Game Ninteen: Habs vs. Senators

First Period:

- Plekanec line picking up where it left off Saturday night. That's good news for Habs fans.

- Both teams with pretty sold zone coverage, shots on goal so far have been fairly routine.

- Pacioretty with a monster forecheck and wicked wrister that beats Bishop but not the goalpost. Habs must continue this strategy, the Sens defense sans Karlsson is not nearly as dynamic, and Bishop can't stop them all.

- Habs clearly outmuscling the Sens for the loose puck, aggressive hard work simply has to pay off eventually.

- Last half of the first all Habs, Sens have just one shot since 8 minute mark, Ottawa fans, what few are in attendance, now growing restless.

- Since the 8 minute mark, Habs outshot Ottawa 8-2. Except for not scoring, Habs must be pleased with how the period went. Sens, with all those injuries, look significantly overmatched.

Second Period:

- Habs were 11/16 in the faceoff circle in the first, Lars Eller 5/6. It's those numbers which will give Therrien little choice but to play Eller more each night.

- Another dominative shift by Plekanec line, Bishop excellent keeping game scoreless.

- Fine collective defensive effort by the Habs. When Ottawa is able to escape their zone, Canadiens' forwards hustling back to intercept any rushes. Ottawa with few places to go.

- Makes sense in a game this physically tame that the first penalty of the night would be for too many men.

- Habs PP looked like it was taking a page out of the Rangers' book, in that it went totally nowhere.

- Really hurts to dominate a game, and have the other team score first on a softie. Carey Price just let one of those in.

- Sens fans must be saying "Craig Anderson who?" Bishop having a tremendous game. Time to start crashing, boys.

- Bishop love tapped by Gallagher outside the crease. Went down as though he was shot. I guess the officials aren't willing to assess dives on goaltenders.

- Whatever is beating Bishop is hitting the goalpost. Got the feeling it's gonna be one of those kind of nights.

- Bishop is playing out of his mind. Impressive and simultaneously frustrating to watch.

- Now it's Diaz' turn. Clang! Crazy the number of goalposts hit by Habs tonight. Plekanec line collectively shaking their heads on the bench tonight.

- Chris Neil takes some of the stupidest penalties amongst active NHL knuckleheads. Nabbed giving Moen silly punch to the back of his head.

- Seems only fitting that Neil's moronic roughing leads to Markov's 5th of the season (all on the powerplay). With 3 seconds left in the frame, massively important goal for the Habs.

Third Period:

- Habs the aggressors so far in the 3rd, really forechecking hard in Ottawa zone. It's helping them generate significant pressure.

- Price overrun in his own crease by Chris Neil. The application of goaltending interference is a crapshoot. There's no consistency other than its inconsistently assessed by some NHL officials, ignored by others.

- He's a tremendous defenseman and player, but Andrei Markov has more than lost a step since he injuries. Struggles intensely to adjust to any puck carriers with above average speed.

- I still haven't quite figured out how the Sens seem to defy gravity and keep winning. It's got to be goaltending, specifically great goaltending. No other reasonable or ready explanation.

- Cant say this game was a snoozer. Pace and transitions have been very fast. With 5 minutes left, it's totally up for grabs, Habs seemingly with more legs right now.

- Note to NHL linesmen: drop the friggin' puck already.

- Wow. Methot with marginal interference hit on Cole with less than 2 minutes left. Stunning call.

- And now Subban called for a (deserved) trip which is very significant because it should give the Sens a minute of a 4-on-3 powerplay in overtime.

- Habs the much better team tonight, a season high 40 shots on goal, not counting the four that hit posts, but Bishop was excellent. Ottawa in good position to steal an extra point.

Overtime:

- Here comes the Sens 4-on-3. Ut oh.

- Holy moly, Habs gifted with silly hook on Diaz by Turris.

- Bishop career high 42 saves tonight. There ya go.

- Price again beaten from 50 feet. But the crossbar saves his hide.

- Bizarre game. Bishop having the game of his life. Price a little shaky at times. You know what this means for the shootout, right?

Shootout:

- Oy. Price on Silfverberg.

- Galchenyuk, nope.

- Alfredsson turned aside.

- Desharnais, yes!

- Turris, turned aside. And Gallagher to win this.

- So close.

- Price with a circus save there on Daugavins.

- Oh, Gionta. Ouch. Good luck on the next shootout, assuming you're ever used again.

- I do believe Price was just turned inside out by Regin. Plekanec misses, and Sens steal the extra point. Exceptional performance by Bishop. One of those nights.

Gameday Preview:

Alright, let's not mess around. There's no way the Senators should win tonight. No way. Here's a team totally and completely battered and bruised. Here's a team without their best forward in Jason Spezza. Here's a team without their best defenseman in Erik Karlsson. Here's a team without their number one starter in Craig Anderson. And yet, astonishingly, here's a team that's won their past four in a row.

It's crazy. How are these guys doing it?

Well, for starters, they're getting production from unexpected places. The Sens 2nd line - Zibanejad/Greening/Condra have been scoring - a lot. They dominated the Leafs on Saturday night, propelling Ottawa to a dramatic late game win over Toronto. They're also, like the Habs this season, a very, very good home. Just one regulation loss in 11 games.

So somehow, someway, even with all the catastrophic injuries, the Senators are finding ways of winning. I just hate playing teams like this.

The Habs, meanwhile, keep rolling along. Another win over the Rangers on Saturday, propelled by a great performance by the Plekanec line, who were greatly assisted by the dominating presence of Brandon Prust, who's making a pretty good case for being the best free agent signing of 2012. That line will reformate again tonight, you can't blame Therrien for sticking with whatever is working.

The Canadiens' defense continues to shine brightly. The Habs come into tonight having surrendered an average of 26.0 SPG, 3rd best in the League. The Habs have been downright brilliant in clearing the zone, and when shots are getting through, Carey Price, who's having a Vezina season, is getting a clear view, more often than not. Add it all up, and the Canadiens' are allowing  measly 2.11 GPG, 4th best in the NHL.

And yeah. You win in the playoffs with defense, you win championships with defense, and as the Habs seem to be resoundingly proving this season, you win regular season games with defense.

With Anderson out, Ben Bishop gets the start for Ottawa, while Carey Price starts for Montreal. Puck drops at 7:40 EST. ENJOY THE GAME!

Sunday Update:

Okay ... so let's review. For this, you don't get a penalty. Zip. Nada. Nothing.

For this, you get a League hearing, and a probable suspension:

Anything wrong with this picture?

Game Eighty-Two: Leafs v Habs

Is it true? Is it possible? Have we reached the finish line? Is the nightmare of disappointment now at an end? Is this finally, really the end?

It's been quite an experience. Blogging (just about) every single minute of every single Habs game during, no less, one of the worst seasons in the 103 year history of the Montreal Canadiens.

Is this to say the whole experience, the countless hours spent posting during the game, and researching in-between contests, was futile? Certainly not - the whole experience, much like running marathons (of which I do) was entirely gratifying. Especially when you reach that finish line, look back, and remind yourself that you just ran that whole damn thing by yourself.

And anyway, beside the win/loss record, which was entirely disasterous, this was almost certainly one of the weirdest seasons in Habs history. The pre-game coaching firings, the mid-game trades of out best players, the fanatical reactions to individual abilities to speak languages, the maddening and seemingly endless string of injuries, watching and commenting on this organization while it teared itself apart in ultra slow motion was utterly fascinating.

The fun won't stop after tonight. We have a very important draft coming up featuring a very high pick. We have the highest of management positions to be filled. We have many opportunities at hand to fill glaring voids, most of them on offense, this summer via the free agent market. It's going to be very interesting process to witness.

And really, this team has SO MANY critical pieces already in place, it is more than possible - one might go so far as to say probable, for this team to make the necessary moves to make it more than playoff contenders next season. There is plenty to be optimistic about.

So tonight!!! The last game, with some matters on the line. The Oilers can still catch us for 28th, assuming they beat the Canucks (a tall order) and we lose to the Leafs (an even taller order).

It seems as though everybody was at practice this morning. Moen! Gionta! Will they play tonight? Why the heck not! Let's have at least one game of what this team was supposed to be - with Markov quarterbacking the line.

I'm going to enjoy crossing that finish line. And take the summer off, and start all over again.

First Period:

- Oh, Toronto. 5-on-3 and you still find a way of allowing Plekanec to get a break for a goal? Sigh.

- I know Phaneuf is world class with a blistering shot, but some of the careless mistake he makes, it's no wonder that Leafs fans are certified.

- Leafs doing a relatively good job with possession, movement around the Habs zone is relatively efficient, but Canadiens defense giving Budaj solid protection.

- Desharnais line really zipping so far - nice to see that line pad their stats a bit before the night is done.

- St-Denis looking really good on the PK. I maintain the competition for that 7th D spot against Weber is his to lose this September.

- Pretty inelegant period. Special teams were quite dreadful. Going to be really difficult to lose to this Leafs team.

Second Period:

- What a terrible change by the Leafs defense, and Pacioretty with a sharp angle shot that really had no business going in. Habs extend their lead.

- Paciorety's score narrows the team goal scoring gap to one. Cole better get on his game.

- Toronto looks dreadful, especially in their own zone. Headless chicken routine. Painful to watch.

- Habs caught doing another pick. Do they practice this stuff? Do they know it's almost certainly going to get spotted and called every time?

- Budaj having a pretty solid night, but the difference in mobility between and and Price is night and day.

- Pacioretty of all players, with the hit of the night.

- Komisarek. It's really astounding to see how far he's fallen since getting lured over to Toronto. Totally uninvolved, barely competent - not sure if he's playing with some physical incapacity. He certainly looks like a guy with zero confidence. The Habs really dodged a bullet when their offer was declined in an attempt to resign.

- As much as it pains me to say this, Campoli's final five games of the schedule have been the best of his season. Still not good enough to possibly rationalize his return.

- Sorry Max, you can't kick them in. Woulda tied him with Cole.

- That Pacioretty near-miss wouldn't have happened if it wasn't for a fantastic block and pass by Markov to set up the shot. I'd love to see how far this team would go with an 80 game Markov season.

- Love that penalty by Subban. If you're going to take one, do it with style.

- St-Denis becoming a bit of a PK specialist, no?

- Rene Bourque demonstrating that when he actually tries, he can actually be effective.

- Leafs hooking and grabbing everything in sight. Finally the officials can no longer look the other way.

- Plekanec simply couldn't believe that he missed that shot into a gaping Leafs net (beautiful pass by Kaberle to set him up by the way).

- Subban takes the mantle for hit of the night. Leafs enraged but it was totally clean.

- Can I say this? Toronto is terrible. No way we could possibly lose this.

Third Period:

- Leafs come a stormin' to start the period, wonder if they got a talkin' to by Carlyle in the dressing room?

- And Pheneuf with a blast that draws the Leafs draw to within one.

- Leafs really pressing. Could see this tied up soon.

- Never mind. Cole with his 35th on another stopple close-in try. Habs on their way.

- I suppose there's satisfaction to be had from handing the Leafs their butts on a stick on the last night, but it'd going to cost us a precious draft pick lottery spot, and we're still not going to finish ahead of Toronto. Oh well.

- Really?? Staubitz scores the final Habs goal of the year? Seems fitting.

- Habs win!!! And 2011-12 is a wrap.

Game Four: Avs vs. Habs

- Well it can't get any worse than the debacle against Calgary, can it? While the defense took a lot of criticism for their lackluster support around Price, it's the offense that appears to be what's really sputtering. Gionta and Cole have zero points in the first three games, and Gomez looks just as bad now as he did last season. Something's gotta give.

- While he tended to be the poster boy of furor and venom amongst Habs fans for most of last year, I've really liked how Kostytsin has looked so far this year (including the pre season). He definitely has a stronger stride, and looks more willing to fight for points around the net. My early candidate for turnaround player of the year.

- Three French Canadian officials tonight. You'd think that be a good thing, but sometimes refs officiating in their backyard overcompensate for the other guys to look "more" unbiased.

Period One:

- Spectacular save by Price to start the night. More chaotic Habs defense.

- eek. Price shoulda had that one. 1-0 Avs.

- Was about to post how good the Patches line was looking tonight when the aforementioned gets the Habs on the board with a nice wrister top shelf. 1-1.

- Moen. A for positioning around opposition net. F for his ability to finish.

- Like the season opener against the Leafs, Habs are dominating the first period but aren't cashing in as many as they should.

- First period shots on goal 19-9 Habs, but they fail to lead on the scoreboard. Good news, Patches line is really humming. Bad news, only the Patches line is really humming.

Period Two:

- Plekanec cashes in on the 5 on 3 with a bullet. PP puck control very impressive, it's surprising the Habs have just two goals on the man advantage to date.

- Weber wayyyy too aggressive playing the puck leaving his net and slot completely undefended. 2-2 game.

- Oh PK. When you muff it up you do it in spectacular fashion. 3-2

- Moen!! Well eventually one of them had to go in, but that's two breakaways and two goals for 32 this season.

- Price playing very tight. 4-3

Period Three:

- Habs had complete puck control for almost all of that PP but couldn't quite muster a quality shot.

- Speaking of, I think it's safe to say Gonez has the least dangerous shot in the League. Certainly one of the least.

- Shots are 8-0 Habs so far in the third. Can't finish. Can't keep up this pressure either.

- Kostytsin robbed point blank. Avs still haven't gotten a shot on Price.

- 9:35 into the third Price makes his first save. And Subban takes a sloppy penalty.

- Pressure and puck control finally pay off with Gionta finally scoring. Tie game.

- Seconds later Desharnais! Deflects a beautiful pass from Pacioretty. 5-4!

- Price really fighting the puck. Nearly let in a rather ordinary shot from the line.

- Tripping call on Diaz weak at best. Avs cash in quickly. Tie game once more!

- Habs record 5 goals on 41 shots. Normally that ought to be more than enough to claim a win ... but ...

Overtime:

- So far Habs with edge with puck control. Refs have put whistles in their pockets.

- Meh. If the Habs lose this in the shootout they can (again) look back on a second period sag.

- Just occurred, Price looked terrible on the one goal the Avs scored on the breakaway. That bodes poorly.

- Price was indeed *terrible* in the shootout. One of his more forgettable games in a very long time. Le sigh.