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Hey, I will be posting weekly articles about the Habs in
this section. I try to get the facts as right and good as I can, and add my thoughts to the whole situation. If your a Habs
fan like I am, I hope ya enjoy!... lol... yea whatever... jus read it anywayz!!!!
UPDATE!!! "Habs Weekly" will
be discontinues until further notice! sorry.
Friday, October 31st, 2003
Hey, sorry, I am unable to get a full article out this
week, I have had very little time. I will however give you the results and some stats of the games montreal played, even though
there is not actually much to give.
The Canadiens started the week against the Ottawa Senators looking for revenge,
but, found none. They lost 6-2. Souray got both goals for the Habs.
In their next game, against the Philidalia Flyers,
they were haunted by ex-Hab Leclaire, who picked up a goal and an assist in his season debut with the Flyers after returning
from an injury. The Canadiens were shut out in this one 5-0.
Things didn't get better from there. Montreal opted to
play Garon in nets in place of Theodore who had let in 11 goals in 2 games. Garon played well, but the Habs once again could
not score, and the were downed by Boston 2-0.
In their next game, also against the Boston Bruins, they couldn't put
up a goal in the first 60 minutes. The thing was though, is that Jose Theodore didn't let Boston get one either. So the game
went into overtime. Andrei Markov knocked the puck out of Joe Thorton's possetion, and Joe Juneau got control and passed the
defenceman to have the puck slide in between Potvin's legs for the game winning overtime goal.
With this Montreal
now plays the New York Rangers on Saturday. I'll have more on that as well as the other games they will be playing, in next
weeks article!
Saturday, October 25th 2003.
This week started pretty slow for the Habs. Saturday the
18th of October, Montreal loss a very close game, 1-0 against The Leafs, who had to make up for the 4-0 loss to
the Canadiens they had last week. Ed Belfour was solid, and so was Theodore. The goal Toronto scored was on the power play,
but still managed to only go 1 for 7 with the extra man. Jason Wards stick was all over the place! Breaking Darcy Tuckers
tooth, and knocking out Richard Jackmans tooth (who had the only goal of the game). He also managed to trip up Owen Nolan
a couple of times.
Claude Julien has struck gold with his first season start
as the Canadiens head coach. He coached the end of the season for the Habs, but could never get things going the way he wanted
to. This year, he has made it clear that the Montreal Canadiens are going to be playing a very defensive roll and the teams
is responding.
The Habs played the Detroit Red Wings Monday the 20th
of October. They won the game 2-1, getting goals from new comers Steve Begin scored the first one, and then Richard Zednik
got his second of the season. They gave up a short-handed goal, but shut the door after that. The surprising thing about all
this, is that Mathieu Garon played in nets for the Canadiens in this game. He made a stellar performance, by keeping the Wings
unable to tie the game at 2 in the third period.
Once again I look at the defensive styled Canadiens. Heres
an interesting fact, they have not let in a goal in the third period yet this season. Proving that they can certainly shut
the door and be patient enough to not let the other team make a come back. Of course, it is still early in the season, and
this statistic is sure to change. After the game against Detroit, the Habs have not let the opposition score more than 1 goal
in its last 5 games. The only time the Canadiens looked terrible all year was the 5-2 loss against the Ottawa Senators.
Theodore showed he is definitely in fantastic shape in the
3-0 shutout win for the Canadiens over the New York Islanders Thursday night. No-way-Jose once again shut the door on all
34 shots he faced, including 17 in the third period. Perreault got his 4th of the year, while Hossa got his first
off a perfect pass from Ribeiro who was behind the net. In the third, Dackell picked up his second of the season.
This win put the Habs up in 2nd place of the Eastern
Conference, second only to the Atlanta Thrashers who are having a great start this season. The Canadiens host the Ottawa Senators
Saturday night, and, look to get vengeance after their 5-2 season opener to the Sens.
The Habs will have their Captain back in uniform. It will
be Koivus first game of the regular season after injuring his knee in a preseason win. With how well the Canadiens have already
been playing without him, it will be interesting to see what they will be able to do now.
Stay tuned to find out next week!
Friday, October 17th, 2003
Well, the Montreal Canadiens were tested early, and, seam
to be working on things. After a terrible 5-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators (which I choose not to talk any more about), they
rebounded to not only defeat, but also shut out the Toronto Maple Leafs. Theodore shut the door he left open in the Ottawa
game, to show he might have truly regained the shape he was in 2 years ago when he won the Hart Memorial and Vezina Trophies.
From what I saw in the Ottawa game, the goals that went in
on Jose, were mostly deflections that no goalie would have any chance on. Still, Theodore I doubt was happy with his performance
and, showed he could do a better job in the Toronto game. Also, it wouldnt surprise me if I heard he had some words with his
defensemen, asking them to get themselves and the oppositions players out of his face. As long as Theodore can see the shot,
he can stop it.
WHOA! Michael Ryder, where did they get this kid? The guy
is all over the place!
Canada, thats where. St. Johns Newfoundland to be exact.
He comes in at about 6 feet, and 1 inch, with a frame weighing 195 pounds. He can play center or the wing, and now proves
he can score some goals, besides his already known skill of being a good checking line forward. His first NHL goal, coming
in his second game, was the icing on the cake for the win over the Toronto Maple Leafs making the game 4-0. Im anxious to
see what else this kid can do! Play goal maybe?
The Habs continued their winning when they faced the Washington
Capitals Tuesday night, and, beat them 5-1. Yanic Perrault scored 2, and got an assist. He had a strong game, and his success
spread on once again to the young Mikael Ryder who picked up 2 assists. Donald Audette, Andreas Dackell, and Stephane Quintal
all got their first goals of the season as well on this night. It was the home opener for the Canadiens, and the fans enjoyed
a great show.
On another note, the words Bob Gainey spoke to media a couple
weeks ago after fans at the Bell Center booed Patrice Brisebois, and stated that the team doesnt need those fans there. When
Brisebois was introduced to the crowd Tuesday night, he had close to a standing ovation. Despite the confidence booster for
Brisebois, he still made some bone-headed mistakes.
In a game against Pittsburgh, Montreal showed they have what
it takes to score many goals, every game, along with some very tight defense holding the opposition to only a little amount
of shots, and, not many goals. Montreal beat Pittsburgh, and held Lemieux to only one assist in this 4-1 win. Montreal was
outstanding on the power play, going 3 for 4.
Montreal would now be the highest scoring team in the league,
with 15 goals, for Friday the 17th of October. And with many goals, comes many points for some players. Andrei
Markov has a goal and 4 assists, while, in the game for Mike Ribiero, he picked up a goal and 2 assists, brining his point
total to 5.
The young players for the Habs have been stepping up, and
proving they wish to play many more games this season, and if they keep bringing it, and I was Bob Gainey, I would have no
problem keeping them playing as much as they can. I am anxious to see how well they do in the future, and how much better
they can get.
Toronto is in town on Saturday, and, you can be sure they
will want some revenge for the 4-0 loss they took against the Montreal Canadiens last week. If Montreal can beat Toronto,
yet again, we might be witnessing the beginning of a very good year, maybe even a way into the playoffs, or who knows A Stanley
Cup maybe? Well, maybe Im pushing it but hey, every Habs fan will only accept the best!
Knocking on wood
Tuesday October 7th, 2003.
Well, with the season start for the Montreal Canadiens nearing
closer and closer, there are many questions to who will be ready to play. There have already been injuries, to what could
be foreshadowing another injury plagued season for the Canadiens.
It starts with Chad Kilger. One of the Canadiens stronger
Forwards who, never gives up, and, can proved he can score some important goals last year. He was hit in the eye by one of
his own players sticks, thus, breaking his orbital bone, and, causing much blood to be loss. At first doctors were not certain
if he would even see again in that eye, but, he has been recovering quickly, and showed he is the true warrior off the ice,
that he is on the ice. Not only will he retain vision in his eye, but also, he will be skating with the team in practices
shortly to see if he is near game-ready.
Does Saku Koivu have bad luck or what? After coming
off a returning season after suffering from Cancer in his abdomen, where he played all 82 games, and had one of his most productive
seasons of his career, he is now once again, sidelined. Although, the injury is not as serious, he was still scheduled to
miss about 3-4 weeks, but expects to be back for one of the few first season games Montreal will play. He has already begun
doing some late skating with the team.
For off-season acquisitions, there werent too many big ones.
Montreal picked up winger Pierre Dagenais, goaltender Jean-Francois Damphousse, as well as forwards Steve Begin and Darren
Langdon. Bob Gainey also bought out the contracts of Randy McKay, and Mariusz Czerkawski, which were very unproductive last
year.
A couple questions are soon to be answered:
Can Jose Theodore come back from last years horrific show?
As well as not let personal matters become a factor in his game?
Will Saku Koivu stay healthy for the rest of the Season?
50 goals for Richard Zednik?
What will happen with Patrice Brisebois?
Stay tuned for more news on the Montreal Canadiens in the
weeks to follow
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