Pre-season Game 3: Power to the children

Max Pacioretty: 9 shots on net, two goals and an extra in the shootout. Absolutely instrumental in tonight's outcome.

Brendan Gallagher: 4 shots on net and an absolute cog on the line.

Scott Gomez: First foray into pre-season action, 6 shots on net, game tying goal to bring it into OT, and 1 assist. Centering the two kids, his line made up for 19 of the total 33 shots and the big push for a comeback.

It's only pre-season but you have to like what happened tonight. In a line up that held a combined 621 regular season games to the Sens combined 2 594 (Alfie skews it), the leaders lead the way and the kids kept digging in. As with the case with most Habs games the powerplay was the key, taking advantage of silly penalties. Similarly the start of the game was flat and full of screw ups (they keep bowling Price over and interfering with him...guess it's only comforting in knowing Henry won't be in the lineup for real), but it's getting there. Ending on a high is nothing but great for these kids. It's nothing but good news when you see (or hear) Raphael Diaz do everything to block a shot to help with the comeback. It's nothing but good news to hear how Gallagher's forechecking is causing fits. But it all starts with the powerplay: to be that strong with the man advantage without really any of your regulars in the lineup? Of course the 2nd powerplay goal was a heads up play by Lawson to Pacioretty who was out cherry picking and went in all alone on Anderson. But hey, whatever works.

I just love seeing Pacioretty playing again and looking like that dominant REAL power forward we all knew he could be. Gomez made a statement with his game. And Gallagher...it's tough knowing he's gotta go back to Junior but I can't wait to see him at the WJC.

Back at it tomorrow, against the Sens again.

Game 1 - Habs 2, Bruins 0: And Bob Gainey smiled...

Piss on Gomez all you want my fine Habitant friends, but this is why he was brought here. Besides, he can't hear your complaints with his two Stanley Cup rings in his ears. Seeing him make Lucic look silly is worth the contract alone.

Legends unite: Knuckles is in town. He's still waiting for that PTO contract.

Anthem: Annakin Slayd wants you to STAND UP

Perfect pylon: Mr. Overrated, Tomas Kaberle. NOT worth the price Toronto asked.

BAMF: Ryan White hit everything and anything in yellow that moved and some that didn't move.

Rookie watch: Eller laughing as Thornton was chirping at him on the faceoff.

Still useless: Chicken Thursday.

Blood in the beard: The Wink from Carey with love to Brent Sopel for the shot blocking. Moen and Kostitsyn blocked the Chara Shot and lived, even played.

Leadership debate: Brian Gionta scored both goals in a 2-0 win and was a furious gnat in all three zones. Zdeno Chara lost his shit and tried to grind Plekanec into the ice with 2 minutes left in the game.

Lady luck: Kissing Thomas' ass. Plekanec could have had a hat trick if he didn't have a serious allergic reaction to wide open nets.

Mr. Zero: Third playoff shutout for Price, all against the Bruins, all big games. Could also be the graphical examples in a geometry book.

Claude vs Cloud: You did have guys in front of the net. The only difference was this time Habs weren't pussyfooting around and actually dumped them out of the way. THAT'S a hockey play.

New rally cry: COMPETENCE!

Beau Coif: Though a healthy scratch, Mara's beard came in full playoff form. If the Habs can go all the way, we'll have ZZ Top on D. And Price's hair might rival Tim Lincecum's.

Sports switch: The Gahden already getting set up for basketball.

Romanian gypsy curse: So far so good.

One down...

Habs 2, Rags NADA: Cold as ice

There's something very satisfying in seeing playoff hockey in the afternoon on a Saturday, the first of back-to-back Super Bowl weekend games where:
- The Habs beat the refs.
- The Habs beat the Rags.
- The Habs beat their demons.
- The Habs stick up for each other, and most importantly their goalie.
- The Habs have finally learned how to incorporate Price's puckhandling into their play.
- Andrei Kostitsyn avenged the vicious hit he received against the Coyotes by hitting the brother of the guy who nearly killed him.
- After hanging around as an extra, Picard takes the flu-ridden Wiz's spot and picks up an assist, fights Avery (coward), and only screwed up once.
- Weber shows he's a mighty fine defenceman with bite.
- After getting a vicious elbow to the head and his knee taken out, Spacek played mighty fine.
- PK shows the footwork he picked up from playing with Gill.
- Andrei Kostitsyn could have scored 5 goals.
- Prust should have been sucker punched harder last time.
- Callahan can also rot.
- Gomez scores a goal that wasn't a fluke.
- The Habs finally score on an empty net.
- The Habs win and I don't think they won a single faceoff. Even lost the ones they won.
- Price gets a well deserved shutout. Calm, cool, Priceberg.

What's that smell? Smells like Boston, 2 points ahead. But first, the Devils. Bring some pizza to distract Marty Brodeur.

Habs 3, Bruins 2 (OT): Divine intervention

When Darche scored in the 3rd, the War Room called it off. RDS slow mo shows Tim Thomas punched it into his own net from 3 different angles after Darche knocks it over him. Darche's tip had the puck going right, and in Thomas' scramble you can see it clearly change direction left as he punched it with the back of his glove. His sheepish look also gave it away. He knew he knocked it into his own net. Apparently there's some little footnote that says if the puck goes in off an official or player after a high-stick, it's no goal, WHICH MAKES NO SENSE because I'm sure the Habs got screwed on plenty of those bouncing off their own guys and in. But like Stamkos and his illegal penalty shot, the Hockey Gods smiled and said unto the Habs, "Don't worry boys, We got this."

With Cammy puking in the backroom from the 2nd period, Habs were short on offense. Guess we know why he looked really off tonight. After a very even 1st they went down 2-0 in the 2nd thanks to terrible turnovers in their own zone that Bergeron capitalized on (also known as "why the fuck is Wiz playing with Picard"). Habs were in tough. They were mailing it by then anyway and it looked to be another one of those valiant efforts by Price in a 2-0 shutout loss. But once that disallowed goal happened, the Habs didn't sulk. The Hockey Gods got them back another goal the Bruins put in their own net after a harmless pass by Gomez went off Chara's skate and into the back of his own net. And with Price pulled for the extra man, Chara's clearing attempt for the empty netter took a bounce to the right in front of a gaping cage and became icing instead. The Bruins were on the bench laughing, but it would be the Habs who would have the last laugh. The Wiz, at the blueline, dragged around an outstretched Bruin and sent a shot on net where the rebound bounced off a charging Gionta.

Another tight game, another overtime. Except Blake Wheeler is an idiot and tripped Wiz into the corner. Habs spent most of the OT on the powerplay but couldn't do much. According to Wiz, he and PK were being careful because the Habs had fucked up the ice the way they played the 3rd and the puck wasn't listening. Last thing you want is to lose the momentum with a clear or give up a breakaway to Bergeron for a shortie. But it's all ok because after the powerplay was done, Patches tuck his head in and rifled the top corner behind Thomas. "Biggest goal of my life," he said. Habs fans everywhere wanted to hug him for that.

Habs win. Bruins lose. Good over evil. Now tied for first in the division. And Chara is a tool. (That "push" was akin to a fly on a rhino. Next time get out of the way). Maybe Cammy left them a gift...

Feel the love, Lurch.

Habs 3, Whalercanes 2: Worst win ever...

On the Heart Attack Grill menu!

Dear Jacques Martin

You look a little tired. I dare say constipated. When the going gets tough, I notice you squint just a little more until your head turns bright red. Maybe if you didn't tell your players, who are in a bit of the usual December slump, to defend the entire 3rd period on a 1-goal lead you wouldn't look so pained. My heart, and probably Carey Price, would also thank you if you didn't tell the boys to sit back and let the play come to them. I mean, you're already relying on two old guys who look gassed, a rookie and a journeyman, a boat, and a guy we all love but wish would take a day off to heal whatever is hurting him on defence. Thankfully the powerplay clicked twice on the 5-minute boarding call. Thankfully Chris Lee actually called that properly. Maybe there really is such thing as a Christmas miracle...

Signed,
#31

Oh and happy birthday Gomez. Cam Ward was in the spirit of giving. But the two points were giant because Boston won. Is this how it's going to be the entire year?

Habs 5, Devils 1: Clash of the Giontas

OK it wasn't that epic a showdown, but we got pictures of BABY GIONTAS on our TV so we all instantly win.

This was how you were supposed to play the Oilers yesterday. Consequently those cocky little bastards beat the Leafs 5-0 so I'll Nelson laugh at that. But it was a good bounce back game, particularly to take advantage on the Devils who suck and don't have Brodeur playing. Oddly enough the Devils were on a 4-game winning streak at home and won their last few games in shootouts or shutouts so it was really up to the Habs to make a statement and crush them like the bottom-feeding team they are. Regardless of the score, it got to the point where the Habs weren't really trying to score but nearly did anyway. I swear Price took extra steps on his saves to keep himself awake.

My only problem for tonight's game other than falling asleep on Arnott's goal: PK was a healthy scratch. He manned up for what happened last night. He spoke like a veteran while Cammy pouted in the corner. He wasn't the only one at fault. Either way he better not sit for a long time. Picard can take his erratic play to the pressbox. And see what happens when Weber plays defense? He's actually effective! A shocker! I know! (Of course you could always give one of the old dudes a night off but LOL who am I kidding, this is Jacques Martin we're talking about).

Release the Kraken:
- It took 11 seconds for Gionta to score.
- And he hit the post right after that.
- Lars Eller made roadkill of the Moose.
- The only guys incapable of taking a pass from Price are Ye Olde Czech Defense pairings, the Wonder Twins of Hamr and Spacek. The rest? Well, when they skate, and he passes, there's an even flow of movement. Who knew moving your feet works?
- Rookie ref? How could you not see that was a goal by Pyatt.
- When Gomez scores on the powerplay for the 2nd time in 2 games can we stop with the call-ins asking to dump his ass in Hamilton?
- Of course missing that wide open net and his lone -1 kind of stands out.
- Also Weber is WAY better than Bergeron so stop wondering why the Habs don't want that liability on the roster.
- I noticed Cammy had an A on his sweater. Happy now? (Yes, I know Markov's A now floats around the group).
- Pouliot's 2 wrongs and 2 rights, but he scored a laser so he's only slightly pissing me off.
- And I swear I saw Lou Lamoriello heading for the light switch once it was 5-0 with still 10 minutes left in the 2nd.
- Honestly, with 2 minutes left NOW you send a 3-man forecheck on the Habs? A little late, no?
- And with 10 seconds left in a 5-1 game was a little futile as well.
- Brian and Stephen Gionta are the same height but Brian has the hands.
- No triple low-fives, no fun. Instead, Price gets Pleky's smelly gloves stuck in his mask.

Seriously, these are not the Devils you were looking for. Late in the second, Hamr and Eller took minor penalties at the same time putting the Devils on a full 2 minute 5-on-3. You got Kovalchuk out there. I think the Devils only got 2 shots on net and I don't think any where his... What few fans that team had in the stands that night booed them mercilessly and pretty much all left save for a few masochists.

Habs 4, Kings 1: King me

Check mate.

If there's one thing I like about this year's Habs, it's their want to bounce back after a piss poor effort to lose a game they could have taken in Philly. And while you'd think the Kings would be bitter over that lost point in Ottawa (it was totally a goal but the cameras there are crap), the Habs ran over them after some early feeling around and it was game set match.

I was going to convert my game review into a rewriting of Murray Head's One Night in Bangkok. Then I realized how long that song was. Praise be, bullet points!

- Our puppy Ziggy went to the groomers yesterday, came home a new dog.
- Drew Doughty should lay off the Hollywood and shave. He's looking chubby, and greasy.
- And the first star: Andrei Kostitsyn! What looked like a complete mass of failure up and down the ice, even giving up a shorthanded chance, turned into something good.
- Beeeernieeeeer probably didn't appreciate that.
- Warning to Ryan Smyth: Carey Price will bite your legs off next time you trip him.
- Cammalleri scored. Gomez caused the whole thing.
- Beeeernieeeeer probably didn't appreciate that.
- Plekanec scored.
- Beeeernieeeeer probably didn't appreciate that.
- LARS ELLER SCORED!
- Beeeernieeeeer probably didn't appreciate that.
- Ryan Smyth should stop whining.
- I would not pick Kopitar over Price, and I'm not basing it off this one game.
- PK Subban > Drew Doughty
- Stop whining about Gomez.
- A certain radio guy can also shut up about Lars Eller and stick to soccer.
- A nice win over a very good team that got rightfully owned and stopped trying.
- Well they still tried, but endless forechecking does nothing and Pleky giving the forearm to Dustin Brown was awesome karma.

Can I just say that people really need to stop with the "yea but" crap? The Habs are a really good team, full of experienced players, proven winners, and determined, hardworking kids. Though Pouliot needs to stop falling down, and if Weber is going to be used then PLAY HIM AS A DEFENSEMAN.

I'd also like to say Pacioretty is on fire, with TWO more goals yesterday (Conboy scored the game winner) in a 3-2 win over the annoyingly dirty BabyFlyers. And whoever suggested giving him up and a draft pick for Penner needs to be slapped.

Habs 3, Bruins 1: Hello old foe

All day long I heard nothing but shock and awe at how the Bruins destroyed the Pens in the 3rd period the other day to win 7-4. No one mentioned how horrendously soft the Penguins were defensively, looking absolutely shellshocked and incapable of stopping the assault in their own rink. All day I heard about how the "small" Habs were about to get crushed, how the big bad Bruins will paste their girly figures into the glass, and that the slow defense will be unable to contain the mighty Horton or Bergeron or the quick rookies like Seguin and Caron. That the Habs have no size! The defensive giants will shut them down! The ferocious forecheck will give them fits! After all they can't possibly beat a big team like the smoking hot Bruins!

Well poppycock. Didn't the Habs just shutout the big tough Canucks not two days ago with a smart plan and solid team play?

Also another factor: Carey Price owns the Bears, especially with the way he's been playing recently.

Extra motivation factor: Hal Gill was an ex-Bruin and semi-local resident, Gomez felt the rivalry on his previous teams and was in his 800th career game, Gionta hails from Boston College.

Andrei Kostitsyn and PK Subban combined and ran a highlight reel pair of rings around the giant slowfooted defence. If it had produced a goal, it would be on every sports network around.

Bruins #1 penalty kill vs Habs #30 powerplay.
Habs scored 2 and killed all 4 penalties.

Two rare powerplay goals and a no-quit play from Kostitsyn for Gomez, and that's all they needed. PK Subban sent a one-timer on a superb low shot he claims wasn't even a good one but he's just being modest if that's possible. Cammy learnt the Czech Sausage from Pleky for Gionta to baseball bunt it top shelf. They had more chances but Tuukka Rask was there unfortunately going through what Price went through last season (plays well enough to win but gets zero support). For a while I felt like the Habs and Bruins were canceling each other out. They were playing ACTUAL hockey instead of the typical asshattery that tends to slip into the Bruins game on occasion.

Another game, another stellar performance in shutting down the top guns of the Bruins. Of course one small lapse in defense and Chara was left wide open with only Price challenging him and the entire net at the mercy of his freakishly long stick. Only being struck down by God himself would have prevented that goal.

Tonight, Lars Eller was given an assignment. First rounders like him are given tests and challenges, and the true quality of the player comes out depending on how they do. Case in point, Price was given the test of the AHL playoffs which resulted in him stealing the show and winning the Calder in 5 against perennial favourites the Hershey Bears (hmm, more Bears). Martin gave Eller the test of penalty kill. Test result? Success. He wasn't on the first unit, but he didn't make any errors, and you could sing the confidence meter rise over his head. Hilarious encounter with Chara later in the 2nd period. I don't think he knows who Lurch is but he didn't cower or hide. And when Eller has the puck on his stick, it's an absolute wonder. The way he protects the puck, the way he wants that puck, this kid is gold.

Also new name for the line: EMP. Eller-Moen-Pyatt, the electromagnet pulse of the team. They may not score, but they'll be responsible and will work hard, and hey Pyatt had a team high 6 shots on net!

Can't discount the penalty kill, not just Pleky but Halpern has been gigantic. Pyatt, Moen, the defense, and of course Price. This aspect of the game is a big reason to why the Habs have been so successful recently. And they have the occasional chances while shorthanded too!

Hilarious board ad.

Free Rhino
I'm very sad to see Rhino traded, but very happy he'll be going to a team that really needs help on D right now because of injury so he'll finally get to play. It's a fair trade too, with the Habs getting a very good prospect in return in Bournival. People need to understand that the Habs are overflowing with defensemen, including Brendan Nash who took over for Rhino when he left Cornell (plus he can play the powerplay). And Rhino left with his head held high, not a bad word towards his former club, and a big smile. I'm sure he and his good buddies on the team, especially his hockey wife Josh Gorges, shed some tears and exchanged hugs but Rhino's such a good guy. No sour grapes like Latendresse. No complaints. He worked hard when he wasn't playing, had bad luck when he was playing, and who knows...maybe he'll come back to us with a few years of experience under his belt so he can be with his friends again?

Take care of him, Colorado. Free Rhino!

Pre-season: The kids are alright

I'm keeping track of your penalties, kids. Both teams totalled up to 120 minutes including 4 misconducts.

Considering how craptastic it is outside right now, nothing like a spirited game between the Hamilton Bulldogs and the Rochester Americans to cheer things up. Makes you warm and fuzzy, like seeing Ryan White's pink cheeks as the blood drips from his nose and that wide, pearly grin beams with pride.

The BarelyHabs also handed the BarelyPanthers their first preseason loss. Like I said, my brother thinks they should just ice their preseason lineup during the regular season. Couldn't hurt...

CJAD knows it's snooze-talk radio and brought Gomez in to wake us all up
- Seriously. If he ever sprains an ankle this season or tweaks a nostril and can't play, PUT HIM IN THE BOOTH. Told the world he's on Spacek for making preseason miserable lol.
- Disturbing that a little Team B infusion into Team A = win? It's all Ryan White baby. I wish I had a video of his goal 'cause that was sweet glorious effort. Same for the one off the post earlier. Roster spot please.
- Lunatics have left the building, and Price showed why this is preseason. Chill dudes, this is exactly what he was talking about. Looked calm and comfortable. Stickhandled around forecheckers (didn't mean too but his teammates get very absent minded when he has the puck) and made some solid saves despite not facing many shots. For a guy who likes to be busy this is also a good sign. The concentration was there.
- Jacob Markstrom came in the 3rd and didn't have to throw a fit. The Habs threw a fit on him though. Looked like they all got zapped with instant-energy for some reason.
- Passing play looked good. I mean it started off a total slop fest but then they thread the needle, found all the lanes, and passed the puck on that horrible ice like they actually knew what they were doing.
- Weber got stronger as the game went on. He terrified me patrolling the blueline early on the many powerplay opportunities (if you watch Bulldogs games you'll know he's responsible for nearly all the shorthanded goals against). Then I saw him on the penalty kill, which was weird. But he had a huge shift in the 3rd followed by a great shift on the penalty kill. Promising!
- Maxwell was solid. Took a BIG hit to make a pass that ended up as a goal for Tom Pyatt. I'm so proud of him this training camp! He was also 7-for-11 in the faceoff circle at 64%. The highest on the Habs centers who took the bulk of the faceoffs. (Desharnais was also good in the circle).
- That said defensive zone faceoffs could use some work but Pyatt, Desharnais, and Maxwell each went 2-for-3 so it wasn't so bad.
- The Subban/Henry pairing is something no one wants. And Subban had a strange game. Could have done without the penalties... Henry was doing what he does best which is protection.
- Lars Eller is adorable. Three assists tonight, tenacious player.
- Dumont might want to check his height against Price before dropping the gloves on his cousin Keaton Ellerby. That's a 6'4" manchild on D you're trying to punch, you 5'10" shitdisturber :p
- Meanwhile Gudbranson will think twice before picking another fight with Travis Moen. First round draft pick? KAPOW!
- BOW BEFORE PLEKANEC!
- Gomez making fun of Cammy for doing the "what the hey I have a puck I will score" goal with 8 seconds left. It was beautiful. You know and I know Gomez was just jealous.
- Gomez's 3 stars: Spacek for not having 5 turnovers tonight, White for being awesome, and his boy Pricey for a job well done and he's happy he got a win. Awwwww~!
- Gomez's other 3 stars: Scott. Carlos. Gomez.

What we learned tonight other than Ryan White is the bees knees? PENALTIES! STOP IT NOW!!!

Magically, problem gets solved

Just like that. It's magic! Alex Auld is our new number 2 and he knows it. No, he LOVES it. And you know what? I LOVE IT TOO! No more bitter agent trolling in the background about how his client's teammate can't get a win because no one really bothers to score a goal or even try. No more hovering around like a little gnat buzzing "play me or trade me" in your ears. As much as Ellis would have been a nice friendly fit, he would have probably been no different from Jaro in that "I think I'm good enough to be a number 1 so why do I have to watch you play even though you do the same when I play and don't bother anyone but yeah" way.

Habs had him at "hello" and that's good enough for me.

Yea I know he's not exactly an amazing goalie. I remember the Habs pumping at least 6 past him when he played with the Bruins. I remember Higgy scoring a hat trick on him (and then never scoring ever again) when he was with the Sens. I remember him finally being that elusive serviceable backup Turco hasn't had since they traded Mike Smith to Tampa Bay. But he's not going to make waves, he not going to impose himself on anyone, they want him to be there for Price and he wants to be there to help. Team first. The same motto Price adopted when he knew he wasn't going to play, so instead made it extra difficult for his teammates in practice just so it'll be easier for them by game time.

This is the type of character they needed to fit in that role, and I'm all for it. So save your snide comments, your ass backwards retorts (looking at you, Pat Hickey), and take it for the opportunity it is. The Habs have an obligation to make things work with Price (you may not understand why but I don't know of any NHL team that would allow their highest most prized prospect sit on the backburner), and having someone who's been through pretty much everything all his career is better than any Dan Ellis. Plus he's as big as our goalie boy. Hey Leighton found his way to a Cup final because he sat in the general area and let his big frame stop the puck. It works. The rest hinges on what the 18 other players on the ice plan to do with the puck.

Of course this is all moot if someone snatches the kid away from us... Send Price an offer sheet and I will hunt you down.

What's in a number?
Nothing. It's just a number. Did Kirk Muller get upset when Saku took his 11? Not a chance. Did the fans? I don't remember. Captain Kirk was and is a much loved player to this city, probably more so than our dear Saku. Despite the length of Saku's tenure and everything he did for this city, the situation was almost volatile in his last year here. You know the ones. The barnyard droogs in the dark corners of the Bell Center booing him as he lead the charge and no one followed. The barbs in the papers complaining about yet another injury. The mouthbreathers calling the radio stations. The media constantly upset that he spoke not the French.


They held off allowing the numbers of both Saku and Kovy for the year out of respect for two great and special members of the team. Neither number will be retired, ever. It's time to move on. So if wearing his boyhood number 11 is important to Gomez, then by all means take it. The former first rounder, Calder trophy winner, two-time Stanley Cup holder never had the opportunity to cloak himself in the double-ones in his NHL career thus far. I think he's old enough to have earned it. It's a pride thing. He loves the sweater he's wearing now, but to have his number on it is like icing on the cake. Remember, hockey players are strange people.

Air turned into Dustin Boyd!
Sergei Kostitsyn being traded wasn't a complete waste of our time as we now have a younger, cheaper, faster version of Metro/Moore in Boyd! And you won't have to run after him to get him to work either. Just the type of guy Chocula loves.

Wanna see something funny?

Colby Armstrong
age: 27
6'2" 195lb
GP: 79 G: 15 A:14 Pts: 29
+/-: +6
PIM: 61
Hits: 74
Blocked Shots: 29
Power play points: 2A
Fighting Majors: 2
Salary: $3,000,000

Dustin Boyd
age: 23
6'0" 192lb
GP: 78 G: 11 A: 13 Pts: 24
+/-: +6
PIM: 19
Hits: 81
Blocks: 43
Power play points: 2A
Fighting Majors: 1
Salary: $650,000

I'm guessing Toronto valued Army's two extra inches to warrant 3 million dollars.

Round 1 Game 1: Tomas Jagr burns Jose NotMillerBrodeurTheodore

Apparently TSN hires the Pensblog to do their headlines

TSN Panel, except for Craig McTavish, said Caps all the way. Of course they think McTavish is high or those years without a helmet are finally affecting him

PJ Stock said Caps in 3. I'm really sorry your name is on the roster stone in Centennial Plaza, PJ.

Tomas Jagr answers: "Bring it, bitches!"

All he needs now is a kickass mullet.

It started off like your average 7pm game: wobbly, touch-and-go, feeling around testing the waters to see what will work and how. Nothing like an early penalty kill to get the mind focused. Badly outshot in the first? It only helps settle Jaro down and cramps out the other guy at the other end of the rink. Caps have an unreal record when they launch over 40 shots, but our guys are pretty much used to that.

Outshot 19-7 in the first, yet tied at 1 ain't so bad. Keys to the season were the powerplay, and the Habs kept the #1 powerplay quiet while the #2 powerplay went to work. Welcome to the show, Michael Cammalleri.

The experts are shocked that Ovie was silenced. Boudreau claims Ovie didn't play well, which is kind of disrespectful to Spacek's work. Jaro Spacek might be over 10 years his senior but he's a tough old Czech who silenced the Russian Bear even while falling flat on his backside. He and Hamr were only doing it all year unless they were injured.

The experts looked at the micromachines we have on forward and compared them to the gigantors they have on defence and laughed. What a mismatch! It sure looks that way when the Capitals method of defence is glomping their opponent. Tim Peel wants paper not plastic, boys. But Brian Gionta and Scott Gomez know what they're doing in the extra season. And the smaller they are, the harder they appear to hit. Maybe it's because all that mass is compact.

Rookie watch: Tommy Pyatt looks like he's an old hand at this. He was out there early in the first, killing penalties right next to Pleky. Gotta give Gainey and his staff credit as the Gomez trade, rediculous salary notwithstanding, is working out just fine for us (Rags only have McD really left in that trade). Almost had his first playoff goal had the Wizards not fucked up the ice. And Benoit Pouliot can still be defined as a rookie. He who has been a little quiet near the end of the season, came out roaring like the Pouliot we happily coined on the line of Giant Mexican Chicken. Was that his first playoff point on the assist? I think so.

Bottom line is experts will be experts. But experts don't know how to rock it like it's 1993. My brother is a better expert. "I'm not worried about Ovechkin, not even worried about Semin...it's Backstrom or Fleischmann I'm worried about." Only time my brother worries about Ovie is when he's so frustrated he starts hurting players. Frankly we speculate he's hurt himself and can't do that without taking himself out. Whatever the experts say, Habs didn't steal this win. They played it smart, they shadowed well, they cleared Jaro's rebounds and blocked shots, they did all the little things when they needed to and all the big things when they had to. It's why they had success against the team, and why they match well.

Will the Habs win another game in the series? Who knows. It's open season now, and the Caps are way too good to sit on their asses about it. Either way, tossing an upset their way was great fun, and will probably shock the Caps back to reality. Deja vu to the last season where the Rags went up on them 3-1 before getting it together in 7.

Whatever happens, I hope it's a good, long series.

BabyHabs got playoffs too!
Game 1 and done! A 2-0 win over the Manitoba Moose with goals by Mike Glumac and Rrrrrrya Russell. Is that sweet justice? Didn't a Moosie give Russell a concussion? And before you think it was an epic goalie battle, both teams barely got 20 shots each. Ryan White picked up 2 assists and PK Subban got his first professional playoff point with an assist on Glu's goal.

Habs 5, Bolts 3: Playoffs in sight

This is how you're supposed to play now, team. It doesn't matter that you scored on your own net twice (well, a goal and an assist) because there really wasn't any fear that the Lightning were going to suddenly take command of this game. There was primary and secondary (tertiary?) scoring. A powerplay goal. Solid defense with zero backing up and maybe one or two lapses but nothing too drastic. None of that stupid "score 2 and sit on the goalie all night" crap. Instead you're supposed to compliment your goaltending just like tonight. Like what RDS said, when this team is MOVING they look like the best team in the League.

It only took them the entire season to get it eh?

Gomez had a goal and two assists and cracked the 50 points mark. Each one of those three points was definitely worth a million bucks each. Metro in his 400th game now has the most powerplay goals on the team, and has a career high 15 goals. Benoit Pouliot goes "Gui who?" and Darche Vader used the force and scared away Niittymaki. Gave us free wings. too!

Of course the best pass of the evening was Hal Gill to Steven Stamkos on the powerplay. Oops, wrong team!

That's ok Hal, we still love you. Not like it was a go-ahead goal or anything anyway.

No idea where Lecavalier was all night. They mentioned his name but I only noticed him when he tripped over Jaro and hurt himself. I mean, St-Louis looked to be concussed the previous game but he was out there tonight and scored a gorgeous goal like he usually does. But Lecav? Tanguay? Anyone there? No? Good.

We all got a scare when a collision looked to have taken out Pleky's knee but seems it was only a charleyhorse or something as Pleky returned almost immediately. Injures and this team are unbelievable this year...

Scoreboard watching, Habs still in 7th with 72 points. Boston lost in OT so they're stil stuck in 8th. Thanking the Leafs makes us feel dirty. Philly unfortunately won, but nothing would have moved anyway. Nashville did us all a favour by beating the Thrashers. And while Florida won in the shootout they're still stuck down in 12th. I looked at this week's schedule and there's a definitely possibility Les Boys can grab 6 huge points this week (though it appears Drouin-deslauriers has had an epiphany and may be tough to beat, depending how tired he is come Thursday). Bruins are in big trouble but it could go to OT. They're annoying like that.

By the way, the GMs talking at the Head Shots commitee sound like a train of idiots capped off by king idiot himself, Colin Campbell. I really don't think they get it...

Habs 4, Kings 2: Not what we were sold on

Everybody Wang Chung tonight...

We were told the Kings were young, solid, strong, and quick. Surely that 80 points, 5th in the West record made that sound correct. Jonathan Quick leads the League in the stupid stat of 35 wins. Drew Doughty was Mr. Wonderful and would bury us in the powerplays.

Well, they sure didn't look like that description.

The Kings looked out of it. Perhaps still suffering the distate of their previous loss? Whatever it was they didn't look like a team that had 80 points and sat comfy as the 5th in the West. They looked slow more times than not, easily kept to the outside and fell into the gameplan the Habs set up. Jonathan Quick looked as shaky as his save percentage indicated. Mr. Wonderful? I honestly didn't even notice him until they showed his face on TV as he was sitting on the bench. Olympic hangover evident.

The description people made of them had them sounding like the Penguins or the Blackhawks. Instead they looked like the Thrashers or the Islanders...

It took 22 seconds for Gionta to smack in the rebound. Habs barely allowed them to sniff the net back in their zone until Kopitar smoked by everyone to dipsy doodle around Jaro. (Yes, Jaro. What's that message? "Good work, now go sit on the bench." Very lucky the Kings are not like the physical goons of the Sharks or this would have been fugly. Hope it didn't mess with Price's mojo). Dominic Moore made Quick look Not-So-Quick with an actual shorthanded goal. Habs appeared to try to get the Kings to put up a fighting chance at getting back into the game by taking a zillion penalties, but even then, the Habs are so used to being shorthanded it didn't matter.

Third period started a bit like the first, only it was Pouliot this time scoring 35 seconds in. Nothing happened for the rest of the period until Modin did the same cut-across goal as Kopitar (minus the coast-to-coast rush) but all that did was wake up the Habs as deja vu from Thursday was settling in. You know, the DON'T FUCK THIS UP YOU CAN BEAT THIS TEAM thing? Yea, then the Kings pulled Quick and Pleky hit the empty net.

Game. Are we back in 8th?

Glenn Healy can fuck off too. The three stars should have been the entire Gomez-Gionta-Pouliot line. Hell, Dominic Moore maybe deserved a star.

The big, bad Ducks got shutout by the Coyotes today. The Ducks are not like the Kings, but more like the Sharks. We only hope they're suffering from massive Olympic hangover...

Habs 3, Leafs 2 (OT): Someone give Ron McLean a tissue

Special delivery for HNIC

Dear Ron McLean,
I'm sorry if my Habs hurt your feelings or ruined your holiday season in this overtime victory. Actually fuck it. Leafs suck and Phil Kessel is registering a -50C temperature. Deal with it.

Funny how the after game talk was all about Kessel failing at life and missing his opportunities. I didn't know CBC was actually LeafsTV.

Whatever. We know the Leafs launch a bazillion shots per game unless they're super out of it so this wasn't anything shocking. Remember: it's the quality of the shots that count the most. Like, say, Andrei's OT goal: I dub thee "wrist shot of DOOM". Suck on that, Grabovski.

Burke tweets: "This team blows."

Using your goalie's name in a catch phrase is LAME
- Between "the Price is right" and "Halak it alot" I think I might vomit. Right now they're trading burnouts.
- Markov survived the ACC! Praise the Lord and bubblewrap!
- BennyPoo will score eventually. Until then, he'll come close and at least hits people.
- The refs needed to protect Orr from Laraque after Orr punched Spacek in the face for checking him. Uh...what?
- Laughing at Komo giving Rhino a slap, who slapped him back, and then Komo turned away... YOU USED TO TEACH THIS KID TO PLAY!
- Pleky's victory splat was hilarious too. It was a "WOO WOO WOOO" trip. And then Markov fell on top of him.
- Leafs almost let a puck walk into an empty net from across the rink while on a delayed penalty. Bravo.
- Whenever I see Moen and Patches go off on a 2-on-1 or any other offensive attack, I'm reminded of Skrudland's OT goal in the playoffs. It's just that exciting even if they don't score.
- My brother's new nickname for MAB is "Slippy" so I will call him that from now on.
- Again the Brothers were on the ice for five seconds after the penalty kill and created good things. They may not be twins, but they definitely have that sibling connection. Hey, I used to be able to smell what was for dinner before getting home thanks to my brother.
- This reminds me of the first game of the season. You know, the one the Leafs claim derailed their season and shot their confidence.

Heart be still Habs finally jumped over the Rangers! My brother was always angry about this because whenever the Habs would win, so would the Rags, therefore creating a stalemate between the two teams. Tonight the Habs win in OT while the Rags lose in OT. Habs now at 41 points in 7th place while the Rags flipped down to 9th. Of course for some reason the Habs appear to be the ONLY team in the East with 40 fucking games played. Why us?

Oh in WJC news, TSN called The Count of Danny Kristo's goal their turning point in Team USA's chippy and nasty 7-3 victory over Team Slovakia. Yay Danny! He did great tonight!

Habs 5, Whalercanes 1: The curse is broken!

It takes an especially terrible team like the Carolina Hurricanes to make this the perfect present for the Habs just before the holidays. And the fact the Habs haven't won on this day since 1945, in a game both Lach and Bouchard played in...well, maybe the magical jersey retirement of our oldest living players is still sprinkling some more magic. It's the ghosts! The ghosts off Christmas past, present, and future! And they wear Bleu-Blanc-Rouge.

Funniest moment of the night was the double minor to Gomez who spent the whole time GLARING from the box at the ref he had chewed out. Apparently his eyebrows grow fluffier when he's pissed.

So finally the curse is broken. Habs win. Free wings. A better night for Jaro even with his rebounds, two-goal night on the powerplay for Metro (screw you, Gui!), deliciously beautiful and easy goal for Sergei that scared away Cam Ward, Markov''s sneaky sneak goal, Andrei's in your face goal, and a multipoint night for SuperPleky and Gomez. Hey Pleky is right behind Crosby in points! And what a happy bunch at the end. Anyone see Sergei? Looked like someone spiked his water with sugar.

As for the Hurricanes... get your Taylor Hall jerseys ready. (Though I'd love to have that kid here).

Leafs lost. Sens were stomped on. Sabres lost. Panthers lost. I don't know where the Habs are now in the standings but the glorious return of Markov keeps on being glorious even if he had some rough shifts tonight (looked like bad ice sticking the puck since he wasn't the only one fanning on it dangerously). And well, I don't celebrate Christmas so... HAPPY HOLIDAYS!