Chris

That's the rule, as stupid as it is. It penalizes teams for sticking up for team mates. They need to change the rule or go after someone with 5:01 left.

Of course they over rated. They play up or down to the competition. If they have a great record after january then people can start beleiving. Ratings are for the fans, teams and records speak for themselves after 82 games and make there statement in the playoffs.

The instigator rules are so stupid. So basically you can cheap shot, take do whatever you want for 55 minutes but the last 5 you can't do anything. I heard an interview that teams and players are wanting to get rid of these stupid rules. If the NHL was smart they would quitely remove all those rules for instigating. Othgerwise the PC police might get hem.

I saw a few games of Michigan's this year. Pacioretti plays on the top line, plays PP and Pk and is on the ice at the end of close games. He can really skate and isn't afraid to play the body. Seems pretty smart in all 3 zones.

A great gamee to watch. since I was tough on them after buffalo I'll give them credit for showing up and playing hard. Let's hope friday was a bump in the road not Saturday. Since I have been critical of Ryder he definitely played his best game. The defensive zone was off again last night. They easily could have scored 10 goals Lets give some praise to Gorges, the first player to stand up for a goalie this year. Kosty and Kosto also for standing up. This is a game why you need a real goon on your team. you can't have people running at your best young players. They need saomeone who mean, nasty and can actually win a fight. I'm tired of the young players getting thrown around like rag dolls. I am interested to see which team sjows up Monday.

Well if they want to make a statement benching 20 year olds and swapping them in for rookies isn't the way to do it. How about benching Koivu and put grabs in his spot. Now that is a statement. I think i have as many points as Koivu over the last 6 games. Gorges in Streit, Bouillon or Brisbois out. They all have been soft.

They haven't played a good game since Philly. They were lucky to beat the Leafs. You sjhouldn't ONLY call out Lats for intensity. Atleast he hits. EVERYONE was sleep walking. Maybe since they are only use to playing hard 10 games a year they burned out already. The first 10 games there was team toughness and work ethic, now it's gone. Is it XMAS already?

Yeah, they almost had me too. Another miserable no show. I just don't understand how they think they can get away with not showing up. Prediction: A habs leader will say "We didn't work hard enough, we will have to be better" We know all that, how about actually doing it. Can someone tell Higgins and Koivu the season is still going on. They will lose 4 straight. you heard it here fist. Atleast i can say my favorite saying "the lazy slugs are back" Worst 5 on 5 team in the league. Enuogh said They are starting to look just like last year. I hope they prove me wrong but "i've seen this fish before"

Huet Friday, Price Saturday

All that speed did them alot good last year. Ducks- Most fighting majors- Stanley cup

I agree with you the Habs need atough guy. I know nothing of Gratton but if he is a heavyweight, I'm all for it.

Well people can analize the "cracks " on the team all they want. The cracks show up when the Habs don't show up. When they skate, play hard and tough they look great. When they don't you get last night. The cracks are still the same: 5 on 5 scoring No dominant player (offensively) Dumd penalties No work ethic

Well 2 points is 2 points. Atleast Price and the second line showed up. The fourth line was decent as well. I see alot of people either complaining or saying they are learning to win close games. I do agree with asome of you about Bouillon. He is just bad, i like Gorges alot better. Someone mentioned that it's a trade off? I have seen all the games Gorges has played in and I don't recall him getting physically outmatched by anyone. I agree he is not a physical player but he goes into the corners and more often then not comes out with the puck. Side note, can Brisbois be any softer in the corners. Gorges simply brings more to the table. I won't analise the game much obviously everyone who saw would consider that effort to be possibly the worst all year, they were dominated. So I'll talk about some trends i've seen over the last week or so. 1. Effort is decreasing, Not skating, not playing physical, not standing up for eachother. 2. Dumb penalties creeping back in 3. 5 on 5 play drying up. The first line is invisible. 3rd line isn't doing anything at either end , 4. Shots for is decreasing, the shots against is increasing 5. transition game disappearing. So the question is: Which team will show up the rest of the year? The hard working one the first 10 games or the team we all saw last year? Side note: I would try Lats on the top line and sit ryder for a game.

This is getting redicolous. 1, the Habs haven't been much of a playoff team either. 2, the playoffs don't start today, wait until the end of the year before praising or bashing someone. 3. The Leafs currently own the Habs. So how about going out and winning some games before you start bashing other teams.

Toskala out. Raycroft in due to the flu.

The habs do have a center similar to koivu. Pleks has very similar numbers this year. The Habs need 3 things to make the playoffs. Scoring: A RW to complete the top line. Kovalev to stay interested. 3rd and 4th line contributing when they can. Currently not happening consistantly. Learning to win: This team has had the lead in 12 games this year after 2 and they only have 9 wins. (i think that's what they said Saturday). This is a process that younger teams need to do before they become consistant winners. Plus this team has no winners on it. Great teams try not to win 1-0. When they get 1 they smell blood and make it 4-0. Not sitting back waiting to win 1-0. They need to continue to stick up for eachother, don't get pushed around, show up every night every shift. This is much better then last year but they can still work harder. Assests on this team is the youth, defense and goaltending. Lats, Lapierre, Gorges, Chipchura, kosty, Grabovski will all be up and down due to age and inexperience. Price I'm not worried about, he seems solid, consistant. not streaky at all.

I agree, i think he has like 11 assists alrady this year. You would figure with all the starch in college dorm food and fast food restaraunts he will gain some weight.

The Habs schedule has picked up and there are several back to back games. Price will start his fair share of them. If Price starts against the Leafs then good for him, if he wins even better. Why is everyone so worried about hurting people's feelings and effecting there play? Huet's goals against the Leafs were soft, simple as that. In a sport that you need every point possible, you can't worry or wait for Huet to exercise his demons. I'll be the first to say it, watch and see. Price will start to see more and more time and become the number 1 by the end of January. Now I am also not dumb enough to think that the other 18 are just as responsible in losing to the Leafs as the goalies.

Why? Fisher will never be a top 4 guy. However he looks to be a solid defenseman who can move the puck, very smart, skates very well. He is not overly physical but he does hit and use his body well to win battles. He will definatley need a year in Hamilton to play on the smaller rink. Minnesota plays on an Olympic size rink.

For the Habs to beat anyone it's simple. Outwork the other team for 60 minutes. Stop trying to win games 1-0.

Well anyone who thinks or compares this team defensively to years past is quit possibly insane. They are way better defensively without Rivet, Souray and Dandy back there. I can actually enjoy watching them in there own end. they complete passes, skate out of the zone, hit people, win battles. A transition game and using there speed. As Wamsly states, they aren't the best but building towards it. This team is pretty young in key spots and can only get better over time. If they play the same after XMAS i will be more impressed. In the back of my mind i am still waiting for the collapse.

There are some moves out there. There are wingers struggling in the west that may just swap for Ryder and Halak. These are a few examples: I have no idea about contracts or lengths. CheeChoo for Ryder and Halak. Horcoff for Ryder I beleive he is wing and center The Habs clearly need a RW to help the top line. Can Lats do it? He did play his best with Koivu last year, he is a natural RW.

I was going to say it was a weak effort, but after thinking about it, Boston is a very good defensive team, Thomas has only given up more then 2 goals once this year i beleive. So the Habs did what they had to do to get points. That being said, i thought they were outworked by the Bruins for long stretches and that should be a concern. Good: Price, 2nd and 4th lines Defense was very solid Pk very good Another fight Bad: Not alot of hustle, that is what draws penalties Know one going to the net or high traffic areas Grabbovski, what people see in this guy i have no idea A couple of dumb penalties late Joel Lassiter, i'll have to disagree with you about Gorges, I will tell you what he brings, great skater, very good passer, wins battles for not being very physical, very smart and does his job. I don't know why people would say he owes anyone anything, if Price would have made the save no problem. There are planty of bad plays that don't result in goals, his did. Bouillon took a real dumb penalty last night, the difference, Price made the saves and the PK was awesome. So Bouillon deserves as much grief as Gorges.

Well Gorges has played very well. I don't know what your talking about there, he wins more battles then he loses. He has made 1 bad pass this year, get over it. Higgins Koivu Kovalev Komi Hamrlik goaltending excellent Markov Brisbois pleks smoke Chipchura begin Kostopolous good Bouilon Streit Lats Kosty ok Grabovski Ryder poor

I actually thought the game was really boring. The habs were dominated for 2 periods but came away with 2 points. Everyone was defensively solid, i thought the effort (again) and offensive zone was poor. This needs to change, the last 2 they have looked alot like last years team. Kovu and Higgins were excellent again, they need a winger to compliment them Kovalev has been MIA the last 2 games Not very physical the last 2 games. They will need to work harder the next few games and get there game back. Hopefully it's just a lag like all teams get. They can't rely on goalies shutting people out for points.