Montreal Canadiens

Game Day: Canadiens @ Devils

December 9, 2011

The Montreal Canadiens will be looking to get back in the win-column in New Jersey on Saturday afternoon as they visit the Prudential Center to face-off with the Devils. The Canadiens have lost three of their last four in a shootout, including Thursday nights 4-3 loss to the Vancouver Canucks. Neither team has been hugely successful heading into Saturday's game, with both clubs amassing only 29 points on the season so far. The Devils do hold a slight advantage though, with two games in hand and going 5-5-0 in their last ten games compared to Montreal, who have gone 3-3-4. The Devils will be looking to win a third straight game against an opponent from the No...

Habs Acquire Tomas Kaberle From Canes for Spacek

December 9, 2011

George Prax

12 Comments

Three to five years ago, the acquisition of Tomas Kaberle would have likely been a positive subject for the Montreal Canadiens. Three years ago, Kaberle was a competent offensive defenseman who was a force for the Leafs' blueline, especially on the powerplay. He was a good passer, puck distributor and quarterback, and a player who's value and eventual trade was hotly contested, and a consistent subject of discussion in Toronto and around the league.

But three years is a long time. And Tomas Kaberle is not exactly the defenseman he used to be. At some point during the 2010-11 season, Kaberle's play started to decline with the Toronto Ma...

Two Games in One

December 9, 2011

habbykins

4 Comments

The biggest question at the beginning of this contest between the visiting Canucks and the hometown Habs was which Habs team would show up - the Jeckyls or the Hydes. After the shootout the answer was of course - both.

The first period started well for the hometown heroes when a wrist shot by a defenceman no less went through everyone including Roberto Luongo to make it 1-0 Habs. The shot was by Steady Freddy St. Denis with assists to Cammalleri and Plekanecs. They then got into a bit of a problem with penalties giving the Canucks a 5 on 3 for almost a minute. Big Hal Gill once again did yeoman job blocking the passing lane. With approximately a minute left in the first another goal...

Game Day: Habs vs. Canucks

December 8, 2011

George Prax

0 Comments

The Montreal Canadiens will look to bounce back from a slightly embarrassing 3-2 shootout loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday evening, as they prepare to face the Vancouver Canucks at the Bell Centre.

Logic would dictate that the Habs will be looking at another loss after tonight's game, but this team doesn't exactly follow the laws of physics. If this season has proven anything, it's that when their backs are up against the wall (i.e., the coach's job seems to be in jeopardy), this team will bust out a win against the most unlikely opponent. It happened in Winnipeg when the Canadiens beat the Jets in their long-awaited home opener. It happened...

From Inconsistency to Redundancy: Habs Fall To Blue Jackets

December 7, 2011

George Prax

2 Comments

Following Tuesday night's 3-2 shootout loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets at the Bell Centre, the world of the season for the Montreal Canadiens may have changed from "inconsistency" to "redundancy".

You don't have to look too far back in the archives here at TCL to notice that most of the writers haven't exactly been happy with the level of effort the team has been showing on most nights. Win or lose, there always seems to be something major to complain about with every passing game. Either they're barely holding on for win, or simply unable to score any goals or play consistently for sixty minutes.

...

The Pros and Cons of the NHL's Realignment for the Montreal Canadiens

December 6, 2011

George Prax

6 Comments

This week, the NHL announced a brand new format to accommodate certain scheduling issues that have risen the West, and thanks to the Winnipeg Jets. By now I’m sure that you’ve seen the details of the new four-conference format, so I’ll spare you most of the details, but it's needless to say that more than a few people are on the fence about it all.

What’s relevant to the subject matter here is that the Montreal Canadiens will essentially play with the same Northeast Division opponents they’ve known for years, with one little twist. The new mini-conference will also add the two teams from Florida to th...

Game Day : Blue Jackets @ Habs

December 6, 2011

Jason Pietroniro

2 Comments

The Columbus Blue Jackets are in town tonight as they look to put a dent in the first of 2 back to back home games for the Montreal Canadiens. Tonight also marks the return of blueliner James Wisniewski who spent some time on the Habs roster last season. Both the Jackets and the Habs are off to terrible starts this season, sitting 21st ( MTL ) and 30th (CBJ) in the league.

After going 1-1-1 on their road trip in California, the Habs need to bounce back and take advantage of this home stand. 5 of their next 6 are at home and with Max Pacioretty back in the lineup, there aren't many reasons why this team can't steal at least 8 points.

Vinny ...

Price Preserves Win for Habs

December 3, 2011

habbykins

2 Comments

The Montreal Canadiens squeeked by the Los Angeles Kings in a matinee encounter at the Staples Centre, snapping a four game losing streak.

The first period featured some spectacular saves by Carey Price and looked like the Kings would not score at all. The Habs were outshot by a large margin only managing a handful of shots while giving up fourteen. The good news is the woeful power play finally scored on a nice shot by Tomas Plekanec. The much maligned power play has quietly started a string of a modest two games in a row I believe. The penalty killing units were counted on to do yeoman service once again in the first when the Habs killed off three penalties in a row includin...

Another Setback For Andrei Markov

December 3, 2011

George Prax

8 Comments

Andrei Markov will be going under the knife yet again.

In a press conference held by Pierre Gauthier mere moments before this afternoon's game against the Los Angeles Kings, the General Manager of the Montreal Canadiens announced that the Russian defenseman had suffered yet another setback in his road to recovery, and that he will have to have yet another surgery on his right knee.

The arthroscopic surgery will be performed to scope Markov's oft-injured knee and clear it of debris that has been causing swelling. As it was speculated during the week, when Markov did not accompany the team on their trip to San Jose, the defenseman instead redirected to Los A...

Game Day: Montreal Canadiens Vs. Los Angeles Kings

December 3, 2011

Shahab Khan

1 Comment

Montreal Canadiens Vs. Los Angeles KingsStaples Center

Los Angeles, California

The Montreal Canadiens are used to playing Saturday night games in primetime. Well primetime in Los Angeles is noon and no other games are on tap for the afternoon. So once again the league has given the Habs the marquee spot.

Marquee spots are usually given to good teams, to teams who have superstars and to teams who have a chance at the Cup. The Montreal Canadiens are a team with none of those attributes.

The Los Angeles Kings, on the other hand, are ready for primetime. They have stars up front and stars on the back end. In the wildly competitive Western c...