Game #81- Canadiens @ Carolina - April 8th - 7:30pm Est

[Hawker_mtl]

If the Habs' playoff future comes down to Saturday, I'm very afraid that a desperate Habs team vs a proud Leafs team looking to spoil is going to end up in injuries once again. I don't know what it is with these games against the Leafs, but we always seem to lose somebody to injury.

Come on boys, get 'er done tonight!

[fourtrax]

Huh? As I remember that game, we were buzzing around the Carolina net for the better part of two periods, but Ward was spectacular and the 'Canes scored an absolutely garbage goal to get back into it. It was in the third period where we did our usual defensive shell that cost us.

That's what's bugging me. Defensive shell. It's akin to using tanks and planes to stop Godzilla. It doesn't work (unless your team's name contains either "Philadelphia" or "Flyers"), so give it up already!

That being said, all we need to do is reach OT and we're in. Bury 'em!

Huh. You might be right. I think I'm thinking of another Carolina game from this year.

[Hawker_mtl]

Huh. You might be right. I think I'm thinking of another Carolina game from this year.

I think it was somewhere in between. From what I remember, Ward was definitely the difference in the 1st. The 2nd wasn't great but was made a lot worse by that garbage goal that Hamrlik put in his own net, and in the 3rd the team only had one player who even looked like he was playing, Price.

A lot of people think Ward stole that game, but we really made it easy for him outside of the first period. Every shot from the outside in plain view, no traffic, no rebounds, no net presence whatsoever.

[leafs_rock_go_mccabe]

If the Habs' playoff future comes down to Saturday, I'm very afraid that a desperate Habs team vs a proud Leafs team looking to spoil is going to end up in injuries once again. I don't know what it is with these games against the Leafs, but we always seem to lose somebody to injury.

Come on boys, get 'er done tonight!

Well, in a perfect world , Montreal would win tonight! Then I say screw position and rest our star players on Saturday. We're going to play a team ahead of us... Someone "better" than us, anyway. Should we really be THAT concerned if it's going to be Buffalo or Washington or New Jersey or Pittsburgh? Each team is excellent, but each has a fault or two, as well.

[Telly_39_s_1]

Well, in a perfect world , Montreal would win tonight! Then I say screw position and rest our star players on Saturday. We're going to play a team ahead of us... Someone "better" than us, anyway. Should we really be THAT concerned if it's going to be Buffalo or Washington or New Jersey or Pittsburgh? Each team is excellent, but each has a fault or two, as well.

New Jersey? lol

Saturday will be all about trying to avoid the Devils as far as I'm concerned. I just don't like our chances against Brodeur and his underlings.

[Hawker_mtl]

Well, in a perfect world , Montreal would win tonight! Then I say screw position and rest our star players on Saturday. We're going to play a team ahead of us... Someone "better" than us, anyway. Should we really be THAT concerned if it's going to be Buffalo or Washington or New Jersey or Pittsburgh? Each team is excellent, but each has a fault or two, as well.

I'm not too concerned about positioning. The only guarantee right now is that the team who finishes 8th will play the Caps, who IMO is one of the better matchups for the Habs. High-tempo, suspect D, suspect goaltending... not a bad record against them this year. Aside from 8th, there is pretty much equal chance of playing NJ, Pitts, and Buffalo. Only one of those 3 do I think the Habs could take (Buffalo). They'd have an outside chance against Pitt, but if NJ is the opponent it's good night Montreal.

[Rondalsf]

So one point left to clinch against a team that has had our number for a while. If we don't get this elusive point, which we already should have had, well we all know who we play on Saturday.

So the board is split. Half of us are cheering loud & proud for our beloved Habs the other half is being realistic although somewhat negative.

I think the effort put forth tonight will also show us what type of effort we will see in the playoffs, if we make it.

For myself, I am catiously optimistic.

GO HABS GO !

[RocketPower]

HABS better not stand around like they did in the 3rd period against the Isles - let your guard down a bit game over -play a full 60 minutes !!!!.

GO HABS GO !!!!

[fobear]

Halak is in

Spacek is in

Darche and Maxwell sit.

Would have like to see Price starting...

http://habsinsideout.com/main/32400

[fourtrax]

Halak is in

Spacek is in

Darche and Maxwell sit.

Would have like to see Price starting...

http://habsinsideout.com/main/32400

Hooray for Spacek starting, thus bringing an end to the reign of terror of the Hamrlik-MAB pairing.

[ComradeRuskie]

From Habs inside/out:

The Canadiens will dress six and a half defencemen tonight as Jaroslav Spacek returns to the lineup after missing three games the flu. The half is Marc-André Bergeron, who will play both defence and forward.

Jaroslav Halak will start in goal while the odd men out are Mathieu Darche and Ben Maxwell.

----------

So Bergeron will play both defence and offence? Why? Is Darche not good enough?

I am glad that Halak is in the nets. I hope today he will be his wall-self.

[Dnjscott]

A better question might be: if the team is always mediocre, why should the fans be anything but realistic in their assessment of our chances?

I love how the fans are somehow expected to be unrealistically positive (which some were doing at exactly this time last season, after which we got bounced in four games in the first round -- that positivity sure bore fruit, didn't it?) but we simply can't expect professional hockey players who make more money in one year than I'll likely make in my entire lifetime to be self-motivated enough to, you know, win games because of what's at stake, and not because the fans are gosh-darn cheering them on.

The teams that win the Stanley Cup don't need the fans to build castles in the sky in order for them to win.

Well said, Weep, and very true.

I can be realistic, and still cheer for the team during the game, which I always do. But it's frustrating to see what happens with frightening regularity, season after season, with this organization.

Take tonight, for example. The Habs can clinch a playoff spot by winning. Carolina is a team below us in the standings, and out of the playoff picture. They have nothing to play for. Habs should win, right? Just like last game against the Islanders?

You know what I think will really happen? We will already be looking ahead to the next (and last) game by the time the second period is over....maybe even by the end of the first. I'm predicting Carolina has a four or five goal lead after two. I mean, it's too perfect. A zillion things have to go wrong for the Habs to miss the playoffs, so if there's any team in the league who would find a way to fall into that hole, it's Montreal. Plus, we play Toronto for the season closer. Again, just perfect. I predict the Habs lose that one, too, ast the Laffs skate circles around us. After all, they are a team below us in the standings, out of the playoff picture, with nothing to play for. Then we'll be left shaking our heads as all the other teams fighting for those final playoff positions got EXACTLY the number of points they needed, and we get an early golf season.

I hope I'm wrong, but watching this team over the last 18 years or so has taught me their habits. What should I do, pretend all those meltdowns never happened? And what's really frustrating is that it doesn't have to be that way. Training camp doesn't have to be a party camp. Players should NEVER be allowed to mail it in, especially in key games. This team should skate to win all the time. That's what the CH used to stand for. This "playing not to lose" is a sure way to do just that.....lose.

It's too bad, because I really believed Martin would do as he said, and "change the culture" in Montreal. But I haven't seen much change of anything. We're still fighting for the last playoff spot, we still play game after game of poor execution of the fundamentals of hockey, we still lackadaisically float around in critical games, and we ALWAYS go down in flames (or worse, self-destruct) at the end, instead of going down fighting like warriors.

I support the team by being a loyal fan....but I won't praise laziness by shouting "good job, boys" when the game they just played is another stinker. Just like the championship, they have to earn it.

[Hawker_mtl]

Halak is in

Spacek is in

Darche and Maxwell sit.

Would have like to see Price starting...

http://habsinsideout.com/main/32400

Halak in, good.

Spacek in, good.

Darche and Maxwell sitting, not so good. Our 4th line has provided a lot of energy lately. Why break that up? Not worth MAB's PP presence.

Take tonight, for example. The Habs can clinch a playoff spot by winning. Carolina is a team below us in the standings, and out of the playoff picture. They have nothing to play for. Habs should win, right? Just like last game against the Islanders?

To be fair, I think last time we played them it was mentioned that Carolina has the 2nd best record in the league since January or December.

[DXStriker]

I wish Darche stayed in. That line has been amazing but either way

GO HALAK AND HABS!!!!

[HabsRuleLaffsDrool_mtl]

The Habs only need a point to clinch a spot... I hope they go for the 2 points.

Can't wait to hear what team 990 has to say on my way to work.

Halak back in nets tonight... Guess JM has finally made his choice for this season. I say it's a good call, ride the hot goalie. Next season is next season... And the #1 spot will be up for grabs once again.

Let's go boys, we need this win, don't want it to come down to the leafs.

Status quo, Halak has started after overtime and shootout losses a few times this season. He's still yet to start after a regulation loss though.

What worries me about tonight is Spacek being back in the lineup. I have not liked what I have seen from him all year long.

[mtl_-amp-danny]

Halak in, good.

Spacek in, good.

Darche and Maxwell sitting, not so good. Our 4th line has provided a lot of energy lately. Why break that up? Not worth MAB's PP presence.

I'll be right up front and say it, I don't care for MAB. During the last game on the first power play he was set up for a one timer from the point and he didn't take the shot. I was screeming at the TV, what the %$#@ are you doing? THAT's WHY YOU ARE THERE...SHOOT! A very frustrating player who appears uncertain and unsure of himself most of the time. Alaways looking to pass off. Shoot the puck man, that's your job. Otherwise what is the point of him in the line-up? I don't get it. At least Darche is rugged and tries hard and has a bit of a nose for the net.

[mtl_-amp-danny]

What worries me about tonight is Spacek being back in the lineup. I have not liked what I have seen from him all year long.

Agree and disagree. At the start of the season I wondered if we got a player named Spacedout instead of Spacek. After the Olympics I thought he was our best defenceman and so did a lot of others including the media. It was Markov who semed to have been the letdown coming back from the break, so I welcome Spacek back. Plus Hamrlik can't play the right side D position and that showed against the Isles. So with Spacek back Hamrlik is back on the left where he belongs.

[RSD]

From Habs inside/out:

The Canadiens will dress six and a half defencemen tonight as Jaroslav Spacek returns to the lineup after missing three games the flu. The half is Marc-André Bergeron, who will play both defence and forward.

Jaroslav Halak will start in goal while the odd men out are Mathieu Darche and Ben Maxwell.

----------

So Bergeron will play both defence and offence? Why? Is Darche not good enough?

I am glad that Halak is in the nets. I hope today he will be his wall-self.

no, mab will play as a forward on the 4th line...darche is sitting because we cant have both him and mab in the line...they opt to keep mab on the 4th line for his pp shot...they say 6.5 cause mab is playing as a forward...or maybe they're saying mab's defensive skills equal half a dman

[Guest olddude]

Well said, Weep, and very true.

I can be realistic, and still cheer for the team during the game, which I always do. But it's frustrating to see what happens with frightening regularity, season after season, with this organization.

Take tonight, for example. The Habs can clinch a playoff spot by winning. Carolina is a team below us in the standings, and out of the playoff picture. They have nothing to play for. Habs should win, right? Just like last game against the Islanders?

You know what I think will really happen? We will already be looking ahead to the next (and last) game by the time the second period is over....maybe even by the end of the first. I'm predicting Carolina has a four or five goal lead after two. I mean, it's too perfect. A zillion things have to go wrong for the Habs to miss the playoffs, so if there's any team in the league who would find a way to fall into that hole, it's Montreal. Plus, we play Toronto for the season closer. Again, just perfect. I predict the Habs lose that one, too, ast the Laffs skate circles around us. After all, they are a team below us in the standings, out of the playoff picture, with nothing to play for. Then we'll be left shaking our heads as all the other teams fighting for those final playoff positions got EXACTLY the number of points they needed, and we get an early golf season.

I hope I'm wrong, but watching this team over the last 18 years or so has taught me their habits. What should I do, pretend all those meltdowns never happened? And what's really frustrating is that it doesn't have to be that way. Training camp doesn't have to be a party camp. Players should NEVER be allowed to mail it in, especially in key games. This team should skate to win all the time. That's what the CH used to stand for. This "playing not to lose" is a sure way to do just that.....lose.

It's too bad, because I really believed Martin would do as he said, and "change the culture" in Montreal. But I haven't seen much change of anything. We're still fighting for the last playoff spot, we still play game after game of poor execution of the fundamentals of hockey, we still lackadaisically float around in critical games, and we ALWAYS go down in flames (or worse, self-destruct) at the end, instead of going down fighting like warriors.

I support the team by being a loyal fan....but I won't praise laziness by shouting "good job, boys" when the game they just played is another stinker. Just like the championship, they have to earn it.

Well said, and rather than rambling on about the same things, if you don't mind, I'll just echo your comments.

I will say that as sad as it is, hockey is no longer the game it use to be. For the most part, it's not about pride, team spirit or any other noble thing, it's all about the money.

IMO, the only way to win a cup with the way the league is run now, is to suck for several years and get the top draft picks, then hope the kids win you a cup before they sign their first big contracts and become too expensive to keep together as a team.

As long as Canadian teams are subsidizing American teams (revenue sharing) that do not generate enough revenue to belong in the NHL, thus allowing them to offer crazy contracts, that they could not otherwise afford, to the top players, on our dime, we will continue to get what we deserve.

There is something wrong when people in the deep south can attend several games for less than the price of one game in Canada and offer contracts of 7 to 10+ years @ 8,9 or 10 million to attract "star" players.

[gracie12]

I love how the fans are somehow expected to be unrealistically positive (which some were doing at exactly this time last season, after which we got bounced in four games in the first round -- that positivity sure bore fruit, didn't it?)

I dont disagree with your sentiment, Weep, but I will say the same thing I said last year:

You ask: Why be positive - and the flipside is: Why be negative? We watch hockey because (presumably) we love it. Its a pleasure activity - otherwise we would just be doing something else we enjoy. If i have to sit there and be critical about everything, whats the point? Why not just go read a book instead & wait for the habs to be a dynasty again & then start watching.

Do I think we have any sort of chance of doing well in the playoffs? Probably not. But I will still try to be optimistic & say "well, if Gomez & Gionta play like they usually do in the playoffs, if Cammy, Pleks and Markov can finally elevate their games and if Halak can stand on his head...who knows?" You can say that its "burying my head in the sand" or whatever, but at the end of the day I want to enjoy watching my team. If they win, great. If not, well there's always next year.

Let me pose a question to you & all the fans who think being optimistic is silly: Has being critical and saying our team was crap for the better part of the last 15 years helped to make them better?

It doesnt really matter what the fan's outlook is - management will do their thing. In the meantime, enjoy the ride. I know that if I wasnt enjoying it, I would give hockey a rest and go find something I actually did.

[Guest olddude]

I dont disagree with your sentiment, Weep, but I will say the same thing I said last year:

You ask: Why be positive - and the flipside is: Why be negative? We watch hockey because (presumably) we love it. Its a pleasure activity - otherwise we would just be doing something else we enjoy. If i have to sit there and be critical about everything, whats the point? Why not just go read a book instead & wait for the habs to be a dynasty again & then start watching.

Do I think we have any sort of chance of doing well in the playoffs? Probably not. But I will still try to be optimistic & say "well, if Gomez & Gionta play like they usually do in the playoffs, if Cammy, Pleks and Markov can finally elevate their games and if Halak can stand on his head...who knows?" You can say that its "burying my head in the sand" or whatever, but at the end of the day I want to enjoy watching my team. If they win, great. If not, well there's always next year.

Let me pose a question to you & all the fans who think being optimistic is silly: Has being critical and saying our team was crap for the better part of the last 15 years helped to make them better?

It doesnt really matter what the fan's outlook is - management will do their thing. In the meantime, enjoy the ride. I know that if I wasnt enjoying it, I would give hockey a rest and go find something I actually did.

I know you were talking to Weep, but since I tend to agree with what Weep said, I just want to say that I don't think being optimistic is being silly, anything can happen, so I guess I'm somewhat optimistic. I fully support the Habs, watch every game, and hope they win, but in the back of my mind, the reality that they are a middle of the pack team is still there. And with the draft set up the way it is, a middle of the pack team will remain in the middle of the pack, barring a blue moon.

[fobear]

Really?... Is everyone that afraid of playing the Laffs on Saturday

Sure the games are usually close, (and cost us Markov last year), but come on people...Bell Centre, Saturday night, last game of the season, the place will be rockin', no way we're losing that one.

Enthusiastically optimistic from here on out.

[Hawker_mtl]

Really?... Is everyone that afraid of playing the Laffs on Saturday

Sure the games are usually close, (and cost us Markov last year), but come on people...Bell Centre, Saturday night, last game of the season, the place will be rockin', no way we're losing that one.

Enthusiastically optimistic from here on out.

Hahaha I never underestimate the ability of the Habs to stink up a joint.

[swimmerpuck]

I dont disagree with your sentiment, Weep, but I will say the same thing I said last year:

You ask: Why be positive - and the flipside is: Why be negative? We watch hockey because (presumably) we love it. Its a pleasure activity - otherwise we would just be doing something else we enjoy. If i have to sit there and be critical about everything, whats the point? Why not just go read a book instead & wait for the habs to be a dynasty again & then start watching.

Do I think we have any sort of chance of doing well in the playoffs? Probably not. But I will still try to be optimistic & say "well, if Gomez & Gionta play like they usually do in the playoffs, if Cammy, Pleks and Markov can finally elevate their games and if Halak can stand on his head...who knows?" You can say that its "burying my head in the sand" or whatever, but at the end of the day I want to enjoy watching my team. If they win, great. If not, well there's always next year.

Let me pose a question to you & all the fans who think being optimistic is silly: Has being critical and saying our team was crap for the better part of the last 15 years helped to make them better?

It doesnt really matter what the fan's outlook is - management will do their thing. In the meantime, enjoy the ride. I know that if I wasnt enjoying it, I would give hockey a rest and go find something I actually did.

I agree with this. I guess my glass is always half full and I generally grow tired of the negativity moreso when we win.

[shelby820]

Not so much afraid to play the Leafs, more about they have nothing to lose, which means they will come out and just try to pound, and how they would love to knock us out, ugghh i HATE that friggin team.

We can't give them the opportunity, we need to play simple and smart tonight and we will win!!!!!

Go Habs!! Get er done!!