illWill

I can't wait to shave. Although I'll struggle through it as long as necessary.

Many had their mind made up about Therrien volume 2 before he even coached a game and their stance has not or will not change regardless. If it was any other coach that came in and got the results that he has so far, opinions would be much different about the coaching situation. Personally, I was skeptical when he was rehired but was open to seeing what he could do. And so far I have no reason to believe that this team would be better off with a different coach.

I have to take the blame for it. I haven't been wearing my jersey all playoffs (except for when I was at game 6 vs Ottawa), and for some reason I put it on to start the second period in game two. And then the onslaught began.....My apologies guys, it won't happen again.

Great thread topic at this point in time and a valid question. It was definitely apparent after game 2 that the thing that perhaps was missing the most was leadership. Between the undisciplined penalties, the awful penalty kill and just the way the usual steady train came off the tracks. It is disappointing that nobody has really taken this team by the horns thus far and made it their own. MaxPac I thought had done so during the regular season but aside from a few inspiring shifts hasn't done much. Subban is Mr. Playoff but hasn't been the game changer he has been in the past. Markov looks like a shell of his former self out there. I wonder how this team would be doing right now if they hadn't rid themselves of their former leaders Gionta and Gorges....

In my opinion the problem with the offense is that they are lacking natural creativity. They are playing almost robotic when they are in the offensive zone. I think the cause of this is because of the extensive attention to detail on the defensive side, and this is translating to offense. They don't even have to think anymore out there because the system is so ingrained in their heads that they know what to do in every situation. And when the shot totals and scoring chances are there, they assume that they will eventually find the back of the net. Unfortunately they are missing the instinctive finish required when given these scoring opportunities. This team has guys that can score, but there's alot more to scoring than just numbers.

How many of those top 30 are players who are now on the golf course? Individual stats mean jack, the only thing that matters is wins. I'll take the best defense over a good offense any day. Until they are eliminated from the playoffs, there is nothing "sad" about anything.

The last 2 Tampa game day threads got locked, seems to be something about them that gets everyone all fired up.

Habs out chanced them and carried the play for more of the game. They either got robbed by Bishop or hit the post, not much else they can do. These type of games happen. The players and coach all have the same response; that they were happy with the way they played and that if they continue to play like that, they will win the series. All of this talk about the Habs not being able to score but never any talk of how incredibly great they are at keeping the puck out of their own net. Skeptics wonder in disbelief how they finished second in the NHL and made it past the Sens, but yet here we are. Better get used to the 2-1, 1-0 games because that's how they got to this point.

I read somewhere that Chucky was practicing 2 on 1's today and was shooting every time. Too bad it didn't work out this time, the roof would have exploded

Great video except that most of the highlights were of Bourque, what a beast he was last playoffs. It's a shame he couldn't play to even half of that level during the season

I love the structure of that deal. The better the team does, the more they'll give up. It's brilliant negotiating. Perhaps Edmonton believed Montreal would have success so they shipped him to us for what was perceived to be a steal at the time.

After disposing of the Sens, who many picked to beat the Habs, I look forward to the challenge of playing the Bolts. I'm sure many have the second place Habs as an underdog yet again in this series. All I know is it would be even sweeter lifting the Cup going through the Sens, Bolts, and Rangers, when those are the teams that most feared the Habs playing. #redemption

Habs in 6 Caps in 7 Wild in 6 Ducks in 5

Something I've noticed the past few games is the blatant interference by the Sens. Watch how they are essentially shadowing each player, directing and impeding their progress. Seemingly the refs aren't calling it so the Habs have to adjust

Off I go on my 13 hour drive to Ottawa for game 6. I totally didn't plan for this the last few days, I was assuming Habs would close it out. Don't worry boys, I'll wake them up when I get there

This game definitely lacked the intensity that the previous ones had. It seemed like the Habs were playing not to lose, rather than playing to win. I couldn't count the amount of times they simply just flicked the puck to the Ottawa defense instead of carrying it in or putting it deep. Breakout passes were missing all game. The pp was brutal until they made the adjustment towards the end. Habs were likely on cruise control this game because of their 3 game lead. Can't give these pesky Sens any signs of life or it just might come back to haunt them.

I agree that they need to acquire a young goalie that will grow with them into the powerhouse that they should become. However, I think they need one that is a bit more established than Fucale at this point, someone like a Holtby. Goalies are near impossible to predict how they will turn out when they are in junior and the minor leagues. And while the Oilers are at it, they should also trade for a young stud on defense as well, otherwise all that talent up front will be wasted again and again. They will have to dangle Yakupov and or Draisatl out there to get what they need but it has to be done. Just the other day McTavish said something like " offense wins hockey games", ummm I think he should reevaluate his strategy because it's coming onto a decade of failure.

I think we can all agree that deal turned out to be a failure of epic proportions. It was bad at the time but I don't think that anyone seen it working out quite the way it did. Gomez was a consistent point producer who fell off the face of the earth, and McDonaugh turned into the Rangers captain, worst case scenario. I remember hating it so much, not because of who we gave up, but because we took on that massive Gomez contract that I constantly made fun of to my Ranger fan buddy. In theory you can make an argument as to why Bob made the deal, it just sucks how bad it turned out for us Hab fans. Perhaps if our other first round prospect Fischer wasn't a bust it wouldn't have stung so bad.

Things I noticed this game: Subban is pure entertainment no matter what he does Plekanec is the king of missing the net wide and then out of the zone Smith-Pelly flipped the playoff switch and is a wrecking ball Price is a bit tentative Pacioretty seemed a step slower The powerplay is looking great, lots of pressure Stone took a chop at Subban's hands when he was rushing with the puck, no big deal

To me the slash was just your everyday average playoff hockey chop to the hands. It happens multiple times per game and usually either goes undetected or uncalled, but because it was away from the puck and Stone went down like he was shot, it was made a spectacle. There's no question that it hurt him, but also no question he played it up as well. Watch the replay and notice how the actual slash sent him one direction, and then when he realized it hurt, he spins totally the other direction to the ice. He was courageous though according to Murray, so courageous to continue playing and to throw punches at the end of the game. The Sens better focus on winning the game rather than retribution or their miracle run will come to an abrupt end.

I'm glad that someone else noticed the blatant interference by the Sens on the attacking Habs. You cannot impede the progress of an opposing player but yet there they were doing it the whole game. That being said, I don't think I've seen the Habs play so chippy all season and it was great. They were taking liberties with anyone near Price after the whistle and finishing checks all night. This is a playoff seasoned team primed for another run.

I got tickets online that were revoked upon review because of my out of province address. A telephone call explaining that I am attending the game with a friend that lives in Ottawa was all it took to keep them. I will be sure to "Ole" extra hard that night for those who weren't so fortunate

Habs in 6 Rangers in 5 Tampa in 7 Caps in 4 Canucks in 7 Blues in 6 Hawks in 6 Jets in 7 I think the Caps are going to be a dark horse this playoffs

Everything I have read seems to point at the Habs being the underdogs and anybody I talk to says to me something like "oh I bet you're scared" or " you're going down". The fact that Ottawa went on one of the best runs in history makes them a feel good story, and it also furthers the hate that most already had for the Habs.

Man I am hoping this series goes 7, I just acquired game 6 tickets in Ottawa to go along with my game 7 tickets in Montreal! I'll also settle for a Habs 4 game sweep