Lovett's Magnatones

Not your typical Saturday night Leafs-Habs game. This feels more like a Thursday in Buffalo, but a lead is a lead. They look a little more structured each game under Julien. Their passes are more crisp this game, and they're holding onto the puck. There's still a talent gap; indeed Shaw and Plekanec missed the net from in close by a mile. Not really sure why they needed another player like Shaw, nevermind Shaw for 6 years. I just don't see it. EDIT: Is it just me, or does Auston Matthews have ginormous nostrils?

Something is up with him.

They stink. They just fired their coach and scored three goals in three games since. Their one win was in the shootout. Discounting two hot starts, they've been a bottom 10, if not 5, team in the league for 1.5 seasons. If Carey Price doesn't keep the other team to two goal, and if Max or Radulov don't score, it's curtains for these moribund losers.

The Canadiens don't have the centers that can carry the puck. Emelin and Weber, after the first 15 games, has been a very obvious mistake. This isn't 1996 when Peter Popovic is on a pairing with Murray Baron. You almost wonder if MB has made it clear that he's getting a partner for Weber at the deadline and not to bother rearranging tchotchkes?

I still think he's a good player, but they haven't improved one iota with him.

I think they can eke out a win in round one vs an inexperienced team, but they'll fail in the later rounds. Much like the 2010-2013 Nashville teams MB seems to be emulating. I really wouldn't be surprised to have a repeat of 2013 vs Ottawa. I don't think Julien has enough time to change the leopard's spots.

We've been hurting for forwards since Bergevin got hired, and what's worse is that was true with Plekanec and DD going full bore. Getting Petry at the deadline was a big mistake, and even now the motto is "you can never have enough defensemen." 3 goals in 3 games under Julien.

.486 winning percentage since 13-1-1. #6 in the race to the bottom. Serious issues with roster construction. One of the worst forward corps in the league for a non-rebuilding team.

Why doesn't Hudon get a chance? Dope? Too small? Too unilingual? Do they know what franchise this is?!

I like how Julien is activating a defender off the rush. This pushes the D back and should help them create a cycle.

I'm concerned about Big Mac. Yeah, he's eight feet tall and he fights, but he never gets scoring chances. Plus, you add in his footspeed putting him a step behind, and he's not able to forecheck or hit. Really ineffective.

They've got a lot of holes. Ideally, they need at least one center. A number two D man, too. Then, there are only 4 teams in the league with only 1 player over 14 goals. So there's scoring. They suck at faceoffs and the penalty kill, so a specialist like Manny Malhotra wouldn't hurt. So, three big pieces and a biscuit? Most contenders are looking for "the final piece."

Beat me to the punch.

I think it's time to try Petry on his offside with Weber.

Our PK

Best penalty kill in months.

First time Gallagher has bowled over a goalie. Another good sign.

They look pretty good thus far. For the first time in many games, I've seen them force an icing and win puck battles.

Can't blame Emelin for that one-he's not suitable for first pairing duty. Shouldn't take two coaches to figure that one.

He was definitely talking about Shea Weber from that time. Indeed, with each game, it looks like he had a really hot start and is fading fast. Part of it is Emelin, the other part, imo, is that he's grossly overrated based on a slapshot and a set of intangibles.

MoLG needs to attend sensitivity training. Some cisgendered white males from middle America ought to do the trick.

*stripper girlfriend. The funny thing is that some people, not saying you, comoaning about Galchenyuk want Matt Duchene. He's even worse in his own end. I don't think Galchenyuk has ever been this bad defensively. He's having some sort of crisis, or maybe he's addicted to crack.

But if you're Bergevin, you somehow think Burrows is "a guy to bite you through the playoffs."

Some radio station that popped up in the Twitter bug reported Alexandre Burrows is in Montreal with his agent "to discuss his future." Presuming his agent lives in Montreal...but: 35 years old and 35 goals in his last 200 plus games. Plus he was dynamite when Bergevin was scouting the West with Chicago. Where does MB sign up?!

He stays in Sunny Isles, between Hallandale Beach and Miami. The area has a huge Russian community. I'm sure he was doing wind sprints on the beach. In fact, I spend a day down there every few months as part of my dental sales route. I was on Hallandale Beach and Federal Hwy (road adjacent to the ocean) at a stop light and a mother was helping her young son cross the road and she had a handful of groceries. They were walking towards the big white high rises and a wind kicked up her flimsy skirt. The crosswalk was about thirty yards and she couldn't pull her skirt below her g-string. Her skin looked as smooth as moonlight on a pond...and that was easily the most glorious twenty seconds I've ever had on the job! But anyways, judging from what's crossing the street, he's not perfecting his faceoffs.