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Game 81: Habs/Bruins

  • One point clinches a birth in the playoffs.

    It won’t be easy against the Bruins who have been owned by the Canadiens in recent years and have to be salivating at the chance at revenge. The Bruins are in a position to inflict some damage to a depleted Habs team. Help force them out of the playoffs and/or send a message should the Habs take 8th, and the Habs and Bruins dance in another playoff match up next week.

    Mathieu Schneider may return to the lineup and powerplay to hopefully help secure that point.

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15 Comments
  1. #1 Donnie says:
    April 10, 2009 at 8:56 am

    Why does it seem like all other 7th, 8th, and 9th place teams can pull out the win when they need it? Play that much harder to get the 2 points. I’m not sh*ttin on the boys this time, I’m just saying thats it’s so disheartening as a fan to watch all these other teams playing solid hockey…getting wins against bigger teams, and we get 1 point in our last 3 when wins are critical, no only for points, but for confidence.
    We got bullied again last night because we are still one of the only teams who apparently doesn’t need toughness. Chara, Lucic, and Thornton had their way with us again and knew they could. Toughest guy in the league and he’s in the press box…and ya know something…the getting bullied didn’t even pay off…even with all the PP’s we got for not being able to battle the Bruins…WE STILL LOST !!!

  2. #2 Donnie says:
    April 10, 2009 at 9:06 am

    Hit submit comment by mistake….anyways…..as I was saying. I was sitting there boiling last night. The big topic from last season was no toughness…opposing players taking liberties with our guys. We want our guys to feel secure so we resolve the problem….we sign the biggest heavyweight in the league at 1.5 a year to be our policeman. Problem solved right? Amazingly no…we resolve the issue and then sit him in the press box half the year and it seems always in games like this. Still trying to figure it out….throw all the reason you want to at me if any of you disagree, but, Laraque should have been in the lineup last night. Not having a guy in the lineup who is gonna take penalties is one thing…but letting your team get beat up, thumpped around and bullied can do great things for their confidence either.
    It was a bad call on Gainey’s behalf. Every other team has one guy who handles problems in the lineup. Are we so unique that we don;t need it…are we doing everything so right that we don;t need to take this path….we’re barely in 8th…think about that before you answer.
    Once again, bad call Bob…you still have my respect, and with all the good calls you make…sorry…very bad call last night with Laraque.

  3. #3 Joseph says:
    April 10, 2009 at 11:55 am

    Gainey’s decision to keep Laraque out of the lineup last night will be analysed, overanalysed, justified, criticised, defended, and laughed at, but quite simply there was no method to Gainey’s madness here. Yes, Boston/Philadelphia is precisely why he went out and got him, and yes, he most certainly should have been playing last night. Find logic in this: Laraque had been in the lineup in each of the past several games before being removed from it for a game against not only our biggest rival, not only a notoriously physical team, but one of the primary reasons that we went out and got Laraque in the first place!

  4. #4 Joseph says:
    April 10, 2009 at 1:27 pm

    “From my perspective, it was one of the longest games ever and it didn’t even seem like there was much action in my end,” — Tim Thomas

    Oddly enough, your team was outshot 39-33, Tim.

  5. #5 Senet1 says:
    April 10, 2009 at 4:24 pm

    Well here is a thought, just maybe Gainey was preparing for the playoffs and that is why Stewart and Larague did not play tonight. And in hindsight just think, if Larague were in the game tonight would Kovalev and Kostysn have come to Komesareks or Jorges aid. This team came together last night like no other game all year. And besides, if George played there were only two possible players that would have sat. D’Agostini or Weber. D’Agostinin got two goals and Weber was brought up to see how he would work on the powerplay. So did Gainey make the right move, who knows for sure, but as a fan I would suggest that he may know a little bit more about hockey than I do and what/how he wants to prepare his team for the playoffs.

  6. #6 Senet1 says:
    April 10, 2009 at 4:25 pm

    We won more than a point!!!!!!!!!!!!

  7. #7 Senet1 says:
    April 10, 2009 at 4:39 pm

    WE saw a great game last night, and we say a team that did not give up. We saw Dandy playing a position that he has not played much all year and did a commendable job, yet he made a serious mistake. Maybe had he played defence more this year that mistake would not have been made, but the team is adjusting to playing without Markov and that adjustment is going to take time. I thought overall Dandy played a pretty good game, only wished he had not made that mistake, but I bet he won’t make it again in the playoffs. I thought Price played a decent game, could only be faulted on the one goal. This team for the first time all year showed character and they came together as teammates and yes Boston did have the upper hand on the rough stuff, but the important thing is we did not back down, with the exception of Obyrne? Now I wonder what Boston is thinking, we played them even steven took their best shots in their building without Laraque or Stewart, don’t you think they have a question mark in their minds now and are wondering just what this team will be like with those two guys in the lineup? Think about it. Did Gainey really make that big of a mistake, just maybe he planned it?

  8. #8 Senet1 says:
    April 10, 2009 at 4:49 pm

    I am glad I wrote my recent comments regarding Laraque before I read this because it give credence to what I was thinking. Here is what Gainey says.

    While others had offered up their prediction that Georges Laraque would be there to tame the bears at TD Banknorth Garden, the Habs’ head coach surprised many by not calling on his heavyweight. And don’t expect the mystery to be solved any time soon.

    “If I tell you, everyone will know because you’ll publish it,” said Gainey. “I prefer keep a couple of cards in my hand.”

  9. #9 Senet1 says:
    April 10, 2009 at 5:36 pm

    The two cards he is talking about could they be Laraque and Stewart?

  10. #10 Mats Naslund says:
    April 10, 2009 at 6:12 pm

    I think Gainey played a hunch in that Boston has been winning games 2-1 in the last month and thus he should have his best offensive team out there. Yes it would have been great to have Laraque in last night, although I think Stewart may have been a little more effective. Weber had to play last night, so that really only leaves D’Agostini out (2 goals!). The hope is that Montreal beats Boston by playing Canadiens hockey. We saw that Boston can get caught trying to pound. If we use speed and determination we can beat that team. I would like to see Laraque-Thornton just to keep that goon honest..

  11. #11 Senet1 says:
    April 10, 2009 at 6:25 pm

    Matts that is a good analogy of the situation, I just do not think that Gainey wanted to expose Laraque at this time just before the playoffs. I think in hind sight he made the correct coaching move. You can second guess the coach all the time but the fact of the matter is that we could have won this game with the lineup that Gainey put on the ice and without that lineup I doubt we would have even been in the game? Had we already made the playoffs, then maybe it would have been a different decision but because of a little bad luck and a couple of young players making a mistake we lost. I am wondering what the nay sayers would really say had we won?

  12. #12 Senet1 says:
    April 10, 2009 at 6:33 pm

    There is another positive and that was d’Agostini, came out of his scoring slump. Two goals if he stays consistent and scores some goals he may be want we have been looking for, I still think it is only a matter of time before AK 46 scores, he seems to be working hard and even throwing his weight around, so maybe saturday night is his time. I would like to see us win because I think that Philly will beat NY putting us in 7th.

  13. #13 Donnie says:
    April 11, 2009 at 8:34 am

    Well guys….I hope you are right and there was a method to Gainey’s madness. But as diehard Habs fans you all must know what I’m talking about…..watching your team get bullied and beat up while our tough guy sits in the press box….it’s just so frustrating, and kinda makes you slump back in your chair. When your team is in this situation, it takes away from the enjoyment of the game for you, it’s somehwta embarassing, and you are spitting for revenge when you know there is none coming…wow, what a way I was in the other night. I just hope you guys know where I am coming from.
    I was hoping to avoid the B’s in the playoffs first round….now, I want the fawkers. GO HABS GO !!!

  14. #14 Joseph says:
    April 11, 2009 at 7:01 pm

    If it’s true that Gainey sat Laraque to save him for the playoffs, then that was one hell of a risky move because prior to the overtime loss, Montreal had not yet secured a playoff spot, and had they failed to earn that point, would be playing for their playoff lives tonight against one of the hottest teams in the league, which still has its eyes on fourth place and home ice advantage.

    Risky indeed.

  15. #15 Senet1 says:
    April 11, 2009 at 8:11 pm

    I don’t think either Matts or I suggested that Gainey sat laraque to save him for the playoff. They sat him because if we need goals he is not going to get them. And know one has answered this question yet, who were you going to sit? We had Boston so shook up that they started taking penalties and allowed our PP to score. And as for being embrassed by being bullied I did not see us as getting bullied I saw a team that tried to bully us and found out that we will stand up to their tough stuff. The team played as a team for one of the few times this year when they had to. Had they played that way all season we would have been closer to the top.

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  • goalie : Didn't get to see the game at all but it's great to see Pacs get a hat trick and fpor Cole to be + 3. When was the last time this team won three games in a row? Great victory -looks like they're giving 100% effort!
  • Senet1 : 4-2 win habs
  • Senet1 : Gomez scores, Yea!!!
  • goalie : As I said yesterday it will be interesting to see what our lame ass GM gets for players he ships out. Bourque is good and he'll help us but I still think we could have gotten more for him and for Halak when he was traded.
  • Avatar37 : round those picks occur (probably 3rd).
  • Avatar37 : An interesting article. If we slip to the 5th or 7th draft pick, a very interesting case could be made for drafting Galchenyuk. If we wind up with the second or third pick, I'm not sure who I'd draft, because clearly Yakupov is going to be drafted first overall. Our second round pick also becomes interesting, I know I'd take Vasilevski if he were still available. It will also be interesting to see if we can turn some of our veteran players (Moen, Gill, Campoli) into draft picks, and what
  • Avatar37 : «link»
  • Avatar37 : That is why PG should have waited on trading Cammalleri. Right now, there is a high demand for a top 6 forward, we could have gotten much more than Bourque in return. That isn't a knock against Bourque, but a knock against a knee-jerk reaction trade that didn't maximize our return on a top asset.
  • Avatar37 : «link»
  • Avatar37 : chips fall where they may. After all, the only difference between finishing 17th and 29th is how good a pick you get in the draft.
  • Avatar37 : We currently sit in 26th place in the league. We are 15 points ahead of Columbus, it's safe to bet at this point they will place last. We are, however, only 4 points ahead of Edmonton so it's still wide open as to who is going to finish second last. I still think that it's time to sit the veterans, play the youth, let them get experience, and regroup for next year. I'm not suggesting deliberately tanking like the Penguins, but give all our young players lots of playing time and let the c
  • Avatar37 : goalie - If it were not for the play of Cammalleri, we would never have made it out of round 1. Cammalleri played as big a part, if not bigger, than Halak did. Sure, Halak played well, but remember the team collapsed in front of him, making his job much easier. We had lots of blocked shots and the ones that got through were typically from the outside.
  • Senet1 : Goalie you are absolutely right, of course the one thing we had the two previous years that won the games that we are losing this year was our power play. If you look at say 10 games that we should have won had we had a similar power play, again we would not be having these conversations. When your PP goes from first to last in the league that is a lot of goals.How many games have we lost this year by one goal. Again poor management who did not prepare for Markov's possible absence.
  • goalie : I'll put it another way.... we need more players who are willing to get their noses dirty.
  • goalie : Two years ago when our goaltending stole series adn our players suddenly scored the coaches / GM believed that that was our true team . Well time has proven that was not. Though I was very glad to see the Habs knock off some very good teams we were very fortunate. And fortunate that spring was spelled HALAK!
  • goalie : The wrst mistake management could possibly make I believe is to say, we played well some games and we believe the team can play to that level more often in the future. This team CANNOT adnb DOES NOT play to a high enough level. Please do not kid yourself mamngement. hat is partially why we're in the lace we are.
  • goalie : Senet is correct when he says that if we had more games with a better efort this year we'd likely be in the playoffs. It has been very inconsistent effort but much more than that. We lack big, tough playing and finishing. Never mind fighting for a moment. We did not compete for the pucks nor along the boards nor in front of both nets enough this year. Thus we are in 29th. If the coaching staff doesn't see that then they shouldn't be there.
  • Senet1 : Surely Molson is not going to keep him as the GM?
  • Senet1 : when he knows he will be fired at the end of the season. Nothing really makes since in this whole process.
  • Senet1 : I am not sue why PG has not been fired by now. They could be waiting for another GM to come available at season end, but why would you not set up a committee to manage the team in the short run until a new GM can be named. There is no since in chaning coaches because whoever the GM is he will want to name his own coach. Gainey and a committe of other executives can manage the team through to the trading deadline and onward. What motivation does PG have to making any worthwhile trades when he is
  • Senet1 : I am too mch of a competitor to want my team to tank to. However, If these players played like they ae cabable of playing all year we would not be having this discussion right now, we woud be talking about the playoffs and who we would rather meet in the first round.
  • rocky : Exactly, and Senet nails it when he says we have not had an elite top 5 in the nhl player since lafleur.
  • goalie : I too want the Habs to get the best possible draft this June. We all need SOME hope!
  • rocky : He is persona non grata in habville, and a ghost in every sense of the term.
  • goalie : It remains a miracle how we have heard from our mighty GM twice since Christmas - the trades involving Spacek and Cammy and those comments were extremely brief. PG just does not cut it in my world. Part of a GMs job is to go public from time to time. PG never does that in fact he's a ghost GM!
  • rocky : Its true, there is no honor in that. These guys have only known the ethic of giving it all to win every night. I do not want them to "tank", and they will never do that anyway. I do want them to lose though, as awful as it sounds.
  • goalie : Roicky as a good point. We all want the Habs to get a really good draft pick. However, players, coaches etc. also have a keen desire to compete and win. That's why they're playing at the pro level. Thus we can only hope that the team plays some good games and let the chips fall where they may. After the disasterous season we've had let's not lower ourselves adn get involved in any dscussions about 'tanking' games.
  • rocky : So long.
  • Senet1 : Good discussion rocky, I have to step out for an hour, but may be back later.
  • Senet1 : The only way this team comes back to a team with long term potential is to draft a game breaker. Even all the other bad teams have a Stamkos or a player like him. He have some good player so what we need is a Malkin that we can count on 80% of the time to win a game for us.
  • rocky : I mean winning will only do them harm that is.
  • rocky : It really hurts because my reflexes make me want to cheer like mad, but it will only hurt the team now.
  • Senet1 : Yes I have mixed feeling when watching the game. Last night I say here we go again. with our record of shoot losses I did not expect to win that one. Yet I wanted to win real bad?????
  • rocky : God, so horrible to sit and hope for losses, but here we are.
  • Senet1 : Our problem is we play one out of every 4 games good and therefore, we play well enough to stay on the borderline of a top five pick. If we win three or four in a row we could take ourselves right out of the running.

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