The Iron Lung

Go Sens!

I expect Montreal to continue to wilt as they have in the previous 3 games without Koivu. Except after tonights wilting, they're dead for the season. Usually the spring is the season for blooming. I expected more heart from this team after the Koivu injury. I have been horribly disappointed.

This wasn't hard to predict. The Detroit Red Wings had the easiest schedule in the league this year and their point total was grossly inflated. They played 24 games versus St. Louis, Columbus, and Chicago. How's that for a lot of easy points against bad teams. Good team... but not great... as Edmonton just showed. Edmonton, on the other hand, had a tough schedule against many tough division opponents.

If we lose tonight, we're done! If we can't take this devastating injury as inspiration to turn things back in our favour, then we're not as good of a team as I thought. I want to see a tidal wave of intensity in the first 10 minutes tonight... and a quick couple of goals will be the end of Wards confidence. Habs - 4 Carolina - 1

Koivu cannot be replaced... but maybe someone will be given a chance and will be inspired to take their game to a new level. We know we have players that can dazzle from time to time... maybe they'll take his injury to heart and put that focus on the task at hand.

It'll be retired. The whole regime that Roy dealt with is long gone.

As expected, they're making short work of TB. There is just no comparison between these teams. And what exactly makes Alfredsson a playoff choker? 52 points, 28 of them goals, in 73 games isn't too shabby in my books. Especially considering on average that he's not a point-per-game player in the regular season either. Chara is the best defenseman in the game... and the Heatley/Spezza combo are phenomenal... the steam rolling begins.

A suspect goalie? I'd put his stats ahead of Grahame or Burke in a second. And yes, TB is a pretender... you expect a team where virtually every player on the team has a negative plus/minus to match against the Senators? TB was a dominating team... this isn't the Lightning from a few years ago... and we all know that Lecavalier plays when he wants to, St. Louis barely got 60 pts, and both TB goalies for lack of a better word, have stunk this year... neither wanted the starting job. And any team can lose on any given day... but not in a 7 game series... the cream rises... and fast.

Comparing one team to the one from the previous year is ridiculous. Different players... more experience... less experience... different coach... different goaltender. And Tampa Bay is a contender now? Come on. Get your head out of the sand. They're weak and have no depth. Look at the stats. They're a pretender just like Detroit. Think about it, wouldn't all those games Detroit had against division mates Columbus, Chicago, and St. Louis been great for our position in the standings too.

If Carolina can't figure out how to get their goalies heads into the game, this will be a short series. I do expect Carolina to win one of these two games however. Regardless, Go Habs Go!

Any person who thinks Ottawa is a good or easy opponent is a fool! Sorry if that's deemed an insult to anyone but it's true. Tampa Bay is breakfast to them... as shown last night... 8-4, no contest! I'm shocked it'll last 5 games.

What a pointless thread... I've wasted my time reading it and adding my thoughts.

Ron Hainsey.... Tom Poti anyone?

Ottawa is too good and too deep to lose to a weak Tampa Bay team... just wait until the sleeping giant wakes up. You don't wanna be playing them.

It's hard to make a comment without comparing the fact to other teams. Loads of teams give up a goal in the final minute when the other team throws the kitchen sink at them. Every game is separate from the game before... and the game which approaches.

Give them kudos here because Harry Neale on the CBC telecast won't... that's for damn sure. At least Jim Hughson can call a relatively unbiased game. It's annoying when we watch US telecasts or Leaf telecasts we get biased home broadcasters... but when Montreal is on the CBC we get Harry Neale who constantly calls them down. Aargh! Don't forget Zednik either. He took a bad penalty but he's also skating around similar to a few years ago. He's not there yet... but he's starting to make himself noticed too.

I loved the Nords/Habs rivalry in the early 80's and the bloodbaths and brawls that were the norm. Watching Roy, Lemieux, Skrudland and the boys in 1986 was crazy too.

It's not over until the final seconds are ticking off in our 4th victory of the series and we have a few goal lead. I remember many series in recent years with road teams getting up 2-0 in a series, heading home, and blowing it.

I know we won 6-1 in the last game... but we were outshot and outplayed. I wouldn't expect a similar game from Gerber. The Hurricanes are a good team, but obviously not as good as the one from the earlier part of the season. The Weight/Recchi deals messed with the chemistry and Erik Cole getting hurt was tough. But if we keep giving up 40+ shots we will lose more than we win. Then again, a win by Montreal tonight and we're gonna be tough to hold down when we head home. I'll be cheering mightily for my Habs tonight but I'll be surprised if we pull out back-to-back wins. I see a 4-2 Canes wins. Here's hoping I'm wrong.

We're due some wins against Carolina. No time like the present. Although I would prefer Aebischer between the pipes.

Here's hoping Gainey makes the right decision and puts Aebischer in the net. The 'canes have lacked chemistry since the Weight and Recchi acquisitions. Here's hoping we play to our potential and meet the Sens in round 2. At least against the 'canes we have a chance at round 2. Against the Sens, that chance would be almost nil. They're too good when healthy to be beaten in a 7 game series... and they're basically healthy now.

Excellent, I got my wish, the 'Canes. Now hopefully I get wish number two and David Aebischer between the pipes!

You lads are underestimating the Sens. We played very depleted Sens teams lately. No Redden or Chara in both, I think. Havlat is back now. Too many offensive magicians on that team and basically unbeatable in a 7 game series. And they're resting other key ingredients like Emery who is a superb young netminder.

I want the 'Canes... Ottawa is getting healthy and they will win the Stanley Cup. The Hurricanes chemistry hasn't been as good since they acquired Weight and Recchi. I think they're the lesser of two evils.

Thankfully, we got the Sens now instead of in our final four games. Redden, Chara, and Havlat should all be back very soon. Aebischer played great and the team played very well in beating the Sens again, but I'm definitely hoping for 6th place or Carolina... because Ottawa will be much different and much better soon.