Les Miserables

I could spit adjectives, throw in a few f bombs, even throw in a tabernac...Last nights Habs performance against the Leafs, was by far their worst showing thus far this year. The Habs played with no emotion, there was no desire to win, they seemed unprepared, and what's worse they seemed not all that concerned.

This should have been a game for the taking, the Leafs were down their captain and best player, Mats Sundin, the were also playing sans starting netminder Andrew Raycroft. Sure the Habs have injury issues themselves, the lose of leading scorer, and best all around player Chris Higgins, is a kick in the pants. But, but the Habs were a no show lastnight.

So what went wrong??? Aside from the fact, that the Habs were listless, and seemed disinterested. I will start with discipline. How can a team, that does not play a physical game, be the second most penalized team in the league??? The Habs game, when successful, is speed driven, they should be drawing penalties not getting them. Sure the Habs have the best p.k. in the league, practice makes perfect right??? But, to continually be behind the 8 ball, to limit the ice time of the skilled keys, simply because the same 8 guys are on the ice for 60% of the game, is not a formula for success. I have no problem, with tough, physical hockey, I would love nothing more then to see my Habs, smashing guys all over the ice. This is however, not how the Habs are getting their penalties. They had 2 delay of the game penalties, both Souray, and Markov, shot the puck over the boards in their own end (worst penalty on the books in my opinion), the rest of the penalties were lazy penalties, hooking, tripping, or interference. Time for some hard practice, time for the coaching staff to bust some heads, work on fundamentals, punish laziness, there is now reason that the Habs should be the second most penalized team in the league.

So, the Habs are on the road, for the next 3 games, the play the Sens, then 2 games in Florida, this trip is important. Road trips can act as team building experiences. This team needs an identity, they need to develop a style of play. Time for coach Carbo to coach.

3 stars of the week: I have been in Ottawa for the last couple of weeks, so I really haven't watched my boys, that said, here it goes. 1) Lats, yep Lats, why? Well because he has scored his first goal of the year, and had a pretty assist lastnight. 2) Huet, nice to see this guy start to get his game back, earn his raise. 3) ummm Saku, because he is Saku, I guess.

Joe's doghouse: Janne Niniimma, yep, I was warned, and well he hasn't impressed. Kovi, this guy has earned permanent status here, sure his line had a couple of good scoring chances last night, but he has played so uninspired that, I just wanna shake him. Downey/Murray, the fourth line, has been useless, I'd give them a free pass if the were hitting, but they aren't even doing that.....Crap.