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  • The Habs powerplay that won them their first game in Carolina didn’t get the job done in Toronto. A weak PP combined with mediocre goaltending let the Leafs climb back from a 3-1 deficit to win 4-3 in overtime.

    The Habs let the Leafs back in the game and did not convert on a powerplay with less than 2 minutes remaining in the third. They also couldn’t convert on a 4-3 powerplay in overtime. You can’t burn that many chances like and still expect to win.

    Vesa Toskala was a much better goaltender than Cristobal Huet. Huet struggled for most of the game, seemingly always out of position. Huet also gave up the puck with an awkward clearing attempt that resulted in the tying goal.

    Will Carey Price get his first NHL start – or is it still too early yank Huet?

    All things considered, 3 out of 4 road points to start the year is not a bad way to begin the season.

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28 Comments
  1. #1 chevy4CH says:
    October 7, 2007 at 1:00 pm

    Habs need Price and Chipchura in their lineup, if they want to make the playoffs. And get Brisebois, (piece of S@#$%&&t ) off this team!
    He will kill this team! This team needs a big strong centerman! Are you listening Gainey(lame duck GM)? As long as Carbo(moron), and Gainey are coach, and GM, this team will go nowhere, except into LAST PLACE IN THE LEAGUE!!

  2. #2 Habs#1 says:
    October 7, 2007 at 3:47 pm

    What do you think Gainey can do? Pull a really big skilled centre out of his *** magically. Those guys are not easy to come by and the majority of them love playing in the states. Get used to the team that’s on the ice now

  3. #3 Darrell says:
    October 7, 2007 at 4:39 pm

    Everyone complains about Brisebois and his play. What about the S!@tY play by Markov. He gave the puck up how many times last night? He was on the ice for the last 3 Leafs goals and his play (or lack there of ) lead to 2 of the Leafs goals. I am not saying Markov is a bad player (most games he is the best D-MAN) but come on guys lets put the blame where it belongs and last night it was not with Brisebois.

  4. #4 Jaker1 says:
    October 7, 2007 at 4:40 pm

    I agree Habs#1,the only way you get a big center is via trade from a team that really struggles out of the gate. Free agents don’t seem to want to play in Montreal. Gainey will have to give up a prospect plus a top line player. But right now people Montreal and Toronto will finish 9 and 10 at best with their present rosters. They also need a better communicator as a coach. I watched as Carboneau shook his head and rolled his eyes at a player because he wasn’t in proper position during a faceoff. If your players don’t know their positions at the professional level,then man ship them back to the minors. Bob Gainey also has to get a little more agressive when pursuing players ala Kevin Lowe.Do what is ever necessary to get the players . You have enough of a future,you better start thinking of the present or Gainey you won’t see the 08/09 season.

  5. #5 chevy4CH says:
    October 7, 2007 at 5:43 pm

    I agree with you, Jaker 1. That’s why I call Gainey a lame duck GM. He must be more aggressive. If an unrestricted player doesn’t want to play here, then you need to approach restricted players, just like Lowe did. Lowe knows his job is on the line, and Gainey should feel the same way. If this team finishes the same or worse as last year, I think Gainey should be fired. Carbo should be gone by Xmas, because he has no idea what he’s doing, and absolutely NO COMMUNICATION WITH HIS PLAYERS! He has a huge ego, and arrogant. You can’t put Smolinski on the 4th line! They got him to score goals, not to be on the checking line. And Kostopoulos on the 3rd line? What the hell are you thinking?
    Georges was much better than Brisebois,(who only played 1 game), yet Georges isn’t playing. This team is is such disarray because of Carbo’s antics.
    Carbo is NOT AN NHL COACH, AND NEVER EVER WILL BE!

  6. #6 nigelski says:
    October 8, 2007 at 9:56 am

    Anyoneelse havig a loof trouble enerin posts o tis ite? just look at my ost—y speling isno that bad!!

  7. #7 Habs Blog says:
    October 8, 2007 at 11:07 am

    If Grabovski doesn’t put some offence together very soon, considering he’s totally clueless on defence – Chipchura or Murray will be in very soon..

    He looked like a 14 year old Peewee Center trying to defend against Mats Sundin..

  8. #8 Habs#1 says:
    October 8, 2007 at 11:34 am

    Couldn’t agree more with you HB. Grabovski looks lost and intimidated out there on the ice. He’s not ready for the bigs. The smart move would be to send him down, put Pleks between Kovy and Kostitsyn and have Chipchura in the lineup.

  9. #9 Rubberman says:
    October 8, 2007 at 12:18 pm

    Why is it that the Habs hired an ex-player to coach when there are many coaches with lots of experience that would do a BETTER JOB than Carbo. This is professional hockey, a team with a huge fan base, who are dying to support a winning team. This isn’t a place where an ex-player gets to earn some experience.

    I’m tired of people giving Gainey full support (In Bob we trust). He is not a saviour, he has done more harm than good (eg no outstanding free-agent signings, firing a good coach and then hiring you’re buddy to replace… HELLO).

    If I were the owner, I would hire Patrick Roy (with all his arrogant, show-boating ****). The Habs would have more success with him than with Gainey…

  10. #10 Xtrahabsfan says:
    October 8, 2007 at 12:28 pm

    Re t#6,no prbems ere NigEiski.Lol….Thans-you,for bringing this problm up,I thoght H.P. mit of just screwedmeon is new laptop just bought,ol.Habsblg fix yr ste forfuk sakes!!!lol

  11. #11 habsfan says:
    October 8, 2007 at 4:25 pm

    they played well,just gave the puck up too many times!

  12. #12 habrez says:
    October 8, 2007 at 5:01 pm

    re. rubberman i agree completely with your carbo assessment (although he was a smart player and will eventually become a smart coach) but to replace gainey with roy? you say we lack management experience, last i checked roy is coaching/owning/managing in the qmjhl (not even the ahl) long after gainey was winning cups with the stars. the canadiens havent drafted well for years before gainey got there. since hes been here its been getting better, we have prospects im looking forward to seeing (we did win the calder cup). it takes time to rebuild through drafts and gainey is our man, for now.

  13. #13 copyranter says:
    October 8, 2007 at 5:26 pm

    Hey but at least Kovalev drilled a post…yet again. If pipe hits were goals, my goodness, what stats he’d have…

  14. #14 groundworking says:
    October 8, 2007 at 6:27 pm

    I enjoy the games this year in a different way than last year: last year, i started expecting the Habs to win, but this year I’m just enjoying the hockey and I certainly don’t expect them to win at all. Is it disappointing that they lost to the Leafs? It was last year, but this year they’re basically an AHL team with a few 2nd (Koivu and Kovalev) and 3rd line (Plekanac, Ryder) NHL players thrown into the mix. But it’s a young team, and that’s the exiting part. My only real disappointment so far this year has been Latendresse–who’s been playing like a meat-head in his limited ice time.

    Huet has been mediocre, but we shouldn’t get upset with losing this year–or if we do, we had better get used to it. The Leafs are simply a better team this year–but that’s fine. We’ll finish 9-12th and the Leafs will finish 8-10th, but their “best years” (lol) are behind them, and ours are ahead of us.

  15. #15 chevy4CH says:
    October 8, 2007 at 7:11 pm

    I am a habs fan, but I must admit that I get very upset at people who make of the leafs. After all, the leafs ALWAYS BEAT THE HABS, and the leafs are a MUCH BETTER TEAM THAN THE HABS! So what that the leafs haven’t won a cup since 1967?
    The habs won’t win a cup for the next 40 years, either!
    So people, only make fun of teams that are WORSE THAN YOU! The only teams I see finishing ahead of the habs, are Florida and Atlanta!
    Grow up people, and look at reality! The habs are a BAD BAD hockey team!
    no defence, no offence, no PP, and with Huet, no goaltending! And unfortunately, not 1 decent coach! And a laid back, pacifist(lame duck) GM!
    I expect this team to lose, so I’m not too concerned when they prove me right!

  16. #16 HabsFan4life says:
    October 8, 2007 at 8:21 pm

    We can all see how much of a diehard Habs fan(cough) you are Chevy4ch, with your lame *** posts. I know everyone has an opinion but you; you should keep yours to your self. Remember the team is very young. They will eventually grow. No goaltending in Huet(all-star), Price(AHL playoff MVP), Halak. No we don’t have decent goaltending. Why doesn’t everyone stop bitching about how bad the Habs are when they have only played 2 games.

  17. #17 HabsFan4life says:
    October 8, 2007 at 8:23 pm

    I too wonder why Plecks is on the third line though.

  18. #18 Xtrahabsfan says:
    October 8, 2007 at 8:57 pm

    I’d like to point out that Latandresse is a young
    Cam Neeley give him room!!!!!Don’t want to make the same mistake as Vancouver made!H.B. is Vista clashing wwith yur site ??????? Something is gone rongdude!

  19. #19 PACTUM SERVA says:
    October 8, 2007 at 9:17 pm

    A young cam neely? ahahahahahahhahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahhaahahahahahah Your kidding right?

  20. #20 chevy4CH says:
    October 8, 2007 at 10:11 pm

    Every player has a role. Do you know Latendresse’s role is? As a goon!
    Because he is, without doubt, THE DUMBEST PLAYER I HAVE EVER SEEN!
    He can’t skate, he can’t score, and he can’t check! But he is great at taking
    bad penalties, all the time. He thinks with his butt! He belongs in the minors, now and for good! That guy should NEVER have been put on the habs roster. He doesn’t have a clue what to do. He is NOT AN NHL PLAYER! he is a career minor league player. He reminds me of Chris Nilan, except that Nilan could fight, and Latendresse can’t even do that! What a waste. taking up a valuable spot on the roster, that should be filled by Lapierre or Chipchura!
    Do you guys notice how Carbo gives preference to french canadian players?
    ie. Brisebois, Latendresse, Bouillon, Dandenault,Begin. And all of them are pure ****!

  21. #21 4mGhost says:
    October 8, 2007 at 11:26 pm

    Perhaps Montreal should take a page out of toronto’s book and sign Lindros and Belfore, eh chevy4ch? 2 games in and we’ve got 2 camps: Plan the parade, or fire them all. Gimmie a break. This season will have it’s share of heros and heartbreak, and I for one plan to enjoy them all. GO HABS!

  22. #22 Joe Bloggs says:
    October 9, 2007 at 11:55 am

    Same old same old. Dump it in. Cycle. Try for 1 shot. 2 forwards peel back before they can grab a rebound. Try to win 1-0 games. Protect a 2-1 lead going into third. No spirit and they start Lapierre i the minors???

    Maybe next year. Bye bye Carbo

  24. #24 Ziman says:
    October 9, 2007 at 3:03 pm

    Hey Chevych4, shut your mouth. You are probably a Leafs fan in Habs clothing. Why are you so pessimistic. It’s only two games into a very young season, no need to jump off the bandwagon. I hate people who MAKE FUN OF THE HABS!! While it may be true(unfortunately) that the Leafs are better than the Canadiens this season, the future is bright in Montreal with the prospects coming up. I see better days ahead and more Stanley Cups, so Chevych4, go screw off!!

    Ziman

  25. #25 chevy4CH says:
    October 9, 2007 at 3:14 pm

    Hey Ziman! Go F@#$%^))OFF!
    I’m entitled to my opinion! If you don’t agree, that’s your problem! Everyone is entitled to speak their mind. Show some respect for fellow bloggers!

  26. #26 chevy4CH says:
    October 9, 2007 at 3:16 pm

    And BTW, I am a HUGE HABS FAN! But, I’m also realistic. I don’t view the world with rose colored glasses on! You should do the same, instead of chastizing people for saying what they believe!

  27. #27 CatsClaw says:
    October 10, 2007 at 1:38 pm

    Yo Ziman, chill out you hostile moron. Everyone’s entitled to their opinion. Face the facts, some folks are more astute than others and can see that the emporer has no clothes. Who cares if the Habs have played only two games. Anyone can see that their play is a Carbo copy of last year. I’ve been following the Habs for longer than I care to admit, and I share the opinion of many that the Habs are going nowhere with the Gainey/Carbo duo at the helm. Carbo is nothing short of embarrassing. The way he treats his players, he’ll never bring the best out in them. And sure you can say that the Habs have some young prospects, but it has been a along time since the team has been able to inspire and develop their young talent until they are traded to another team where they can suddenly blossom. Gainey is too laid back and quiet. No one is listening to him anymore. No good players want to play in Montreal anymore because of the insane politics and language issues, criminally high tax rates, and belligerent media. Who the hell needs it? Plus the team’s cache has gone the way of the Montreal anglo (left town). True Habs fans who have followed the teamn over the decades have the experience and hockey sense to know that what we today is lame, and shows little promise of excellence. The other teams arond the league are getting better and better, while the Habs are stagnant and stale. The Habs may never achieve great things again. My feeling is that Gainey and Carbo (as awesome as they were on the ice) do not have what it takes to raise the team to the level of it’s former glory. Sad but true. Ziman, I think you optimism is misguided and naive. Now go have a freakin fit over what I just said.

  28. #28 Holden says:
    October 16, 2007 at 10:27 pm

    Terrible ,terrible,hard to watch ,embarassing ,Florida of all teams ,can`t bear to watch the Habs anymore .We never get the habs here in Ontario ,than when you do they play like this .

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Last Message 19 hours, 38 minutes ago
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  • goalie : I don't know when they'll announce it but the Oilers will be signing Sutter (Flames ex-coach) to coach their team - that's why Kevin Lowe chose him to coach in the World's. That was the world's worst kept secret.
  • Senet1 : I guess I wish we could get it done so all the speculating was over and we can get to building out team.
  • 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.

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