RJP

Sorry, disagree with you here. Take a poll, see what type of coach the majority want and I don't mean a poll of this board, the opinions here are not reflective. What people don't comprehend is that the mistakes being made on the ice are between the ears and that's where you need a coach to correct DURING THE GAME. Martin cannot get players to reform within the 60 minutes of play, but that's his personality, I assume Gainey wanted someone just like himself to be coach. What really intrigues me though, is that Muller has not been the inspiration I thought he would be behind the bench for a guy with his personality. Look at Philly, their #1 goalie goes down, in comes a personality like Laviolette and guess what?

D'Agostini shouldn't be on the top line, I'd try MAB there. He's got some stick skills and a good one-timer for a patented Plex pass. Move Dago to the Metro line and Laps/Moen/White on the 4th. Let's see what we do against legitimate opposition - couldn't get too excited about Florida. It's the Sabres and Caps this week that were my benchmarks. Hope Martin can inspire our boys to believe in themselves.

Oh come on Colin, enough already. Do you not get it that people are smart enough to actually recognize 1-1/2 periods of dominant play? You don't have a monoply on common sense. The difference is that some strive for consistency for 60 minutes. Yes you don't always achieve it, but if you strive for it you will get somewhere close. Our guys stopped playing the way they did in the 1st period - why? btw, my skirt is herringbone, not plaid

Nothing left to say, you're bang on - I guess some people are actually happy playing 1-1/2 good periods - oops, I better watch what I say before Colin calls me a schoolgirl.

See? - that wasn't the point of the debate, it was about "desire" to win and "hating" to lose. Your paranoia picked on the wrong issue. Relax Colin, no one's saying your opinion is not valued or rightful, don't get personal about it. As for ego, infallibleness and zealousness, you've got the wrong person. I rarely post because of the irrational level it gets to; ergo I don't have those characteristics you mention, otherwise I'd be posting all the time like you do. However, in this case I happen to have agreed with Kozed simply because I shared his opinion on why we are not in the standings where I think we really belong, despite the injuries. Not top 3 in the East, not yearly Stanley Cups, just competing hard every night and wanting to win. Who's killing this board Colin? People like me who rarely post or those who constantly do and then get offended by opposing views and get personal? Read your response again. As habs Fans we are above this surely.

Well said Kozed, no S*!# it's Martin AND Gainey - anyone with hockey sense can see it's the wrong system. They lack desire, discipline and really......blah, blah, blah. O'Byrne is NOT ready to play in this league, he's slow, both physically and mentally. Metropolit makes me sick every time I see him on the ice, as does Gomez at $$$$ + a year!!!. I could go on but it's pointless. It's not that they can't win, it's that they have no hatred for losing. That's the answer - if you hate to lose, you'll do what it takes to win, plain and simple. I'm tired reading the posts of some of the fans but then again I can see why - most are too young to know what success is, so their bar of expectation is naturally low. That's why all the horse crap that we "dominated", played a "good game", our "star" players are hurt. It's loser talk and that's what the "habs Fan" has become, sad to see.

Why are we always blaming the refs, or clebrations, or hot goalies or........ Can't we just admit that we suck. There is only phrase that applies and these useless twits adhered to it we'd be in the top 8 right now! SUCCESS = HATE TO LOSE

And the other 59 minutes and 40 seconds.....? Oh yeah, forgot, he was saving it for when it really counted.

You don't get the point Trizzak - has nothing to do with a depleted line-up. The point being made is that you're 11 SECONDS away from winning and getting 2 points instead of 1. You play 59 MINUTES and 49 SECONDS with an injury-ridden line-up and CAN win it with them, but give it up in the last 11 seconds. I wonder where the hope really is.

This team is good enough to fight for 6th to 10th place and I'll reiterate the problem - Martin. It's now 25% of the season almost done and we are 1 of only 5 teams in the East to play 20 games and we are still in 12th place! The decision making of our players with and without the puck is disappointing. A team that barely shows up against Nashville, completely outplayed as the shots might indicate, and the laziness on this team is concerning. If you watched Latrendesse, Kostitsyn, even Metropolit, these guys just aren't committed or determined. Bergeron? What's the point?. We can't score goals anyway and he's a huge defensive liability. Yet Shawn Belle, who I thought brought speed and grit is returned to the minors. How I would love to have a coach to deservedly calls his team out aka Sutter against the Leafs last night when it was 3-2. Result? 5-2 for the Flames. All Martin does is shake his head with the assinine penalties we take. I guess I need to reset my expectations and accept mediocrity like so many habs fans have. Nope, can't do that either, I have to expect performance = potential. Sigh!!!!!

Totally agree with Habs29Retired, unfortunately guys like Johnnyhasbeen don't get it, and guess what? There are many similar views out there that don't get to this board. So let's not dismiss this with it's "early in the season" rebuttals. Watching the game against Tampa I realize we could sneak into the playoffs and the same thing would happen. The opposition brings its "A" game and we don't have one. Be honest - there are games we've played where we just couldn't play any better right now and it's not good enough. What does that say? One guy is going to make a difference when he returns? Markov? Let's give our collective heads a shake. Guys can't seem to clear the zone, can't take care of the opposition in front of the net, get in each others' way trying to clear the puck, pucks deflected by our own guys into our net, no secondary scoring, shots from the point that hit the shins of the opposition forward covering the point, shots from the point that miss the net, power play that doesn't work, penalty kill that doesn't work (both in the bottom 1/3 of the league I believe), the best scoring line being mauled and intimidated in front of the opposition net, etc., etc., etc.. Yes, it's early in the season maybe, totally agree they need time to get an identity and gel, but that's not my issue. It's the fact that over 20% of the season has passed and we have 1 solitary win in regulation. More often than not, the coaching staff don't seem to get our guys ready for games or more importantly, to react and step it up when it's obvious the opposing team is far more aggressive and intense than we are. Tampa was by far the harder working team on Saturday, and it boggles my mind that we don't react to that. Bad luck? BS!, there's a bigger problem here. It's our mental side of the game, the motivational side, DURING games? Sorry, never liked Martin. I live in Toronto, saw him a lot. He had a pretty darn good team in Ottawa, maybe it wasn't him. Unfortunately, this team needs a passionate, intense, motivator DURING games. Bottom line is I still feel this team is good enough but it's between the ears that's the problem, and IMO that's the coaching staff's area, that's where the problem is.

I don't know, but I see that the Habs have been bullied and intimidated, and the sportscasters are conferring, it appears. On top of that, clearly the refs are not calling regular season game infractions and therefore combined, we do look scared. Why are we continuing to play Boston/Philly type games against these teams? It's not us. Ignore the "after-the-whistle scrums". We know Philly is going to try to run us to hurt us, they have no other means of beating us. What Hatcher did, knowing that Boullion was unaware and intending to injure him was sickening. It's the only way they can win and it's causing us to miss the net, shoot right at Biron, shooting too quickly, bad passes, etc. To me, game 4 tonight is the tell-tale sign. The team is looking for leadership in the face of physical adversity and that has been our achilles heal for a few years now, so let's see what we are made of. Hopefully Kovalev does not continue his ''road game" performances, we need him to show some passion tonight. So no, Philly's not lucky, they are just following their game plan to perfection, while we can't capitalize on our chances. Can't remember the last time we scored with a 5 on 3 man advantage. A full 2 minutes!!!

It's destiny guys, we play the Rangers and we'll win, here's why: 1. Rangers because when was the last time time we saw such a nice guy in coach Bruce Boudreau? True gentleman, no pretenses. He deserves to make it. "The meek shall ....." 2. Washington playing at home tonight and their whole run this season parallels the Habs. Can't see Philly winning now, they are demoralized and scared going into Washington. 3. Our first round against Boston was so we too, a team of destiny, can be prepared to play the way we need to, to beat Jagr and company. Carbonneau was being trained at the hands of Julien on how to beat the Rangers offence. The only difference is, unlike Boston, we have our own guns. Let the 2nd and 3rd lines hit, hit and then hit some more, wear out their top 2 lines, while ours get the points. Why will ours get the points? Because they learned from the Boston series how to play through the hits and adapt to win. That 6-5 comeback against NYR in the regular season? That too was pre-ordained so that the guys would have confidence in the play-offs knowing they can beat the Rangers and more importantly, Lundquist. 4. Carbonneau's lucky tie 5. No God in the Universe would ever allow a colossal prick like Avery to beat our Habs There you have it - MTL/NYR and WASH/PENS. Outcome? Need to wait and see.

I certainly hope so, because last nights 2 lines could be our answer to the Rangers or Pittsburgh. Also, seeing them playing together, celebrating goals, adds more to the 'leadership" the young guys need to look to.

I was speaking with a fellow Habs Fan an hour ago. Is it true that PJ Stock said something on CBC to Elliot Friedman about Kovalev and Koivu not liking each other and that's why Carbonneau has not played them together much over the last 3 years. Seems to me they were quite happy together after the goals and game. Anybody else hear or see that?

"Bless me Father for I have sinned. My last confession was ......" It's funny, but when we dump on them it's because we know they CAN play like they did last night. Look at Higgins, he had jump, speed, creativity while he had the puck, not because he had KK on his line. Where was THAT Higgins for 5 games? Where where was THAT TEAM for 5 games? So no, I'm not going to take it back, but I am contrite for putting my wife and kids through my up and down moods. They are ones subjected to my crap and they don't make millions $$$ doing something they love. To the loved ones -

Great, just what we need here in T.O. as Habs fans. Couldn't believe what I was hearing on the Buffalo 550AM news driving in to work. Why, please explain the mentality of anyone rioting after ANY sports event? Alcohol? Drugs? Has to be, because the natural elation of winning would never result in rioting. I always say how classy Montreal/Habs fans are; and we may claim that it isn't fans doing this; but to the rest of the world the news relays it as "fans after the game...." Sad really, never thought people in Montreal, never! Especially after a 1st round, Game 7? Our expectations are surely much higher than that. I can just see and hear Don Cherry tonight on CBC at the Calgary/SJ game. Damn! :?- :?- :?-

Nothing that a few shots of Gledfiddich straight-up can't fix. Got to be over 110 and I haven't even left work yet to drive home across the burbs of T.O. Going to be crazy at 6:55pm. If there is a God, he has to let the Habs win just so CBC and Dung Pop-My-Cherry can eat their words. Millen too. Where does a pansy-ass, ex-goalie like him get off commenting on Price? He never did sh*t for the teams he played on - Jerk

Oh! - Okay then. Thanks for the wonderful ride this season and being pretenders to 1st overall in the conference.

What exactly are you saying? It was about sharing the blame and then you agree by saying they all do - exactly the point. About his team not responding, how many times have you actually seen Carbonneau talking or whispering things in his players' ears? He doesn't do that nearly enough DURING the game. He has this pissed off look on his face (e.g. Game 6 on the Boston's 3rd, 4th and 5th goals) like you guys are sh*t and lets his assistants do the talking to the players. Rather than that self-righteous look, maybe he should be motivating his guys after those goals, patting them on the back, get some energy and motivation going. He got a lot better this season but needs to learn much more in that department. Maybe that's why Kovalev looked like he gave up last game.

Agree as well, except Stewart and/or D'Agostino replaces Begin/Smolinski. Also, OB replaces Brisebois on D, on condition he takes Lucic into the left corner, drops the gloves and pounds the sh*t out of him.

Man, I totally agree, we are so loyal to these vets, when O'Byrne, Stewart, D'Agostino should be replacing Brisebois, Dandenault and maybe even Begin. I've been calling for a line change-up for a while but a lot of fans disagreed. The 2 forwards I mentioned, bless their hearts, really try hard but they are so unimaginative, non-creative, they go up and down but other than hit there's not much else. I don't need to justify why O'byrne should be in. In fact, OB probably feels Game 5 was his fault since Carrbonneau benched him for Game 6. Also Smolinski, man he irritates me with his slow, uninterested skating style. I know he takes face-offs so we have to keep him in. This is Game 7 now boys, there's no more time to wait and see. Anyway, having said that, from all my years of experience, I know a beaten team when I see one, and the Habs looked pathetic after the game. The most disturbing thing I keep hearing in my head is Carbonneau saying they have to beat us 3 games in a row as if that was impossible. Yeah Carbo, how do you feel this morning? God, I hope we win tomorrow night so I can put myself in my place.

I always read the topics and comments before posting and I just don't get some of the justifications for why we are going to a Game 7. The facts are simple: 1. Carbonneau has been embarrassingly out-coached. Example - Why not call a time-out after we tied it 4-4 last night? Talk to the guys, settle them down. We are notorious for running around in our own end with laughable blunders, missed assignments and panic in the last few minutes. That was your moment Guy, you blew it. We all know what other coaches would be doing at that juncture with a team like ours. 2. Kovalev was a humiliating "super star?" He didn't pass when he could/should have, he lost pucks, he lost battles and he was clearly scared. This is what it's about Mr. Kovalev - pressure situations call for leadership, you failed. Yes you played admirably all season when you had more time, had more space and had less body contact. Last I checked you play the regular season for a purpose - oh yes, the playoffs right? And in both buildings correct? 3. How many posts have I read about Price needing to come through in Game 7? Are we that blind to the real necessity? These are the same people calling Thomas weak, if so, then I know nothing about hockey and why Boston has the momentum and will likely also win game 7. It's not Price we need but the dumb players in front of him to wake up like Julien has his guys doing. We are losing because of lousy forechecking and lack of intelligence. You just cannot dump it in and not go right to the opposing body in playoff hockey. The key is giving the opposition as little time as possible to think and set-up. Very few did that last night. 4. We have had no real creativity and manufacturing of goals this series. We need to make Thomas move horizontally to open space on net and we need to make Boston's D and backcheckers spin around. That means speed and quick passes. How many times are we watching games and in our own heads want a pass made to someone at that instant. Instead the Habs wait a second too long to give Boston that extra time to cover the man where the pass is going to and what do you know? The pass ends up going to the same guy we all wanted the pass to go to in the first place! By then it's too late. That's called smarts, we rarely show it. 5. Speed? That's the last time I want to hear about the Habs' speed - please! Boston has matched that department. For a moment let's stop with justifications and excuses, we sound like Leaf fans. We didn't wrap this up earlier because we didn't deserve to, we weren't good enough and as the Topic is, lack heart/desire/brains, pure and simple. The only reason we may win Game 7 is if we fix the problems which isn't likely, or, if Price does stand on his head. Don't expect a 2nd round otherwise. Boston deserves it more and if they advance, I want them to play the same way against Pittsburgh to prove to us why Pittsburgh's on-ice leaders and coaches are better than ours.

Maybe Carbonneau should: 1. Change the top line - move Andre to the 2nd line and put Ryder on the top line. Yes, I know Ryder plays RW, but Kovalev is versatile enough to play LW + that keeps him away from Chara or forces Chara to play RD which would expose him maybe. Also, Ryder plays sniper because both Plekanec and Kovalev are set-up guys and we don't have to see Ryder fruitlessly trying to carry the puck in only to lose it. 2. Move Andre to the 2nd line with Higgins and Sergei. The 2 brothers may click and get creative. Boston would then be forced to change their game plan, because 2 lines are a threat. Anyway, just a thought.