Game 68: Habs/Lightning

If ever there was a time when our team needed to step up – it is now. We’ve seen the Lightning cruise into Montreal too many times before and take 2 points. There is no denying the effect that the city has on Lecavalier, St Louis, and Tanguay. It is as simple as this: Tampa trails us by 5 points in the standings with 3 games in hand. If Montreal is to have a chance at the post season, they not only have to win hockey games, but they have to beat the teams behind them when given the opportunity.

You HAVE to believe that we’ll see a steady dose of Jaro Halak to close out the season. Whether or not Price deserves the bum rap given how terribly the team plays in front of him is irrelevant. Halak gets it done right now – and unless he slips – he has to be the guy.

They’re all big games this season. Go Habs Go!!!

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4 Comments

#1 Mats Naslund says:
March 9, 2010 at 10:58 am

There was one other thing that I wanted to comment on. Its the time of year to complain about the NHL’s moronic points structure.

The Habs have 32 wins for 70 points. The Bruins have 29 for 69. Where do the extra points come from? The Bruins have 5 more points than the Canadiens this year – earned by losing in overtime. It’ll never happen – but I pine for a day when the NHL awards 3 points for a victory in regulation, 2 for a win in extra time, 1 for a loss in overtime, and 0 for a loss in regulation. Gone would be the days when a team could lose itself into a playoff position. It would force teams to try to win in 60 minutes, and stop rewarding passive play with tied scores in the third period. Do it Bettman you little scumbag.

#2 Senet1 says:
March 9, 2010 at 8:15 pm

I always hate to see rule change in our game but we have messed up the game so bad in order to selling it to the americans that we might as well change the way we award points too. I understand what you are attempting to do and it does make sence, but someone did the math the other day and there were some changes but we ended up out of the playoff because we won some may OT games. Anyway one thing about this type of change you can always compare teams who have 150 points with the teams who had 105 and still decide who was the best team. It will encourage less OT games, but then again does the NHL really want that?

#3 Mats Naslund says:
March 10, 2010 at 10:37 am

I’m not advocating for the rule change because it would specifically benefit us – I want it because I feel that teams who get into playoff spots by virtue of losing in overtime is ridiculous. The Habs won again last night, giving them 72 points. Boston looses in OT (AGAIN) and has 70 points with 4 less wins than us. Thats unbelievable. They have 12 points this year (to our 6) for loosing in overtime. Last year we made the playoffs by virtue of OT points over Florida, even though they had more wins in regulation.

For me, the clincher is when you watch two teams in a playoff hunt stop attempting offense with 10 (or more) minutes in an overtime game. It reminds me of playing “Blades of Steel” with my brothers when we were kids. We’d let the time run out every game without scoring just so we could get to the shootout which was the best part of the game (other than fights). There is no denying that teams are more interested in gaining a guaranteed point by tying than pushing for a last minute goal. In a 3 point system, a win in regulation would be so valuable that getting to overtime would be a punishment.

Anyways, thats my rant. It wont happen so I’m not really looking to push it further. A great game by the Habs against a team they desperately needed to beat. I cant leave without commenting on Gomez, Gionta and Pouliot who are on absolute fire right now. Watch out league if we ever get two lines rolling at one time!

#4 Senet1 says:
March 11, 2010 at 12:06 am

Mats there is nothing wrong with your suggestion but the same thing use to happen before we broke ties with teams winning because they had more points due to more ties and fewer wins and loses. The only difference is now they get a point for a loss. Now they achieved a tie and have a chance for a win. Now sure but I think we have quite a few wins in OT. Your suggestion would make those wins worth 2 points and a regulation win worth 3 points. Lower place teams and defensive teams would play for the tie and chance to win 2 pts. Whereas high scoring teams would go for the win. It might open up the game, who knows unless it is tried. One thing for sure the better teams would have a wider spread in points from the lower teams that still make the playoffs. I do not think the NHL brass would go for it because they like the close races that this system creates, it is good for revenues, so I doubt if they would implement it.

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Last Message 58 minutes ago

goalie : Any thoughts out there? I watched the Oilers - Red Wings. THAT was excitement.
Senet1 : Gomez Buyout cap hi Scott Gomez buyout from CapGeek.com ◦ 2012-13: $3,523,810 ◦ 2013-14: $4,523,810 ◦ 2014-15: $1,666,667 ◦ 2015-16: $1,666,667 t.
Senet1 : Well I never thought he would see February but here we are and he is still there. The problem is and most people are like this they hate to admit that they made a mistake. A mistake of hiring PG.
goalie : Habs MUST announce that PG is fired well before the trading deadline. The trouble is is that we know we have to change players, we have a lame GM and the new GM coming in will then inherit players that Gauthier gets. FIRE his ass now! I am wondering, do Molson's know how to run an organization. Doesn't seem like it to me at this time.
HabsLoseAgain : Keep it french and keep it real lol
HabsLoseAgain : PG must be blowing jeff molson hard if he still has a job at this point.
HabsLoseAgain : Ans just think guys PG is gonna lead us to the trade deadline bahahahaha Scary eh?
goalie : One could go on adn on about our woes. Get in a new GM whow knows what it takes to win in the NHL (that would be size, skating and puck control Pierre)and try step by step to rebuild. and ... with a new coaching staff also.
goalie : Nice to see you also look at the stats as they don't usually lie. Unfortunately the |Gomez contract absolutely tied the GM's hands. We essentially have a cap of $7 M bveloew the other teams as Gomez may as well be tanning in Mexico. Gionat has NOT been a successful captain. Gill is aging (but at leats he gives 100%) Campoli adn Kaberle have not played as wella s I thought they would.
Senet1 : We need to draft a couple of star forwards who can score and become game breakers. It is hard to get these types of players in trades although Parise is available, so is Bobby Ryan. There is 60 goals a year. Gomez has now gone a full year without scoring a goal. So how much is that $7+ M per goal. So $7M divided by 0 is zero. So you see math does not lie. That is pretty good stat???????
Senet1 : You cannot win games unless with a team like this unless all 20 players I playing well. Even if you have 20 players playing well they still need guidance from the coaches.
Senet1 : PK played a H_ell of a game today Eller played well but had two wingers that were pretty useless on his line. To me there are a lot of positives on this team, put when you do not have any super star scorer like most teams then you need to play as a 20 man team.
Senet1 : We I have to disagree a little, I admit things do not look good, but until the second goal we were outplaying them but not finishing anything, when you look how hard some of the guys were working in the corners to get the puck out front and when they did no body was there to shoot it or deflect it. I thought that our #1 line played really well but when a team only has to worry about shutting down one line it usually is easy. Budia played well, could not fault him on any of the goals. PK played
goalie : is sinking!!!
goalie : ...and that boat
goalie : In other years there would be lots of partivipants on this blog. Our team's performance this season has been a total turn-off even for the bloggers. Mark my words.... we will NEVER know but I would bet my last cent that it will not be easy to sign a new coach in Montreal. This franchise is in deep deep trouble. Ther eare essentially no good veternas to build around, so we;re going to have to try and build using 20 year olds. Oilers tried that and were a complete failure. We're in the same boat
goalie : Can anyone come up with anything positive about our perforance today? I honestly cannot!
goalie : Even laayers like Cole, Pacs. Bourque seemed totally frustrated today. What we are seeng is the result of poor management over the past 5 or so seasons. The job wasnt dopne now we have a team that is probably the easiest team in the NHL to play against!
goalie : At least Deharnais is trying BUTR he is not and never will be a number 1 or even 2 center. When he goes up gainst bigger players he simply can't get anything done offensively. Thisis not to question his effort!
Senet1 : Basically we have one line and Washington was able to shut them down. We need a game breaker, even the other worse teams in the league have a game breaker we do not. Someone to bury the puck.
Senet1 : If you can score goals then eventually the defence and goalies will take care of the other end.
Senet1 : We need to go after goal scorers I would rather lose a game 6-5 and 1-0.
Senet1 : Well if you cannot score which has been our problem all year you cannot win games.
Mats Naslund : sorry - on replay he didn't touch the puck - which is an issue as well, but still as soft as can be in his own end. terrible play that probably does it.
Mats Naslund : BRUTAL giveaway by Kaberle kills the game.. soft as tissue.
Mats Naslund : Cole - dangerous shot.. but blocked again.
Mats Naslund : 18 blocks for WAS today.. all offense has been pretty chippy.
Senet1 : On the day before the trading deadline, I would put Gomez on waivers and see if someone selects him.
Senet1 : Oh better coaching and better attitude with some of the players. Some players like Plekanec seem to be working hard but not accomplishing anything.
Senet1 : Itn't it amazing how a coach has turned that team around. At one time Montreal had more points than they did. I have said it all year, if we could get a coach who could get these guys playing as a team we are a lot better team than we are showing. That is why I do not think that we have to do a lot to turn this team around, it is a matter of better scoring and better defensive systems 5-5. Lets face it you do not have a real bad defence when you have the top PK in the league. The kids are mat
goalie : In our rebuilding for nect year the FIRST things I would work toward is a new power play alignment - even if that means trading a guy like Plex. We need layers who can control the puck and do that thing called score. Then we go from there. Our PP has been the basis of player frustration that has now grown to virtually every apsect of the game.
goalie : Unfortunately for Budaj that was the correct call. Great save. Gomez must be totally embarrassed just like his play has been for the past year.--Yes the Blues are better than the Habs because they are COACHED BETTER not because they have vastly better talent.
Mats Naslund : no shots on that powerplay - if you can call it that.
Mats Naslund : 2 more chances after a brutal PP but they are blocked again.
Mats Naslund : More plekanec on the point?? come on!