For those Laffs fans getting alle xcited about being ahead of us in teh standings (I get a kick out of them..thei rfranchise is so pathetic and it has been so long since they had a sniff of a cup they need to find victories in being ahead of us 3 months into the season lol), Montreal has 2 games in hand (will be 3 after Toronto plays Buffalo tonite). In fact, every team in our division, except Ottawa, has played more games than Montreal. I expect Buffalo to hand Toronto their lunch tonite.

I took a vicodin for the pain in my arm and then stayed away from the TV

It's Streit ahead for Habs

 

By PAT HICKEY


Swiss team captain supplants Komisarek on Canadiens' blue line


As they sat side by side in the Canadiens dressing room after practice yesterday, Mark Streit and Mike Komisarek provided a contrast in moods.

Streit was upbeat after a solid performance in the Canadiens' 4-3 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning Wednesday night. Komisarek was more subdued after spending the entire game on the bench.

It would be an oversimplification to say the relative position of the two defencemen reflects the Canadiens' decision to go with skill over strength. But the coaching staff has identified the breakout from the defensive zone as a concern, and that's why Streit is being asked to play a bigger role.

"He's a skilled player and we're trying to give him the confidence to use those skills," head coach Claude Julien said. "We're not expecting him to be a physical presence, but we do want him to play smart."

That's one area where Komisarek has been a disappointment.

"Mike has to learn to make better decisions," Julien said. "The way the game is played, you have to make a good first pass on the breakout. If you don't, you're giving the other team a goal or a scoring chance."

Streit, who has been used mostly as a power-play specialist, played a solid 13:37, seeing action on regular shifts and even making a brief appearance as a penalty-killer.

Julien noted that Streit has a good shot, and that falls in line with the Canadiens' desire to get more pucks on the net. Streit came close to being credited with his first National Hockey League goal on a power play early in the third period Wednesday. But when the official scorekeeper reviewed the play, he ruled it went in off Richard Zednik.

"We saved the puck for him and we may give it to him anyway," public-relations director Dominic Saillant said.

Streit, who is captain of the Swiss Olympic team, was pleased with his performance.

"The more I play, the more comfortable I feel," said Streit, who has been a healthy scratch 11 times this season and watched two games from the bench.

Komisarek was the seventh defenceman Wednesday night and could be a healthy scratch tonight when the Canadiens' road trip continues with a game vs. the Florida Panthers (7:30 p.m., RDS, CJAD Radio-800).

"I just have to work hard and be ready when they need me," Komisarek said. "I know there are things I have to work on and I have to keep trying to improve."

Komisarek's status depends on the health of captain Saku Koivu and Radek Bonk, who are both recovering from groin injuries. They joined their teammates for an early morning practice in Tampa, but neither was willing to say he'd be ready for tonight's game.

"It's not 100 per cent," said Bonk, and that means he's unlikely to play tonight.

Said Koivu: "There's no news for you guys. I felt good out there, but I can't make a decision until tomorrow."

Goalie Jose Theodore is the other player with injury concerns. His 41-save performance in Tampa answered any questions about the bruised knee that kept him on the sidelines for four games. But he said he still has to improve his fitness.

"I was tired (after the Tampa game)," he said. "I did some extra work out there today to work on my conditioning. I'd say I'm about 90, 95 per cent."

Conditioning might be a factor this weekend, because the Canadiens will be looking to use Theodore in back-to-back games tonight and tomorrow, when they wrap up their four-game road trip in Carolina.

phickey@thegazette.canwest.com

Habs are 2-0 vs FLA so far this year.  I think we have a pretty good chance at taking this one.  And, you know what, it will probably be a one goal game that we barely cling to.  Either that or 3-0 Habs.

Kovalev will be strong tonight (1g 1a), as usual, and so will Ryder (1g), Markov (1a) and Souray (lots of smashing).  Markov is on a long point streak I think and that will continue with another helper.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=148740&hubname=

 

Habs face Panthers in Sunrise

 

(Sports Network) - The Florida Panthers hope to bring some momentum into the new year tonight when they welcome the Montreal Canadiens to the BankAtlantic Center.


On Wednesday, Olli Jokinen had two goals and an assist to lead the Panthers over the visiting Boston Bruins, 6-4.

Gary Roberts had a goal and two assists and Joe Nieuwendyk and Chris Gratton each added a goal and an assist for the Panthers, who snapped a small two-game losing streak. Goaltender Roberto Luongo made 35 saves in the victory.

Jokinen extended his point streak to eight games, having tallied six goals and eight assists during the run.

Florida improved to 4-0-1 in its last five home games, and is 11-6-2 on friendly ice this season.

The Panthers will open a five-game road trip Sunday in Buffalo.

Montreal, meanwhile, also ended a two-game losing slide on Wednesday. Pierre Dagenais scored the tie-breaking goal in the third period and Jose Theodore was outstanding in his return to the Montreal lineup as the Canadiens earned a 4-3 victory over Tampa Bay at St. Pete Times Forum.

Theodore, who hadn't played since December 15 because of a sore knee, stopped 41 of 44 shots to help the Canadiens put an end to a nine-game road losing streak.

Alex Kovalev recorded two assists, while Sheldon Souray and Richard Zednik each had power-play goals in the win.

Montreal will visit Carolina on Saturday.

The Canadiens are 2-0 against the Panthers this season, winning both games at home and in overtime.

The Habs have dropped two straight in Sunrise.

Johab wrote:

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barry33 wrote: . We are simply too slow. Komisarek is big but he is like Souray, Rivet, Boillon..slow.   Sorry Barry....but Boullion is one of our fastest skaters. I guess you havent seen him fly yet. I tell ya when he gets going...hes a zippy little bugger.

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He may be..but you need to be able to skate fast and make good passes or plays while carrying the puck. The Cube has not shown that. Do not get me wrong, I love the guy.

http://www.canadiens.com/eng/news/redirect.cfm?sectionID=habsNewsDetails.cfm&newsItemID=4620

 

Game Preview: Canadiens vs. Panthers

 

 

SUNRISE – Fresh off a 4-3 win over the Lightning, the Canadiens continue their brief tour of Florida Friday night with a visit to the Panthers. Jose Theodore was solid in his return to the lineup Wednesday night, stopping 41 shots, and Pierre Dagenais tallied the game-winner midway through the third period to lead Montreal to their first road win since Nov. 4 in Buffalo, ending their nine-game slide on opposing ice.

The Panthers also head into tonight’s contest as winners in their last game, as they beat the Bruins 6-4 Wednesday night to extend their home undefeated streak to five games (4-0-1). Since Nov. 25, Jacques Martin’s crew has made their mark at the BankAtlantic Center, earning at least a point in their last 10 games (8-1-1); during that span, they’ve outscored their opponents 42-26.

Tonight is the third of four meetings between the Canadiens and Panthers this season, but it is the first time they’ll meet in Florida. In the first two meetings in November, Claude Julien’s troops took both games in overtime, in 4-3 and 5-4 finals at the Bell Centre. Saku Koivu collected three points in both games.

Friday night frights: Jose Theodore was running on all cylinders against the Lightning, turning aside 41 shots, his second-highest total of the season. The 29-year-old goaltender will look to win back-to-back games for the first time since he won a fourth straight start on Nov. 8. He’ll also look to improve on his 5-16-3 record in 27 career starts on Fridays.

Olli leads the way: No one can tell the Panthers their captain doesn’t lead by example. Olli Jokinen tallied twice and added an assist Wednesday against the Bruins, extending his points streak to eight games. In that stretch, the 27-year-old Finn has scored six goals and collected eight assists, and leads his team with five game-winning goals.

Dagenais dominates: Pierre Dagenais is without a doubt most comfortable when the pressure is on, as witnessed in his two shootout goals in as many opportunities this season. In beating John Grahame for the game-winner on Wednesday, Dagenais scored his 35th NHL career goal; 18 of those goals have broken a tie and put his team ahead.


Steve Begin has picked up a goal in both games against the Panthers at the Bell Centre back in November.

The score is tied 1-1 after one period of play.

Theodore is beggining to look like the "No Way Jose" of old. He bailed out his dmen several times that period. But all in all I felt a good effort overall. Starting the 2nd with a PP.

2-1 Florida, just as the Habs were killing another penalty. Not only is the Habs PP sucking tonight, the PK is as well.

that was a boring second period...the habs look half asleep out there and most of them are barely skating.

they better pick it up in the third or it will be another loss to a team that we should beat rather easily.

thompstar wrote:

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that was a boring second period...the habs look half asleep out there and most of them are barely skating. they better pick it up in the third or it will be another loss to a team that we should beat rather easily.

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I really do not see how, with the lineup we have, we should "beat Florida easily". Or any team for that matter. We are now down to Ribiero and Bulis as natural centers. Need I say more?

barry33 wrote:

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I really do not see how, with the lineup we have, we should "beat Florida easily". Or any team for that matter. We are now down to Ribiero and Bulis as natural centers. Need I say more?

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It's about effort, if players aren't willing to pay the price then they have no chance of winning. I'm really getting bored of the look at the lineup we have excuse. Whoever we have in the lineup needs to compete out there. If we lose that's fine but I think all of us want to see effort. We have enough of a lineup to beat Florida but obviously aren't prepared to give it 100% out there.

Let's hope they come out in the 3rd and play with some intensity.

-- Edited by JohnM at 21:24, 2005-12-30