Headlines: CHL Playoff Tracker, Grigorenko, Cammalleri

All Habs Headlines: Friday April 20, 2012

On this day in hockey history…  1958 – Bernie Geoffrion scored twice and added an assist as the Canadiens beat Boston 5-3 in Game 6 of the Finals, to win their third straight Stanley Cup.  

ALL HABS HEADLINES

►Three prospects remain: As the CHL playoffs escalate, only three Montreal Canadiens’ prospects are still in their respective races. The Tri-City Americans’ Patrick Holland, the London Knights’ Jarred Tinordi, and defending Memorial Cup Champion Nathan Beaulieu of the Saint John Sea Dogs represent the WHL, OHL and QMJHL respectively.  Morgan Ellis and Michaël Bournival next see action in a month, as they will welcome the best of Canada’s major junior teams along with the  Memorial Cup host Shawinigan Cataractes. The Cats were eliminated this past Tuesday in the seventh and deciding game of their series with the Chicoutimi Saguenéens, who next face Beaulieu and the Sea Dogs. Meanwhile, Tri-City takes on the Portland Winter Hawks and London will next do battle with the Kitchener Rangers.

►Grigorenko not injured?  Perhaps Patrick Roy isn’t a saint afterall.  Roy and his Quebec Remparts suffered a major collapse getting bounced from the QMJHL playoffs by the Halifax Mooseheads after holding a commanding 3-0 lead in their series.  As might be expected, the folks in Quebec City are looking for answers — so far Roy has escaped major criticism.

But at least some of the the finger-pointing has been directed at forward Mikhail Grigorenko, one of the top draft-eligible players.  Grigorenko had a less-than-expected impact during the playoffs with just three goals in 11 post-season games prompting some to question his effort-level.  Others excused his play given a suspected ankle injury.

For his part, Grigorenko is taking full responsibility saying that while banged up, that his performance was not injury-related.  “I think it was a pretty good regular season, but in the playoffs, I do not think I showed what I could do,” said Grigorenko. “I have not been able to help the team get wins and it disappoints me.”

►Cammy: I got mail! You’ve heard the story.  On January 12, Mike Cammalleri had a request when learning mid-game that he had been traded to parts unknown — to take along his Canadiens jersey as a memory of better times in Montreal.  General manager Pierre Gauthier gave his consent with the caveat that Cammalleri fork over $1,250.

The Habs winger was whisked off to the hotel in a cab without his CH-crested duds. Well, Canadiens owner Geoff Molson has once again rode in on his white horse.  Cammalleri tweeted the news on Friday.

https://twitter.com/#!/MCammalleri93/status/193347165706403840