Chris

Another critical 2 point game and another egg laid. the vets and the leaders are absolutely pathetic. another poster said this has been going on for a month, in reality it's been going on for years. If this team does not make a big move ASAP, they will NOT make the playoffs. Top 2 lines MINUS 9 Rivet and Souray Minus 4. I don't call that great leadership, the best players are clearly not showing up. When the 3rd and 4th line carry the team you got problems. Dear Bob, pleas either make a big trade or eject the vets. as fans we don't ask for much, just hard work and a good effort, we haven't seen much of that the last month or so.

Actually how does Carbo feel? i'm in colorado so i don't get any post game or articles out here. As for Souray, I agree with you about team toughness, my point is that he could have challenged him instead of Jumping him. He knows he's atleast getting 17 minutes, so if he goes nose to nose with him the Habs may have been shorthanded on 2 minutes. As for Lapierre, i totally agree, Crosby is a known flopper, he sure did get up quick after no penalty call.

I see your points and they are good ones, but i would take someone who is struggling and working hard then lazy players anyday. The Habs have too many lazy players.

In my opinion it's crunch time, BG needs to decide on getting rid of vets and getting some youth or getting a second line center Nagy, forsberg. I don't think he can wait too much longer if he decides to get a center, points are critical and the standings are close. I honestly don't care which direction he goes, he will turn the team over to younger next year by not resigning dead weight UFA's. This year he could be trading from a power position since a few vets have pretty good trade value. he shouls be able to atleast land a few young mobile D.

here we go again, STOP blaming the refs. What Souray did was STUPID and it cost his team. I am all for getting rid of the instigator rule, i have said it all year, but since when does a CLEAN hit need an overreaction like that. If it was a dirty hit, by all means jump in and pound him. Pittsburgh didn't jump Lapierre. They got the extra point. Stupid plays and bad decisions has been a problem with this team all year. As for the game, i thought the 3rd and 4th line were great, third line scoring and the 4th line did exactly what they were suppose to. The work ethic and physical play was there which is nice to see 2 games in a row. The D zone coverage was shakey again, I agree with KAOS, as much as i like the coaching staff a defensive coach is needed. The Pk was awfull again, is it me or are they standing around around more now then earlier in the year? The top 2 lines were pathetic again, at times they played hard and had some chances but they need to put points up, that's there job. I thought Aebi was solid, making some incredible saves.

I think it's funny how everyone keeps calling for his head, he one of a VERY FEW players who play hard everynight. True he is paid to score, but so is Koivu, Ryder, Kovalev who haven't done much all year. I am well awarwe those guys are the point leaders but the don't have alot of points. They are also minus 30. It's crunch time, if the Habs want to make the playoffs, the top 6 not just Samsonov needs to step up there point production.

Too much talent on the farm, Halak will back up Huet next year. Price will be #1 in Hamilton. Huet's contract is up after next year, so depending on the how the young goalies do? they may not even need to resign him. Sort of like Fluery in Pitt. I really like Aebi, i think he does a great job. They are 1a and 1b as far as i'm concerned. Whoever wins should stay in. If the Habs make the playoffs goaltending will not be an issue, either goalie will do.

BullSmith, someone will offer Souray 5-6 mill. look what McCabe got. I think it would be wiser to get 2 new D to replace Souray and Rivet for the 5-7 mill it will cost to resign them. The Habs really need some better skaters, beter passers and defenders to upgrade the D. I'm not sure what everyone considers a great Leader, especially Rivet and Souray, they haven't led the team anywhere. They only state the obvious. "We need to play better", "We have no Heart and don't play hard", we all know that, it's time for those 2 to go out and do something on the ice.

Bar, Markov is a better skater, better defender, better passer. Markov has a good shot but not as good as Souray. If Souray wasn't on the team markov would have more goals. Markov also plays against the other teams best. Stats Markov 3 goals, 33 assists and plus 3. Souray 17 goals, 24 assists and Minus 9. He is a pilon in his end, can't skate, not a good passer. Markov is way more valuable to this team.

Exactly, you can sign someone like Stuart (example) for 3-4 mill. He can skate and move the puck. All around a better player for less money then Souray.

I'm just wondering which team will show up tonight. Pittsburgh can fly and if the Habs aren't skating they'll get blown out. Over the next 3 weeks we'll all know if the Habs are buyers or sellers, i beleive it's something like 10 games in 21 days. Let's hope they are back. I couldn't find the post regarding the 2nd line so i thought i would throw out a few ereally bad stats, in this comparison to the first line i took Lats out because he has played on both, Samsonov and Higgins missed close to the same amount of time on there respective lines. Obviously for different reasons. First line: Goals 45 Assists 54 and MINUS 33. Ouch they need to get it in gear. The first line are the players who need a thread about waking up. Second line: Goals 29 Assists 50 minus 4. As the earlier poster stated, the first line may need to be broken up. I haven't looked up the other teams but i would bet they are in the bottom 5 as far as top lines go. Especially plus minus.

i was surprised about Perez too, he may have been the best forward the last few games. However Murray did exactly what Carbo needed him to do, he hit, forechecked and even drew a penalty. That line did not get scored on either. Of course that honor goes to the first line. Pleks on this team is perfect 4thliner, great speed and Pk, takes advantage of opportunities. With 2 big gritty wingers, then the Habs can role 4 lines. The problem with this team is always hustle and work ethic (no offense doesn't help). When they hustle and play hard they have a chance each night due to goaltending.

Basically he said the same thing as Carbo, certain people weren't giving an effort, the team doesn't play hard, etc.

Well all and all a pretty solid effort, semi-physical tonight. I'm glad i have to eat some crow for predicting a loss. I hope this team shows up against the pens. Aebi should get the start. Pleks, Aebi, Dandenault (yep i said it) were all outstanding. Honorable mention to Streit 1st and 2nd lines were average 3rd and 4th very good. Defense was average, looked good in the offensive zone, still needs alot of work in there own end. Does anyone find it funny how Souray calls everyone out, and other then 1 shot he was possibly the worst player on the ice. Undressed twice and 2 stupid penalties.

I think the asking price is now higher for Forsberg, Conroy back to the flames for a 2nd, 4th and a marginal player. They coulds probably get a first rounder for Souray.

Well if Avery was traded to the Habs, he would be first in PIM, 5th in scoring, on par with most others in plus minus -12. 3rd in hits and first in fights. definitely in fights won. I think the Habs are zero there.

Plus he'll only be in Montreal for a month or so, hopefully longer in the cup run. He did say he liked the team and they could be a contender.

and getting Forsberg now would help to ensure the Habs just make it to the playoffs. I read somewhere over the weekend that it would be a bigger deal involving a young gun (Kosty?), Samsonov, a defenseman, pick and Aebi for Forsberg, Eshe and Pitkanan

Amen, Torres and Avery would be nice.

20 games is more then a slump, they aren't even competitive. The goalies carry this team every night and have done it for years. How about the other 18 players on the ice do something for the goalies. 3rd to last in shots against for a defensive team, that is bad news.

I read the article on the main page talking about Carbo and Mueller having another tyraid (spelling). How many times do these guys have to do this? If this team needs to get blown out, yelled at, tough practices to get them going then they have alot of problems. Too bad the hardest are workers are coaching, not playing. As for the game tonight, i'm hoping for a win, but something tells me another blowout loss.

I also read that the Habs scout was at the blackhawks game yesterday looking at Smolinski for the second line center position.

Onesharpmarble, i totally agree, the onew thing i don't get is how fans who have seen this team for years can say they are any different, they are exactly the same. I like your points and i'll add no character, dicipline and work ethic. They certainly aren'y as fast as people say either. Maybe we get a different game feed then the other posters.

I'd take Torres in a second, Torres Bonk and Johnson, nice. Plus like Avery he does actually hit people and play hard. The Habs need those kind of players.

Sorry, i still don't know what you mean but the Leafs are one of the slowest teams in the league if your outskated by them you are slow, or lazy.