illWill

And I bet he gets his family there in record time and optimizes fuel consumption, all while building a great family atmosphere.

You're right, it's all Price. It's nothing to do with the D clearing rebounds from shitty shots from the outside, nothing to do with all their blocked shots, or nothing to do with QUALITY scoring chances. I'm not sure if you've watched a Habs game all season or just spend your time looking up stats to support your opinion. When was the last time there was a breakaway against? 2 on 1s are a rare sight. "Scoring chances" is a subjective stat and changes from each and every home rink. So here's my fancy stat backup: Habs have allowed 30.4 shots against per game, Chicago have allowed 29.7, Rangers 29.4, league average is 29.65. Chicago and NY are tied for second behind Habs for least amount of goals against, are they defensive teams? We are talking about less than one frigging measly shot against per game from being average and 3.4 from being the best. Too many people getting caught up in stats and not worrying about how to win a hockey game, in my opinion. Leafs sure have cut back shots against lately, that's working out well for them. So if they are not a defensive team like you've stated, and they can't seem to score at all, then what are they?

The record is actually the only way that matters how to measure a team. Every single thing that goes on in a game comes down to wins and losses. Powerplay sucks? Can't generate offense? Give up too many shots? Who cares as long as the team wins. It never ceases to amaze me how short sighted people can be. It's an 82 game season and that's how you have to look at it. It's not game 62-68 that matters, it's the whole thing. This team is tied for FIRST place in the league. So what that means is that every other team has gone through bad stretches just like this and worse. Of course it would be nice to blow every opponent out of the water but that isn't realistic. I mean, even during winning streaks some just find the negativity in it. Therrien has stated that defense is their first priority and guess what, they are the very best in the league at keeping the puck out of their net. Is Price the best goalie in the world? Probably, but the best goalie in the world doesn't do it all on his own. The team has an identity that everyone has bought into, and that is a defensive club that looks after their own end first and worries about the other end second. They have been playing playoff hockey all season, so you better believe they will be ready for it when the time comes.

It's a good thing that strong 5 on 5 play is more indicative of success than a strong power play. Habs just don't have the down low presence necessary to relieve the pressure from the points. Opposing teams just swarm the D and clog the shooting lanes. I'd like to see the forwards get possession and drive towards the net more often. Even if it doesn't result in more goals, it at least gets the other team thinking and may open up the points more.

Vegas is happy to see anybody make a wager of kind. And you obviously didn't read what I wrote.

Yes, logically the Habs are a favorite from an unbiased perspective. I was more so meaning Canadian media, from which a majority comes out of Toronto and the every day fan that just plain hates the Habs.

No matter what the Habs do, there will always be haters not giving them any credit. They made it to the Eastern Conference final, are currently leading the East, and yet all I hear is "the East is wide open". What does it take to be a favorite around here?

Habs beat the Bolts in every facet of the game last spring, hence the sweep. Had Bishop been healthy, there may have been one, maaaaaaybe two games he could have made the difference. Habs won the series fair and square. And I'm sure the sweep has provided the proverbial chip on their shoulder when the two teams meet now. It will be a good series if they meet again.

Regular season and playoffs are two completely different animals

But what have they done for us lately? I want the lines to stay the same every game, no matter if we are in 1st in the conference. Results? pffft, I want the same lines even though I have no knowledge of how to coach in the NHL. MT better whip these boys into shape, getting 3 out of 8 points on the hardest road trip is highly unacceptable! I demand perfection and am fully within my right to call the coach le genius because he isn't as smart as I am!

I had Rinne ahead of Price a couple months ago, but Price has pulled ahead of him. Getzlaf was my pick but he got injured and has been struggling ever since. You do realize that there are peaks and valleys for each player right? Price started slow out of the gate and has been gradually getting better all season. There are a number of forwards that can go on a hot streak to end the season and take down the Hart. And like I said, if nobody really stands out that much, and Price continues on the way he has been, it may be undeniable to keep it from him.

Don't forget about Tavares, he is currently leading the league in scoring and has like 24 more points than the next guy on his division leading team. I am putting my money on him, and I think alot of people would like to see him win it. Price is certainly worthy of winning, but him actually winning is a different story. There are just some that believe a goalie should not win it, and will not cast their vote for him. Although if he continues at this pace and the Habs still win games without scoring many goals, it may be undeniable for him not to win.

JDLR looked very good out there on both sides of the puck. It's hard to believe he is just 19 years old and is counted on in critical shutdown situations already. I guess we can put that theory of MT not giving rookies a chance to bed. If he likes what he sees out there, you get to play, simple as that.

Well it didn't take long for Mr. Eller to redeem himself. I'm happy for him and I'm sure his teammates are as well.

That Coyotes lineup is one of the worst I have ever seen

I bet that nobody feels the blame more than Eller. You can just tell by looking at his face that he feels the weight that most are putting on him. His penalty at the end of regulation was unfortunate and unintentional. But the thing that made me happy and shows how close this team is, was when Therrien put Eller right back out there in the shootout for a chance to redeem himself. He made a great move but as true Lars luck would have it, rang the iron. So as much as most Hab fans have their pitchforks in hand ready to burn him at the stake, Therrien showed excellent leadership by giving a man a chance to right his wrong, rather than kick him when he is already down. I am quite certain that Eller will get through this rough patch and perform for us when we need him to.

Personally I'm glad MB pinches his pennies rather than throw away the future or overpay for someone. And I don't know how much more aggressive you would like him to be, seems to me he isn't scared at all on pulling the trigger on a deal. Acquiring a top line winger would obviously cost alot and he felt that the price was too high in either assets to give or term left on that players deal. He has stayed numerous times that his strategy is to make the Canadiens a perennial contender for many years, so he is going to look past the current season for the remainder of his time here.

Reading through the comments on tsn you would think that the Habs season is all said and done. This game was a battle for first place in the entire nhl and Gibson played amazing, it happens. And I'm already sick of hearing how big of a mistake the DSP trade was because Sekac has 3 points In 5 games, good for him.

I am going to trust MB's judgement over yours every day of the week. He did not see it fit to pay what it would have taken to acquire Stewart. I know it's hard to hear that you don't know everything but life can be hard sometimes. I don't recall saying he does or doesn't have interest in Yakupov. I merely stated that just because you suggest in every thread that we can get him for whatever shitty package deal you can dream up, doesn't mean it is going to happen.

Booyah? Pretty sure? Some solid sleuthing right there. Yes I knew it was a 2017 pick, that doesn't make it any better or worse than a 2015 pick, which they have an abundance of. So unless you are in the actual room when the executives of these teams are discussing their needs, you would do us all a favor and stop assuming you know better than they do. And P.S, we are not getting Yakupov no matter how much you bring it up in each and every thread.

MB said himself that most of the deals out there were for rental players and that he didn't see anything that he felt was a good hockey trade. All those Eberle rumors were false, among likely many others. Ol' Hab29 waving his magic wand again making deals happen. Who is to say that he didn't try to land Stewart? If MB offered a 2nd round pick for him and so did Minny, which offer would you take if you were Buffalo?

I found they weren't in sync and also didn't have any puck luck on hardly any plays. Petry looked decent

How many of these super close video reviews have gone the Habs way lately, none?

Step 1, Giordano has fallen off the planet. Step 2, Subban rips it up the rest of the season. Step 3, Norris #2

Yet another great move by MB. He got great nutritional value and he didn't overpay. This also gives him flexibility for a move later in the afternoon to get a snack since his order wasn't too big.