He's just back from injuries so give him a bit of a break. The whole team played poorly to start and that's what cost us the game. This loss could be a good thing to show the boys if you want to win, you have to come to play from the start. They've pulled out some lucky wins so far and this one wasn't one of them.

Get ready for TO on Saturday.

I do not even know what it is, but I read somewhere he may not be back  till this week.

I know eh? Almost as ludicrous (but not quite) as blaming Theodore!! IMAGINE!

Ando wrote:

---

Nil d wrote: Had he found the twines early on, the Habs would have won this one.  Nil'd you were jesting And-o right???  A half-hearted start and that phantom elbow call sealed the deal last night...NOTHING ELSE!    Radek Bonk was robbed by Thibault two or three times.....and played a solid defensive game against a few World class players.    He is pretty much doing everything that CJ and BG have asked...and the offense is not far off.  Expect to see his ice-time continue to increase back-up to the highest forward on the team...as it had for the 4 games before the groin injury.  My advice to CJ...keep giving Bonk time on the PP...it seems only him and Ryder are willing/able to screen the goalie...the goals will come!    ...blaming Bonk for that outcome though is just plain wrong!

---

Sorry, And-o, but I was not kidding.  Nor was I necessarily criticising Bonk's play; he had probably his  best game yet as a Hab, IMHO.  I was merely stating facts: (1) the Habs' record of late with & without Bonk in the lineup, and (2) Bonk's hands of stone.  27 straight games without a goal.  Even for a checking forward, that's not acceptable.  Bonk played well last night, but he misssed a wide-open net once and several other chances where other players would have buried it.

As far as offense being "not far off", how far is that?  How long do we wait?

 

Bonk has had many offensive slumps in his career, but he does take care of the defensive business while those slumps are going on. And does a lot of the little things that we all like. Too bad he's not faster, but he's a solid solid 3rd line (and 2nd in a pinch) center for us.

Nil d wrote:

---

Ando wrote: Nil d wrote: Had he found the twines early on, the Habs would have won this one.  Nil'd you were jesting And-o right???  A half-hearted start and that phantom elbow call sealed the deal last night...NOTHING ELSE!    Radek Bonk was robbed by Thibault two or three times.....and played a solid defensive game against a few World class players.    He is pretty much doing everything that CJ and BG have asked...and the offense is not far off.  Expect to see his ice-time continue to increase back-up to the highest forward on the team...as it had for the 4 games before the groin injury.  My advice to CJ...keep giving Bonk time on the PP...it seems only him and Ryder are willing/able to screen the goalie...the goals will come!    ...blaming Bonk for that outcome though is just plain wrong! Sorry, And-o, but I was not kidding.  Nor was I necessarily criticising Bonk's play; he had probably his  best game yet as a Hab, IMHO.  I was merely stating facts: (1) the Habs' record of late with & without Bonk in the lineup, and (2) Bonk's hands of stone.  27 straight games without a goal.  Even for a checking forward, that's not acceptable.  Bonk played well last night, but he misssed a wide-open net once and several other chances where other players would have buried it. As far as offense being "not far off", how far is that?  How long do we wait?  

---

Nil'd, I usually don't agree with And-o, but look at the Habs records with Bonk.  7-3-2.  So, I think your theory is a bit of a stretch.  I think we need to wait until a little longer.  I've always said a month or 2 for most players to adjst and find their New Roles in the New NHL.  Theo's found his after we wrote him off within a week.  So, let's just wait and see.