All Habs News — March 20, 2011
Hal Gill plans to return to the Canadiens lineup after sitting out the past two games with the flu. Expect Alexandre Picard to head back to the press box when the Habs take on the Minnesota Wild on Sunday evening.
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Alex Auld will likely get the start in goal for the Canadiens in Minnesota. With only 10 games left, this is probably the last opportunity to give Carey Price some rest. Jose Theodore will be between the pipes for the Wild.
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An Angus-Reid poll commissioned by Macleans magazine has captured the views of Canadians in the wake of the hit by Zdeno Chara that resulted in a fractured vertebrae and grade III concussion for Max Pacioretty.
66 per cent of the respondents felt that the NHL was far too lenient towards Chara in ruling that the Bruins defenseman would receive no suspension or fine.
80 percent believe that hockey would be a better game if headshots were banned completely.
There has been an alarming trend for Hockey Canada in recent years as registrations in minor hockey are on a steady decline. That trend may worsen as 34 per cent survey of respondents would discourage children from playing hockey. (When discussing the factors influencing declining enrollment in minor hockey on Hockey Night in Canada, commentator Glen Healy said, “Don’t give me the hockey violence crap.”)
34 per cent report that they will be watching fewer hockey games and 29 percent indicate that they will refrain from buying merchandise from companies who sponsor professional hockey.
60 per cent of Canadians believe that professional hockey has been more violent over the past five years, although that number drops to 48 per cent amongst those who consider themselves as hockey fans.