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I finally watched a HABS game on TV. Albeit it was a team mainly composed of our prospects and the one line of vets won't be playing togeather to begin the season, and the goaltender is was not our number 1 goalie. Add in the fact that the feed was difficult to follow given the close proximity of the camera to the ice. Blah blah blah blah.....IT WAS GREAT!!!
It feels like that first sip of turpentine after a long day at work (yes turpentine...don't tell me you've never been out of beer, nail polish polished off, too lazy to go to dep). I got my fix and I can last till Saturday. Saturday's game should give me enough of a dose to make it to October 4th, where we see our full roster with the lines slotted to begin the regular season.
In the meanwhile, what about last night's result? We won...hardly says anything about the upcoming season, much like the game on Monday. It does not however disallow me from making individual assessments:
Maxime Lapierre has got a long way to go to impress the coaching staff before earning a roster spot. Last night's performance was worse than anythjing he put on the ice last year. Perhaps it's simply a case of the cob-webs, but he will have to shake them off if he wants to begin the season on the fourth line.
Denis was not spectacular in net, but he more than adequately showed he has got the skills, and some, to be a back-up in the NHL level. Then again most of us who understand the circumstantial failure and crucifictionof Denis in Tampa knew he is a much better goalie than he's been made out to be.
Finally our young vets...Plec and the Kostitsysn bros...they'll be just fine come puck drop on the season opener. Some passes were still shaky and Sergei has some more web to shake off, but nothing suggested last year that they will all go on to better their superb efforts last year.
And finally, congrats to hockey town. Last night's events are something they will remember for a decade and some.
MN Scoreboard
NL Standings
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
IT BEGINS!!
I don't know about you guys, but I've had quite enough of summer and golf. Yes I said i had enough of summer. Despite the fact that many of you snow haters out there are cursing me and trying to counter my jinx, I don't care. I've been HABLESS for far too long. I just bought a new 50 inch TV, I've re-jigged and upgraded my HABS shrine, I've ensured all members of the family have HABS jerseys and apparel (including the yet to be born Wee-HLD) and I have worked off all my beer/pizza/chicken wings/peanuts/finger food/pop corn fat over the summer.
Now I look forward to "chilaxin'" in my lazy boy, watching the HABS in large format on over an HD feed, spending quality time with my ere and (soon to be born) princess, and working on regaining my well earned hockey spectator fat. Snow and cold is a side-effect of, and comes hand in hand with the HABS season. So bring on the cold, bring on the winter, bring on all the nasty nuances that come along with ;'hiver, as long as I can get my HABS on TV A.S.A.P.
Now I look forward to "chilaxin'" in my lazy boy, watching the HABS in large format on over an HD feed, spending quality time with my ere and (soon to be born) princess, and working on regaining my well earned hockey spectator fat. Snow and cold is a side-effect of, and comes hand in hand with the HABS season. So bring on the cold, bring on the winter, bring on all the nasty nuances that come along with ;'hiver, as long as I can get my HABS on TV A.S.A.P.
First Pre-Season Game 2008/2009: Bruins 8 - Bulldogs 3
Watching the clips of the game, I have completely re-charged and re-fueled my hatred for the Bruins. First off the match-up was ridiculously off, and a passive team under Julien's defensive system seemed more interested in running up the score-board than developing their system for the upcoming season (their loss..it's wasted time and opportunity on their part).
Second, the bitter few from last year are still holding grudges and used a "cheap-shot" mentality to drag smaller and disinterested ones into fights. Begin was a clear underdog and although he is willing to drop the gloves to earn a roster spot, I doubt he went into that fight so readily. As for Andrei Kostitsyn...what on earth would our most promising forward do dropping the gloves if he wasn't dragged into it by the collar.
The Bruins appear to have picked up where they left off: More preoccupied about getting back to us and trying to combat their inferiority complex vis-a-vis the HABS (as derived by their coaches "hurt-feelings" for getting the boot) and are NOT focused on their game. This will, once again, be their downfall during the regular season, when the "W" counts. Let them continue playing cheap, low-brow, and un-focused hockey. Let the baby have their bottle and score some goals against our AHL team. We can all revisit this conversation when we meet them on the 15th of October.
Final score: Boston 8 - Hamilton 3 Like taking candy from a baby
Second, the bitter few from last year are still holding grudges and used a "cheap-shot" mentality to drag smaller and disinterested ones into fights. Begin was a clear underdog and although he is willing to drop the gloves to earn a roster spot, I doubt he went into that fight so readily. As for Andrei Kostitsyn...what on earth would our most promising forward do dropping the gloves if he wasn't dragged into it by the collar.
The Bruins appear to have picked up where they left off: More preoccupied about getting back to us and trying to combat their inferiority complex vis-a-vis the HABS (as derived by their coaches "hurt-feelings" for getting the boot) and are NOT focused on their game. This will, once again, be their downfall during the regular season, when the "W" counts. Let them continue playing cheap, low-brow, and un-focused hockey. Let the baby have their bottle and score some goals against our AHL team. We can all revisit this conversation when we meet them on the 15th of October.
Final score: Boston 8 - Hamilton 3 Like taking candy from a baby
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
WE DID IT AND WE DID IT IN STYLE
Well my fellow MN junkies, we have been in here all year long, we have had ups, downs all in a grand scheme to wait for this moment. MN=0. We’re the first team to clinch in the East, we are in first in our Conference in NL, we have beat the Sens and most importantly we have given our selves a huge hand in trying to defend the top seat in our Division.
I don’t want to get into the game too much so as not to ruin all the uushio mooshie happiness and thanks we got going around here, but I have to make a quick comment about the third. I am almost positive that in the second intermission, the HABS thought at 7-1 it’s over. Furthermore, Ottawa had a game the following night, so a logical person, including myself, would have thought that they would have packed it in to save their energy and pick up two points the following night. On top of that, with Komisarek out and players well aware of injuries increasing at this time of year given the higher intensity levels, it was a no brainer to take the foot off the gas, if not only to be a bunch of sportsmen and not try to run up the score board.
Than the third starts and Ottawa got a goal. Then two. Only after the second that it clicked (and you could tell this by the urgency of the players) that the Sens were trying to mount an improbable comeback. By the time we got back into game mode they were within three with all the momentum. It didn’t help that this eternal struggle for parity by the league lead to one sided call through out the third.
So what’s the bottom line. With no games till Friday, the HABS had no reason to NOT play the third. However they had several reasons to take it easy in keeping the bigger picture in mind for the playoffs. The Sens have over exurted them selves, both psychologicfally and emotionally, and now they risk loosing their game tonight. Odds are Buffalo will burry them and we’ll have even a greater lead. And finally, most importantly, once again circumstances somewhat screwed with our logic (and a sound logic at that) however the HABS, once more, found a way to win as they have through out the wholes season.
Net net, we’re #1, we’re three wins away from clinching a relatively easy first round against Boston or Philly, and we’ve got that asterisk next to our clubs name.
With the game analysis out of the way, let me thank you all, the Mn execs who ensured all activities ran promptly and smoothly, and the readers who kept this place one of the most active locations in the Montreal Canadiens official fan forum.
This year we have brought this thread to an unanticipated level. The fact that we were awarded our own sub-forum speaks volumes of this topic’s, and this group’s value and contribution to this online community of hard-core HABS fans. It was good to see old faces return, and new ones join in on the fun. I can honestly say that this sub-forum has been a regular part of my daily life, and I look forward to doing it all over again next year, although it may be in a different capacity.
For now we have the MN party to look forward to (metaus reserve the tables in the blond’s section), a playoff series that looks promising for our boys, and the first official MN-Playoffs ever (with 16 player tree and trophy and everything), and five more games of fun and games.
Given the on-going activities, I will keep the sub-forum open. However I will slowly begin to shut down threads as their time-line runs out. I will no longer be updating NL standings, however mateus will keep us all informed about the playoff picture via the NO-GO table. The Prediction game goes on till the end of the year (as per a suggestion long ago by CH) and I’ll leave the jeopardy open till the regular season ends.
Voila mes amis. Je vous remercie pour toutes vos efforts cet annees, et je suis sur qu’on accomplirait encore plus l’annee prochaine.
I don’t want to get into the game too much so as not to ruin all the uushio mooshie happiness and thanks we got going around here, but I have to make a quick comment about the third. I am almost positive that in the second intermission, the HABS thought at 7-1 it’s over. Furthermore, Ottawa had a game the following night, so a logical person, including myself, would have thought that they would have packed it in to save their energy and pick up two points the following night. On top of that, with Komisarek out and players well aware of injuries increasing at this time of year given the higher intensity levels, it was a no brainer to take the foot off the gas, if not only to be a bunch of sportsmen and not try to run up the score board.
Than the third starts and Ottawa got a goal. Then two. Only after the second that it clicked (and you could tell this by the urgency of the players) that the Sens were trying to mount an improbable comeback. By the time we got back into game mode they were within three with all the momentum. It didn’t help that this eternal struggle for parity by the league lead to one sided call through out the third.
So what’s the bottom line. With no games till Friday, the HABS had no reason to NOT play the third. However they had several reasons to take it easy in keeping the bigger picture in mind for the playoffs. The Sens have over exurted them selves, both psychologicfally and emotionally, and now they risk loosing their game tonight. Odds are Buffalo will burry them and we’ll have even a greater lead. And finally, most importantly, once again circumstances somewhat screwed with our logic (and a sound logic at that) however the HABS, once more, found a way to win as they have through out the wholes season.
Net net, we’re #1, we’re three wins away from clinching a relatively easy first round against Boston or Philly, and we’ve got that asterisk next to our clubs name.
With the game analysis out of the way, let me thank you all, the Mn execs who ensured all activities ran promptly and smoothly, and the readers who kept this place one of the most active locations in the Montreal Canadiens official fan forum.
This year we have brought this thread to an unanticipated level. The fact that we were awarded our own sub-forum speaks volumes of this topic’s, and this group’s value and contribution to this online community of hard-core HABS fans. It was good to see old faces return, and new ones join in on the fun. I can honestly say that this sub-forum has been a regular part of my daily life, and I look forward to doing it all over again next year, although it may be in a different capacity.
For now we have the MN party to look forward to (metaus reserve the tables in the blond’s section), a playoff series that looks promising for our boys, and the first official MN-Playoffs ever (with 16 player tree and trophy and everything), and five more games of fun and games.
Given the on-going activities, I will keep the sub-forum open. However I will slowly begin to shut down threads as their time-line runs out. I will no longer be updating NL standings, however mateus will keep us all informed about the playoff picture via the NO-GO table. The Prediction game goes on till the end of the year (as per a suggestion long ago by CH) and I’ll leave the jeopardy open till the regular season ends.
Voila mes amis. Je vous remercie pour toutes vos efforts cet annees, et je suis sur qu’on accomplirait encore plus l’annee prochaine.
Monday, March 24, 2008
JUNIOR'S ANALYSIS
Since I’m at home today taking care of the fruit of my loins, I figured it would be a kind and peace offering gesture to let HLD Junior have a go at today’s analysis. In return for this kind offering, I’m hoping he will be enticed to keep in his #2 until mommy gets home, because it’s too cold outside to let him roam diaper free. So here’s what offspring wants to say:
Fgddfvbggbvghjkjkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk….,,.,,.,,,.,.l.,,..,,l,l,,ll,kl,l,l,l,l,l
OK it may not seem like much, but there is a built in code. Once I crack it I’ll get back to you ;) I an however fairly certain the last part means Oleeee Olee Oleee Oleeeeeeeeeeeee GO HABS GO!
Fgddfvbggbvghjkjkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk….,,.,,.,,,.,.l.,,..,,l,l,,ll,kl,l,l,l,l,l
OK it may not seem like much, but there is a built in code. Once I crack it I’ll get back to you ;) I an however fairly certain the last part means Oleeee Olee Oleee Oleeeeeeeeeeeee GO HABS GO!
Sunday, March 23, 2008
MN DOWN TO 2
Well it was almost a clan sweep, but a sweep none the less. The best thing we can hope for now is to face the emotionally shattered Bruins in the playoffs for an “easy” first round match-up.
The home and home series proved to be fruitful, at a cost. We further expanded our lead over the Sens to 1.5 NL, and we’re within 0.5 (1NL with tie breaking) from first in the conference. A win Monday night would not only clinch a playoff birth for our boys, but would be a huge emotional victory over the cursed Sens. It would further increase our lead to 2.5 NL and we would be that much closer to MN DIVISION, which is the number two priority for us after MN PLAYOFFS.
The cost for all of this was Mike Komisarek, He’s out for three weeks and it doesn’t take a genius (especially after last night’s performance on D) to figure out how much of an impact this will have on us. The up side to all this is that some of our younger guys will have more responsibility to deal with and a chance to mature and develop prior to the playoffs. Unless I recall, a certain Mike Komisarek went through a similar process and never left the first line. This injury could potentially yield dividends in the long run, however in the short term I hope Mike comes back asap, but not before he is 100%, because I anticipate we will need him into the second and third rounds of the playoffs. Anyone else think Pens vs HABS is a possibility for the Conference final?
The home and home series proved to be fruitful, at a cost. We further expanded our lead over the Sens to 1.5 NL, and we’re within 0.5 (1NL with tie breaking) from first in the conference. A win Monday night would not only clinch a playoff birth for our boys, but would be a huge emotional victory over the cursed Sens. It would further increase our lead to 2.5 NL and we would be that much closer to MN DIVISION, which is the number two priority for us after MN PLAYOFFS.
The cost for all of this was Mike Komisarek, He’s out for three weeks and it doesn’t take a genius (especially after last night’s performance on D) to figure out how much of an impact this will have on us. The up side to all this is that some of our younger guys will have more responsibility to deal with and a chance to mature and develop prior to the playoffs. Unless I recall, a certain Mike Komisarek went through a similar process and never left the first line. This injury could potentially yield dividends in the long run, however in the short term I hope Mike comes back asap, but not before he is 100%, because I anticipate we will need him into the second and third rounds of the playoffs. Anyone else think Pens vs HABS is a possibility for the Conference final?
Friday, March 21, 2008
MN DOWN TO 6
The Magic Number is down to six points after another win against the Bruins last night. More importantly however, we still have the upper hand against the Sens. I would sleep much better at night however if we had a minimum of 4.5 NL points lead against.
Carey Price was simply spectacular last night. He was sharp, focused, fast and well p[laced. His puck handling had one or two scary moments, but all in all it helped our transition game immensely. This is where Price excels against Halak (and why his joib is not in trouble) because if Price doesn’t have his puck working abilities behind the net, last night’s game against the hard checking, hard hitting and hard skating Bruins would have been no different from our game against St. Louis.
The Alex Kovalev show hosted another spectacular set of reels last night, and I believe that second goal will be on the top ten goals of the year in the NHL. It appears when Tomas is facing Kovalev the puck seems like the size of a raisin.
I am eagerly waiting to hear what Komisarek’s situation is. “Lower body injuries” are usually long ones if the player can’t even finish the game with some patch work. I’ll keep my fingers crossed.
It was nice to see Andrei Kostitsyn get more ice time on the point during the power play. It’s times like this I wonder if Carbo and myself are twins separated at birth, or whether he comes on here to read my posts. Either way its good to know that hockey sense prevails both in the HABS locker room and in here.
The Booins (being the dirty bastards they are against us) had their goons on the ice (once more) to end the game and “set-the tone” for the next game. The only thing they set was their grave, and this was in part thanks to the referees. They really did us a favour last night for once. Now don’t freak out…I did see the missed call on Tomas against Maxim Lapierre (similar move that cost Ray Emery a three game suspension) and how that resulted in a rush, and another missed call on goaltender interference against the Bruins, which incidentally lead to a goal. This incident worked in a favour in the long run. We were up 4-1, and another power play would have meant nothing. Getting scored on towards the end, getting cheated out of a power play, and having the reffs blatantly ignore calls to help the “underdog” in their eternal efforts for parity in the league is exactly the type of motivation this team needs to stay away from over confidence. If we had won that game 5-1, we would have approached the Saturday game at home against a team who are 0-7 against us, expecting the two points to fall on our laps. Those last few minutes and events however should (hopefully) light enough of a fire to keep the team focused, working, skating and hungry for the win.
Now I must go eat. I’m on a long weekend, so eggs, bacon, pancakes, beans, crepes, potatoes and ham all covered in maple syrup for me. Tis the weekend for all the luxuries in life!
Carey Price was simply spectacular last night. He was sharp, focused, fast and well p[laced. His puck handling had one or two scary moments, but all in all it helped our transition game immensely. This is where Price excels against Halak (and why his joib is not in trouble) because if Price doesn’t have his puck working abilities behind the net, last night’s game against the hard checking, hard hitting and hard skating Bruins would have been no different from our game against St. Louis.
The Alex Kovalev show hosted another spectacular set of reels last night, and I believe that second goal will be on the top ten goals of the year in the NHL. It appears when Tomas is facing Kovalev the puck seems like the size of a raisin.
I am eagerly waiting to hear what Komisarek’s situation is. “Lower body injuries” are usually long ones if the player can’t even finish the game with some patch work. I’ll keep my fingers crossed.
It was nice to see Andrei Kostitsyn get more ice time on the point during the power play. It’s times like this I wonder if Carbo and myself are twins separated at birth, or whether he comes on here to read my posts. Either way its good to know that hockey sense prevails both in the HABS locker room and in here.
The Booins (being the dirty bastards they are against us) had their goons on the ice (once more) to end the game and “set-the tone” for the next game. The only thing they set was their grave, and this was in part thanks to the referees. They really did us a favour last night for once. Now don’t freak out…I did see the missed call on Tomas against Maxim Lapierre (similar move that cost Ray Emery a three game suspension) and how that resulted in a rush, and another missed call on goaltender interference against the Bruins, which incidentally lead to a goal. This incident worked in a favour in the long run. We were up 4-1, and another power play would have meant nothing. Getting scored on towards the end, getting cheated out of a power play, and having the reffs blatantly ignore calls to help the “underdog” in their eternal efforts for parity in the league is exactly the type of motivation this team needs to stay away from over confidence. If we had won that game 5-1, we would have approached the Saturday game at home against a team who are 0-7 against us, expecting the two points to fall on our laps. Those last few minutes and events however should (hopefully) light enough of a fire to keep the team focused, working, skating and hungry for the win.
Now I must go eat. I’m on a long weekend, so eggs, bacon, pancakes, beans, crepes, potatoes and ham all covered in maple syrup for me. Tis the weekend for all the luxuries in life!
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