DON

or just small injury or illness, who knows?

But, at least for 2 periods, mixed up lines seems to be working OK.

Time to light-up a back-up goalie in a blowout?

Bournival went down easy

67 is getting his game back, sweet shot

Saku's little brother is pretty good player.

Likely not boost his case for Olympics with tantrum.

Niether Tinordi nor Beaulieu are shining in Hamilton and likely fine right where they are for now. Defense not the big issue at momment, it is forward group that is sputtering. Not sure if a different RWer would be a cure-all, sitting or playing on 4th line for DD and giving Bournival more icetime would be a start.

Good write up Brian. I think anyone playing with Drouin would do well and what the heck is he doing playing junior anyways? Gregoire looked fine, got some PP time, threw a few hits and funny that who i seem to compare him too, Pourier, was on same line. (Pourier maybe is benefitting from playing with superstar Reway in Gatineau?) Goalies are goalies and Fucale seemed fine, but not really tested too much.

Hudon with goal in 1st, soft one by goalie. But i did miss 1st period and am more curious to see Gregoire's play. But Hudon's 2nd goal was pretty sweet.

Enigma.

Bourque is a huge slacker. He shows up when he wants to. He's a big guy who can fight and can lay hits, if he feels like it that is. He had the same issues in Calgary. Plek and Gio are two of the hardest working players on the team. There is a reason they have letters on their Jersey's. He really cant fight nor hit well at all, he has taken suspensions partly because of this. Not all know how to hit well and fighting also is a bit of skill. But, seems once in a while he will throw his body around and becomes more "involved" in forecheck than at other times and why he dosent realize he is a big guy who, could help out if he just runs into the opposition instead of coasting by neither taking out anyone nor retrieving the puck. But, I think it is just the way he is and aint gonna change (like a Benoit Pouliot, Andrai Kostitsyn he has the size and some skill but that's it), but he can be counted on to get some goals and will likely get 20+ again.

Got to agree and was not the most entertaining game. Neither team did anything of note, other than Price looking pretty much bullet-proof and ....if only he could score also he might have a few more Ws. Are goalies allowed to participate in shootout?

Bozon and Sam Reinhart set up couple goals. Bozon with 6 points in last 4 games maybe adjusted to new team? Thrower was 2nd star and another 2 points, 15th in WHL d-scoring. With 14 points in his last 4 games, Reway is now tied for 11th in Q scoring.

Reway tore it up with 5 point night. McCarron had 2 goal game. and Vail had 3 points.

well some positives anyways. Pateryn still chipping in almost every game. Nygren had 5 shots and team had lots.

Holland, White, Leblanc, Bournival are all likely better choices and Eller, #27 and #11 shouldnt get less ice than DD should they?.

Pressbox, Hamilton, 4th line are all better options.

yes EGG and Bournival less ice than DD

But range for Markov and Subban salary is likely not very wide (maybe $6-7/year for Subban and 5-6 for Markov, just the term is more an unknown) and they are not expendable or tradable as Diaz is. So, my guess would be that Bergevin wants to shortly decide whether to; extend Diaz (maybe he will take hometown discount), trade (if he is looking for too much) or keep him for playoffs and let him walk for nothing (if not in big demand)?

I realize that Habs have a lot invested in DD and need to get him going somehow, but he is doing a darn good Gomez impersonation.

I agree, I thought DD killed a lot of plays and was not effective at all and would sit Boullion or play all 7d-men, but am fine with any combo.

Or Bergevin wants to find out what Diaz/agent are looking for in a raise, no-trade clause etc long before trade deadline; whereas Markov/Subban maybe are locks to get done and neither is even a possibility of being traded at deadline?

Markov and Emelin may get paired some; but I am sure his minutes will (should) be somewhat limited.

Yes, sounded so odd, then he actually got it correct once or twice. Don't think Ohio is a big hockey market. I would guess that most Canuck fans likely don't know who Galchenyuk is neither and they might say "that young Russian on Habs looks good" and that maybe about extent of familiarity. He is tied for 50th in scoring and will need to climb scoring race or/and play a super Olympics for USA, then would get a bit more recognition in other markets.