Sabres outlast rival Senators in fight-marred shootout

[Techman]

Koivu has a no trade clause and has said many times that he wants to end his career with the Habs. Don't expect him to be traded.

I can't see them trading Souray in a similar deal to Rivet as long as they have a decent chance to make the playoffs. Depending who they face in the first round, he may give them a hope to at least advance to the second. Without him, I feel that they're dead in the water.

 

[Doc Holliday]

I can't see them trading Souray in a similar deal to Rivet as long as they have a decent chance to make the playoffs. Depending who they face in the first round, he may give them a hope to at least advance to the second. Without him, I feel that they're dead in the water.

Yeah, that's where it gets complicated. I also believe that they'll be going nowhere if they trade Souray, although it's quite possible they'd get a decent younger offensive defenceman in return. Let's face it.....Souray is a major defensive liability & losing him from a defensive perspective wouldn't hurt & might actually be an improvement. Many experts believe he's too slow for the Western Conference, so he'd be even more of a liability on the blue line if traded to that conference. But if i'm offered a first-round pick for him....i think i jump at the chance and cross my fingers that my chances of post-season play are not compromised. Do you have the same feeling as me that tonight's game is crucial to what the Habs will do by tomorrow afternoon? Will tonight's results determine if they'll be buyers or sellers? Who knows, maybe the Leafs feel the same way about tonight's game.

 

[Techman]

Doc, I agree that tonight's game is crucial. If the Habs lose tonight they are definately on the ropes and it wouldnt take much to knock them out of the race. Aebischer is in nets tonight and he usually plays good against the Leafs. Souray is a defensive weak link but his shot from the point makes him a valuable commodity for a team that's decent on defense but missing that extra kick on the power play. That slapshot of his is amazing and very accurate.

Breaking news: On Team990 sports radio they are just announed that, according to some web sites, Kovalev has been put on waivers! No confirmation from the Canadiens but it was announced earlier he'd be playing tonight.

 

[Doc Holliday]

According to some web sites, Kovalev has been put on waivers! No confirmation from the Canadiens but it was announced earlier he'd be playing tonight.

I just read on Slam! that many players were put on waivers, including Hab Aaron Downie. I didn't see Kovy's name on the list, though. What would be the reason for this? It doesn't make sense right now. A team that would be cap-rich and crazy enough to pick him up knows that he'll be available for a roll of puck & a jockstrap by tomorrow's deadline & they'd be foolish to pick up his huge 'unproductive' contract right now (on waivers) instead of making a trade for him & unload some excess salaries/players in the process. Kovy is also quite a head case & putting him on waivers would be very foolish since it would screw up with his head.

I say if they win tonight or get a point in OT, they hold on to Souray. If they lose, he's gone. As for Kovalev, they can't rid of him & its not because they don't want to. Samsonov is in the same boat. One thing i find mysterious is that not much is being said about Andrei Markov's case. He's in the same boat as Souray (and Rivet prior to his departure) yet, no one is taking about a possible upcoming destination for him. I wouldn't be surprised if they hold on to Souray, whom i consider more valuable to the team than Markov is, and trade Markov if a good offer presents itself by tomorrow's deadline. Even if gone for the rest of the season, Markov would still be available to come back as an unrestricted free agent next season.

 

[Robert 21]

http://www.canada.com/montrealgazet...=8b729728-533b-4569-9c5d-d6ebd89ae59e&k=82859

Habs hang on, move into seventh
Habs 5, Leafs 4. Drive Raycroft out with an early blitz

RED FISHER, The Gazette
Published: Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Nobody ever said it would be easy, but do these Canadiens have to make it so hard climbing to No. 7 from No. 9 in the Eastern Conference playoff race?

Easy is taking a 5-2 lead into the third period. Hard is allowing two early goals by the Maple Leafs last night before escaping with a 5-4 victory.

********************************************************

The above Headline says "Habs hang on, move into seventh"......
yes, maybe in Points (72), BUT, per the NHL, they have played 65 Games. Where as Carl has 71 Pts but have only played 64 Games. The NYI have 70 Pts and have only played 62 Games.

*http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app?service=p...sPage&type=CON

If the Eastern Conf Playoffs were to Start*
#1). Buffalo - 87 Pts (62 Games Played) - Off last night, play @ Tor tonight 7:30 p.m. ET
2). NJ - 84 (63) - Beat Wash Sun. 3-2, play @ Pitts tonight 7:30 p.m. ET
3). TBay - 75 (64) - Beat Pitts Sun. 5-1, host Dal tonight 7:30 p.m. ET
4). Ott - 76 (62) - play @ Carl tonight 7 p.m. ET
5). Pitts - 75 (61) - Lost Sun. 5-1 to TBay, host NJ tonight 7:30 p.m. ET
6). Atl - 74 (65) - Beat Bos last night 3-2, host Ott Fri. 7:30 p.m. ET
7). Carl - 71 (64) - host Ott tonight 7 p.m. ET
8). NYI - 70 (62) - host Phil tonight 7:30 p.m. ET
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Living on the Edge
9). Mont - 72 (65) - Beat Tor last night 5-4, @ NYR tonight 7:00 p.m. ET
10). Tor - 69 (63) - Lost last night 5-4 to Mont, host Buff tonight 7:30 p.m. ET
11). Bos - 64 (62) - Lost last night to Atl 3-2, host Phil Thu. 7 p.m. ET
12). NYR - 64 (62) - host Mont tonight 7 p.m. ET


The Habs visit NYR tonight @ 7:00 p.m. ET, then, on Tuesday travel to play the Rangers @ 7 p.m. ET .....Tor will host Buffalo tonight @ 7:30 p.m. ET.