BrenDittero

Nice comeback Habs!!!!!!!! Glad to get that one back

Yes, it reasonable that Montreal could beat Philly but we won't know this year unless they face the Flyers in the second round. A bit of a non issue for the rest of the regular season.

Apparently Patches will be at the game tonight. Good for him to get out and support the team.

From the article: "Listen, I don't want to get into any controversy," he said. "But if that was Hal Gill that hit David Krejci, I don't think there'd be a protest going on here tonight." Well I'm certainly glad he said he didn't want to get into any controversy. Hope it works out for ya bud. We should all keep this in mind for the next time Hal fractures someone's neck.

I wouldn't be shocked to learn the wind has been taken out of their sails as well. It's become painfully clear that change will only occur with death. Sure, a couple arenas might get their boards retro fitted and stanchions padded, but the problems don't seem to be going away anytime soon.

Of course Bettman is dreaming up stats and trying his best to maintain what small ounce of credibility he might have in the media. Imagine that, the figurehead of a major corporation lying about deficiencies in his organization. Crazy. I'm glad that the hit on Pacioretty took it to the next level and has incited enough public outrage that he's forced to at least pretend that there is a problem. Look forward to seeing how your 5 point plan works out Gar-bear.

Taking 3rd place and winning the division would be great. Although, as dlbalr already said " that might be asking a little too much " Can't really argue with the math but suffice to say it would be amazing if the Habs can pull it off. Personally I'm not so concerned with MTL taking 3rd. 6th place is ok too if it means playing Boston in the first round. There would be no better victory than destroying the Bruins Stanley Cup hopes in round 1. I'd like Montreal to be the team that does it. Of course so many factors are at play, it's hard to guess where MTL will be in the standings until a couple weeks from now.

It's going to be a close race for 3rd place in the conference or 1st place in the division. The way the season is scheduled Boston has a game in hand and plays the day after the Habs finish up their regular season in Toronto. Is it possible the Canadiens will take 3rd? Absolutely. Will they? Your guess is as good as mine.

Hey BTH, You really need to take a closer look at who is posting what. I am BrenDittero not YeahBud.

Very good BTH. You've successfully crafted a great reply to something I didn't write. Again, I'm not saying that Patches will be back this year. I think you'll find that I fully understand that's most likely the case. Really don't see the harm in hoping he will make a quick and (as full as possible) recovery. I think Fox Mulder said it best "I want to believe" Your imaginary Gauthier conversation was a nice touch though. Well played sir.

Great game for Price and the rest of the Habs. Happy to see them pick up another 2 points.

Nice heads up play Halpern. Good on Cammy. Relieved to see the Habs return to form. It's still early but things look better than they did in St. Louis.

way to go Moen!!!!!

Maybe Patch will never return. In the back of our minds, we all certainly know that it's possible. Anything is. But what's wrong with a little optimism? Because we don't personally know Max it's easier to make it more about the game and his contribution to the Habs. If he was a guy you knew or worked with you'd probably be happy to blindly hope for the best.

I'm in complete agreement with you. We must continue to express our discontent with the way the game is being run. With fans, friends and business that has a stake in the NHL. The contributors to this forum have have written some of the most thoughtful and well stated pieces I have seen so far in regard to the Pacioretty hit and the decline of the NHL as a business. What I was originally responding to was a post that, to me, suggested that we need to take action. It's possible that I've misinterpreted the language used, but I will say that I found the statement hard to swallow. I was, and stlll am, curious about what the OP suggests we do. I love the game and have my made position on that clear in the " do you find yourself not caring" thread.

Well stated. In time, I hope more fans who feel jilted by the league will wake up and come to this conclusion. Sports are about overcoming adversity, not taking your ball and going home. Unless you're playing street hockey...then it is about taking your ball, sticks, net and going home. ( for supper )

Just out of curiosity, what should the people of this message board do? What have you done? This is not meant to be a smart ass comment.

You are absolutely right. Pouliot wouldn't have made it to the March 24th game though. He'd be serving day 8 of his 10 game suspension.

I like your optimism YeahBud. I have a feeling I know what all these distressed Habs fans will be doing the evening of March 24. Same for game 1 of the Canadiens vs whoever.

I think the answers as to why it was deemed a Hockey Play and no suspension was handed out can be found in the relationship between Jeremy Jacobs, Gary Bettman and Colin Campbell. That's a perfect storm of indifference that cannot work in Montreal's favour. As long as this triumvirate is together the Bruins will have the upper hand with regards to suspension rulings. Not a fair situation for the other 29 teams.

To add to my last post: This is a pretty self absorbed train of thought. You'd think the fans who feel this way had their collective necks fractured. There is only one guy who should be thinking along these lines and his name is Max Pacioretty. Turn your backs if you like, that's your decision, but Max won't. I don't know him, and have never spoken with him, but I imagine he wants nothing more than to be with his team for the playoffs. Again, it's devastating that the league doesn't care enough to protect players and the integrity of the game. Terrible on so many levels. Personally, I just can't wave the white flag yet.

I still love the game of hockey. I'm still unflinchingly interested in the day to day of the Montreal Canadiens. Why should the Habs be punished with fans losing interest? Are we really thinking of turning our backs on the team? We should be supporting them now more than ever. The league has big problems, those problems will be around as long as the sport is run by a guy who hasn't played it professionally. Patches injury and lack of discipline erode my confidence in people, not in the game. Throwing the baby out with the bath water is not a position I'm ready to take. Watch the games, wear the swag and cheer them on. They deserve it.

Bettman is a classic narcissist. Lots of leaders of big business are. I'm pretty sure it's what's got him where he is today. As long as the NHL remains profitable in the US, that is the bottom line for Bettman and his career. Canada had built in profitability because it's our game. Canada and Canadian teams aren't even on his radar because of his hubris with regard to GUARANTEED revenue. There will be no changing of the guard unless the league as a whole begins hemorrhaging so much money it becomes impossible for his peers to ignore his ineptness. It's a game for us and a piggy bank for Bettman and the rest of the goon squad.

Nice to see the Blues walk the puck to the empty net. Not a good night in St. Louis. Good luck in Pittsburgh fellas.

My mistake, just glanced the score. Didn't realize it went to OT.