that Saku has earned the right to retire in a Montreal Canadiens' jersey, despite the feeling of the general fanbase. I understand that there are people who think that he does not perform as a leader should.

He was, however, our best player for a number of years. Those were very dark days, to say the least, but Saku stuck around.

He soldiered through some obstacles, I might add.

If Saku wants a contract before the bonanza, I think he should get one.

Mike Komisarek may be looking for a payday, but might only get what he's looking for in Long Island. If he wants to play in his hometown—which doubles as the NHL's graveyard—so be it. Mark Streit may be upset that he's no longer the team's No. 1 defenseman, though.

Alex Tanguay looked excellent towards the end of last season, but was then injured—as he was for the majority of 2008-2009. Now, after undergoing surgery, I'm not sure he's a priority for Gainey.

Two must-ink players, I think, are Schneider and Lang. I hope that they can be signed as they were both key cogs when healthy. Why wouldn't they take one-year, discounted contracts?

I'm actually shocked that Kostopoulos hasn't been offered or signed a contract yet. He's exactly what a role-player should be: He shows heart, grit, and determination. And he defends teammates who steal purses...

As of today, no unrestricted (or restricted) free agent has been offered a contract extension. We, as Habs fans, don't have much of a team to root for.

Perhaps Gainey is waiting for the Draft to trade Kovalev's exclusive rights to Toronto for Mikhail Grabovski.

Or maybe he's waiting to announce all the contracts at one press conference as part of an ongoing Centennial celebration.

Whatever the reason, I'm growing impatient—I just want to know who to put on the back of my jersey.

2009 NHL Conference Finals: The Beginning of the End of Fun

Jason Hitelman — Thu, 28 May 2009 12:52:54 -0400

That was just downright boring.

After two fantastic rounds, culminating with 3-of-4 series going to a seventh, deciding game, I guess I thought we'd be in for a treat. This is what the hockey world was waiting for—two blockbuster Conference Finals, right?

Wrong.

So wrong, in fact, that I, a hockey-loyalist, through strikes and lockouts, sighed and grumbled with the prospect of watching Game Five of the Red Wings-Blackhawks series.

At least it went into overtime.

And Zetterberg's visible fear of the Campbell Trophy provided me with some entertainment.

I guess I should have known better.

The Penguins-Capitals Game Seven defined anticlimactic, I suppose it was just a foreshadowing of lopsided hockey to come.

I knew, going into the Semis, that the 'Hawks didn't have a shot—I was just hoping that they'd put up a bit of a fight.

Marty Havlat, the team's best regular-season scorer and a powerhouse this postseason, decided to stay off of his skates after Niklas Kronwall sent him to another galaxy.

Nikolai Khabibulin's injury opened the door for Cristobal Huet, a gentleman who has never won a playoff series.

That's all she wrote.

Oh, and the Red Wings are a much more complete, well-seasoned team.

I really thought that the Carolina Hurricanes had a chance to advance; they looked a lot like a team of destiny.

With two upsets already behind them, why couldn't they notch another one?

Evgeni Malkin—that's why.

And so, the hockey fans that were waiting to watch exciting, competitive play got to see a four-game sweep and a five-game mismatch.

Lovely.

If that's not bad enough, after watching a full season and three rounds of playoffs after the last Stanley Cup Finals, nothing has changed.

"It's deja vu all over again."

Whatever happened to parity?

I wanted to see some new blood, not the same old Swedish faces.

Or more of Sidney Crosby's horrendous playoff beard.

On the brighter side of things, if Malkin scores some goals, I'll get to see his parents kiss each other—and strangers that are near them.

And witness the well-oiled hockey machine that is the Detroit Red Wings repeat as Stanley Cup Champions.

The Pens pushed it to six last year, and the pundits say, with both Geno and Crosby rolling, they have a legitimate shot.

I ask you, if the Red Wings win it in six or less, will those very same pundits be shocked?

Don't expect many exciting games, just be glad that you got to witness two rounds of hockey that were jam-packed with goals, greatness, upsets, and overall competitive nature.

And, if you're a Penguins fan, be happy that Sid and the boys paraded around with the Wales Trophy.

I'll reserve my joie-de-vivre for the Draft.

The 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thus Far: A Bitter Fan's Perspective

Jason Hitelman — Sat, 16 May 2009 22:48:11 -0400

I really love hockey.

It consumes my thoughts most hours of the day. I'd be lying if I said that I've never had dreams of hoisting the Cup—or vivid nightmares pertaining to playoff elimination, for that matter.

It's just very difficult for me to truly enjoy the sport now that my beloved Habs are not participating.

Don't get me wrong, this version of the Stanley Cup Playoffs has been noteworthy, if not the best that I've seen in many years.

Pittsburgh-Washington was a dream come true for a hockey fan (and Gary Bettman).

Anaheim upsetting the first-seeded Sharks and taking it to seven with the Red Wings showed us the meaning of perseverance, heart, and desire to win. Uplifting stuff.

Carolina, or the Cardiac 'Canes, as Canadian network TSN has dubbed them, have demonstrated that it really pays to be hot at the right time.

Goodbye, Jersey, better luck next year!

Excuse me, Mr. Chara, have you met Eric Staal?

But, as lovely as the postseason has been to date, it is hard—on the verge of painful—for me to watch.

Do you have any idea how much money I spent on playoff tickets at the Bell Centre?

Essentially, I shelled out all kinds of moolah just to hear my love, the Montreal Canadiens, get booed off the ice in consecutive games.

It prompted me to go on hiatus from writing on everyone's favourite "open-source sports network" for a while: As usual, I took the booing quite personally and decided to keep my thoughts and opinions to myself.

Time is supposed to heal all wounds.

It hasn't.

When watching Game Two of the Pens-Caps series, I wondered: If the Habs were playing the Caps, could Alex Kovalev, rather that Sidney Crosby, have scored a hat trick to match Ovechkin?

I wondered why Capitals fans stayed to cheer after a terrible performance by their team in Game Seven?

How come the Hurricanes could beat the Bruins and we couldn't? They only have one line, too.

I know enough about hockey to answer all of those questions.

I know that the Penguins are a much more skilled and complete team than the injury-ridden Canadiens.

I know that losing in seven is much more honorable than losing in four (even though Washington was seeded second).

I know that Cam Ward, at least at this juncture in time, is a better goaltender than Carey Price (bless him).

I'm not ashamed to say that I took solace in seeing San Jose get eliminated in the first round, and Vancouver in the second. They were both better teams that the Canadiens, but just couldn't step up their games at the right time.

The Blackhawks youth movement should be congratulated: the seats are full in Chicago once again. (No need for Pay Per View!)

The Red Wings should have gotten to where they are faster than they did.

I jumped for joy when Tim Thomas sprinted to his bench after being scored on in overtime of Game Seven. It has nothing to do with the team—I thought they were an elite club and Claude Julien coached them to the top with class.

I just thought that they were beatable.

It didn't look as though they were when my team played them, I'm just happy that Carolina was able to prove me right.

I've been going to other teams' websites, looking to see if there are playoff tickets available for the Conference Finals.

Pathetic, I know.

Especially since I have absolutely no intention of buying any.

It is such a thrill to be able to support your team at any stage, let alone this one. I haven't been able to experience it since 1993.

I just want to make sure that other fans are paying a premium to watch their teams compete at such an elevated level.

Not that anyone really cares, but I'm paying for it emotionally.

Montreal Canadiens Fans: Welcome Back to the Bandwagon

Jason Hitelman — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 15:11:40 -0400

Winning is a funny thing.

It brings people out from the rocks they had decided to crawl under.

Two weeks ago, there weren't many Montreal Canadiens fans around. Sure, there were people who used to be fans, back in the beginning of the season when the team was performing well on a more consistent basis.

But there was not much optimism when it came to the success of the Habs.

The same people who were calling for Guy Carbonneau's head in February were chanting his name in March. "Carbo wasn't the problem, it's Gainey..."

The "CA-REY" chants we heard last year turned into a different, mocking variation when his game slipped after being injured.

Once a hero, Alex Kovalev was vilified for not having as productive a season. "Send him down to the AHL," was a statement that was often heard.

Most notably, the cheers, a staple in the Bell Centre when winning games, became boos. As a real fan, I was disgusted.

I have only seen the Canadiens win two Stanley Cups in my lifetime. Granted, it's enough, but it doesn't really uphold the dominance of years past.

I've seen the dark days of the Habs, the post-Roy seasons when the team struggled and were difficult to watch.

But I have never booed my team. When you stop supporting them, they are no longer yours. Unfortunately, some people who follow the Montreal Canadiens have yet to realize that.

These are the very same people who are, once again, in love with "Les Glorieux." They can smell the playoffs around the corner and they want back in.

With seven points in their last four games, the Canadiens are on the road to recovery.

Bob Gainey has coached the team to play better defensively; the shots against are down considerably.

Carey Price has been solid; even in his shootout loss, he looked stellar.

Alex Kovalev has been awesome. He has scored eight points in his last four games.

Most importantly, the team looks happy winning. Their confidence is back and they are getting hot at the right time. A winning attitude is almost as important as winning the games, and the Habs have just that right now.

So I've made some room on the bandwagon, but I've definitely taken notice of the space I've had to concede. It's been a tough season for me too, but I've endured every second of it.

Please, if you don't like the results you see, just stay quiet and go about your business; if it upsets me so much, can you imagine what it does to the team you "support"?

Enjoy the playoff run—fan or no fan, it's exciting, isn't it?

2008-2009 NHL Regular Season In Review

Jason Hitelman — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 23:54:33 -0400

With the 2009 Playoffs nearly upon us, I thought it may be a good idea to shine a light on some of the stories we've seen develop in the regular season thus far. Though it would be impossible to touch on all of the facets that made the NHL great, here are some of the standouts in no particular order of importance. Pleasant surprises and major disappointments notwithstanding, here's a look at the year as we've seen it.

Begin Slideshow

Canadiens-Lightning: Montreal Defeats Tampa Bay, Karri Ramo Steals the Show?

Jason Hitelman — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 12:54:09 -0400

The Montreal Canadiens desperately need to beat teams like the Tampa Bay Lightning on a consistent basis.

Fighting for their playoff lives, the Habs must take advantage of lesser teams. Tampa Bay has, once again, proven that they are one of the worst teams in the NHL.

Granted, they have Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St.-Louis, two elite NHL players. They also have a young, talented Steven Stamkos who will undoubtedly become a very proficient goal-scorer in due time.

Aside from a somewhat capable offence, they have a porous defense and terrible goaltending. In 19 games this season, young Karri Ramo has posted a dismal 3.55 GAA with a below-average .899 save percentage.

Why, then, was he the only effective player on the Tampa Bay Lightning last night?

While watching the game, I was convinced that there was something wrong with the ice at the Bell Centre: it must have been tilted. After all, I hadn't seen the Canadiens dominate an opponent offensively since, well, probably some time last season. The Habs out shot the Bolts 36-19.

This was the first time that the Habs had oushot an opponent since Mar. 4 against the Buffalo Sabres. Unfortunately, outshooting an opponent doesn't always directly translate to beating them.

Patrick Lalime, with an incredible display of goaltending prowess, led his team to a 5-1 victory that night.

Last night was different. Throughout most of the game, there were no opportunities for the Lightning to capitalize upon. Apart from two defensive slip-ups in the third period, the Canadiens played a perfect home game.

Vincent Lecavalier looked uninterested; Martin St.-Louis was invisible; Karri Ramo was incredible!

Not only was he peppered with 36 shots, at least 15 of those shots were difficult ones to save. To say that he kept his team in the game would be a major understatement.

I have to say that the only reason that I am praising Ramo so much is because I feel slighted as a Habs fan.

I've been waiting so long for the Canadiens to snap out of their funk and on the night when they finally click, they get forced into overtime by a sub-par goalie playing the game of his life.

My head almost exploded last night. In a game that the Montreal Canadiens did everything right, Karri Ramo, and Ramo alone, nearly stole a point from them.

Thankfully, Saku Koivu preserved my sanity when he scored in overtime.

Whew!

Montreal Canadiens' New Look: Sergei's Back, Max Must Pack

Jason Hitelman — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 19:50:04 -0400

Do or die.

That just about sums it up.

The Montreal Canadiens have very little time to start win hockey games. They can no longer count on other teams to lose. If the playoffs are in the picture, victories are necessary.

Bob Gainey seems to think a familiar face can help with the current dire situation. In bringing up Sergei Kostitsyn from Hamilton, he hopes to not only get a player that will play with desperation, but one that will spark his brother as well.

Andrei Kostitsyn very possibly has the best shot on the Montreal Canadiens. He can also skate through opposing teams with ease, showcasing masterful stick-handling and incredible speed. Unfortunately, as a fan, you have probably seen more of his shortcomings than anything this season.

It seems that when Sergei was sent down to ride the buses in Hamilton, Andrei checked out and stopped playing.

Personally, I think his play has been nothing short of terrible. He looks lost and lazy every shift he's on the ice. If the reason for his inability to score goals or look like a hockey player is that he's upset he's not able to play with his brother, I think he should reconsider his career options. Professional hockey players should be, well, professionals!

But as they say, desperate times call for desperate measures.

Welcome back to the Bigs, Sergei!

Young Max Pacioretty's stint in Montreal has come to an end - at least for the time being.

MaxPac impressed me. He was always strong on the puck and was one of the only Habs who fore-checked consistently. He didn't always skate back to the defensive zone fast enough, but he's very young.

He will improve in Hamilton: I think we'll be seeing a much more complete Max Pacioretty in the next couple of seasons. He's now a big boy, he'll soon be a big man. I think that once he gets some confidence dominating the AHL, he'll start scoring more goals. He may be the next big forward the Canadiens have needed for the past ten seasons.

It's tough to see a very hardworking kid being replaced by Segei Kostitsyn. Unless, of course, it's last season's Sergei.

The same Sergei that picked fights with players much bigger than him. And made magical cross-ice passes. And made the team around him very happy, and better, at that.

I hope to see THAT Sergei.

I also hope to see last year's version of the rest of the team.

Get Back to Basics: Montreal Canadiens Need To Learn the Clichés

Jason Hitelman — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 12:28:51 -0400

How come it's so difficult?

To win a hockey game, a team must, you know, play a fulll 60 minutes, give it their 110 percent, leave it all on the ice and...uh...play well defensively.

They've learned and preached the hockey cliches. Through countless interviews, they have either heard or said them all.

So how come the Montreal Canadiens cannot get back to basics and win hockey games?

If you're a hockey fan, you chuckle when you hear how silly the players sound in the dressing room. It doesn't matter how many times it's been said before, you can count on the stars spouting the same old hockey jargon.

But everything seems to be falling on deaf ears when it comes to our Habs. They are not playing a full 60 minutes, they are not giving any effort, they are certainly not playing well defensively, and they are not winning hockey games.

When the goalie plays well, the team can't score goals. When the teams starts scoring goals, the goalie lets in too many.

I'd love a middle ground. If the Canadiens can score, say, four goals like they did against the Senators last night, and our goalie, whether it be Price or Halak (I don't care anymore), can let in two or three goals, then maybe, just maybe, the team would win.

They should all confer so they could just make it happen.

I really miss consistent victories, don't the players? Time is ticking on the season: desperation should be a key word for the team. I've defended them thus far, if they don't start winning, I'm going to look very silly and there are going to be a lot of angry Habs fans.

Rather than shuffle the lines, Bob Gainey should make the Habs listen to post-game interviews for an afternoon. Maybe then, the players will once again understand what it takes to win.

The Montreal Canadiens Are in the Playoffs: These Are the Match-Ups

Jason Hitelman — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 21:36:51 -0400

I understand that with the Canadiens recent struggles, a lot of "fans" are starting to doubt the likelihood of a playoff spot. For argument's sake, let us skip the Jim Mora "Playoffs?!?" speech and assume that the Habs do, in fact, make it to the big show.

I think it may be a good idea to look over the possible match-ups that the Habs may have. I struggle to keep my sanity listening to others speak and write about the team and how lousy they are.

I am a hopeless optimist. I pray that there are others out there like me, for if there are not, nobody will like my article.

I think that logical phrasing would be the smartest way to go about this.

Let's have a look, shall we?

If the Habs finish in eighth position, then they would play the New Jersey Devils.

At least that's the way it's looking right now.

Marty and the Devils look unstoppable and are probably the odds-on favourite to make it out of the East. After breaking the all-time wins record, Brodeur looked like he really enjoyed winning: I have a feeling it's not going to stop soon, either.

The New Jersey Devils are a complete hockey package that is clicking in every which way right now. If you're a Habs fan, you DO NOT want to see this match-up.

Conclusion: Habs lose in five or less. After a poor showing, Bob Gainey resigns as General Manager/Interim Head Coach. I cry myself to sleep, wiping my tears with my Habs blankie.

If the Habs finish in seventh position, then they would play the Boston Bruins.

Now we're talking! I understand that the Bruins are leading the Eastern Conference right now, but quite frankly, I don't care.

Boston's defence is looking irresponsible (even with Zdeno Chara), and Tim Thomas is facing too many shots.

The Bs are 4-5-1 in their last ten games; that translates to a losing record. I want to the Habs to play a team that's been losing, especially if it's the Boston Bruins.

For those of you who don't know, the last time Boston beat Montreal in a playoff series was in 1992. I like our chances.

Conclusion: Habs win in six, and classless people riot.

If the Habs finish in sixth position, then they would play the Washington Capitals.

Right now, Alexander Ovechkin has scored 49 goals. Alex Semin has 70 points in 53 games played. Mike Green leads all NHL defensemen with 61 points. Jose Theodore is their starting goaltender...yikes.

Regardless of all the Caps' offensive fire-power, if I was a fan of theirs, Jose would make me quite wary. He's having a decent season but his numbers are far from stellar (2.81 GAA with a .902 save percentage).

Conclusion: Habs win in seven. Goaltending prevails in the playoffs.

If the Habs finish in fifth position, then they would play the Philadelphia Flyers or the Pittsburgh Penguins

The Flyers seem to be cooling down and the Pens are doing the complete opposite. If they keep playing at the same pace (and the Habs begin winning as I predict), the Penguins will likely finish in fourth position and we would meet them in the first round.

If the league rights itself, the Flyers, a better hockey club, will finish ahead. I'm so confused!

Personally, I think we could beat either team. We have the advantage with our goalies. I know a lot of you like to hate Carey Price, but he is better than M.-A. Fleury, Martin Biron, and Antero Niittymaki. Mind you, Jaroslav Halak is also better than those goalies!

The Penguins have to hope that they can keep the puck out of their defensive zone because the have no one behind the blue-line.

The Flyers have to hope that their defensemen stay healthy because they're also weak.

Conclusion: Habs beat the the Flyers OR the Penguins in six games.

Now bear with me, I know it's not likely but...

If the Habs finish in fourth position, then they would play the Philadelphia Flyers, the Pittsburgh Penguins or the New York Rangers.

A guy can dream, right?

I've already been over the Pens and Philly. But those pesky Rangers...

I have no idea how the Blueshirts have been winning lately. They can't score goals, their defense is awful, and Henrik Lundqvist is shaky.

New additions John Tortorella and Sean Avery seem to be the missing ingredients.

I don't think they can pose a threat in the playoffs, but if they keep winning, they can definitely make it up to fifth position.

I hope that the Candiens end up playing the Rangers in the first round. I think that it's the best-case scenario.

Conclusion: Habs win in five, convincingly.

So there's my hypothetical recap of the Habs potential first-round match-ups. I know that it means nothing right now, but it looks pretty good, don't you think?

Just pray that we don't have to play New Jersey. That would be ugly...

Montreal Canadiens Will Start Winning Again

Jason Hitelman — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 21:39:16 -0400

It's really not the end of the world.

I've been reading articles saying that the sky is falling, but when push comes to shove, the Montreal Canadiens are still a playoff team with a brilliant hockey mind behind their bench.

Okay, they lost to the Devils on Saturday night. The score was 3-1, but it was a one goal game for most of the time. I'm no expert, but I'm pretty sure that though we lost, keeping it close against the best team in the Eastern Conference is not something to hang your head about.

I know, I know, we were out shot 48-22 and it looked very grim in the third period. That being said, our goalie faced 48 shots and only let in three goals. I'm impressed.

The Devils had an advantage on us the other night: Their most talented offensive threat, Zach Parise, was playing. Alex Kovalev was not.

For the second straight game, L'Artiste was under the weather and couldn't muster up the energy to get on the ice. Unfortunately for us, as much as I hate to admit it, our entire team dynamic depends on that one player.

Kovalev is a potent threat at all times, most notably on the power play. The players that he draws to him opens up the rest of the ice and enables the Habs to make plays and, more importantly, score goals. No Kovalev, no goals. Plain and simple.

Bob Gainey is our coach. He's also a born winner. I know that the Habs have looked rather flacid over the past couple of games (without Kovalev) but what are all the critics going to say when the team starts winning again? They will start winning. Gainey's system will start clicking and the team will wake up.

And then someone will say something about the team not being built for the playoffs, and that there is no way that the Montreal Canadiens can win a round judging by the way they are playing now.

Well, naysayers, why not wait until we get there before you decide not to give them a chance? Did anyone really think that the Habs would lose to the Flyers last year? I'm sure a lot of "fans" thought they would once it had already happened. Of the four games they played in the regular season, what was the record again?

Be patient. Stop panicking. Cheer for your team rather than boo them.

That Sucked: Montreal Canadiens Lose To Last-Place Islanders...Again!

Jason Hitelman — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 09:15:22 -0400

I feel your pain, Dawson. What a night.

Sometimes it's quite difficult to watch the Habs. In a game we should have dominated, we lost to the worst team in the NHL, the New York Islanders, 3-2 in overtime.

It was like watching two different teams play in one night. Actually, it was like watching two different teams play in one period! I can't understand how, at times, we looked so fluid in the offensive zone, but we just couldn't contain the opposition in our own.

It's not like the Islanders have a potent offence. There was no reason for them to have had 39 shots on net. The Habs just stopped playing defence midway through the first period.

Carey Price did not deserve a loss last night. He was the only player out on the ice. He made some brilliant stops and, I think it's safe to say, he's back (I hope).

Mark Streit, along with having a rocket of a shot, looked like a top-tier NHL defenseman last night. It made me angry; not because we didn't sign him, but because he NEVER played a game like that for the Canadiens.

As expected, Yann Danis was stellar last night. He played like a successful, seasoned veteran should. He is, after all, a perennial Vezina Trophy nominee, isn't he? Oh wait...

There may be a little problem. I think that the Montreal Canadiens players are having a very tough time understanding that they have to beat teams that are worse than them.

Bob Gainey addressed it in his press conference after firing Carbo. With all of the talent on our team, where is the cohesiveness? Where is the ability to put three good periods of hockey together?

While watching the game last night, I received a text message from my friend. It said "We miss AK27", who was out with the flu. I responded, "We miss Stephane Richer."

There is no one on our team who can score goals. I thought it was Andrei Kostitsyn, but he was just dogging it last night.

I am very frustrated. But moving on, the New Jersey Devils are in town on Saturday. They have a very good shot at winning the conference. They are a much better team than the Montreal Canadiens.

That being said, I think we have a good chance of beating them.

Gone But Not Forgotten: Guy Carbonneau and The Habs

Jason Hitelman — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 19:20:43 -0400

I'm a 25-year-old Montreal Canadiens fan. The Habs have won the Stanley Cup twice in my lifetime and I have vivid memories of the second time. Watching Guy Carbonneau hoist the Cup as the captain of the team was one of the proudest moments of my life.

To me, he epitomized the "Bleu, Blanc, Rouge": he left everything he had out on the ice.

Even when he was traded away, I still rooted for him. It was so fitting that a player who worked so hard game in and game out was rewarded with yet another championship in the twilight of his career.

I welcomed him back to the team after his retirement. It was good to see Guy back where he belonged. He was an assistant to coach Michel Therrien until his old friend Bob Gainey asked him to come to Dallas. Though it was brief, it brought back fond memories of the three-time Selke Trophy winner.

When Gainey became the general manager of the Canadiens, I knew that Carbo would soon follow suit. Perfect.

However, he was not the perfect coach. He is, after all, human and so he made some mistakes.

He was fired yesterday. I was surprised, but in the back of my mind, I knew it would happen. I couldn't help hope it wouldn't. After a really tough stretch, Bob had to dismiss his old friend Guy.

And I have to read far too many articles about why he was fired.

Was he a good coach? Was he using the right system? Did he deserve to be fired?

I have a much more pressing and important question to ask: How are you going to feel when you see Guy Carbonneau behind another team's bench?

It will happen. He is a good coach. The team may have stopped playing for him, but that does not change the fact that he led the Habs to the top of the Eastern Conference last year.

He was still a nominee for the Jack Adams Trophy.

He still has a killer instinct and knows how to win.

He is and always will be a Montreal Canadien to me and countless others, and it pains me to see him leave on these terms.

I understand that it's part of the game, I just really wish it wasn't.

A-Really?: The Plight of An Alex Rodriguez Fan

Jason Hitelman — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 21:02:30 -0400

Now I'm just confused. First, minor surgery, then major surgery, followed by no surgery, and finally, arthroscopic surgery. What the hell is a labrum anyway?

I'm a Yankees fan. I have been for many years. Along with being a part of the Evil Empire, I'm also an Alex Rodriguez fan. I have to admit, it's been a rough month. Granted, probably not as bad as it's been on A-Rod, but I'm embarrassed nonetheless.

It was hard for me, going from Montreal to Yankee Stadium over the years and hearing the boos mixed in with the cheers when number 13 stepped up to the plate. Montreal Canadiens fans are fickle, but this is a two-time MVP.

"His playoff performance leaves a lot to the imagination, but at least he's a pure athlete. He has no need for HGH or any other of that junk, he is just supremely talented who will go down as the best regular-season baseball player of all-time."

I used to tell my friends things like that. Their ears would be poisoned by my ranting and support. They used to love to hate him for being that good. Now they have other reasons.

As if the steroids in Texas weren't bad enough, now he has to deal with surgery. I wish the guy could have had a relatively normal season with no new distractions—with him hiting 50 homers in the process.

But now what? He misses eight weeks (six, at best) and gets booed all over the league when he returns. He won't be playing at 100 percent, so his production will be down. And I still have to research what a labrum is.

The advantages to being a fan of the most controversial player in the game are as follows: ___________, ___________, and _________.

All right, I haven't yet thought of them, but there has to be some upside to the situation. If anyone can help me out, please don't be shy.

The Montreal Canadiens at the Deadline: The Best Trade Was No Trade at All

Jason Hitelman — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 09:22:35 -0500

Bob Gainey doesn't make big splashes on trade-deadline day. He just doesn't do it. The closest deal he's made since his arrival in Montreal was his wizardly trade with the Rangers that landed us Alex (then Alexei) Kovalev in exchange for Josef Balej.

This year was no different. In my humble opinion, it didn't need to be.

I'm not that sure many teams in the Eastern Conference made any substantial moves. Other than Bill Guerin heading to Pittsburgh, I wasn't envious of any teams.

Boston traded for Steve Montador and Mark Recchi. Montador is a sixth defenseman, fifth at best. Although Recchi is having a great season with 45 points thus far and had a five-assist game earlier this week, he is 41-years-old and undersized. He's not a good fit.

Buffalo put some pieces together by acquiring a backup goaltender in Mikael Tellqvist and gave up a second-round pick for checking centerman Dominic Moore. Neither of those players are what the doctor ordered.

Florida picked up Steve Eminger, a defenseman who is having a decent season offensively with 25 points. His downside is his career +/- of -48.

The Carolina Hurricanes traded Justin Williams and ended up with a familiar face with Erik Cole. I think Cole's best years may be behind him. He has 27 points this season, not exactly the player the Habs are looking for.

The Rangers made a splash this year though I don't think it was a beneficial one. They traded a second-round pick for Nik Antropov, who may or may not play well and certainly won't adapt quickly to a new system as it took him about five years to adapt to Toronto's. Derek Morris is a -13 UFA defenseman with 12 points. The Rangers gave up three roster players for him, most notably Nigel Dawes.

Possibly the worst trade by an Eastern team was that of the Philadelphia Flyers. They gave up a gritty forward that fit PERFECTLY in their system and a second-round draft pick for tough-guy Dan Carcillo. Also, they traded for Kyle McLaren, who will inevitably end up playing for the Philadelphia Phantoms in the AHL.

The Montreal Canadiens didn't make any moves today. Bob Gainey traded for Mathieu Schneider a couple of weeks ago. He also picked up Glen Metropolit off waivers. Why compromise your team dynamic if you know the potential is there?

Alex Tanguay comes back tomorrow. Mike Komisarek and Roman Hamrlik have been MIA.

As soon as they start playing, they will be better acquisitions than anyone the Canadiens could have traded for today.

Except for maybe Olli Jokinen...

Coming Down the Stretch: The Habs and the Playoffs

Jason Hitelman — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 11:57:48 -0500

I suppose that this is the make-it-or-break-it time for our beloved Habs. We've been on a roller-coaster ride of a season, but this next stretch of games are what really counts.

Forget about the blistering start of the season. We would have been foolish to believe that our Glorieux could maintain such a staggering pace. I mean, come on, 15 points in nine games? Those are...Boston Bruins numbers!

The woeful beginning of February is behind us. Finishing the month with a four-game winning streak erases our memories of lacklustre losses and damaging news headlines-past. We won't have to think about that tumultuous time again.

That is, until next season, when we will play terribly at this time as we do every year.

In this, the centennial season, I've learned a few important lessons:

1) Don't listen to the radio after a loss, it only makes you angrier.

2) The season is 82 games long. It doesn't end after October or February. The last game is in April.

3) Regardless of how many years a team has been in a league, regardless of the number of Stanley cups hoisted in years past, every team starts the season with the same amount of wins and losses.

It's going to be a tough couple of months. With only eight road games left, the Habs must take advantage of their 11 remaining home games. They have the best fans in the NHL (sorry, Leafers), the Bell Centre is simply riotous.

Saku has to lead by example as he usually does and Alex Kovalev must keep performing at his elite level. Consistency counts at this time of year.

With two very good teams in the Atlantic Division (Devils and Flyers), I don't think that the Canadiens can finish better than fifth in the East, unless, of course, they finish the season as they started it.

It's unlikely, though, and I don't have a problem with it. I'm tired of the pressure and the weight of the world on the Habs' shoulders. Going into the playoffs as an underdog would be great for Montreal.

After that, who knows...

NJ Devils' Martin Brodeur Returning: An Unwelcome Comeback?

Jason Hitelman — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 01:24:19 -0500

Oh, Scott Clemmensen...

It was up to you to keep the New Jersey Devils' season afloat when four-time Vezina Trophy winner Martin Brodeur went down with a serious injury early in the season. You hadn't played in more than 13 NHL games in a season prior to this one.

You are the very same Scott Clemmensen who avid hockey fans (including myself) referred to as "Scott Who?"

I'm a realist. I also happen to be a die-hard Montreal Canadiens fan. Before the season began, I thought that the Habs' chances were as good as gravy.

I also thought, with offseason acquisitions like 36-year-old Brian Rolston and 38-year-old Bobby Holik, that the New Jersey Devils were an old team that was only getting older. I thought that maybe, just maybe, because Martin Brodeur was their goalie, they had a chance to possibly sneak their way into the Playoffs.

Well, thanks to Zach Parise emerging as one of the league's premier players, and Patrik Elias having a year similar to that of his 2000-01 Stanley Cup season, the Devils are the real deal. They are currently sitting with 69 points, third in the Eastern Conference.

They've got an explosive offense and arguably the greatest goaltender in NHL history...

Oh, wait. Brodeur went down with a torn biceps after playing just 10 games for the Devils. So, the Devils should have been toast, right?

Oh, Scott Clemmensen!

He's had better-than-average numbers as an impromptu starter this season: a .917 save percentage and a 2.39 GAA (including two shutouts, which came back-to-back earlier this month). Not too shabby for a replacement.

With Ronald McDonald-sized shoes to fill, Clemmensen has stepped up to the task at hand. In my humble opinion, and as a fan of a completely different team, he's done a formidable job. His teammates should be thankful.

But quickly, Clemmensen's game is looking a little bit more like that of a shaky backup's. In his past three starts, he's let in 13 goals. It's also alarming that the once-dynamic Devils offense has not been scoring for their nervous goalie: His past two losses have been two opposing teams' shutouts. Ouch.

Could it be the news of Marty's impending return affecting Clemmensen's once steadfast performance? Methinks the answer be yes.

There is no way that this guy wants to become the backup of the team that he's led to 25 wins and 51 points in 40 games.

It was reported yesterday that Brodeur could be returning to the Devils' lineup as soon as Thursday. I expect that he will struggle in his first few starts, as most goalies do as they shake off the rust.

I feel that Clemmmensen's dream is coming to a staggering halt: His confidence is shaky, and I think his starts as a backup to Brodeur will begin to reflect that.

I'm not sure that if I was Brent Sutter, I wouldn't rotate the two as starters, but I'm sure Brodeur would not have that. After all, a dispute with Claude Julien in 2007 cost the probable Jack Adams Trophy candidate his job.

Julien is undoubtedly a great coach, but even great coaches cannot flex their cerebral muscles if Marty feels he's being slighted.

Expect a rocky end to your season if you're a Devils fan. And hurrah to Habs fans, as we may meet a see-saw of a team in the playoffs. I'm just saying...