Playoff Showdown
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Leafs and Habs on a Saturday night…. best place to be. Leafs and Habs in the last game of the year, with the last playoff birth on the line – a storybook ending.
Win and you are in.
That’s the message the should be drilled into every Montreal Canadien today.
No hoping for team A to beat team B and team C to lose in regulation – win and you are in.
Win the game.The Habs control their own playoff destiny and it’s time to see what they are really made of.
For the youngsters that helped propel Montreal into this position, this will be the biggest game of their lives. With everyone in the country and everyone in the hockey world tuned in.
For the veterans, it’s time to see their experience and leadership.
Which of the go-to guys on either team are going to show up and excel?
Koivu -vs- Sundin
Kovalev -vs- Tucker
Raycroft -vs- Huet
Souray -vs- Kaberle
McCabe -vs- Komisarek
Habs -vs- Leafs.
Enjoy.
- Senet1 : Actually I agree it was a good move for them to play a shorter season and get the experience. He could not have played in the minors this year he would have had to play junior or the NHL. However, he now has a year under him and knows what to expect next year and hopefully take a bigger responsibility on the team. Did you see those two goals in the bronze game? Wow.
- muller93 : Good move by the Habs not having Galchenyuk play in the minors. Now Galchenyuk has 1 year in the NHL and playoff experience this is going to pay off big time come next year.
- Senet1 : Galchenyuk scores to back to back goals in shoot out to help USA win Bronze metal. I did not see the second goal but the first was a beauty.
- Senet1 : So we could pick anywhere from 25th to 23rd depending on who wins these quarter final series.
- Senet1 : First, is the 14 teams in the lottery. Then there are 12 teams that did not make the semi finals in the order of the seasonal finish, Then there are the four teams in the semi final the first two eliminated pick in the order of the regular season points total and the last two based on who wins and who loses the cup. So as it stand now if say Detroit beats Chicago then Detroit moves up to pick after us. Boston or NYR will move up and pick after us. LA or San Jose will move up and pick after us
- Senet1 : Basically, I was wrong about the draft pick situation. There are three groups of drafting teams within the 30 teams.
- Senet1 : seriously ready to challenge for the cup. He will us win games but he will not be the difference between winning the cup and not winning the cup. You pick up players like that once you have the team ready to challenge,.
- Senet1 : I am looking at the players to draft and there are a lot of big 6'3-6'5 forwards available ion the draft this year. If we could draft 3-4 big young players in the 2nd and 3rd round why would you want to give that up for a roster player who may have 2-3 years at best. If we are going to build a winner to have to build it with bigger players and there are a lot of good big players available this year. So you sign Ott and he is with us for the short run, but probably not when we are seriously re
- Senet1 : Boullion is a great mentor for the young D-men
- muller93 : Boullion is one of MBs great additions--Boull ion is a definite Keeper.
- muller93 : Getting rid of Kaberle frees up a lot of cash. Boullion is small but is reliable and doesn't back down from anyone.
- muller93 : Exactly Goalie any thoughts on a punishing D-man?
- goalie : They;re showing determination adn skill vs Ducks and Blackhawks.
- goalie : REd Wings could turn out to be the surprise team of this year's playoffs!
- goalie : WE need to rid our team of Kaberle and Webber. Step two would be to then move Diaz. If we get that big d-man I believe that would push Boullion to # 7 on the chart. We'd then go with Georges, PK,Markov (to continue mentoring Ememlin) Tinordi as our starting six . THEN I'd be excited about our chances. We could then work on getting bigger forwards.
- goalie : I too would gladly give up a 3rd round pick for Ott- the type of player we sadly lack. AND if we could get one more rugged, expeienced defenceman it would help immensely.
- muller93 : Senet what you are saying makes sense but if we can get Ott for a 3rd round I'll take that all day.
- muller93 : MB should be looking at a big D-man first, even though I like our blue line with the addition of Tinordi. We need that insurance just in case one gets injured. Also I'm a firm believer in starting with the goalie first then-defense-for wards-and we already have good goalie. We have all noticed when we have the lead Price is tough to beat.
- Senet1 : So sometimes you have to sacrifice for one year or two to build that team in the draft. then add the finishing touches through FA and trades.
- Senet1 : Muller, Detroit is another good example. They have been in the hunt every year with good well balanced teams yet only one or two cups to show for it. However, they have built a team that has a chance every years for the last 10+ years. That is what I think we have a chance to do this year with a good draft. It reminds me of the habs teams of the mid 80 and 90's we built a team then with sold draft picks and won the cup twice during that time period. So sometimes you have to sacrifice a one
- muller93 : Very true Senet, you do need luck and we haven't had any luck it seems since the habs moved to the Bell Center. We had an incredible run in 2010 with some crazy goal tending from Halak. With Galchenyuk-Tinor di-Gallagher all in 1 year--not too bad, even with an early exit in the playoffs.
- Senet1 : Muller I guess we all have our own ideas, but there has never been too many times that were successful when they traded their draft picks away. We have a chance to build this team so we have a shot at winning the cup over the next 10 years. Even as good as Pittsburgh has been they have only won the cup once since Crosby and Malkin have been with the team. That is because you not only need great players but you need luck to win, but one thing about Pittsburgh they have a chance every year. The
- muller93 : Good point on Torres, he might be a liability. Torres has to tone it down a bit, but that's his game-very aggressive.
- goalie : Though I don't condone what Raffi Torres did - thos shows you how repeat offenders or near offenders are going to be treated. His hit was NOT illegal BUT what the rap sheet adn reputation Torres has he got severly punished. Lesson to be learned by OTHER players because Torres dopesn't learn fromk his mistakes.
- muller93 : Senet normally I would agree with you on not trading draft picks but we are not in a rebuilding stage. Sometimes draft picks can be a roll of the dice and it can take up to 3 years to be NHL ready. We have a good team and I agree with Stuo players like Clowe-Torres-Ott -Scott will make a big difference. Somebody has to protect Gallagher, he can't keep getting hit the way does--we need a tough forward so they think twice before going after Gallagher.
- Senet1 : Really a heathly Habs team would probably win more games against the Pens that we did against the Sens. Reason they Pens would not play as physical against us as against the Sens. If we get good goaltending we win at least two games.
- zpezada4ok : hello all «link»
- stuo11 : hes a tougher big guy too! Just a minor adjustment but will help a bit
- stuo11 : hes better than markov, and hes french who was in mention for defenceman of the year
- goalie : Markov for Beauchemin - an injury prone d-man for an ;old timer'd-man. Beauchemin is NOT what the Habs need in my opinion. He is a HUGE defensive liability.
- goalie : Stuo 11 I'd make that trade with Oilers fast BUT I doubt the Oilers will make that. Two marginal d-men at the best for a switch of first round picks - not a chance .
- stuo11 : markov for beachemin?
- stuo11 : let moen go
- stuo11 : maybe try and get steve begin back
- stuo11 : we wouldve kicked out all other teams but pens, sens,
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April 8, 2007 at 12:56 pm
We need to make sure that we don’t keep extra baggage. It’s time for Koivu to go. His undisciplined penalty last night and on countless other occasions this season, really hurt this team. Added to the fact that he didn’y show up for many games in Jan, Feb, and so on. His 22 goals are not worth 4.75 mil.
It’s been nice having him here, but it’s time to say goodbye, along with Kovalev(Mr. Invisible). Just to show Kovalev’s cowardness, he didn’t even stay in the dressing room last night, after the game to answer questions.
He’s a gutless, no show piece of garbage! HE’S GONE! Sorry to say, Souray won’t be resigned! Too expensive, and a DEFENSIVE LIABILITY!
Let’s hope Gainey is able to land 1 or 2 UFA’s and trade some of the deadwood.
Oh, BTW,habs missed the playoffs in Jan and Feb! Any team who has to depend on the last game of the season to make the playoffs, has NO BUSINESS BEING IN THEM! They played last night the same way they played all season: playing for only 20 minutes, undisciplined, taking too many penalties, allowing soft goals, and bad defence!
So, just wait for the draft now, and hope we get good draft picks, then a few trades, and sign acouple UFA’s, and out with the trash!
April 8, 2007 at 1:07 pm
We deserved to lose after the way we played last night. We would have been swept in 4 straight by Buffalo. Maybe this is a wake-up call that we should get the right type of players otherwise we will be **** for a while. We will be a better team next season and WE WILL MAKE THE PLAYOFFS!!! Last year, we knocked out the Leafs when we won those two games at home, when we beat their asses all over the Bell Centre, we will do that again next year. We will kick their asses next year and get our revenge. Last year, we beat them and they wanted revenge this season, well next year is our year of redemption and WE WILL KICK SOME LEAF ***. However, the hockey gods finally wanted the Leafs to win a big game against us for the first time in 40 years so they did. We had been kicking their asses for the past 40 seasons so maybe it was time for a change, somewhat like when the Red Sox finally beat the Yankees after the Yankees always beating the Red Sox. Enjoy it Leaf Nation, because it will only last this year. You won’t be so lucky next season, MARK MY WORDS!! Anyways, Habs need to retool for next year and improve on this season. We need new players, get rid of all the useless garbage, bring up the kids from Hamilton and we will be better next year. Anyways, Leafs fans should not be so happy just yet, if the Islanders win, they will not make the playoffs, so don’t count your chickens before they hatch, LAFF fans. Anyways, if you do somehow make it to the playoffs, you will get your asses kicked by Buffalo, who I want to win the Stanley Cup if no Canadian team wins it. Let’s go Buffalo and kick some Maple Leaf ***!!
Ziman
April 8, 2007 at 1:49 pm
Since the 1998-99 season to present,(8years),(not including the lockout year), HABS HAVE MISSED THE PLAYOFFS 5 OUT OF THE LAST 8 YEARS! Something is wrong with this organization! Why don’t we ever get better,PERMANENTLY!
Detroit,Ottawa, NJ, always gets in the playoffs, why can’t we?
Gainey needs to stop tweaking this club, and make major changes!
We shouldn’t have to worry from year to year if we’re good enough.Detroit, Ottawa and NJ don’t have those concerns! I WANT BIG BIG CHANGES OR I’LL CHANGE MY ALLEGIANCE!
April 8, 2007 at 2:21 pm
The leafs paid the refs off. How about the Islanders or the Gary Bettman paid the refs off. Bettman wants all three New York teams in the playoffs. SO he does not have to travel much and he hates when a Canadian team is in the finials.
April 8, 2007 at 2:33 pm
R habs 4 real, please do switch allegiance. I think that would be better for everybody.
And you want to know why the Habs aren’t like the Red Wings, Devils etc.? Cause before Gainey got here Houle and Andre Savard couldn’t draft worth ****. They were horrible GM’s. The Bulldogs and the Habs had no young players or prospects till Gainey got here.
This will take time. I know no one wants to here the word ‘patience’ anymore but it’s the truth. You’re either loyal or not, through thick and thin. This team will be top 6 in the East next year. This will take a couple more years.
And Koivu just had career high’s in goals and assists so lay off. Carbo will be a better coach who will have lived from his mistakes and with the Russians gone there will be no more cancers in the room that he has to deal with. And once they get one more winger and a #1-2 centre man they will start to light it up 5 on 5. All Carbo needs to do is have these guys practising how not to take penalties in the offseason.
April 8, 2007 at 2:40 pm
The Habs need an overhaul in the grit department.
I don’t think Carbonneau is a bad coach yet but he’s gotta get better and here’s rooting for him to get better! He needs to realize how to use the players better. It seems some will play for him (Komisarek, Bouillon, Higgins, Ryder, Johnson, Huet, Markov, Begin) and then there’s those he seems to not have in his corner (Koivu, Kovalev, Bonk, Souray, Perezhogin, Aebischer) and then there’s the ones that are too green to know any better (Latendresse, Lapierre, Halak).
Anyways, it’s all up to Bob Gainey and he believe he ain’t a happy camper at all.
Cheers gentlemen, I’ll pop in over the playoffs and off season to see who’s bitchin’ ’bout what but have a relaxing summer!
April 8, 2007 at 3:05 pm
Habs#1: You wouldn’t a real fan if they bit you in the ***!
It’s diluted fans like you, that are willing to settle, EVERY SINGLE YEAR, for mediocrity! And you’re happy if a bad team, so go screw yourself!
April 8, 2007 at 3:11 pm
For all you ISLANDER FANS: Brodeur is NOT playing today! Clemenson is!
Just got that from the MSG. GO ISLANDERS!
April 8, 2007 at 3:28 pm
Ha ha ha ha ha ha. Happy with a bad team? No.
But unlike you I’m willing to give a GM 5-6 years for the fruits of his labour to show, especially when he takes over an organiztion with nothing there. There’s one thing the Habs need more then a superstar centre: STABILITY!
Think of it like a government, if you’re changing it every 2 years you’ll never get anything done cause you’re constantly starting over.
I’ll give Gainey and Carbo till 2009-2010 for the Habs to be tops in the East. If they aren’t by then I’ll start calling for there heads.
Wanting a winner is one thing, being irrational and thinking with your heart instead of your head is another.
And if anyone ever diffends Kovalev and still wants him on the team should go cheer for the Leafs.
April 8, 2007 at 3:34 pm
I’m pretty disappointed. My own son (7 yrs old) was cheering for the Leafs. It took me everything to stay calm, not swear, or even tell my own kid to shut the #@%& up.
Wait till next. THat sucks. But, I hope there are changes. I’d love to see Ryan Smith or similar type player in a Habs uniform.
When will Patrick Roy get a kick at the can? At least he has winning experience and the balls to back up his words…
April 8, 2007 at 3:36 pm
Well, wityh Savard we won a stanley cup. Man, that was bad, wasn’t it?
Just because a team is rebuilding, doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be competitive.
And you don’t have to be a great team to make the playoffs.
I doubt Gainey will be any different from previous GM’s, but yes, let’s see who he drafts, and the trades he makes. If he does very little, like at the trade deadline, then I’ll know where we stand. We’re not asking for a champion in 2 years, but BE COMPETITVE AND MAKE THE PLAYOFFS!
April 8, 2007 at 4:38 pm
OH, did I tell you that my predection would come true.
Never doubt my predictions and wisdom people………
Kiovu was being interviewed after the game last night And he said the word F_UCKING. That was priceless……………..
I would like to thank this website, whom ever is in charge, for allowing me to voice my opinions. Thank you. I had a great time while I was here.
I would like to thank Carbo & Huet for their combined efforts to lose us a playoff birth. (I hope that Carbo & Huet are not with the team next year).
Maybe Gainey well chase after Patrick Roy for head coach. He has enough balls to bring us to the playoffs and we would not have to fight for 8th spot to make it either.
I hope that I did not offend any body with my truthful comments.
April 8, 2007 at 4:58 pm
The Habs won the cup with Serge Savard as their GM in 1993, Molson fired him, hired Houle.
Then they fired him and hired Andre Savard.
They are two different people.
Once the two Russians are gone this team will improve by leaps and bounds.
April 8, 2007 at 5:15 pm
All day today I just can’t get that 2nd goal out of my head.
I can’t understand how a pro NHL goalie can allow that kind of goal.
Seriously that piece of **** cost us a playoff spot.
That’s 2 years in a row Huet folded under pressure.
For Gods sake please don’t allow him to start anymore important games.
I’ve had enough of Huet and his “always on his knees” goaltending
HE STINKS! 6 f***’n goals. I repeat 6 f***’n goals. PATHETIC!
April 8, 2007 at 5:50 pm
When did he fold under pressure ever other then the 2nd goal last night? He couldn’t see the other 5 cause the D played their worst game of the season.
And he kept them in it last year against Carolina. The OT knockout went off a stick, and goalie’s are about timing. His was knocked off it went in.
He will be the Habs goalie next season. Halak will be the backup and Price will be the starter in Hamilton.
April 8, 2007 at 5:58 pm
You people aren’t going to believe the Islander game. they were leading 2-0, the NJ scored, and with .8 seconds to go, NJ tied it up! Un fucken believable!
Leafs must be the luckiest team. And the habs are the unluckiest!
April 8, 2007 at 6:15 pm
And now the consolation prize:
THE LEAFS ARE OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sad, but we have to take solice in the fact that the Leafs didn’t make it and the Habs will have more cap room(once the two Russians go) and a better chance to improve this offseason.
Habs young players>Leafs young players
April 8, 2007 at 6:17 pm
The ISLES in a shootout won!
NANANA GOODBYE STUPID LEAFS! YOU’RE TOAST! Your win got you N O T H I N G!
LEAFS MISS PLAYOFFS FOR 2nd CONSECUTIVE YEAR! Hey leaf fans, how do you feel?
April 8, 2007 at 6:18 pm
THE ISLANDERS JUST MADE EVERYTHING SEEM A LITTLE BIT BETTER> THANKS NEW YORK!!!
April 8, 2007 at 6:27 pm
SANANANA, sucks to be blue and white,nananana GOOD- BYE-LAFFS…..OOOOOH–YEAH !!!JEEZE THAT WILL MAKE IT 41 YEARS,HA HA HA HA HA HA LOL HA HA LOL HA HA …………………..LOL……
April 8, 2007 at 6:42 pm
V_I_N_D_I_C_A_T_I_O_N_!!!!!!!! I LOVE IT!!
April 8, 2007 at 6:53 pm
Habs#1 great goalies don’t allow those kind of goals, period.
The guys on his knees more than a prostitute on young street.
As for the Stillman goal last year he was on his knees before the shot was even taken.
What a joke.
He will lose his starting job to Halak next year.
Speaking from a hockey goalies perspective his lateral movement stinks.
Young Halak’s got all the tools to be an excellent goalie in the NHL. Time will tell.
The next cup this team wins will be with Halak and Price not with that Huet c@#p.
Anyways no point in beating a dead horse, the seasons over. Have a great easter and summer.
See you all in a few months when it’s UFA signing time.
April 8, 2007 at 7:07 pm
April 8, 2007 at 7:10 pm
“Neither of these teams belong in the playoffs, in my opinion. Given their opposition, neither would survive one round.”
And neither of them will be. Justice is served.
Kudos to habs phan.
Incidentally, I wonder how many people were seriously injured jumping back on, and then back off the bandwagon during the second and third periods last night.
April 8, 2007 at 7:16 pm
Hey Habs blog: thanks for that! This is the first time I’ve laughed since last night. We really needed that. And thank you Islanders! their win took some of the sting out of our loss. I wish you could get that piece on TSN!
I want to show leaf fans what we think of them. Really, I couldn’t stop laughing! And next year Price WILL contend for the starting goalie position. If he doesn’t make it, at least he’ll be the backup!
Since we can’t be in there this year, I’m hoping VANCOUVER will do it!
April 8, 2007 at 8:04 pm
GO SENS GO!!!!!!1
April 8, 2007 at 9:34 pm
The players don’t get paid for the playoffs anyway. It is all gravy money for the owners…………..
The above statement is partially incorrect. For each playoff series, there is a winning dollar amount or pot and a losers dollar amount provided by the NHL.
Exactly who contributes to the fund is unknown to me; Is it only the playoff teams or the entire 30 teams contribute throughout the year?
But, the players are definately paid via the NHL playoffs share for each series. The later the series, the greater the amount and most likely, each players share is less than what they are paid during the season.
April 9, 2007 at 12:54 am
NOt only did the Leafs not make it but they cost another Canadian team from making it. CANT YOU DO ANYTHING RIGHT LEAFS. YOU HAVE SUCKED FOR A LONG TIME AND ALWAYS WILL. also if you cheer for a group of losers like that then you are a loser.
LEAFS 40 years and counting.
Time to get your reservations for 2017 for the 50th anniversary party. I heard all proceeds are going to the NYI fund.
April 9, 2007 at 7:04 am
R Habs…of course Price is going to “compete” for a spot with the Habs next season. Do you think they’d actually not give him an invite to training camp? That doesn’t mean he’ll get the job though.
Don’t get me wrong. I can’t wait until he’s our guy, but if he’s rushed, we might be shooting ourselves in the foot.
I still predict a Huet/Halak tandem season for 2007/08 and Price gets his shot in 2008/09 – or if H or H get injured next season.
April 9, 2007 at 5:33 pm
Take that you stupid, moronic Leaf fans. Leafs suck ****!! They will never win another Stanley Cup again. Even when they win, they seem to lose somehow. The Canadiens will kick their asses next season and will be cup contenders by 2008-2009. Believe me people, we will be a better team next season and the Leafs will still suck. Sure they got a small measure of revenge for beating us on the last day of the season, but that was because of the penalties that they won and the referees being in their back pocket. It won’t be like that all the time so the Leafs will suck again next season and won’t make the playoffs, again. Hey Laff fans, take your flukey win over us on Saturday and shove it up your ***. You guys did not deserve to win the game. We let it slip away and took our foot of the pedal when we had it against your throats. Laffs were LUCKY to win. Anyways, go screw yourselves, Laff fans!!
Ziman
April 9, 2007 at 8:01 pm
There’s a lot of hollering going on here – but let’s take a step back for a sec. Gainey ain’t going anywhere and neither is Carbo – don’t like the way he coaches becasue he alienates players .. you can’t bench a professional hockey player in today’s world becasue he made a mistake – they just make too much money for it to be a lesson – either way, Carbo is staying because of Gainey. Huet is starting with Halak backing up – Abby will walk. Souray is gone and so is Niinima (no big loss there). So we have left .. Markov (signs) Dandenault, Komi, Bouillion, Streit(for whatever reason) – maybe, Gorges gets more ice time and they pick up another D. Staying up front Ryder (even though Gainey hates him), Higgins (future), Pleks (future), Begin (because he is French and the penalty wasn’t his fault according to Carbo), Johnson, Lapierre (future according to Carbo), Latendresse (future so they say), Kostitsyn (future according to Gainey). Kovalev stays because nobody will pick him up, Perezhogin might go in a deal, Bonk probably goes, Koivu probably stays (only way he goes is if Gainey makes a blockbuster deal and he is not going to do that) – Samsonov hoes if there is a deal. So there is only room for one or two forwards – ie. Gainey tries againg to convince some big UFA to come to Montreal and play under Carbo who uses tactics that you would use in coaching your pee wee son’s league. If he gets a signing, that will not work out come Feb because the UFA will tire of the crappy systems by coaching staff. See you all same place, same time early next spring.
April 10, 2007 at 9:18 am
Didn’t I tell you? Didn’t I tell you that if Huet came back that Koivu would help nail the end of the season? The quartet have made a pact to destroy Gainey and Carboneau cause they are dogs!!! They treat their players like ****! Dandenault, Bouillon, all logged tons of ice time, were guilty in all of the goals. Huet let in nothing but soft goals, even rookies can’t make those types! Koivu of course turned a classic comeback and win chance into a loss yet one more time. What did not help was Begin getting all those penalties.
Definitely something needs to be done about Dandenault and Bouillon. Can’t say it enough. As for Koivu, like Souray that is taboo in Montreal I guess, as long as we have Koivu we will never get a cup. Its a tough choice to make. As long as we allow Huet to do his butterfly fall down, the whole NHL knows all they have to do is, hit him a few times, and then shoot high.
Everyone knows Dandenault and Bouillon can’t clear the puck out of Montreals end for trying, something needs to be done if we are to be winners next year.