Habs & the playoffs

[EagerBeaver]

Getting outshot 42-21 is eventually going to come back to bite you if it keeps happening, and questions persist about the Canadiens' complete lack of firepower on offense and overdependence on Kovalev. These weaknesses may still be exposed. Furthermore, Huet is a 30 year old journeyman goaltender with no history of consistent success in the playoffs. Indeed, there were questions as to whether he should even start ahead of Aebischer. So those of you who have the Canadiens winning the Stanley Cup after one euphoric win, will you please relax and smell the coffee before you drink it.

 

[StripperLover]

EB,

Pretty hard to have consistent career playoff stats if last night was his 1st ever start in a playoff game.

Once the opposition keys on Kovalev's line it, they focus will be shifted away from Koivu's & opportunites will present themselves for his line to put the puck in the net.

I still don't think that the Habs will win this series but if they do squeak out a win on Monday night, all bets are off, as I do think that they'll surely win at the friendly confines of the Bell Center. If this occurs & they go up 3 - 1 in games, it'll be over for Carolina.

 

[EagerBeaver]

I can't believe what I just saw- Sandis Ozolinsh scored a shorthanded own goal with the Rangers on a 5-3 power play, to give those Devils a 3-0 lead!!!!!!!! I thought own goals only happened in soccer, but Ozolinsh has proven that you can whack a hockey puck into your own net too!

The poor Rangers deserve better than this, to be losing to a one line team and not having any of their own star players healthy!

 

[dude]

The poor Rangers deserve better than this, to be losing to a one line team and not having any of their own star players healthy!

Sorry EB, but your poor rangers are a one-line team. Typical response from a NY Ranger Fan.

BTW, the Devils have 3 lines that can score:

Gionta Gomez Parise
Langerbrunner Brylin Elias
Pandolfo Madden Marshall

Rangers? Jagr Prucha Straka

Fact: Jagr accounted for about 40% of the teams offense this year.

The Devils EGG line was broken up by Lou a few weeks ago, and since then they have had 3 lines rolling. I will admit the Rangers played well today, but the Devils didn't play their best. If the Rangers lose on Wed, its over.

 

[General Gonad]

Fact: Jagr accounted for about 40% of the teams offense this year.

A 'team' that relies so heavily on one man cannot win the cup.

GG

 

[louci4]

Go Habs Go !!!

Hurry before we run out of space on the bandwagon !!!!
Do you believe!!!!!!!

 

[MakeIt]

Habs Beat Canes - Lead Series 2 - 0

Unbelievable - Habs beat the Canes in the 2nd OT 6-5. It was an amazing match starting in the 2nd period when the Canes finally switched goaltenders. Canadians were up 3-0 when they started taking stupid penalities - there was a couple of questionable calls but still prefer the officiating as is. Michael Ryder scored 2 goals including the OT winner. Ribero, Kovalec, Boullion and many other Habs played a great game. They also lost Sheldon Souray after 1st period which may be serious - that will be a big loss. There's been lots of excuses about why the Habs have beaten various stronger teams but they're for real. They're now going back to Montreal with a 2 game lead and the Canes look very beatable. GO HABS GO.

MakeIt

PS EB - Please don't hijack this thread. Habs aren't playing the Rangers - yet.

 

[picasso]

Did you guys see that last goal by Kovalev when he was virtually lined up sideways with the net! Don't know how he threaded that needle but he did it. WOW!

What's even more impressive about these two victories in Carolina is that the
'Canes had one of the best home ice records during the regular season.

 

[picasso]

PS EB - Please don't hijack this thread. Habs aren't playing the Rangers - yet.

Don't worry, NYR are choking big time. They're outta here faster than a NY minute !

 

[MakeIt]

Did you guys see that last goal by Kovalev when he was virtually lined up sideways with the net! Don't know how he threaded that needle but he did it. WOW!

What's even more impressive about these two victories in Carolina is that the
'Canes had one of the best home ice records during the regular season.

That was an amazing shot by Kovalev. Every time i see him play he is more impressive. And he's pretty fast for a veteran.

Its time for the Habs to get their revenge against the Canes.

 

[EagerBeaver]

MakeIt-

The thread title is "Habs & the playoffs." So how have I hijacked the thread?

 

[MakeIt]

MakeIt-

The thread title is "Habs & the playoffs." So how have I hijacked the thread?

I didn't say you hijacked it - I asked you to not hijack it - this would occur by turning this into a discussion about the Rangers. I have no problem with a discussion about the Ranger but a separate thread would be more appropriate. I'm sure there would be a lively discussion about them if you wanted to get that going.

 

[picasso]

Koivu out for game 4

Tough loss last night ! Habs took too many penalties last night in the last 10 min. of regulation and into overtime. That's what did them in. Huet was good enough to get the win. Habs need to lay some good hits and mark Brind'Amour closer. That guy's been a pain in the ass for the Habs. Koivu will be missed but I'd like to see Higgins get some more ice time to fill in the void for Koivu. The guy has speed and some energy and should play more. In Gainey and the Habs we trust for game 4 tomorrow night !

 

[Cosmo]

The habs' lost came down to three names:Cam Ward,Larue and Marouelli.
Those refs definetely cost the habs the game.
Not that they didn't deserved their penalties-but Carolina got away with many questionable hits(Koivu and then Commodore boarding some players whose name I forgot,in the first)
And Huet wasn't particularly sharp against Brind amour.He should've stop this routine shot no matter if ti was slightly defected,still a routine shot.
Carolina got all the breaks in that game-habs deserved better IMHO.
Lets hpoe it won't affect their confidence.
Now Koivu and Begin out of the line-up,it changes the picture.

 

[EagerBeaver]

Go Habs Go
I smell a major upset ... will the Habs take it 4 in a row or will they take it in 5?

How about lose it in 6?

 

[Techman]

The habs just have to play like the Hurricanes...they should start high sticking people in the face and have someone in the crease to hold the goalie down while they score. The officiating is a joke. If it was the other way around we'd never hear the end of it from Carolina.

 

[Cosmo]

Since game no.3 it seems that the Canes have all the breaks.
Where are the Forum ghosts?
Lousy referring,goal posts,lucky goals,broken stick,lucky bounce, ect...every thing turns in their favor.
I don't want to sound like sore looser,but let's face it,it's fact,THEY'RE LUCKY!!!
The Habs should be ahead at least 3-1.
But let's not desperate,hopefully the luck will turn around.

 

[Techman]

I can deal with minor infractions being missed, and with the lucky breaks. But the high sticking not being called and goalie interference leading to winning goals...that's when it starts getting ridiculous. And maybe if Gainey would start showing a little backbone behind the bench and talk to the referees when some of these things happen it would help a bit too. I'm getting a little tired of his stoic statue act. I don't expect him to start doing a Michel Bergeron act but a little emotion wouldn't kill him.

I think the Forum ghosts are still at the corner of Atwater and Ste-Catherine. Maybe they should hold a seance at the Bell Center to get them to show up.

 

[picasso]

Get mad AND get even

What really pisses me off in the last two games is the officiating or the lack thereof. Carolina's Justin Williams is getting away with near murder in this series. It's amazing how the refs haven't penalized that bastard on at least two blatant high-sticking incidents. First he takes out Koivu with a stick near the eye then in the last game he highsticks Markov. Another no call??? Fuck that... I say if the Habs are getting called for penalties then at least make those penalties count. Put Downey on Williams and rough him up a little. Habs need to play mad and a lot more physical, esp. on Williams and Brind'Amour to revert this ridiculous trend.

 

[Cosmo]

But if the refs were doing their jobs,they wouldn't need to play rough.
BUT unfortunately they don't.
And don't count on Gainey to send some of his players at war.