We Needed That!

Montreal 4 Los Angeles 3 (Bell Centre)

Rocket:

What a finish! Two goals by the Canadiens in the final two minutes of the game. The players that made it happen : Koivu, Higgins, Markov simply refused to lose another game. The Habs were in a position to come back due to the stellar goaltending of Carey Price. It was a win that the Canadiens really needed...and it was a win because the Habs star players went out and got it.

Any analysis beyond the 4-3 final score is not as rosy. But there were some impressive individual efforts to acknowledge first.

Saku Koivu is a terrific leader, the hardest working player, and the heart and soul of this team. Koivu had a goal (the winner), an assist and was 63% on faceoffs. Koivu won a big faceoff to get the puck to Andrei Kostitsyn for a power-play goal. On the winning goal, Koivu didn't move from the top of the crease even though he was getting hammered by Matt Greene.

Tomas Plekanec is another player who works hard every shift, every game. It was nice to see his effort rewarded with a goal today. Plekanec, like a few others on the team, has been receiving unwarranted criticism.

Christopher Higgins has been stripped of his 'A', has been the target of almost every trade rumour, yet played well at both ends of the ice today and scored a huge goal. The Kings will argue that Higgins stiff arm on Drew Doughty should have been a penalty, and they may have a point. But more importantly, I was impressed with the will, determination and quick release by Higgins to tie the game.

Carey Price is the Canadiens' franchise player. He is not only an amazing talent on the ice but has emerged as a leader. When a team is struggling, often, good coaches deflect media attention on something else. Given the void in Montreal, Price has taken on that role. He was in no way to blame for any of the past four losses yet focused the media attention on himself sparing his struggling coach and defense. And today, Price shut the door on the Kings making several spectacular saves including 3 on Alexander Frolov.

Andrei Kostistyn can skate, is aggressive and has a laser shot. He displayed his release and accuracy on his power-play goal today. He simply needs much more ice-time. Another player who inexplicably is getting too much bench-time is Max Pacioretty. Credit to Max who had his first NHL fight with Wayne Simmonds.

Individual efforts won the game today because the lines looked like they hadn't played together before. Truth is, they hadn't! And that should not be happening in game #49 of the season.

Players have different styles and mesh better with players who understand their style. Here's an interesting example. During the post-game interview, Chris Higgins described the play of his tying goal. Higgins said that he finally received a pass up the middle. He said that he had been instructing his linemates all game to feed him that way.

Carbonneau's rationale...'I want a worker on every line'...is just juvenile. The insinuation is that the pluggers (like Carbo, I suppose) will teach the skilled players about work ethic. The result is predictable: a mess! And it leads to situations where players have to learn about playing a different way, as explained by Higgins. This isn't the time of the season for irresponsible experimentation by the coach.

And what does Alex Kovalev think about 'being taught' by Steve Begin? The answer was on the ice. The Lang/Kovalev/Begin line was the Canadiens' worst this afternoon. If the coaches motive is to punish Kovalev or make him angry, then I suppose Carbo succeeded. But good coaches are supposed to find ways of getting the best out of their players...even struggling players. It's clear that Carbonneau has been a colossal failure in that regard this season.

I have been critical of Kovalev as well. I look forward to the first time this season when Kovy skates at full speed. But Kovalev should also be acknowledged for his good plays. On the Canadiens 2nd goal, Koivu won the draw, but it was Kovalev who tied up the King defenseman so that Andrei Kostitsyn's shot had a clear path to the net.

Guy Carbonneau isn't doing Gui Latendresse any favors moving him to a line with two speedy forwards like AK-46 and Plekanec. Latendresse looked out of place today. He doesn't have the footspeed to keep up. Gui had at least 3 wide open chances but was erratic in his shooting. Perhaps the puck is coming to him when he is not expecting it. Latendresse really plays much better with north-south line-mates like Lapierre and Kostopoulos. Max and TK were ineffective today too.

This is a simple message to Guy Carbonneau. To borrow (and slightly change) a slogan: It's the defense, stupid! While Carbo is mindlessly tinkering with forward lines, the defensive zone coverage remains terrible. Even Kirk Muller acknowledged that it is the defensive giveaways that are killing the Canadiens.

Let Patrice Brisebois have his 1000 games and then never slot him in the line-up again. Brise was just brutal on the Kings 2nd goal, mishandling the puck before turning it over and then just waving his stick. That was a huge goal for LA coming after the Canadiens had a 5 on 3.

Josh Gorges giveaway was costly giving the Kings a 3-2 lead at the end of the second period. But Gorges should have never been on the ice. It was a poor coaching decision to allow Gorges to play after the dirty Gauthier hit. Still a little foggy, Gorges not only gave up the puck for a goal but was hit again.

Individual will and effort will not be enough to win against the Bruins tomorrow. It's time that the coach gets on board with a better effort too.


Pre-game:

Tanguay, Dandenault, Laraque out with injuries. O'Byrne and Sergei Kostitsyn are scratched.


Rocket's 3 stars:

1. Andrei Markov
2. Saku Koivu
2. Chris Higgins
3. Carey Price

(photo credit: AP Photo)

EXCLUSIVE: Conboy signs with Hamilton Bulldogs

All Habs has learned that former NCAA player Andrew Conboy has signed with AHL Hamilton Bulldogs for remainder of season. Conboy is now on his way to Hamilton. The report also speculates that Conboy will sign multi-year NHL deal in March.

~more to follow~

previous story:

Habs Prospect Quits College Team

Price Expresses his Frustration

Carey Price's teammates abandoned him on Thursday night, and Price was not in a good mood after the game. To his credit, Carey said that it was not the time for pointing fingers. The players must pull together.

As Pierre McGuire said yesterday, "Playing goal in Montreal is the toughest in hockey. Goaltending is second guessed more than any other position."

Guy Carbonneau, suggested that his team lacked character against Florida. Carbo should have acknowledged that his comment didn't apply to Carey Price who obviously shows character and is passionate competitor.

Habs Swept in Florida

Rocket:


What do you think when you hear about a hockey game that was filled with odd man rushes, no defensive play, and a goaltender who stands on his head but gives up 5 goals? All-Star Game 2009 part 2 in Sunrise, Florida?

Seriously, it could have been a 12-1 game, but for a 31 save performance by Price, with at least a dozen being spectacular stops.

After the game, Price was clearly frustrated: "You go from having the best time of your life, to having the f@#$% worst time of your life..."

The head coach surmised that he could turn the offense around by simply changing line combinations. The result: zero even-strength goals for the Canadiens.

It is somewhat amusing that fans and media alike are screaming for a superstar center. VL will be the answer to our prayers and the solution to all the problems that ail the Habs, they say.

But look across the ice tonight. The Panther centers are: Horton, Weiss, Campbell and Kreps. No superstars there. No one can argue that the Panthers have superior talent. Yet, tonight the game wasn't even close. So what is the difference?

Look behind the bench. Peter DeBoer has done an amazing job turning around the fortunes of the Florida Panthers. DeBoer took the Kitchener Rangers to the Memorial Cup last year. Ask Yannick Weber what kind of coach he is. DeBoer has been a career coach for the past 15 years much in the mould of Mike Babcock. DeBoer came to the NHL after honing his craft in the minor leagues. Quite a contrast to a former NHL star who is parachuted into the role of head coach, makes decisions based on emotion and is content to rest on his success as a player.

Earlier in the season, Pierre McGuire said that the Canadiens practises were lacking focus and purpose. Today, McGuire mentioned that there is too much talk in the Canadiens meeting room and not enough teaching of fundamentals on the practise ice.

Clearly, Pete DeBoer is getting the best out of his players and Guy Carbonneau is not. While the Canadiens could use a extra defenseman, the players on the present roster are underachieving, and that is the responsibility of the coach.

Guy Carbonneau once again chose to go with his favorites tonight. Max Lapierre played the most even strength minutes of any Canadiens' center. As Pierre McGuire said during the game, "If Lapierre is getting first line center minutes, you aren't going to win a lot."

When the Lapierre / Latendresse / Kostopoulos line plays a third or fourth line rotation, they know their role. They play a simple, straight-line, hard-nosed and very effective game. Yet when they are given extra minutes, their role is not as clear. Are they expected to score? At that point, the defensive play of the line suffers. They don't forecheck effectively and are soft in their own zone.

Patrice Brisebois was a train wreck tonight, one of the worst games by a Canadiens defenseman in memory, yet he played 17 minutes. While Brise was committing giveaways all over the ice and getting beat with speed, it was left to Price to bail him out.

Josh Gorges and Francis Bouillon were both -2. Gorges began the night with a bad penalty crosschecking Holik in the head. Bouwmeester scored on the ensuing power-play and the Canadiens trailed 1-0 for the 4th game in a row. Later, Zednik cruised around Gorges while Bouillon stood and watched, and the Panthers went up 3-1. Bouillon and Gorges would also be on the ice for Florida's 5th goal.

So who played well besides Price? Well not many Canadiens. Plekanec, Sergei Kostitsyn, Koivu and Higgins were probably the best forwards. A sniper like Andrei Kostitsyn simply can't be effective when he's on the bench for long stretches of the game. He and the other skilled players need ice-time to get into the flow of the game.

A 4th straight loss for the Canadiens and it is time for the head coach to take some responsibility for turning this team around. Right now, the Habs need focused practices, a strategic game plan, better bench management and effective player motivation.


Pre-game:


Koivu wears the 'C', Kovalev and Komisarek with 'A's tonight. (Although, I can't disagree with the decision to recognize Komisarek, it seems odd to me that Higgins lost his 'A' due to injury.)

Tanguay, Dandenault, Laraque out with injuries. Brisebois and Begin will play. O'Byrne and Pacioretty are scratches.

Rocket's 3 stars:

1. Stephen Weiss
2. Jay Bouwmeester
3. Carey Price

(photo credit: AP photo)

Ray Emery Fights Team Trainer in Russian League

J.P. Barry, Emery's agent, said he has talked to the goaltender and said the incident is being overblown.

"From what I understand, Ray was upset about being pulled, he was hot and his head was sweaty," said Barry. "He told the trainer three times that he didn't want the hat and then the guy gave him a tough-guy stare. Ray then pushed him away."

Q & A with Sergei Kostitsyn

Excerpts from The Puck Daddy Q & A interview by Dmitry Chesnokov:

After the last incident on the ice, in which Grabovski was suspended for shoving an official, he said about you, "I think he is not Belarussian now, he is French because I never fight with Belarussian guys." Maybe he doesn't know you are Belarussian? Why would he say that?

Well, maybe. Maybe he thinks I am French? I don't know. He talks a lot. But this was a spit in the face of all French [Canadian] players. When he said that I was French, he meant that all French are idiots. But they all read [about this], and it will only be bad for him during the next game. When you lose, just leave and be quiet, why do you have to say something about the French? I don't care what he said about me, that I am French. But our French [Canadian] players read the papers, they saw what he said, and I don't know what's going to happen during the next game [between Montreal and Toronto].

Grabovski also said "if he wants to fight, we'll go in the street and every minute of every day I'll wait for him and we'll fight."

Once again, it is only talk. For two games I was asking him to fight. I even came out from the bench [to fight]. He tried to get involved with [Maxim Lapierre] Why would you challenge Lapierre? Lapierre would have killed him if he was out there on the ice. I came out on the ice, but he hid behind the referee and said: "Let's fight." But how is it possible?

Habs prospect quits college team

Habs prospect quits college team

CBC Sports

28/01/2009 11:59:34 AM

A Montreal Canadiens draft pick who was involved in an on-ice attack while playing for Michigan State University has withdrawn from the school after being suspended from the team.

Andrew Conboy told coaches on Monday that he's dropping out after being banned for the rest of the regular season and at least two playoff games, according to head coach Rick Comley.

A second player, Corey Tropp, still is enrolled but also is suspended from the team.

The suspensions followed an ugly incident that occurred late in the Spartans' 5-3 loss to the rival University of Michigan Wolverines on Saturday night in Ann Arbor.

After Wolverines defenceman Steve Kampfer hit Tropp into the boards, fellow forward Conboy retaliated, tackling Kampfer from behind, knocking him to the ice. While Kampfer was down, Tropp hit Kampfer's neck with his stick.

Kampfer left the arena in a neck brace and was diagnosed with a sprained neck but no concussion. He's expected to play against Notre Dame this weekend.

Tropp was ejected from the game while Conboy received a double minor for fighting.

Tropp was confronted in the Michigan State dressing room by Kampfer's father, Bruce, before the man was restrained by security.

Conboy, 20, and Tropp, 19, were suspended for the last 10 games of the regular season and at least two playoff contests.

University of Michigan police say they are reviewing whether to investigate Saturday's incident.

"What happened near the end of the game this weekend is not the way in which we want our hockey program represented," Comley said in a statement Monday announcing the suspensions. "We cannot condone their actions. We felt that we had to send a strong message that this behavior will not be tolerated."

In 21 games this season, Conboy has five points (one goal) and a team-high 76 penalty minutes. Tropp, a Buffalo Sabres prospect, has 11 points (three goals) and 45 penalty minutes in 21 contests.

Kampfer - an Anaheim Ducks drat pick - was involved in a separate violent incident in October when he was assaulted outside a bar, reportedly by a Michigan football player. Kampfer suffered a fractured skull and a severe neck injury.

With files from the Associated Press

Game Highlights: Lightning 5 Canadiens 3

TSN:

Highlights: MTL 3, TB 5

NHL : Habs Post Game Reaction

Whining to the Ref is not a Game Plan

Rocket:

The Canadiens played a first period as might be expected tonight. They were full of jump and dominated the Lightning in shots on goal 20-7. They were also playing rather loose and unfocused. The Habs could not bear down to take advantage of a 5 on 3 power-play t go up by two goals. On a 3 on 1 Robert Lang just flipped the puck towards the goaltender rather than burying it in the back of the net.

All of the above are characteristics of a team who is playing without a coach. Even Carbo kool-aid drinkers have to be wondering about a team who has difficulty beating the bottom feeders of the league. It is clearly not a lack of talent in those games. It seems that there is poor preparation, an ineffective game plan, and the inability to make in-game adjustments, and to get the most out of all players.

Canadiens bench management is puzzling. Andrei Kostitsyn came into the game as the Habs' hottest sniper. Yet, he only had 9 minutes of even strength ice-time. If Andrei went several games without a point after getting an abundance of time of the ice, then reduce it. But why do that when presently he gives the team the best chance to score.

And I have no idea what Carbonneau said after the first period to his team, but he should trash that speech. After dominating the first, the Canadiens came out flat in the second. The Habs only managed 5 shots and gave up 3 goals. They looked like an undisciplined team.

The defense struggled again tonight particularly Hamrlik, Gorges and Bouillon. Hamrlik and Bouillon were on the ice for 2 Tampa goals and Gorges for 3 goals.

On the first Lightning goal, both Gorges and Hamrlik chased Artyukhin leaving Malone all alone to score. On the second, Bouillon left Lecavalier by himself for his goal. Bouillon was also guilty on the third Tampa goal with a giveaway right up the middle.

Max Lapierre can be such a frustrating player to watch. He can look very good as he did tonight going to the front of the opposition net which led to two goals. But Max's checking game makes one wish for the return of Kyle Chipchura. Lapierre doesn't play the body enough and it cost the Canadiens a goal tonight. Max had Steve Downie behind the Canadiens net and could have separated him from the puck with a stiff check. Instead, Lapierre waved at Downie with his stick. Downie was able to center the puck which then deflected off Hamrlik into the Canadiens net.

Robert Lang was completely in a fog tonight. From face-offs to his offense, it seemed like he was just going through the motions.

Special teams were not very special. The power-play was 0 for 7 including a long 5 on 3. Penalty killers gave up two goals.

Saku Koivu played well as usual even delivering 3 solid hits. Chris Higgins had his moments but will take a game or to to find his timing. Strangely enough, the line didn't play as well when Kovalev was added in the third.

Alex Kovalev really seems to like to play with Max Pacioretty. Alex had a goal on 7 shots. Pacioretty really seems to be the complete package. He has speed and good hands but also delivers big hits and goes to the front of the net.

Both Mike Komisarek and Andrei Markov played well. The All-Stars teamed up on the Canadiens first goal when MK made a great play to knock the puck down at the blue line and then get it over to Markov for a blast from the point.

Ryan O'Byrne had a solid game. He played just over twelve and a half minutes including some shorthanded time. O'Byrne was confident moving the puck, made good decisions and was very physical. O'Byrne and Komisarek were the only ones who could handle 6'5", 255lb., Evgeny Artyukhin. O'Byrne was one of the top three defenseman on this night and certainly earned his way back and should be in the line-up on Thursday.

The Lightning capitalized on some poor defensive play and some quirky bounces to beat Carey Price tonight. He was not to blame despite allowing 5 goals. Price made a good save on Recchi on the penalty shot.

Carbonneau had to fore go his Florida vacation to attend the All-Star game. Let's hope that he passes on golf tomorrow and makes game preparation his focus prior to the math against Florida.


Pre-game:

Higgins will play after missing 19 games with a shoulder injury. O'Byrne will be in the line-up after being recalled from Hamilton.

Tanguay, Dandenault, Laraque out with injuries. Brisebois and Begin are scratches.

Rocket's 3 stars:

1. Vincent Lecavalier
2. Martin St. Louis
3. Andrei Markov

(photo credit: AP photo)

Hamilton Rookies Finding Success

Excerpt from the HabProspects.com article:


This year the Montreal Canadiens sent several of their top forward prospects to the Hamilton Bulldogs of the American Hockey League, in what has been a breeding ground for the parent club who have had seven-teen players from their farm club appear in at least one game so far this season. The club sent Max Pacioretty, Ben Maxwell, Ryan White, David Desharnais, Brock Trotter, defensemen Yannick Weber, Oliver Latendresse, and J T Wyman, an interesting mix of skilled young players and they have lived up to that with an impressive six rookies among the top thirty first year players, seven if you count Olivier Latendresse’s stats prorated over a full season.

The Bulldogs have been among the top teams in the AHL this year and that in part is due to the offensive abilities of the rookies, with three players also making an appearance in the NHL as Pacioretty, Maxwell and Weber all made their debut to both leagues this year after playing in the NCAA and CHL respectively this time last year. Going into the All Star break, the Dogs currently have two of the top four rookie scorers as Ben Maxwell and David Desharnais both sit tied for third overall in scoring among rookies just one point behind the rookie league leader, with Maxwell missing seven games due to his trip to the NHL.

MSU players including Habs prospect Andrew Conboy suspended for season

(AP Photo) Michigan State forward Andrew Conboy is restrained by a referee after Michigan defenseman Steve Kampfer, on ice, was injured during the third period of Saturday's game in Ann Arbor.

MSU hockey players Corey Tropp, Andrew Conboy suspended for season; Steve Kampfer's father apologizes for confronting MSU player

Posted by Kevin Ryan

The Ann Arbor News
January 26, 2009 17:40PM

Michigan State University suspended hockey players Andrew Conboy and Corey Tropp for the rest of the season Monday evening after their attack of Michigan defenseman Steve Kampfer during the teams' game at Yost Ice Arena on Saturday night.

Earlier Monday, Michigan hockey coach Red Berenson identified Bruce Kampfer, father of Wolverines junior defenseman Steve Kampfer, as the person who physically confronted Tropp in the Spartans' locker room just before the game ended.

In the wake of that spectator-player incident, Michigan formed a task force and is changing its security policy at the visitors' locker room at Yost.

With 53 seconds remaining in Michigan's 5-3 victory Saturday, Kampfer, a junior, was clothes-lined and punched from behind by Conboy along the boards. As Kampfer lay motionless on the ice, Tropp whacked at Kampfer's neck area with his stick. Moments earlier, Kampfer had knocked Tropp off his feet with what appeared to be a clean open-ice hit.



"What happened near the end of the game this weekend is not the way in which we want our hockey program represented," Michigan State coach Rick Comley stated in a prepared release by MSU. "We cannot condone their actions. We felt that we had to send a strong message that this behavior will not be tolerated."

The Central Collegiate Hockey Association, of which Michigan State and Michigan are members, had been investigating the incident and supported the university's decision. The players will sit out the Spartans' final 10 regular-season games, plus the playoffs.

"We feel that the measures taken by Michigan State are appropriate and consistent with the parameters of the sanctions that were being contemplated by the league," CCHA Commissioner Tom Anastos stated in a prepared release Monday night.

Tropp was ejected from the game after being assessed a five-minute major penalty for slashing, two 10-minute misconducts and a double game-disqualification. Conboy was given a double minor roughing penalty.

About a half hour after the game, Kampfer, who on Oct. 12 sustained a fractured skull during an off-ice assault, was placed on a gurney with a brace around his neck and transported to the hospital as a precautionary measure. He was released Sunday morning and said Monday that he had a sprained neck and did not sustain a concussion. He did not practice with the team Monday. He had returned to action with the team on Dec. 27.

Kampfer, of Jackson, said he was scheduled to undergo a few more medical evaluations before returning to the ice. He anticipated skating again on Tuesday or Wednesday and playing this weekend against top-ranked Notre Dame.

Berenson, talking after practice Monday afternoon at Yost, said Bruce Kampfer called him over the weekend and apologized for his actions, which occurred before the game ended at Yost Ice Arena. According to Diane Brown, Department of Public Safety spokeswoman, a 48-year-old man from Jackson was detained and escorted from the arena after confronting a player in the visitors' locker room.

Bruce Madej, Michigan's associate athletic director for media relations, gave members of the media a walk-through at Yost and explained how Bruce Kampfer gained access to the Spartans' locker room during the final minute of play.

Here's Madej's explanation:

• A person serving as a event staff worker was standing just outside a holding area blocked off to fans by a large curtain. That area, created to make more space and provide a cushion between players and fans, is located directly in front of the visitors' locker room door.

• When the first player - Tropp, a sophomore forward, who was ejected after slashing Steve Kampfer in the neck - came off the ice, the event staff worker's job was to leave his assigned area at the curtain and greet the player as he stepped off the ice and escort him to the locker room door behind the curtain.

• When a second player came off the ice - freshman Conboy, after being assessed a 2-minute roughing penalty; there were 53 seconds left in the game, meaning there was no need for him to sit in the penalty box - the event staff worker again left his spot at the entrance to escort him to the locker room.

• A moment after the worker left his spot to aid Conboy, Bruce Kampfer walked through the curtain unchecked, walked into the locker room and went after Tropp before DPS officers were called in for assistance.

Bruce Kampfer did not return phone calls left at his home.

Said Berenson: "I can't coach the parents. I called coach Comley and I apologized for the security around the bench and around the locker room. ... We've had no incidents up until now in the back locker room. That's why we put the locker room there, so there'd be no crossover of players and fans, and no skirmishes at the end of games or between periods. So it's been fine. But obviously we need ... they're dealing with it."

According to a prepared statement by Mike Stevenson, executive athletic director at Michigan, new security procedures will be in place at the visitors' locker room for future games. He said a credential will be required for anyone entering the locker room, and there will be an increase in presence by DPS.

On Monday evening, Brown said DPS was still investigating the incident. She said its findings could be forwarded to the county prosecutor's office once the university's investigation is complete.

Higgins in, O'Byrne a maybe against Lightning

Coach Guy Carbonneau confirmed that Christopher Higgins will return to the lineup for tomorrow night's game against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Higgins, who has missed 19 games with a shoulder injury, will start the game on the fourth line with Saku Koivu and Matt D'Agostini.

Defenceman Ryan O'Byrne was recalled from Hamilton earlier in the day but Carbonneau said he'll wait until tomorrow to decide whether O'Byrne will face the Lightning.

Carey Price will start in goal.

Audio: Guy Carbonneau - Ryan O'Byrne - Vincent Lecavalier - Rick Tocchet

Ryan O'Byrne returns to the scene of the crime after call-up from Bulldogs

From the Montreal Canadiens:

The Canadiens announced Monday that defenseman Ryan O’Byrne has been recalled from the AHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs.


O’Byrne, assigned to the Bulldogs on December 31, 2008, scored five points (one goal, four assists), posted a plus-7 rating and served 27 penalty minutes in 13 games this season with Hamilton. The 6-foot-6, 228-pound blueliner, who started the season in Montreal, collected three points (three assists) with 23 penalty minutes in 22 games with the Canadiens in 2008-09.

O'Byrne, 24, was a Canadiens third round selection, 79th overall, in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.

Habster:

Christopher Higgins has also been given the green light by team doctors to resume playing so we should see him in the lineup against Tampa Bay Lightning tomorrow.

It's nice to see the Canadiens giving Ryan O'Byrne another shot. I just wonder if it's also a way to showcase the hulking defenseman leading up to the trade deadline. Is it a coincidence that he is being recalled for a road trip to Florida?...... just a little food for thought, folks!!

Sorry Ryan!, but I've had this photo mothballed since the "Pursegate" incident and thought it would be the last time I could use it again before you're traded to the Lightning or Panthers!!!

Grinding road ahead for Bulldogs

Grinding road ahead for Dogs
TheSpec.com

Scott Radley
The Hamilton Spectator
(Jan 26, 2009)

Momentum in sports is a mysterious thing that can't be bottled or summoned on demand. Which is why most coaches hate the arrival of the all-star break when their team is on a bit of a roll and points are regularly being deposited into the standings bank.

Not Don Lever.

Even though his team has won two tough games in a row and four of its past six -- and even though his time off will be spent painting his bedroom rather than a few days on the beach of Cancun or something else a tad more glamorous -- the Hamilton Bulldogs' bench boss says he's quite excited to step back for a few minutes and catch his breath. Sixteen games in the 30 days since Christmas takes a toll. And he knows the rest of the way isn't going to be any easier.

"I'm very happy with the way we are at the break, but we have a long way to go," he says.

Following Saturday's 5-3 win over the Binghamton Senators, the Bulldogs have 58 points, good for third in the American Hockey League's North Division. That total puts them on pace for 101 points. Last year, every team that had 88 or more made the playoffs.

But when the team reconvenes for its next game -- Friday in Toronto against the fourth-place Marlies -- Lever has some potential headaches waiting.

To make room for the return of Marc Denis from his emergency backup stint with the Montreal Canadiens, the Bulldogs' sent the guy who was their best goalie in recent weeks down to the ECHL. Loic Lacasse won six of the seven games he played with Hamilton, never giving up more than three goals.

Since coming back, Denis has struggled with rust. And Cedric Desjardins has been hot and cold. Though he was certainly the former on Saturday, particularly in the first period when the Bulldogs -- who'd arrived in Binghamton at 4 a.m. -- didn't have their legs and were badly outplayed. Were it not for the goalie keeping them in the contest while his side was managing just three shots, the game would've been lost early.

Lever isn't picky about who gets going, he just wants one of them to step up and become his No. 1 guy. The sooner the better.

"If I had two that were hot, I wouldn't mind that," he quips.

The other area of real concern has to be personnel.

Ryan O'Byrne has started to find his game again and he could soon be recalled to the Habs. Team captain Kyle Chipchura makes a huge difference here but has already been up to the big club a couple times this year and is just one injury to a Canadien starter away from going again. And in this, the Habs 100th anniversary season -- with dreams of a Stanley Cup dancing in every Montrealer's head -- the priority will clearly be anyone who starts playing really well here is likely to get called up.

Still, Lever's content to enjoy the respite, especially after Saturday's effort.

Tired, and with their minds likely on the coming break if only a bit, his Dogs fell behind early and then scored four unanswered goals. The Sens closed the gap with two of their own late in the third, but an empty-netter from Chipchura sealed it and sent them away on their mini-vacation happy.
But they should be wary. When they return, only eight of their remaining 34 games are against sub-.500 teams. Seven are against division leaders, 11 are against teams with records over .600, and 23 are against division rivals. With that dance card waiting, a season that's offering plenty of promise right now is either going to finish with a battle-hardening run to the post-season, or turn into a slippery slope nightmare like last year.

On Friday, we start to find out.

Now it gets interesting.

Send us your photos..

The NHL All-Star festivities in Montreal have been very exciting for all hockey fans. Have you attended any events? Did you get to see your favorite players?

Send us your photos (digital camera and cell phone) from All-star weekend and we'll post them on All Habs.

Email your All-Star photos to allhabs@gmail.com

Montreal does All-Star game right

Excerpts from the Hockey News article by Adam Proteau:

In future, before anyone bitches, moans and characterizes the All-Star Game as a Mel Brooks-caliber farce and near-total waste of perfectly good eyesight, they ought to attend one in a real hockey city like the home of the Habs.

If they did – if they heard and saw the utter adoration for hockey and all the game’s legends; if they felt the goosebumps when longtime Canadiens legends such as Henri Richard and Serge Savard were introduced during play stoppages; if they looked out at the Bell Centre crowd and saw young and old united in enjoyment of the skill and sacrifice necessary to be named as one of the business’ best – the cynics might feel just a little bit different.

Later in the article:

There was a whole bunch of respect being shown in Montreal during this All-Star Game. Whether it was a warm “get well” JumboTron message and round of applause for ailing former Montreal coach Pat Burns, the presence of Montreal’s greatest living legend Jean Beliveau, or the genuine cheer that went out at the end of regulation time when the crowd was thrilled to squeeze in another period of action, the Canadiens organization exuded nothing but class all night – and indeed, all weekend long.

You’re allowed to hate the Habs for their unrivaled on-ice success. But you can’t say they don’t understand the passion and pride ingrained in the culture of sweet, sweet hockey love.

TSN:

NHL : Highlights: WEST 11, EAST 12 SO

NHL : A Perfect Ending

NHL : Alex Kovalev 1-on-1

NHL.com: Family, passion for hockey bind Doan, Price

Family, passion for hockey bind Doan, Price

By Larry Wigge - NHL.com Columnist

MONTREAL -- There's a plaque, probably covered in dust, in a closet back home at Bernie and Bernice Doan's Circle Square Ranch in Halkirk, Alta., that chronicles a pretty interesting and intense hockey rivalry not many people know about.

The ranch, which doubles as a Christian camp for kids of all ages at which the youngsters come to ride horses, swim and do archery, is home to a famous -- some may say infamous -- athletic family.

For everyone following the NHL All-Star Game in Montreal this weekend, Shane Doan is the captain of the Phoenix Coyotes. He's had a pretty remarkable NHL career since he was a first-round draft choice of the Winnipeg Jets in the 1995 Entry Draft. He's played his entire career with the same organization. But there are those in Canada's old West that swear that even if Shane made it to the Hall of Fame some day, he still wouldn't be the most famous member of his own family.

After all, five other members of Doan's family are already in Halls of Fame, starting with his grandfather, Muff Doan, who was the bareback champion at the Calgary Stampede back in 1937 and steer-riding champion in 1944. Muff is followed by great uncles Jack Wade, Urban and Earl and uncle Phil Doan, all of whom are members of the Canadian Rodeo Hall of Fame.

And that still doesn't even take into consideration the hockey threads that marvelously are intertwined between the extended family that include the Ellerbys and Prices.

That hockey history started with Shane's dad, Bernie, a defenseman who was picked in the sixth round of the 1971 NHL Draft by the St. Louis Blues, and also includes three first-rounders -- Shane by Winnipeg, Carey Price by Montreal in 2005 and Keaton Ellerby by Florida in 2007. Plus, Ellerby's dad, Cal, played for the Calgary Wranglers junior team. His uncle, Dallas Ellerby, skated for Calgary, Edmonton and Victoria in the Western Hockey League. And Price's dad, Jerry, was a Calgary junior goalie who was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers.

Instead of calf-roping and bull-riding, the 6-2, 216-pound Doan chose to be an NHL power forward who crashes the net, bangs in the corners and hammers defensemen. In 2004, Shane made it to an All-Star Game for the first time. Now he's back, and Price, his second cousin, just happens to be on the other side, as Shane's Western Conference All-Stars meet Price's Eastern Conference stars.

Has Shane had already sent a warning shot out to Price?

"No I haven't warned him about wiring a high hard one at his head, if that's what you mean," Doan laughed.

"Nothing would surprise me with Shane," Price countered. "He's a great guy. I always looked up to him when I was growing up. But I really do expect him to pull something out of his hat that's a little different if he has a great scoring chance against me.

"Every year about this time, they show that All-Star Game highlight of Owen Nolan pointing at Dominik Hasek (from the 1997 game in San Jose) and then putting the puck right where he was pointing. I can see Shane trying something like that."

Not so, said Doan, adding, "I don't have those kinds of skills. I have to keep both hands on the stick at the same time."

Typical soft-peddling, added Price, saying, "Shane's got better hands than he's letting on."

Is that a little bit of trash-talking? Well, sort of.

Said Doan, "All I know is Carey is 2-0 against the Coyotes ... but I've got goals in both games.

"And in the game he won this year, I broke up his shutout bid in the third period, which kind of ticked him off a little."

The Doans, Ellerbys and Prices have a history of hard-working, hotly-competitive, argumentative parties over the years. It's not as fabled as the Hatfields and McCoys or as bloody as the McCartys and Lemieuxs, but ...

That plaque we spoke of earlier represents a series of hockey battles between the Doans and the Ellerbys.

"Every year on Boxing Day for about five or six years between 1988 and 1994, we'd have a family party that wound up on the ice," Doan recalled, with this vicious look on his face and lively memories to spare. "It would start out like a picnic. But then it would get pretty competitive when we took out our hostilities on the ice."

"I remember one year my cousin Darcy ran over my dad," Shane said with fire in his eyes. "I had to get back at him for that. Another year my uncle Cal was creamed. And I had to stand up for my teammate in that situation, too."

And that plaque?

"It shows that the Ellerbys won most of those games," Shane said, quite proudly.

Wait a minute, Shane. Don't you mean the Doans?

"No, back in 1988, I was only 12 and the Doans thought they were the greatest thing in hockey since Gordie Howe and Rocket Richard and they didn't want a kid on their team," Shane laughed. "The Ellerbys didn't have as many players as the Doans and my dad (whose wife is an Ellerby) said they would be glad to have me play for them.

"After a few years, the Doans wanted me to change sides and play for them. But I told them, 'No way. You had your chance.' "

Price was only four or five when he got his first taste of the family rivalry, but only as a fan of those games.

"I always thought that Shane was always the best player," Price added. "Those games were hotly competitive. I remember a couple of games were real bloodbaths.

"The men in our family are not known for having soft hands -- not when they all were a bunch of farmers and ranchers."

I wondered if Doan had ever thought about following in the footsteps of his uncles and becoming a rodeo star.

"Not me," he laughed. "They're all tougher than me. It takes a different breed to do that."

We'd all agree that Shane is a different breed as well -- great character, leader, hard to play against.

"I'd like to think that getting to this stage of my life that there is a correlation to family skills and genes and how they can help you if you are interested in a career in sports," Doan said. "Look at Carey. Look at Keaton. It seems like everyone in our family is either a cowboy or a hockey player."

For Doan, knowing who his family is, what it represents and all about the roots, makes him feel really, really proud. And sharing this weekend's All-Star memories with Price makes it more rewarding.

Bulldogs down Baby Sens 5-3

David Descharnais has continued his solid play from the ECHL to the AHL

From Hamiltonbulldogs.com (BULLDOGS DOWN SENATORS 5-3):

The Hamilton Bulldogs defeated the Binghamton Senators 5-3 on Saturday night. Ben Maxwell led the charge for the Bulldogs with a goal and an assist.

Binghamton opened the game's scoring while on the power play at 11:53 of the final frame. Mattias Karlsson whacked away at the loose puck in front of Hamilton starting goaltender Cedrick Desjardins before sending the puck onto the stick of Josh Hennessy. Hennessy slid the puck over the goal line to give the Senators a 1-0 lead.

Hamilton tied the game 1-1 at 1:28 of the second stanza. David Desharnais skated behind Binghamton's net before sending a pass to Maxwell. Maxwell fired a shot that beat Binghamton starting goaltender Jeff Glass. Hamilton took a 2-1 lead at 16:08. Dan Jancevski sent the puck to Yanick Lehoux who skated down the side boards. Lehoux fed a pass out front to Ryan White, who banged the puck past Glass. Jancevski's assist was his 63rd as a Bulldog. He is now tied with Ron Hainsey for all-time assists by a Bulldogs defenceman.

The Bulldogs scored two goals in the final frame to take a 4-1 lead. Yannick Weber received the puck from Maxwell before blasting a shot that sailed through traffic and past Glass. Kyle Chipchura sent a pass to Mathieu Aubin, who snapped a shot past Glass for the Bulldog's fourth goal. Weber's goal was his 10th of the season and places him in a four-way tie for most goals by a Bulldogs defenceman in one season.

Following the goal, Binghamton replaced Jeff Glass with Mitch O'Keefe.

The B-Sens cut the lead in half at 13:27 of the third stanza. Matt Carkner hammered a shot from the right point. Josh Hennessy tipped the puck out of mid-air and past Desjardins to make the game 4-2. Ilya Zubov made the game 4-3 at 18:03 of the final frame. Zubov received the puck after a faceoff win and fired a shot that sailed past Desjardins.

Kyle Chipchura blasted a shot from his own zone that went the length of the ice and into the empty night at 19:15 to secure a 5-3 win for Hamilton.

Scoring Summary:

1st Period:
1. BNG - Josh Hennessy - 11 (Mattias Karlsson, Ilya Zubov) - 11:53 (PP)

2nd Period:
2. HAM - Ben Maxwell - 13 (David Desharnais, Mike Glumac) - 1:28
3. HAM - Ryan White - 10 (Yanick Lehoux, Dan Jancevski) - 16:08

3rd Period:
4. HAM - Yannick Weber - 10 (Ben Maxwell, David Desharnais) - 8:45 (PP)
5. HAM - Mathieu Aubin - 5 (Kyle Chipchura, Ryan Russell) - 9:11
6. BNG - Josh Hennessy - 12 (Matt Carkner) - 13:27
7. BNG - Ilya Zubov - 12 (Danny Bois, Matt Carkner) - 18:03
8. HAM - Kyle Chipchura - 11 (Unassisted) - 19:15 (EN)

Scoring:
Hamilton: 0-2-3-5
Binghamton: 1-0-2-3

Shots:
Hamilton: 3-11-14--28
Binghamton: 9-14-12--35

Goaltending:
Hamilton: Cedrick Desjardins (35 shots, 32 saves)
Binghamton: Jeff Glass (22 shots, 18 saves), Mitch O'Keefe (5 shots, 5 saves)

Power Play:Hamilton: 1-for-4
Binghamton: 1-for-3

Three Stars:
1. HAM - Ben Maxwell (1 goal, 1 assist, +1, 3 shots)
2. BNG - Josh Hennessy (2 goals, 3 shots)
3. HAM - Yannick Weber (1 goal, -1, 4 shots)

Flamboro Downs Workhorse: David Desharnais

Habster:

David Descharnais,Yannick Weber and Ben Maxwell are playing extremely well lately and have been carrying the offensive load for the Hamilton Bulldogs.

Ben Maxwell is the hottest Bulldog, scoring 14 points (G-6 A-8) in the last 13 games since he was demoted back to Hamilton on December 31st after a brief seven games stint with the Habs. It also doesn't hurt his stats that he plays a ton of minutes on the Bulldogs' powerplay which is currently ranked as the #2 PP in the AHL with a 20.9% efficiency rating.

Maxwell isn't the only Bulldogs player who is on a roll of late.

David Desharnais is once again proving that it's the size of your heart and skill set which determines a player's destiny, not necessarily his physical stature. The pint sized center (he is listed at 5'6" 180lb) is proving many naysayers wrong with a solid first season at the AHL.

Descharnais has 12 points (G-2 A-10) in his last 11 games and is presently tied for second place in AHL rookie scoring with Maxwell with 33 points.

Not to be left out of the success being enjoyed by rookie Bulldogs, Yannick Weber is another player who is excelling at the pro level in his first full year.

Weber has also been playing well of late with 7 points (G-2 A-5) in 7 games. He is Hamilton's leading scorer among defensemen with 25 points (G-10 A-15) in 38 games.He is also ranked eighth among all AHL defensemen in scoring which is quite an accomplishmennt for a rookie player.

It's great to see that the rookies are playing extremely well and playing important roles in the Bulldogs success thus far. It truly bodes well for the future success of the Canadiens organization.

Photos: Habs Shine at All-Star Skills Night

Carey Price makes a pad save on Michael Frolik


Alex Kovalev scores on Tim Thomas in elimination shootout


Mike Komisarek slapshot registers 98.5 mph




Canadiens all-stars in East jerseys


(Photo credits: Mike Stobe/Getty Images & Dave Sandford/Getty Images)

THN.com Blog: Habs hero Elmer Lach deserves recognition

THN.com Blog: Habs hero Elmer Lach deserves recognition
Jason Kay
2009-01-23

This weekend, my colleagues and I will be among the privileged, revelling in (and, OK, kind of working at) NHL all-star weekend.

We’ll have prime seats to see the league’s best players (OK, most of them) display their considerable skills. We’ll attend VIP parties, including a swank affair hosted by The Hockey News, at which we’ll meet people of fame and fortune. We’ll rub shoulders with NHL alumni and some of our own childhood heroes.

We’ve even been invited to play on the Bell Centre ice (OK, it’s at 6 a.m. Sunday morning in a media game, but it’s still a nice gesture).

All the while we’ll be immersed in 100 years of the Montreal Canadiens, witness to a special celebration of hockey’s pre-eminent franchise.

Who could ask for anything more?

Somewhat sheepishly, I could. Hey, it’s my job to be a cynical ingrate on occasion.

For me, about the only thing that’ll be missing, when I sit in the press box and take in the festivities, will be a Habs retired number. Or more accurately, official recognition of a player who wore that number.

No. 16 has already been raised to the Bell Centre rafters, in honor of the very worthy Henri ‘The Pocket Rocket’ Richard. The oversight, in my opinion, has been not paying similar homage to an equally worthy No. 16, Elmer Lach.

I had the opportunity in recent months to work on a couple THN projects – Ken Campbell’s book, Habs Heroes, and our collector’s issue magazine, “A Century of the Montreal Canadiens” – that grew my appreciation and understanding of the franchise’s history.

And one of the things I learned was Lach’s value to the Habs teams of the 1940s. Probably the greatest testament to his merit is the fact he won the Hart Trophy as league MVP in 1944-45, the season ‘Rocket’ Richard registered his legendary 50-goals-in-50-games performance. Lach was Richard’s center and had seven more points than his “Punch Line” right winger.

Individually, in addition to the Hart, Lach captured the Art Ross, was named a first- or second-team all-star five times and, when he retired following the 1953-54 season, he was the NHL’s all-time leading point-getter.

From a heart perspective, he was also a giant, willing to do whatever it took to win. He suffered seven broken noses, a broken jaw, a badly broken arm and won the scoring title a season after suffering a fractured skull. His coach, Dick Irvin, called him the “greatest centerman that ever came into this league.”

A panel of experts commissioned by THN ranked Lach as the 17th best Hab of all-time. Fifteen of the players ahead of him have their numbers retired, the exception being Bill Durnan (for whom you could also make a strong case).

And there is a Habs precedent for two players sharing a retired number – Yvan Cournoyer and Dickie Moore both wore 12.

Lach, meanwhile, is the oldest living Canadien. He turned 91 on Thursday. Imagine the spectacular birthday bash he could have had this weekend.

Jason Kay is the editor in chief of The Hockey News and a regular contributor to THN.com. His blog appears every Friday.

Fans red carpet reception warms hearts of NHL All-Stars

Excerpt from the NHL.com article documenting the red carpet entrance of the players into the Bell Centre for the Skills competition. Montreal is truly the best hockey city and has the most knowledgeable fans in the world, hands down!!


A blue Sharpie in his hands and a throng of fans screaming his name, reaching over one another just to get to the front of the fence so they could shake his hand and get his autograph.

Luke Schenn never thought he'd live to experience such a moment.

"I can't believe it," Schenn told NHL.com as he signed autographs, posed for pictures, and shook hands with fans on the red carpet Saturday night. "This is unbelievable. I never would have thought this would happen in my life. People actually recognize me. It's still weird to me that people recognize me."

Habs Powerplay Struggles Linked to Departure of All-Stars Streit, Souray

Excerpt from the TSN article:


In 2006-'07, the Canadiens power play was built around Souray's booming slapshot and clicked at a league-leading 22.8 per cent efficiency rate. After Souray signed with Edmonton, many assumed the Canadiens' power play would suffer, but Streit slid into his spot last season and it actually improved to 24.1 per cent.

This season, the Canadiens' power play has struggled at 16.1 per cent, leaving it ranked No. 24 in the 30-team NHL. Canadiens coach Guy Carbonneau admitted earlier this year the team was missing Streit, perhaps more than it anticipated when the decision was made to let him test the free-agent waters.

Streit hadn't heard of Carbonneau's comments until this weekend and admitted it was flattering.

"It's nice, it gives a bit of credit to me that I did well and they were happy with my services here," said Streit, who leads the Islanders with seven power-play goals. "It obviously makes you a little proud."

Komisarek's worth goes beyond statistics

Photo credit: Nick Laham/Getty Images

Excerpts from a great article by Sean Gordon of Globesports.com:

These are all-star numbers? One goal and four assists in 30 games?

As it turns out, yes.

But as Montreal Canadiens defenceman Mike Komisarek demonstrates, sometimes a hockey player's worth can't be measured merely by points or statistics.

When the strapping Long Island-born behemoth is in the lineup, the Canadiens are 20-7-3. During a 16-game absence earlier this NHL season, after Komisarek blew out his shoulder in a fight with Milan Lucic of the Boston Bruins, the team was 7-6-3.

Komisarek's absence may not be the only factor in explaining the disparity, but it's a big one.

When the hard-hitting, shot-blocking defenceman is in the lineup — and it's worth mentioning he's close to the league lead in both categories — the Canadiens are simply a different team.

So those who might be tempted to compare Komisarek's selection to the Eastern Conference all-star team's starting lineup to the near-miss involving a fan vote to select former Canucks journeyman Rory Fitzpatrick to the 2007 game, can think again.

"He's a big part of our team, he means so much to us," Habs blueliner Josh Gorges said. "His physical presence, he may not get a lot of points, but he does a lot of other things, he makes hits that change the momentum of games, he blocks shots, things that as a teammate you notice on the bench and gets you motivated. He's a great team guy, he's a good leader. … When he's in the lineup, we're just a better team."

Habs fan treat hockey like a religion

Excerpt from the Globesports.com article by Sean Gordon:


"I've never seen anything like it," said Jacques Demers, the last Habs coach to lift a Stanley Cup in 1993. "When I was coaching the team, the fans tended to be much older. Now, you see a lot of young faces, and a lot more women, mostly younger women, at the games. In the last five or 10 years, this team has managed to create a buzz and market its younger players like no other in the league. … Imagine what it would be like if they actually won the Cup."

"I've lived in places like Detroit and St. Louis, but here the Canadiens are a happening," Demers said. "If they allowed tailgating, people would show up at noon. … If they had 30,000 seats in the Bell Centre, there would be 30,000 fans."

Lecavalier: "It (Montreal) would be a dream place to come and play for"

Habster:

It certainly doesn't sound like Vinny is pouring any cold water on the idea of being trade to the Habs, does it??

Excerpts from the TSN article:


But the scene that greeted Lecavalier's arrival at Trudeau International Airport still came as a surprise.

"When I walked through those doors and saw the hundreds of people there for autographs and waiting for the players arrive - my hair was all over the place, and I really didn't expect to have it," he said Friday. "I don't think anybody expected to have a welcome like that."

Just imagine what would happen if he was ever actually traded to the Habs.

Later in the TSN article:

The only expectation Lecavalier has about the situation is that he'll be notified before any deal is made. If that ends up happening before the March 4 trade deadline, he seems pretty warm to the idea of joining the Habs.

"I grew up here," said Lecavalier. "I've always loved the Montreal Canadiens. It's a great organization, it's a great town. My family's from here, I've got a lot of friends here.

"I've always said ... it would be a dream place to come and play for."

"To be getting dressed in the Canadiens room is something I always wanted to see," he said in French.

Gumby Thomas vs Alex Kovalev in shootout competition

From Canadiens.com:

No stranger to sick moves, Alex Kovalev will have the grandest stage of all to flash his fancy stickwork in the Fan Fav Breakaway Challenge on Saturday night.

Once Kovalev made his way to the podium to meet the media, he was his familiar self: cryptic and mysterious about what he has cooking for fans and goalies alike at the annual SuperSkills showcase.

“I just do whatever comes to mind once I touch the puck. The thing is, the more I think about it, the worse it gets,” said Kovalev. “I have enough moves in my body that I don’t need to worry about it and practice that stuff.”

Kovalev not losing any sleep in preparation for the Breakaway Challenge and Elimination Shootout comes as no surprise to fellow All-Star Mike Komisarek.

“My money is on Kovy,” revealed Komisarek, who like all 36 All-Star skaters will have his own try in the shootout. “I’ve seen this guy pull moves in practice that will leave your mouth hanging wide open. I think when he was born he came out stickhandling, so Kovy doesn’t need to practice for it. With his talent and skill the puck just sticks to his blade.”

Kovalev not only doesn’t worry much about his end of the deal when it comes to shootouts, the poor soul between the pipes isn’t of much concern to him either.

“I don’t look at the goalies I’m going up against,” admitted Kovalev. “I’m always confident that it’s going to come down to how I do, not who I do it against. It could be the best goalie or the worst goalie, it’s always going to come down to what I’m going to do and how I’m going to do it.”

In the league’s first-ever draw to decide which goalies will be facing which shooter, Kovalev was initially matched up with Minnesota’s Niklas Backstrom, but that all changed during the mandatory trading session.

“Let’s get this straight, I made a trade because we all had to make one,” explained Bruins netminder Tim Thomas, who dealt Ilya Kovalchuk to Backstrom in exchange for Kovy. “I knew I didn’t want to face Kovalchuk and then I figured it was fitting for a Bruin to face a Canadien with the event being held here in Montreal and everything.”

Thomas may live to regret that decision. Kovalev did after all put out his hot-selling instructional video only last season.

“It hasn’t been that long since I made my DVD, so I didn’t have to watch it for practice,” said Kovalev with a smile. “Don’t worry, I can still remember all the moves.”Manny Almela is a writer for canadiens.com

Habster:

I had to post the entire article as it was really interesting to read, especially the gamesmanship by Tim Thomas in trading for Alex Kovalev (see red highlighted area).

You've got to give Tim Thomas credit for his spunk and tenacity. Here's hoping Kovy doesn't twist Gumby boy like a pretzel.

Hey, Bruin fans, want to make any wagers?........clam chowder vs smoke meat!!

Komo ready to open fire

Excerpt from Canadiens.com:


As if making his All-Star debut in front of his home fans won’t be stressful enough, Mike Komisarek is also staring down the barrels of a Hardest Shot showdown with the likes of defending champ Zdeno Chara, and his old buddy Sheldon Souray.

“My strategy is to just shoot it low and hope I hit the net. It’s going to be a tough time if I miss the net out there,” joked Komisarek, whose last appearance in a hardest shot competition was at the 2003 AHL All-Star Game, where he recalls clocking in at around 96 mph.

“I don’t think that’s going to win it here, though. You’ve got to at least break into triple digits to have any chance at all,” he admitted.

While pride and bragging rights are already on the line in the event, the players decided to up the ante and put a little wager on the outcome of Saturday night’s competition.

“We put money into a pot that’s going to be donated to charity and the league will match it so there’s a little side bet there for a good cause,” explained the 6-foot-4 Habs defenseman. “If I was a betting man, though, I wouldn’t be putting money on me but who knows. I’m the underdog to say the least.”

Top 10 Midseason Shootout Goals

Maxim Lapierre make the top ten list at #6 with his slow/fast , backhand goal against the Senators

Montreal Canadiens' 100 Years Special to Air on CBC tonight

From Channel Canada:

The Montreal Canadiens franchise turns 100! CBC Television celebrates this milestone with THE MONTREAL CANADIENS: 100 YEARS – 100 STARS. Hosted by The Hour’s George Stroumboulopoulos, this one-hour special features celebrities and hockey legends recounting the history of Les Habitants, the culture that has surrounded the team throughout the years, and the passion for the Habs, which resonates with fans across Canada and around the world. THE MONTREAL CANADIENS: 100 YEARS – 100 STARS airs on Friday, Jan. 23, at 9 p.m

NHL all-star captains named

NHL all-star captains named
CBC.ca
22/01/2009 12:39:27 PM

Alexei Kovalev of the Montreal Canadiens and Joe Thornton of the San Jose Sharks were announced Thursday as team captains for the 57th NHL all-star game.

Kovalev was one of four Canadiens voted into the starting lineup for the game at Bell Centre in Montreal on Sunday. He has 12 goals and 21 assists so far this season and will be appearing in the game for the third time.

Thornton will be making his sixth all-star appearance. He is tied for second in the NHL with 43 assists for the Sharks, who have the best record in the league at the all-star game.

Stewart, Chipchura assigned to Hamilton but progressing slowly

From Canadiens.com (Stewart, Chipchura assigned to Hamilton):

The Canadiens announced Thursday that forwards Kyle Chipchura and Gregory Stewart have been assigned to the Hamilton Bulldogs of the American Hockey League.

Stewart was recalled from the Bulldogs on December 15, 2008. In three games with the Canadiens this season,the left-winger scored one point (1 assist), posted a plus-1 rating and averaged 9:38 of ice-time per game. The 22-year-old started the season with the Bulldogs, collecting 15 points (seven goals, eight assists) with a plus-5 rating and 131 penalty minutes in 40 AHL games.

Chipchura, 24, was recalled from the Bulldogs on January 1, 2009. This season, the centerman collected two points (2 assists), served five penalty minutes with an average time on ice per game of 10:50 in eight contests with the Canadiens. Chipchura, the Bulldogs team captain, scored 21 points (10 goals, 11 assist) and posted a plus-15 rating in 25 AHL games in 2008-09.

Habster:

Sadly, Kyle Chipchura is being passed on the depth chart by prospects like Matt D'Agostini, Max Pacioretty and even Gregory Stewart.

It's not from a lack of trying on his part as the 24 year old former 2004 first round selection has proven himself to be a solid pro at the AHL level, especially this season with a very good start in Hamilton (GP-25 G- 10 A- 11 +15).

What is a bit disconcerting from a development point of view is that Chipchura has been in the AHL the past three years. I say "a bit" because there are other facts which should be considered: Canadiens depth at the forward position, NHL one way contract commitments and a fairly deep prospect player pool at the AHL level (Maxwell, Stewart, Pacioretty, D'Agostini, White and Desharnais....)

Another factor which has also kept Chipchura from making the NHL is his lack of foot speed. He was considered a fairly good skater during his junior days with the Prince Albert Raiders before his Achilles tendon was badly severed by a skate during the 2004-05 season. He has worked tremendously hard to improve his skating since the injury and has displayed a bit more quickness.

If "Chipper" doesn't want to be labelled a career AHLer, then he must find a way to crack the Habs lineup next season. The opportunity will be there for the taking at next year's training camp with 10 Habs potentially becoming UFAs at season's end.

The Canadiens won't re-signed Steve Begin and the likelihood of Robert Lang returning is also questionable so Chipchura has a slight opening to reach into and hopefully will grap an NHL roster.

He will have some competition from the above mentioned prospects but he does have the added advantage in the character/leadership (he was named captain of the Bulldogs this season) and maturity departments.

While Chipchura has struggled to find his niche in the NHL, Gregory Stewart has also had his hardships along the way.

The former Peterborough Petes forward has certainly come a long way in his development after being selected by the Canadiens in the 8th round (246th) of the 2004 draft (talk about a different path to the NHL by two 2004 prospects!!).

After playing the past two seasons with the Cincinnati Cyclone (ECHL) and the Hamilton Bulldogs (AHL), Stewart has finally gotten the attention of the Canadiens with his constant hustle and gritty play. It also doesn't hurt that he will drop the gloves ( Phil Oreskovic vs Greg Stewart) and defend his teammates and be effective doing it, unlike some Hab players!

If he can continue his slow steady progression, there's no reason to believe he can't be a good replacement for Steve Begin on the fourth line.

He definitely didn't look out of place in his brief stint with the Canadiens the last few games so I wouldn't be surprised if the Habs recalled him before they depart for their upcoming Florida road trip.