Game Thread: Jets Fly in to Face Habs

by Kevin van Steendelaar on Feb 5, 2012 11:38 AM EST in Habs Game Threads

Winnipeg Jets at Montreal Canadiens, Feb 5, 2012 2:00 PM EST

Good news Montreal Canadiens fans, this team can't bet any worse in the NHL Eastern Conference. The Habs found themselves dead last in the Conference this morning, but could bounce back into 14th with a win over the Winnipeg Jets.

This is the fourth and final meeting between the two clubs, with Montreal holding a 2-1 series lead. In their last meeting, Lars Eller had a career night, potting four goals, and adding an assist, in a 7-3 win at the Bell Centre.

The Jets are crawling at a playoff spot, sitting four points back of eighth place, heading into this afternoon. If they want a playoff berth, their offense will need to pick up steam, especially on the road where they are 9-15-4.

Winnipeg is 4-5-1 in their last ten, and have two or less goals in nine of their last 11 games. Their power play has also struggled with just three goals in their last 31 opportunities.

But if there's a place to bag a road win theses days, the Bell Centre is the place. The Canadiens are one of two clubs with a below .500 record at home. The even worse Columbus Blue Jackets are the other.

Dustin Byfuglien returned to the Jets Thursday, following a 16-game absence.

Ondrej Pavelec gets the call in goal for the Jets. Carey Price will be between the pipes for Montreal.

Raphael Diaz is a healthy scratch for the Habs.

The Canadiens are 11-8-1 on Superbowl Sunday, but have lost the last five straight games.

MONTREAL CANADIENS PROJECTED LINEUP

Forwards

Erik Cole - David Desharnais - Max Pacioretty

Mathieu Darche - Lars Eller - Andrei Kostitsyn

Rene Bourque - Tomas Plekanec - Scott Gomez

Aaron Palushaj - Louis Leblanc - Yannick Weber

Defense Pairings

Josh Gorges - P.K. Subban

Alexei Emelin - Tomas Kaberle

Hal Gill - Chris Campoli

Goalies

Carey Price - Peter Budaj

WINNIPEG JETS PROJECTED LINEUP

Forwards

Andrew Ladd - Bryan Little - Blake Wheeler

Kyle Wellwood - Nik Antropov - Eric Fehr

Tanner Glass - Jim Slater - Chris Thorburn

Alexander Burmistrov - Aaron Gagnon - Antti Miettinen

Defense Pairings

Dustin Byfuglien - Tobias Enstrom

Ron Hainsey - Zach Bogosian

Mark Stuart - Johnny Oduya

Goalies

Ondrej Pavelec - Chris Mason

Jets vs Canadiens coverage

SBN Coverage of the Jets at Arctic Ice Hockey

Habs Superbowl Picks

Tweet Comment 210 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

Emelin's passing analysis

via Chris Boucher

Kevin van Steendelaar

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by Kevin van Steendelaar on Feb 5, 2012 12:27 PM EST reply actions

She's Back!

Yesterday’s anthem singer getting a second chance!

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by Kevin van Steendelaar on Feb 5, 2012 1:51 PM EST reply actions

That’s just mean.

by Olivier on Feb 5, 2012 2:07 PM EST up reply actions

What, my comment, or the fact the Habs will subject it to us again?

She was actually OK with Oh Canada, but was screeching TSSB yesterday…Maybe just nerves.

Better job this aft though

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by Kevin van Steendelaar on Feb 5, 2012 2:15 PM EST up reply actions

My brother sung in high school, and said that if you’re not used to it, it can be hard to sing in an ice rink because of the cold.

by Hunter Durfee on Feb 5, 2012 2:14 PM EST up reply actions

er, sang

by Hunter Durfee on Feb 5, 2012 2:15 PM EST up reply actions

Acoustics in an arena don’t make it easier either.

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by Kevin van Steendelaar on Feb 5, 2012 2:16 PM EST up reply actions

That’s why I tought it mean to send her out again.

But hey,it’s not like this org is shy of putting kids in situations where they are bound to fail and be ridiculed because of it.

by Olivier on Feb 5, 2012 2:56 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs

This might be my favourite comment of the year!

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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 5, 2012 7:14 PM EST up reply actions

I died a little inside yesterday.

by Hunter Durfee on Feb 5, 2012 2:13 PM EST reply actions

Great, 46-14-27 lasted one game.

by MathMan on Feb 5, 2012 2:16 PM EST reply actions

Surprised?

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by Kevin van Steendelaar on Feb 5, 2012 2:17 PM EST up reply actions

AnthemTanking™.

by JD__ on Feb 5, 2012 2:16 PM EST reply actions

I’d prefer Artem Anisimov in our team :(

by fsaintjacques on Feb 5, 2012 2:18 PM EST up reply actions

It appears Schneider may be finally making the leap to P4 leg pads.

by Hunter Durfee on Feb 5, 2012 2:18 PM EST reply actions

71-81-60, or is it 81-71-60

by MathMan on Feb 5, 2012 2:20 PM EST reply actions

If Gomez scores this game I may cry.

by Hunter Durfee on Feb 5, 2012 2:20 PM EST reply actions

They could make a movie out of it!

by Simon Lamarche on Feb 5, 2012 2:21 PM EST up reply actions

Hat trick imminent.

by fsaintjacques on Feb 5, 2012 2:23 PM EST up reply actions

He only has 2 career goals vs Atl/Win since 2007, so I won’t get any hopes up

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by Kevin van Steendelaar on Feb 5, 2012 2:23 PM EST up reply actions

46-11-72?

by MathMan on Feb 5, 2012 2:20 PM EST reply actions

Price was looking a little like Fleury there

but not in a good way.

by Hunter Durfee on Feb 5, 2012 2:21 PM EST reply actions

He usually doesn’t overpush like that.

by Hunter Durfee on Feb 5, 2012 2:22 PM EST up reply actions

The puck got the ref.

by Hunter Durfee on Feb 5, 2012 2:23 PM EST reply actions

Funny, the one time they carry it in they manage to set up, the dump-ins failed all but once.

by MathMan on Feb 5, 2012 2:24 PM EST reply actions

How many times have we seen a Subban up-ice rush, and the opposition forces him to a dead end inside? I think his move has been figured out.

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by Kevin van Steendelaar on Feb 5, 2012 2:25 PM EST reply actions

Are you talking about the PP rush?

What I noticed about it is that the Habs got set up and it eventually led to a scoring chance.

by MathMan on Feb 5, 2012 2:29 PM EST up reply actions

No, they were talking about an after-the-whistle skirmish, he was supposedly alone with the 5 Jets players roughing him up…

by Simon Lamarche on Feb 5, 2012 2:34 PM EST up reply actions

I’m listening to it on radio, they made it sound really bad how everyone left Subban alone there. Did it look like he was being left there on purpose or was it nothing?

by Simon Lamarche on Feb 5, 2012 2:25 PM EST reply actions

They didn’t seem to make an effort to give him options.

by Hunter Durfee on Feb 5, 2012 2:29 PM EST up reply actions

Penalty accepted

by Hunter Durfee on Feb 5, 2012 2:29 PM EST reply actions

Shoud have just chanced a weaker backhand, rather than waste time on the forehand

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by Kevin van Steendelaar on Feb 5, 2012 2:41 PM EST reply actions

About time!

by MathMan on Feb 5, 2012 2:46 PM EST reply actions

Wasn’t pretty, but it’s a goal!

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by Kevin van Steendelaar on Feb 5, 2012 2:46 PM EST reply actions

Pacioretty’s 19th… Pavelec with an own goal

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by Kevin van Steendelaar on Feb 5, 2012 2:47 PM EST up reply actions

It was just changed, and Palushaj got his first NHL point off of it!

by MathMan on Feb 5, 2012 2:58 PM EST up reply actions

Wow. They have been playing so well this game.

by Hunter Durfee on Feb 5, 2012 2:47 PM EST reply actions

Emelin

Good hits this afternoon.

by fsaintjacques on Feb 5, 2012 2:49 PM EST reply actions

Good reward.

by fsaintjacques on Feb 5, 2012 3:19 PM EST up reply actions

Leblanc’s going to be pretty good.

by MathMan on Feb 5, 2012 2:50 PM EST reply actions

He’s got such a great, simplistic game. He does the little things so well.

by Chris. on Feb 5, 2012 2:52 PM EST up reply actions

He’s a lot less raw then I thought he would be at this point in his career. Pretty good for a 20 year old, looking like he could devellop into a great two way, tough minutes foward.

What I don’t know is if the organisation sees him as a C or a RW. Every signs pointed to him being viewed as a RW in the NHL but it seems like he’s getting time at C under Cunneyworth. Now that may just be a Cunneyworth roulette lineup thing since it does seem like Leblanc’s game would fit better on the wing and his usage in Hamilton point to the organisation thinking that too.

Basically I still don’t get what the hell Cunneyworth is doing and I hope it doesn’t do damage long term considering the numbers of young develloping players we have up there.

by Statsfanatic81 on Feb 5, 2012 3:04 PM EST up reply actions

Lemme put it this way: it’s a little whacked to put Eller and Leblanc on the same line and have Leblanc play center.

by MathMan on Feb 5, 2012 3:05 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah it really is. So what is Eller’s path under Randy. 2nd C, scratched, 1st C, benched, 1st C, 3 C, 3 RW. I guess he might end up on D before the end of the season.

by Statsfanatic81 on Feb 5, 2012 3:19 PM EST up reply actions

Just like Fedorov with Bowman!

Good omens!

by Olivier on Feb 5, 2012 3:58 PM EST up reply actions

Wasn’t Vermette a good two-way C that turned into a good 2-way RW that can take faceoffs?

by Simon Lamarche on Feb 5, 2012 3:05 PM EST up reply actions

Maybe now that we can’t make the playoffs, they are allowed to actually try.

by Hunter Durfee on Feb 5, 2012 2:53 PM EST reply actions

Scoring chances

+8/-7 at ES, +1/-0 special teams (Pleks on the PK, actually)

14/52/27 looked spaced out on their first few shifts but then clicked. I like this combo, and so does RC, who double-shifted them once they started crunching trough to Pavelec’s net. +4/-2 for them

Gomer is +0/-3, AKost +1/-3 and Cole +1/-3. DD/67 are +3/-1, seems they did most of their damage with Palushaj.

Kaberle/Campoli +1/-3 too. These two look stoned.

Man, these lines are weird.

by Olivier on Feb 5, 2012 3:00 PM EST reply actions

Without Blunden, RC just can’t seem to find anything he likes.

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by Bruce Peter on Feb 5, 2012 3:01 PM EST up reply actions

I’d rather have Leblanc than Blunden up, so when Moen comes back, I hope we send Blunden down instead.

by Chris. on Feb 5, 2012 3:03 PM EST up reply actions

Over Randy’s dead body. Darche is just keeping Blunden’s spot warm on the Plekanec line.

by MathMan on Feb 5, 2012 3:03 PM EST up reply actions

The truth is extremely depressing these days.

by Statsfanatic81 on Feb 5, 2012 3:09 PM EST up reply actions

Every coach has their illogical favourites at times. I just like to poke fun at it on occasion. I used to do it for Julien and Bouillon back in the day, too. Bouillon was better than Blunden, though, obviously.

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by Bruce Peter on Feb 5, 2012 3:16 PM EST up reply actions

I’m starting to see Rowan Atkinson in Randy’s role when they make the Gomez movie.

by Simon Lamarche on Feb 5, 2012 3:04 PM EST up reply actions

That 71-81-60 line is pretty good considering the oldest guy is 22.

by MathMan on Feb 5, 2012 3:15 PM EST reply actions

I’m just affraid that one of them will make a mistake and then the whole line will be benched

by Chuck_L on Feb 5, 2012 3:16 PM EST up reply actions

Emelin with the beautiful shorty.

This is the baddest, meanest PK in hockey, full stop.

by MathMan on Feb 5, 2012 3:19 PM EST reply actions

Not even Vegas odds makers have Emelin scoring a shorty! LOL

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by Kevin van Steendelaar on Feb 5, 2012 3:20 PM EST up reply actions

Wow!

Emelin!

Buf caught cheating. Well timed pass by Plekanec

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by Kevin van Steendelaar on Feb 5, 2012 3:19 PM EST reply actions

New goal music?

by Hunter Durfee on Feb 5, 2012 3:19 PM EST reply actions

For a month or two now. :p

by Chris. on Feb 5, 2012 3:20 PM EST up reply actions

Lol. Cranial radiation will do that to you.

by Hunter Durfee on Feb 5, 2012 3:21 PM EST up reply actions

In your defense, its not like we hear it a lot :)

Yeah, I don't like the Bruins, but I HATE the Flyers!

by courtnall on Feb 5, 2012 3:24 PM EST up reply actions

New old music

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by Kevin van Steendelaar on Feb 5, 2012 3:20 PM EST up reply actions

So does Emelin earn some PP time now or what!?

by Chris. on Feb 5, 2012 3:20 PM EST reply actions

I love Emelin.

by Statsfanatic81 on Feb 5, 2012 3:20 PM EST reply actions

67-71-60.

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by Bruce Peter on Feb 5, 2012 3:23 PM EST reply actions

Isn’t that the starting three on the Patriots d-line?

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by Kevin van Steendelaar on Feb 5, 2012 3:24 PM EST up reply actions

Eller was on the PK. I doubt that’s permanent.

by MathMan on Feb 5, 2012 3:25 PM EST up reply actions

Palushaj and Pacioretty were teammates in Michigan as freshmen.

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by Bruce Peter on Feb 5, 2012 3:27 PM EST up reply actions

Good question by HNIC

Just shot down Markov for the season, or see what he has to offer?

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by Kevin van Steendelaar on Feb 5, 2012 3:24 PM EST reply actions

shot = shut

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by Kevin van Steendelaar on Feb 5, 2012 3:24 PM EST up reply actions

See what he has to offer. Nothing to lose.

by Statsfanatic81 on Feb 5, 2012 3:26 PM EST up reply actions

No, you want him to play at least 10 games this year, if he has fully recovered.

if only to see if he still can be effective going forward. Then this summer you can make decision knowing if Markov is your #1 D

by Chuck_L on Feb 5, 2012 3:27 PM EST up reply actions

Well, from what I saw/heard, he’s basically retraining to be an NHL player.

by Chris. on Feb 5, 2012 3:25 PM EST up reply actions

If he’s 100%, play him. Get some games in heading into next year.

Trade Campoli and Gill and make a D out of the other 7 going forward.

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by Bruce Peter on Feb 5, 2012 3:26 PM EST up reply actions

This is the plan I like most. Campoli and Gill are essentially useless to us going forward, and our young D are shaping up fantastically. Kaberle has value going forward, and it a good 2nd unit PP QB.

by Chris. on Feb 5, 2012 3:27 PM EST up reply actions

Gorges-Subban
Markov-Emelin
Kaberle-Diaz
Weber

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by Bruce Peter on Feb 5, 2012 3:33 PM EST up reply actions

And for fun… AHL D:

St. Denis, Nash, Beaulieu, Tinordi, Ellis, Stejskal, Pateryn, Mitera (optional, might not be qualified).

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by Bruce Peter on Feb 5, 2012 3:40 PM EST up reply actions

If Markov can come back at even 80%, having him against second toughs is gonna be awesome.

by Statsfanatic81 on Feb 5, 2012 3:42 PM EST up reply actions

What? PP goal?

by MathMan on Feb 5, 2012 3:28 PM EST reply actions

Gomez

Goal!?!

by fsaintjacques on Feb 5, 2012 3:28 PM EST reply actions

Looks like Pleks.

by MathMan on Feb 5, 2012 3:29 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah, doesn’t look like Gomer’s.

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by Bruce Peter on Feb 5, 2012 3:30 PM EST up reply actions

plek – plek – goose

Yeah, I don't like the Bruins, but I HATE the Flyers!

by courtnall on Feb 5, 2012 3:28 PM EST reply actions

That kid line has been effing brilliant.

I get that it’s soft minutes, but daaaaang.

by MathMan on Feb 5, 2012 3:31 PM EST reply actions

It also makes players like blunden and nokelainen redundant, thankfully.

by Hunter Durfee on Feb 5, 2012 3:34 PM EST up reply actions

Hey, those guys can always find work as injury callups.

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by Bruce Peter on Feb 5, 2012 3:36 PM EST up reply actions

That’s what a soft minutes line should be at least. Offensively oriented kids not yet ready for tough minutes, I prefer that then having our top 2 tough minutes wingers getting those kind of minutes.

Also confirms what I already thought about Palushaj being better than Blunden.

by Statsfanatic81 on Feb 5, 2012 3:40 PM EST up reply actions

I want Gomez to score sooooo much.

by Statsfanatic81 on Feb 5, 2012 3:32 PM EST reply actions

They’re trying REALLY hard to give it to Gomez.

by MathMan on Feb 5, 2012 3:32 PM EST reply actions

There hasn’t been a close game vs. Winnipeg all year. Just bizarre considering most of the year has been 1 goal games, shootouts, and 1 plus empty netters.

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by Bruce Peter on Feb 5, 2012 3:35 PM EST reply actions

Nobody wants to be the Worst Canadian Team™ in a year that includes a new team.

by Hunter Durfee on Feb 5, 2012 3:38 PM EST up reply actions

PK, don’t do that!

Cancelled a Hab scoring chance, too.

by MathMan on Feb 5, 2012 3:39 PM EST reply actions

But he won’t be on ice for 5 minutes.

by fsaintjacques on Feb 5, 2012 3:41 PM EST up reply actions

PK is the Habs’ best D-man though. It’s not a good trade.

by MathMan on Feb 5, 2012 3:42 PM EST up reply actions

Subban

Thank you, he’s simply dominating in defensive zone. If only l’AC could STFU about him.

by fsaintjacques on Feb 5, 2012 3:39 PM EST reply actions

JOYEUX ANNIVERSAIRE SCOTT!

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by Chemmy on Feb 5, 2012 3:42 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

To be fair, I did a little research, and it appears that Obama removed February 29th from last year’s calendar.

Henri Richard and Gomez both got screwed.

by Spezzal Teams Playa on Feb 5, 2012 3:54 PM EST up reply actions

HAPPY 1-YEAR EVERYBODY!

well, that escalated quickly

by aelanK on Feb 5, 2012 3:43 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

Anchorman reference in the signature?

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by Bruce Peter on Feb 5, 2012 3:46 PM EST up reply actions

Very likely.

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by Chemmy on Feb 5, 2012 3:47 PM EST up reply actions

Surprised you guys aren’t excited about the Gomez thing. At this point you almost have to laugh, you know?

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by Chemmy on Feb 5, 2012 3:47 PM EST up reply actions

We did have a guy looking to make a clip of all his misses from the past year, but I guess it didn’t arrive in time, or it’s being saved for after.

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by Bruce Peter on Feb 5, 2012 3:48 PM EST up reply actions

I would say, “much like you guys must laugh at the approaching 45-year Cup drought,” but given the Habs are on the threshold of the quarter-century mark, I’ll restrain myself.

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by Kevin van Steendelaar on Feb 5, 2012 3:53 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

1967 joke, I’ll mark down Gomez under “sore spot” then.

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by Chemmy on Feb 5, 2012 3:54 PM EST up reply actions

When are you guys finishing your Top 25 U25? I want to go over and make rich boy jokes about Joe Colbourne.

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by Bruce Peter on Feb 5, 2012 3:57 PM EST up reply actions

It runs M-F, so soon.

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by Chemmy on Feb 5, 2012 4:00 PM EST up reply actions

I’d have gone with a “haven’t been in the playoffs since the lockout” joke.

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by Stephan Cooper on Feb 5, 2012 4:02 PM EST up reply actions

Use it while you can I guess.

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by Chemmy on Feb 5, 2012 4:03 PM EST up reply actions

Chickens and hatching.

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by Stephan Cooper on Feb 5, 2012 4:50 PM EST up reply actions

That’s what I was thinking …. until last night.

by Spezzal Teams Playa on Feb 5, 2012 4:53 PM EST up reply actions

In fairness, and depending how you look at the wins (ie: regulation/OT/SO), the Leafs have won every season series over the Habs since the lockout.

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by Kevin van Steendelaar on Feb 5, 2012 5:31 PM EST up reply actions

Of course!

well, that escalated quickly

by aelanK on Feb 5, 2012 3:49 PM EST up reply actions

PJ Stock, the analyst: blames Byfuglien for laziness, praises Subban for fighting.

by MathMan on Feb 5, 2012 3:50 PM EST reply actions

Talking about how they have had so many reasons to rag on Subban this season. I thought that was funny.

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by Stephan Cooper on Feb 5, 2012 3:50 PM EST up reply actions

“analyst”

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by Chemmy on Feb 5, 2012 3:52 PM EST up reply actions

In french we have this subtile wording, we say ‘joueurnaliste’ instead of ‘journaliste’, which is mainly attributed to whoever works at RDS.

by fsaintjacques on Feb 5, 2012 4:00 PM EST up reply actions

Heh. That’s pretty good.

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by Chemmy on Feb 5, 2012 4:02 PM EST up reply actions

This was pretty funny last night on Twitter:

@FriedgeHNIC I don’t say this often enough but it’s an honor and priviledge working with PJ Stock. He a great dresser and fine broth of a lad. I heart PJ

@FriedgeHNIC yes, left my computer open

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by Chemmy on Feb 5, 2012 3:54 PM EST up reply actions

Too bad Friedman didn’t know Stock was going to show off his name on the Habs monument. outside the Bell Centre for the pre-game.

He could put a piece of tape over it, before they went out to record it.

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by Kevin van Steendelaar on Feb 5, 2012 5:33 PM EST up reply actions

Old man Price talking about young kid Subban.

by Hypnotoad on Feb 5, 2012 3:55 PM EST reply actions

2 years ago when he was Subban’s age they were saying basically the same things about Price.

Which both saddens and amuses me.

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by Stephan Cooper on Feb 5, 2012 3:56 PM EST up reply actions

The big difference is that Price never became the most hated player in the NHL™.

by Hypnotoad on Feb 5, 2012 3:58 PM EST up reply actions

Just the “most over-rated” one

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by Stephan Cooper on Feb 5, 2012 3:58 PM EST up reply actions

Heh. That also needs a ™.

by Statsfanatic81 on Feb 5, 2012 4:04 PM EST up reply actions

Is PK Subban becoming the whipping boy of the lost season?

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by Chemmy on Feb 5, 2012 3:57 PM EST up reply actions

Depends on who you ask. The heat is more on the GM than anyone else.

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by Stephan Cooper on Feb 5, 2012 4:00 PM EST up reply actions

He’s a media whipping boy, the fanbase isn’t turning on him like they did on Price, though.

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by Bruce Peter on Feb 5, 2012 4:00 PM EST up reply actions

Fan wise the biggest one was Cammalleri I think.

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by Stephan Cooper on Feb 5, 2012 4:03 PM EST up reply actions

Certainly not in here, quite the opposite in fact.

by MathMan on Feb 5, 2012 4:00 PM EST up reply actions

Let’s just say that no one who’s opinion actually matters would actually even think about blaming a 22 year old top pairing D for a lost season.

by Statsfanatic81 on Feb 5, 2012 4:03 PM EST up reply actions

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

"We are all agreed that your theory is crazy. The question that divides us is whether it is crazy enough to have a chance of being correct."
- Niels Bohr

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by Frag on Feb 5, 2012 3:58 PM EST reply actions

Splendid.

by fsaintjacques on Feb 5, 2012 4:16 PM EST up reply actions

Scoring chances

How come we are 7 points behind those scrubs?

2nd period: +9/-2 at ES, +2/-4 ST
Overall: +17/-9 at ES, +3/-4 ST

Couple of notes:

The habs PP has fallen from 40ish chances per 60 minutes under jacques martin to around 23ish chances per 60 under Randy (but the shooting % has veered back toward 15% on scoring chances). I blame this entirely on the fact that the team has strayed away from the half-ice, inverted shooters setup to go with a more erratic “kinda sorta all over the ice”, left handed shot on the left and right handed on the right.

Plekanec’s goal came on them deliberately coming back to the inverted shooter setup for the first time in a long, long while. This is not a coincidence.

Gomez still looks like he’s dying out there but big props to Randy for sending him on the ice with Cole, Akost and Bourque, proven scorers who give him a chance to maybe scrape a point at ES or on the PP. I hate Randy’s coaching, but this is a class act.

Desharnais/Pacioretty have taken off, both +8/-2. Pleks standing pat at +4/-2, the kids are doing all right: Eller +2/-1, Leblanc +4/-1 and Palushaj +6/-2.

by Olivier on Feb 5, 2012 3:58 PM EST reply actions

How come we are 7 points behind those scrubs?

Winnipeg had a run of great luck to start the season. They’re free falling now. I’d bet the Habs catch them, though at this point you’d probably prefer not to.

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by Chemmy on Feb 5, 2012 4:02 PM EST up reply actions

Reminds me of the Thrashers last season.

"We are all agreed that your theory is crazy. The question that divides us is whether it is crazy enough to have a chance of being correct."
- Niels Bohr

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by Frag on Feb 5, 2012 4:03 PM EST up reply actions

Never underestimate Randy. That efficient kid line we got?

Kiss it goodbye once 20 points AHL man Blunden and craptastinc center Nokelainen comes back.

Randy owns, when it comes to sinking his own ship.

by Olivier on Feb 5, 2012 4:03 PM EST up reply actions

The Habs are about a 70 point over a full season team under Cunneyworth, so no, I wouldn’t bet on that.

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by Bruce Peter on Feb 5, 2012 4:03 PM EST up reply actions

58 points.

70 was when I gave him a 4-game grace period.

by MathMan on Feb 5, 2012 4:04 PM EST up reply actions

I know, I just figured the second number was more realistic.

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by Bruce Peter on Feb 5, 2012 4:05 PM EST up reply actions

It probably is really. Even Randy can’t drive a team down into the ground that badly single-handedly.

by MathMan on Feb 5, 2012 4:06 PM EST up reply actions

And I do think he was deliberately making some of those early decisions to ‘break’ the team in a bit.

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by Bruce Peter on Feb 5, 2012 4:07 PM EST up reply actions

I wonder if going back to that PP setup was a coaching instruction or player decision. They also started by dumping it in and then have been carrying it in instead.

by MathMan on Feb 5, 2012 4:03 PM EST up reply actions

This team’s search for a strategy since the coaching change is pretty much set to random walk it seems.

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by Stephan Cooper on Feb 5, 2012 4:06 PM EST up reply actions

It’s a strategy that in theory should converge to the optimum.

by fsaintjacques on Feb 5, 2012 4:07 PM EST up reply actions

Random walk only works if when you find what works you either keep it or move in that direction.

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by Stephan Cooper on Feb 5, 2012 4:09 PM EST up reply actions

No that’s the beauty, you aren’t stuck in local maxima!

by fsaintjacques on Feb 5, 2012 4:11 PM EST up reply actions

Well if the number of games in a season approached infinity this could work out.

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by Stephan Cooper on Feb 5, 2012 4:13 PM EST up reply actions

Bon anniversaire à la pire équipe au Canada!

[insert witty remark about being on twitter here]

by Not Not Tickle Me Aulie on Feb 5, 2012 4:05 PM EST reply actions

Who invited Bryan Murray?

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by Chemmy on Feb 5, 2012 4:07 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs

He wasn’t celebrating much last night, amirite?

The Roar of the Masses Could be Farts.

by Self Destructive Zones on Feb 5, 2012 4:09 PM EST up reply actions

I liked how they had a quick shot of him last night after one of the last goals.

[insert witty remark about being on twitter here]

by Not Not Tickle Me Aulie on Feb 5, 2012 4:10 PM EST up reply actions

Carey

Wow.

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by Bruce Peter on Feb 5, 2012 4:08 PM EST reply actions

Yikes.

by MathMan on Feb 5, 2012 4:09 PM EST up reply actions

He’s going to ruin of lottery spot.

by fsaintjacques on Feb 5, 2012 4:12 PM EST up reply actions

our*

by fsaintjacques on Feb 5, 2012 4:12 PM EST up reply actions

Still a lot of games left to lose. Gotta enjoy some wins every once in a while. :)

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by Bruce Peter on Feb 5, 2012 4:15 PM EST up reply actions

Might as well play well when your already having a good game. Can’t lose them all.

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by Stephan Cooper on Feb 5, 2012 4:16 PM EST up reply actions

Hell of a save.

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by Chemmy on Feb 5, 2012 4:12 PM EST up reply actions

But I thought he was “unclutch”.

by Statsfanatic81 on Feb 5, 2012 4:12 PM EST up reply actions

Hey, the team is nowhere near the playoffs, so I don’t see any clutch situation here. lol

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by Bruce Peter on Feb 5, 2012 4:13 PM EST up reply actions

If Emelin can develop into a legitimate 2nd pair off-side D, man… left wingers around the NHL beware.

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by Bruce Peter on Feb 5, 2012 4:12 PM EST reply actions

If not, right wingers beware?

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by Stephan Cooper on Feb 5, 2012 4:13 PM EST up reply actions

I’m thinking Subban on the first and then Emelin on the second pair.

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by Bruce Peter on Feb 5, 2012 4:14 PM EST up reply actions

If Markov is good to go, having a D of that caliber on a 2nd pair is gonna be huge next year. He’ll “Karlsson” the NHL.

by Statsfanatic81 on Feb 5, 2012 4:18 PM EST up reply actions

Standings

Were we ahead or behind the Oilers before today? I’m assuming we were behind them due to head-to-head record, correct?

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by Bruce Peter on Feb 5, 2012 4:17 PM EST reply actions

Ahead because of our superior goal differential I think.

by Statsfanatic81 on Feb 5, 2012 4:18 PM EST up reply actions

Well, we’re still in the lottery with a win today, just the 5th place spot instead of 3rd/4th.

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by Bruce Peter on Feb 5, 2012 4:20 PM EST up reply actions

2nd worst remains immanently achievable

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by Stephan Cooper on Feb 5, 2012 4:22 PM EST up reply actions

Looking at the goal differential of teams around us is extremely depressing. We look like we’ll go back in the single digits after this one (currently minus 11) and that’s while counting EN goals. Every team around us, with the exception of the Oilers, are well in the 20s.

The positive about not being as bad as our record is that with a few changes here and here, we’re probably good to go next year, as long as they don’t do anything stupid like trading Plek before the end of the season. And we get a very good prospect out of it.

Also, Columbus is -54 !!!!!!!!

by Statsfanatic81 on Feb 5, 2012 4:31 PM EST up reply actions

Keep in mind that -11 includes all those shootout losses.

The Habs’ non-shootout goal differential has been hovering around neutral for a long while.

by MathMan on Feb 5, 2012 4:33 PM EST up reply actions

Also still in the + at ES.

by Statsfanatic81 on Feb 5, 2012 4:34 PM EST up reply actions

In the + overall if you skip empty-netters.

by MathMan on Feb 5, 2012 4:36 PM EST up reply actions

Like I said, depressing for this year but looking good for next.

by Statsfanatic81 on Feb 5, 2012 4:44 PM EST up reply actions

Darche owes Plekanec a point.

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by Stephan Cooper on Feb 5, 2012 4:19 PM EST reply actions

RC on the bench

“Blunden would’ve buried that”

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by Bruce Peter on Feb 5, 2012 4:20 PM EST up reply actions

I don’t think he’s that deluded. He’s probably thinking Blunden would have energized Darche into scoring.

by Hypnotoad on Feb 5, 2012 4:22 PM EST up reply actions

YES! Another PK opportunity.

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by Bruce Peter on Feb 5, 2012 4:22 PM EST reply actions

Almost.

by fsaintjacques on Feb 5, 2012 4:25 PM EST up reply actions

Too many men. Been a while, but I guess RC isn’t immune after all.

by MathMan on Feb 5, 2012 4:22 PM EST reply actions

That was entirely Desharnais fault though.

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by Stephan Cooper on Feb 5, 2012 4:23 PM EST up reply actions

Cole called for a new stick, Bourque thought he wanted a change.

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by Bruce Peter on Feb 5, 2012 4:24 PM EST up reply actions

EDIT: Seeing the replay. also Bourque’s

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by Stephan Cooper on Feb 5, 2012 4:24 PM EST up reply actions

Plekanec should be the first star tonight, assuming Habs win (assuming a lot this year, I know).

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by Bruce Peter on Feb 5, 2012 4:26 PM EST reply actions

Price may get it automatically due to something I’m not talking about.

by MathMan on Feb 5, 2012 4:27 PM EST up reply actions

Net empty?

I get that the Jets need this game, but…

Hey, put Gomez on.

by MathMan on Feb 5, 2012 4:34 PM EST reply actions

I’d have Gomez take the faceoff. You know, just cause it could happen with an empty net.

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by Stephan Cooper on Feb 5, 2012 4:34 PM EST reply actions

Well, 4-on-4 now, so put him on.

by MathMan on Feb 5, 2012 4:35 PM EST up reply actions

“He’s never shut out the Winnipeg Jets”

It’s his fourth game against them!

by MathMan on Feb 5, 2012 4:38 PM EST reply actions

How many such commemorative pucks does he have now?

31?

Fewer, I’d imagine.

by Spezzal Teams Playa on Feb 5, 2012 4:41 PM EST up reply actions

Especially since he’s never shutout the Habs.

So, fewer than 30, I’d imagine, but what about Conference rivals? Was that his 15th?

by Spezzal Teams Playa on Feb 5, 2012 4:43 PM EST up reply actions

Actually, there’s a funny story in which Pronger, being a douche, gobbled up one of Carey’s shutout pucks. Gomez and Gionta chased him down, and made him give it up.

They give him to Carey, who promptly tosses it to a kid in the crowd.

Turns out, he doesn’t keep commemorative pucks for shutouts.

by MathMan on Feb 5, 2012 4:43 PM EST up reply actions