huzer

Consdiring Dowd was quoted as saying: "Definitely the biggest thing in these situations is whether it was a win or a loss, you forget the last game right away," said Dowd. "Boston has to forget they won the game and we have to forget we lost it. We've got to stay up. This is a young, hungry team. We're going to be ready. This brings back a lot of good memories. The Wild was a seventh seed, too. The thing is we know we can do it. It's different if you think you can do it. The biggest difference is between thinking and knowing. We're going to win in Boston and bring it back (to Montreal)." I would definitely say that he has told everyone of this.

I just can't believe Van Hellemond said that it was legal, and shouldn't have been a penalty. I know he has a personal beef with Kovalev from a while back, to to come out and say that slash isn't even a penalty just shows how stupid the officiating is in this league.

http://rds.ca/cgi-bin/nouvelles?site=rdw&a...on&sport=#99450 What the hell? When did slashing become legal in this sport? No wonder the refs aren't calling any penalties.

Huh? That was more like a 1 on 2, there were 2 men back for the Habs, and no way a clean shot from the wayyyy high slot should beat an NHL goalie, especially through him the way it went. Theo shoulda saved that. Heck, a defenseman with no pads shoulda stopped that shot.

I've been injured enough playing sports, football and hockey primarily. The only times I was stopped dead in my tracks was when I get drilled in the head with a puck while blocking a shot, and when I snapped my ankle in 5 places. So sure, go ahead, let me get in full gear, and you can take a one handed whack at my gloved hand (yes the stick hit his glove). I guarantee I won't stop dead in my tracks shaking my hand. In fact, that happened to me about 3 weeks ago, when I got a 2 hander on my glove. All I did was whack back and got the retaliation slashing penalty when the other guy's stick broke. Plain and simple, Kovalev screwed up on that play, I don't care if he got a stinger. Nothing's broken, you're a pro playing in double OT in the playoffs. Suck it up.

It is a shame that one of the best players on the ice last night blew the big one for the OT winner. It was also nice to see him go over to Markov while he was on the ice after the first hit (shoulda been an elbowing on Thornton, but at least Dagenais got away with a flying elbow on Gonchar a little later).

Ahh, this is like the argument about Therrien 2 years ago. There must be somethin' these coaches are thinkin'...important defensive zone draw, Perreault sits on the bench...draw gets lost, Wallin shoots and scores from the point. Perreault rarely took important faceoffs in the defensive zone anyway. Just because Glen Healy has a hard-on for Perreault doesn't make him the right choice.

At least Souray agrees with my comments: And Souray was cutting Kovalev no slack. "I saw he got slashed," Souray said. "Maybe it should be a penalty, but do you stop playing? In double overtime? They had already called a penalty against him, they're going to let you play at that point. I was just caught by surprise that he left the puck there and there was nobody behind him. So obviously, you want to go back and get the puck." It's just sooooo disappointing that this great game ending with such a goofy play. Then again, if Theo stops the unscreened 60 footer by Slegr...

Argh, I hate "locker room cancer" arguments from people that aren't in the locker room. Anyway, I personally didn't think Rivet was too great. He screwed up at the end of the third, and at the end of the first OT, when there's only a few seconds left and traffic in front, he sends a hard pass a few feet to the right of the net instead of firing it. I realise the Habs were down to 5 D and they were getting tired, but I don't agree that Rivet was great.

D does need to be addressed. Rivet was weak tonight, and Quintal has lost a couple of steps to be effective anymore. And I really, really wish Theo would stop being stellar (first fwe minutes of the 1st when Boston was pressing) then gives up an unscreened shot from a few feet inside the blue line. He also needs to be chained to the net so he can't roam anymore. Someone needs to tell him he's not a puckhandler. And why Julien didn't use Perreault at all in OT, when he only had about 8 total minutes is beyond me. At least Sullivan threw Hilbert's fresh legs and energy out there a coupla times.

Like I said, at your own blue line isn't the place to check out your injury, especially during game 4, 2nd OT, and you're down 2-1 in the series. For all the things he did right tonight, he screws up and it costs the Habs, more than likely, the series. I just can't believe the Habs found a way to lose again. A coupla bounces the other way, and the series is 3-1 for the Habs. Instead, we're making advance tee times.

Was a good effort overall, but the Habs had no reason to lose this one after being up 3-1. Then, to make it better, let's give up the tying goal with 30 seconds left. Good effort or not, the Habs lost, and are now down 3-1. I don't see them winning 3 straight to get back into it. And slashed on the wrist or not, Kovalev HAS to realize he is right at his own blue line when that happened. And to be honest, regardless of the little collision, Souray wasn't going to catch Murray who was flying down there. And once again, Theo gives up a weak one (slegr) that let the Bs back into it to start with. [Edited on 2004/4/14 by huzer]

If anything, Theo needs to play the puck less. Brodeur and Turco he ain't. And he makes a lot of bad decisions about when/where/why he should play the puck. Everytime he leaves the crease, I hold my breath. Hopefully the Habs can even it up tonight! Let the B's run around all ticked off at Ribeiro if they want. Get themselves outta position and let Ryder capitalize. hehe. And I don't mind Perreault in the lineup, but not on the 2nd line. Dags/Perreault/Ryder would be three guys who shoot and never pass. CJ hasn't trusted Perreault to take a whole lotta defensive zone draws the entire year, so I don't know why that would suddenly change now, unless he's been brainwashed by the dorks at CBC. Man, I miss the days of Dick Irvin/Scotty Bowman/Steve Shutt/Gallivan etc, calling the Habs games. Millen, Hrudy, Healey, and the rest of the clueless goalies that CBC hires are worthless when it comes to color commentary. [Edited on 2004/4/13 by huzer]

I'd like Kovalev to be used with Koivu. The guy obviously has the talent, and he has obviously struggled, but playing him with Dowd and Perreault isn't the answer, IMO. I dunno, I wasn't a big fan of the lines yesterday, and although I like Bulis, I think he's better served on a third line. I would think a line of Bulis-Dowd-Ward/Begin would be a great third line. One thing that seems clear to me is that the Habs need to get another RH shot for the top two lines. The only guy they have right now is Ryder. And call me goofy, but I'd still like to see Komisarek in the lineup, at least once. He may make mistakes, but he at least has the decent foot speed to make up for some of them.

Julien better give a thrashing between periods. That was horrid.

I know he's struggled, but how many people thought the Habs would acquire Kovalev, then use him on a third line! I just find it humorous. Go Habs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Luckily I've got some things to keep me busy until gametime. Otherwise, I'd go nuts waiting for 5 PM. :ghg:

Even if Philly wins, and Boston loses? Wouldn't that swap the B's and Flyers around? (4th to Philly, 6th to Boston). Isn't the first tiebreaker overall wins? Philly would end up with 41, Boston with 40. If that were the case, that would be interesting, Boston would play the Devils in the playoffs, just after playing their last 2 regular season games against them.

Well, it's either the Leafs or the B's next, either way, 2 really good rivalries to start off the playoffs. I'd rather face the Bruins, personally. Still funny that a 6th seed in the East is going to have at least 100 pts.

Of course, after speaking with a couple of my Swedish friends, they tend to agree with my argument: most of the time it's started by the local hometown Swedish papers, which eventually gets picked up by the bigger medias, which eventually gets picked up internationally. I guess the Swedes have nothing better to do than worry about whether their hockey players are coming home! (And by Swedes, I mean the press, not all living breathing Swedish people.)

Interesting game, at least the Habs scored some goals. Probably easier since Quebec native Biron wasn't playing tonight. 1st and 2nd periods were OK, but I wasn't too thrilled with the third overall. All the scuffles starting at about the 14 minute mark really slowed the game down, and the players were merely giong through the motions at that point. Gotta love Ruff for continually throwing Boulton and Peters out there in the third.

Don't forget Damphousse!

Nah, I've played goalie before and our regular starter is out of town. Since I never trust anyone that says "i can play nets", I figured I'd do it myself instead of watching someone flop around in the crease like a dying fish. I just need to teach our goalie how to handle the puck better. No way an I playnig nets full time, although it is fun every once in a while. I may play in another, less competitive league and be goalie for that team. Otherwise, I'm still the pain in the ass fat guy flying around out there.

Wow, yellow is hard to see. Otherwise, cool.

Almost every rumour every year is about a Swedish born player going back to play in Sweden. I don't know if it's the Swedish press being hopeful, or what. But it is annoying that at the end of every season Forsberg or Naslund, etc, are supposedly going back to Europe. Doesn't the press over there have anything better to do?