Habs 1, Devils 2 (OT): 10 minutes for entertainment

Lou Lamoriello seen here heading for the circuit breaker.

Last night in New Joisey, the Devils were sucking the life out the building while sucking so bad that they finally managed to suck the lights out to aptly cover up the 3-0 lead the Lightning had on them. The game was postponed until tomorrow.

Today they rolled into Montreal ready to suck out our souls and instead found themselves forced to play something uncharacteristically entertaining. Well, for 10 minutes anyway. The majority of the game was played along the boards, round and round, and then in the neutral zone. Habs lost in OT, but Gomez scored.

Hal Gill almost tipped a goal into his own net again just as I was muttering "watch your feeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet". Lucky for us all he lifted his foot and the puck bounced harmlessly away. Please step away from the net?

However, my main concern is where was this great defence in previous games? We know you can do it, Habs. The inconsistency is maddening. As my brother and I were talking about it, either the goalies are left to their own devices while the team forgets to show up, or the offense is clicking and the defence is on vacation which causes all kinds of problems for the goalies, or the defence is shutting the other team down but the offence has died a horrible death.

Jaro needs to challenge lone or breakaway shooters more...especially when the puck is sitting out there all alone for a few seconds with no one around it.

It's so nice to have a legitimate fourth line. I also notice more hitting when Ryan White is playing. Of course it's mostly him doing the hitting. Can we keep him, Bob?

My brother thinks Cage aux Sport should give away one giant free baked potato if the Habs score 1 goal only in the game.

As for you, Don Cherry... Please don't compare Phil Kessel to Mike Bossy or Brett Hull.

Who's got the funk? Habs 3 Sens 2 (SO) Jarkko Ruutu nyaaaaaaaargh

Knob Hockey is funny. Everytime I see Ruutu out there I always go "NYAAAAAAAARGH".

So here we have two teams terrified of losing, playing in the neutral zone for most of the night. And yes, I agree on that disallowed goal was a bad call, but hey, I still say Samsonov's goal was offside. Here's to refs with bad eyes and who probably fell asleep in training class!

Meh, I'll just go to point form:
- I predicted a goalie duel for the sole reason of two teams struggling with the same problems. If one team didn't have the other pinned in their zone, it was all neutral zone trap. Back and forth, wide open pull your hair out, 1-1 hockey. Or in my case, that butter chicken I ate for supper was giving me problems. Thank you for getting those 2 points or I might have lost that delicious supper.
- Priceberg! In a shootout, he is The Man. Well, you'd hope so. He became a national hero with that Canada-USA shootout in the WJC. (Where is Jeff Frazee now? Waiting for Martin Brodeur to retire, but even then he's stuck behind others). And throughout the game, hearing the Carey Chant in another city, even if it's only an hour away, is awesome.
- The Brothers Kostitsyn did a lovely dance into the O-zone late in the 3rd which complete frazzled the O's and soon after set Sergei for a feed to Markov for that shot we've been yelling at him to use. Baddabing!
- It seems that everytime Koivu scores he usually gets thrown into the goalie right after. Are they angry at the captain or their goalie?
- BGL needs to hit more. That check of his makes players shit their hockeypants. Lucky for them, though, he is aware of what his weight against them and the boards will do to people. Squishy... (Hint! Lucic needs a few of those).
- Begin vs Bass in a flurry of punches. Begin got the most, and the takedown. (Not his Judo flip though).
- Gorges love~!
- People rage on Kovy, but really, he's just mystifying with that puck. It's like Jedi mindtricks even when he turns it over after holding it for 2 minutes.
- Hey look, another powerplay goal? Ok, the quota for November was filled last game. I'm shocked.
- Hnnn Sputza, nada. Heater is the one.
- Alfie with the swan dive on Gui! and I give it a 5.9
- I noticed Kostopoulos really puts the breaks on extra when he goes to the corners on a man now. See people? He's no Hollweg!
- O'Byrne is painful. Hamilton, please adopt him for a bit? Teach him the ways once more. The refresher course is needed. I'd send up Belle for a replacement even if he's not as big, he's a bit more sturdy and headstrong and also shoots more from the blueline. (Henry has to pass waivers to come up here so sorry dude).
- Koivu had a paper up on the bench boards. He was explaining some play to Lang and Kovy. And this is one reason why he's our beloved captain.
- Shootout: Sputza actual gets something. Markov with his only move. Tanguay carries it backhanded the entire way. Baddaboom!

Recap: Chuck Norris wouldn't score on Carey Price.


Of course, if they play this way on Saturday, it might be a painful night for St. Pat but maybe we can get a line brawl going in his honor at least. Maybe he'd join in. For old time's sake. In the dressing room hallway. Leaping over the B's coach.

Otherwise. Go Als Go!