Chris

There were miscues all night in the D zone. Turnovers in the nuetral zone, know one shooting, same stuff, different night. Thank goodness Price showeed up. How do you only get 19 shots again, it's like the 5th or 6th time this year they have only had 20 shots or less. If it wasn't for goaltending they might not even have 10 wins. Let'a hope they get it together in Florida, these teams normally crush the habs.

That is pretty much what you'll get from McDonagh. Error free, physical, cool under pressure. A good passer in his own end. Decent shot, ok on the O end. Very good skater. It will be interesting how those guys do with stiffer competition. Good job with the updates.

If you think Kovalev is worth more then a pick your dreaming. The habs got him for a pick and a minor leaguer. Tangauy only cost them a #1. and a package of Pleks, Lats O'Byrne and Subban could get you Boumeester. He'll be moved for something similar. Obviously it would be contingent on Boumeester signing. The habs need to make some changes to be a contender. This current roster won't make it out of the first round. Too many holes.

That's true, but i would still take Cole on my team. Good size and speed, he GOES TO THE NET which most habs players avoid. Unless the habs get rid of some players you may want to wait until he is a ufa. with poor numbers he should be able to be signed for cheap. It just depends on who BG thinks he wants to keep.

Man, stop complaining about the refs. The habs stillscored on the PP after the goal was disallowed. Complainign about Price? I just don't get it? Goal 2 no chance, Goal 1 was a 1 on 2, Bouillon just let him skate right by, Hamrlik just backed in and screened Price not once but twice. How about stepping up and hitting someone? i think they teach you that at age 8. Goal 3, several turnovers with no pressure, then know one on the ice could find there man, it squirted threw him and know one picked up there man. So to blame Price is just doesn't cut it. Price and Halak have the 4th best GAA in the league and one of the top save %. They are the youngest and a top 5 goalie pair. I have no complaints about goaltending. The Habs got 3 out of 4 points when trainling in the third which isn't bad at all. The habs will continue to struggle against big, physical teams until they figure out that hard work, going to the net and winning some battles will win you games against those tough teams. The Lapierre line, Begin and D'Agostini get it. too bad know one else does. The D needs to figure out how to win some battles in front of there own net. Overall earned 5 out of the last 6 points, so they need to keep the ball rolling when they get back. Xmas wish list: 1. The hard work from last year returns 2. They need a goal scorer badly. I would make some moves to get him. Kovalev is the top of my list to go. Trade him for the best pick you can. 3. Add a top 4 D man. Again they'll have to package a few young players to get it done. I go after Boumeester.

Supposidly he is a really goos skater as. Alot of people have said he is already NHL ready and wants to come over next year. Like you, i hope he is a good one. I have seen McDonagh play many times, he'll be a really good one, he may be a year or 2 away depending on who BG signs. He is a LD. He could have a camp similar to Pacioretty did this year. Good size, great skater. It should be interesting with all the young D talent around.

I think some of it will depend on if they make the playoffs, how far they go in the playoffs. You can't keep resigning people who fail to bring you to the next level. Emelin will make the team i'm sure if he is signed. I don't know what side he plays. Pairing youngsters with Hamrlik and Gorges is fine, but they will need 1 LD and 1 RD. I do know that Carle and Weber play the right side. O'Byrne can be a 6 or 7 guy, he isn't bad, but he doesn't skate that well and doesn't bring much else to the table. I forgot Kosto was a UFA, he should be resigned for sure.

I think Koivu can sign if he wants. BG will leave it up to him. Komi is a no brainier. Tanguay is interesting, playing well, a little streaky. Great playmaker. I don't think they need to resign anyone else. Know one else (UFA) has proved they are a must have player. The habs need a true sniper, there are a few out there.

I wonder if AK46 is out over the weekend if they might not call up Pacioretty for the 2 games. Put him Begin and Laraque and get a quick taste of the NHL. ' If the injury isn't serious he'll have i think 4 or 5 days off after Sunday.

Well i got the score right, just the wrong team. I'm not sure who that was i was watching the first 35 minutes of the game but i liked it. Forechecking, hitting, hustling to the puck and winning battles, crisp passes getting out of the zone and yes i actually saw players standing in front of the net. I did recognize the team that played in the 3rd, lazy plays, outworked, blind passes, not being hard on the puck, failing to clear thew puck when they had a chance. The team is Bi-Polar. I'm not going to complain about a solid win like that, hopefully it will carry them over the weekend to play well and get a few wins. As for Milbury, it's obvious he is not a Kovalev fan, he did say good and bad things about him and showed both examples. He calls them as he sees them. I think the same thing of Kovalev, you get the good and the bad. Let's be honest, he had 84 points last year and people were going nuts. His talent should net him around 100 points every year.

Laraque is trusted to play, and once he is fully healed he'll be fine. Goons are very necassary for teams, i agree with you they can't be 1 dimentional. I don't think Laraque is. It doesn't matter if people decline his offer, he prevents peopel from running around. If they would have had Laraque last year in the playoffs it may have helped all the running but I obviously don't know for sure. Once he gets in regularly players will start playing tougher, at least i hope so. Icing a bunch school girls or smurfs and 1 fighter doesn't make your team tough. The habs players need to toughen up and stand up for one another. When was the last time you saw a habs player jump in on someone when Price got ran over, or players who were cheap shotted over the years? Hasn't happened much if at all. They need some of that. It wouls sure beat 11 minor penalties. I'll take a 5 minute fighting anytime.

Teams always crash the net against the habs, with or without Komi in the line up. I have only seen Gorges go after players who run the crease. Most goals against the Habs happen within 5 feet of the goal.

Sorry guys, this one will be a blow out, 5-2 Flyers. The habs can't score more then 2, the Flyers score plenty of goals. #1 PP against a team that at times takes alot of penalties. Not a good combination for a victory. I'm hoping i'll get to see Laraque win a fight.

Well at least Laraque will hit, play down low and stick up for his team mates. Unlike most others. At least GC is moving Kovalev around, his line mates immediately hit slumps when they paly with him. I'm sure Lang is happy. I thought 10 of the 11 penalties were penalties, i think the big problem was Carolina not getting any calls. It's not like the habs haven't hit double figures in minors this year. It would not have mattered, the PP would not have scored anyway.

I'm with you. I have been saying for a few years they should blow up the core, get rid of most vets, turn over the team to the youth. They seem to play much better for GC then the vets do. It kind of makes you wonder what happened last year? Stars alligning, every player having a carreer year at once. They did play hard 95% of the games last year. I think i have seen more no shows this year then all of last year.

I agree about blaming the players, but posters who are talking about GC, are simply talking about his coaching. Nothing else.

You can add alot of players to that list. Kovalev who is Russian. I do agree they need more of a NOrth American style of players. I don't care where they come from, just how they play. It's nice to see D'Agastini actually drive to the net. It's a shame he and the 4th liners are the only ones. You are right, this won't fire up the team, most of the time it's hard to tell if most of them even have a pulse. Philly will pound them. Top PP in the league. Habs can't more then 2 goals.

Officiating aside, most i thought were penalties besides the Lats 1 in front of the net, the habs have no clue how to score. It is very similar to the team 2 years ago. A penalty shot goal, and a lucky deflection. Other then the final 10 seconds where was the offense? Yes they were short handed most of the 1st 2 periods. They had a chance to do something in the 3rd and didn't again. As for GC having a new plan, when the team follows a his plan they look very good, Calgary, Rangers, Detroit recently. It is when the players STOP listening and doing there own thing when it becomes a problem. I do agree he needs to have them better prepared to play. They rarely show up for 60. I am waiting for a PLAYER to finally step up and call out his team and players, saying it is unacceptable to lose, take dumb penalties, and not give effort. It hasn't happened in atleast 10 years. So blaminhg the coach is great, but they have had numerous coaches (sevaral are currently successful) and GC is the only who had this team going for an entire season. It's time for the players to put up or shut up. I'm sure another line shuffle is in order.

You forgot that 50% of the time they can't even get set up because of weak dump in to know where in particular, Kovalev tries to stick handle and turns it over at the blue line. Know one is willing to get dirty and get the puck.

As GC the Habs simply get outworked alot, there is no net presense and they stand around too much. So I agree with that assesment as well. Kovalev struggling doesn't help much either. I also agree with the team being much better 5 on 5 and balanced, a top 15 PP wpuld make a big difference in games.

I didn't think they played that bad. They were very soft and the typical deer in headlights look in the first priod. Other then that i thought thye played hard. They just can't score, or frankly get good scoring chances. They need to look at film on goals against the habs. they are all done a few feet from the net. D'Agi, sometimes A Kosty are the ONLY players besides the 4th liners who crash the net. How many times is Pleks going to skate close to the boards, behind the net then turn over the puck? Yes, Kovalev still pisses me off. I don't want to comment too much on him all the Kovalev lovers would jump me. He is back to me scratching my head going "what the heck was that"? and yes, i would would trade him in a heartbeat. Defense was ok at times, I really wish someone would stand up and pound someone when the golaie gets run over, i'm tired of it. This team is still too small, too soft, not enough character guys around. I will add too slow on most nights.

Well getting his confidence back is one thing, learning how to skate is another. Like Valentenko, O'Byrne just can't keep up with good skaters. Hate to say it, but he should be down in Hamilton. He is a 6 or 7 at best. He shaould take some skating lessons.

Glad to see Maxwell is going right into the fire and playing with offensive players. I wonder if he was D'Agi centre in Hamilton? If so they may already have a bit of chemistry.

Markov the main reason they lost? KNOW ONE showed up. They played a solid 5 minutes of hockey. Rather then picking on one guy pehaps people should say why didn't anyone show up. This is the difference between good teams and great teams. They played the worst team in hockey and were frankly dominated. Unaccepatable. The habs down 2-1 in the first, there response is to quit. Philly down 5-1 in the third, they win. That's why teams fail in the playoffs and others are successfull, pride, work ethic and never giving up. I agree with alot of posters on that one. I have said this for years about numerous players just skating around, doing nothing then getting a check. I didn't notice anything on Koivu, was he hurt? I'm sure Gc will have to yell and scream at them again to get them going. I totally agree with other posters about benching some vets and sending a statement. Benching 21 year olds doesn't send a message. Is it just me or did this team slow down emensley from last year? I'm sorry Kolzig? His GAA average is close to 5. I'll take Halak. The habs have a way of making golaies look good by shooting at the logo.

This is one of those games that the Habs normally don't show up for. I am hoping the good work they have done the last few weeks continues. I still don't think O'Byrne has been that bad, he just makes 1 mistake a game, unfortunately for him it always ends up in his net. He'll be fine. Minus the big shot he looks like Souray out there getting undressed.