Posted by Kyle Roussel
AllHabs.blogspot.com
AllHabs.blogspot.com
As I sit here, a quivering mass of malady, I can’t help but remain hopeful that the Habs will salvage some measure of pride tonight and eek out a game 4 victory to avoid a sweep on home ice. This game could be the gateway to the beginning of a very turbulent time in Habs land.
Should we lose tonight:
It could be the last we see of Saku Koivu, Alex Kovalev, Mike Komisarek and a whole littany of other free agents of varying importance in Habs jerseys.
If it’s evident that the Habs are going to lose, will Koivu’s potential last moments as a Hab be to a chorus of boos? What about Kovalev? These guys deserve better, but I’m not putting anything past the Bell Center crowd.
This could also be the final game of the George Gillet era. The Bob Gainey era as well. Imagine, in a couple weeks our team could have
- No owner
- No GM
- No coach
- No roster
You could remain optimistic and say that the next owner and GM can rebuild the team from scratch, but smart fans know that contenders don’t spring up out of the ground overnight. This could be a total and complete rebuild, from the 7th floor of the Bell Center right down to ice level.
Anyway, back to tonight’s game.
Who starts in net? Gainey has made it clear through his actions that Price is his guy. And Price has not come through with the type of performances needed to win in the playoffs. That’s not to say that Price is to blame for the 0-3 hole, but he hasn’t helped much either. Many people are calling for Halak to start game 4. My question is why? Does anyone truly believe that the Habs can still make a series of this? In my opinion Gainey and Price have made their beds and now need to lie in them. Why should Halak be the guy on the ice when the final siren sounds and the Canadiens lose? If the Habs win tonight, fans and media will go absolutely bananas on Gainey for not starting him sooner. He will then be forced to go with Halak until they lose again. That would be egg all over Gainey’s face. Game 3 was the time to start Halak, when the chance to make a competitive series was still a possibility. I think Gainey sticks with Price tonight, but I could be wrong.
There seems to be confusion everywhere from different sources on who skated with the team, who skated on their own, and who didn’t do anything. I thought that it would be all hands on deck tonight, but then again if you believe Jacques Demers, some free agents may not want to risk further injury. If there’s one thing hockey players like more than hockey, it’s getting rich, long term deals to play hockey. I don’t think any free agent who’s significantly injured would risk further injury and jeopardize their future by trying to help the Habs dig their way out of an impossible situation. Therefore I doubt the lineup will look any different than what we saw on Monday.
The other day I made a fearless prediction on Twitter that Tomas Plekanec would play a strong game tonight, along with Andrei Kostitsyn. When it no longer matters, he’ll make an impact.
What ends up being the game plan for tonight? We saw the Canadiens come out like gangbusters in game 3. They dominated every facet of the game in the 1st period on Monday night. Everywhere, except the scoreboard that is. They left for the 1st intermission tied at 1. It was all downhill from there. The Bruins weathered the storm, took the lead, took control and took a stranglehold on the series. Do the Canadiens try to do the same thing tonight? Empty the tank in the hopes that you can get a couple past Thomas and coast to game 5? To me, the only hope to live another day is to play the same way again, just pray for a little more luck. Thomas was beaten on 2 long wrist shots on Monday, and I believe that he is human. Shoot more!
So that’s it for now. Not a lot of reason for optimism that I can see. Overcoming an 0-3 deficit has only been done twice in history (’42 Leafs and ’75 Islanders), so to think this series represents the 3rd occurence is probably a fool’s hope. I just don’t want to see the same shenanigans that polluted the Bell Center on Monday (the booing of the U.S. national anthem). I especially don’t want to see the Canadiens booed off the ice should they lose, and an ensuing riot downtown should the rumours prove true.
Enjoy tonight’s game just the same! Hopefully tomorrow we can start talking about Saturday’s game 5.
As far as I’m concern, I’m gonna try to enjoy the game no matter what. It would be good to see them win only for the sake of proving that they can, but I’m not very optimistic either. I guess I’ll take a good look at the player’s that might not be there next year. Some will be missed and some will not.
About the players not wanting to risk injuries, can we really blame them? I’m just asking the question… Is pride more important than career and money? It won’t be any different from the season, those who have hearts, those who have pride will still have it tonight and the others won’t. I am not giving out names since I feel we have discussed it too much already and no one agrees on the subject.
I agree with you Kyle, Price should be in the net tonight, win or lose you take responsibility until the end. They’re all responsible for the position they’re in, no exception. It’s a team sport : you win as a team, you lose as team. That is what I believe anyway.
As I said in another comment, let’s start from scratch next year and PLEASE PEOPLE, don’t expect a Stanley Cup in 2010 if it’s the case. Those things take time!
Bon match!
Go Habs Go, no matter what!
In defense of Price, he hasn’t been terrible in this series. He was much worse in last year’s playoffs. But one of the main reasons a coach will switch netminders is to rejuvenate the team as a whole. The time to do that was last game, but Gainey let the opportunity slip by.
I don’t buy the insinuation that Tanguay or Schneider are dogging it. Mathieu could have called in sick a week or so ago, if that was the case. He has not looked great since then in any case. The team is better off with Yannick Weber in the lineup if Schneider is not 100%. I’m less sure about Tanguay, but he doesn’t seem like the type to shirk responsibility. Alex may not like Gainey’s baffling decision to take him off the team’s hottest line come playoff time, but if he feels he could make a difference he will be out there.
Gainey’s coaching decisions are off the wall. His “gut feelings” are going to lead to months of indigestion for Canadien’s fans.
You’re right, Price has not been terrible, but he hasn’t been good enough for his team to outscore the Bruins. He seems to give up at least 1 or 2 goals a game that he ought to have stopped. You simply need better in the playoffs. This Habs team needs better.
I don’t think Schneider is dogging it. Why would he have come back in the first place if he was just going to pull the chute in the playoffs?
Tanguay is a different story. He doesn’t strike me as the “heartiest” player out there, so I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that he was embellishing his injury a little.
This comes from Jacques Demers, nuff said. Demers managed to overcome illiteracy, but he is still handicapped by illogic.
A good article. I was cringing at the Bell Centre antics from Game 3. There is absolutely no reason to boo this team off the ice. They are undermanned and too young.
The only forwards with any real playoff experience right now are Koivu and Kovalev and that’s it.
Markov plays almost 30 minutes a game for Montreal and is a specialty teams asset. Our defense, including Gorges, Weber, O’Byrne and Komisarek all played hard.
In fact the team played their hearts out on Monday. The Bruins are healthy, the Habs are not. The Bruins have more veterans than the Habs do right now.
As for Price, he reminds me of a young Fleury, who suffered through bouts of inconsistency and had some confidence issues when he was 20-22. There were a lot of people who were ready to write him off as well. Price is talented, competitive, and will mature. Most goaltenders don’t even begin to hit their prime until 27. In any case, I agree with your reasons on why Price should start game 4.
What scares me is that this town is so demanding and so vicious in its treatment of star players that Price will not be given much longer to prove himself. Yes he’s 21 and prone immaturity and not being all he can be on the ice, but this town won’t tolerate that.
My fear is that he’ll be run out of town well before he turns 24, unless Gainey sticks around. I’m sure Gainey will protect and foster him until even HE no longer sees it possible.
I think the Habs will try to sign Roberto Luongo in the off season, then perhaps deal Price to the Canucks. Maybe a contingency deal similar to the situation this past off season where they went to the Leafs for the negotiating rights to Sundin. Certainly not Price for the right to deal with Luongo, straight up, but some variation on that.
It would probably be beneficial to all concerned. Both players would go “home”, and likely be more appreciated for that fact. Luongo doesn’t seem too thrilled in Vancouver, and Price may have worn out his welcome in Montreal. Habs will have ample cap room to satisfy Luongo’s demands, and could use whatever return they get for Price. Canucks would still have a franchise goaltender, at a much lower rate, and could afford to sign the Sedins and perhaps other free agents.
But first the whole ownership, management situation has to sort itself out in Montreal. My prediction, Gillett sells some or all of the operation, Gainey leaves, and Carbonneau returns in some capacity. Particularly if the new investors are local. Then they look to sign Luongo and deal Price.
Yeah Rob, the Canucks will jump on that one in a heartbeat.
I mean, who needs Luongo if you can replace him with Price?
I also heard that Detroit is willing to trade Datsyuk and Zetterberg for a Halak.
What, are you high?
Guess what Rob, no player of any high caliber is going near your city of pessimists.
What makes you think Luongo would want to play there, with that goalie bashing crowd?
Hope you enjoyed the series Rob, because I sure did!!!!!
Bruins rule. habs suck.
….what was that sound?……did you hear something?
…..just a ghost I guess….some nameless, ethereal, eternally unhappy soul who can’t find peaceful rest.
Oh well, never mind…maybe it was just the wind passing through the trees…..
…or it was the Bruins bashing your habs….I love how you read every post Rob.
SWEEP!!!!!!
Well, until we find out that you’re a deluded old man living in a cabin in the woods without running water or electricity, working on your “Manifesto”, we’ll just have to dub you THE UNABOMBER, I suppose.
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