Montreal Canadians

Taking The Day Off….

A quick synopsis of what happened yesterday…..

The Rangers really laid a 1st period egg against the Penguins and could never catch up…as they lost 5-3.

The Stars scored a dramatic OT win once again…Mattias Norstrom did the honors this time as the puck went in…he seemed more stunned than the San Jose Sharks….scary thought.

Datsyuk and Zetterberg dominated the shorthanded Avs again and the Wings held on for a 4-3 victory to go up 3-0 in the series as well.

Sean Avery remains hospitalized after suffering a lacerated spleen in last night’s Rangers game…he did go into Cardiac Arrest but is stable right now and on the road to recovery.

We went 2-1 yesterday…raising our record to 8-4.  So today……

Montreal over Philly 3-2 (OT)

Dallas over San Jose 3-2 (OT)

Maybe this time….it will go right for Montreal…it has to sometime…right???

I Feel Like I Just Got Kicked In The Nuts!

That is the only way I can describe last night’s game. I thought for sure Montreal would find a way to win last night’s game and then the second period came and went….my thoughts changed drastically. The goal by Scottie Upshall wasn’t so bad….it was the goal by Mike Richards that was the real dagger though the RJ Umberger goal (off yet another Price misplay) turned out to be the needed insurance. Maybe Derian Hatcher should buy Jeff Carter and Umberger dinner for the next week after his boneheaded 5:00 major nearly cost the Flyers their lead.

In the end, the final score was 3-2. Yet if you watched the game as a fan of neither team the game felt like a 5-1 Habs rout except for the fact that Martin Biron stood on his head in crunch time and Carey Price made at least 2 unforced errors that proved costly. Using tennis terms aside, the Habs are sticking by their goalie…I think a change to Jaroslav Halak would not hurt. Hey the Devils did this once in 1994 against Boston…they benched their rookie (some guy named Brodeur) for Chris Terreri and the Devils went on to win four straight. I am not saying that Halak is a cure all here. However, Halak seems to be more assertive in these puck playing situations and Price’s nonchalantness is the reason why the Habs are down 2-1 plain and simple!!

So now the Habs pretty much face a do or die Game 4…they have to bury their chances and win this one otherwise if they think the Montreal media is all over them now….just give them a few more days after another loss and boy it will be more than a frenzy. It will be downright a catastrophic nightmare that could shut down the entire city.

Prediction Time: (3 games)

NY Rangers 3  Pittsburgh 2 (OT)

Dallas 3  San Jose 2 (OT)

Detroit 4  Colorado 2

Enjoy the hockey tonight everyone…hopefully my 6-3 record gets a bit of a boost tonight.

Today’s Predictions….

I had to keep this simple for my sanity as I am stille stunned from the amazing four goal outburst from Dallas in the third period of tonight’s 5-2 win over San Jose at the HP Pavilion.  The four point period from Brad Richards was just the icing on the cake.  Any doubt now that Dallas knew what they were doing when they made that trade??  Doubts erased!!!  What is sure now is that this series may be shorter than six.  Hell, Ron Wilson may be fired sometime next week (you heard it here first).

Congrats also to the Pittsburgh Penguins who used a workmanlike effort today in their 2-0 win over the New York Rangers.  Jordan Staal scored on the Power Play then Marc-Andre Fleury may it stand up.  Adam Hall added the empty netter.  Fleury made 26 saves and several key ones in the third period to preserve the shutout…his first of his career.  I have the feeling he is going to have a few more before all is said and done in his career.  So the Rangers have been beaten in a slower game and in a faster paced game.  That isn’t what I want to see if I am Tom Renney.  Shudder to think what it could be like if Pittsburgh played at their best.  So far the Rangers have been treading water after that early 3-0 lead in Game 1….and that my friends is dangerous stuff.

So all in all…a 1-1 record today was not surprising…just the way that it happened.  Fortunately there is only one game on Monday’s docket…and that is Montreal @ Philly.  I just see Montreal and particularly Carey Price coming out with conviction and that will serve him well when this game is in its crucial stages.  Here it goes…time to let it ride!

Montreal 4  Philly 3  (OT)

I will be able to watch this all in HD and enjoy it thoroughly.  Thank you and good night!!!

Here Comes The Pain!!!

I have probably watched the movie “Snake Eyes” a few too many times but you felt the sting of the loss coming like it was fixed.  The line that the champ was supposed to go down on was “Here Comes The Pain”…and sure enough the Champ went down and the Senator gets shot and eventually dies.  There was a coverup, conspiracy, and much much more.  But for aesthetic purposes, I felt that pain when I saw RJ Umberger bat the puck away from Carey Price then shoveled it in the net to give the Flyers a 4-2 lead and a split in Montreal.  After 5 straight correct predictions…I was due for some sort of Murphy’s Law…right???  You bet your ass!!

So yes…we dropped a tough one and are now 5-1 for the second round.  However…I am undaunted and will try to redeem myself with today’s picks.  Time to take a stab at it…ready…aim…..FIRE!!!!

Pittsburgh 4  NY Rangers 3

San Jose 3  Dallas 2 (OT)

That 11am PDT start time for the Penguins game will drive me batty but I am game for it….these Game 2’s are going to be even more intense than the Game 1’s and that is just damn fine to me.  Here comes the hockey baby!!!

Starry Starry Night….

Stars take Game 1 3-2 in OT.

With just that one shot…the Dallas-San Jose series took on a different meaning. Now yes, I know San Jose dropped Game 1 at home against Calgary but memo to Sharks fans…this isn’t Calgary!! The Stars have scoring depth this year…something they have sorely needed in previous years. Marty Turco is playing solid in net very similar to last year. He kept San Jose at bay for most of the game and did enough late in the game and in overtime to set up Morrow’s heroics. The Stars have now won in 7 of their last 8 visits to the HP Pavillion Center….pretty scary stuff. Maybe they should rename their team the Dallas Sharks…just a thought.

If that wasn’t enough in the “star” department….then there was the star power in last night’s NY Rangers - Pittsburgh Penguins Game 1 clash. Jagr, Gomez, Lundqvist, Crosby, Malkin…they were all there but in the end….it was Ryan Whitney who set up Crosby for a one timer from the point…..then Evgeni Malkin got just enough of his stick on it to tip it in past Henrik Lundqvist on the Power Play and just like that the Penguins won the game 5-4 on the late PP goal with just over 100 seconds left. It capped a very weird game where both goaltenders were extremely shaky and the Rangers had a 3-0 lead early in the second period then the Penguins scored 2 strange goals in :14 to turn the game around as Jarkko Ruutu and Pascual Dupuis scored on Lundqvist who didn’t look the same afterwards.

Not that Fleury had that many bright moments either but he did just barely enough to keep his team in it when they went down 3-0. I was surprised Therrien did not make a change but he stuck with his goalie and did pay off as Marc-Andre Fleury responded. Both teams are going to look at this game and not be all that surprised at what happened. Expect an attempt especially in the first period of Game 2…where both teams try to assert themselves with more physicality and defense. The bottom line is this…whoever has the last chance may just win each game…I kid you not…it may just come down to that.

Onward to today’s predictions….and a run to the store to get some cider before the game starts…..

Montreal Over Philly 4-2

Detroit Over Colorado 4-2

Enjoy the food, beer, and hockey, and now a moment from Montreal-Philly Game 1 from a Habs fan….

Thank you RDS merci!

One Game 7 Down…2 More To Go!

This picture really does tell a 1000 words and maybe more.  Not only did Boston do nothing in its gameplan or could really execute when they had the opportunity but they let Montreal walk all over them in a Game 7 that was more like Game 1 than anything else.  Chara for some reason is a player that lives by the sword and dies by the sword.  Well he died tonight in a big, big spot once again.  For argument’s sake…here is Chara’s line from tonight’s game.

TOI: 24:04   0G 0A  -3, 0 shots and 2 Pims (that call lead to a goal)

Now is it really fair to spotlight Chara like this?  Maybe it isn’t.  The last Game 7 Chara played in was the infamous Game 7 against New Jersey….but Redden was on the ice for that gaffe and not Zdeno Chara.  However tonight was so eerie…as his game resembled Redden’s (in big spots) in so many ways.  In times when Chara needed to be passive he was aggressive and paid dearly (Mark Streit slipped past him for an easy goal that was highlight reel material all the way).  That goal was more or less the heartbreaker (that made it 2-0 Habs) but it would get worse…when Chara took a holding penalty and Montreal scored seconds after the penalty ended.  It was 3-0 and you could warm up the bus for Boston…the party was over!

Montreal would add two goals late in the third period to make the final score 5-0.  Montreal outshot the B’s 27-14 over the final two periods and yet one would think Boston would have put forth more of an effort.  However, the B’s were gassed and the final 20:00 reflected that.  It took too much effort the last two games for them to be able to sustain it for a third game in a row.  Give Boston credit…they made a series of it when no one else thought they would.  I certainly didn’t…the Montreal guys didn’t think so either.  AllHabs summed it up best…five games and a 1/3 of the sixth in purgatory then they woke up.

Maybe the Habs should send a thank you card to Zdeno Chara because Chara led the B’s to an almost certain death especially when you play a game like that on the biggest of stages.  It makes you wonder as Chara ages..he will be 31 at the start of the season…what Boston will do with him at some point.   All that money (7.5 mill a year) for a turkey of an effort when it counts has to confound even the most diehard of Boston fans this Tuesday morning.

And now for the twist…I really expected only one Game 7 tomorrow between the Sharks and Flames so what does Washington do?  They go all Ovechkin in the third period and now there are two Game 7’s….who would have thought it?  Not me!  So now with our 28-18 record….we get 2 more chances to add to our first round record.  So let’s go for it…what the hell!!!!

Washington 3  Philadelphia 1

San Jose 3  Calgary 2

Now for goats and studs…here goes…..

Goats: Derian Hatcher, Dion Phaneuf

Studs: Joe Thornton, Alexander Ovechkin

Enjoy the two Game 7’s!!!  I know I will.

Deja Vu With A Twist….

Well Bob Gainey….you reap what you sow.  You wanted Carey Price, a rookie, to be your goalie that would lead you to postseason glory…well now you are in a Game 7.  Should you be there?  NO!  Is all the blame on Price?  Most certainly not.  But very suddenly, the Montreal Canadiens look more like an 8th seeded team than the tops of the Eastern Conference…all in just two games.

The reality of it all is this….Montreal let Boston hang around and hang around.  Other than Game 1, Montreal has shown bits and pieces of dominating but has not put it together for whatever reason.  Now Boston has one shot to redeem a season full of losses against Montreal, thereby dealing the Habs the biggest loss of all…the very same comeback from a 3-1 deficit.  Wow would that sting Montreal right in the gonads!

What does Boston have to do?  Simple…stay close till the third period in Game 7.  If Boston can hang in there…they should be able to capitalize on the nerves of Carey Price which was something I didn’t expect to see against Boston of all teams.  Look Tim Thomas may not be the most consistent goalie but he is doing enough and playing hard to keep his team in the game and that kind of effort is needed for the seventh game.

There is a bit of a parallel here..and not just with the Game 5 scores from 2004 and this year…but rookie goalie with stellar season going against a grizzled vet.  Yes Theodore was a hell of a goalie and has made quite the comeback with Colorado this year but there’s no question Raycroft’s nerves got the best of him and that is what Boston is now counting on with Price.  Can Montreal as a team help Price get over his third period nerves?  No one is really sure until the third period of Game 7 hits.  One thing is for sure don’t turn this game off after two periods or you will miss out.  For more on it…head on over to The NHL Arena….because everyone is talking about it.

Now…a playoff predictor update…thanks to Montreal’s unexpected loss yesterday or expected if you were a Boston fan…we went 2-1 for a second day in a row raising our record to a so-so 24-17.  Let’s get to today’s three predictions before the Wings-Preds game starts for crying out loud!!

Detroit over Nashville 3-2 (OT)

Dallas over Anaheim 3-1

Calgary over San Jose 3-2

Enjoy the hockey everyone and by the end of the week…the second round will be upon us.

Playoff Predictor Update…Day 4

Well let’s see…how did we do yesterday??

Not too bad honestly….a robust 3-1 with only the hometown Devils losing 2-1 to the Rangers.  So that gives us a pretty decent 8-4 record heading into today’s action.  Here is what I got for today.

Detroit over Nashville 3-2

Montreal over Boston 4-1

Dallas over Anaheim 2-1 (OT)

The Detroit game is on in just a couple hours.  Nashville didn’t play a bad Game 1…they just didn’t execute well enough when it counted.  The goaltending was there but the offense was a little lacking.  I think they may have a little more teeth in this game but Detroit is more determined to go up 2-0 in this series.

Then there is Montreal who had one of the most ho-hum 4-1 wins you will ever see.  I am expecting another one tonight as really Montreal has Tim Thomas’ number.  The Habs are too fast and have ample defensemen who can shoot the puck from everywhere.  Thomas will have to be lights out to keep the game close as really the Bruins had immense trouble keeping up.  Boston has to slow the game down and clog everything then hope for a couple lucky breaks.  I just don’t see it happening tonight.

Finally there are the Stars and the Ducks.  Did the Stars expose something in Anaheim’s penalty killing strategy or was this just a one game fluke?  Yes all four goals Dallas scored on Thursday night were on the Power Play.  At least three of them were scored just about the same way….maybe someone should put a hat on Brad Richards because man…can he find an open player on the man advantage just about better than anyone I know.  I expect a much tighter game tonight but the same result.  I think the Ducks may turn this around in Dallas.

It will be interesting to see what happens…that’s for sure.   One thing I do know is expect the unexpected.  Enjoy the hockey everyone!!

Eastern Conference Previews….Hot Off The Presses…

Tomorrow it begins at last. After six months of jockeying for position….we are at the doorstep of hockey’s second season….where it all counts now. There are sixteen teams but only one can be Stanley Cup Champion. It is time to do some previews and predictions.

#1 Montreal Canadiens VS. #8 Boston Bruins

Forgive us for no fancy logos and gimmicks here….but this is just nuts and bolts preview and prediction here on Fanboom. The Habs beat the Bruins all eight times this season and some of the games were downright ugly. If that was not a daunting enough task for the Bruins….the first three games are played over a span of four nights. That will take a lot out of a team that is trying to stop a very speedy Habs team. This will be a goaltending battle as Tim Thomas goes up against the rookie Carey Price. I still give the nod to Price as he has been more consistent this season. Thomas can be spectacular but he can be also downright lethargic and cold at times. I see a resolve in Price that will serve him well in the second season. Montreal has more scorers in the lineup with Higgins, Kovalev, and Plekanec. They also led the league in defensive scoring with guys like Mark Streit and Andrei Markov. Boston counters with a solid defensive system and guys like Glen Murray and Chuck Kobasew. They also have some d-men that can score like Dennis Wideman and Zdeno Chara. But will Chara’s lack of foot speed hurt him in this series? That is one key.

The other key is injuries.

Key Injuries: Bos — Patrice Bergeron (concussion) Marc Savard (Back) Saku Koivu (foot)

Predictions: Sure not having Koivu will hurt some for the Habs but this team is on a roll. I can’t see Montreal slowing down…if anything they will play better in honor of him. Thomas will have to steal this series like Cujo did against Dallas in 98. Honestly I do not see that happening.

Habs in 5.

#2: Pittsburgh Penguins VS. #7 Ottawa Senators

This is probably the matchup the Pens wanted. Since last year they were ousted by Ottawa in 5 games as Ottawa went on to the Stanley Cup Finals before losing to Anaheim. People forget Ottawa only lost once in regulation over the first 15 games then everything went South in the new year…and they almost ended up falling out of the postseason entirely before holding on for 7th in the East. They know what is coming from Sidney Crosby and company. Pittsburgh finished with 102 points but took it easy on Sunday when they lost to Philly 2-0. They could have nabbed the #1 seed and some question the motivation but what can you do. Crosby, Malkin, Hossa, and company provide a unique skill set that will give Ottawa fits all series long. Ottawa had a very tough time with Montreal and Pittsburgh can play very similar to that style.

Key Injuries: PIT: No Major Injuries. OTT: Daniel Alfredsson (knee) Mike Fisher (knee) Chris Kelly (leg)

Predictions: This is a hard series to call depending on which Ottawa teams shows up. Ottawa has to play fast and hard…and not worry about Pittsburgh scoring because Pittsburgh is going to get their goals…Ottawa is just going to have to get more. There will be a few crooked numbers in this series but the key for Ottawa will be to get their confidence back. If they don’t, Pittsburgh is going to make very very short work of the Sens and that is kind of what I see happening…though the games will be tight.

Pens in 5.

#3: Washington Capitals VS. #6: Philadelphia Flyers

This is like an old time Patrick Division slobberknocker. They haven’t been in the same division for awhile but management from both teams I am sure remembers those days well. The Capitals come in on fire going 10-1-1 in their last 12 while Philly kind of just held on and won their last two by shutout to get in as the 6 seed. Washington is young and youthful and is riding a hot Cristobal Huet in net while the Flyers have Jeff Carter, Mike Richards, and a more than able Martin Biron (thankfully there is no shootouts in the playoffs). This has the makings of being a surprisingly good matchup. The physical nature of this series will be in ample display. These two teams do not like each other and with Donald Brashear on the ice…expect it to continue.

Key Injuries: PHI — Daniel Briere (lower body), Simon Gagne (Concussion), Derian Hatcher (leg), and Sami Kapanen (flu, neck). Was — No key injuries

Predictions: This series doesn’t start till Friday so a key could be who comes out faster. The Caps will get helped by the home crowd but Philly will need to play like it did Sunday against Pittsburgh. They have to stay disciplined or they will be eaten alive by Ovechkin and Backstrom. Cristobal Huet will be difference in this series and though it will be close and Philly may even steal a couple games along the way. The Caps should move on to the second round despite a potential big series from Vaclav Prospal.

Caps in 6.

#4: New Jersey Devils VS. #5 New York Rangers

Throw the records out the window and let the bodies hit the floor!! Yes the Devils only won once in the season series but the last one may mean more to the Devils than anyone else could know. The Devils know they can beat the Rangers but they are also now aware that they need to improve on their second period play. For some reason that has buried them and their inability to hold leads of late. Brodeur Vs. Lundqvist figures to be a stonewall marquis matchup that will live up to all the accolades and hype. The Rangers have stopped Elias and Parise for the most part all season and the Devils have stopped Jagr for most of the season series…he did get one goal in Sunday’s game. This is going to come down to who really wants it more…they are evenly matched with the Devils having a bit of a 5 on 5 advantage and special teams is the Rangers forte.

Key Injuries: None to really speak of.

Predictions: I have been going back and forth on this since Sunday. The series is going to be very close and I expect some OT and double OT games thrown in for good measure. This will be physical, there will be blood no question. Can the Devils break out on the Power Play? They did in 2006 and I still think Lundqvist remembers that well. Jagr’s line has to score some and Gomez and Drury have to be especially big (maybe on a line with Dawes) to win this. The Devils line of Rupp-Clarkson-Zubrus needs to be a huge presence early. The games and the series will go back and forth like a yo-yo but in the end I do think Martin Brodeur has just enough in the tank to steal the show in a game 7 that will feel like it was on ESPN Classic.

Devils in 7.

Later on we will do some quick western conference predictions….thanks to the wife for her expertise on the western conference teams. But for now, enjoy the day off. Tomorrow will come fast enough!

Decision Day Part One

Yes it is only Thursday but tonight’s action will go a long way of determining who gets in and who stays home come April 7th. There are still so many scenarios but I believe tonight should start to bring this whole thing into focus just a bit more. First up, the poor teams that are battling for their playoff lives. You can hear the paddles going off in the back of the ambulance right now.

First up is Buffalo who plays at Montreal tonight. Montreal has the #2 seed clinched but they are playing for tops in the East right now….so every game counts. A win for the Habs tonight outright eliminates Buffalo and keeps the Habs tied with Pittsburgh. Even worse for the Sabres…last night’s questionable point (the Zubrus goal that was in but Toronto somehow could not see it) by Boston puts Buffalo’s postseason hopes in the hands of the Tampa Bay Lightning of all teams. Yes, the same Lightning that got blown out in Carolina 6-2 last night travel to Washington tonight to face the Washington Capitals. Basically if the Caps win…Buffalo’s hopes are almost over and done because Washington will have 92 points and the at the time be tied for 6th (if Ottawa loses in regulation). All those shootout and OT losses (12 total) will indeed have come back to haunt the Sabres. Needless to say, Ryan Miller will not be sending Martin Brodeur a gift basket at the end of the year.  I said almost for this reason.*

There is even a possibility that the West could be all sewn up except for seeding by tonight. Chicago Blackhawk fans will be doing extensive scoreboard watching in Vancouver and Nashville. The Canucks host the Edmonton Oilers and Nashville hosts the St. Louis Blues. With Hannu Toivonen (Legace out with hip flexor injury) getting the start for St. Louis….Nashville fans are probably drooling already (Hannu gave up 4 goals on 18 shots the last time out against the Preds). A Nashville win and Vancouver loss in regulation eliminates both Vancouver and Chicago all in one shot. A Nashville loss or even a loss in extra time leaves the door open for both Vancouver and Chicago. There are so many permutations that you may need a scientific calculator and a professor from M.I.T. for this one.

Now for the other teams that could clinch. Simply…the Rangers and Senators can win and they are in. The Rangers have two cracks against the Isles (tonight and tomorrow night). The Sens play at Toronto and Toronto is without Mats Sundin (groin tear). The Rangers could even lose both in extra time and be in with 95 points total. Minnesota simply needs a point and they win the Northwest and the 3 seed. Calgary just needs a point to make the playoffs. Detroit just needs a point at home against Columbus tonight to win not only the West but the overall #1 seed in the league or a Sharks loss (whether it be in OT, SO or regulation don’t matter).

Tonight will go in a big way to tell the playoff fates of more teams…now seeding is a different matter entirely. I did want to thank ESPN for their concise tiebreaking procedures on their page. Now of course they are all chasing one thing and that is the only thing that ultimately matters. There is that nice, shiny, silver thing called the Stanley Cup.

Thank You Wikipedia for the pic.

So with ten big games tonight….may the DVR’s work some OT and so may your eyes as the regular season comes firing all guns a blazing to the end. The end is definitely very near…and for some more near than they hope.

* Editor’s Note:  Thanks to my friend Andrew from The NHL Arena.  If Washington wins tonight, that doesn’t eliminate the Sabres. Buffalo can jump Philly into 9th, and then jump Boston for 8th based on the THIRD tiebreak. They would be tied in wins, tied in head to head record (4-2-2), but Buffalo would actually win the tiebreak based on goal differential.

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