Game Forty-Seven: Habs vs. Jets

First Period:

- A little switcheroo action after warmups, Halpern in, Dumont out.

- Diaz/Bouillon could be the cardiac arresting duo tonight.

- Ryder can score, right? It's been awhile.

- So hitting guys along the board who have the puck is now interference?

- Wow, Price has made four class-A stops so far, the Jets have engines firing full throttle out of the gate.

- Jets fans' attempts to boo Subban is disingenuously adorable.

- Price can't hold 'em off forever, Bouillon flops behind the net and coughs up the puck. Just awful. Weber must be looking on and thinking "why me?" Why him, indeed. 1-0.

- We've seen this pattern before. How soon before it's 2-0?

- Habs first powerplay, puck control and passing was pretty awful. Specialty units are in a total funk.

- 4th line doing their best to create Jets anxiety, Prust gets punished by the overeager officials.

- Jets started very strongly and eventually opened the scoring, but Habs looked reasonably good last half of the period, registering the bulk of scoring chances, limiting Winnipeg to just 4 shots. Call me cautiously optimistic, I guess?

Second Period:

- Okay, spidey senses are telling me big Habs period here. #regrettablepredictions

- The Desharnais line has got to produce eventually. It's just got to.

- Tinordi doing a nice job covering for Bouillon's poor judgement.

- Crowd is quiet, mainly because it's been a Habs-dominated period so far. Need to score though, before the momentum pendulum starts swinging away.

- Bourque gets the monkey off his back, as Habs have taken full control of this game. They must continue to keep pushing, the Jets have shown nothing as a response.

- Shots are 5-1 Habs, the play has been even more one-sided. Canadiens looking a lot like their former selves in this period.

- Oh my god. BAD turnover by Subban to Wheeler, and Price makes an incredible save on the breakaway. Might be his best of the year.

- Bad offside call prevents a good Jets scoring chance. Winnipeg start to gain some traction here.

- Plekanec with his own style of bad decision making, inexplicably dumps the puck in the Jets zone before the red line and generates an icing. Therrien forced to burn his time out.

- Ain't that the way? Jets win the faceoff, control the puck, Habs exhausted, Jets score. All on Plekanec, that one. Terrible unforced mental error costs his team big-time.

Third Period:

- Sometimes funny things happen when you shoot pucks on net - this time it's Gallagher with a 60 footer that completely handcuffs Pavelec, and ties the game. Habs need only to hold the score to claim home ice in the first round.

- Huge opportunity here for the Habs, two man advantage.

- Finally the snakebite of the snakebitten Desharnais finally scores, quite possibly the biggest goal of tHe Habs' year. Habs no longer thinking tie, a win is in sight.

- Now it's all breaking through now, Pacioretty the shot, Pavelec again is handcuffed, and Desharnais cashes it in. 4-2.

- Jets reeling, Habs pouring everything on now, Winnipeg looks dispirited, as realty now setting in that their season is about to end.

- Well, that's a relief. Habs looking like normal again, and have now earned the great luxury of resting everybody for Saturday's now meaningless game against the Leafs. All is calm in Habsland.

Gameday Game Preview:

UPDATE: Weber will sit for Tinordi.

Is this a big game? If you're the Winnipeg Jets, it's more or less the biggest game of the year, in light of the Jets' heartbreaking loss to the Capitals on Tuesday night, which allowed Washington to clinch the South-Least Division. With their final regular season game tonight against the Habs, the Jets are one point back of the New York Rangers, who still have two games remaining.

So you know ... you just know, in front of that rabid Winnipeg arena crowd, that the Jets are going to bring it tonight. While earning a playoff spot is unlikely, Winnipeg is at least facing the mightily struggling Montreal Canadiens, who've won but just one of their past six games, and are desperately trying to recapture their early-season glory, when it appeared they might be the odds-on favorite team to represent the Eastern Conference in this season's playoffs.

Well, those aspirations are pretty much gone now, but the Habs still have plenty to play for. While it's likely we'll finish 4th in the Conference, setting up a dream series against the Leafs, there's still an outside chance that Toronto might catch the Habs for 4th place, and gain home ice advantage. An extra playoff game in Toronto? Who'd want that??

So, tonight!! The Habs, in their latest attempt to rejig their failing defense, will dress and play Jared Tinoridi, who we hope will bolster some of the physicality that's been missing for the past couple of weeks, while taking some of the playing pressure off the shoulders of the vets, including Markov and Gorges. We still don't know at this moment who'll sit out, with Tinordi playing. Weber? Or maybe Therrien will really attempt to shake things up (and create some rest) by scratching Gorges or Markov. But it'll probably be Weber that sits.

In net tonight it'll be the battle of the two P's, Price vs. Pavelec, the former looking much more improved in his previous start against the Devils. Let's hope that improvement is on a bell curve, because for much of this month, the slope has been going downward on the y axis.

Puck drops at 8:10 EST.

Gameday Goo

- Moen out (healthy scratch), Dumont in. Halpren out (healthy scratch). Armstrong in. Price starting. A win clinches 4th place. Hell, even with all the sucktitude, we could still finish first in the Division. Or 5th.

- Watched Tampa/Leafs game last night. Yikes. Why can't THAT Toronto team show up when we play against them? But yeah, looking at the possible matchups, I think I'd like the Leafs for the first round. Or the Rangers.

More later.

Chalkboard Scratching Habs Stat-of-the-Day (Part Deux):

Pre Emelin injury, Habs penalty killing unit was running at 81.1% efficiency. 15th best.

Since Emelin injury ... hooo boy .... 69.2% efficiency. Just about worst in the League.

So what to do?

Apart from triple wrapping Alexei's leg using a tent pole for a splint and sending him back out there, there's nothing else we can do except to hide. Just hide. Come back in September.

Mind-Boggling Habs Horrorshow Stat-of-the-Day:

So last night, I observed out loud (well, actually wrote) during my live blog of the Jersey game that Andrei Markov was hurting this team more than it was helping. And now we have this: Of the even strength goals surrendered by the Habs this season, Markov was on the ice for 47% of them.

No, seriously. Forty - Seven - Per - Cent.

That's ... really ... really ... bad.

UNHAPPY WEDNESDAY :(

The Toronto Maple Leafs, Division winners?

Astoundingly, it's looking like that might happen.

More later, including the callup of Jared Tinordi, assuming I'm able to remove myself from the fetal position.

Game Five: Jets vs. Habs

P.K. Subban. There. Said it. Because that's all that Habs fans talk about these days anyway.

But I'll a bit more on P.K. later today. In the meantime, Mr. Galchenyuk won't be returning to the minors for ... the rest of his life. Habs confirmed a few minutes ago that he's staying with the club. Well, duh.

- Players making the team Update: Add Brendan Gallagher to the list. He's staying.

- P.K. Subban update/review: Okay, so in the space in time between when I said I'd post a comment, and about four hours, the Canadiens announced that they had signed P.K. for an astounding low sum of money, spread over two years.

So kudos to Mr. Bergevin for holding steady, and out-lasting his star young defenseman and agent in their eye-blinking contest.

Impressions? Short term its a fantastic deal for the Habs - to have a player of Subban's quality for such a relatively low sum of money will give the team plenty of salary space to work with - at least for the next two years.

Longer-term? I'm not particularly sold on the contract, at least insomuch as it waived the opportunity to get Subban, who clearly loves and wants to play in Montreal, for a long-term deal. The "bridge contract" deal merely delays, if even inflates the inevitable pricier long-term contract.

So instead of perhaps signing Subban to an 8 year deal worth $50-55m, in 2015 Bergevin might be having to dole out a six year deal worth $40-45M. More pressure on the cap, the club ends up losing.

ANYWAY. At least he's back with the club, and will probably start Saturday night.

SO TONIGHT it's the Habs and Jets. The Jets were supposed to be bad, but so far, they've been good! The 'Peg has been led by the red hot Evander Kane and Ondrej Pavalec. Meanwhile, the Habs, who were really supposed to be bad, have been good! Led by the magic-man Andrei Markov (three game winning goals), and four consecutive great starts by Carey Price, and the rookie sensation Galchenyuk, and the strong return of Gionta, and heck, we'll even throw Rene Bourque a bone with some praise for his work ethic, the Habs might be a whole lot more than what we gave 'em credit for.

That said, the schedule to start was pretty easy - and tonight, it starts getting harder. So let's see what this team is really made of, eh?


First Period:

- Lots of hoping that Cole, who's been a little sluggish to start, can light a fire under Eller's skates tonight. Lest we forget, the last time the Jets were in a Montreal, Eller scored four times.

- CW says Weber will be the odd man out once P.K. returns, although there's a pretty good argument that it should be Kaberle. So spots are being fought for tonight and tomorrow in Ottawa.

- Well how 'bout that? Bourque can shoot that puck. Markov piles on the points total. Habs lead 1-0.

- Nice to see Bourque rewarded for the bettered work ethic.

- I sense an improvement. Habs PP on pace for 78 goals this 48 game season. Last year they scored 43 in 82 games.

- The press gallery is musing Pavelec should have stopped Bourque's point shot. I thought it had plenty of mustard, but what do I know?

- Bourque came within two inches of scoring his 2nd.

- And Gallagher scores HIS 2nd courtesy some soft Jets D and a shot that Pavelec really should have stopped. 2-0 Habs.

- Moen biting off a bit more than he could chew with that tassel.

- Four minutes left in the first, Price hasn't remotely been tested so far. Might change as Jets head to the PP.

- First test, blast by Wheeler that Price probably should have blocked. First "iffy" goal surrendered by Carey this season.

- Last week Jets fell behind the Pens 2-0, but hung tough and fought back for a 4-2 win in Pittsburgh. Chronically slow starts don't seem to phase this team.

- What the heck was Price doing there. Gorges sprawls and saves an embarrassing goal.

- First largely controlled by Habs. Seems like they ought to be up by two. Very nearly came out of the period merely tied.


Second Period:

- Lazy hold by Eller. Coaches hate those.

- 2011-12 PK scoring specialist Plekanec rings one off the bar on a break. See if that near miss haunts us later.

- Question quickly answered. End of Eller's penalty Habs in total zone chaos and Jets tie the game. No lead is safe.

- Will Therrien punish Eller for that goal-costing sloppy penalty? Cole line on, Eller isn't.

- Not certain if the Jets' forechecking is that good, or Habs d-zone play is that bad right now. But Habs are definitely on their heels, and coughing up the puck left and right.

- Bourque again comes on-so-close. Really pushing hard for the net.

- Shift by Plekanec line has Habs energized again.

- Safe to say at this point Eller should find a comfortable place on the bench.

- What a beautiful cross-ice pass by Galchenyuk right on the tape of Prust's stick. How'd he miss that wide open net?

- Chinsey tripping call on Galchenyuk. Barely qualified as marginal.

- Jokinen somehow escaped a delay of game after kicking the net off its posts.

- And uh ... Wow. Jokinen scores, and another very iffy goal surrendered by Price. Plekanec's crossbar looming very large now.

- Some erm ... interesting calls being made by the officials. Habs chance to even the score.

- No score, but Markov/Diaz make a fierce combo on the line.

- Cole finally cracks the goal scoring list. There's one more back monkey taken care of.

- At what point is a search party organized for Desharnais? Been more-or-less MIA since game one.

- Near the end of the period, Eller on the ice first time since his penalty

- Third periods haven't been very interesting for Habs fans first four games. That changes tonight.


Third Period:

- Karmatic retribution? Jokinen positively robbed by Price on Jets PP.

- Gionta draws ANOTHER penalty. Uncanny how many that is so far this season.

- Markov, Diaz, Plekanec. Tape, tape, boom. Habs lead 4-3.

- Beaut save by Price off deflection from blue line shot.

- 10 minutes to go. Another tenuous one goal lead. Perhaps it's from all the trauma experienced from last season, but don't think that's quite enough to salt this one away.

- Storyline tonight should include a mention of just how deep Eller is planted in Therrien's doghouse.

- Verrrrry marginal goaltending interference call on Prust, who was attempting to redirect a pass and made contact outside the crease.

- Price really earning his paycheck in the 3rd.

- Prust out of the box gets boarded. In front of the ref. Somehow not called.

- And Prust is sent to the box. Oh wow. Therrien is furious.

- Prust called for a dive? Remarkable. Terrible, terrible officiating.

- If Jets score the crowd may riot.

- Riot adverted. Prust out of the box, joins rush, and is slashed going after loose puck. No call. Somebody's got his number.

- Bourque muffs the clear 2-1, jumps the line too early. Do'h.

- Prust, fittingly, draws crucial penalty with 3 minutes left. Jets in big hole now.

- 36 seconds left, faceoff left of Price. Hold on.

- 24 seconds left, same situation.

- Wow. Post hit from point shot, Habs survive. Last year's team would have found a way of losing a game like that. Funny how much difference a year makes.

- Nice. Three stars announced, and some very lucky fan got Galchenyuk's stick.

Game Fifty-Three: Jets v Habs

It's a beautiful Sunday! Spring is nearly in the air, the birds are singing, life is good! So let's ruin it all with 150 minutes worth of dreadful hockey featuring two clubs going nowhere. Well, at least one team. The one that's more of an easterly direction. They wear red uniforms. From Montreal. They're called the Canadiens. Have u dropped enough hints yet?

- Diaz a (healthy?) scratch. Um, okay.

- Anthem *MUCH* better today. Very nice recovery. Let's hope that rubs off on a few of the Habs.

First Period:

- There are reportedly scouts representing 14 other NHL clubs at the game today. Can't say I'd blame a vulture for picking over a dead body.

- So who's being looked at? Kostitsyn? Gill? Campoli? Weber?

- 0/1 on the man advantage, but at least some shots were attempted. /graspingstraws

- Subban crashes the Jets net. That's something new.

- Subban/Gill pairing reunited. Both have barely played together this season.

- Habs caught a break with that offside. Otherwise it's 1-0 Jets.

- Gomez "cheers" today more boos than yays. The situation is becoming untenable.

- Habs a bit more jump today, although compared to their performance yesterday, the bar isn't high. Having trouble making clean/accurate passes.

- Pkekanec really motoring today. Created huge flurry, Bourque whiffing on backhander, Gill nearly scoring top shelf, Darche whiffing *twice* on a backhander. That's all about right.

- Darche is a line killer. Yeah, he scored couple nights ago (clean-up goal) but he wrecks the scoring chances generated by Plekanec's hard work.

- Plekanec line again generating great chances, but horrible follow-through by Bourque and Darche. Cunneyworth needs to stick Plekanec between two guys who can finish *now*.

- Hal Gill totally rockin the point today.

- Pacioretty finally puts one in. Finally.

- Or wait, did Desharnais kick it in??

- Naw. This should count. Desharnais' goal.

- Pretty one-sided period. If Habs can do that again for periods two and three, there's no way they can lose. There. I said it.

- Kostitsyn gets sent to the box for a second time today, both penalties a result of failing to keep pace with the play. I'm sure that'll impress the scores of scouts in the stands.

- Such an upside-down bizarre year. The Habs are actually a bigger threat to score shorthanded than they are on the man advantage. Emelin makes it 2-0 after Jets make string of sloppy errors.

- Scoring change for Habs first goal. Pacioretty credited with the goal.

- Did GOMEZ just score!?!!?

- No. Freakin'. Way. I think he might have deflected it in.

- Announcement of who scored taking crazy long time.

- After a five minute delay, goal is announced. It's Plekanec. /sadface

- Oh yeah. The Gomez-almost goal scored on the PP. The weirdness continues.

- Have to say I'm really bummed out. I feel terribly for Scott, who's enduring a pretty humiliating situation.

- Loved that Subban/Wheeler tilt. P.K. with the split decision.

- Gomez was all set to blast one into the net from the slot, but Bourque skating the other direction, intercepted the puck. Do'h.

- Game is all Habs. There is but one question to be answered today, and that's if a certain forward will finally score.

Third Period:

- Price really hasn't been tested today, until now. Two sensational saves separated by two seconds.

- League released a statement that they took very long time on the Plekanec goal out of concern that had they awarded to Gomez, it would have been a terrible moment to take it away.

- Turning point the Jets goal in the first that was blown dead? Might have been a very different result today if it hadn't been for that play.

- Habs really sitting on this, not doing Carey many favors protecting the you-know-what.

- What a beautiful pass by Pacioretty to Desharnais.

- Oh, Darche. Only you could miss a net that wide open.

- Is Leblanc the fastest guy on the team? He certainly zooms around unlike anyone else.

- Price absolutely determined to get the you-know-what.

- Emelin with another strong performance today. As a defenseman, he's arguably risen to number two on the depth chart behind Gorges.

- Sloppy puck handling nearly blows the you-know-what with the man advantage.

- The Molson Cup is (always has been) a bit of a joke masking a popularity contest, and you just know Price will be first star even though Plekanec was easily the best player today. We'll see.

- Jets to the PP with 2 minutes left. Can Price seal the deal on the you-know-what?

- While Jets had an empty net, Gomez sat on the bench. Ah well.

- It can now be said. Price gets the shutout.

- As predicted, Price gets first star. The wrong call of course, but it was chosen by the fans. So, it figures.

Game Forty: Jets v. Habs

Ahhh ... home sweet home. It seems like it's been forever, but now that the semi-disastrous longest road trip of the season is passed, there's nowhere to look but up, right? Right?

Anyway, what's news. Oh yeah ... Josh Gorges reward for stellar play, a big-time six year contract, working out to $3.9M per season. I think this is a wonderful signing - sealed on the first day possible - January 1st, which will keep Josh a Hab right through his very best years as a player. The price tag is a bit higher than it could have been, had this deal been done last summer, but it's still an excellent move, and it sets the table nicely for the future, with Markov, Subban, Gorges, Elemin, Diaz, and Kaberle (I guess?). Weber - we'll see.

So tonight. Lineups aren't set yet as I write this, but it's a good question whether Price will get another start, in light of what I think are issues regarding the usual wear and tear on any goaltender who's designated to start 9 out of every 10 games. Will post as soon as it's announced, assuming I get the chance.

3:25 p.m. EST: Still no releases for tonight's rosters, but here's a story that might warm the frustrated hearts of Habs fans wondering when Markov will ever return. Seems as though Rick DePietro somehow managed to get injured yesterday while he was on injury reserve. Takes some pretty heady talent to pull that off.

- And Price will get the start.

First Period:

-Eeek. Not sure what happened there, but on a Jets shoot in, Diaz took a tumble (tripped?) and a wide open Stapleton slides one past Price (another squeaker that somehow finds its way through between his legs). 1-0 Jets.

- Desharnais is a keeper, but he tends to hesitate in the offensive zone - maybe overthinking, more likely because of his lacking NHL experience. Once he becomes a bit more confident, a bit more commanding with the puck, he'll easily be a 50-60 point producer. But not now.

- Jets aren't talent deep, but they certainly are plucky. Hate playing teams like this because you expect to win, but they don't come easy.

- Habs offense doing it right, working the puck in front, but just can't find the handle to knock it home.

- Eller and Kostitsyn getting extra shifts early. Eller really coming out of the gate hard.

- Shots from the point never hurt - and the $24 million man puts one through the screen. Game tied.

- Habs have changed their goal song. I guess whatever it takes to change directions!

- Eller's strong start tonight pays off early. Jets cough up the puck near the point, and Eller with another of his impressive wristers that Pavelec can't pick up. Habs lead 2-1.

- Cammalleri's season summed up by that play. All alone in the high slot his first shot is blocked, and his second shot is muffed. He looked great last week against Tampa, but has done a revert since the 2nd period of that game. Hard to figure out.

- Emelin receives a sucker punch to the face courtesy of Andrew Ladd, who gets caught by the official. Habs go on PP.

- Cole with a beautiful move around the Jets defense to set up Plekanec perfectly for a slam dunk score. Plecks misses the net.

- Shaky start, but pretty solid first period all around. More or less like what we've seen the whole season. Once again we'll have to see how this team can handle holding a lead.

Second Period:

- Moen does all the good work, Kaberle with the finish for his first as a Montreal Canadien. Habs take big positive step forward padding their lead. 3-1.

- For the most part, Habs playing pretty sound defensively in the period, keeping Jets forwards confined to the perimeter. Price getting clear views of most of the shots. So far, so good.

- Jets score on the powerplay on a shot from the line by Bogosian, deflected neatly by red-hot Wheeler. Price had no chance. Nobody at fault, just one of those goals. 3-2 Habs.

- Jets offense really coming on strong, Diaz gets nabbed for interference. It's unraveling quickly.

- We've been here before, seemingly countless times. Habs hold slender lead heading to the 3rd period, and then the nightmare begins.

Third Period:

- Gill really getting reeled back for icetime. Barely 7 minutes through two periods.

- Cole and Desharnais have been giving the Jets' defense fits all night long, Pavelec doing his best to keep Winnipeg in this thing.

- Oh that was a thing of beauty. Eller, from Moen from Kostitsyn, tic-tac-toe, Jets defense not knowing up from down, and Pavelec left hung to dry. Huge goal. 4-2 Habs.

- Plekanec joins the fun seconds later taking a blind feed from Cammalleri, Jets in total chaos. Habs pulling away 5-2.

- Holy cow. Seconds after Plekanec, Jets just all over the place. Kostitsyn with some highlight stickhandling, and Eller gets a hat trick! Goal of the night. Habs blowing 'em away. 6-2.

- Eller getting a huge standing ovation from an incredibly noisy Bell Centre. He came out hard tonight, and he's earned every single one of his three goals. Just terrific.

- Eller awarded a penalty shot! A chance to score 4!!

- Oh wow. What a move!! What a goal!!! What an incredible night for Lars Eller. Spectacular!

- Night to remember. Gauthier looking like a genius. Halak who?

- Ladd puts a damper on what is turning into a big party in the Bell Centre. 7-3 Habs.

- What if Eller scores 5? When was the last time any Canadiens player did that?

- And here's your answer. The last Habs player to score 5 in a game was Bobby Rousseau, on February 1, 1964.

- Correction: It was Yvan Cournoyer on February 15, 1975. In other words, a long time ago.

- Gill in a rare fight, he's probably got the energy to do it since he's only played 12 minutes tonight.

- Canadiens get late 3rd period powerplay. Will Eller get a shot for 5? He's on the bench.

- Cunneyworth keeps him on the bench, but it doesn't matter. A resounding win for the Habs tonight. Their most impressive this season.

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.