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Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Guy! Guy! Guy!, Habs Unseat Sens & Other Good Times

HABS RIDE 3 GAME WIN STREAK INTO DETROIT FRIDAY

The Canadiens are now riding a 3 game winning streak -- also winners of 4 out of 5 -- thanks to a nice, but somewhat lacklustre 4-1 victory over Ottawa last night at the Bell Centre. I say lacklustre because in the 2nd period it was starting to look like "one of those games" where the Habs should have been up by 3 or 4 goals and instead were squandering opportunities that could (and usually) come back to haunt them.

But on this night, the Senators showed why they are now one of the lowest scoring teams in the league because they hardly mustered any offensive fight after the Habs completely blew both a 5 minute and a 4 minute man advantage in the 2nd period.

After trading powerplay goals in the 1st period (Sens goal coming with less than 10 seconds on the clock, ugh), the Habs played much of the 2nd on the powerplay but came off uninspired and frankly, looked bored on the ice. Although they should have put at least one or two away, or in the least, created some serious offensive momentum, the Canadiens were actually lucky to go to the 3rd tied 1-1. Price made some key saves, but it was really the lack of any Sens pressure that helped the Habs out on this night.

As they came out for the 3rd, you could tell someone had lit a fire under the team's bums... or better yet, you could see the imprint of Jacques Martin's shoe on many of their backsides, because they quickly provided a much better effort. And the Habs depth continued to shine through as Jeff Halpern put the team up 2-1 on a nice solo effort, then Captain Gionta icing the game on a 2 on 1 with Andrei Kostitsyn.

P.K. Subban was a healthy scratch for the 3rd straight game, but many of the tv commentators were calling for Subban to be back in the lineup on Friday given the team's poor powerplays. Someone is going to have to sit. Weber had another good game last night and definitely does not look out of place. I say sit Picard. Even if he's also playing well, it would be a rare glimpse into the future by seeing both Weber and Subban manning the Montreal blue line.

What would you do?

Meanwhile, as bad as the PP was last night, entering last night's game, the Habs had the 11th best powerplay in the league. Not too shabby considering the terrible start for the PP at season's start, and the fact that Andrei Markov is out. And with a league-leading penalty unit, you can see how crucial special teams are to this team's success.

GUY! GUY! GUY!

Where else but Montreal would you find 16 000 screaming fans applauding a bunch of old bags skating around in pain!? On a Sunday afternoon, no less. Well that's exactly what happened this past Sunday to celebrate Guy Lafleur's final tour of duty as a hockey player. A bunch of old favs from years past joined Guy on this very special day, including Jacques Demers as Habs legends coach.

Lafleur posed with the trophies he won as a player, scored a hat trick (putting it under the bar for the 3rd) and saluted the fans. Total class. The fans responded with a 5 minute round of applause for Le Demond Blond to end the game. Ginette Reno did the anthems -- avec passion. Reminded me of Roger Doucet's widow Geraldine who performed the task after her husband's death. They should get someone like this again -- someone with passion, who gives the players and fans goosebumps. I find the guy doing it now kind of lame and boring...

Btw, Chris Nilan played and scored a goal! He looks great too, considering he's been put through the ringer. Chris Nilan on a breakaway...

They don't make 'em like The Flower anymore. He was the best player of his generation and is truly the source of many happy childhood memories of mine. Love that guy, Guy!!!!!!!!

Thanks for the memories Guy!!!!!!!!!!!!!


HABS FAN IN LEAFLAND AT ACC ON SATURDAY

Thanks to a good buddy I will be in attendance for the Habs/Leafs tilt this coming Saturday. The Canadiens have no business losing this game, but it's always a toss up when the Habs play the Leafs. If Komisarek continues to make great passes to Cammellari though, we shouldn't have a problem :)

I won't be in the dressing room, but I will post pics of the Habs as they leave the room for the ice. Habs play in Detroit the night before, but the Leafs play 3 games in 4 nights... so no excuses!!

1 comment:

  1. Thanks for the memories. Guy Lafleur was an exciting player to watch. Literally every time he came down the right side, hair flying and defensemen chasing, you knew he could wind up and score. And I liked that Chris Nilan reference on a breakaway...Unfortunately, I now have Don Cole's voice in my head, not Danny Gallivan's...

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