Blues Funk

Tonight the Habs have a rare meeting at home against the St-Louis Blues.

The St-Louis Blues reached the post season for over 20 consecutive years. A league record. That streak ended in 2006.

This season the Blues have very quietly dipped lower and lower in the standings to currently being 27th overall, losing their last 10 road games.

The Blues have the league’s worst powerplay and only 1 more win than the league’s worst L.A Kings.

Simply put, a must win game for the Canadiens.

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68 Comments

#1 Don Carnage says:
March 19, 2008 at 11:15 pm

Who care how many points they have .. and let’s be real and not blame Halak for that match , where was his defence? They hung him out to dry more than a few times in that game, and we are in the playoff’s, its simple math, unless we can’t make 3 points out of 16 , and if we can’t then we don’t deserve to be in the playoff’s . Washington got smoked by Chi-town tonight , thats gonan hurt them some for sure …

#2 Senet 1 says:
March 19, 2008 at 11:18 pm

Hey Jack Hab, I am not so sure I would want to face Washington in the first round, they play like Ottawa and these are the types of teams we seem to have trouble with. The like to skate and speed is their game, similar to ours only difference is that they have some super stars that we do not have. That is the reason we have trouble with them, unfortunately, we have to adjust our game to cope with their speed and skill level in order to beat them. I am not saying we cannot beat them but we seem to do better against the slower teams like Boston, Phily and even Jersey although I not so sure I would want to meet them in the first round either.

As far as making the playoffs, we have a 10 point lead over the 9th place team so 94 points should be enough to make the playoffs, hopefully we get 100 though.

Ice Man you seem to like to belittle everyone who has a different opinion than you do, I agree that we do not have a team that is good enough to win the cup but stranger things have happened think back to 1993, this is a young team and if we get two rounds in the playoff this team is going to grow which should set up very well for next year. Let’s face it we still have some missing parts, and one of them has always been a strong centre who can win faceoffs. I agree we need some muscle but that muscle has to be able to play hockey, (think back to the 1976 to 1979 teams we mainly had muscle who had some skill) these are areas that hopefully we can address in the off season.

And who knows, if all the cards fall into place and there are some upsets in the playoffs, we have as good a chance as anyone.

#3 Senet 1 says:
March 19, 2008 at 11:21 pm

good point Joseph.

#4 Jaker1 says:
March 20, 2008 at 6:42 am

We are probably going to finish 2nd or 4th in the conference. This would mean playing either Washington,Boston or Philly if we finish 2nd . If we finish 4th we would play either Pittsburgh,New Jersey or NY Rangers. Gee I hope we finish 2nd. The only problem with 2nd that I can see is if Washington gets the number 7 seed, how bad would Gainey look if Cristobal Huet comes back to bite him in the you know what. That is why you never trade an impact player within your conference at the trade deadline. How does everyone else feel about this very strong possibility.

#5 Ice Man says:
March 20, 2008 at 9:29 am

I agree.

Don’t you think that practising with Huet that our players know how to score on him.

#6 Ice Man says:
March 20, 2008 at 9:33 am

Sorry Senet 1.

I will try to be a good boy. I can’t promise you. BUT I will try….

#7 Joseph says:
March 20, 2008 at 10:07 am

Can’t sweat the losses to the spoilers. Well, not too much anyway.

That’s a thought that I had also considered, Ice Man. Huet may be on a mission to prove Gainey’s decision to move him a bad one, but the Habs could just as easily light him up (if they do meet in the post-season). It could go either way.

#8 jack hab says:
March 20, 2008 at 11:29 am

My reasons for the Canadiens – Capitals playoff showdown.
1. As a hockey fan, it would be a very exciting series.
2. The ‘who’s better in net’ debate will be solved.
3. IMO we have a more complete hockey team.
4. I never liked the idea of trading Huet for a ‘wait and see’ type of player, but he’s
gone now and I’d love to personally escort him to the golf course.
5. For once I’ll be cheering for Huet to skate out of his net and play the puck. LOL

#9 hablifer says:
March 20, 2008 at 11:47 am

not happening.

#10 jack hab says:
March 20, 2008 at 2:17 pm

Yeah I realize Washington has miles to go… it’s just something I’d like to see.

#11 HABSMAN says:
March 20, 2008 at 6:32 pm

The habs are totally going to win tonight against the bruins!

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

#12 Senet 1 says:
March 21, 2008 at 7:48 pm

Ice Man I respect your opinions, don’t get me wrong, just have a little respect for other opinions as well, disagree that ok, we are not going to agree with everything each other say. That’s all I would like to see.

#13 Senet 1 says:
March 21, 2008 at 7:57 pm

Hab Jack, regardless of whether we played Washington or not, to me it would prove nothing, Huet was a good goaltender but not a great goaltender, if we play him and he beats us, I agree it would not look good but Huet had to go, otherwise we would not have anything for him, the second rounder may or maynot be a good player some day be at least we did not loose him like Souray for nothing. Personally, I am afraid of Washington especially in the first round, not becaue they are a better team, but because they play the type of game that we have trouble with and Obviously Huet has something to prove.

#14 Joseph says:
March 21, 2008 at 10:11 pm

Washington is close–one point out of eighth–but I think they’ll need to run the table to get in as the team around them all have at least one game at hand on them, Boston (the team ahead of them) has two. They’ll need a lot of help.

#15 Senet 1 says:
March 21, 2008 at 10:40 pm

Joseph you are correct, however, if we can beat Boston again tomorrow night, Washington has a chance since they won tonight. Boston and Phily have not been playing that well lately so they have an a chance.

#16 Senet 1 says:
March 21, 2008 at 10:42 pm

I also note the New Jersey lost tonight tothe Islanders. That gives us the advantage since if Jersey ties us we have the better record against them. I think that is the first tie breaker??

#17 Joseph says:
March 22, 2008 at 9:41 am

As far as I understand it, that is the first tie breaker. But they’ve also got game at hand on the Habs, as do the Penguins. Either way, I’d be just as happy with second as I would with first… and this isn’t to suggest that the Habs won’t get first – they still might.

#18 Senet 1 says:
March 22, 2008 at 10:41 am

I agree, I would just not want to face a team like Washington in the first round. First round upsets are always a concern. Washington has been playing some of the best hockey in the league of late and they are the type of team that we have trouble with.

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goalie : I can't type.... what a faux pas on my behalf...
goalie : I just realized what I said adn didn't say yesterday. What a fayx as on my behalf. Regarding coaching Randy Cunnyworth MUSDT stay as an assistant- he deserves at least that after the tremendous job he did in the latter part of this past season. I'd still mlike to have Robinson, Carbo adn Allard on the staff also.
Avatar37 : I agree Senet, my choice if we can't have Cunneyworth would be Crawford, Robinson on defense, Cunneyworth for offense, and Carbo as offense/faceoffs .
Senet1 : I think if I had my choice it would be Crawford and see if he could get Carbo and Robinson as assistants. That would be my idea coaching team.
goalie : I witnesed Marc Crawford MANY times when the Avs, etc. played against Oilers and let me tell you - he is constantly on the referees asses virtually game after game. He is the complete OPPOSITE of J. Martin. Crawford is calm on TSN but he is one excited coach behind the bench. A friend of mine who was an NHL linesman for 26 years said they dreaded Crawford he was so tough on the officials!
goalie : You know, I've bee thinking about the coaching situation. I'd be really excited if the Habs had Hartley as head coach and Carbo adn Robinson as his assistants. I also read it somewhere about a month ago that Toronto's goalie coach Allard (?) wants to relocate back to Montreal where he has his goaltending school/business. Add him to the mix and I'd say the Habs would be in great shape coaching wise.
Avatar37 : Well, from what I recall, Hartley didn't do all that well with the Thrashers. But, I don't know enough about him to judge one way or the other. Crawford I do know, and he always seemed to be a good, level headed coach to me.
Senet1 : even Pacioretty two years ago did not impress any of us. Younger players have to play and make mistakes and learn from those mistakes. If they sit in the press box they are learning nothing.
Senet1 : Of course if he have some good assistants like a Larry Robinson to teach the young defence and someone like Carbo to teach faceoffs etc. then your coach does not have to be as good at teaching. If Hartley fits the bill you get no argument from me. My only previous point is that if he is impatient with your younger players to the point that he does not play them, then we are right back where we were with Martin. Martin was a good coach too, but how he handled Emelin, PK and even Pacioretty two
goalie : I would like to see the Habs sign a coach who realizes that our team isn't tough enough (we need to get bigger and somewhat more nastier),the coach needs t be a great TEACHER and be a coach who can get the players to understand and buy into his system. Other than that I couldn't care what lingo he speaks. I wnat to see our team become a ligitimate contender fast!
HabsLoseAgain : Well we dont know if he is or is not a teaching coach. I woukd just hate to paint Hartley something that he is not. There will always be questions but if Hartley was hired as the habs new bench boss i for one would not be overly upset.
Senet1 : My thoughts are not that he is or is not a good coach but rather that when he won the cup he had an experience team of superstars on that team. Where as we have a group of young inexperienced players, is he a teaching coach or a tactical coach or both? I am not question whether he is a good coach, but my question therefore is he the coach for us at this point in the deveopment of our team?? Not sure we are all purely speculating at the moment?
Senet1 : Something happened to my first post. I will try again.
Senet1 : That is why I said I am not sure he is the coach for us at this time? Right now we are all speculating including yourself, because non of us know for sure?
HabsLoseAgain : Crawford also won a cup with Patrick Roy so would you say he is a good coach or did he just have great players and one of the best goaltenders of alltime?
HabsLoseAgain : Senrt so please give me some reasons why you think Hartley is not the coach the habs need right now. What is it that you do not like about him or his coaching style?
HabsLoseAgain : Well all great coaches had great players playing for them so i guess you you add a a pile of other coaches to that list including Bowan......
Senet1 : Hartley, was he a good coach or did he just have great players and one of the best altime goaltenders of all time. I am not sure that he is the type of coach that this organization needs right now. Unless of course we sign a ton of free agents.
Avatar37 : However, my feelings may completely be wrong, Hartley may turn out to be a good fit.
Avatar37 : I didn't say Hartley was unknown, I said we demoted a good coach in Cunneyworth and now have an unknown quantity because we don't have a coach. I don't have that great a feeling about Hartley, I'd be much more comfortable with Crawford.
HabsLoseAgain : In my opinion i think he might be a good fit in montreal. Oh and he also likes to have a tough team.
HabsLoseAgain : Also this year he coached the ZSC Lions to the swiss championship title.
HabsLoseAgain : lol the so called "unknown" won a cup in 2000-2001 with the colarado avalanch.
HabsLoseAgain : lol Bob Hartley is not an unknown lol.....sheesh.
Senet1 : I think he has until the trading deadline to show us that he deserves to be on this team. If he does not get back on track then he could be simply a 2nd round draft pick to whoever we can trade him to.
Avatar37 : Bourque reminds me of Pouliot, size, skill, and invisible. He needs to get back to playing a physical game and bang people around and maybe he'll start getting some of those garbage goals again. Need to get to the front of the net. I hope he can find his game again.
Avatar37 : We had a good coach in Randy Cunneyworth. Now we have an unknown, with Bob Hartley rumoured to be the front runner. I'd rather have Cunneyworth.
goalie : A player like Rene Bourwue has al the physical attributes of what would be a beter than average player. Hwever, he certainly didn't play that well especially after being in Montreal about three weeks. We NEED players like Rene to play hard AND produce points on a REGULAR BASIS in order for us to be competitive.
Senet1 : MONTREAL – Rene Bourque had a rocky start to his career as a Hab, but he’s planning on using the next four years to make up for it. After arriving in Montreal under less-than-ideal circumstances in January, Bourque spent the following 38 games hoping to find the spark he needed to rekindle his offensive production. Despite flanking Tomas Plekanec on the team’s second line to close out the season, the 30-year-old sniper suddenly found himself firing blanks in his new NHL home.
Senet1 : I think we have to be patient and not expect too much too soon. Let's get a strong management team in place, make a good choices in the draft get a good coach and then see what we need at the free agent market. I will not be too disapointed if we miss the playoffs again next year if it means a long term team success. We have the opportunity to make some major strides over the next two years at the draft table. Then we fill in the holes.
goalie : I certainly agree that we need to get some impact forwards who will sign for 5 years, not for a season then walk away. That's not going to help us.
goalie : I wouldn't trade PK for Ovetchkin no matter what. He is a coach's NIGHTMARE and a poor team player.
Senet1 : I believe he will as we graducally put better players around him and build this team.
Senet1 : Goalie I agree with Avatar. PK is the present and future of this teams defence. I would not even take Staal from Pittsburg unless I had him tied up in a long term contract of a Minimum of 5 years. Also once has to consider the salary difference. Pk is on the move up probably 3M plus for his next contract and then eventually 4-5M if he keeps on improving. He has moved his game up two gears since he came into the league 2 years ago. He now has to move to the next level and I believe he will as w
Avatar37 : pressure playing in Montreal, since he has problems with the expectations in Washington and Montreal isn't any easier. Then again, the media were very easy on Kovalev, so maybe it's a Russian thing? No idea. Anyway, yeah, it would have to be an established star that gives us an immediate drastic upgrade at forward, that's the only way I'd trade PK, because we'd be giving up a potential QB on our blueline for the next decade.