The Habs slide began Nov 26 vs. the Leafs! Remember???

Ando · Guru

The Habs slide began Nov 26 vs. the Leafs! Remember???

barry33 · Guru

Every time I think that the team cannot sink any lower they prove me wrong. Last nights debacle will go down as a low point in habs all time history. Can anyone here remember in their lifetime ever watching any habs team be so totally dominated, played with, and humiliated like we were last night. I mean I have watched habs teams get beat bad by a better team, but never, evre do I recall seeing a team just not care like they did last night. Yes Ottawa is a better team. Yes they had all their guns on board. But we beat this team 4-1 a couple weeks back because we competed. You cannot tell me that having Alfredsson and Spezza back last night made eneough of a difference for us to go from winning a game 4-1 to being humiliated and outshot like that?

Those are the negatives. The positives are that if this team has on ounce of pride, once leader that anyone will actually listent to and follow, they will use this low point and build on it. The Canadian Juniors won the gold this year because if hard work, heart, and determination. There is no way that they would have allowed a more talented team to dominate them like Ottawa did last night. So, out of all the low points, this is where we see if anyone on that team has any canoles at all. I have been waiting all year for someone in that dressing room..ANY ONE, to step up and lead that team and take control. If that someone is there we will see tomorrow night.

I don't care of it is Koivu. Ribiero, or the medical trainer. But someone needs to take that team and lead them to the promised land. Much like Messier made the "Guaranteed Win" statement when the Rangers were in the Jersey Series. This team is crying out for someone to take them and make them believe in the team and believe in what it means to wear the CH. If being laughed out of Ottawa does not do it, I am afraid this team is hopeless.

wright · Veteran Member

The Canadiens lack of work ethic has been in evidence on and off for the past 5 years now. In Theodore's mvp season the Habs would get badly out shot and out worked for long periods of time and it has continued under several different coaches for various periods of time. I agree with Barry that their most recent outing against Ottawa represented a new bottom in lack of pride. Short of a major trade to shake up the team chemistry, I believe two things have to happen if the Habs are going to make any sort of serious run for the playoffs. Primarily Gainey has to decide to go with Huet in goal for an extended period of time, he gives the Canadiens competent goaltending on a consistent basis. For a team so fragile they can ill afford Theodore's tendancy to give up soft goals. Secondly, they need one of their so called star players, whether it is Koviu, Kovalev, or Markov (when he returns ) to make every effort to try and carry the team with inspired play.

Darcy Regher the Sabres GM was quoted as saying the key to their team's success started with the great goaltending they have recieved this year. Buffalo does not have overwhelming talent, but they play inspired hockey and when they do have breakdowns goaltending has bailed them out. If Huet can provide first rate goaltending and mask the teams deficiencies I think the team may be able to build on that and turn thing around somewhat.

nietche · Veteran Member

hey barry33, I notice you are recalling the 4-1 victory over the sens a few weeks ago.

You should go back and read my post-game post, which was titled "before we all get too excited". The Habs won that game exactly because Alfie and Spezza were not in the line up, plus the first habs goal shouldn't have counted (6 habs on the ice at the time), plus starting goalie was not Hasek, plus habs got a lucky goal -- puck went off Bonks pants and in.

So .... I am not at all surprised that the Sens came back and won this time, and won convincingly. Sens are ten times the team the habs are (It pains me to say.)

ray · Senior Member

Ando wrote:

The Habs struggled all night to keep their struggling road game together...then the refs blow a call late in the 3rd that enables the Leafs to win in O.T! ...which, in turn, led to Markov drawing a 3 game suspension for shoving a linesman. ...which, in turn, led to Gainey recalling Hainsey to Montreal. ...which, in turn, led to Columbus claiming Hainsey off waivers from the recall. ...which, in turn, forced CJ to rely too much on too few...ultimately triggering a rash of injuries. ...which, in turn, really highlighted Theodore's struggles. ...which, in turn, ignited the "inhouse fighting". ...which, in turn, started the Ribs/Theo vs. Saku/Rivet vs. Kovalev/Markov debates. ...which, in turn, led to CJ's firing. ...which, in turn, set the stage for a looonnnnnnng road-trip. ...which, in turn, brings the Habs back to Toronto! Remember Ron McLean practically laughing about that infamous late game penalty call??? Remember his smug questions to Koivu in the post-game interview??? Remember the CBC trying to bait CJ into taking a fine??? Anyone else think that losing to Toronto tomorrow would represent THE LOWEST POINT IN THE PAST 10 YEARS??? SOMEONE...ANYONE...needs to step-up and take this team onto their shoulders...because And-o GUARANTEES that Mats Sundin is gonna be just FLYING!!!

Ando Do I remember, I was there, the game against the Sabres the night before helped out also, thats the game I lost all hope for Zednik. Yes, that was one of the poorest games I've seen ref'd ( please Jay don't get mad at me for saying that, but is was). Were 1-3 against the laffs this season, and i might get worse! The Leafs are due for a win, and unfortunately I think our team is right for the picking. If a game of the Habs vrs. Leafs doesn't wake Koivu, Kovalev and Zednik up, go play for your country! Two of these guys are captains on the respected countries, go figure!!!!!!! I for one think this will be the worst lose of the season, and won't watch another game unless they climb into a playoff spot, which i doubt if they lose too the Leafs. I pay an extra $8 bucks a month for RDS an 7 other channels I never watch. I've seen every game this year, and only turned off one. but enough is enough!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-- Edited by ray at 22:17, 2006-01-27

barry33 · Guru

nietche wrote:

hey barry33, I notice you are recalling the 4-1 victory over the sens a few weeks ago. You should go back and read my post-game post, which was titled "before we all get too excited". The Habs won that game exactly because Alfie and Spezza were not in the line up, plus the first habs goal shouldn't have counted (6 habs on the ice at the time), plus starting goalie was not Hasek, plus habs got a lucky goal -- puck went off Bonks pants and in. So .... I am not at all surprised that the Sens came back and won this time, and won convincingly. Sens are ten times the team the habs are (It pains me to say.)

Tay- if you note in my post I acknowledged that the Sens did not have all their guns in that 4-1 victory. But I also said that 2 players should not turn a 4-1 victory into a ridiculing of the magnitude we saw Thurs night and I stand by that. We worked much harder in the 4-1 victory and executed much better. We competed. I cannot say that about Wednesday and very little of that had to do with Alfie and Spezza. Lats time I checked they do not play defence.

macneil · Guru

i also recall us beating them dec. 20, 4-3 shootout , they were fully loaded and we were without koivu and zednik , so whats your point nietch, the first 2 games of the season were competitive as well , when we are trying we can skate and compete with ottawa. but the other night we were not competing .

nietche · Veteran Member

Comparing the Sens and Habs on head to head games only is silly ... look at the standings. The Sens are far far better than the habs, at all positions (better goalie, better dmen and better forwards)

It should be no surprise that sens can pummel habs. What's a surprise is the habs 4-1 win (which I have strong views on why sens lost), and the habs 4-3 o/t win (decent performance by habs goalie and strong performance by Kovy ... and Dags in o/t ha!)

habs93 · Veteran Member

The first two games Habs & Sens played - Emery was Ottawa's goalie (He set some sort of record I believe for most wins by a goalie at the start of a NHL career)and he won both so when Sens & Habs play goalies don't really make a difference - Ottawa goalies appear to be inter-changeable.....It's the players on the ice & what effort is given/special team play etc etc........