Hockey 101

Hockey 101

posted by Mike Boone at 18h00 EST on Dec 4

Mike Babcock could have worn a Concordia tie.

The Detroit coach didn't need his lucky McGill neckwear as the Red Wings ran a hockey clinic and stomped the Canadiens 4-1.

The game wasn't as close as the score would suggest.

Shots were 34-16, and the boos to cheers ratio at the Bell Centre was 21,273-0.

When it was over, the great ageless warrior Chris Chelios, chosen the game's third star, stood at centre ice and waved as the crowd cheered. It was probably Chelios's last game at the Bell Centre ... until the Stanely Cup final.

Right.

"We can hear it," Christopher Higgins said of the booing, which reached a crescendo in the third period. "Guys get down. It affects us, makes it tougher to play.

"But that's this city. They expect the best."

Coach Guy Carbonneau wondered why his team could not get pumped up "with 21,000 people screaming and behind us every game.

"We have 41 home games and the fans want uis to win all 41 of them," the coach added. "We made a lot of errors tonight. They had every reason to boo."

Then the coach did a little booing of his own.

When asked if Andrei Markov were injured, Carbonneau suggested "maybe he sees himself at the All-Star game too quick.

"He should be our best defenceman, and right now he's not."

Carey Price?

"We need goaltending that's better than what we're getting," said Carbonneau.

And they saw the best – albeit in visitors' jerseys.

Patrice Brisebois said there are highs and lows in a hockey season and the key is "making sure the lows are not too low."

Noting that the early-season Ottawa Senators were compared to the great 1976 Canadiens and "they've lost seven in a row", Brisebois said "we know we have a good team. It's important to have self-confidence but also confidence in each other."

"We haven't played our best," said Saku Koivu. "I'd like to turn the page. We can't get these games back, and we have a lot of games to play."

3P 5:00:

They're booing Ryder every time he touches the puck.

3P 6:10:

Michel Lacroix is still announcing the penallties when Zetterberg smokes one, his 18th.

4-1

Place is emptying out fast.

3P 6:35:

Going down swinging. Koivu squares off with Samuelsson and Dandenault jumps the Red Wing.

3P 10:24:

Another PP. Koivu gets a good chance with the Canadiens' 16th shot. And Zetterberg breaks away. The crowd is booing every Cannadiens misstep ... which makes for plenty of booing.

3P 13:000:

Sarcastic applause for the first shhot of the period ... from a bad angle.

3P 13:08:

Shots are 29-12.

3P 15:18:

Another PP 0-for-3 so far.

3P 15:56:

They're booing bad cross-ice passes. Gettting ugly in here.

17:30:

Latendresse with Koivu and Higgins.

3P 19:00:

Farber says Detroit outshot St. Louis 38-12 last weeek. And St. Louis is prettty good this season. Wings are a machine.

3P 20:00:

I just want this to be over.

Between periods:

Hey, Nashville came back from 4-1. In the new NHL, you never know.

Yes you do. If the Canadiens beat Detroit tonight, thhe snow that blankets Montreal will melt tomorrow morning and turn into 25-year-old single malt.

2P 2:04:

That Zetterberg is something else. A magician out there. All over the ice.

2P 3:30:

Yay! A successful PK.

2P Break:

Here comes a Detroit PP. Shots are 25-12 and it's men against boys here. A Cup favourite against a work in progress.

2P 6:15:

Halak?

That one wasn't Price's fault. Detroit was running a shooting gallery in the Canadiens' end, and Niklas Kronvall deflected one home.

3-1

2P 8:00:

Shots are 20-10. Ten shots through half the game isn't going to do it.

2P Break:

Sports Illustrated's Michael Farber says Alexander Ovechkkin say Pavel Datsyuk is the best player in the league. "Might be that Russian homeboy stuff," Farber said. Yeah, like the University of Miami ... without guns.

2P 8:52:

Pavel Datsyuk OWNS Carey Price.

2-1

2P Commerciaal break:

Well, a lot closer than the first period. Canadiens forwards playing with some jump. But Detroit's ttransition is like a cobra: fast annd ddeadly. Good game.

2P 14:43:

Another PP. What did Carbo say between periods?

2P 15:45:

Christopher Higgins the opportunnist.

A blind backhand off a Koivu rebound beats Hasek.

1-1

2P 17:49:

Latendresse makes a nicecross-ice pass to Kovy who makes a drop pass ... to a guy in a white jersey.

2P 20:00:

Andrei MMarkov and Chris Chelios each played seven minutes

Between periods:

NHL stats are weird. They have seven Canadiens as minus-one in a 1-0 game. I mean, Detroit is good but ...

Pre-game:

The Detroit Red Wings are in Montreal, and so is a 1958-vintage snowfall.

Traffic is chaotic, but those of us old enough to remember the
pre-expansion NHL are tripping on the nostalgia of les neiges d'antan.

Whether we'll enjoy the game remains to be seen.

Some sobering stats:

Detroit is plus-18 on the season, Canadiens are minus 6.

Detroit averages 34.5 shots per game while surrendering 23.

Canadiens average 31.2 shots (the .2 was by Michael Ryder) while giving up 32.5.

Contrary to speculation, Ryder and Bryan Smolinskki will be in the lineup tonight, playing on the fourth line with Steve Bégin.

The other trios are Saku Koivu-Christopher Higgins-Mark Streit,
Tomas Plekanec-Alex Kovalev-Andrei Kostitsyn and Kyle
Chipchura-Guillaume Latendresse-Mathieu Dandenault.

Josh Gorges gets annother start. Tom Kostopoulos (again) and Mikhail Grabovski are healthy scratches.

Gordie Howe, who's at the Bell Centre for pre-game ceremonies tonight, was the most feared player in the 1950s NHL. Good with his elbows and his fists, Howe carved out a wide swath through players who couldn't match his size or toughness. That was then, this is now: Howe was six-foot-one and weighed 205 pounds. Kyle Chipchura is 6-2, 204. Alex Kovalev goes 6-1, 224, and Guillaume Latendresse is 6-2, 222. On defence, Mike Komisarek is 6-4, 240 and Roman Hamrlik is 6-2, 215. Andrei Markov is an inch shorter and a pound lighter than Howe. So on a Canadiens team that some fans and pundits consider too small, four players are bigger than Gordie Howe. Whether they're tougher than that Saskatchewan farm boy is another bushel of wheat ...

Hmmmm, the Penguins have put Mark Recchi on waivers. No way, I say ...

1P 2:23:

Not smart Koivu retaliates against Datsyuk and goes off.

1P 3:20:

Bégin giveaway, Datsyuk shot, Price not great

1-0

1P 6:15:

Another PP ... and Johan Franzen gets the best chance ... Markov has no zip on hhis shot

1P 8:30:

Ryder still on the first wave of the PP ... then Pleks line, and Kostitsyn gets a chance on the goalmouth ...

1P 8:55:

Chipchura hustle makes for penalty to Public Enemy Lilja and a power play. Canadiens getting a liitle bbit into thhe rhythm of the game

1P Commercial break:

More good work by Pleks line ... but it's the only one getting chances. Price has made sevenn saves, Hasek two.

1P 13:00:

Man, Detroit is good. They are onn the puck in a heartbeat, forcing the Canadiens to make fast – and sometimes bad – decisions. Shots are 6-2

1P 14:30:

Good shift for the Pleks line. Plenty of cycling, but no shots.

1P 16:52:

Great skating, no whistles. Were the Originall Six like this?

Andreas Lilja rides Bégin iinto the boards and hurts him. Crowd wants a call ... and doesn't get one.

1P 20:00:

10 minutes late. Whatt will this cost?

1P 20:00:

Koivu line against Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Holmstrom

Ceremony:

On the scoreboard, Red Fisher and Bertrand Raymond talk about the Montreal-Detroit rivalry. Then a video montage (to Stevie Wonder's Uptight Out of Sight) old b&w footage of great hits and goals, the Richard Riot ... Red said one of his indelible memories is the 1966 final: Red Wings win first two, Canadiens win next four, with Henri Richard scoring in OT to win the Cup ... now there's a 15-minute warm-up, followed by introductions of old-time legends, like Gordie Howe and Stéphane Richer

More pre-game:

The ceremony is scheduled to start in three minutes, but there aren't 2,000 people here, with the weather and all. Maybe Canadiens will delay it ... and pay another NHL fine, as they did on Larry Robinson night

Tags:

Comments

Submitted by leafs67_andcounting on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 09:58.

We're getting outplayed badly every game it seems. When we had the Xmas swoon last year it was the same thing. Why can't this team come out of the gates flying? What are the coaches saying to them in the room that gets them on their heels to start the game or period?

Submitted by vic on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 08:30.

Will some one give Carboneau a mirror

Submitted by Thumper on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 07:01.

Carbonneau to go, that was the crappest most embarrassing 2 and half hours I have spent in a long time. This is Montreal for crying out load, not nashville, pull your fingers out and play some hockey. The players need direction and at the moment Carbo's lost it.

Submitted by snowdonsteve on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 07:16.

it's pretty easy to point the finger at the coach, we've been dooing that for a long time in MTL and it never proved effective, SSDD. Sadly, in view of the last 7 years, if i was bob hartley, i' keep my cell phone open !!! easier to change a coach then a first line. BTW, I got a dirty quater carbo makes those guys skate so hard today... giving them a reason to complain !!! 90 minutes no pucks I personally think it migth be time for BG to give Carbo something to work with !!! trade, treahten, call up, pillage, murder, anyTHING !!! am i the only one wishing this league did'nt have a salary cap !!! cos i'd rather complain about a player salary then complain about a loosing team with a pee wee attitude i still love'em tough Go HABS Go

Submitted by 24 Cups on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 08:03.

Bob Hartley - got real lucky in Colorado and hasn't don't anything since. Was a total disaster in Atlanta. Dump the puck in and chase it. Throw in a little gooning as well. This man is totally out of whack with the new NHL game. The only thing he has going for him is he speaks French. Bring him to Montreal and you will really have something to cry about.

Submitted by Chuck on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 03:28.

I guess that it was rather appropriate that on the Hab's 98th birthday that they played like a bunch of 98-year-olds. :) . . . ______________________________________________ "Vote Saku for All-Star... or little Timmy gets it!!!"

Submitted by Y on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 02:23.

Wow, Carbo...Calling out your best D-man and the Kid? Something is not right with this guy, and it's smelling a lot like last year. I won't ever understand why this organization brings in coaches who have ZERO experience at the NHL level. Is this some sort of conspiracy? This is getting sickening and everything is starting to unravel. Hey maybe we'll head on over to the draft lottery and pick up Tavares...oh wait, he'll probably get screwed over by the wonderful coaching we have here.

Submitted by Chorske on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 05:08.

I'd really be curious to find out what the writers here think of all this Carbo bashing. I've done a bit of it myself, quite a bit of late, but I have so much respect for Carbo the player that I keep reminding myself to just let him do his job and see what happens. That man has laid down his body in front of slapshots so many times for this team that I'm inclined to give Carbo the Coach a measure of trust. It's just so frustrating as a fan to watch a team appear to flounder from on high, with confusing line changes, benchings that seem to punish hard work and bad luck, no aggressivity, no net crashing, no forecheck, no trap, no help for our goalies. But are we just latching on to Carbo because he's an easy target?

Submitted by sidhu on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 02:27.

RDS is reporting that Halak and Price will be on the top line with Paul DiPietro on Thursday. Go Habs Go!

Submitted by Y on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 04:21.

Sweet! That only means one thing...the return of Andre Racicot! Go Habnots Go!

Submitted by sidhu on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 02:19.

Embarrassing. I just watched the game on my DVR. We were totally outworked and played completely uninspired hockey, even though Mr Beliveau, Mr Howe, and others were in attendance. The team requires fundamental changes. With respect to the lineup, Smoke, Brisebois, and Gorges should sit. Lapierre, Grabovski, and O'Byrne should play. With respect to the lines, we cannot have two defensemen playing on the forward lines when we are struggling to score 5-on-5. Imagine if we had Desjardines playing with Muller and Bellows - it would be ridiculous. Each line should have a defined role (scoring, checking, or energy). Our lines are completely jumbled and nonsensical at this point. Higgins-Pleks-Kovalev (played very well against Nashville) Lats-Koivu-Ryder (played well last year when Higgy was hurt) Begin-Chipchura-Dandy (checking line) Kostitsyn-Grabovski-Lapierre (energy/speed) Markov-Komi Hamr-O'Byrne Cube-Streit Right now we don't have any players (aside from Komi) who could really respond to the hit from Lilja. Perhaps Lapierre and O'Byrne can improve our aggressiveness and toughness, especially in front of the net. It's time to cut the deadweight and inject players into the lineup who will be willing to skate hard and drop their bodies down to block shots. The Habs are a far cry from Carbo's days when Carbo, Keane, Brunet, and others would drop down in a heartbeat to prevent the puck from getting to Roy.

Submitted by snowdonsteve on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 02:22.

I don't know... i think think Lapierre and O'byrne would be a plaster on a bullet wound. Go HABS Go

Submitted by sidhu on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 12:06.

They're up with the big club!

Submitted by snowdonsteve on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 02:13.

Habs don't have any player of Datsyuk or Zetterberg level...and i have'nt heard Timmins say that he's been hiding that kind of talent in the farm club !!! THIS JUST IN... 21 000 people witness a beating they're only reaction we're Boo's and Choo's, first reports are telling us that those 21 000 peoples we're also robbed of at least a hundred bucks in the process !!! Ryder looks so bad on the ice BG will get less then Ninnima for him. Mark streit needs to stop giving the puck away. Price has given up 8 goals in last 2, but was only given 1 goal by is teamates in the 120 minutes process witch makes it hard to win !!! Go HABS Go

Submitted by JMoney on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 02:01.

my thoughts on why this team is doomed to fail with Carbo-nono as coach: We are playing a broken system. It is the same system he played in Dallas with... It worked in Dallas because they had the goaltending, check, they had the defence, check, they had Modano and Hull, we have Koivu and Kovalev. The system relies on playing solid defense, and then capitalizing on scoring chances when the other team makes a mistake. Modano had 81 points in 77 games, including 34 goals, and Hull had 58 points in 60 games, including 32 goals. Nobody on this team is capable of what those 2 were doing that season.... They also had 28 goals from Nieuwendyk who had 55 points in 67 games, 20 goals from Lethinen (who also won the Selke that year). 99 points from Sydor and Zubov and a goaltending tandem of Belfour and Turek. So we are playing the same system as that team. Lets compare: They had 2 30+ goal scorers and another player that scored 28, we have 2 30 goal scorers in Kovalev and Ryder. Kovalev is no Modano and Ryder is no Hull. Smolinski is also no Lethinen. Markov, Hamrlik and Komisarek isn't that different from Zubov, Sydor and Hatcher. And goaltending is very comparable in that both teams had a #1 goalie, and an eager young goalie looking to break out and become the #1. The difference between the 2 teams is that we don't have the selke winner, and we can't score the way that team did. This system only works when you can limit the opposition's scoring chances (helps when you have a Selke winner) and can score on the few scoring chances your team gets from sitting back and waiting for the other team to make a mistake. We don't have a Modano or Hull... The system is bound to fail, and Carbonneau doesn't realize this considering he stuck with the system even though it obviously didn't work last year.

Submitted by nn1 on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 02:20.

I like what you say a lot, but isn't there also an issue of confidence here? We have seen what players like Koivu, Kovalev, even Higgins and Ryder are capable of when they're playing well, and we also know all-too-well what it looks like when Kovalev loses the puck on every possession and Ryder can't put the puck in the net to save his life. The point is, though there may not be anything approaching a Modano or a Hull in Montreal, this team, when playing up to its potential, is *certainly* capable of being a playoff team, even under Carbo. But the way they've been playing lately, not a chance. There's a problem here that is not simply lack of talent, though there is no doubt that poor coaching exacerbates the problem.

Submitted by JMoney on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 02:41.

The team definately has the talent to make the playoffs. I figure they have the talent to finish somewhere in the 4-6 range in the east. The problem is that the players don't match the system. Another thing that helps with the trap is having a lot of size, you don't need speed to trap, you need size and the ability to capitalize on your few chances. The Canadiens are one of the fastest teams in the league, yet you almost never see them use it. If we were playing a system similar to Buffalo, that used our greatest asset, our speed, we'd be getting a lot of odd man rushes and scoring a lot more goals. This particular team will never succeed in any kind of trap, especially once as flawed as this. This team needs to play an offense and speed game.

Submitted by Habsfan39 on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 02:08.

Ya screw carbo man he doesnt know what the hell he's doing

Submitted by Habsfan39 on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 01:53.

With all this defensive depth we have none on offence!! carbonneau is so damn concerned with playing defence that he likes havince defencemen play forward!! i bet if we had some offence, we wouldnt be giving up 4 goals a night offence is the best defence. we have goalies who can do the job carbo needs to shut his damn yap in regards to price!!! the damn kis is 20 damn years old stfu carbo! dont ruin him u p.o.s.!

Submitted by HotHabs on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 01:41.

True. Anyone with any hockey sense knows that this was not Price's game to lose. 16 shots on Hasek will not win a game. And, Detroit has a potent offense with loads of talent, which is why they are #1 in the league and will place in the top 5 by the end of the regular season. AND, Mike Babcock is a superior coach to Carbo. Habs didn't have the talent or the coaching to win tonight.

Submitted by Plek-Andrew on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 01:25.

He did let in 3 soft goals... a shot anywhere beyond the faceoff circles HAVE to be stopped and the rebounds have to be controlled. Yes the team played like complete ASS out there tonight but still. I thought Price was gonna do much better... but then again, that's what I get for listening to the hype, right? Self-fulfilling prophecies. And Plek-Andrew is NEVER WRONG, YOU HEAR ME?!?! :D

Submitted by big_daddy on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 01:44.

Pleks..... u disappoint me....... I thought u were smarter than that..... the kid is twenty years old... and u expect him to carry this gang of bums on his back..... even Roy had a decent team in front of him.... you need to check into the general hospital for a complete check up man.... if you really want to know the truth from an expert..... I'll give it to you.... Carbonneau is a weak coach..... everyone can see that..... except you of course.... how can a team be so good and then fall apart every year... I'll tell you how it happens.... when you have a pig headed coach who points out specific players every time the waves get a little bumpy.... thats how.... Carbonneau needs to stick up for his players when the chips are down.... not make a public spectacle of them.... its just a matter of time before Kovalev tanks his game too..... It really makes me sick that Gainey stands behind this guy.... a great player but DEFINITELY not coach material..... I have been saying from last year that with the right coach this team would do wonders..... shake the NHL..... tonight, after he pointed out Price as the guilty party for the loss.... sickening.... what a loser...... like it has been said here before Carbonneau should take a look in the mirror.... and stop calling JoJo Savard for advice on the line up.....

Submitted by HotHabs on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 01:30.

1st goal - soft 2nd goal - top corner bullet blocker side off quick release with partial screen = ~10% chance of save 3rd goal - long shot through traffic which deflected off 2 players = no chance 4th goal - could be considered soft All goals - beer league in front of him = loss

Submitted by HabsFreak (not verified) on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 01:56.

you saw the same camera angle shot we all saw on when he was being screened. He was leaning to his left to see the puck. Ive never seen him do so any other time.

Submitted by HotHabs on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 01:36.

I agree with the left side cheat, plus he plays too deep and has a slow glove hand and poor lateral movement. In other words, he needs more time to develop into a great goalie at this level. But, can I blame Price for the loss? NO.

Submitted by Chuck on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 02:54.

You're the first person that I've ever heard say that Price has poor lateral movement. Believe me, if he can see the puck, and thus where he needs to move to, the guy is killer quick. Same goes for his glove. . . . ______________________________________________ "Vote Saku for All-Star... or little Timmy gets it!!!"

Submitted by P St. Pierre on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 01:14.

Hard to see those comments from Carbonneau, especially the ones about Markov and Price. Might be time for Gainey to have a chat with him and set him straight as to what he can and cannot say to the press, because thats bad. I thought the Canadiens got beat by a very good team tonight. However, there were some costly errors that didn't need to be made, specifically by Stevie B (whom I love) and Mark Streit who simply should not be on the top line. It's unfair to both him and his linemates. It might be time to simply put Ryder back on that line. Of course, Kovalev would look dynamite there as well.

Submitted by HotHabs on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 01:25.

Whatever they do, I hope they don't put Ryder back on the 1st line. His time is up! See ya! If anything, put Koivu with Kovy and Kostitsyn if you want some production. I feel bad for Streit playing forward. Poor coaching is the #1 cause of many of Habs' woes. Lack of talent ranks high on the troubleshooting list, too.

Submitted by Timo (not verified) on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 00:46.

Hey Carbo, I got news for you. They also need better COACHING! Look in the mirror first, before you start pointing fingures.

Submitted by Blitzen on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 00:54.

They'll fire Carbo and then ask BreezeBy to be a Player/Head Coach

Submitted by delete on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 00:56.

And, of course, GM.

Submitted by Blitzen on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 00:59.

Nah, they'll bring back Houle for that one.

Submitted by HotHabs on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 00:53.

Carbo has once again passed the buck!!! His coaching is jr. A level at best! What is this guy thinking? How will his players ever respect him and play for him when he berates them publicly? Heads NEED to roll... actually only one head!

Submitted by delete on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 00:56.

Carbo's comment about Markov looking ahead to the All Star Game just broke the needle and glass on my shithead meter. Thank God he didn't go into chemistry. He would have almost certainly mixed bleach and ammonia in search of a more potent cleanser.

Submitted by Chorske on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 05:10.

Hahahahaha. I'm gonna use that one. *wipes eyes* Shithead meter! Ahhhh.

Submitted by Blitzen on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 00:57.

Honest to God, Gainey HAS to fire him after that post-game disaster or the players will lose respect for him too...

Submitted by JMoney on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 01:11.

I agree... The team has obviously lost respect for him. Latendresse has been scrated, Begin and Kostopoulos have been scratched, but our 2 worst forwards in Smolinski and Ryder continue to get more ice time than players who deserve it... And on Defense, Gorges keeps playing better and better, yet Breeze-by, Streit and Bouillon continue to get more ice time...

Submitted by Norm0770 on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 01:08.

I agree, but, and this is a stretch, people thought Therrien would be fired after the way he ranted about his d-men a couple of years ago. The Pens pulled through and the next season he was a finalist for the Adams trophy. It is not too likely here though...

Submitted by HotHabs on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 01:08.

That is what we call the proverbial "pipe dream". Not gonna happen in this case!

Submitted by Plek-Andrew on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 00:43.

First goal was 5-hole (surprise surprise Plek-Andrew is right again) one of them was screened two of them were huet-like goals, wristers that coulda been stopped. Price was on his knees too early and didn't come out to challenge the shooter enough. Especially for someone that size, he knows better than to stay in his net. I was there

Submitted by HabsFreak (not verified) on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 01:23.

Maybe you should watch the goals on the highlights and rethink your "i was there" arrogant observations!

Submitted by big_daddy on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 01:02.

pleks my man.... how u doing? I hope you didn't fall down a flight of stairs..... because when you blame the goalie for a pathetic TEAM loss.... like the one tonight...... I worry about you...... maybe you are sooo excited that you went to the game that you forgot this is a TEAM sport....... cheers hope your head feels better in the AM THE big_daddy

Submitted by Chuck V. on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 00:59.

maybe we should start paying you royalties every time someone scores 5-hole on price. or then again we could rename it the a-hole (a for andrew, of course)

Submitted by ebk on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 01:31.

a hole will do donkey

Submitted by Norm0770 on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 00:52.

Zetterberg wide open in the slot puts one up under the crossbar from 15-20 feet and you are calling it a soft goal? 3rd goal deflected off of Ryders stick, Breezer's hand and Franzen's arm while Price can't see where the shot came from because the are 3 people in front of him and that's a soft goal? Datsyuks shot for the 2nd goal was top far corner. Plek-Andrew is definately wrong.

Submitted by Chuck on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 02:58.

Goaltending rule number one: unless it hits you, you can't stop what you can't see. . . . ______________________________________________ "Vote Saku for All-Star... or little Timmy gets it!!!"

Submitted by Blitzen on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 00:49.

One was a Datsyuk shot that got right in the top corner of the net. The announcers commented that it was a perfect shot. Zetterburg's shot was low stick side near the post. Neither was an easy save or a save that any decent goalie would make. Our guys like to shoot right into the goalie's gut or off the net. I wonder why they can't score...

Submitted by Blitzen on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 00:40.

What discourages me the most is that they are back to lousy fundamentals just like last year. I mean they can't pass worth a damn and that was MUCH better early in the year.

Submitted by Norm0770 on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 00:35.

Is it just me or did anyone else notice that Higgins looked less than thrilled that he tied the game? He seemed to have that same kind of reaction a player has when he scores late if the 3rd period while loosing by 5.

Submitted by HabsFreak (not verified) on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 01:25.

No, he had a fist pump but was reserved knowing it wasnt't the winning goal and much more work was ahead.

Submitted by delete on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 00:41.

There is something wrong with this team. OK, Huet is out, but it's not like they have suffered a string of crippling injuries or the dreaded flu bug has bit. I think some of Carbo's post-game comments may have provided some big pieces to the puzzel.

Submitted by Will Longlade on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 01:31.

I think Higgy is playing through an injury. I'm sure he was nursing an injury at the end of the Preds game on Saturday night. The guy wears his heart on his sleeve. You can tell by his emotions that this funk the team is in is just killing him. B.G., pls. come to the rescue soon!

Submitted by jimbo82 on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 00:35.

do montreal fans deserve this every year??!!! EVERY YEAR the same problems!!!!

Submitted by delete on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 00:46.

No, they don't. But to be really successful year in and year out, the management of the team has to HATE to lose as much as the players. People down here in NYC love to rag on the Yankees' owner Steinbrenner, but the guy really gives a shit and that's why they're in the hunt every season.

Submitted by nn1 on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 00:32.

The tragic irony of the Canadiens: Montreal might be the most hockey-crazy town in the world, and that is precisely what makes it so difficult for them to put together a good season. I agree that the Habs don't have the most talent of any team in the league, but you have to admit that, on paper, they have a potentially exciting mix of promising young players and veteran leadership. Just think if they played in California, or South Carolina, or Florida, where no one even knew the coach's name, much less if the team had lost 3 straight or 12 straight or whatever. It would be so much easier to see the big picture: it's an 82-game season, and you're gonna lose a few on the way. Instead, if they lose more than one-in-a-row, it's fire this one, trade that one, yadda yadda yadda. These players have a big psychological and emotional challenge that doesn't exist for a lot of other teams in the NHL, which makes their lack of a star-studded line-up a much bigger problem. Love the Habs, and would love to see them turn it around. Go Habs Go! -nn1

Submitted by nn1 on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 01:47.

I'm not necessarily disagreeing with you, I'm just saying that it is harder to play in Montreal than in, say, the Southern U.S. I mean, am I crazy, or do many players in the NHL *not* want to play in Montreal precisely because it means being under the microscope at all times? Management troubles aside, I think the "fragile between the ears" syndrome might not be so pronounced if this same team had the luxury of playing where nobody cared. PS: pink glasses?

Submitted by HABSMANIA on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 00:36.

BS is new york and boston not big baseball markets? howabout liverpool and others what a bunh of bs the florida marlins get like 500 or less people a game yeah and look at them

Submitted by nn1 on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 00:43.

New York has had silly amounts of money, and had one of the best teams in baseball history in the late 90's and early 2000's, and still they haven't won it since 2001 (Marlins won in 2003). Boston also: $ and an unbelievable team. I'm not saying it's ONLY the city, but the fact that, as everyone is very quick to point out, we lack some depth makes the pressure of playing in Montreal a bigger factor. (England is football crazy across the board.)

Submitted by Plek-Andrew on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 00:18.

This is the second night goaltending has cost us a victory. I was at the game and yes, we looked horrible out there but so did the refs. the refing was as atrocious as it gets, Price has let in weak goals again but hasek did make some huge saves. Pleky had some huge chances but he was robbed by Hasek a few times. Kovalev coughed up the puck way too many times... shades of last year? I'm not abandoning ship but something has to give, and quickly. I don't see any positives here except that Gorges played the game of his young career so far. Looked fantastic out there. Really, he and Pleks were the only good players out there. Made 0 mistakes.

Submitted by HabsFreak (not verified) on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 01:33.

Plek-Andrew...please abandon ship! This is a sport you dont quite get...maybe curling would be more up your alley (no offence curlers)

Submitted by Norm0770 on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 00:32.

16 shots for and 36 against. 1 goal for, and Price maybe should have stopped 1 of the 4 that Detroit scored, the first one, so that still makes it 3-1. They got beaten to every loose puck and out worked along the boards every shift, leading to many more shots and great scoring chances for Detroit. Goaltending although less than spectacular tonight did not cost them the game.

Submitted by Ed on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 00:29.

How could goaltending cost us the game when we were out shot 34-16. We had only 1 goal, so in order to win Price would have had to stop all 34 shots. It's not fair to say that goaltending cost us the game. If a team can only get 16 shots, they are going to need an unbelievable goalie to get a win. That goalie does not exist.

Submitted by HotHabs on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 00:29.

While I agree the Price was not right, guess again if you think Habs lost because of the goalie!!!! HA!!!! That was abysmal.

Submitted by Blitzen on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 00:28.

Give me a break about goaltending...watch the replays and you'll see that the only one that was perhaps weak was the first one.

Submitted by ebk on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 00:27.

you are right, price cost us another game. If only we could get NHL calibre goaltending things would be better.

Submitted by Scott in Montreal on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 00:27.

Let me get this straight: we score one goal on 16 shots with perhaps all of one scoring chance in the whole 3rd period and you're saying goaltending cost us a victory? So you expected Price to shut out this Detroit team and stop all 34 shots?

Submitted by Chuck V. on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 00:25.

you serious bud? our goaltending lost us the game tonight? look at the shot total man. i'm not claiming to be an expert, but obviously you aren't much of one either

Submitted by delete on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 00:33.

The problem our goaltenders have is that have to be god damn perfect given that there are at best three forwards on the team who possess a set of hands. That's a pretty tall order. In '93, Saint Patrick could keep them in in OT, but someone had to score a goal to win.

Submitted by P St. Pierre on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 00:41.

well said

Submitted by JMoney on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 00:22.

I didn't see the first goal so I can't comment on it, but the 2nd goal Price was screened and it was a perfect shot (good enough for TSN to have it as a HON candidate) and the 3rd goal Price had no chance with a wall in front of him preventing him from seeing the puck, and Ryder deflecting the puck... (on a side note though, Price is playing a little differently than he was at the beginning of the season, going down a lot earlier. I hope this isn't Melanson changing his style :S)

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I grew up in Park Extension, within walking distance of Dickie Moore's Dairy Queen on Jean Talon. Moore had a place on L'Acadie Blvd., and we used to see him driving around in his convertible with a Samoyed and a very dishy wife. While "studying" at McGill University during the 1960s, I used to attend games at the old Montreal Forum. My fellow undergraduate reprobates and I would scramble up the stairs to get centre-ice spots in the top standing room section, where aged ushers didn't know or care what we were smoking. I stood out in the cold for six hours to get tickets to the 1975 New Year's Eve game between the Canadiens and Central Red Army. With the exception of the birth of my daughter, the 3-3 tie was the greatest event I've ever seen in my life. I've been a professional journalist since 1974, when I joined the Montreal Star sports department. I've covered the 1976 Olympic Games, the 1979 Expos, pop music and MSO tours of Europe and Asia (classical musicians are WAY more fun to drink with than athletes). I wrote a TV & Radio column for 20 years and, since 2000, have written a City column for The Gazette. The best part of being a Habs Inside/Out contributor is attending games at the Bell Centre. I think it's a great building: noisy, raucous and packed to the rafters with Montrealers and visitors who live for hockey. And I still get goosebumps every time Michel Lacroix booms out "Accueillons nos Canadiens ..." Having seen the Boston Red Sox win two World Series, I suppose I can die happy ... but not before another Stanley Cup parade. And I'd really like my daughter to see a historic New Year's Eve game.

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