Pre-season Game 6: Way better than yesterday

Habs bring the scrubs and ice 6 NHLers (including Price) to the Bruins AHL squad and 11 NHLers and manage to be a handful. It was a skating marathon tonight. Probably their best game of the preseason without actually being on the real roster. Sadly a great game was ruing by blind zebras who apparently forgot big daddy Campbell isn't in charge any more. Their inconsistency is more aggravating than Spacek's brain farts. Well, almost....

- If this is how Price plays behind no defence for 60 minutes, I think we're all totally OK with that.
- Dear Hockey Gods, give Gallagher a bone please? And a goal. All those posts...
- Welcome to the Bell Center, Mr. Bournival! Looked quite solid out there, and no signs of a shoulder problem which he routinely slammed into a few Booins.
- Game could have used Pacioretty, who had the flu goddammit.
- Captain America had bite tonight. Was pissed with the refs antics in the faceoffs, ran full steam ahead on the puck, tossed Lucic into the boards quite heavily.
- Speaking of those boards, Tinordi loves them. To throw people into them.
- DeSimone: you're hired. And he's off to the Bulldogs camp for a contract he so very deserves.
- Spacek was better in his first game. Right now, the new leaner Spacek was crap. Lucky for him he was bailed by Price more than once. I kind of want him to take penalties just to get him off the ice.
- Regardless of his mistake on the Bruins goal, Gabby Dumont is a barrel of energy. Maybe he'll take White's place until he's ready to go?
- Or Blunden.
- EVEN WOYWITKA WAS PRETTY GOOD TONIGHT, SPACEK!
- Cammy wants 50 goals.
- Gallagher's up to 13 shots, placing him 2nd in the league. It doesn't count those that went off the post. (Pacioretty leads preseason with 15 in only 2 games).
- Jorje is in fine form, blocking shots.
- Diaz's shot will do better once he's used to playing here.

Tweet of the night: @AndrewBerkshire If Thornton bitched any more he'd be on Sex and the City.

Preseason is almost over, folks. And we'll finally see some actual roster players... More cuts today, including Brock Trotter who was playing. Hoping Jodoin will stamp out his evil turnovers. Unfortunately he's on waivers so DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH HIM, YOU MANITOBA-PLAYER ACCUMULATING WINNIPEG JETS! Hisss...

Leave the gun, take the Campoli
The Godfather might be a bit down on his second unit powerplay peoples. Diaz needs more AHL time, Yemelin wasn't brought over here to run it, Spacek just plain sucks, Weber can't run it alone, and all our forwards are the type that excel better down low (because SERGEI was the Kostitsyn that quarterbacked powerplays you numbskull). So Habs went out and got Chris Campoli. Basically he's the new Wiz, only cheaper. And not for 6 years.

So long as he doesn't really come here to play defence, it's fine. Though I'm hoping Ladouceur can teach him a few things...

Game 2 - Habs 3, Bruins 1: The heat is on

My dad isn't much of a hockey fan. Yet out of the blue while I was with my parents at the mall he mentioned some distress over whether the Bruins would turn tonight's game into a gong show. I shrugged, said "meh", and still stuck to my "Habs in 5". I thought the Bruins would win this one close, like a 2-1 win or an OT win. Then I went home and thought "nah, Habs are gonna win 3-1 with an empty netter". I was wrong. It was 3-1 without an empty netter.

Sing it loud and proud: Pre-game Olés were LOUD and early.

History will be made: Plenty of material tonight. Two goals in the first two minutes of play? Or Darche's first ever playoff goal on the powerplay. I vote for Darche.

Claude vs Cloud: That noise you heard was Claude Julien's head exploding. He could be this year's Bruce Boudreau. Do Habs enjoy frustrating various round coaches?

Heart: Habs are in that crazy 5th gear that happens in the playoffs. Even Spacek is throwing hits! Everyone is harping on what the Bruins are doing wrong and it's rare you'll hear someone give credit to what the Habs are doing right.

How you like me now? PK Subban is in everyone's head and has successfully driven Boston's top line insane to the point of ineptitude.

Rookie watch: First playoff point for Eller on Weber's goal. And on Pyatt's line he was throwing the body, forechecking with incredible pace... I think he threw 3 hits in 3 seconds.

Blood in the beard: Habs blocked 27 to Boston's 8. Who's committed to win?

Your ignorance is showing: "He's Danish! You buy that at a Coffee Shop!" Nice to know our tax money goes to this brilliance. I'd vote for Harper just to flush it out.

Oh Canada: Habs and Canucks, the only Canadian teams in the playoffs are both up 2-0 in their series (which sucks for my Blackhawks) and CBC is more concerned with the Bruins then switches very quickly to curling.

We don't just have rainbows, we have rainbows on FIRE! All of Yannick Weber's playoff goals (and points) were against the Bruins. That goal today was perfect.

Romanian gypsy curse: I swear Chara's dehydration problem was NOT my doing.

"It's not over. We got more hockey left to play". Spoken like a vet, PK. Habs don't care what the Bruins throw at them, and I'm loving it. So tell me, if a stacked team like the Bruins can't suck it up and play without Chara, why does no one mention what the Habs have gone through all year without Markov, Gorges and had a full lineup for ONE GAME ONLY and are currently playing in the playoffs with a patchwork defence that's basically on the back of some solid veterans and one kickass rookie?

Besides, any team who trades for Kaberle deserves to suck.

PS. Bulldogs also up 2-0 in their series against the Oilers. (Yes, the Oilers. Since they were eliminated, most of their roster went to the Barons). Today was a 2-1 win where the Bulldogs deployed The System and were outshot 14-2 in the 3rd. Just like BigBroHabs! Drew MacIntyre totally didn't care for your kitchen sink.

Habs 3, Pens 0: I has a hat edition

I was working on this the whole game. Actually I had to do it twice because my first patch was too big. The big one would look nice on a sleeve, actually... So now all I need to do is sew it on my Habs tuque.

What a game by our boys. The Pens thought they had the Habs right where they wanted them, especially after Cooke ran a shot off the far post, but the Habs roared back to the offensive zone to get a faceoff. Fleury tries a poke check that would make Johnny Bower hang his head in shame and Pleky backhands it over him after sneaking through a crowd off the faceoff. This was 42 seconds in the game. The rest of the first was what I'd call an absolute marathon skate with nary a whistle in sight. It really made me smile to see hockey like this...

Second period, Moen shattered Fleury's confidence and Cammy just destroyed it. Second time this year Fleury was pulled against the Habs, right? Two amazing pieces of work by the team all perfectly placed and perfectly executed. One scrap between Talbot and Mara (size missmatched but whatevs, Talbot asked for it). Then it was the Carey Price show. James Neal alone in front: DENIED. Through a crowd, on the rush, off to the side, Carey Price was winning this game and no one would stop him. Hal Gill also made a late save off Kovy on the powerplay. What a tandem.

Can't say much about the officiating today but those afternoon games are tough on them too. Instead of calling Weber for tripping Cooke into the corner they let it go, and Cooke tries to fight Weber of all people. White runs in to take his place and Cooke ignores him, keeps trying to go for Weber. Finally Rupp runs in and knocks over White while PK tries to calm everyone down only to get mauled... About the only time the crowd in Pittsburgh cared to say anything was during this whole sequence. Jokes.

Habs came close in the 3rd on the powerplay to build their 3-0 lead but little DD missed and flubbed. Looked like the ice deteriorated horrendously as the game went on as guys were falling and the puck was bouncing every which way. Since it wasn't happening they shut it down, made the Pens work to even cross through the neutral zone, and decided to protect Price's 8th shutout on the year. One more and he'll tie Vezina with career shutouts!

I needed this game probably just as much as our boys did. It really helped heal my shattered hockey heart. Now I gotta finish sewing my Patches' patch.

Habs 4, Whalercanes 3: PUPPIES AND RAINBOWS

And CBC is in mourning. Especially after this ridiculous article. They even got a Hamlet quote! And the "Big Grabovski? Vomit. Only thing big is his ego. I mean they quickly switch to the 5-5 game between the Leafs and Pens mere SECONDS after the guys went to give Auld a big victory hug. There's a good chunk of time left in the 3rd and they're already salivating at the two points the Leafs will get even though they didn't win yet and didn't win in the end anyway (Hi Kovy!).

Makes me ill. Have we all not learned the pattern? Hi, I'm the Leafs! I plan the parade in October, suck balls for most of the season, then win a bunch near the end and cause my delusional fanbase to dream of playoffs that'll most likely never come.

Even when they're not playing something about the Leafs has to be said for no reason other than shoving them further down our throats. This is why most of Canada HATES them.

And we hate the diving Whalercanes just as much:
- While at the Bulldogs game, we glanced at the scoreboard and saw Carolina beating the Penguins. My brother growled that he wished someone would take out EStaal, give him a taste of his own medicine because he's a "diving whiny cheapshot puke" (actual quote!). Well no one took him out but he managed to run into Niskanen and take himself out, so thank my brother for this one. He HATES EStaal very, very much.
- Sopel looking snazzy in a Habs jersey. Probably his best fit since his Blackhawks suit.
- Price in a warm tuque with a towel for a scarf looking mighty green by the bench. I was hoping he'd leave Gargamel a present on his shoe. (Looked even worse when he went out on the ice to congratulate everyone. OK back to bed for you, kid).
- It was "roll up those socks and win" day. Sure Auld isn't Price, but that doesn't prevent them from scoring goals so SCORE.
- And they kill off a 4 minute powerplay to start off the game. It was awesome.
- The goal given up right after, not so much. Auld, please don't play the puck if you're going to do that...
- But Cammy is scoring again! The Number Line of 13-14-15 is surprisingly very effective.
- Rejoice! For Eller finally has a winger! That goal was courtesy of AK46. Signed, sealed, and delivered.
- No matter what happened, RDS' camera was constantly fixed on Jerome Samson. They probably followed him to the airport after the game with a full report and video.
- So like what rock did Cory Stillman crawl out from under?
- Awesome goal by Pleky for his 20th though Cam Ward might want that one back. He's an All Star!
- It took PK getting spun like a top in full grapple mode by Skinner to get a fucking penalty call.
- And of course with the puck totally loose next to Ward they give them a quick whistle right when Gionta buries it. McReally.
- I'm sure they were trying to find a way to call back Andrei's awesome tip right after too.
- Pleky was apparently allergic to empty nets today.
- PK saves the game and Hal Gill desperately flings the puck down the ice to the empty net only to hit the post. Auld was dying of laughter.
- In your grumpy face, Maurice.

Watching hockey with my puppy is the best. He loves watching hockey. Keeps him nice and quiet until he starts barking at the TV 'cause he wants the puck.

Random awesome tweet of the night:
@DaveLozo Hello. My name is Al Montoya. I'm off my angle. Prepare to score.

Habs 2, Leafs suck: Take yer lumps

What I ate at mom's birthday dinner. Now I feel like a gnocchi.
And gorgonzola cream sauce is OMG!

Apparently Pat Burns sent Carey Price an inspirational note before the season started. I dare say tonight's game was extra important for a good showing and extra special considering the outcome.

And with all the crap the refs didn't call on the Leafs, I could just picture Burns standing on the bench, screaming at the top of his lungs over this stupidity. But hey, Habs scored shorthanded and on their ONLY powerplay (perfect centering pass by Komisarek). I'm sure Burns loved that.

It's called justice. Or karma.
And our secret agent Komisarek gave himself away.
What say you, Monster?

Heh.

Ron Wilson was pissed his iPads don't work in the Bell Center. It's a hockey rink not a net cafe. If you need to look up "hockey" and "defense" do that before you come to play. Also whiteboard, pen, use it.

By the way, I dare say a playoff series between the Habs/Leafs would be nice this year. Last night was a playoff type game, complete with one-sided calls (a game with Stéphan Auger and Tim Peel is corruption city) and speed to burn. I mean, c'mon Leafs. You gotta stop rebuilding Boston and start playing some hockey already!

Bulldogs Birthday!
Unfortunately they lost in a shootout but it was Max Pacioretty's birthday! How did he celebrate? With a hat trick and a goal in the shootout. Actually he was the only offense the Bulldogs had in a 4-3 shootout loss to the fucking Marlies.

They rematch Sunday, live on CBC!

Note: RYAN WHITE HURT HIS KNEE AND IS VERY UPSET ABOUT THIS! ARRRGH!

Smells like first win

Predictions are crap. I mean, Rod Francis had 9-1 Pens. What does he know anyway, he's a Buffalo guy. The picture above was taken off the Habs twitter from the morning skate. We all laughed at it. Was it a prediction? Destiny has a new home? Destiny is 0-2 on the season.

Pre-game in the locker room, RDS showed the boys. Boyd was chill. Others were smiling. Price was wrapped in a fleece Habs blankie with his cap down low. Looked like he was taking another pre-game nap. According to Don Cherry, you much psyche yourself up before the game. Throw some punches with a pal like Fleury does with Talbot. Or look like your trying to relieve your constipation into your net like Leclaire. Our cowboy doesn't need that crap.

Our cowboy stopped 36 of 38 shots, five from Crosby alone. Leclaire spent most of his time on his ass flailtending. (My brother calls his technique "If I flail my arms rapidly maybe nothing will get by me"). Fleury looked like garbage and some ornery Pens fans are already wondering if Brent Johnson gets the call next game.

Actually, ornery Pens fans abound. Apparently there was in-fighting. In the washrooms. Ouch.

Maybe the ghosts don't like the fancy new building?

Bullet points in case you can't make out what Mario Tremblay is saying on RDS:
- Cammy loves the new building much like he loves crushing the Pens.
- Travis Moen turns into Pavel Bure when he plays the Pens.
- I don't know how Benoit Pouliot can be so frustrating yet finds himself #3 on the points list. Now, if he could just keep his stick on the ice, he'd maybe tip in some goals. Also I don't think the Habs are aiming to have him be the Franco-Travis Moen but it's nice that he started throwing the body around.
- Keep booing Subban, Pens fans. He loves it.
- He also loves making Crosby cry.
- And Malkin.
- And he didn't embellish that you fucking tools, Comrie nearly took his eye out... (But he apologized).
- Have I mentioned how much I love Dustin Boyd?
- Rhino's confidence must be going insane. I've never seen a guy get dinged with so many bullshit "2 minutes for playing defence" penalties in my life.
- Also what other team thinks it's OK to play him with Picard. Lord have mercy on our souls.
- Lars Eller should not be on the 3rd line. He's Top 6 not a grinder, Martin!
- Just as RDS was bitching about Gomez not having any shots on goal, he sends one weak shot at Fleury and scores. Ask and ye shall receive.
- Also it's normal a PLAYMAKER won't have any shots on net.
- That's what Captain America is for.
- Talbot totally fell for Lapierre's trap and he totally knew it. Was so red in the face in the penalty box.
- And Lapierre's smile was precious.
- It pisses me off how much shit the Pens get away with.
- Whatever. Habs still won. In 24 seconds.
- Hal Gill really wanted that empty netter.
- Don Cherry's a tool.

Stunned Pens fans. Fun times.

Round 3 Game 3: Refreshing 5-1 smackdown

Leighton's 5-hole openeth.

So much better, Habs. This is how you're supposed to play. This is what brought you success. Attack, attack, and attack some more. Did Guy Boucher give Jacques Martin a call? And no you stupid fans, getting outshot does not mean instant victory. This time Habs outshot the Flyers again, but finally played smarter and played better, and won by a convincing margin.

Hugs on the bench. Hugs on the ice. Back in business. Though we gotta talk about Rhino, Coach. WHO CARES if he put the puck over the glass on his first shift. Don't punish the kid for that! It didn't cause any damage anyway. That 1:34 is a fucking travesty. Yet Bergeron can fail and fail and fail some more, but hey he scored the meaningless 5th goal so that means he can continue to play almost 20 grey-hair inducing minutes regardless of how much of a trainwreck he is 5-on-5 (or how many flubbed bluelines he had when it was actually time to care). At least PK seems to stay out the entire powerplay now.

Of course once the game was completely out of reach for the pumpkins, the goonery resurfaced. Most notably Briererere tossing his purse around. Seems to enjoy whacking PK with it.

Keep going for the head you little pissant.

Cammy continues to woo my heart. BabyPyatt and the rest of his line saved the game. Lapierre keeps making funny faces and pissing off the League. Dominic Fucking Moore will now terrorize the OTHER teams for a change and remain the meaning of life. Holy shit how fast was Gio going on that goal? So fast Pronger forgot to breathe past his -3. Hamr, the number one star tonight, with 2 assists and a plus fucking 4, and the only one fed up enough to tangle with Sideshow Bob Hartnell. Gets bonus points for not ploughing into his goalie, or putting the puck in his own net, and for looking like the good Hamr we love (but will promptly poop on the next time the old man resurfaces and chugs around the ice looking like he wishes he could retire).

Versus called the Habs play "pack mentality". They were hounding the Flyers all night. It was so exciting Bob Cole fell asleep.

Despite the honks you heard on the streets and the happy parade outside the Bell Center, Habs aren't out of the woods yet. But that fortuitous bounce is heading right for Michael Leighton and regardless of how big he is, in the end, he's still Michael Leighton. Especially if Pronger is too busy worrying about Gionta skate figure eights around him.

Round 2 Game 7: THIS!

First, stop with the "Cinderella". This team isn't Cinderella. This team is a TEAM. From the net, to the D, to the forwards. One team, a team that played as a full roster for ONE GAME all season. A team with playoff tested veterans like Gionta and Gomez and Moen and Gill who aren't propped up by the League's posters and are already putting on their business face for the next round. Cinderella doesn't set up a structure to frustrate and shut down the other team's shooters. Cinderella doesn't take full advantage of opportunities handed to them. Powerplay. Penalty kill. Five on five. They know how to handle it now.

Second, be proud Pittsburgh that the team who opened your arena will shut it down. It could have been some expansion team or something like that.... After all, isn't it more mystical and historical to say "the Montreal Canadiens, who opened the building with a 2-1 win, played a great game to beat our team 5-2 and sent the Igloo out in a stunning fashion".

Third, Bob Gainey is smiling for reals.

Fourth, all day I called it: "free wings".

Fifth, this franchise.... The Cincinnati Cyclones are the first team in ECHL history to come back from a 3-0 hole to win a Game 7 (and it was a 1-0 shutout by Robert Mayer to boot). The Habs are currently the only playoff team with their AHL and ECHL teams still in their own playoff runs.

GO HABS GO!

Round 2 Game 6: Take it to the Igloo

This is what we missed during the TV time out after Cammy scored that sexy sexy sexy 2nd goal. I dare you to beat this Morgueloo. Or will you be busy knitting behind the bench. (A Dickens' fan?)

I'm thinking all those people who wrote premature eulogie and apologetic excuses feel kind of weird right now eh.

Ladies and gentleman, you're current League-leading goal scorer is MICHAEL CAMMALLERI! Also leapfrogged Damphousse.

Bullet points in bullet time:
- Is it possible for four players to win a Conn Smythe? Cammy, Gorges, Gill, and Jaro in that order.
- That 'A' looks gorgeous on you, Gorges.
- PK had 30 minutes of ice time. THIRTY MINUTES! All mostly in Crosby's face. I wonder if he dreams about PK's lovely smile flashing by as he smokes down the ice with the puck...
- Bergeron is NOT Hal Gill. Notice? No Gill, Crosby scores 1... Versus guy says Hal would have had him.
- Marry me, Cammy.
- According to Cammy, AK46 is awesome. Our BelaBear is waking up again. Two assists and a solid hit on Staaaal. Also would have scored if he wasn't being hooked by Crosby. (Oh sorry, a "great defensive play" that would have been called a hook if done by any other player wearing red YES I'M WEARING MY TINFOIL TUQUE!)
- Gomez suffers from Hisics (Higgins Physics) in that a sure goal will turn into a miss. However, Gomezics allows him to pass the puck through a thicket.
- Does Crosby have a special Gretzky clause in that the refs just really can't call him for any kind of penalty? Really?
- I'm really hoping the boys rallied around Gill missing the game to get him into Game 7.
- Saskatcheplough ploughed the front of the net and saved a goal.
- Spacek should have more vertigo if it makes him score like that.
- Mad Max smells Dumont coming up behind him eh? What a goal!
- M. Beliveau air fist pumping to Metro while in the hallway was the most awesome thing ever.
- Cammy accepting his first star to thunderous applause worthy of a Koivu return.
- We've officially dumbfounded PJ Stock. Of course, I thought he was already dumb...

Game 7. It's cold out. It snowed yesterday. The Bruins might also be going to 7. We simply cannot have Spring until the Habs and Bruins meet. It's like the groundhog day of our lives. The planet demands it, boys! Make it so.

The Habs won the first game ever played in the Morgueloo. They have a chance to close that barn down and totally come full circle.

Off topic, though semi related. Someone on twitter mentioned the Habs D was basically taped together with duct tape, but if there's one thing Red Green taught us it's that duct tape solves everything. My hamster's water bottle appears to have broken. I don't have duct tape, but I do have clear hockey tape. That works too!

Round 2 Game 6: THE GOOD GUYS WIN!
Playfair didn't explode from what I know. Sanford had a shutout. It was a 4-0 smackdown on the goondsquad Abbotsford Heat. North Division Champs! Bulldogs are going to the Western Conference finals!

Yea, the Habs are the only team with both teams still in the playoffs. And we know they're watching and cheering.

Can you believe the Blues traded away Palushaj (a 2nd rounder) for Dagger (a sixth rounder). Tonight he got a goal, 2 assists, and the 3rd star. Desharnais and Trotter also scored with Glumac getting the empty netter.

Next up, it'll either be the Stars or the Wolves. (Hi Ron and Don and Stewie!)

Round 2 Game 2: There's been a robbery!

Stolen: Home ice. If located please contact your local official so he might hand out the appropriate penalties.

And after the one error that caused a hilarious "what the fuck are you doing" look by Muller to Martin (oh that was awesome), the Habs wised up, pushed the Pens outside, kept them clear of the front of the net and the center and generally annoyed the piss out of them so much so that Crosby completely flipped out. The shot total? Who cares. Most were perimeter shots and fairly routine. If there's one thing people have discovered this year it's that you can't win on the back of one player alone. Sure you can win a game, but not a series.

First off, this goal was fucking awesome.

Oh and McAwkward? Cammy doesn't even reach over the crossbar. That's like calling Gio for highsticking.

Where would we be without Mike Cammalleri? Well, we wouldn't have any goals scored. Likewise it's tough without Markov but Subban totally makes up for his loss. That kid, the kid I called a mini Bobby Orr and no one believed me, over 20 minutes of ice time in only his fourth playoff game and he's already got a goal and two assists. Hal Gill, oh what can we say of Hal Gill that even Crosby wants to give him hugs. Gorges, Hamr, even Bergeron was decent enough on D, that a ragged Jaro was able to get his form back and not worry too much. Gomez and Gionta, joined at the hip, and Pouliot is slowly figuring out what to do in the playoffs. Pyatt doesn't need points, he's supposed to prevent them. Moore and Lapierre, organized and defiant.

We know what this team is made off. Character. Will their character win out in the end? No idea. But they'll continue to work on it, and continue to try, and hopefully continue to befuddle TSN and CBC and all the annoying sports network talking heads that just don't get it. (Memo to Brian Wilde: please shut up, you make yourself look and sound like such a tool after every game).


Round 2 Game 2: Same for the Dogs!
If character is what describes our Habs, the same could be said for our Bulldogs in their own 3-1 win on the Heat to tie the series back up. Take Ryan White: scores a goal early in the first, takes a puck to the face near the end of the 1st, spends the whole 2nd period getting stitched up, and returns in the 3rd with a full face shield, doesn't miss a bit, doesn't let up on how he plays, comes out to accept his game star covered in blood.

Now they spend 3 games in Abbotsford to try and win this series.

Round 1 Game 5: Bow before the almighty Travis Moen!

You know this man.

He took a skate to the face and needed 55 stitches to patch it up, and only missed one game.

Tonight, Travis Moen scored the game winning goal, and with the dying minutes of the 3rd while nursing a 1-goal lead he did something no one really noticed: he lifted Mike Knuble's stick who would have tucked the puck right under Jaro and prevented overtime.

Travis Moen might not have gotten a game star, but that play right there saved the Habs playoff lives forcing a Game 6.

Caps in 3?

Cammalleri won't be able to score without Jarome Iginla?

Hal Gill is slow and useless?

Will the Caps use the "we got in late because of the bad weather" excuse for reaching all night and playing like individuals? All the steroids in the world won't help you there. Perhaps your crowd should be yelling "WHO CARES" once you're up by 2 goals instead of down by two as well.

And you see what happens when you play like a team and don't brainfart? You win! What a concept!

Now, if only the Habs could accidentally on purpose forget Bergeron in Washington...

See you Monday.

Game 5: Bulldogs vs Cory Schneider
Oy! You puppies! What are you doing? You could have buried these guys right here, right now but instead you lose 5-2? C'mon guys, pick your socks up! Next two are at home finally. Make us proud!

Cammy is so boss

"Before going to bed, I always do a quick check on NHL.com,” said Cammalleri of his nightly surfing habit. “I click on ‘Standings’ then ‘Conference’ to see where we’re at after the games each night. Some guys like doing that more than others, but we all know that we’re still in a good spot.”

It's good to know someone is paranoid enough to keep checking. Now...about that problem with you being unable to score on the road, Cammy...

Just kidding.

No I'm not.

Ah don't worry, my love is eternal ok?

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Metro's shoulder was separated by the Devils early in the game. I don't know what to do anymore but please, by the power of Greyskull, don't let that be Metro's last game in the glorious uniform...

Also fuck you Brodeur. You go and shit the bed against the FLYERS today? Come to think of it, why are they even playing the old man in back-to-back games I don't know.

Must be opposite day since the Flames scored FIVE GOALS against the Caps, who only scored 3. Usually when someone scores 5 goals against the Caps the Caps score 5 goals too.

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As far as the West goes, my love for the Blackhawks is semi-Habs level. So naturally I'm VERY SAD AND CONCERNED HAWKS. Why you do this to me? What the fuck is this shit? Why you let the BJs walk all over you when they're back to their old "Playoffs? What is playoffs?" crap? Also Rick Nash didn't even score. And oh hey Chicago, TIE HUET TO THE FUCKING NET.

Barfjob on the homer BJs play-by-play. Sounds like I'm watching highlights off the Abbotsford Heat...

Also you seem to have caught the Kickpuckinownnetitis the Habs had earlier this season. I'm sorry but there's no cure. Not even cowbell can cure it.

What is this? TWO IN A ROW! At least the BJs caught some of that Kickpuckinownnetitis too. Niemi makes me more nervous than Jaro sometimes... NOT GOOD, CHICAGO!

5-6-2 since the Olympics. At least the Habs are 8-3-2, and most of the losses were to the big guns like the Sharks, Sabres, Devils, and (bleh) Ottawa...

Habs 6, Rags 0: Zaba Daba Do

As seen on twitter (from yesterday): @Voros34 Me and SeanAveryDotCom in Montreal hitting the "Montreal Pool Hall" for a hotdog and poutine.

As seen on the ice, Voros going for Markov late in the 3rd meets our big, mean manchild Rhino who introduces him to his fists. See Georges? That's how you do it.

Wow, the Rangers really sucked tonight. Here I was looking for a good hard smackdown, and I got it, but it's kind of disappointing when the team you want the Habs to seriously smackdown don't even show any fight in them... I honestly don't know how the Rags got over 30 shots though. Someone trigger happy on the shot clock?

Credit bigtime to the Habs once again showing us their mysterious ability to play strong as a team and seriously shut down Gaborik, but even he seriously lacked that goalscoring bite he always seems to have. Actually other than a few missed nets for the Rags I think their best shot in two periods came from Higgy, who shot it wide anyway (same ol' Higgy).

The Gong Show started early with Avery being Avery, complaining all the way to the box. By the 3rd period, Torts was sitting there with this face of absolute disbelief. We didn't get a tirade after the game though, but his press conference was still kind of funny. (Better questions than Cassie Campbell's STUPID MORON UNPROFESSIONAL question... Seriously lady? Trying to cause trouble? Way to put Jaro in an uncomfortable position there). Serious ownage, thy name is Michael Cammalleri! (His dad was there cheering tonight). I wonder how much Matt Zaba was sweating as he watched Stunndqvist get pulled...

BennyPoo, we love you. Lapierre with a greasy goal. Gomez makes his old teams cry. Holy SuperPleky what an awesome goal. BIG night for Cammy and Spacek. Darche got another assist! Sergei came back and traded missed chances with Patches but also smashed someone on the boards in a typical Sergei-smashy fasion (though his foot problem was pretty evident all game).

It's nice when the other team doesn't bother to defend for once.

A full team effort, a full 60 minutes of effort, two nights in a row? Able to match two different systems consistently and not panic with the puck. Able to shut down the only scorers on two teams (minus that Parise cherry picking breakaway). Able to excel to almost perfection with special teams (though that lackadaisical routine on the powerplay drives my brother up the wall). Can they continue this? I think I've asked this before.

Dammit Habs, stop teasing us.

I love you, man!

"The Rangers were shut out for the second straight game and for the fourth time in seven contests." Ouchie?

Habs 5, Booins 1: One does not simply walk into the Bell Center and collect 2 points!

Richard: "Bet this guy doesn't know what a hat trick is, eh Dickie? In our day....."

If you missed the ceremony tonight because you were too busy complaining about the previous two games or planning your latest rebuilding scenarios: you are not a Habs fan. No one gives up, no one surrenders, and NO ONE throws a party like the Habs. And frankly all the other teams were looking at this thinking how they will match it when their Centennial comes around.

How amazing was it to see all the old greats skate out onto the ice for some fun with Dryden (with Price's brown pads from last year) in nets on one side and Roy in nets on the other, in full gear, all smiles, having the time of their lives. Reading the lips of a lady the camera catches says it all: "Oh my god."

How awesome was it for super Habs fan Viggo Mortensen to come out and introduce his favourite player, Guy Lafleur (who was suffering from a bad flu and was rumored to not be there), while wearing his Lafleur jersey.

How amazing was it when Rhino stood next to Butch Bouchard as his number was rising, pulled the jersey off his back and gave it to great man? On a scale of 1 to 10 it would be 100. We were all thinking he'd take number 8, considering he was being groomed to be the next Komisarek, but instead he picked 20. Now the token journeyman will need to find a different number!

How amazing was the GIANT team picture? Gomez was almost peeing himself with excitement, Jaro was chatting it up with Nilan, Price looked ready to explode, Big Brother K had a big smile on his face while Little Sergei had no idea what to do, Cammy having a laugh with Dickie Moore and Henri Richard...

And when the Montreal Symphony Orchestra played the anthems, the crowd did the singing for both anthems.

It's too bad Pricey's lovely mask will be only worn tonight. If he could get himself something similar...the blue Dryden bullseye on the red mask at least... It's really his best one yet. And the 1909 C logo on the chin makes him look all captainy.

Tonight was a good night for Habs fans everywhere and great moment for hockey. Here's to the next 100 seasons!

WHO WANTS SOME CAKE?! BOOYA!

ON CLOUD 9!
- PLAYOFF HOCKEY!
- A night off did the body good for Price. Ever see a man do the splits like that?
- Hat trick #2 for Cammy. Marry me? But wow to the person who tossed a Bruins jersey onto the ice. Expensive much?
- Serg! A big man fell on his knee and he might be hurt... Just as he and Gomez were heating up... Coach even had him on the PK, including the epic 5-on-3.
- I still have no idea what Spacek did to cause the 5-on-3 but I guess Moustache McCreary was trying to help the Bruins win considering he was missing a hell of a lot of penalties on their side and calling the 2 minutes for playing hockey the other way. This is why we missed Hal Gill's long stick and long legs.
- Speaking of which, HMCS Hal Gill cruised back in and launched a missile aiming right for Metro's stick. Great goal for two great human beings.
- Thoooooooooooooooooomas...
- Hey Bruins, when will you realize Tuukka Rask is the better goalie? He's essentially their Carey Price. (They're camp buddies too).
- Young master Pacioretty worked his ass off tonight.
- Bergeron, even when you're on the 4th line you still manage to fuck up a breakout but you are better as a forward.
- In this wussy pansy new NHL if you play with a little BITE and your name is Tomas Plekanec, you get a double minor. Maybe you should tell Krejci to stop cheating on his faceoffs and get out of his way if he can't take the rough stuff. Or HAHA YOU GOT BEATEN BY A LITTLE GIRL!
- What's a Bruins game without Savard comlaining about something, like an offside.
- The crowd never quieted.
- Bruins looked shocked to see the Habs come on like gangbusters. Maybe that's the plan? Suck a few games, lull the opposition into thinking they got an easy win coming and BAM kick them in the shins and steal their lunch money.
- Final minutes of play Habs played keepaway like we used to see them do when they were shutting down a win.
- Perhaps the Ghosts were waiting for Lach and Bouchard to return to the rafters?
- And the Habs saluted the crowd, I wish I was there...

I dare say this game is filed away into the next Greatest Moments DVD? I need to post this quote because it's absolutely lovely:

"We all played inspired hockey," said Price. "There were a lot of faces here I grew up watching.

"We really wanted to win this one. We were pumped up watching the guys out there and chatting with vets who won championships. We wanted to win for them as well. We're all pretty proud to be Canadiens tonight."

What a kid. Scotty Bowman gave him tons of praise during intermission too (NO YOU CAN'T HAVE HIM, CHICAGO!).

Habs 2, Red Wings 3 (SO): Or how to awake from a deep slumber and score two goals

First I would like to say how very, very ashamed I am of Georges Laraque. WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT?! It's one thing to run into someone and accidentally take out the leg or a hip check goes awry as a player twists around to avoid a hit, but he put his leg and I'd say there was an intent to injure. We asked you to hit people, to be mean, but it's gotta be CLEAN. I've seen players shit their shorts when they see you coming for a check that never happens. Imagine if you actually did a few real, good checks? I could live with the high stick, even though it looked retardedly deliberate. But the knee shot was absolutely excessive and put the Habs in a 2-0 hole early. On back-to-back games, the last thing guys wanna do is kill penalties for 6 minutes early on. Then Mara took one that was borderline (clearing the crease invaders is a sin in the new NHL) and then Moen took a weak roughing penalty (please...just let them play idiots) and then Rhino slashed a stick (which was deserved). And while the Habs fought diligently on killing those off, it was bound to happen. But the only ones the Wings scored on were YOUR penalties, BGL. You are officially the Goat of the Game. Also consider yourself suspended.

Honestly Big Georges, no one is afraid of you anymore...

Solid effort by the Bulldogs boys though. Tommy Pyatt? Best deal in that trade! No worries to have him out on a 5-on-3 defending high in the slot. Won faceoffs. Won races. Won battles. Same for Ryan White. Heroic in the shot blocking, playing the hardhat style Lapierre and Guimauve are not. I don't hold my breath when they're out in the dying minutes of a game that's tied 2-2 (unlike Bergeron).

Another solid outing by Pleky, winged tonight by Cammy and AK46. Pleky may be a "little girl" but he never gives up, and never surrenders. But as a lady, I dare say, those qualities stem from his feminine side? After all, never get between a lady and what she wants. Kostitsyn has used his usual amount of games to wake up, so this isn't a surprise for me. Glad to see him do his patented coast-to-coast tonight. And the perfect compliment: Mike Cammalleri. Seriously, man. Marry me?

Our first loser point of the season
- Price was stellar once again. Shots were 16-3 in the first, 23-11 in the second, and at the end of the 3rd 32-17 all for Detroit. Still didn't get a star, but he's a star to us! All those saves through Cleary's and Holmstrom's asses. He gave them every chance to win the game, and when Cammy got two goals, he did his job to keep them in the hunt. Though the red pads totally clashed with the blue vintage... Guess the brown pads weren't ready. Or he's saving them for the birthday game.
- Pleky's fly was down when on a faceoff. Ref gave him some help. Pleky laughs!
- If we didn't have Cammy stealing my heart, Moen would be the love of my life. I'm so happy to see him play considering there was worry he was listed as a game-time decision for blocking a shot yesterday.
- The old D were impressive tonight. They really stepped up big lately. Though Hammer looked absolutely spent in the 2nd, and Spacek was sleep walking when Price gave him a pass to get out of the zone. Get some good rest tomorrow!
- Gorges was absolutely fantastic on Zetterberg. Played him in perfect position, and then slammed him into the boards.
- The not good: Guimauve. Had maybe 5 minutes of play and did nothing with it. I'm thinking he's just waiting to be traded and frankly I wouldn't cry over it.
- I repeat: WHAT THE FUCK IS BERGERON DOING OUT THERE WITH 2 MINUTES LEFT! How many freak outs and turnovers does this man need to do before Martin starts managing him better? He makes me MISS Breezer!
- Lapierre had this maddening look in his eyes. I thought he would come out flying. He did OK, but generally I was disappointed...AND he put the puck over the glass late in the 3rd. C'mon Lapierre! Dumont and Lefebvre are totally going to take your spot sooner than later.
- It's one thing about calling penalties, it's another when it ultimately costs the game. Cammy was clearly tripped by Datsyuk in OT and there was no call. It wasn't like no one saw it either. Who scores in the shootout? Datsyuk. If the ref had called the blatant penalty, he wouldn't have been there, there may have been a chance to win the shootout or even finish it in OT.
- The loss of Gomez was very visible tonight. Say what you will of his no points or goals lately but he creates things. They only call 2 players for assists, but he's one of few guys who can get the puck down the ice by just grabbing it and ploughing through everyone. Most of the second period we couldn't get past the red line because he was missing.
- My hamster Pleky woke up when the Habs did.

I'm very proud of how the boys did in these tough back to back games. While Team990 went all doom and gloom and proclaimed we wouldn't see a win for a week, they showed a great deal of character and worked through everything that was thrown at them. Even changed the record a bit of what happens when scored on first. They deserved the point they picked up tonight. Up next is Rick Nash and Fucking Umberger, and another back to back with the Pens right after. But first, a well earned day off!

Habs 4, Yotes 2: Hava Nagila!

Tonight was our work dinner, celebrating the final checkmark on our latest Tetris game. Went went to Troika! Delicious Russian restaurant. Unfortunately we missed happy hour, so no vodka. And no, Markov wasn't there. I had the wild boar cooked "Russian style". Oh. my. god. My stomach... Good thing I took the longish way back to the metro 'cause wow I was full.

I got home when the first period was ending. My hamster, Pleky, gave me a scare because he was fast asleep in a ball under his fluffy igloo. He's usually up in the wheel or gnawing on the cage around that time. He was kind of worrying me so I lulled him awake and then the horror! One eye was all crusted close. I freaked and took him out to clean it, and when he went back in the cage he was still all lethargic. He couldn't be sick! And he went back into his hole while I gave him some celery to nibble.

False alarm though. He probably just tired himself out while I was gone.

Which was more than what I could say for this game. Boring!

I don't think I've ever seen a game where it's 10-11 shots by the END of the 2nd period. Is this why the Coyotes can't attract spectators? The place was so quiet the ref didn't even need to use his mic to call penalties.

Quietest most nerve-wracking night of Price's life
- And by quiet, I meant crowd wise... Mustering 3 shots in the first with 7 against is not going to cut it boys.
- Price is the king of bad luck weird goals. First he gets skewered in the neck by Mara (right between the chin guard and his neck protector) leaving the net wide open for good ol' Robert Lang. Then Biznasty kicks in a shot that was going wide. YES, HE KICKED IT. GOAL REVIEW IS TEH SUCK!
- Congratulations on Biznasty: your first NHL goal shouldn't have been allowed but whatever. And for that he got the first star? Bunch of homers...
- How frightening is our defence? Well, I'm terrified whenever another team is in our zone and Price is flipping pucks back and forth between that team and himself for a good minute or two.
- Only Yotes fans at this game were the refs.
- Hey look, we has a powerplay! And Cammy scores on the road!
- I picked a good name for my hamster. Plekanec was everywhere.
- Not only does Gorges keep running Price over, but someone punch fucking Upshall already?
- I love Glen Metropolit.
- Mara should do us all a favour and slash Benoit Brunet in the neck. What a douche.
- Family night! Price and his cousin, the Pyatt brothers.
- Leach has been a very good pickup. Chipchura, this might be your future, unfortunately...
- But Leach vs Biznasty? Not exactly what I was hoping to see...
- Spacek now fully injured. Shoot me now.
- MAB should really be a forward. Maybe Carbo was on to something?
- What the fuck is wrong with Lapierre?!
- Before Cammy set up Gio for the empty netter, I was so terrified with 6 Coyotes on the ice.
- First time Price (3-0) leaves Phoenix without Doan scoring on him. Meanwhile, Mueller is still trying... (See: shootout vs Team USA)
- Holy regulation win #2 on the year! First win vs the West!
- Price and Cammy at the end was the cutest thing I've seen all year. Minus my hamster.

Dear Team990,
if you insist on just looking at numbers without actually looking at their play, please stop thinking about Curtis Sanford. Good lord is he really not very good. And he keeps putting his defencemen in bad positions. I can say Marc Denis had amazing AHL netminding numbers but there was no way in hell he was going to play in the NHL (and when he did for 1 period, PING went the first shot). Also I believe that Hamilton newspaperman's "scouting report" on Sergei was absolute biased bollocks. Floater? If you consider reading the play and computing a plan "floating" then maybe. He scores timely goals or sets them up, he backchecks better than his brother, and with Guy Boucher encouraging him he's doing fine thank you very much.

Habs 5, Rags 4: A love letter to Mike Cammalleri

Oh Cammalleri, how do I love thee. Let me count the ways!
I love thee for every shift and shot and when you take flight
Even when the game is feeling out of sight
I love thy ability and finess,
Even though thou art smaller than Latendresse
I would gladly throw my hat
And pray to the holy ink of thoust contract
I love thee freely, as the strides thoust take;
I love thee purely, as the goalies thoust brake.
I love thee with a passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's ruse.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
By the Holy Forum Ghosts of the Sainte Flanelle,
I love thee with the breath, smiles, tears, of all my life!
And, thank Bob, five more years,
Five more years, I shall but love thee better.

Eh. Who said poems had to stay in a rhyme...

W00T!
- Yes, that's more like it. The fight, the no-quitting, the patience... Sloppy at times, but when things settle down and regain controle, we have the sense and feeling you guys can beat anyone.
- Higgy is having a tough time in New York but at least he wasn't booed! Fans booed Avery instead.
- Rangers have the Cop Line: Callahan, Dubinsky, Higgins. Too bad O'Sullivan is an Oiler.
- Gomez > Gaborik. That is all.
- Guimauve is always out of position giving Chipper a tougher time.
- The Bergeron Bomb would be a fourth liner if Carbo were coach. Thankfully Mara seems ready to compensate for his defensive liabilities.
- Barn burner! Sure it got sloppy towards the third, but it was a damn entertaining at least.
- Is it just me or does King Henrik always look shaky when he plays the Habs...? He looked very surprised on most of the shots, and with the exception of one game last season (the Markov-less one) seems to always give up at least 5 goals. Interesting!
- And those illegal shoulder pads don't help you either.
- Yup, my brother and I closed our eyes and prayed when Jaro went to play the puck. It's not really his strength...