The Iron Lung

We'll see a return to our normal Carey Price tonight. Rookie goalies always have a bad game here and there. He's proven time and time again to be more than capable of putting it behind him. I was happy to see Markov play better on Saturday... he was strangely inconsistent in the first round.

Philly had the breaks last time and lost... now it's our turn. Habs - 4 Flyers - 1

We were the better team. We are the better team. But the bounces didn't go our way tonight and we still won. Some hit posts, a penalty shot miss... and scoring in our own net. Seriously, is anyone really worried?

Latendresse is no Kessel... he lacks the speed and the skill. He rarely plays with any emotion either. I fear he'll be a slightly better version of Turner Stevenson unless he starts playing with passion.

As long as Guy lets them play, I have no worries on who we play. We won the East for a reason. Keep playing the speed and skill game and let them have a little fire-wagon fun.

Let them play Guy! We didn't win the East by taking a one-goal lead and locking it down. We won the East by scoring the first goal and then the second and the third... Let them skate... stop trying to play a defensive game with a team built for offense.

Brisebois is playing okay... but the fact is that he's Patrice Brisebois. I've gone through too many years of his up-down play to give him too many kudos. I'll take a few good games and whatever he can give... but he's still one of the suckiest sucks who ever sucked.

I wonder if we'll keep playing possum with the Bruins tomorrow. I mean, really... we're playing our 4th line for about 10 minutes per game. No wonder we're not scoring much. But who needs to since the Bruins have virtually no skill... it's banging and that's about it. Why they would bench Kessel when they can't score. Not a clue. Oh well, all the better for us... Habs 4 Bruins 1

The Bruins just aren't good enough to beat us more than once. Montreal - 4 Boston - 2

I'm not sure that Boston can play any better than that... and they still lost. Phil Kessel might have a point to prove tomorrow night as well... assuming he gets back in the line-up.

I'll expect a 5-2 finish tonight for Montreal... then maybe a slight change in the line-up for Sunday to get a youngster a game.

I'm not a Dandenault fan but his versatility comes in handy now. He can play forward on the 4th line and be ready to take a spot on defense if Komisarek runs into troubles with his hip... or if something unfortunate happens to another defenseman. It's nice to have that kind of versatility from a line-up spot which is normally reserved for an untalented goon.

The quick start allowed us to play every player at least 10 minutes, I think... and allowed komisarek to only need to play 15 minutes instead of about 25. It gives koivu another game of rest as well. It's nice when our C level players get the more regular shifts and the team pulls away in the end.

Habs in Five... a nice warm up for Round 2. Game 1 Prediction: Montreal - 5 Boston - 2

If.... had we... If... had they.... Let's stop living in possibilities and live in realities... We've arrived. And we're gonna stay. Live with it. Stop looking for the exit.

Playing over our heads?!?! What?!?! #1 Offense, #1 Power Play, Division Champs, 3rd Best Road Record... and one of the younger teams in the league. Some of you guys just can't accept the fact that we're one of the best teams in the league and will be for years to come. I just don't understand why you don't believe. Why are some of you so negative... constantly? I'd hate to have some of you as teammates.

Good teams find a way to win... even on nights like these. We cannot be counted out at any point with the #1 offense in the NHL.

It hurts but we're in the playoffs... and with any luck this will give Komisarek a chance to feel fresh for the playoffs. And Gorges sure stepped up tonight against Boston. He looked slick in overtime.

If Dandenault wants out... let him out... we've got lots of younger players ready to learn and take his spot.

Congratulations to Andrei! I well deserved honour... and finally some major recognition for one of the best defensemen in the National Hockey League.

Good riddance, I still don't want any part of him. He cleared the way for guys like Plekanec. Much better overall players with better attitudes. I don't care what we got in return, I would have been content waiving him.

No major surprises for me... I expected a good young team and that's what I got... a tad inconsistent at times but no major lapses. My only minor surprise is the fact that they're finally playing the young guys. For too many years, Montreal has wasted players talents in the minors until they soured.

It's nice that they may finally take a chance on him in the big leagues. He has offensive skill and has become a more complete player. You never know.

Andrei was a "Kastsitsyn" until he became an NHLer. Sergei is definitely one now too so the name will change eventually in all circles. Both of them are spelled properly on my Yahoo fantasy team. I love to see them finally playing the youth more and more often.

Play the kids... time to call more of them up. Keep a few veterans around for flavour. Enjoy the highs, weather the lows, and appreciate the creamy middles.