Montreal Canadiens Make Final Cuts For 2010-11 NHL Season Debut

Hocktober fest is finally here ladies and gentlemen!

Conversations with your workmates finally become relevant again, we can all rekindle our friendships around the water cooler or revitalize the rivalry with pestering Bruins and Leafs fans—or in my case a certain Los Angeles Kings supporter that shall remain nameless.

A time of the year where car flags can be seen blowing in the cold October wind and bandwagon jumpers practice by playing double dutch on a Canadiens logo.

Casual Friday’s are now Habs apparel day—especially this coming Friday, a jersey always fits a little more snug after we triumph in Toronto.

Only one day remains until the sports soap opera we like to call the Montreal Canadiens is back on the frozen pond. Which also means my garage will soon be brimming with empty cases of Molson Ex and Becks until I finally decide to rent a U-Haul truck and bring back the empties, in June.

The quest for the holy grail begins at last. For some, hoisting the Stanley Cup remains a dream. For those who have hoisted it before, it still remains the toughest piece of silverware to conquer. Blood, sweat, tears and an infinite amount of drama.

Who’s out?

RDS.ca is reporting that the final roster cuts have been made, sending Alex Henry, Yannick Weber, Benjamin Maxwell, Curtis Sanford, and training camp darling Ryan White to the Hamilton Bulldogs.

Based on the predictability of Jacques Martin and Pierre Gauthier, this article could have probably been written before the start of training camp and still would have made tons of sense.

Can’t say I’m surprised when it comes to four of the five cuts. Ryan White being sent down really grinds my gears, though.

He showed us he deserved to play with the big boys since camp began. Any player that gets a Gordie Howe hat-trick should at least get a little consideration, shouldn't he?

Then again, it was either first line in Hamilton or the sky-box in Montreal.

Who’s in?

Goalies: Carey Price and Alex Auld

Price was off the ice today with flu symptoms. Jacques Martin has stated confidence in Alex Auld if his number one would be incapable of facing the Leafs.

Defense: Hal Gill, Josh Gorges, PK Subban, Roman Hamrlik, Ryan O’Byrne, Jaroslav Spacek, and Alexandre Picard

Roman Hamrlik didn't skate today as he was feeling the same effects as Mr. Price and will likely be scratched off the roster tomorrow night. Alexandre Picard looks like he won the temporary sixth defenseman spot, a position he will continue to fight for depending on what we see from Ryan O’Byrne when Hamrlik returns.

Forwards: Michael Cammalleri, Tomas Plekanec, Andrei Kostitsyn, Benoit Pouliot, Scott Gomez, Brian Gionta, Lars Eller, Maxim Lapierre, Dustin Boyd, Tom Pyatt, Mathieu Darche, Jeff Halpern, and Travis Moen.

It looks like Lars Eller is first line bound with Cammalleri currently serving a one game suspension for his slash on Islanders prospect Nino Niederreiter. The Dane has been skating with the top trio for the past two days and will surely fit in well with Plekanec and Kostitsyn.

Game 1 of 82: Especially special

What the current edition of the Canadiens will have in front of them on Thursday evening is a Toronto Maple Leafs squad that will be looking to set the tone. A team built like a Mack truck, that hits like a jackhammer.

The Habs will have to stick to the game plan and follow the system implanted by Jacques Martin if they wish to reign supreme in their first contest. Part of this means being successful on the power play as soon as the opportunity presents itself. The special teams will need to strike quick and strike often.

On the flip side, the penalty killers will need to put forth the extra effort as well. A good start would be to not inherit any bad penalties, but with guys like Colton Orr on the ice it’s bound to happen as both teams will likely get into heated physical and verbal exchanges.

The defensive system as a whole cannot be forgotten as well, especially if Carey Price is out with the flu. Alex Auld will do just fine but the shots will have to be kept at a minimum, no 54 saves for this veteran. Clearing the front of the net will be very essential, this means you, Mr. O’Byrne. And you as well, Mr. Gill.

Offensively, lines one and two need to skillfully skip around the Toronto defense by using their speed and limit the board work. For lines three and four a little more elbow grease, shots from outside the slot, and fighting for the puck will be vital.

The time has almost come, fellow Habs supporters, don’t lose any sleep over it, though. It’s just a game...

... Yeah, forget I said that.

Enjoy the season folks!