Lapierre’s butt-end: If you watch the replay you will see that Lapierre, like many other centers, chokes up on his stick when taking a face-off. After the draw he and Crosby were battling a little, and Lapierre’s stick went into his gut. Because he was choking up, Crosby got as he himself described “a little bit of a butt-end�. It was unintentional by Laps and just one of those hockey plays.

Crobsy’s retaliation: What’s with Crosby’s retaliation? He rakes Lap’s foot RIGHT in front of the refs. You hear time and time again it’s always the retaliation that gets called. I guess that’s the case unless you are Sydney Crosby.

Armstrong’s hit: As much as I hate to see a Hab get the carrots knocked out of them, I don’t see anything illegal about the hit. Yes, it was vicious, and if you watched the replay over and over again, you could maybe find something that could be called. It really boiled down to discretion by the ref. Most of the time, when a star player gets blindsided like that, a penalty will be called. In this case it wasn’t - just like last year when Saks was spiked in the eye. Koivu always has his head up. That check was a result of Armstrong lining him up, and Saks losing the puck in his skates (causing him to look down) just as he was going behind the net. Then again, maybe it was because of his recently acquired lack of peripheral vision.

Souray’s reaction: Simply put, anyone who thinks Souray’s reaction was wrong simply doesn’t understand the game and how it’s played - and definitely has never played hockey before in their life. Not only did Armstrong throw a few when he was on the ice - he dropped his gloves ..??? A complete an utter joke. The thing I regret about the play is that they fell to the ice to quickly - taking away an opportunity for Souray to feed Armstrong a few more knucle sandwiches - with his (good) right hand, of course.

2-minor on 7 minute shorthand: I guess the ref saw that the Canadiens could possibly kill off the entire 7 minutes - and that just wouldn’t be fair to Syndey and TSN - so they figured if they put us down 5 on 3 they could get at least 1 goal. I saw the replay on that call and was utterly dumbfounded. When shorthanded, if the PP team does anything (eg. Kovalev + Ryder penalty) at all, a penalty is called to even things up. Not only did Recchi feed ?Dandenault? the shaft of his stick, but then cross-checked him to the ice - and of course Bonk gets called for interference. There must be some kind of ref grudge against the Habs.

Overtime: The first real call that went our way the whole game and we couldn’t capitalize on a full 2 minute 4 on 3 in O.T. Also, when 3 on 3, if Pleks holds the puck and goes around Fleury instead of shooting right away, it’s an easy goal. Oh well - too bad we couldn’t finish there at the end.

The game overall: This was an awesome game by the Habs. Everyone bemoans our 5 on 5 play and says we rely too much on the PP. Well, all of Pitts goals were on the PP and our goals were even strength or short-handed. So many positives about this game for the Habs. I don’t think anything is going on with Perogi. He had a bad game or two that got Murray into the lineup and this team has so much depth, you can end up waiting a while to get back into the lineup. I thought Murray played great last night. Bottom line - if we show up the way we did last night for the rest of the season, we will have a great shot at 4th and maybe Buffalo if they falter.

HabsInBlood - enjoyed your synopsis’ “said that in the previous blod” your on the Money brother!
smiler2729 - I feel the same and we need to seek revenge in the Bell Center!

Note: joshtm in the previous blog almost had a positive blog Crosby’s Pens #42… maybe he has sought theropy???

Exciting game for sure and agreed HB the officiating was brutal to say the least. That Ryder penalty was an even up call for sure. He stick checked the guy. Ryder’s stick only touched the puck and ice from what I seen, the other guy fell and Mike is penalized, Horrific. And the 7:00 ****, what the hell??!! The Pens should be taking the Refs out for dinner or something for helping them out with that game. GO HABS GO!!!

Whining about officiating is for losers!

Great game! Great intensity! Habs did well to come back to gain the single point against one of the hottest, young teams in the East currently.

I am really looking forward to the rematch on Sunday at the Bell Center. Does anyone know if the game is going to be on the CBC? That would be interesting! Who does Don Cherry hate more? The Montreal Canadiens or Sidney Crosby??

Souray’s penalty should’ve only been 2 mins for instigating. If you look at the replay closely, the Pittsbugh guy actually dropped his gloves slightly ahead of Souray. So This B.S. call needs to be looked at by the NHL. They should fire the refs of that game.

Great effort by the Habs to come back though. 3rd Line did all of the damage in the game. Kovalev showed some intensity, and had a great shoot-out move. Again 1st Line is struggling. Ryder’s success depends on how the others play, because he is a finisher with his shot. Koivu is getting all the bad bounces. When he was hit, the puck took a funny bounce, Koivu looked down…BAM! If not for the bounce, he would’ve seen the hit coming. Higgins is sluggish. He hasn’t done much since his return. Maybe he is still a little injured…

Need a 2nd line centre, Plekanec is doing O.K., but you need more than him to get Kovalev going. And Perezhogin should replace Latendresse. Latendresse is slow.

Datsyuk is another European yes…but he always plays his best. He doesn’t take shifts off. That is why we should go after him. Samsonov has a huge mistake, with the exception of last night. He was only good in Boston ’cause he was playing with Joe Thornton.

Habs vs. Pitt on Sunday will be a war. And Pitt coach Therrian likes to fight so get ready.

Did anyone see that wimp Ruutu trash talking to Murray. Murray will kill that guy. Ruutu talks big, then runs away as soon as a fight is about to start. I want Murray/Downey to pulvarize him!

GO HABS GO

Hb you are right on the money about the officials. Total joke it was. I think the Hab brass should get on the horn to Bettman and find out why it is that the Habs are constantly getting stiffed by league officials. The credibility of the entire league is at stake as far as Iam concerned. It’s starting to be as bad as the NFL. It’s got to stop once and for all!!!

I love ryder and i think trading him would be a big mistake(unless it is a sweet deal) but i would have to agree with you peterpan.Watching ryder and his so called play making skills is torture “THE TOE DRAG DOESNT WORK MIKE” He needs to shoot the puck that is what he is there for.He has a great shot but hands of stone so leave the playmaking to guys like koivu,kovalev,higgens.Mike just shoot the dam puck buddy.GO HABS GO

My bad. Lol!

Chris Higgins has completely lost his confidence. That wide open net shot he had when the puck went under his stick then in the shootout he came down slow and tentitive and launched an easy shot into Fleury.

Don’t even get me started on Ryder.

But you can’t get ride of those guys. They’re young guys who’ve lost their confidence and Carbo needs to help them get it back.

I think Montreal’s going to win both games. But the game on Sunday is going to be huge!

I was listening to an interview on the radio with a guy who wrote an interesting article on Gary Bettman and how he may have destroyed the NHL and how it was planned.

In the early 1990’s the NHL was beating the NBA in every aspect and David Stern(commisioner of the NBA), was not happy so when the NHL was looking for a new comisioner, David Stern said ‘Hey why don’t you take my employee, GARY BETTMAN!’. He worked for the NBA and grew up a Basketball fan, not a hockey fan and Stern new that Bettman would destroy the NHL.

Look at the two leagues compared to each other now. The NBA has been far more succesful since that day.

Look at what Bettman has done for the NHL: 1) he changed the dimensions of the playing field.
2) he changed the equipment of the goalies.
3) he changed the overtime rules, now with shootouts.
4) he changed the rules for officials as far as what should be called.
5) he made sure the NHL doesn’t have a major league TV contract.
6) he is changing the uniforms.
7) he now wants to change the size of the nets.
he changed the salary structure.

What’s next? The game to be played in the water, and using fish for goalies?
THE MAN HAS RUINED oUR GAME! attendance is way down, and there aren’t any high profile networks that give alot of coverage to the NHL.
Since Bettman is a dwarf anyways, why doesn’t he stick to minor league hockey, because his juvenile mind can’t deal with reality, and the game big boys play!

You know the sad part in all of this, is leading up to yesterday, the habs had Gainey all but forced to make a trade if only to shut up Lapress.

But now we are stuck yet again to watch the living dinosaurs Rivet and Downie all but wipe out our chances for a seat in the playoffs. Just when we knew who were the culprits, Bonk has to come along and make Bob forget what was crystal clear.

Well it still is to me. Streit and Markov are not defensemen. Having dynasty defensemen run the Habs doesn’t make Montreal’s defense work. It might for the power plays but that is only largely because of Sheldon Souray. Take away Souray and what do you have, a lacklustre defense. Just because Carbo, Muller and Jarvis were defensemen worthy to be called great on the ice, behind the bench they couldn’t plan defensive plays to save their butts, never mind justifying why we have this bunch behind the bench.

Watch, Gainey’s gonna throw Niinima in tomorrow afternoon and we’ll be right back in the slump. Then he’s gonna blame it all on Murray once more. It’s the same old same old, nothing fancy nothing new.

Maybe it is time to ship all the defense except Souray down to Hamilton, pay them full salary, ship up the rookies if only to nail a seat in the first round of the playoffs. Either that or fire Huet and Abby for letting in one goal. Cause that’s all it takes to lose a game these days, what with our no offense forwards.

What’s it say when Crosby has more goals and points than all of our forward wingers? Isn’t that sad. Oh yah, the habs are a well rounded team, not one player scores all the time, but each of the team including the stick boy scores, well that’s nice when we are winning.

But what are we paying these high priced Europeans for? We pay them to score and win. If you are a forward the job description is pretty simple, you skate into the other guy’s zone and shoot the puck into the net. Not play defense cause Rivet and Markov are busy pretending they are forwards. Even Abby is skating up to the blue line for God’s sake! Hello, Streit, your job description is what? Oh skate around with the puck in your own zone until the other team takes it away? Or not even clear it out of the zone?

Everyone read joshtm’s 23rd post: carbo,jarvis,muller defensemen?????????????????????????

Some of you saw this game as the best the Habs have played all year…that doesn’t say much about this season….they have a pretty good record but it could have been much better if only they showed some effort in some of these games they lost.

Yesterday’s game should have been a win because Pittsburgh let them back in. The Habs didn’t go get the 1 pt. In fact, if you see Dandenault’s goal it went in off the Pittsburgh defenseman. If you liked the fact that they showed effort well, dear fans that’s what they’re supposed to be doing. The overpaid dead wood should be benched. If that calls for Kovalev to be embarassed than so be it. The same for Sammy or any of the other smucks that can’t clear the zone, give the puck away or take stupid penalties…I guess that’ll only really leave the goalies…I guess that sum’s up Gainey’s problem. Where are those leaks and can we fix them…I say bring in some other fresh faces to mix in with the core players. Of course, they have to have chemistry and be productive…I mean if Kovalev & Samsonov scored on a more consistent basis we wouldn’t be pointing the finger there way. They choose to be useless and therefore, they are the butt of our frustration. Let’s make the next two games count. We need all the games we can fit in the win column. Let’s go. Wake up and have passion and play together setting each other up…and shoot at the next…come on it’s getting old now…I still say the coaches should dawn boxing gloves and when they come to the bench after a wonderful play should be popped to the head for each blunder (wonderful play). At least the coaching staff could put something they do on their resumes. Come on, Wake up!

lAPIERRE did Sidney a big favour ,helping him find his center ,on the ice tabawhit. Don’t want that prima donna ,game fixing **** getting to his head, eh!If Bettman’s not carefull he mite get fired by the FANS who pay the bills. Nothing worse than a guy with little mans syndrom, and while your at it Gary ,PROTECT MY MIDDLE FINGER *******!

Got Ryder and Higgins in my pool, it’d be nice if they started putting up some points, I’ve gone from 1st to 5th!!!! Hopefully playing the Islanders sparks them up.

TSN:
Panthers are contemplating a myriad of moves that include high-profile players Olli Jokinen and Todd Bertuzzi”, report Dreger. Jokinen is believed unhappy in his current situation, while Bertuzzi’s contract status remains uncertain.

can somebody help me. I live in NY and today is the only game that i will be able to watch

Being able to pry Jokinen out of Florida would be an absolute coup for the Habs. He’s best buddies with Koivu and they’re both from Finland, he’s probably one of the top 10-15 centres in the league and would be great with Kovalev.

I just shutter to think what the asking price would be. Ryder, Sammy and a first round pick is what it would probably take.

looks like the islanders mite want Niinima

Jokkinen sure could be the answer to our lack of quality shots on net. Almost every game the habs get out shot. When you look at the types of shots that habs make, it’s pathetic, compared to what the kind of shots the habs allow, big difference. The other teams have all kinds of time, they have ownership of the habs blue ice, even the last place team owns the habs end in any game.

That is why I say Huet and Abby have to step up to make up for the lack of defense.

Horton has all kinds of punch, he’d be the left hand to the knock out punch that Latendresse tries to deliver, imagine pounding the other team with a line of Gui and Nathan…

Wow, Rob,U surfest for air.That’s got to be the longest *** kiss on Crosby yet! Better get some chap-stick man.Don’t U got a rigged sports event to go to? Even better ,Why don’t U take some acting lessons at the Sidney Crosby school of diving.Anyway I don’t have any more time for you , I’m busy watching my team fall apart again.

Another awful effort. Perezhogin taking a penalty in the offensive zone-he’ll be a healthy scratch for the next while. Did you notice how the Islanders just controlled possession of the puck for long periods at a time. Canadiens were always on the outside. It’s 50/50 whether this team makes the playoffs….even Koivu/Higgins/Markov are struggling.
The coaching staff are going to have to start smacking some heads around to get these guys to wake up.

Gainey better not wait until Feb 27th, or it will be too late!
Maybe for Samsonov, Ryder and Higgins, he could get a loaf of bread, because that’s all they’re worth! Trade Souray while his stock is still up. Anyways our PP, isn’t scoring any goals anymore, so why wait?
I don’t even enjoy watching them play lately, and the game today was so boring I actually fell asleep while they were losing.

The habs are known for being the SOFTEST team in the league.
Carbo said in his press conference following the game, that he doesn’t understand why the opposition is always ready, and the habs aren’t.
It doesn’t seem to matter how many pep talks the coaches give, it’s the players that are tuning them out. Until major changes are made,( ie. trades), don’t expect this team to improve. they are just a woeful bunch of have nots.
And don’t look now, but Pittsburgh is just 3 points behind, with 2 games in hand. You can hear the pitter patter of footsteps climbing up, and the sliding noise of the habs going down below 8th place.
Can someone tell mw what has happened to this team? In Nov we were flying high. What the hell happened?

I believe that, if the habs don’t make the playoffs, Carbo will be fired. I don’t think he has the patience required for this team. He keeps on saying, after every other game, “We weren’t ready”! Isn’t it the coaches responsibility to get the players ready? If he and his coaches can’t get them ready, then they should be fired. We need to change the faces on this team. firstly, sit out Ryder and Higgins. Bring up 2 players from Hamilton. See if that motivates these players when they get back into the lineup.
I really think this team is no better than the team of last year. It seems we take 1 step forward, and 2 steps backwards. we might actually be worse than last year. How many teams score more goals on the PP, than 5 on 5?
this team is an embarrassment to this city. Their display today was absolutely DISGRACEFUL!! All the fans at the game should ask for a refund!

I cannot understand how the Habs could put on such a lacklustre effort today. It’s like Carbo said ‘how could they not be ready, when the other team is always ready’. Too soft,too soft, too soft, TOO SOFT!!!!!! Show some bloody heart and passion for F*&K sakes!! Now the Pens are only 3 points back with 2 games in hand!If things don’t change very quickly then this team will be catching up to Toronto (HORRORS!!!) in the near future. I wouldn’t want to be the coach of this team right now. I think a collective trip behind the shed with a LARGE stick is in order Monsieur Carbonneau!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh great, we are in for a real shocking game next game, if Carbo is gonna play Ninny, Downie and fall guy Murray, who is he gonna bench? For sure its not gonna be Rivet, or Markov, who both deserve serious benching, no it’ll probably be Dandy and Bouly…yup blame it on the wrong people….Where the hell was the team in this game? Maybe Carbo should just bench the entire team, bring up Price and the dogs, it’ll be like the killing machine early in the year in Halifax….

Wow,that means I’m on the same side as Cherry:Omygosh I’m a redneck!!! nooooooo!!!

All I know, I don’t want to see some of those same players next week!
Here, as fans are our ultimatum: Mr. Gainey, change some players, or you will lose the respect of some of your most loyal and ardent fans!
No, we will never leave our habs organization, but our spirits will fade into the background. This mighty franchise has fallen on difficult and laborious times.
In order to regain our support, you must do what is necessary, and make this team proud to wear that CH logo on their chests.
Their is NO CHEMISTRY, NO HEART, NO DESIRE, NO GUTS, and NO FIGHT on this team.
the only player exemplifying any guts, is Souray, and soon enough he will be gone. Do you believe, Gainey, that a player like Samsonov or Kovalev, will go to the wall for you? not in a million years!!! Never, Never, Never!
You’ve heard from the fans, now earn your pay, and do your job!
Put together a team we can be proud of, instead one that is an embarrassment!
Personally, I have supported this team for 35 years, thru the highs and lows.
But right now, I’m fed up, and disgusted with their continual lacklustre performance.
Anyone who doesn’t want to give 100% effort, show him the door, all the way out of town, to either Hamilton, or further if needed!
Now I have vented, and said my peace. I’m sure others are feeling the same.But no matter what happens, I will be a habs fan for life!

Just going through the FUCKEN motion’s!!!!

YEAH RIGHT!!!! Why would we want another soft Euro???

If it was easy to trade, Bob Gainey would have pulled it off already. Why does everybody think the other 28 GMs are pushovers? (I didn’t include JFJ cuz he’s an idiot and I hope Toronto keeps him so he can keep ******* up that team.

Again why does everybody think the other teams will take our garbage? Look how hard it was to trade that little faking soccer Boy Ribeiro? Nobody wanted him so it was a “our trash for your trash” trade with Dallas.
Maybe Philadelphia will take Samsonov for Kyle Calder, one overpaid underachiever for another… hey at least Calder’s not a Euro.

As for Hab untouchables, maybe Chris Higgins, Guillaume Latendresse or Mike Komisarek cuz they’re young, good and still learning (sure they can be a little rough around the edges sometimes but they’re keepers). Sheldon Souray and Saku Koivu may even be traded if the deal is good, jeez, Wayne Gretzky was traded twice!

A lot of good teams are struggling of late (BUF, ANA and NSH to name a few)… I just have this feeling Detroit will win it all anyway but hopefully the Habs make it to the dance and have a good playoff run, that’s all I ask. Just make the fans proud. Play for the CH, know it, love it, BE IT!

Just imagine… IF Brendan Shanahan signed with Montreal instead of New York. Big if…

No matter what, we got to unload the big buck smaller and older players,and start rebuilding with younger, bigger, faster, north american players and try and keep Souray,MARKOV and Koivu,one of the goalies”u pick”, couple more Bulldogs,still try to make the big show and get what we need in the off season. And that way ,at least we’re building to face teams like the Pens in the future.GO FOR THE BULLS-EYE.

went snowboarding all day, by the sounds of everyone on this blog i’m glad i didn’t stay home to watch the game. sounds like nobody showed up to play. weird!!! i think i’ve said that before. wait i did say that before!!! it was last week and the week before that and the week before that>>>>>>>>> i think you get the point. good luck tomorrow, maybe if they change their clocks so they think they are playing at 730pm they might show up. just a thought, after all they never come to play afternoon games. go habs go. hopefully we’ll see a fair officiated game. make the fans proud. keep fighting for those points boys.