Habs 3, Rangers 0: Are you not entertained?

Is this not why you are here?

Awww Torts. You mad, bro? Or just upset your "supposed to win the Stanley Cup" team has the collective shooting accuracy of Chris Higgins?

And let's not kid here. The Rangers had the first period. They were pretty much in control, taking turnovers, blocking the Habs from coming up the ice at all to the point the Habs had 1 shot on net for most of the period. I mean Cube gave the Komisarek Special (saved by Price). Then I come back from walking Toaster, and it's 1-0 Habs. From there, looks like his team (save a few players of the lower-6 variety) packed up and played out the rest of the game with what looked like a "better luck next time" mentality.

Oh and he benched Marian Gaborik. Gold star, Torts. No goals for you!

Maybe Torts should ask new Als coach Dan Hawkins for advice.
- By the way, play Biron, play Lundqvist. Either way, Rangers kryptonite is the Bell Centre.
- I'm so happy Lars Eller has LINEMATES. Cole and Galchenyuk have given him something he didn't have since Andrei Kostitsyn was taken away.
- Sorry, if you think Pacioretty's hit on McDonagh is suspension worthy you're off your rocker. No, he didn't leave his feet. The blood was from McDonagh's visor. And what the fuck McDonagh DON'T TURN YOUR FUCKING BACK AFTER MAKING EYE CONTACT.
- Also Akim Aliu just did the same hit, but actually FLEW into Stoner in this Flames/Wild game and didn't even get a penalty (even though it should have been charging). Probably because Stoner is a big man who didn't turn stupidly.
- That said, Patches is a Hab. Shanabingban will probably bow to the Rangers and suspend him. (Even though the fucking Luke Schenn hit on Gallagher was way worse).
- Lucky for Luke Schenn, Gallagher was back. That first shot on net was thanks to his hard work.
- Carey Price finally knows what it's like to play for the Blues with the easiest shutout of his life.
- I prefer that second unit powerplay, thanks.
- Bronze that passing play. Keep the tapes for future references. Non-stop passes. Galchy, PK, Cube (?), Eller, with Cole standing around in the front. GOAL.
- Apparently Cole claims to get him going, he needs to be abused on the ice. Crosscheck him. Slap him around. Hit him into the boards. He wants it.
- Guess it worked. I don't remember him getting hit though.
- Galchenyuk has the ability to make something really good out of absolutely nothing.
- Lars Eller enjoys pissing off Torts.
- Torts should be happy. With a 5-on-3 at the end of the game, the Habs put out Ryan White, Colby "WHATPUCKWHERE" Armstrong and Travis Moen. And they almost scored.
- And with the game all but over, Girardi blocks a PK rocket right on the ankle. High probability that's broken.
- Guess we really know who's the worst of the two teams.

Weird factoid of the night: My Star Wars shirt is on a winning streak. Seriously.

May the Force be with you.

Voting process one and done

So the BoG voted, and surprisingly it was unanimously in favour of the new CBA. I mean I thought for sure some asshat was going to say no just 'cause he's an asshat. What I didn't need was Gary Bettman's terribly insincere apology. The only time I want to hear him speak is when he stands in front of a camera and bobbles his head into his termination speech.

Now the players just have to include their vote in the matter, which seems rather arbitrary right now. Official things need to be official!

And as the players made their way back to their practice rinks, Dave Stubbs tweeted this photo of first and only on the ice Erik Cole celebrating the end of the lockout with a skate. By himself.

Don't worry, Erik! Your friends are coming soon!

Oh right, Brian Burke was fired before the season started. Proof that Toronto just wants to one-up Montreal every time, because firing him mid-game on the 19th was so last season.

Habs 4, Whalercanes 0: The kids are alright

That's right, JMart. CREDIT your kids on D tonight because they were fantastic. (Of course he danced around the issue. Dude's a waffle). But man Carolina is terrible. How the hell did this team beat the Penguins?

Of course historically we all know that whatever ails the Whalercanes, they usually cure themselves on the Habs. But the Habs were just so damn solid tonight that there was no way this was happening. They got the right game plan, they went for the kill, they kept the Canes to like 5 shots for most of the game and kept pressing for more.

Hey, Canes even had a 4-on-3 turned 5-on-3 to play with, so it's not like they didn't have opportunities.

We got a Gremelin!
- Yup. Emelin's best game since coming over. You could see it building. The more he plays the more awesome he gets. He threw 7 hard hits, blocked 7 shots, a little over 18 minutes of ice time with about 2 and half on the penalty kill. I just love his game. Introduced Tlusty to the new Bell Centre glass early.
- PK Subban scored a goal and jumped into the glass. It's a good day when PK Subban scores a goal and jumps into the glass.
- Young defence? No problem. With Price moving the puck it was a lot easier for the kids to play. Picked up an assist for his effort on the opening goal. Was busiest in the 3rd and a key to shutting down the Canes' powerplay.
- Cam Ward needs help. His team ain't giving it.
- I mean for all of Staal's troubles, he wasn't invisible. Most of the time.
- As much trouble the Whalercanes have been to the Habs, I still kind of really like Tuomo Ruutu. (The only good Ruutu in my books).
- And Ruutu was mercilessly trolled by Erik Cole as he sat in the penalty box.

Cole Troll

- I know everyone shits on Gomez. Even the TSN Panel had a "what to do with Scott Gomez" question. (And no, buying him out is NOT the option). Sure he sucked at faceoffs, and had one crap shift, but I honestly think he played real well tonight. And was there to give some support to Eller, who's designated linemate is now on the IR. Regardless of what the fans say, the young guys really look up to him.
- None can stop the Saskatcheplow!
- Weber actually wiffed on his powerplay goal but hey with the goals Ward was giving up I half expected the Canes to score on their own net all night.
- Also I think RDS is the only channel that pronounces Weber's name properly...
- SteadFreddy's NHL debut! Took two penalties, but the rest of his game was simple and fairly solid for a nervous first game on home ice. He also blocked a shot in the final moments of the game to help preserve Price's shutout. That's why we love him so.

Habs were in 8th spot for a few seconds (then the Devils beat the Sabres). They've been pressing hard this month and deserve everything for working so hard. And the best way to bounce back from the heartbreak and anger yesterday is to not allow another team that's in tough to have their way with you on your home ice. Especially when that team usually breaks out on your home ice.

Now it's time to continue and do the same to the Islanders. I think if they play like this, they'll do just fine.