Well, after about a kajillion rumors based on silly speculation creating a field of candidates that could form a line between St. catherines street and avenue des Canadiens-de-Montréal, the Habs have finally chosen their new General Manager. Yay.
More on this today, and what changes we can expect to happen over the next couple of months.
BERGEVIN PRESS CONFERENCE UPDATE: So the new guy in town is just in the process of being introduced/giving his first press conference to the bloodthirsty scribes in Montreal. First impressions are no different than anticipated perceptions - Bergevin looks like a solid guy and a solid choice to run the show, in hopes that this team, with many of the necessary pieces in place, can make a firm run for a championship in the near future.
A few notes and thoughts:
- Randy Cunneyworth, as expected, will not be returning as head coach, but has been asked to stay on as an Assistant, which I think is a fair decision, and an offer that Cunneyworth would be advised to take (because he's not ready to take the coaching reigns of any NHL club - and almost certainly would be pressed to find a related position with another organization). So a new head coach is official - the wires will be buzzing with anticipation over when Patrick Roy will get his phone call.
- Trevor Timmins will be retained as head scout - Bergevin just gave him a huge endorsement. There's lots of debate, pro and con, over Timmons' scouting record - on the plus side, the Habs have done a pretty good job drafting NHL-capable talent, but not-so-good in picking up backyard talent (2006 first round pick of the now obscure David Fisher, followed immediately after by the Flyers pick of now all-world Claude Giroux ... ooops).
But anyway, Timmins stays.
- Scott Gomez. Yeah - this again. Reports were filtering out this morning that the Habs had decided to buy out Gomez' contract. I don't believe it for a second. First, any decision to buy out any contract can't be made for another 45 days (at least), and secondly, the Habs would be making a significant mistake by taking the buyout route, which would have significant cap implications for the next four years.
If Gomez is to be dealt with for maximum benefit to the team, he must be demoted. It wipes his salary totally off the sheet, which allows the team to better pursue big-name free agents, and sign its must-haves for long term contract extensions (Price, Subban, Pacioretty, Desharnais, etc.).
Showing posts with label Cunneyworth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cunneyworth. Show all posts
Wednesday, 2 May 2012
Monday, 5 March 2012
Game Sixty-Seven: Habs v Flames
THE TALE OF THE TWO RANDYS
Happy Monday! Are we all still feeling bummed out over losing to the Leafs? Are we feeling manic that Toronto finally seems to have a knowledgeable, competent guy behind the bench ... while we have ... I don't know - what exactly do we have behind our bench?
Out of curiosity, I checked out the backgrounds of The Two Randys (insert silly BBC allusion here), they being of course, Carlyle and Cunneyworth. I found, much to my surprise, that both have lived almost the same lives and have traveled the same paths. Interesting!!
Both were born and raised in southern Ontario. Both played roughly 16 years in the NHL, both played roughly the same number of games (Carlyle 1,055, Cunneyworth 866), Cunneyworth scored more goals (189), but Carlyle, who was always more of a playmaker, had more points (647).
Coaching-wise, both took the prototypical process required to reach the NHL. Cunneyworth cut his coaching teeth mainly with Rochester as coach/assistant in the AHL for 8 years, while Carlyle spent 7 years as coach/assistant with the Manitoba Moose of the IHL/AHL. Carlyle got into coaching four years before Cunneyworth, which is logical given that Carlyle is four years older.
Carlyle's minor-league record as a head coach was 222-159 (.583 winning percentage) for the Moose, while Cunneyworth went 350-271-48 (.564%) for Rochester/Hamilton. Neither won a championship in the minors, or for that matter, had stellar playoff records. Of the 15 combined years coaching in the minors, Carlyle only saw the third round once in 2005 (and was soon offered the head coaching job with Anaheim), while Cunneyworth, similarly, only saw the third round once for Rochester in 2004.
So what does this tell us? It tells us that the two Randys are pretty similar guys, similar backgrounds, similar playing careers, similar coaching careers. Their paths of their lives have been extraordinary the same.
There was one big event where the lives of these two men took a sudden diversion. That was, of course, the Stanley Cup that Carlyle behind the bench with Anaheim. Today, he finds himself in the centre of the hockey universe with a tidy little contract that will take him through 2016. Cunneyworth, meanwhile ... finds his coaching career more or less in limbo, his future in doubt, playing out the string with a (very) losing record in a lost season, with no assurance of any employment beyond the spring.
I suppose the lesson here is even if the lives of two men are incredibly similar over the same period of time, the paths can suddenly and irreconcilably diverge in an instant. After coaching the Moose to a 44-26 season, Carlyle got his break with Anaheim just as that organization was peaking.
Cunneyworth, who paid his coaching dues just as much as Carlyle, got his "break" by taking a promotion to the top job in Montreal squat in the middle of a lost season in a city more obsessed with the language, rather than the actual qualifications of who's standing behind the bench.
For that, Cunneyworth's story has become a bit of a career tragedy. He was brought into a chaotic situation to manage a deflated and dysfunctional roster, his team has looked terrible, and because of this, his reputation as an able guy has been greatly harmed - perhaps irreparably so.
It's likely that Cunneyworth won't retain his current position beyond this season. Perhaps he'll be able to find an opportunity with another NHL club. Perhaps he'll return to the minors. Maybe he'll just get out of coaching altogether - I hope he won't.
Ultimately, I hope that one day Cunneyworth is given a chance with a stable team to prove his coaching mettle. Carlyle has been given another chance in Toronto, I think Cunneyworth certainly deserves the same.
ANDREI MARKOV IS CLOSE UPDATE: Contact practice this morning! I'm thinking Edmonton on Thursday???! We'll see!!
PLAYERS COMING BACK TO HAUNT US UPDATE: Well at least we know it won't be Cammalleri. John Lu reports he's out for tomorrow night's game with an upper body injury.
Also ... Cunneyworth said this afternoon that Markov will be traveling with the team and will be participating in team practices with contact, but no return date is yet set. He indicated that the team intends on Andrei playing before the season's end. So perhaps my prediction (hope) for a return against Edmonton was a bit premature.
First Period:
- Little late to the action, but Flames go up 2-0 after Weber makes a sloppy pinch at his blue line, giving Iginla room to wheel (and he does) past Plekanec, sweeping around Price, and voila, they're on their way.
- Habs just ... awful. Sloppy, slow, undisciplined. Flames are simply eating them alive on both ends of the ice. Don't know who to praise for the Habs - no one is worthy.
- You know, Weber looked so promising at the start of the year - but his play the past two weeks has just been ... so ... terrible. Have no idea how or why he's tipped into an abyss.
- Habs really one one decent scoring chance, and they actually score on it at the very end of the period on the powerplay with Plekanec slipping in a rebound. Still the game totally lopsided, Flames outshooting the Habs 18-9. Eeek.
Second Period:
- Really, the Flames ought to destroy us tonight, they're still within striking distance of a playoff spot. And this is in a city starved for post-season play.
- Habs actually looking a bit more organized first five minutes of the period. Still unable to work the puck into an open spot for a quality chance, nonetheless there is semblance of coherence that was completely void over the first 20 minutes.
- Mini break here as Flames' Bouwmeester flips the puck over the glass under pressure from Bourque. See? Good things happen when you use the body.
- Pretty uneventful man advantage. Usual assortment of good passes, but no high quality shots.
- Wow. What a weird game this is turning out to be. Pactioretty with a gift goal from a harmless shot near the boards that somehow Kiprusoff muffs up. Game tied.
- How did Bourque manage to miss that totally wide open net? How many times has he done that since joining the Habs? I've lost count.
- Just can't compete. Blown coverage all over the place, defense and forwards, and Giordano blasts one past Price from 35 feet. I'm not sure how you can teach the basics to NHL players such as "cover your man", but that Flames goal, the basics were all but forgotten. 3-2 Calgary.
- Eller takes a bad penalty. Again.
- Oh wow. Did Iginla ever make Gorges look bad. Brilliant goal, but Gorges simply turned inside out. Price failing to cover the post properly didn't help much. Now 4-2.
- This might be Gorges worst game of the year.
- Better period than the first, but still Habs being outclassed. Price struggling, and his teammates, especially the forwards, are having great difficulty with positioning (perhaps indicative of the younger guys getting a chance). Flames are going to win this easily.
Third Period:
- So how come none of our guys ever seem to haunt their old teams? Bourque has had a couple of chances, but he's been mostly invisible. Meh.
- Oh Carey. Oh Carey ...
- The play by Price probably sums up how everybody on the Habs roster feels right now.
- Eller , try try, and try again, you never know what'll happen. Another weak one surrendered by Kiprusoff. Habs on life support, but still a chance. Sutter calls for time.
- Yup. This is a crazy game. Mad scramble in front of Kiprusoff, and the puck deflects off Desharnais' skate (I think?) and in. Reviewing the play now.
- This will count. Puck went in off Kibrusoff's stick. And it's 5-4. Pacrioretty with *another* goal. He's going to break 30 this year easily.
- The Flames will never live this down if they blow this game. A chance to nearly climb back to 8th now being given away. Will they hang on?
- Campoli with a great rush around and behind the Flames net, and a pass back to the line to ... no one.
- Habs have only won one game this year trailing after two periods. I can't fathom them coming back from three down with less than 10 minutes left in the 3rd.
- Is Price hurt? He made a very awkward save and appeared to twist his left leg awkwardly.
- Iginla looking fierce for the hat trick.
- Price really slow to get up after making a save on a 2-on-1 Flames break. Really slow.
- Three minutes left. Habs will need to push the peddle right now.
- Kaberle ... Just. Keep. It. In. The. Zone.
- Don't quite understand putting Campoli out there with Price pulled.
- Tanguay with a mistake icing.
- Wow. Did Cunneyworth actually use a time out? Miracles never cease!
- Nice try, but as usual, not quite enough. Still nice to see some life in the last half of the period. Something to build on for Thursday, perhaps?
Happy Monday! Are we all still feeling bummed out over losing to the Leafs? Are we feeling manic that Toronto finally seems to have a knowledgeable, competent guy behind the bench ... while we have ... I don't know - what exactly do we have behind our bench?
Out of curiosity, I checked out the backgrounds of The Two Randys (insert silly BBC allusion here), they being of course, Carlyle and Cunneyworth. I found, much to my surprise, that both have lived almost the same lives and have traveled the same paths. Interesting!!
Both were born and raised in southern Ontario. Both played roughly 16 years in the NHL, both played roughly the same number of games (Carlyle 1,055, Cunneyworth 866), Cunneyworth scored more goals (189), but Carlyle, who was always more of a playmaker, had more points (647).
Coaching-wise, both took the prototypical process required to reach the NHL. Cunneyworth cut his coaching teeth mainly with Rochester as coach/assistant in the AHL for 8 years, while Carlyle spent 7 years as coach/assistant with the Manitoba Moose of the IHL/AHL. Carlyle got into coaching four years before Cunneyworth, which is logical given that Carlyle is four years older.
Carlyle's minor-league record as a head coach was 222-159 (.583 winning percentage) for the Moose, while Cunneyworth went 350-271-48 (.564%) for Rochester/Hamilton. Neither won a championship in the minors, or for that matter, had stellar playoff records. Of the 15 combined years coaching in the minors, Carlyle only saw the third round once in 2005 (and was soon offered the head coaching job with Anaheim), while Cunneyworth, similarly, only saw the third round once for Rochester in 2004.
So what does this tell us? It tells us that the two Randys are pretty similar guys, similar backgrounds, similar playing careers, similar coaching careers. Their paths of their lives have been extraordinary the same.
There was one big event where the lives of these two men took a sudden diversion. That was, of course, the Stanley Cup that Carlyle behind the bench with Anaheim. Today, he finds himself in the centre of the hockey universe with a tidy little contract that will take him through 2016. Cunneyworth, meanwhile ... finds his coaching career more or less in limbo, his future in doubt, playing out the string with a (very) losing record in a lost season, with no assurance of any employment beyond the spring.
I suppose the lesson here is even if the lives of two men are incredibly similar over the same period of time, the paths can suddenly and irreconcilably diverge in an instant. After coaching the Moose to a 44-26 season, Carlyle got his break with Anaheim just as that organization was peaking.
Cunneyworth, who paid his coaching dues just as much as Carlyle, got his "break" by taking a promotion to the top job in Montreal squat in the middle of a lost season in a city more obsessed with the language, rather than the actual qualifications of who's standing behind the bench.
For that, Cunneyworth's story has become a bit of a career tragedy. He was brought into a chaotic situation to manage a deflated and dysfunctional roster, his team has looked terrible, and because of this, his reputation as an able guy has been greatly harmed - perhaps irreparably so.
It's likely that Cunneyworth won't retain his current position beyond this season. Perhaps he'll be able to find an opportunity with another NHL club. Perhaps he'll return to the minors. Maybe he'll just get out of coaching altogether - I hope he won't.
Ultimately, I hope that one day Cunneyworth is given a chance with a stable team to prove his coaching mettle. Carlyle has been given another chance in Toronto, I think Cunneyworth certainly deserves the same.
ANDREI MARKOV IS CLOSE UPDATE: Contact practice this morning! I'm thinking Edmonton on Thursday???! We'll see!!
PLAYERS COMING BACK TO HAUNT US UPDATE: Well at least we know it won't be Cammalleri. John Lu reports he's out for tomorrow night's game with an upper body injury.
Also ... Cunneyworth said this afternoon that Markov will be traveling with the team and will be participating in team practices with contact, but no return date is yet set. He indicated that the team intends on Andrei playing before the season's end. So perhaps my prediction (hope) for a return against Edmonton was a bit premature.
First Period:
- Little late to the action, but Flames go up 2-0 after Weber makes a sloppy pinch at his blue line, giving Iginla room to wheel (and he does) past Plekanec, sweeping around Price, and voila, they're on their way.
- Habs just ... awful. Sloppy, slow, undisciplined. Flames are simply eating them alive on both ends of the ice. Don't know who to praise for the Habs - no one is worthy.
- You know, Weber looked so promising at the start of the year - but his play the past two weeks has just been ... so ... terrible. Have no idea how or why he's tipped into an abyss.
- Habs really one one decent scoring chance, and they actually score on it at the very end of the period on the powerplay with Plekanec slipping in a rebound. Still the game totally lopsided, Flames outshooting the Habs 18-9. Eeek.
Second Period:
- Really, the Flames ought to destroy us tonight, they're still within striking distance of a playoff spot. And this is in a city starved for post-season play.
- Habs actually looking a bit more organized first five minutes of the period. Still unable to work the puck into an open spot for a quality chance, nonetheless there is semblance of coherence that was completely void over the first 20 minutes.
- Mini break here as Flames' Bouwmeester flips the puck over the glass under pressure from Bourque. See? Good things happen when you use the body.
- Pretty uneventful man advantage. Usual assortment of good passes, but no high quality shots.
- Wow. What a weird game this is turning out to be. Pactioretty with a gift goal from a harmless shot near the boards that somehow Kiprusoff muffs up. Game tied.
- How did Bourque manage to miss that totally wide open net? How many times has he done that since joining the Habs? I've lost count.
- Just can't compete. Blown coverage all over the place, defense and forwards, and Giordano blasts one past Price from 35 feet. I'm not sure how you can teach the basics to NHL players such as "cover your man", but that Flames goal, the basics were all but forgotten. 3-2 Calgary.
- Eller takes a bad penalty. Again.
- Oh wow. Did Iginla ever make Gorges look bad. Brilliant goal, but Gorges simply turned inside out. Price failing to cover the post properly didn't help much. Now 4-2.
- This might be Gorges worst game of the year.
- Better period than the first, but still Habs being outclassed. Price struggling, and his teammates, especially the forwards, are having great difficulty with positioning (perhaps indicative of the younger guys getting a chance). Flames are going to win this easily.
Third Period:
- So how come none of our guys ever seem to haunt their old teams? Bourque has had a couple of chances, but he's been mostly invisible. Meh.
- Oh Carey. Oh Carey ...
- The play by Price probably sums up how everybody on the Habs roster feels right now.
- Eller , try try, and try again, you never know what'll happen. Another weak one surrendered by Kiprusoff. Habs on life support, but still a chance. Sutter calls for time.
- Yup. This is a crazy game. Mad scramble in front of Kiprusoff, and the puck deflects off Desharnais' skate (I think?) and in. Reviewing the play now.
- This will count. Puck went in off Kibrusoff's stick. And it's 5-4. Pacrioretty with *another* goal. He's going to break 30 this year easily.
- The Flames will never live this down if they blow this game. A chance to nearly climb back to 8th now being given away. Will they hang on?
- Campoli with a great rush around and behind the Flames net, and a pass back to the line to ... no one.
- Habs have only won one game this year trailing after two periods. I can't fathom them coming back from three down with less than 10 minutes left in the 3rd.
- Is Price hurt? He made a very awkward save and appeared to twist his left leg awkwardly.
- Iginla looking fierce for the hat trick.
- Price really slow to get up after making a save on a 2-on-1 Flames break. Really slow.
- Three minutes left. Habs will need to push the peddle right now.
- Kaberle ... Just. Keep. It. In. The. Zone.
- Don't quite understand putting Campoli out there with Price pulled.
- Tanguay with a mistake icing.
- Wow. Did Cunneyworth actually use a time out? Miracles never cease!
- Nice try, but as usual, not quite enough. Still nice to see some life in the last half of the period. Something to build on for Thursday, perhaps?
Saturday, 3 March 2012
Game Sixty-Six: Leafs v Habs
So let's get this straight: Brian Burke fired Ron Wilson because of the way he and the Leafs were being taunted by their fans during their recent loss to Florida? Really!? That's all that's required - a few jeers from the mob? Wow.
Obviously Habs fans are far too passive. While Randy Cunneyworth plays out the string awaiting his inevitable dismissal at season's end, the Leafs took matters into hand and got a pretty experienced guy behind their bench who's actually won a championship. WHY can't we do the same - like ... ever? Why couldn't we have hired Carlyle instead?
Instead, we'll repeat the same pattern, bringing in an unqualified francophone ex-player, who'll either have a ridiculous temperament, or a general lack of coaching experience. And he'll be terrible. And the team will suffer.
Guys. Hire the best available candidate, regardless of their ability to speak french?
Bah. Who am I kidding. It's not gonna happen.
Tonight: with Gomez and Diaz out with injuries, the kids will get their chance to shine against the tailspinning Leafs.
Let's drive the final nail into Toronto, boys. Let's salvage some measure of satisfaction out of a lost season.
First Period:
- With the Habs having a losing season, game tickets are plentiful. Lots of Leafs fans in the crowd tonight.
- Spirited start, plenty of hitting, pace is pretty fast. Not bad for two of the East's bottom-feeding teams.
- Gustavsson looking very shaky handling the puck behind his net.
- And with the Leafs netminder caught out of position, Cole buries his 23rd of the year, and reacts with unusual emotion.
- Leafs zone coverage pretty chaotic right now.
- Wow. Not sure if Staibitz has much of a future with the big club, but his fights alone are nearly worth the price of admission. Big tilt there with Brown (split decision).
- Lots of emotion out there tonight. Two frustrated teams in lost seasons taking it out on each other. Great fun to watch.
- End to end action. Can't believe they can sustain this pace for 60 minutes.
- I totally dig the mask Price is wearing tonight - easily the best of his collection.
- Geoffrion making the team play attempting to feed the puck from behind the Leafs' cage to Eller who was tied up by both Toronto defenders. It wasn't the correct play. He could have easily carried the puck in front for a high percentage chance. These are the plays where you hope they learn, and improve.
- Very good first - quite intense, lots of emotion, likely due to the great atmosphere in the Bell Centre. Can't wait for the next 40 minutes.
Second Period:
- Carey Price can't afford to take naps with the faceoff directly to his left. Campoli also in la-la land. Matt Frattin says thank you. Game tied.
- Phil Kessel tests Price to see if Carey is awake with a quick snapper glove said. Price is indeed, alert.
- Gustavsson really seems to like converting the routine into an adventure. No wonder Burke's hair is so white.
- Habs offense grinding to a halt in the 2nd. Betcha the Leafs end up with a lead headed to the 3rd.
- Bourque plays the puck in the neutral zone with his head down, and pays the price.
- Cunneyworth sent out his most defensively challenged line and defense at the same time. Playing with fire.
- With the kids out there, even though it's Toronto, Habs forwards are pretty overmatched. Don't see this ending well.
- Good pressure by Pacioretty draws a trip, and Habs get a chance here on the man advantage, recently ranked as low as 30th, now at 26th against the NHL's 29th ranked PK.
- Wayyyyyyy too much passing. Leafs are giving it away, and we're not taking.
- Gustavsson got lucky laying flat on his back he failed to cover the puck, but Bourque couldn't flip it over and in.
- Superb looking leg save by Gustavsson on a rocket from Subban. Shot probably would have gone wide.
- Leblanc with an insanely stupid and totally unnecessary hold at the Toronto line with only seconds left in the period. Terrible.
- Toronto was the much better team in the 2nd, slightly better team through 40. It's up for grabs, but Toronto needs this game much more badly than the Habs, so expect them to come out storming in the 3rd.
Third Period:
- Routine kill there, thankfully.
- Unusually juicy rebound surrendered by Price from a routine shot.
- All Leafs so far in the 3rd. Here we go (again).
- Nearly at the 6 minute mark, Pacioretty got the Habs their first shot on goal.
- Dave Jackson with a questionable goaltending interference call on Pacioretty.
- Leafs blue line really struggles with what should be routine passing and puck control. It's killing their powerplay opportunities.
- Shots are 32-19 Leafs. Are we gonna steal this?
- The answer is, by the way, almost certainly no unless we can actually generate scoring chances against Gustavsson (we haven't had one this period).
- Weber takes a unwise icing, Habs should call for time.
- They don't, we make a terrible line change trying to get everyone off, and the Leafs take the lead as Grabovski ends his 11 game scoring drought. That one started with Weber, and ended with Cunneyworth.
- We really are the team that cures all that ails the opposition, no? Leafs have won only three times this year trailing after the first (about to make that four), and Grabovski scores his first in a month.
- Komisarek rubs out Campoli along the boards (ought have been called interference). Campoli got his revenge 10 seconds later with a devastating (and legal) open ice hit on Komisarek.
- Subban came within a foot of sending Grabovski back to last Tuesday. If full contact had been made I'm pretty sure he'd still be down.
- Habs still playing like this game is tied. No real sense of urgency.
- Plekanec line turning up the heat. Gustavsson makes a great save off a rebound.
- Cole a silly slash to end any hopes. Leafs were the better team, so the win is deserved.
- Dead carp thrown on the ice. Symbolic sentiment about this year's team in Montreal.
- Why not. Shoddy play by Weber, Grabovski one more. Little salt in the wound. Now it's off to Alberta.
Obviously Habs fans are far too passive. While Randy Cunneyworth plays out the string awaiting his inevitable dismissal at season's end, the Leafs took matters into hand and got a pretty experienced guy behind their bench who's actually won a championship. WHY can't we do the same - like ... ever? Why couldn't we have hired Carlyle instead?
Instead, we'll repeat the same pattern, bringing in an unqualified francophone ex-player, who'll either have a ridiculous temperament, or a general lack of coaching experience. And he'll be terrible. And the team will suffer.
Guys. Hire the best available candidate, regardless of their ability to speak french?
Bah. Who am I kidding. It's not gonna happen.
Tonight: with Gomez and Diaz out with injuries, the kids will get their chance to shine against the tailspinning Leafs.
Let's drive the final nail into Toronto, boys. Let's salvage some measure of satisfaction out of a lost season.
First Period:
- With the Habs having a losing season, game tickets are plentiful. Lots of Leafs fans in the crowd tonight.
- Spirited start, plenty of hitting, pace is pretty fast. Not bad for two of the East's bottom-feeding teams.
- Gustavsson looking very shaky handling the puck behind his net.
- And with the Leafs netminder caught out of position, Cole buries his 23rd of the year, and reacts with unusual emotion.
- Leafs zone coverage pretty chaotic right now.
- Wow. Not sure if Staibitz has much of a future with the big club, but his fights alone are nearly worth the price of admission. Big tilt there with Brown (split decision).
- Lots of emotion out there tonight. Two frustrated teams in lost seasons taking it out on each other. Great fun to watch.
- End to end action. Can't believe they can sustain this pace for 60 minutes.
- I totally dig the mask Price is wearing tonight - easily the best of his collection.
- Geoffrion making the team play attempting to feed the puck from behind the Leafs' cage to Eller who was tied up by both Toronto defenders. It wasn't the correct play. He could have easily carried the puck in front for a high percentage chance. These are the plays where you hope they learn, and improve.
- Very good first - quite intense, lots of emotion, likely due to the great atmosphere in the Bell Centre. Can't wait for the next 40 minutes.
Second Period:
- Carey Price can't afford to take naps with the faceoff directly to his left. Campoli also in la-la land. Matt Frattin says thank you. Game tied.
- Phil Kessel tests Price to see if Carey is awake with a quick snapper glove said. Price is indeed, alert.
- Gustavsson really seems to like converting the routine into an adventure. No wonder Burke's hair is so white.
- Habs offense grinding to a halt in the 2nd. Betcha the Leafs end up with a lead headed to the 3rd.
- Bourque plays the puck in the neutral zone with his head down, and pays the price.
- Cunneyworth sent out his most defensively challenged line and defense at the same time. Playing with fire.
- With the kids out there, even though it's Toronto, Habs forwards are pretty overmatched. Don't see this ending well.
- Good pressure by Pacioretty draws a trip, and Habs get a chance here on the man advantage, recently ranked as low as 30th, now at 26th against the NHL's 29th ranked PK.
- Wayyyyyyy too much passing. Leafs are giving it away, and we're not taking.
- Gustavsson got lucky laying flat on his back he failed to cover the puck, but Bourque couldn't flip it over and in.
- Superb looking leg save by Gustavsson on a rocket from Subban. Shot probably would have gone wide.
- Leblanc with an insanely stupid and totally unnecessary hold at the Toronto line with only seconds left in the period. Terrible.
- Toronto was the much better team in the 2nd, slightly better team through 40. It's up for grabs, but Toronto needs this game much more badly than the Habs, so expect them to come out storming in the 3rd.
Third Period:
- Routine kill there, thankfully.
- Unusually juicy rebound surrendered by Price from a routine shot.
- All Leafs so far in the 3rd. Here we go (again).
- Nearly at the 6 minute mark, Pacioretty got the Habs their first shot on goal.
- Dave Jackson with a questionable goaltending interference call on Pacioretty.
- Leafs blue line really struggles with what should be routine passing and puck control. It's killing their powerplay opportunities.
- Shots are 32-19 Leafs. Are we gonna steal this?
- The answer is, by the way, almost certainly no unless we can actually generate scoring chances against Gustavsson (we haven't had one this period).
- Weber takes a unwise icing, Habs should call for time.
- They don't, we make a terrible line change trying to get everyone off, and the Leafs take the lead as Grabovski ends his 11 game scoring drought. That one started with Weber, and ended with Cunneyworth.
- We really are the team that cures all that ails the opposition, no? Leafs have won only three times this year trailing after the first (about to make that four), and Grabovski scores his first in a month.
- Komisarek rubs out Campoli along the boards (ought have been called interference). Campoli got his revenge 10 seconds later with a devastating (and legal) open ice hit on Komisarek.
- Subban came within a foot of sending Grabovski back to last Tuesday. If full contact had been made I'm pretty sure he'd still be down.
- Habs still playing like this game is tied. No real sense of urgency.
- Plekanec line turning up the heat. Gustavsson makes a great save off a rebound.
- Cole a silly slash to end any hopes. Leafs were the better team, so the win is deserved.
- Dead carp thrown on the ice. Symbolic sentiment about this year's team in Montreal.
- Why not. Shoddy play by Weber, Grabovski one more. Little salt in the wound. Now it's off to Alberta.
Wednesday, 29 February 2012
Game Sixty-Five: Wild v Habs
Well ... we're getting close to the point that we can say with great confidence that the Habs are going all in - for a top 3 draft pick. Forget that, how does a top 2 pick sound? And with a little lottery luck, maybe even the top choice overall?
So it's not all doom and gloom, right? Right?
Last night ... decent start, mental mistakes, sluggish finish, uninspired play, loss ... etc., etc., we've seen this pater (literally) dozens of times this season. So, moving on ...
TALE OF TWO COACHES: With the loss last night, Randy Cunneyworth's coaching record dropped to 11-18-3. So that's 25 points in 32 games. Or at that pace translated into one season, that's 64 points. Ouch?
Meanwhile, last night the Carolina Hurricanes won (again), and Kirk Muller, who was brought in roughly the same time as Cunneyworth, improved his coaching record to 15-13-9.
Now, 15 wins in 37 games might not be considered Ken Hitchcock stellar, but the 'Canes are no St. Blues, at least with the talent (or lack of) that Muller has to work with. Also consider that after a 1-5 start under Muller, Carolina has since posted a 14-8-9 record, which is 37 points in 33 games. Translated into a season, that's 92 points - probably enough to earn a playoff spot.
So let's think about that. 37 points in 33 games ... versus 25 points in 32 games.
And who's got the better talented team - at least on paper? Carolina, or Montreal?
It's an interesting tale of two coaches, no?
ANDREI MARKOV RETURN TO ACTION UPDATE: March 6, 8 or 10th. Mark in on the calendar. Because those are the dates being bantered today for Markov's return from the agonizingly long injury reserve list.
GAME DAY LINEUP: It's game day! It'll be a barn burner for sure, featuring the Habs who won a grand total of 5 times in February against the Wild who have won 6 times since ... Halloween? When two terrible teams clash, only one survives. I'm pretty sure those are lyrics to an 80s song by Survivor. Whatever.
So the practice (and one deduces starting) lines ARrrreee:
Cole-Desharnais-Pacioretty
Geoffrion-Plekanec-White
Bourque-Eller-Palushaj
Staubitz-Gomez-Nokelainen.
So yeah .. it'll be great. 28th place in the standings on the line. Just TRY not to watch.
First Period:
- All eyes on number 57. The true test of his value and future will be determined next season.
- Lot of empty seats out there tonight, at least by Bell Centre's standard.
- Wild running into a mess of penalty problems, now down two men for 1:51.
- Subban gets the Habs on the board.
- And Eller makes it two. Again on the PP. Again, a pretty three way passing play.
- 8 minutes in shots are 9-0. Montreal.
- Wild march to the box continues, this time it's retaliation by Heatly against Subban for a clean open ice hit.
- Kaberle just awful on this powerplay. His passing is totally inept.
- 12 minutes into the period and still no shots by the Wild. Maybe this is an indicator of why they've barely won a game since New Year's? (Minnesota does have the 29th ranked offense).
- Wild a good chance of registering a shot as Plekanec takes an interference.
- At the end of the man advantage, Wild finally register a shot. Also dinged a crossbar. Otherwise, pretty easy to see why this club has nosedived. Their offense is, indeed, a mess.
- Terrible goal. Emelin couldn't do it all. Weber plays his man, Kassian, inexcusably soft, and the Wild winger deflects home the feed in front of Price to collect his first ever NHL goal. Weber's play continues to make Habs fans roll their eyes with exhasperation.
- I love Ryan White's feisty play, but sucker punching the opponent is not cool. Wild gets 3 minute PP.
- Trademark of this year's team in Montreal. No matter how badly their opponent is playing, the Habs still find ways of giving them ample opportunities for a win.
- With five minutes left in the period, shot totals were 9-0 Habs. End of the period, shot total is 9-7. Yup.
- Wild with a two man advantage for nearly two minutes to start the 2nd.
Second Period:
- Shorthanded Eller does all the work and sets Bourque up perfectly for an empty net tip in. Bourque misses.
- Once again Habs defy laws of logic and reason and threaten to score more on the PK than they do on the PP.
- Palushaj is done for the night with an eye injury.
- Habs just barely survive that shift by the Gomez line, which has only received three shifts tonight over the first 30 minutes.
- Pacioretty working the cycle perfectly generating three point blank shots, one of which hits the post.
- Bourque simply does not have the finishing ability to ever be a 25 goal scorer.
- Clutterbuck very lucky he only got 2 minutes for sticking his leg out to knee Bourque. Could have easily been a major. Bourque injured and gone to the dressing room.
- Pacioretty with a wicked snapshot to give Habs 3-1 lead, all goals so far on the PP. Last time Habs scored 3 PP goals in one game? Gotta look that up.
- Habs on PP, and official just called Kaberle for a ridiculous interference penalty as Clutterbuck, skating past, faked contact and fell to ground, soccer style. Officials made to look ridiculously incompetent.
- First time this year that Habs have scored 3 in a game in the man advantage. Still don't know the last time it happened (I assuming last year when this team had a competent specialty unit).
- Emelin delivers by far the hardest hit of the night sending his man flying in the air head over heels. Problem is, it's on Erik Cole.
- Plekanec clearly hooked/held by Falk on that breakaway, no call made. Officiating wildly inconsistent tonight.
- Gomez three shifts, 3:16 ice time through 40 minutes. So infrequently used he might as well be sitting in the press box.
Third Period:
- Not sure what I'm missing, but can't figure out why there's so much hate out there tonight. Officiating may have contributed to frustration, but these two teams meet once or twice a season. So there's no real history. Just one of those inexplicably chippy games.
- Pacioretty spectacular puck control and patience, threading the Wild defense, creating a rebound, and an easy goal for Desharnais. When Pacioretty produces, this team wins. It's that simple.
- Given how utterly lifeless their offense has performed tonight, combined with a systematic lack of discipline, I can't fathom how this Minnesota team was in first place in the Western Conference a relatively short time ago.
- Weber, I'm thinking, could be the guy looking from the outside in for the Habs defense next season.
- Kaberle/Campoli defensive wrecking crew making their usual appearance. Lead cut to two. Crowd getting slightly nervous. Rest of Habs nation wonders once again why either of those two still get ice time late in hockey games.
- Weber out with
- Giveaway at blue line, if not for a snazzy glove save by Price, lead would be one.
- Price with an unwise play of the puck (was he trying to score?) creating turnover, and very nearly a Wild goal.
- Nix that. Habs in total chaos in their zone, Heatly cashes in and the lead is one. Here we go ...
- Pacioretty with empty net is hauled down right in front of the official. No call. Seconds later, Wild score. Just ... wow. Just ... wow.
- The NHL officiating is a disgrace. There's no excuse for this.
Overtime:
- Habs pressing late, Desharnais with brilliant chances not shooting, Habs on the cusp of an all-time low for blowing leads. Even though the season is lost, this game has been a stunner.
- We win. What a silly game. Again, officiating was ridiculously poor.
So it's not all doom and gloom, right? Right?
Last night ... decent start, mental mistakes, sluggish finish, uninspired play, loss ... etc., etc., we've seen this pater (literally) dozens of times this season. So, moving on ...
TALE OF TWO COACHES: With the loss last night, Randy Cunneyworth's coaching record dropped to 11-18-3. So that's 25 points in 32 games. Or at that pace translated into one season, that's 64 points. Ouch?
Meanwhile, last night the Carolina Hurricanes won (again), and Kirk Muller, who was brought in roughly the same time as Cunneyworth, improved his coaching record to 15-13-9.
Now, 15 wins in 37 games might not be considered Ken Hitchcock stellar, but the 'Canes are no St. Blues, at least with the talent (or lack of) that Muller has to work with. Also consider that after a 1-5 start under Muller, Carolina has since posted a 14-8-9 record, which is 37 points in 33 games. Translated into a season, that's 92 points - probably enough to earn a playoff spot.
So let's think about that. 37 points in 33 games ... versus 25 points in 32 games.
And who's got the better talented team - at least on paper? Carolina, or Montreal?
It's an interesting tale of two coaches, no?
ANDREI MARKOV RETURN TO ACTION UPDATE: March 6, 8 or 10th. Mark in on the calendar. Because those are the dates being bantered today for Markov's return from the agonizingly long injury reserve list.
GAME DAY LINEUP: It's game day! It'll be a barn burner for sure, featuring the Habs who won a grand total of 5 times in February against the Wild who have won 6 times since ... Halloween? When two terrible teams clash, only one survives. I'm pretty sure those are lyrics to an 80s song by Survivor. Whatever.
So the practice (and one deduces starting) lines ARrrreee:
Cole-Desharnais-Pacioretty
Geoffrion-Plekanec-White
Bourque-Eller-Palushaj
Staubitz-Gomez-Nokelainen.
So yeah .. it'll be great. 28th place in the standings on the line. Just TRY not to watch.
First Period:
- All eyes on number 57. The true test of his value and future will be determined next season.
- Lot of empty seats out there tonight, at least by Bell Centre's standard.
- Wild running into a mess of penalty problems, now down two men for 1:51.
- Subban gets the Habs on the board.
- And Eller makes it two. Again on the PP. Again, a pretty three way passing play.
- 8 minutes in shots are 9-0. Montreal.
- Wild march to the box continues, this time it's retaliation by Heatly against Subban for a clean open ice hit.
- Kaberle just awful on this powerplay. His passing is totally inept.
- 12 minutes into the period and still no shots by the Wild. Maybe this is an indicator of why they've barely won a game since New Year's? (Minnesota does have the 29th ranked offense).
- Wild a good chance of registering a shot as Plekanec takes an interference.
- At the end of the man advantage, Wild finally register a shot. Also dinged a crossbar. Otherwise, pretty easy to see why this club has nosedived. Their offense is, indeed, a mess.
- Terrible goal. Emelin couldn't do it all. Weber plays his man, Kassian, inexcusably soft, and the Wild winger deflects home the feed in front of Price to collect his first ever NHL goal. Weber's play continues to make Habs fans roll their eyes with exhasperation.
- I love Ryan White's feisty play, but sucker punching the opponent is not cool. Wild gets 3 minute PP.
- Trademark of this year's team in Montreal. No matter how badly their opponent is playing, the Habs still find ways of giving them ample opportunities for a win.
- With five minutes left in the period, shot totals were 9-0 Habs. End of the period, shot total is 9-7. Yup.
- Wild with a two man advantage for nearly two minutes to start the 2nd.
Second Period:
- Shorthanded Eller does all the work and sets Bourque up perfectly for an empty net tip in. Bourque misses.
- Once again Habs defy laws of logic and reason and threaten to score more on the PK than they do on the PP.
- Palushaj is done for the night with an eye injury.
- Habs just barely survive that shift by the Gomez line, which has only received three shifts tonight over the first 30 minutes.
- Pacioretty working the cycle perfectly generating three point blank shots, one of which hits the post.
- Bourque simply does not have the finishing ability to ever be a 25 goal scorer.
- Clutterbuck very lucky he only got 2 minutes for sticking his leg out to knee Bourque. Could have easily been a major. Bourque injured and gone to the dressing room.
- Pacioretty with a wicked snapshot to give Habs 3-1 lead, all goals so far on the PP. Last time Habs scored 3 PP goals in one game? Gotta look that up.
- Habs on PP, and official just called Kaberle for a ridiculous interference penalty as Clutterbuck, skating past, faked contact and fell to ground, soccer style. Officials made to look ridiculously incompetent.
- First time this year that Habs have scored 3 in a game in the man advantage. Still don't know the last time it happened (I assuming last year when this team had a competent specialty unit).
- Emelin delivers by far the hardest hit of the night sending his man flying in the air head over heels. Problem is, it's on Erik Cole.
- Plekanec clearly hooked/held by Falk on that breakaway, no call made. Officiating wildly inconsistent tonight.
- Gomez three shifts, 3:16 ice time through 40 minutes. So infrequently used he might as well be sitting in the press box.
Third Period:
- Not sure what I'm missing, but can't figure out why there's so much hate out there tonight. Officiating may have contributed to frustration, but these two teams meet once or twice a season. So there's no real history. Just one of those inexplicably chippy games.
- Pacioretty spectacular puck control and patience, threading the Wild defense, creating a rebound, and an easy goal for Desharnais. When Pacioretty produces, this team wins. It's that simple.
- Given how utterly lifeless their offense has performed tonight, combined with a systematic lack of discipline, I can't fathom how this Minnesota team was in first place in the Western Conference a relatively short time ago.
- Weber, I'm thinking, could be the guy looking from the outside in for the Habs defense next season.
- Kaberle/Campoli defensive wrecking crew making their usual appearance. Lead cut to two. Crowd getting slightly nervous. Rest of Habs nation wonders once again why either of those two still get ice time late in hockey games.
- Weber out with
- Giveaway at blue line, if not for a snazzy glove save by Price, lead would be one.
- Price with an unwise play of the puck (was he trying to score?) creating turnover, and very nearly a Wild goal.
- Nix that. Habs in total chaos in their zone, Heatly cashes in and the lead is one. Here we go ...
- Pacioretty with empty net is hauled down right in front of the official. No call. Seconds later, Wild score. Just ... wow. Just ... wow.
- The NHL officiating is a disgrace. There's no excuse for this.
Overtime:
- Habs pressing late, Desharnais with brilliant chances not shooting, Habs on the cusp of an all-time low for blowing leads. Even though the season is lost, this game has been a stunner.
- We win. What a silly game. Again, officiating was ridiculously poor.
Thursday, 22 December 2011
Game Thirty-Six: Habs v. Jets
For your consumption, the news out today of a planned protest by groups that could only be charitably defined as xenophobic nutcases, is scheduled for January 7th, over the hiring of the english-only Cunneyworth.
The story can really break two ways. It'll either just fade away (hopefully via a nice winning streak), or it can build into an all-out crisis, which would threaten to irrevocably poison the organization's ability to move forward this season. Of greater concern is how this could rub off on the players, some of whom Gauthier (assuming he's still around) will have to sit down with next summer to hammer out long-term contracts. In case you haven't been keeping track, those players include Price, Gorges, Subban ... and if we can't convince those guys to stick around the circus, you might as well cancel out all hope of a parade within the next five years, or longer.
Anyway, Price tonight hoping for the same result as game two of the campaign. It'll be interesting - what with the Jets riding a mile high in it's love-fest with the local fans, against the Habs depleted, dejected and demoralized roster.
8:19 p.m. EST: gameday: Okay not sure about what's going on, but Weber is in, Emelin is out (again), Subban is out a scratch (hmmm) as well as ... Eller? Wow. I can probably muster up the rationale for the first two, but Eller??
That's ... baffling.
- Further to that update, it appears that Emelin will play tonight. But Subban and Eller definitely out.
All I can say is given those scratches, if Cunneyworth doesn't get a W tonight, the Montreal media might roast him alive.
First Period:
- Incredible save by Price on Tyler Glass a minute after puck is dropped. Habs defense MIA.
- Jets crowd chanting "Carrrey ... Carrreey ..." ... because that worked so well against Patrick Roy, you know.
- Gill our el supremeo penalty killer gets 4 minutes for a high stick, and accordingly, Wheeler and the Jets strike. 1-0.
- Can't get past this. Eller alluded to some satisfaction with Matin's firing because the first game of the Cunneyworth era he got nearly 20 minutes of ice. Three games later and he's sitting in the pressbox. I remain baffled.
- Habs offense almost completely invisible first 9 minutes.
- Desharnais line with first applied pressure on Jets defense.
- Maybe its his slowness, maybe it's his hands made of concrete, but Moen really struggles to clear the puck from his zone.
- Have we hit rock bottom yet? Campoli caught out of position, and Glass cashes in on a clean cross-slot pass. 2-0.
- Really, the Campoli-Kaberle combo was just begging for a breakdown. We may see more horrors as the game progresses.
- Jets working hard for more. Wouldn't be shocked if the soon get another.
- So ... yeah. Campoli plays, Subban sitting makes this team better? #notlettingthisgo
- That was pretty much 20 minutes substituting as a disaster. How deep is this ocean before we reach the bottom?
Second Period:
- Apparently there's a ways to go down yet. Campoli is moved, matched up with Gill, and seconds into their shift, Jets take 3-0 lead (in Gill's defense, on a shot that Price ought to have stopped).
- Is Cammalleri the new Gomez? I have never seen him so invisible and ineffective as he is playing right now.
- Price getting mocked by the crowd. In light of that third goal, can't really blame 'em.
- Jets really should be up by four, as they somehow can't put the puck past a flip-flopping Price. Plekanec line and defense in total chaos.
- Cammalleri has been demoted to the 4th line. I guess I wasn't the only one seeing it.
- Emelin nasty high stick to the mouth. I'm thinking that's a two tooth amputation. Habs get 4 minute PP.
- And fittingly, it's the Jets who get a sparkling chance, an unbelievable save by Price off a rebound keeps the Jets from their 4th.
- Virtually no good scoring chances during the four minutes. Seems about right.
- As a 36 year Habs fan, I'm actually embarrassed by what I've seen tonight. Nearly everyone going through the motions. I think only Emelin has bothered showing up tonight.
- Habs powerplay has reverted to its early season form. So not even that is going well.
- Habs 6 poweplays. Have they mustered 3 quality shots on goal out of them? Even just one?
- Habs got 16 shots in that period? Coulda fooled me. That was just awful.
Third Period:
- Not a whole lot to say. Habs are going through the motions, I suppose thinking about getting the hell out of Winnipeg and the getting back home for the holiday break. Jets are in return, just sitting back and watching the clock wind down.
- Having Subban and Eller in the lineup certainly wouldn't have hurt - not after watching tonight's display.
- 4-0 Jets, with Campoli made to look like a fool. Guess who'll be sitting next Tuesday night? I think we have a good idea.
- The holiday break at least comes at q good time for the Habs, but the loss tonight doesn't concern me in that they lost, but in the way they lost. The players, almost the entire roster, didn't show up. They didn't put out the required and expected effort from a professional hockey player. This is nearly as low as you can go.
Thing is, there are no near-term, quick fix solutions. The Quebec media will have a field day over Cunneyworth's disastrous tenure to date, but what can ownership do? Beg Martin to come back? Find someone else? Who in their right mind would want to be the next coach of the Canadiens, which one must assume, would have to be from Quebec or bilingual. Are there any qualified unemployed individuals that fit that description? And if there are, again, why would they want the job?
It's a mess. It's all unravelled very quickly, and it's probably not going to get any better any time soon.
The story can really break two ways. It'll either just fade away (hopefully via a nice winning streak), or it can build into an all-out crisis, which would threaten to irrevocably poison the organization's ability to move forward this season. Of greater concern is how this could rub off on the players, some of whom Gauthier (assuming he's still around) will have to sit down with next summer to hammer out long-term contracts. In case you haven't been keeping track, those players include Price, Gorges, Subban ... and if we can't convince those guys to stick around the circus, you might as well cancel out all hope of a parade within the next five years, or longer.
Anyway, Price tonight hoping for the same result as game two of the campaign. It'll be interesting - what with the Jets riding a mile high in it's love-fest with the local fans, against the Habs depleted, dejected and demoralized roster.
8:19 p.m. EST: gameday: Okay not sure about what's going on, but Weber is in, Emelin is out (again), Subban is out a scratch (hmmm) as well as ... Eller? Wow. I can probably muster up the rationale for the first two, but Eller??
That's ... baffling.
- Further to that update, it appears that Emelin will play tonight. But Subban and Eller definitely out.
All I can say is given those scratches, if Cunneyworth doesn't get a W tonight, the Montreal media might roast him alive.
First Period:
- Incredible save by Price on Tyler Glass a minute after puck is dropped. Habs defense MIA.
- Jets crowd chanting "Carrrey ... Carrreey ..." ... because that worked so well against Patrick Roy, you know.
- Gill our el supremeo penalty killer gets 4 minutes for a high stick, and accordingly, Wheeler and the Jets strike. 1-0.
- Can't get past this. Eller alluded to some satisfaction with Matin's firing because the first game of the Cunneyworth era he got nearly 20 minutes of ice. Three games later and he's sitting in the pressbox. I remain baffled.
- Habs offense almost completely invisible first 9 minutes.
- Desharnais line with first applied pressure on Jets defense.
- Maybe its his slowness, maybe it's his hands made of concrete, but Moen really struggles to clear the puck from his zone.
- Have we hit rock bottom yet? Campoli caught out of position, and Glass cashes in on a clean cross-slot pass. 2-0.
- Really, the Campoli-Kaberle combo was just begging for a breakdown. We may see more horrors as the game progresses.
- Jets working hard for more. Wouldn't be shocked if the soon get another.
- So ... yeah. Campoli plays, Subban sitting makes this team better? #notlettingthisgo
- That was pretty much 20 minutes substituting as a disaster. How deep is this ocean before we reach the bottom?
Second Period:
- Apparently there's a ways to go down yet. Campoli is moved, matched up with Gill, and seconds into their shift, Jets take 3-0 lead (in Gill's defense, on a shot that Price ought to have stopped).
- Is Cammalleri the new Gomez? I have never seen him so invisible and ineffective as he is playing right now.
- Price getting mocked by the crowd. In light of that third goal, can't really blame 'em.
- Jets really should be up by four, as they somehow can't put the puck past a flip-flopping Price. Plekanec line and defense in total chaos.
- Cammalleri has been demoted to the 4th line. I guess I wasn't the only one seeing it.
- Emelin nasty high stick to the mouth. I'm thinking that's a two tooth amputation. Habs get 4 minute PP.
- And fittingly, it's the Jets who get a sparkling chance, an unbelievable save by Price off a rebound keeps the Jets from their 4th.
- Virtually no good scoring chances during the four minutes. Seems about right.
- As a 36 year Habs fan, I'm actually embarrassed by what I've seen tonight. Nearly everyone going through the motions. I think only Emelin has bothered showing up tonight.
- Habs powerplay has reverted to its early season form. So not even that is going well.
- Habs 6 poweplays. Have they mustered 3 quality shots on goal out of them? Even just one?
- Habs got 16 shots in that period? Coulda fooled me. That was just awful.
Third Period:
- Not a whole lot to say. Habs are going through the motions, I suppose thinking about getting the hell out of Winnipeg and the getting back home for the holiday break. Jets are in return, just sitting back and watching the clock wind down.
- Having Subban and Eller in the lineup certainly wouldn't have hurt - not after watching tonight's display.
- 4-0 Jets, with Campoli made to look like a fool. Guess who'll be sitting next Tuesday night? I think we have a good idea.
- The holiday break at least comes at q good time for the Habs, but the loss tonight doesn't concern me in that they lost, but in the way they lost. The players, almost the entire roster, didn't show up. They didn't put out the required and expected effort from a professional hockey player. This is nearly as low as you can go.
Thing is, there are no near-term, quick fix solutions. The Quebec media will have a field day over Cunneyworth's disastrous tenure to date, but what can ownership do? Beg Martin to come back? Find someone else? Who in their right mind would want to be the next coach of the Canadiens, which one must assume, would have to be from Quebec or bilingual. Are there any qualified unemployed individuals that fit that description? And if there are, again, why would they want the job?
It's a mess. It's all unravelled very quickly, and it's probably not going to get any better any time soon.
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