Montreal Canadiens

Brian Gionta out indefinitely with broken foot

November 18, 2009

The Montreal Canadiens didn't have much time to celebrate their squeaker of a victory against the Carolina Hurricanes. News out of the organization today is that highly paid right winger, Brian Gionta, and one of Bob Gainey's major acquisitions this past offseason, is out indefinitely with a broken foot. There is no word yet on how long Gionta will be sidelined for, but one has to expect 4 to 6 weeks to be an appropriate timeline, but it all depends on which bone in his foot was broken. Ilya Kovalchuk's broken bone was in a non-weight bearing bone, and he was able to come back fairly quickly. On the other hand, Daniel Sedin has already missed close to six weeks, and while he is probab...

Habs host Dismal Canes; 20 game mark review

November 17, 2009

George Prax

11 Comments

The question of the day for Montreal Canadiens fans: Is it time to panic? Most experts say that the 20 game mark is around the time when teams start to evaluate themselves, their performances to start the season, and where they see themselves going forward. The Montreal Canadiens reached that 20 game mark on Saturday night in Nashville, and needless to say, they reached it with an exclamation point. In the 2-0 shutout, they let Carey Price face 55 shots (Price tied a franchise record with 53 saves), respondinng only with 20, half of which came in the 3rd period. The team mailed it in early in the first (as evidenced by the 24 shots they let up), and took some stupid penalties in th...

Montreal Canadiens at the 2010 Olympics

November 16, 2009

George Prax

2 Comments

Something a little different from my normal game previews to pass the time on this Monday... And while we could talk about this team's deficiencies that lead to the embarrassing 2-0 loss to the Nashville Predators that we witnessed Saturday night, the fans could probably use a distraction of sorts. While I'll have more on that tomorrow, it may be time to start wondering about what this team can do and about what Bob Gainey can do to make the team better. Clearly, they're having issues with scoring, and clearly, they're having issues defensively. Granted, they're excused to some degree because of all their injuries, but there's a limit to how many excuses you can make for this team. Ev...

Habs vs. Preds Update: Gionta Injured, Latendresse Back In.

November 14, 2009

George Prax

4 Comments

It seems as though Jacques Martin has finally had enough of struggling forward Guillaume Latendresse, as the young French Canadian player will be watching tonight's game against the Nashville Predators from the Pressbox. To say that the French Canadian player has underperformed this season is an understatement, as Latendresse has put up but 2 goals and 1 assist in 19 games, with a -4 rating. He's only seen an average of 12 minutes a game this year, and while no one can really expect too much of him playing minimal minutes mostly on a 3rd line, two goals from the player many have categorized as a power forward and a goalscorer, well it simply isn't enough. On pace for a ridiculously lo...

Game 19 Preview: Habs visit another surprising Western Conference team in Phoenix

November 12, 2009

George Prax

2 Comments

The Canadiens roll into Glendale, Arizona tonight for a late game against the surprising Phoenix Coyotes. Habs fans are going to have to stay up a little late in order to watch the Canadiens in action tonight, and while many of us are probably going to be tired, let's hope the Canadiens are a little more lively than their fanbase is going to be when they hit the ice tonight, at 9PM.

We could go on and on about the Habs' problems on and off the ice. And let's face it, the problems are many, and one blog probably isn't enough to name them all. The solution, however, isn't as complex. If the Canadiens want to leave Arizona winners tonight, they're...

Hapless Habs fall to Flames, slumping offensively

November 11, 2009

Fred Poulin

5 Comments

Yesterday, the Montreal Canadiens were blanked for the first time of the season 1-0 by the Calgary Flames at Bell Centre. Jarome Iginla scored the only goal on the night and Miika Kiprusoff made 25 easy saves to earn his 10th win of the season. Jaroslav Halak was good and made 30 saves in the loss.

The Canadiens have now scored only two-goals in regulation in their past three games. They site currently 11th in the Eastern Conference with only 16 points in 18 games. One point behind, the NY Islanders!
They rank 27th offensively with a 2.28 GPA, their power play continue to sputter being blanked once again against Calgary yesterday.

Jacques Martin has tri...

Goaltending controv--- oh, wait, there's a game tonight?

November 10, 2009

George Prax

6 Comments

Tonight, the Canadiens welcome the Calgary Flames to the Bell Centre for the second of only two games between the two teams this season. In the third game of the season for the Canadiens, they visited the Flames in Calgary in the first game of a Western Conference road trip, and fell 4-3 with Jaroslav Halak getting his first start of the season.

Tonight, no one is really certain who's going to be starting for the Canadiens between the pipes. Price was brilliant last Thursday in Boston, essentially stealing the game in a 2-1 shootout victory over the Bruins. And while he can't be faulted for the team in front of him only getting one goal on Saturday night, at l...

A few questions for Allan Walsh

November 9, 2009

George Prax

3 Comments

By now, most of you know about the ''controversy'' that was stirred up this weekend after the Canadiens 3-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. But for those who live under a rock, let's recount what happened that led to what many are calling a ''goaltending controversy'' (even though I've been calling it that since the beginning of the season):

Mere minutes after the buzzer sounded to end Saturday night's game, Allan Walsh, NHL player agent that represents, among others, Ondrej Pavelec, Patrick Elias, David Perron, and Pascal Dupuis, published the following on his twitter account:

"Interesting stat of the night.... #Habs' Price is ...

Game 17 preview: Goaltending Controversy? What goaltending controversy!? (part 2)

November 7, 2009

George Prax

1 Comment

So, Thursday's game preview against the Bruins certainly sparked an interesting debate, at least once it was announced that Carey Price would be getting his second start in as many games (after tonight, that number will grow to three games).

You'd think that most people wouldn't have a problem with a highly touted, very young goalie who has been slated to lead this team into the future getting a few starts early in the season. But apparently, being the back-up goaltender in this city and winning a few games as such creates goaltending controversies.

I know, I know, we're not supposed to be throwing that term around after everything ...

Montreal Canadiens claim Jay Leach off re-entry waivers from Devils

November 6, 2009

Fred Poulin

3 Comments

Jay Leach, a 6'4'', 200 lb, defenseman, played 24 games last season with the New Jersey Devils, notching one assist and recording 21 PIM.

The 30 year-old Leach was drafted in the 5th round (115th overall) of the 1998 NHL draft by the Phoenix Coyotes.

Leach plays a gritty and physical game, something lacking in Montreal with the injuries to towering defensemen Ryan O'Byrne and Hall Gill.

Leach will join the Canadiens in Montreal. He was playing in Lowell, the AHL affiliate of the Devils.

Also, Alex Henry was removed from IR and placed on waivers to go to Hamilton as the new captain of the Bulldogs.