sbhatt

Looks like the final project for an 'introduction to graphic design' class or something. Very amateur-ish....so bad it may warrant a petition to change it.

I'm hoping it's Higgins. He keeps playing like he has been, and Bob should lock him into a good long contract. He works hard every shift, he scores, he kills penalties...seldom takes penalties. I think he'd be a great lead-by-example captain.

Faves: 1. Kovalev (the offensive machine, the showstopper) 2. Higgins (busts his ass, scores goals, kills penalties...what's not to love?) Least Faves: 1. Rivet (played better against Ottawa, but screws up far too much) 2. Plekanec (just doesn't do enough to stand out most nights) Jury Is Still Out: A guy who I can cheer at times and absolutely hate other times is Saku Koivu. He can take over a game offensively on occasion, and other games can hurt the team with stupid penalties while contributing nothing offensively. I think I'm frustrated with him more than anything...has never really has lived all the way up to his billing for an entire season; the guy has so much skill...I guess I just expect more from him more often. I think I also resent how overrated he can be by his fans at times (I know, not his fault). The thing that has soured me on him most as of late was how poorly he played for the Habs post-Olympics, after being an absolute force for Finland. That being said, a solid season followed by a good deep playoff run this year for Koivu, and last season's post-Olympic crap play could be forgiven.

If he finishes the year among the leaders in shorthanded goals AND has a good plus/minus rating, I don't see why he wouldn't be among the nominees.

He was much improved tonight. A couple of nice hits, a couple of nice plays to prevent dangerous scoring chances...and from what I saw, only one boneheaded play (using his glove to sweep the puck right onto a Carolina stick). I don't think he'll keep it up, but believe me, nobody would be happier than me should he prove me wrong.

Nice to see Huet get back to pitching shutouts. I hope he's able to make it back-to-back shutouts against New Jersey...I'll be at the Bell Center for that game.

I like the way they've been playing both tenders equally, two starts at a time. It ensures that whoever emerges as a number one for the stretch drive and playoffs won't be burnt out.

I thought Kovy used his stick to push Neil's leg out from under him after Streit hit him. Could be wrong tho...replay wasn't from the best angle.

Did Kovy just mess Neil up?

Begin with the salt in the wounds...nice!!!

I don't like how there isn't much play in the Sens end lately. Sitting back and trying to defend leads is the kiss of death more often than not.

Big goal....now let's hope the parade to the penalty box slows down some.

I give Roy the edge over Hasek: 4 cups is the reason. I can't help but feel Roy would have found a way to stop Hull, foot in the crease or not. (HAHA! Take that, Sabres fans!) Roy took his teams to 5 Stanley Cup finals, and he won 4 of them. Ten overtime games during the 1993 playoffs, and won all ten games. That trumps any regular season stats you can generate.

I agree with most of what you have laid out, especially letting Rivet, Niniima, and Downey walk. However... -Plekanec is not worth any significant raise. He has very little ability offensively, and is small for a defensive center. Money better spent elsewhere unless he comes at a bargain price.

Have you been watching the games this season? My read on Plekanec and Rivet aren't just for the Toronto game. Plekanec has looked lost in the offensive zone since Game 1. Rivet has looked slow and vulnerable since Game 1. I think Plekanec MIGHT be able to handle third line duty, but will have to show more of this 'playmaking' you speak of; at this point, I'm not as comfortable putting him down as a 3rd liner in permanent marker as many on this site. Maybe sketch him in with a pencil at some point on a trial basis if he improves, but Bonk looks better than him right now, so let Plekanec center the 4th line until he shows something.

Just got home from the game...they stole a point tonight. Here were my impressions on some players that stood out (good and bad) Plekanec: fourth line center....useless offensively. Rivet: brutal....but now taking dumb penalties too. Liability most shifts...I hope he's gone after this season Latendresse: keep him on 3rd or 4th line...not ready for 'prime time' Koivu/Higgins/Ryder: not as strong as they usually are...but hey, they are entitled to a lacklustre game after having carried the team many a night so far this season. Kovalev/Samsonov/Perezhogin: they stepped up to the plate and were the reason we stole a point. Kovalev looked better at center than any other center we have offensively...sad he has to do it, but BG failed to get the team what it needed most so he has no choice it seems. Aebischer: solid in a game where he got shelled, and gave the Habs a chance to win in the shootout Murray: good energy Begin: I expect more energy from him Bonk/Johnson: good job killing penalties, as usual

I will at this game with my brother. I'll be the guy in the blue 'Leafs Suck' T-shirt trash-talking the hell out of every Laff fan in sight.

Perezhogin has been super agressive on the forecheck this season...and is taking some shots at the net. He's hit a couple of posts...but they're the kinds of shots that will go in eventually if he keeps taking them. I can see him being on the second line if he keeps skating as hard as he has been.

Sometimes you have to find a way to win the games where a ref has it in for you. Sometimes you have to find a way to win games when the team just doesn't have any jump. And sometimes (like tonight), you have to overcome both. Two much-needed points...forget this game and move on.

Still, a 10-minute misconduct is usually what you get for lipping off...a GAME?? BS

Shiaat...I think he was still pissed about the non-call on the knee on knee looking hit in the neutral zone...and chirped too much.

Easy for you to say...you're not the one being publicly humiliated. I'm guessing he's frustrated with still not having a decent center. When he signed on, I'm sure he thought he'd be playing with Koivu as his center. Instead, he's had Ribeiro and now Plekanec. I can understand his frustration.

Hard to blame him for being pissed...

No...but I do expect management to snag one of these quality types of center when they come up on free agency.

I think a lot of that is Kovalev's frustration with the center situation. Plekanec is lost out there in the offensive zone, and I think it's demoralizing. Kovelev had to deal with an underachieving Ribs last season, and now an outright incapable Plekanec this season. That's got to break your spirit after awhile. I blame management more than I do either Plekanec or Kovalev...both are victims of a circumstance created by management's inability to get a proper 2nd line center.