Win

If the Canadiens want to be seriously considered in the same class as Ottawa, and challenge for the Division and Conference, all they have to do is beat them.

Prove it on the ice. Show Ottawa you are for real and you’re coming for them.

If the Canadiens are not fired up for this game then they don’t deserve to be where they are.

The Habs have two meetings with the Senators in five days and things could get very interesting.

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119 Comments

#1 Habfreak says:
February 6, 2008 at 3:23 pm

Lappiere is a great faceoff man

#2 patrick says:
February 6, 2008 at 4:26 pm

Okay question: If we took on Perrault where would he play? Kov/Plek/Kos line cannot be broken up under any circumstances, Perrault will not replace Koivu as first line center, so are we saying that smolinksi is out on the third line? I don’t know if that is really an upgrade. Oh and Ice Man which has beens are you referring to?

#3 Shut UP says:
February 6, 2008 at 5:15 pm

THe only real trade that makes sense right now is Hossa. Put him with Higgins and Koivu and you have yourself two real good lines. ALthough S kost has some great upside Im not sure if he is ready for line 1 duties. However he brings a great dynamic to teh Lats and Laps line. JOkinen would not make sense unless he plays on the wing and we deal Koivu in teh off season. Maybe a depth d man as well although I am happy with our top 6 right now. Gorges is very solid!!!

#4 Shut UP says:
February 6, 2008 at 5:17 pm

Clive Chive Hive Bumble Bee BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

#5 Don Carnage says:
February 6, 2008 at 6:24 pm

Carey Price will start in goal on Thursday when the Canadiens host the Toronto Maple Leafs. Price is 3-0 against Toronto this season. While Guy Carbonneau did not tip his hand to the line combinations, Saku Koivu practiced with Guillaume Latendresse and Sergei Kostitsyn, while Michael Ryder was plugged in with the line of Steve Begin, Bryan Smolinski and Tom Kostopoulos. Chris Higgins played with Maxim Lapierre and Mathieu Dandenault. – TSN

Okinen makes perfect sence he is exactly what we need … and Hossa either one or dream on ( both ) lol but either one will do

#6 Don Carnage says:
February 6, 2008 at 6:28 pm

Jokinen*

#7 Habfreak says:
February 6, 2008 at 6:31 pm

http://canadiens.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=352545
Price starting…

#8 Habfreak says:
February 6, 2008 at 6:34 pm

Anyone talking on the blog right now?

#9 HJ says:
February 6, 2008 at 7:09 pm

anybody heard if O’Byrne will play this weekend? I heard he got his cast off and practicing today with the club.
I think Hossa would be a great fit, big, and strong, just what Koivu needs to get going, provided we don’t give up alot of our young kids to get him.

#10 Dave says:
February 6, 2008 at 9:36 pm

isn’t Hossa terrible come playoff time? or is that someone else from the sens?

#11 Habfreak says:
February 6, 2008 at 10:04 pm

nope, that’s hossa.

#12 Ice Man says:
February 7, 2008 at 8:58 am

#1. Ryder is a healthy Scratch again tonight.

#2. Hossa will not be comming to Montreal. All this trade talk is just RUMOURS. It was confermed by Welland himself.

#13 Ice Man says:
February 7, 2008 at 12:18 pm

That should read Waddell

#14 Don Carnage says:
February 7, 2008 at 12:37 pm

Thats normal for him to say he is trying to sign Hossa to a multi year deal , they will know early next week if that is possible , until that time do not expect the owner of the Caps to say ummm yeah no problems he can talk to other teams… Of course this will all change as soon as they see they cannot sign him then they will be looking at the other options … make sence eh?

#15 Jaker1 says:
February 7, 2008 at 1:09 pm

According to TFP the Thrashers will be looking for a top forward in return for Hossa as well as prospects and they named Chris Higgins as the top forward. Gainey is holding all the cards and I think some minor tweaks could be made with maybe Ryder and Halak as bait but I really think he should not mortgage the future for Hossa or Jokinen. Chris Higgins has more heart than either one of them. Mike Milbury suggested that Jokinen is a problem player. Gainey has to think of Chemistry.

#16 Xtrahabsfan says:
February 7, 2008 at 2:02 pm

If Gainey were to trade Higgins it would be a bigger mistake than trading Ribeiro”huge”. And if we still had Micky Ribs I don’t think we would be having this topic of conversation.

#17 Ben says:
February 7, 2008 at 2:12 pm

How Ironic that the name we’ve been hearing lately is Hossa, and that the trade deadline is Feb 26th… Check out the habs schedule on the 26th.

And people, please give it up with Ribeiro, he would of still su cked in Montreal. He was a party animal and always in clubs, nights before games, getting smashed. The Best place he could of ended up is in Dallas where he can’t do those stupidities and go out. All he as too do now is Play hockey work out and take care of his kids. Mike was not suited for Montreal.

#18 Donnie says:
February 7, 2008 at 2:28 pm

Thank you Ice Man….it’s what I’ve been saying all year. Why is Ryder the only one being thrown to the wolves so to speak, and Koivu’s and Higgins lack of presence and production on the ice being ignored with no “punishment”.

Higgins is NOT on pace for 60 pts, and Koivu MIGHT make it there, but with all the extra ice time these 2 get over Ryder, they should be ahead of Ryder in pts. PP, PK and regular shifts, along with the fact they have 6 and 7 more full games played then Ryder…and Higgins only has 16 more points than Ryder. It’s a no-brainer they should be ahead of Ryder….but it’s ridiculous they’re not ahead of him by more. Higgins needs a point a game to reach 60…anyone really think thats gonna happen? And like I said, Koivu might make it there, but that still not number for a “first” line center. The extra time and games account for the extra points…nothing else. These guys are still playing horribly and a non-factor in most games.

You ask me why Koivu and Higgins aren’t producing….I think it’s partly guilt..Guilt that none of the 3 are producing, and their linemate, and Higgins good friend and roommate is the only one being wrongly targeted and punished for the downslide of all 3. The line is just not clicking, and it’s insane that Ryder is being blamed for the downfall of Koivu and Higgins…and like I said, these 2 players no it also.

I’m a diehard Habs fan….but it’s time to move on Ryder and start scoring like you can again somehwre else…sadly, you’re not being given a fair shake in Montreal. Meanwhile, keep on winning boys, Kovy’s line gotta keep producing or we’re in deep…cause other than Streit and Markov, we’re not getting it from anywhere else. Pound the Leafs tonight….GO HABS GO !!!

#19 JR says:
February 7, 2008 at 4:11 pm

I`m surprised nobody mentioned that trade that’s appears to be “in the bag” (so to speak). If you’re francophone and watched RDS last night (the show is called 110%), it looks like we may be seeing Ryder and O’Byrne being traded for Alex Tanguay.

It was also suggested that Ryder has quite the alcohol issues that may be contributing to his subpar performance this year.

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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.