TheAussiePosse

I like where this is going... Carey Price finishes with a hat-trick, and Chara is kicked out of the game in the second period for attempting to injure Guy Cabonneau and is consequently banned from the playoffs. Yeah?

He did what!? The nerve! Fire him at once! This board will NOT stand for optimists!

I'm still skeptical about his value in the long run. I give him 3, maybe 4 years at most, on the bottom pairing. Bouillion, possibly less, if this season is repeated. That said, I love our D, very underappreciated, and I'm thankful for all Boy Gorges has done for us to date. He almost fills Rivet's boots by himself (and that second rounder, well, hopefully it surpasses everyone).

IT'S ILLEGAL TO CUT AND PASTE ENTIRE ARTICLES. FFS! JUST POST THE LINK AND THE FIRST FEW PARAGRAPHS AND LEAVE IT AT THAT! OTHERWISE HW CAN GET CAUGHTON COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT AND BE SHUT DOWN AND IT'S YOUR HOUSE (OR YOUR MOM'S, OR BOTH) THAT WILL GET RAIDED IF US ANGRY HABS FANS LOSE OUR BOARD.

He's just installed anti-jinxing matters, don't make this more painful for him or the rest of us. Stealth is, and always will be, a Colorado Avalanche first. Now, try some of his voodoo magic... Go Caps!

Yvonne Strahovski, Australian actress. Sorry, had to get that in there

Gainey answered your question himself: Gainey: 'Veterans will lead Canadiens'

But if we lose (and especially if we lose badly), I hope you won't take it personally when the lynch mob arrives out the front of your house. We're very superstitious, us hockey fans. We're also liable to do things we cannot be held accountable for. So welcome back, Spidey! And Komisarek will be back for game one.

I've heard worse rap about hockey, and more melodious songs about worse topics. All in all, sampling Journey, and being somewhat decent at busting rhymes, makes this listenable. And if the Habs go to the finals, I'm sure it'll get airtime.

Crap. I just shaved me a handlebar 'stache in the hopes of leading the trend over here in merry old England. Seems I'll have to start from scratch on Thursday...

Ladies, please. If we can't settle this like men, then it'll be handbags at 30 paces. And to keep this on topic, I think keeping Huet around would have been a mistake. Price flourished without him, hell, the Habs flourished without him. Eric Engels, love him or hate him, is pretty on spot IMHO here - http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=14587 Huet was not as consistent as Price has been, and would not be a good back-up goaltender. The Habs were the most consistent team in the league this year, and we need a goalie that is strong whether the team is or not. But I love Huet, and am glad for all he's done. But when it comes to playing him in Washington, we gotta put the love aside. Even O'Byrne, and his love of handbags. So watch out...

They sacrificed the regular season eastern conference champions title for a chance at a clear run for the eastern conference playoff champions title. A depleted Ottawa, and an unproven Washington, are their probable opponents, and by the time we get through Boston and NJ/NY/Philly, we'll be sore and tired. The fact that Gainey wants to play his veterans (which probably means Brisebois and Dandenault) scares me. But go Sens, bite those cocky Pens in the ass. (whoa, that statement looks pretty homoerotic if you just kinda brush over it. Totally unintentional)

Bergeron was cut down with a vicious check by a dirty Flyer. He was poised for a career season, started off well, and had to be carted off the ice Zednik style after the check. You remember what happened when McLaren took out Zednik? He opened a can of worms his team couldn't close. I don't want to take anything away from Koivu, but Bergeron's injury will be played up like that by the Boston media, and who knows, it may actually work for the Bruins. He is like Koivu and Zednik crossed together, except since it happened at the start of the season, it wasn't as serious as it would be in the playoffs, and since it wasn't life-threatening (although it could have been, like Steve Moore and Bertuzzi), it's not as bad as Koivu. It's not far off though. But yes, if he's on the ice, GIT 'IM! Same with Marc "BrokeBack Mountin'" Savard and Phil "Testicular Cancer" Kessel. You sound like the Patriots, and you saw what happened to them...

They said that about Koivu after cancer/eye surgery. He proved them wrong both times. A small, speedy C can really inspire heroics from his linemates. We need to keep tabs on him like they'll be keeping tabs on Kovalev. I got a bad feeling our secondary scoring will be asleep the first few games, and that's when we'll need them most.

I reckon he's back in on Sunday, to give the Bruins (and the home crowd) a buzz. Savard might even wait until then, although I doubt it. We'll need O'Byrne (who'll take a back seat with Komisarek back) to put the body on hard, but guys like Bouillion and Hamrlik will have to be dropping back to cover him, and us giving up the blueline early will hurt our production.

Crap. O'Byrne, Komisarek ... we got a job for you...

I started one, but no-one wanted to post yet 1. Montreal vs 8. Boston: Montreal in 7 - In 1993, we won in 6. In 1986, we won in 7. Our first round is never easy 2. Pittsburgh vs 7. Ottawa: Ottawa in 7 - Alfredsson returns when the Sens are down 0-3, and leads the comeback 3. Washington vs 6. Philadelphia: Washington in 6 - Emotionally exhausted, but still cohesive, with good goaltending 4. New Jersey vs 5. NY Rangers: Devils in 7 - Devils at home are rock-solid. Rangers suck away 1. Detroit vs 8. Nashville: Detroit in 5 - Hasek will injure himself, and Osgood will have to take over 2. San Jose vs 7. Calgary: San Jose in 6 - Thornton is due to break out, and Campbell will help him do it 3. Minnesota vs 6. Colorado: Minnesota in 6 - Every game will be won by one goal 4. Anaheim vs 5. Dallas: Anaheim in 5 - I hate the Ducks, but unless they play Morrow-Modano-Richards, no hope

What is it with everyone doing interviews around here? I coincidentally stopped interviewing for jobs and shaving when the Habs clinched (and fortunately got an offer, or I'd look like a fool). But I don't think it'll pass for long. I'm so glad we had that thread before about shaving, I've forgotten what it's like not to catch food in my goatee. Flavour-saver, it is. Urgh, O/T DOES ANYONE HAVE (OR CAN ANYONE FIND) PLAYOFF PICTURES FROM 2006 WITH THE HABS SPORTING MOUSTACHES?

Any predictions? Maybe they'll try the neck beard, or the jawline-beard, since they're all pretty young? But to quote Rusty Venture, "A BEARD IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR A JAW LINE".

If we were playing any other team outside of the Northeast Division (so Ottawa and Boston), I would be livid having to play back-to-back games. Travel is a big deal these days, and playing back-to-back against, say, Washington, especially in different home arenas, could really have a significant impact on both teams. Anyone else want the playoffs to hurry up and start already? Or is it just me and my impatient generation (or impenetration, as Tobias Funke would say)

I'm sure he did, but I can't find a photo of the Habs mo's from 2006. Anyone have a copy?

Well written/researched post. As much as there is pressure on our side, the three keys to Boston winning are Savard, Chara and Thomas. Bergeron is not a factor in this series, as even if he comes back, he would not be the all-star Boston wants. Savard: If he can get back in shape and ignore his back injury, his playmaking abilities and leadership will inspire the other forwards, who have been crying out for someone to rally them all season. Bergeron would have been that man, but got injured. If we can contain Savard (which, with his back injury, won't be as hard as usual), we should do fine. Chara: An all star, and potential Norris winner. If we can get under his skin, get him in the penalty box, and take advantage of it, then we're fine. But if we allow too many of his booming point shots, or give him too much respect in the defensive zone, we'll be in trouble. I don't think we had as much trouble during the season, but the playoffs are a whole new breed. Thomas: If we can figure him out early, get him pulled in one of the games, it could burn us. We suck when back-up goalies are brought in (Irbe/Weeks, Gerber/Ward, etc), so hopefully Fernandez doesn't turn out to be a Bruins saviour. Ideally, we want to win every game by two goals (minimising the wear and tear by going into OT), and not score too many in quick succession that could open Pandora's Box and see Manny get in the heads of our offense.

Markov? He couldn't even lead the team's D in points, let alone get our PK into the top half of the league. Markov doesn't deserve a single vote for Jack Adams.

Last time we were in the playoffs, the entire team attempted to sport handlebar moustaches (I could not find any quality pictures, so feel free to add them). Maybe it was cursed, who knows, but with another playoff run beginning next Thursday, you have to wonder what facial hair the team will be sporting on Thursday? I know it's a young team, and as many are clean-shaven Europeans, we may not see much of a 'stache at all. Still, there are enough hairs to go round, and as the core of the team will be looking to keep the team looking and feeling like a team Any guesses? Do the Habs have it in them? Or is it totally 2006, and therefore out of fashion? Will our idea be stolen by other teams? (A little old school, but possible in the later rounds) A guide to playoff beards

Welcome to the board! A horrible experience for sure, a Habs fan growing up in Toronto, but it's alright, you're with friends now...