Two wins out of these four games, after the recent problems, would sure be sweet. I have a feeling we'll get them. Something tells me that Theo is going to return to form for a while over the next month or so and is once again going to stand on his head for this team. If the boys can just stay out of the penalty box and the D can prevent tap-ins around the net, the Habs just may get the job done for you, davidb. No doubt CJ will be drilling them to death in preparation. This will be a key week, even though there's so much season left. If the Habs can turn it around now, it will say to me that CJ's plan for them is a good one -- and that this team has heart.

Les Canadiens Sont La

davidb wrote:

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i would not take this team lightly or for granted  it will be tough  but with toronto and ottawa and buffalo ,later this week we can use this game to get ready   i am hoping for two wins out of the 4  but it will be tough

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We are not playing well enough to take any team lightly. And perhaps the best thing that could happen was for us to lose a couple. I think that the natural tendency is to feel that your are invincible after pulling out as many one goal games as we did. Human nature dictates that you feel you can just go through the motions, play the 3rd period, and pull out a win. I can guarantee you 2 things.

1. The losses were a wake up call to that effect


2. If the losses were NOT a wake up call the last couple practices by the cabbage patch coach would help deliever the message

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=144083&hubname=

 

Habs try to end slump against Thrashers

 

(Sports Network) - The Montreal Canadiens hope to escape their current lull tonight when they welcome the Atlanta Thrashers to the Bell Centre.


Montreal has lost two straight games, and is 1-2-2 in its last five overall. On Saturday the Habs dropped a 5-1 tilt to the visiting Washington Capitals. Brian Sutherby scored twice to lead the Caps, who tallied three goals in the first period.

Michael Ryder scored the lone goal for the Canadiens. Yann Danis had a rough night between the pipes, as he allowed four goals on 17 shots before giving way to Jose Theodore in the second period. Theodore made two saves on the three shots faced the rest of the way.

The Canadiens outshot the Capitals, 20-1, in the third period, but it was Washington that tallied the only goal of the final frame.

Montreal will visit Buffalo on Friday.


Atlanta, meanwhile, has lost two of its last three games on the heels of a three-game winning streak. On Saturday the Thrashers dropped a 5-1 contest in Toronto. Alexei Ponikarovsky scored two goals and added an assist to lift the surging Maple Leafs.

Ilya Kovalchuk scored the lone goal for Atlanta. Goaltender Michael Garnett replaced Adam Berkhoel in the second period, and finished the game with 20 saves.

Atlanta's Marc Savard has a six-game point streak intact. He has one goal and 14 assists during the tear.

The Thrashers will host the NY Rangers on Thursday.

Montreal defeated Atlanta, 2-0, on October 12 at Philips Arena and has won five of the last six meetings.

http://www.canadiens.com/eng/news/redirect.cfm?sectionID=habsNewsDetails.cfm&newsItemID=4501

 

Game Preview: Canadiens vs. Thrashers

 

MONTREAL – For the first time this season, the Canadiens find themselves in somewhat unfamiliar territory, having lost their last two games in regulation – a 5-3 final in New Jersey on Friday followed by a 5-1 decision against the Capitals Saturday at the Bell Centre. Just a few weeks ago, Claude Julien’s troops had dropped two straight but came away with a point in both games, in a shootout in Pittsburgh and in overtime at home against the Maple Leafs.

The Thrashers also head into tonight’s contest on the wrong end of a 5-1 score Saturday in Toronto. Tonight’s meeting is the final of three on the road for Bob Hartley’s squad, who kicked the trip off with a 6-5 overtime win over the Flyers. After a rough start to the season, Atlanta has slowly but surely turned their luck around, posting a 5-3-1 record so far in November.

Since joining the league in 1999, Atlanta hasn’t found much success against Montreal. The Canadiens are 14-4-2 lifetime against the Thrashers and have outscored them 65-36.

Tonight marks the second of four matchups between the Canadiens and Thrashers this season. They last met on Oct. 12 in Atlanta, with Yann Danis leading his team to a 2-0 shutout.

Night and day: While the Canadiens are the league’s specialists in tight scores, posting a league-leading 11-4 record in one-goal games, the Thrashers are at the other end of the spectrum. Atlanta has played the most games where the final result was decided by at least three goals, going 5-5 in such contests, including 8-1 and 9-0 wins, as well as 9-1 and 6-0 losses.

First line flashback: In search of his 100th point with the Canadiens, Jan Bulis will join Richard Zednik and Saku Koivu on the top line in Alex Kovalev’s absence. The Czech native is no stranger to his linemates, having spent the better part of the 2003-04 campaign as part of the Canadiens’ number one trio.

Musical chairs: While the Canadiens’ clinic has had to stay open extra hours this season, the Thrashers’ infirmary hasn’t had a chance to close its doors. Bob Hartley has employed the services of five goaltenders since the season began as Kari Lehtonen, Mike Dunham and Steve Shields have all been sidelined with injuries. Shields, who has missed the last six games, will be back in the lineup and dressed as the starter tonight.

Infirmirary update: Francis Bouillon missed a good portion of the third period Saturday after being on the receiving end of a solid check from the Capitals’ Alexander Ovechkin. The diminutive defenseman will be in the lineup against the Thrashers. Sheldon Souray will be watching from the press box Tuesday as he is the latest Canadien to be hit with a groin injury. Claude Julien said that while his injury isn’t as severe as some of the others, Souray will sit out so he can rest. Also nursing a strained groin, Jose Theodore said after the morning skate he was feeling good to go and will be the Canadiens’ starter against Atlanta.


With his strained groin feeling better, Jose Theodore will be back between the pipes tonight against the Thrashers.

I like the idea of having Bulis on the number one line, gives it more speed and experience which is needed.  I just hope Perezoghin doesn't get down because of the demotion.  Your still young and will be a good hockey player, things will happen for him.

I'm hoping for a better start from the boys and please CJ keep "Slapshot Pierre"away from the PP.

At least one goal from Bonkers, hmmm, not sure about that. Let's just make sure he concentrates on shutting down Hossa and Kovalchuk.

0-0 after 20 minutes of play.

Well I enjoyed 2-1 lead 30 seconds till , was it Bonk who gave it away.

Habs are lacking something, p kill is good, pp ok but they still look like flat. The refs

are not helping, too many penalties. Shields has made 5 great saves in close I do

not feel good right now. We need someone to get the team going.  the game will be won 4-2

with empty netter. The team to win will be the one whos players want it most oh by the way

ribs  very bad needs to go

 

-- Edited by davidb at 21:13, 2005-11-22

barry33 wrote:

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OK new NHL or not but these calls are BULLLLLLL SH****T. Cmon guys..you just touch a guy with your stick and it is now a hook?!?????!??

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You don't even have to touch a player anymore, some of the hooks are actually by tieing up a players stick, by lifting it or jaming it against the boards. It happend to Ribs and someone else, i forget who though. Has anyone else noticed that?

David B- I agree with you..I think overall after 2 periods a great effort but it is hard to get in any flow when you spend half the time in the box. There is absolutely ZERO consistency in officiating. These 2 guys tonite call it if your blade taps the leg of a player. And yes it was Bonk who gave it away. I am disappointed because he of all people should know better. I do not know what he was thinking. Goo dthing CJ worked the Penalty Kill yesterday.

 

By the way di danyone watch and listen to the blurb on RDS between periods where they had CJ on a mike? Anyone who says he is not trying to motivate these guys needs to listen. He never stops trying to encourage them. One thing I noticed was he calls the guys over and is talking to them..and Dagenais sits there looking off into space and takes his glove off and starts chewing his nails..way to be in the game Dags you useless idiot.

Theo looked pretty good in the first two periods, I'd say. You'd like him to stop one of the ones he let in (if not both), but he also stopped some that easily could've gone in. So far in the 3rd, he's played like the Theo of old. Let's hope the boys can get something going now and that Theo can keep it up.

OK- for all of is who have been questioning CJ and his staff..NOW IS THE TIME TO EAT CROW!!! This guys knows what he is doing. Many of you said that THEO was not ready to play tonite an dthat it was a poor decsion..VERDICT!?? And I am positive when you saw him put Dagenais out there for the shootout you all hollered "What the hell is Julien doing"? Verdict? Claude Julien knows his players, knows his team and knows the game of hockey..period, end of story...

How many penalties did we kill off tonite by the way? 500? This was a HUGE win boys..HUGE. Spent half the night in the box but CJ did not get off track or let his team get off track. NUFF SAID

Sweet - but would have been cherry sweet if we had won in regulation....

But - nice effort - Theo- Markov - Dags (did I say that?)