Lions in Winter: Montreal Canadiens (Habs) News and Commentary

The Price Of Being A Twit

liwblog@gmail.com (Topham) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:00:00 +0000

In case you missed it, Twitter has once again lived up to its name – the home of twits. On Saturday evening, after the Canadiens (and Carey's) latest loss, Allan Walsh (non other than Jaroslav Halak's agent) took to the bandwidth and typed in some slightly erroneous statistics that he thought were particularly relevant at the time: "Interesting stat of the night....Price is 10W, 32L in last 42...

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Game #17Chances Were There, But Habs Let Winnable One Slip Away

noreply@blogger.com (Tobalev) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 04:29:00 +0000

Details Date: 7/11/09 Opponent: Lightning Location: Montreal Loss: 1-3 Habs Goalie: Price (L) Opposition Goalie: Niittymaki (W) Habs goalscorers: Gionta Opposition goalscorers: Malone, Tanguay, Wright Play of the game Our goal was OK, our chances on which we failed to convert were, at times, quite spectacular (Metropolit's spin-shot) and Price made a few big saves. The play of the game,...

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Game #16Price, Habs Tighter; Get Another OT Win

noreply@blogger.com (Tobalev) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 03:21:00 +0000

Details Date: 5/11/09 Opponent: Bruins Location: Boston Win: 2-1 (SO) Habs Goalie: Price (W) Opposition Goalie: Thomas (L) Habs goalscorers: Metropolit, (Cammalleri - SO) Opposition goalscorers: Bergeron Play of the game Price made some dandys and Cammalleri had a nice shot in the shootout, but it was our goal that stood out to me in this one. The goal itself was pretty good, but the fact...

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Replacing Markov Cheat Sheet For A Procrastinating GM

liwblog@gmail.com (Topham) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:00:00 +0000

Yesterday we had quite a discussion and it became clear that we can all agree on one thing: we're not happy. We can't agree on anything else. In the collective vent, it came to light that many (myself included) were not very happy with Gainey's performance this season, specifically since the fall of Markov. My sentiment was that he should have done something to replace the best player on the...

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Game #15Price Drops the Ball...Again

noreply@blogger.com (Tobalev) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 03:16:00 +0000

Details Date: 3/11/09 Opponent: Thrashers Location: Montreal Loss: 4-5 Habs Goalie: Price (L) Opposition Goalie: Pavelec (W) Habs goalscorers: Gionta (2), Cammalleri, Plekanec Opposition goalscorers: Little, Peverley, Popovic, Kubina, Armstrong Play of the game I really liked the 4th goal, Plekanec's. Can you believe that at the time I actually thought that it would be enough to send us to...

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The Insufferable Gagnon Character Assassin At It Again

liwblog@gmail.com (Topham) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:00:00 +0000

I've told you all about Francois Gagnon before, but let me assure you I wouldn't be writing this article today if I wasn't irate. Yesterday, Gagnon on a slow news day once again took up his favourite topic: Andrei Kostitsyn. It's another in a long line of attacks on the player, as Gagnon slowly deteriorates into the tabloid caricature that he is now. His piece begins: La semaine dernière à...

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Play of the Week

liwblog@gmail.com (Topham) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:32:00 +0000

RDS is reporting that some sharp-shooting Habs player has finally managed to hit the target. It happened in practice, mind you, but the Canadiens recipient of play of the week (unnamed in the report) hit Hal Gill in the foot. It appears that the shot was both accurate and forceful enough to sideline the big galoot. Mathieu Carle will be replacing him. Meanwhile... Things that won't win next...

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Game #14Montreal Gets Hallowe'en Scare Against League's Worst

noreply@blogger.com (Tobalev) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 04:43:00 +0000

Details Date: 31/10/09 Opponent: Maple Leafs Location: Montreal Win: 5-4 (SO) Habs Goalie: Halak (W) Opposition Goalie: Toskala (L) Habs goalscorers: Metropolit, Latendresse, Gill, Hamrlik, (Cammalleri, Gomez - SO) Opposition goalscorers: Ponikarovsky (2), Stempniak, Kaberle Play of the game The play of the game comes in two installments tonight, but both were very similar. I am so pleased...

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Game #13Habs Come Close to Stealing Some Points

noreply@blogger.com (Tobalev) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 03:16:00 +0000

Details Date: 30/10/09 Opponent: Blackhawks Location: Chicago Loss: 2-3 Habs Goalie: Price (L) Opposition Goalie: Huet (W) Habs goalscorers: Cammalleri, Moen Opposition goalscorers: Versteeg, Barker, Sharp Play of the game Cammalleri got a good bounce and scored and Moen did well to tuck one in, but neither of those goals screamed 'play of the game' to me. I instead will go with a save that...

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Martin Getting There New Habs Lines Spread The Wealth

liwblog@gmail.com (Topham) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:18:00 +0000

In his brief time here in Montreal, Jacques Martin has found our best line. On his ten question exam, that was the first problem, the giveaway warm up one. And while it's a "well done" to Jacques for discovering that putting the 39 goalscorer with duo that combined for goals galore and Cups in the past, it wasn't exactly a headscratcher. What was and remains a headscratcher was/is finding out...

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Game #12Crosby Show Hard to Watch For Habs Fans

noreply@blogger.com (Tobalev) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 01:12:00 +0000

Details Date: 28/10/09 Opponent: Penguins Location: Pittsburgh Loss: 1-6 Habs Goalie: Halak (L), Price Opposition Goalie: Fleury (W) Habs goalscorers: Plekanec Opposition goalscorers: Crosby (3), Rupp, Goligoski, Kunitz Play of the game Chances not converted were the only plays to rival our goal tonight, but alas, it is the goal that prevails. The Habs were on a 5-on-3 (the only time we...

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Letting Players Go For Nothing Vs. The Desperate Grab

liwblog@gmail.com (Topham) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:56:00 +0000

Because I took some shots at Jack Todd, and I guess Andre Savard, I have found myself in several arguments on the merits and pitfalls of various moves across the years. While I can't really argue when there's a clear disagreement about the worth of a player, there are places where I think my point of view needs better airing. One area that keeps coming up again and again in arguments (and it's...

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Rethinking Andrei Kostitsyn

liwblog@gmail.com (Topham) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 21:05:00 +0000

Having a good scan of the Habs universe yesterday brought me to this very salient piece on Francois Gagnon's favourite player, Andrei Kostitsyn. Take it from me, it's nice as a blogger to find a piece you wanted to write yourself. It gives time back to watch more highlights and read more trade rumours. Anyway, I thought the piece was very well stated, a good indictment of those who relentlessly...

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Game #11: Habs Win 4th in a Row; Another OT Thriller

noreply@blogger.com (Tobalev) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 03:03:00 +0000

Details Date: 26/10/09 Opponent: Islanders Location: Montreal Win: 3-2 (OT) Habs Goalie: Halak (W) Opposition Goalie: Biron (L) Habs goalscorers: Spacek, Moen, Hamrlik Opposition goalscorers: Tambellini (2) Play of the game I must tell you one thing; I am certainly not getting tired about writing about OT winners in this section. Tonight the best play, our best goal, once again, came in...

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Andre Savard? Jack Todd's Man Made Gainey Look Like The Genius In The First Place

liwblog@gmail.com (Topham) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 11:33:00 +0000

It seems each time I muster up the energy to respond to something Jack Todd is saying it begins something like this: "I remember when I used to like reading Jack Todd..." I think it's probably time to admit that I must have been wrong and that perhaps it's not Jack Todd that has changed. Perhaps he's always done sensationalism with a hacksaw; perhaps he's always chased the headline while going...

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Game #10: Habs Do It To New York Again; Cammalleri Completes Comeback

noreply@blogger.com (Tobalev) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:58:00 +0000

Details Date: 24/10/09 Opponent: Rangers Location: Montreal Win: 5-4 (OT) Habs Goalie: Halak (W) Opposition Goalie: Lundqvist (L) Habs goalscorers: Cammalleri (3), D'Agostini, Bergeron Opposition goalscorers: Anisimov, Kotalik, Gilroy, Gaborik Play of the game I was hoping for this type of finish tonight, but after the end of the first period I wasn't expecting it. The whole game, however,...

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Game #9: A Strong Effort and Our First Regulation Win

noreply@blogger.com (Tobalev) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 01:39:00 +0000

Details Date: 22/10/09 Opponent: Islanders Location: Montreal Win: 5-1 Habs Goalie: Halak (W) Opposition Goalie: Biron (L) Habs goalscorers: Gomez, Bergeron, Pacioretty, Cammalleri, Lapierre Opposition goalscorers: Bailey Play of the game For once I have some choice, so forgive me if this isn't as obvious a choice as we are all used to. With enough pretty goals and not too many big saves...

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Kostitsyn vs. Gainey Habs Won't Win The Way They've Been Going

liwblog@gmail.com (Topham) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 09:27:00 +0000

Just a day or two ago, wasn't it, that we were full of Sergei's obvious change in attitude as he scored a couple of goals and made AHL defenders look like, well, AHL defenders. It seems that Sergei was also full of the same bravado that day as (after reading our praise, probably) he took off to whereabouts unknown. The assumption from the Habs and agent was Russia, the reality is that they...

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Game #8: Habs Need Extra Time Again to Secure 2 Points

noreply@blogger.com (Tobalev) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 01:20:00 +0000

Details Date: 20/10/09 Opponent: Thrashers Location: Montreal Win: 2-1 (SO) Habs Goalie: Halak (W) Opposition Goalie: Pavelec (L) Habs goalscorers: Gionta (1, SO), (Gomez - SO) Opposition goalscorers: Armstrong Play of the game After watching 4 pretty slow shootout attempts it was nice to see Gionta do exactly what I have been calling us to do for years; skate in with some speed. With the...

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Low Marks No More: A New Start For The PP

liwblog@gmail.com (Topham) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:07:00 +0000

Remember last season when it took Gainey 4 infuriating months to admit he made a mistake in running a PP without a good shot from the point? It appears he may have learned something. Tonight will mark the debut of the new Matt Schneider/Mark Streit/Sheldon Souray: Marc-Andre Bergeron, and thanks to a bit of luck he'll be starting in a game that should suit him quite nicely – the Atlanta...

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Habs Rough Start Was Expected

liwblog@gmail.com (Topham) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:00:00 +0000

The Canadiens with their new defence, attack and coach are living up to all the predictions we ever made about adjustment periods. The start has been rough. They've lost 5, they could have lost 7 – mind you they've won 2 and might have won another 2. To add insult to injury, though Tobalev's been up on the game reports, I've been having an extremely rough start to the season myself. I have to...

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Game #7: Effort, Again, Doesn't Buy Us a Win

noreply@blogger.com (Tobalev) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:50:00 +0000

Details Date: 17/10/09 Opponent: Senators Location: Montreal Loss: 1-3 Habs Goalie: Price (L) Opposition Goalie: Leclaire (W) Habs goalscorers: Cammalleri Opposition goalscorers: Neil, Alfredsson, Kovalev Play of the game With 8 minutes to go in the game Carey Price made his best save of the year and did what I have claimed he has needed to do all season: keep us in the game. The Habs,...

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Game #6: Habs Fall Short in Home-Opener

noreply@blogger.com (Tobalev) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 10:47:00 +0000

Details Date: 15/10/09 Opponent: Avalanche Location: Montreal Loss: 2-3 Habs Goalie: Price (L) Opposition Goalie: Anderson (W) Habs goalscorers: Hamrlik, Plekanec Opposition goalscorers: Hejduk, Cumiskey, O'Reilly Play of the game The Habs needed to get their PP going and, I felt, needed to get a lead in this one early. They did both those things 10 minutes into the game and it was all of a...

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Game #5:Canadiens Outshoot (and Seemingly Outplay) Edmonton; come up short again

noreply@blogger.com (Tobalev) — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 14:07:00 +0000

Details Date: 10/10/09 Opponent: Oilers Location: Edmonton Loss: 2-3 Habs Goalie: Price (L) Opposition Goalie: Khabibulin (W) Habs goalscorers: Gionta, Hamrlik Opposition goalscorers: Comrie, Jacques, O'Sullivan Play of the game Gionta and Gomez continued their hot play yesterday and it paid off for them towards the end of the 2nd. A great steal by Gionta at centre ice created an odd-man...

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Doing It On The Cheap Is Bergeron An Acceptable Solution?

liwblog@gmail.com (Topham) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:46:00 +0000

It's unfortunate that Andrei Markov went down with injury. It's going to cost us some wins. But unlike my hockey pool, where the guy with Markov has to hope for days spent in the hyperbaric chamber, a hockey team can adapt. Signing, call-up, trade, there are ways and means to fill the hole. Bob Gainey has moved. At first, it seemed like Ryan O'Byrne (the call-up option) was going to be the...

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