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Habs Pull A Rabbit

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On a night when the Canadiens, down and seemingly out, stunned their own fans with a surprise win over the mighty Vancouver Canucks, the story in the NHL on this night turns out to be the Leafs and their new acquisitions, shutting out the Devils!

Just as well...

The Habs didn't play a perfect game, far from it, but they covered enough intangibles to gain the win.

Score the first goal, check!

On a beauty from Sergei Kostitsyn, no less.

Remain disciplined, check!

Apart from Darche's unfortunate four minute high sticking call, the Habs kept their cool as the Canucks tried intimidation all game long.

Put in a 60 minute effort, check!

Alright, that's cliched, but almost every Montreal player put his should to the wheel and played desperate hockey between minute one and sixty.

Receive contributions from expected and unlikely sources, check!

In addition to Sergei's goal, Max Lapierre added a timely marker. The fourth line busted their butts, Ryan O'Byrne was Rhino Burn again, Gill was strong and Josh Gorges was his usual Gumby self, absorbing all kinds of punishment and coming back for more.

Goaltender stands on head, check!

Chalk up another very strong performance for Jaroslav Halak, who seems to have the Canucks number when they play Montreal.

In light of the injury to Mike Cammalleri, the Canadiens will need a bunch more wins that resemble this one - unpretty, but loaded with grime and grimace. They have shown many times that they have it in them to take down tough teams, such as the ones coming up on the schedule, but no one is convinced, especially after a lone game, that they can do it consistently.

Halak was stellar in this game - he literally stole one. Trouble is, relying on him, which does happen, will not work in the long run.

If this team is to make the playoffs, it will take the contributions of twenty players nightly.

Maybe some exected them to roll over and cave.

I expect this team to do exactly the opposite of what I think they will do.

I figured the Canucks game was a goner but a win in Boston Thursday looked good.

If they can pull 3 wins in the next six, hope will refuse to die. Anything less and it's curtain.

This is the time of year when teams such as Tampa, Florida, the Islanders and Thrashers start playing like world beaters.

No slacking off.

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Canuck fan turned back into a frog immediately after game!

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ahhh....

So satisfying to watch the Habs play with solid intensity for the full 60. Props to Jaro for keeping the Nucks at bay and of course, props to favourite project, SERGEI!

Hope you enjoyed watching this one as much as I did Robert.

Go Habs Go

by subdoxastic on Feb 2, 2010 11:33 PM EST reply actions  

Just wondering if anybody noticed that Hala had a bit of a shaky night at some points…and we won! He lost numerous pucks in his equipment or crowds not to mention a few posts were struck and his rebounds were more wild than usual. But he also made some excellent saves that maybe he shouldn’t have. A number one goalkeeper wins games even when he is fighting the puck, and Jaro was fighting the puck last night…but he still ended up winning.

By the way, I hate watching other teams local feeds and listening to them question why the officials didn’t call a penalty against THEIR team. It has happened every few games that a commentator says, “I’m surprised Montreal isn’t on the power play, lucky break.” I have said it before, the officiating is killing me.

by blockersave93 on Feb 3, 2010 3:08 PM EST reply actions  

yeah...

Blockersave, I agree, I used to chalk it up to human error, but if that’s all it is, then the refs are all too human.

Los Rangers se dejen de cojudeces o mañana desayuno en el jardin.

by Creme Drops on Feb 3, 2010 7:34 PM EST reply actions  

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