"Security is a false God. Begin to make sacrifices to it and you are lost." — Paul Bowles
When you are facing the defending Stanley Cup champions, it's a good idea to be prepared. For the first 10-12 minutes of the game, the Canadiens did their best to appear that they were ready to play a conference semi-final game. But when the best player on the team was helped off the ice without, putting any weight on his right leg, the Wizard's curtain dropped.
Some will debate the legality of Matt Cooke's hit on Andrei Markov, partly due to Cooke's resume. It wasn't a dirty hit, in my opinion, but neither was it clean hockey contact. Cooke skated from the opposite corner with one intent, and arrived late.
Here's a surprisingly candid view of the Canadiens' series win by Capitals' owner Ted Leonsis posted on his blog Ted's Take. Very classy.
excerpt:
"We lost. But Montreal won. They deserve respect and congratulations for a well played series.
They played committed hockey, they sacrificed, and they out worked us. I have never seen better D and more blocked shots in a playoff series. I think they blocked as many shots as we took last night. Another stat I had never seen before."
"Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more. Our revels now are ended. Cry havoc, and let slip the dogs of war!" ~General Chang (assisted by William Shakespeare)
It was one last game to decide the first round playoff series between "David" and "Goliath". As the two teams stepped onto the ice before the first faceoff, they were greeted by loudspeakers blaring "Nothing Else Matters" (by Metallica). Indeed.
Every shift would be a battle.
When time expired, it was the visiting team in white that was battered and bruised. But they had withstood the full arsenal of the most potent offense in the NHL, and came out on top.
It's a few hours before game time, and I'm filled with anticipation about the game tonight. Like many fans, I'm wondering what to expect.
Washington is a team loaded with offensive talent, yet so far, we haven't heard much from Mike Green, Alexander Semin, and the potent Capitals' power-play. Semin has 36 shots and no goals. Green hasn't scored either. Washington is 1-for-31 with the man advantage.
Can the Montreal Canadiens pull off one of the biggest upsets in recent playoff history? I can't allow myself to think about it.
The game will take place in Washington where the Capitals only lost five times all season. Yet, in this series, the Canadiens have won two of three in D.C., and led 4-to-1 in the game they lost. Could they disappoint "Rock the Red" fans one more time?
It is a word that appeared on these pages quite early in the season over six months ago to describe the type of season we expected from the Montreal Canadiens. It's exactly what fans got.
So should we be surprised at the drama unfolding before us in the Habs' first round playoff series with Washington?
After an unexpected Montreal win in game one, the city was alive with playoff fever. Emotions were ratcheted up in the next game, as some wondered, "Could they?"
From the opening faceoff, won by Scott Gomez, the Canadiens were on the attack heading to the Capitals' net. It was as if they decided to use the CFL's backfield in motion rules. Eight seconds into the game and Brian Gionta had a scoring chance.
A minute and a half in, the Habs had their first goal. Mike Cammalleri scored on a quick snap shot from 40 feet out. The Canadiens had exactly the start they were looking for and that nervous fans had been hoping to see.
Kirk Muller substituted Travis Moen for the struggling Benoit Pouliot on the line with Gionta and Gomez. It paid early dividends with Moen putting a backhand past Semyon Varlamov. Gionta made a brilliant play behind the net to chip the puck in front despite being well covered by Washington defenders.
On October 12, 2008, Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher was tossing a football on his front lawn with his son. Wurzelbacher decided to wander over to a political rally that was happening in his Ohio neighbourhood.
The visiting politician was looking for a photo op with the common folk. Wurzelbacher decided to take the opportunity to ask a simple question about the candidate's tax plan and its affect on small businesses.
Without the aid of a script or a teleprompter, the politician stumbled with his response.
An ordinary guy had entered the daily news cycle about the U.S. Presidential election. "Joe the Plumber" was born. The campaign machine working to elect candidate Barack Obama was not amused.
Angry Montreal Caller to Radio Show posted by Truenorther
Sal, a passionate Canadiens fan from downtown Montreal, was the first caller to the Team990's post-game radio show following the Habs 6-3 loss to Washington in game five.
"Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." ~Albert Einstein
When the pundits did their pre-series checklists, it was suggested that the Canadiens' second-ranked power-play should be able to exploit a very weak penalty-kill with Washington ranked 25th in the league.
Despite being a defense liability on every shift, we are told that Marc-Andre Bergeron is a must in the line-up because of his booming shot. Yes, Bergeron was a minus three tonight, and is already minus eight in this series. But, he is power-play specialist, and his contributions outweigh any negatives about his defensive play. That's a given, isn't it?
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"A fool flatters himself, a wise man flatters the fool." ~ Edward G. Bulwer-Lytton
Washington coach Bruce Boudreau was in a good mood after the game. He had every reason to be with his Capitals cruising to a game three victory. They chased Jaroslav Halak, regained home ice advantage, and sent disappointed Canadiens' fans home early.
Boudreau was frank about his team's power-play, saying "we suck" but then doled out a series of compliments. He acknowledged the Capitals strong play on the road, called the Bell Centre crowd "crazy good", but saved the most generous words for his opposing number.
"They've got one of the smartest, if not the smartest, coach in the NHL," said Boudreau who seems to be a wise fellow.
No doubt that the Washington coach appreciated Jacques Martin's dizzying intellect which determined that Marc-Andre Bergeron was the defense partner needed by Andrei Markov who would play more than 20 minutes instead of Ryan O'Byrne.
On the surface, O'Byrne has been solid all season paired with Markov, leads the defense corps in hits for the season by a wide margin, and at 6'6" can effectively clear big forwards from the front of the goal. You may have noticed that Washington has a few of those.
Boudreau was so impressed, that he seemingly honored Martin's deployment of Bergeron by having his players dump the puck to the defenseman's side of the ice at every opportunity.
I know what you're thinking. Bergeron looked awful on the second, third and fifth goals by the Capitals and finished the night at minus three. It's true, that sounds bad. We must be missing something. There's a greater purpose, perhaps.
Monsieur Mensa thought it was a good idea to rush Glen Metropolit back into the lineup and chose to sit Sergei Kostitsyn. When Metropolit was injured on March 27, it was stated that his separated shoulder would need six to eight weeks to heal. Now that estimate appeared to be accurate as Metropolit didn't win a faceoff tonight, lagged behind the play, and played just over five minutes. But what do we know?
Metropolit's linemate Mathieu Darche was on the ice for 2:22 without recording a shot or a hit and was a minus one. Sergei Kostitsyn, with five Molson Cup star selections in the month of March, was deemed to be press-box worthy.
Undoubtedly many of you are saying, those lineup choices don't make any sense. Remember, we are in the presence of a genius. How can we be expected to understand?
From his perspective, the Canadiens' scholarly coach thought that his team played their best period of the series in the first. The Habs outshot the Capitals and led in scoring chances 7-to-4. Martin felt that the game unraveled during a 12-minute stretch in the second period.
Not to contradict our resident sage, but the Canadiens came into this game with a very fragile psyche after the third-period meltdown in game two. The seeds for tonight loss were sown by giving up five goals in just over a period of play in Washington.
It didn't take much for doubt to be ignited when the Capitals scored on a second period short-handed goal by Boyd Gordon. The mettle of the Habs was shattered by giving up two more goals that resulted from poor defensive play and sub-average goaltending.
Jaroslav Halak left the game having surrendered three goals on 13 shots. In the last two and a half periods, he has given up eight goals on 30 shots. Halak seems to have lost his confidence winning only one of his last six starts, with all of them being very meaningful games.
Trailing 3-0, in the second period, the broken and frustrated Canadiens lost their composure. They took penalties including a 10-minute misconduct by Scott Gomez. Few in the Bell Centre held their breath for a Capitals-like comeback.
In the third period with the Canadiens threatening to regain momentum Boudreau called a timeout to refocus Washington. I'm sure that the gifted coach Martin would have done the same. Although it was curious that Martin didn't instruct his players to get a whistle early in the third period power-play so that Gomez could exited the penalty box and joined them.
I'm sure that he had a good reason.
The two teams played like they were separated by 33 points in the regular season standings. Washington has some wind in their sails and seem happy with the way the series is unfolding. The Canadiens will have a hard time putting Jack, back in the box to replicate the tone and performance of game one.
Will coach Martin make any changes for game four? Far be it from me to be able to read the thoughts of a mastermind, but Martin didn't seem to give his number one goaltender a ringing endorsement, "Halak played a strong first game and he had a good first period tonight."
As is custom, Dr. Martin will keep us guessing until Wednesday.
Rocket's three stars
1. Brooks Laich
2. Eric Fehr
3. Matt Bradley
Player quotes from wire services were used in this report.
(photo credit: Getty)
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Tremors, is this instance, does not refer to Graboids, those giant carnivorous underground worms who terrorize small-town America, of early-90's horror-flick fame.
But the buzz about Jaroslav Halak's unsteady grip is equally silly to the franchise of campy B-movies with flesh-eating, over-sized grubs.
Alex Ovechkin said during the game on Saturday night, he noticed that Halak's hand was shaking while drinking water after Washington's first goal by Eric Fehr. Ovechkin said it was clear the Canadiens' goaltender was nervous.
The comments sent Habs' fans into a tizzy.
Where's the calming voice of Alex P. Keaton's Dad when you need him? It's handy that Michael Gross also has experience with those nasty, tunneling earthworms with fangs.
I suggest that we chalk this one up to gamesmanship. The Russian superstar is learning how to be a captain of an NHL team. By focusing attention on Halak's jitters, Ovechkin deflected attention away from the Capitals dicey goaltending situation.
Well done Alex.
But Habs' fans should remember that it was Ovechkin, himself, who admittedly had a case of the nerves in game one of the series. When Capitals' coach Bruce Boudreau was asked how to calm his captain, he replied, "Give him a massage, I don’t know.”
If Halak was indeed nervous in this series, should it be a surprise? He is an under-the-radar goaltender who was vaulted into the number one position after the Olympic break. Until now, Halak has benefited from the cover provided by the focus and criticism heaped on Carey Price.
We have to remember that Halak doesn't have a wealth of big game experience.
Rather than focus on Halak's so-called trembling to determine his mindset during the game, one only has to look at the break-down in his technique. I think it's fair to say that he was rattled by the Capitals' strategy to crash the crease, and that had more to do with him giving up a couple of soft goals than any nerves.
Whether Halak was suffering from stress, fatigue or a lack of size, the Canadiens have to do a better job protecting their goaltender. It won't be easy given Jacques Martin's puzzling decision to sit Ryan O'Byrne, but it is reality. If the coaching staff sees fit to give Marc-Andre Bergeron twenty minutes of ice-time again, he, too, will have to channel his inner Francis Bouillon and clear the crease.
That being said, would you be surprised if Halak, Ovechkin, Semyon Varlamov, and others have a small case of the nerves when the puck drops at the raucous Bell Centre tonight?
I know I will.
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"We came here for one (victory) and we got our one," said Mike Cammalleri. "Now it's time to go home and play. I liked our team, I think we did a lot of good things."
It's understandable why Cammalleri needed to say what he did and put on a brave face for the media. Unfortunately, some fans will echo the Pollyanna comments.
The NHL playoffs are not a time when a team can "settle for" anything including a series split when a stranglehold was within their grasp. One cannot let the opposition off the mat especially when they are the league's top team and an offensive juggernaut.
Losing game two was not catastrophic for the Canadiens, but the way they lost was. It could be devastating to the psyche of the Habs and a major boost to Washington.
"Stranger things may have happened than the Canadiens upsetting the Capitals, but frankly, it would be an upset of legendary proportions if Montreal won this series. In fact, given how deep the Capitals are on offense, and how inconsistent the Habs have been during the regular season, Montreal could be hard-pressed to win one game, let alone four."
The Hockey News says: Capitals in four
It's early in the post-season and already the venerable Hockey News has bit the dust with one of its playoff predictions. At the beginning of the season, they picked the Philadelphia Flyers to win the Stanley Cup. That one is looking like a long shot right now.
But let's not be too hard on the good folks at THN. After all, who could have known that Philly would have goaltending issues this year? More to the point, how can anyone predict the outcome of a single Canadiens' game, never mind, a series?
SERIES A
#1 Washington Capitals vs. #8 Montreal Canadiens
Thursday, April 15 at Washington, 7:00 p.m. TSN, VERSUS
Saturday, April 17 at Washington, 7:00 p.m. TSN, VERSUS
Monday, April 19 at Montreal, 7:00 p.m. TSN
Wednesday, April 21 at Montreal, 7:00 p.m. TSN
*Friday, April 23 at Washington, 7:00 p.m. TSN, VERSUS
*Monday, April 26 at Montreal, 7:00 p.m. TSN, VERSUS
*Wednesday, April 28 at Washington, TBD TSN
As if today isn't going to be stressful enough - the Flyers have found a way, yet again, to back themselves into a playoff corner and have allowed their post-season potential to come down to one final game against the Rangers. Win and we're in. Lose and, well...join Tiger on the links.
In addition, today's game isn't just important to the Flyers and the Rangers - other teams in the Eastern Conference (particularly the Montreal Canadiens) will be watching closely to find out who their first-round opponent will be. So to say that this is a "big game" is an understatement - right? Newsworthy? Yes. Noteworthy? You bet.
At the end of regulation time, with the score tied 3-3, Bell Centre fans jumped to their feet and gave their team a thunderous standing ovation. With a single point, their beloved Canadiens had clinched a spot in the playoffs.
Few minded that the Habs squeaked into the post-season in game 82.
No one seemed to recognize that the opponent was the 29th place team in the league.
When Dion Phaneuf scored the Leafs' fourth goal at the 2:05 mark of overtime, ending a very rough night for Jaroslav Halak, the fans once again rose. Canadiens' players gathered at center ice and raised their sticks in salute.
How emotional! Fans and players were connecting.
After back-to-back shutout wins to begin April, the Habs were counting their schedule-maker blessings with final week games against three non-playoff teams.
It didn't quite work out as planned. The touching connection, and the celebration followed a loss tonight, the Canadiens' third straight.
May 29, 2009 8:15 am.
Office of the President
Montreal Canadiens
Executive Assistant: Mr. Boivin, I have the General Manager on the line.
Boivin: Put him through.
(pause)
Boivin: Pierre!! Ça va?
Gainey: Ummm, Mr. Boivin, it's Bob. Bob Gainey.
Boivin: *deep sigh*
Gainey: Well sir, I'm just calling about our new coach. I think I've found him.
Boivin: Is he francophone? You know that's my top priority, Bob.
Gainey: Yes, sir. Yes, he is.
Boivin: OK fine, then hire him.
Gainey: I thought you'd be interested in hearing about his qualifications.
Boivin: *deep sigh*
Gainey: Remember we agreed that he should have NHL coaching experience?
Boivin: If you say so.
Gainey: He has experience. Almost 15 years as a head coach.
Boivin: Did he win anything?
Gainey: I didn't say it was winning experience, just experience. His teams only made it past the first round of the playoffs three times. Once he even got past the second round. Unfortunately since the lockout, there hasn't been any playoff appearances.
Boivin: You did say he is francophone, right?
Gainey: Yes sir, I did.
Boivin: Good job, Bob. Gauthier will be proud of you. Anything else?
Gainey: I want a coach who will demand that our players aggressively pursue the puck. We really need a coaching system to match our team. With the new additions I'm planning, we'll have players with speed and skill.
Boivin: Whatever. So does he have that?
Gainey: Well, he *says* that he wants a puck possession team. Although, his previous teams have never used that style.
Boivin: That's good enough for me.
Gainey: So, shall I go ahead, sir?
Boivin: You had me at "Allo", Bob. But do me a favour. You better run this past Pierre.
Gainey: Yes, sir.
Boivin: One more thing, Bob. I'll have my assistant send over the TV schedule for the Winter Olympics. I wouldn't want you to miss a minute.
Nelson Mandela: How long before the Stanley Cup playoffs? Jim Fleming: Don't get your hopes up. We're a damn disgrace!
Canadiens' fans were in a snarly mood after this one. And with good reason!
Let's trot out the cliches.
The Canadiens showed no intensity, and no sense of urgency. Players lacked passion. The team came out flat.
Those phrases could apply to every member of the team, with one notable exception: Brian Gionta. Yet, it was the kind of game where even Gionta was less than perfect. He failed to corral a rebound leading to the first Carolina goal.
“Leaders get the best effort from others not by lighting a fire beneath them, but by building a fire within.” -- Bob Nelson
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The American Hockey League announced today that Hamilton Bulldogs Head Coach Guy Boucher has been named the winner of the Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award as the AHL’s outstanding coach for the 2009-2010 season, as voted by coaches and members of the media in each of the league’s 29 cities.
It was announced that Jaroslav Halak has been selected by the Montreal chapter of the Professional Hockey Writer's Association as their nominee for the Masterton Award.
The Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy is awarded to the NHL player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey. Some recent winners include Steve Sullivan, Teemu Selanne, Steve Yzerman and Saku Koivu.
For my first post to this blog, I must start with the requisite biographical data; I believe as a Habs fan, it makes me rather unique in how I come to assess the bleu, blanc, et rouge.
To start with, I'm 27 years old and an American, originally from a Hartford, Connecticut suburb. I grew up a Habs' fan because my best friend in kindergarten was from a French-Canadian family, played goalie for a minor hockey league team, and idolized Patrick Roy. I wasn't already a Hartford Whalers fan, so I resultingly became a Montréal Canadiens fan instead.
"I know I've made some very poor decisions recently, but I can give you my complete assurance that my work will be back to normal. I've still got the greatest enthusiasm and confidence in the mission. And I want to help you." - HAL 9000
Before you read the attribution, were you thinking of someone else? You would be excused if the quote made you think of Jacques Martin.
It's been said that Martin is one of the least emotional coaches in the league. He speaks in a calm, monotone voice, not unlike HAL, the 9000 series computer from 2001: A Space Odyssey.
Don't be fooled. The voice and the blank look on Martin's face is masking what lies beneath. He often makes coaching decisions based less on reason and more on emotion. And when he does, like the experience with HAL, things don't end very well.
I've been a Habs' fan all my life. And at my age that means “for a very, very long time”. I remember witnessing Gros Bill's 500th on the old black and white. I was struck with an immense teenage girl crush on Ken Dryden the first time he ever donned his trademark pose in front of my eyes. And I waited anxiously for the on-ice break out of the next living wonder who happened to be Guy Lafleur.
Hockey has always been an important part of my life, from Saturday night's ritual Soirée du Hockey with René Lecavalier to the latest Montreal Canadiens goalie controversy. My support for the Bleu Blanc Rouge did falter away momentarily – from one lock-out to the next – coming back along with renewed fervor at the start of the 2005-2006 season.
"Now if I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times - poise counts!" - Kramer
Last night, I was quoting Ghandi, tonight it's Kramer. Yes, at All Habs, there's something for everyone.
No word whether Seinfeld's "The Chaperone" was required viewing at the morning meeting of the Canadiens but the coach said "poise" was on the agenda.
Jacques Martin was conducting class, and letting his students know that too many of them didn't appear to want the puck on Friday night in Philadelphia. Brian Gionta and Scott Gomez were the exceptions to that rule and recommended as role models.
“Satisfaction lies in the effort, not in the attainment, full effort is full victory.” - Mahatma Gandhi
If you are anything like me, you weren't in a celebratory mood after tonight's win by the Canadiens. Make no mistake, picking up two points against the Flyers in their own building was huge. The Habs are now in sixth place with four games remaining.
But Gandhi is correct. Watching a game, in which most of the team, excluding the goaltender, gave much less than a "full effort", left most fans far from satisfied.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The American Hockey League announced today that Hamilton Bulldogs defenceman P.K. Subban has been named to the 2009-10 AHL All-Rookie Team. The team consists of one goaltender, two defensemen and three forwards and was voted by AHL coaches, players and media in each of the 29 member cities.
Subban, 20, leads all Bulldogs defencemen in points with 52 (18 goals, 34 assists) and leads all AHL rookie blue-liners in both goals (18) and points (52). The native of Toronto, Ontario ranks first among all league rookies with 11 power-play goals and is tied for first in the AHL with a plus-43 rating. The 5-foot-10, 195-pound blueliner participated in the 2010 AHL All-Star Classic and played in his first two NHL games with the Montreal Canadiens this season on February 12 and 13 recording an assist in each game. Montreal's second round, 43rd overall selection in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft has also set new franchise records for goals (18), power-play goals (11), and points (52) by a Bulldogs rearguard in a single season.
Subban is the Bulldogs' fifth player and fourth defenceman named to the AHL All-Rookie Team in the franchise's 14 year history. Defenseman Craig Millar was named to the team in the 1996-97 season, defenceman Mike Komisarek in the 2002-03 season, defenseman Yannick Weber in the 2008-09 season and goaltender Jaroslav Halak in the 2006-2007 season.
The 2009-10 AHL All-Rookie Team also includes Worcester Sharks goaltender Alex Stalock, Hershey Bears defenceman John Carlson, Worcester Sharks forward Logan Couture, Peoria Rivermen forward Lars Eller, and Portland Pirates forward Tyler Ennis.
Each All-Rookie Team member will receive a custom designed crystal award in recognition of his selection to the 2009-10 AHL All-Rookie Team.
Like Hockey? Do you love hockey? Do you watch every game and know the strengths and weaknesses of each team? If so the you should use expertise at online betting.
Rocket of All Habs - nominated for the Glenn Anderson Leadership in Writing Award.
"Undeniably the most inclusive blog for anything that has to do with the Montreal Canadiens. In season, you can count on pre-game reports and post-game wrap ups. Always has current injury reports so you know who to expect on the ice. In-depth look at the business end of the Habs, as well. Very knowledgeable in all aspects of the sport. Truly the only source needed for Canadiens hockey news and information. Professionally written and an easy read."
Opportunity Cost
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When an underachieving team has its back to the wall, and faces a huge
uphill climb, it’s only natural to rally around that team when they rattle
off some ...
