JLP

I have to say that in the many many years I have been following the Habs this looks like one of the better teams in terms of potential. But there is a little subject which seems almost taboo, anyway I have not seen it addressed here in the preseason, and I hesitated to bring it up but maybe now is a good time to clear the air. The subject is locker room chemistry. There was the well-publicized incident involving our Captain and our second-line center last season, and supposedly the team may be somewhat divided along these lines. Yesterday I read on another board (I know, second-hand info, sorry) a post from someone who was at the Atlanta game coupla days ago, and they thought maybe Ribs kept the puck from Perezhogin, that Mike was less than thrilled to be playing beside the fellow some say may replace his long-time buddy Dagenais. I hope all players on the team put the team first, you guys are closer to what's happening than I am, can you offer your thoughts on this? Has management done anything to improve the esprit de corps? Do they even need to? As you know, chemistry can make or break a team, so that's why I bring it up, I don't want to stoke any rumors please don't take it that way, and I'm not taking sides if in fact there are 'sides' on the Habs. I'm just wanting to take an objective look at this important aspect of the team. (Maybe a certain amount of internal tension is unavoidable and even healthy, I mean the rock band the Ramones didn't even talk to one another for decades but put on kick-ass shows!) :hlogo::hlogo::ghg::hlogo::hlogo:

Yeah but can he clear the front of our net when there's a Humongous Leaf forward parked there?

Habs Red

the first and second lines are semi-official according to rds -- on the second line, Latendresse-Bonk-Hossa, when was the last time the Habs had a line that big which could also score? I got to wake up early to listen to that.

"the first cuts aren't the deepest" good pun shorts!

yeah puck thanks again for the pics, surprising you got those from the nosebleed seats!

Logical choice of course but I have to disagree. Day to day different players are hot and not, and coach should put out the players who are on their game that day. Normally something like 10 games a season will end in ties, so that is 10 big points up for grabs if we can win those shootouts consistently. In my opinion, Dagenais' stock went up tonight -- there was pressure, no big cheer whjen his name was announced yet he went through and put it in the net when the other two couldn't. Then Perez, in his first game, does the same, great for him to get the job done under pressure. The special teams and the shootout core are going to be responsible for earning lots of points for the team this season. :hlogo::ghg::hlogo:

hear! hear! very good (and sharp) pics, you had great seats right?

That's rough, but we could consider Gainey a big part of the current team, and he won a couple as a player, so someone is carrying the torch. :hlogo::ghg::hlogo:

sorry don't know but here's a bit of interesting trivia for your favorite Leaf fan: The Great Jean Beliveau has won more Stanley Cups (a total of 17; Beliveau won 10 as a player and 7 while with Habs' management) than the Leaf team have won in their entire history (13). hehehe

wow, Brian you poor bastard, what a total screw up! Have to laugh though, extreme schadenfreud!!!

nice to see Perez perform under pressure!

Hey Aussie, like here, it's 10:30 am where you live, right? (you know in the regular season there won't be shootouts when one team wins, right?)

Dagwoods, Dunns -- hockey makes me hungry!

shootouts are cool, nerve-wracking though

interesting point is that as a superior scorer, Dagenais' value goes up with the shootout rules

???sounds like Dagenais just won a race for the puck!!!

it's a sports bar in Mtl I believe

hey, it's not Marteer any more, who is doing the play-by-play now? Oh, it's Moffat - he seems to have had a double espresso, he's much better but all that chuckling may start to grate. still, improved, if I'm goint to listen to a fellow for three hours a go I want him to be entertaining! [Edited on 19-9-05 by JeanLucPilon]

Yup, three players each side I think, so today it will probably be Ribeiro, Bulis and Perezhogin, who would you pick?

hey bebe -- thanks for the great report, almost like being there! (sorry i don't know who's wearing #40)

Rob Mateer (sp?), yeah he;s got a more distinct voice but it's rather low so doesn't cut through the crowd noise as well. He sounds young and a little stiff. I think the ideal hockey play-by-play voice has to be somewhat nasel, distinctive, with dynamic pacing and attack. Hockey smarts are of course important too. who do you guys like better of the two CJAD guys tonight -- Moffat who did the first half, or Mateer on the second shift?

oh, that rob matteer fellow is testing for play-by-play as well, interesting...

Price must be thrilled to get an ovation at the Bell!

penalties penalties penalties