Cornwall ON – Deja Vu last night as the Habs lost to the Flyers 5-2 and that Habs fans is what this team is facing again this year.
There is no Jaroslav Halak to stand on his head and get to the Conference finals. Heck even if Halak is here there’s no guarantee of getting past the Penguins and Caps again.
Is the team better this year over last? A tough question, but I’d have to say yes; especially with Mr. Wisniewski in the line up, but the same question marks are out there essentially.
Montreal is a fairly fast skilled team that can hurt you in open ice free style playing, but when you throw the muscle in they tend to fold.
They are missing the Dan Carcillo’s or the toughness of a Chris Pronger or Scotty Hartnell. The players on this team with some grit and sand paper don’t have the ability to play top six or even top four on D.
Heck Ottawa has a Matt Carkner and Chris Neil, but Montreal….Hal Gill? Moen? As easy as it is to pick on Pierre Gauthier or Bob Gainey from last year I realize that finding key guys isn’t easy; especially in the cap world and especially when your GM skills don’t lie in the Horse trading area. You can only over pay so much without it impacting your future. Montreal gave up a 2nd rounder last year to get Dom Moore; well PK Subban was a 2nd round draft pick.
So let’s hope last night’s 5-2 loss to the Flyers was helpful to Mr. Gauthier in assessing his team’s chances in the play offs and let’s hope he and his staff can figure this out??
Matt Darche showed he was ready to play with a goal and assist last night for Montreal and Carey Price ate the loss. (So would you deal Price for Luongo?)
Montreal was out shot all three periods for a total of 35 to 31.
3 third period goals gave Edmonton a 4-3 win over Phoenix; Minnesota doubled Chicago 4-2; TB shut out the Leafs 2-0; Buffalo 3-2 over the Sens in OT; Anaheim edged Columbus 3-2; Pittsburgh shut out the Islanders 1-0 who also suspended Mr. Nabakov who refused to report to the Island after being claimed on waivers, and the Panthers nipped the Rangers 4-3.
There’s a lot of Buzz about Washington trading Alex Semin. If I’m the Caps GM I chat, but unless someone bends over it’s not going to happen. On a local note if he does get traded I hope it’s not to Montreal because I’m just not sure he’s a Stanley Cup kinda guy.
What do you think Hockey Fans? You can post your comments below.
