Jacques Martin’s team managed to do something that they haven’t been doing a whole lot of this season… outshoot their opponents. However, the final shot count was as close as you can get. The Habs edged the Panthers 39-38 in shots.

Jaroslav Halak was the game’s first star as he stopped all 38 of Florida’s shots facing off against former Habs pick Tomas Vokoun who was named the game’s 2nd star.

I certainly wasn’t on the edge of my seat watching the game and to be honest I’m surprised at the high shot totals. Maybe it was just me… but I didn’t find it was a spectacular game.

Certainly a bright spot for me has been Benoit Pouliot. His first couple of games I was sure exactly what he would have to bring or how he would fit in with his current linemates Brian Gionta and Scott Gomez. But he’s been picking it up. He scored the winning goal last night, his first on home ice in Montreal.

Something that I’ve noticed is that Pouliot does go to the net. And he’s been doing it enough that I have actually noticed it. Latendresse, whom Pouliot was traded for often spoke about playing in front of the net but more often than not I’d notice he wouldn’t play there!

Pouliot was drafted high because he’s a highly skilled player. He’s got speed and great hands.

In Minnesota the Wild seem to be getting some good hockey out of Latendresse so this trade will hopefully be one of those that gives new life to both guys.

Here are the game highlights from the Montreal Canadiens vs the Atlanta Thrashers played on December 21th 2009…. but first some comments.

The Canadiens won the game 4-3 in Overtime (which was predicted with little time to play in the 3rd on Twitter by Arpon Basu). It wasn’t the prettiest of games. Montreal were again outshot by a very large margin. Overall team defensive play has to be improved to cut down on the shots that make it to either Jaroslav Halak or Carey Price.

You can’t expect to win very many games in the NHL if your opponent is in your zone firing rubber at your goaltender most of the evening. Although I will say that in the case of the Montreal Canadiens at least Jacques Martin has 2 very capable young goalies to rely upon. But they won’t steal every game.

Jaroslav Halak was, in the end, left to face 53 shots (that made it through to him) stopping 50 of them. Is that not scary? If I was coaching this team that would be one of the most frightening numbers that I would have to face…. never mind they somehow won the game. The last several years the Montreal Canadiens were outshot alot and though this year it seemed that it was getting a bit better early on it’s pretty much back to where it was in terms of these shot totals.

Nik Antropov was around Halak’s net last night and was effective for the Thrashers. He had 2 goals. It’s something the Thrashers did in an earlier game too…. if you can put big bodies in front of the net and throw the puck out there… good things happen.

Hope the Habs adopt that style a bit more at some point…..

One of the bright spots this year has been Tomas Plekanec. Last night he fired a terrific shot to score Montreal’s first goal and then he assisted on the next 3 Habs goals to finish the game with 4 points! Plekanec now has 40 points on the year in 38 games played. That ties Tomas with Zach Parise, Nicklas Backstrom, Brad Richards and Martin St Louis…. tied for 6th in the league in points.

VERY good Tomas!

Marc-André Bergeron scored 2 goals last night. At times Bergeron is a defensive liability. He gets pushed off the puck when he’s on defense and sometimes looks like he struggles to move the puck up to his forwards out of Montreal’s defensive zone.

But put Bergeron on the point on the PowerPlay… or have him join the rush… and he’s been pretty effective. He seems to move the puck much better while entering or while in the offensive zone. And he’s got one heck of a shot.

Bergeron scored the overtime winner last night and it was really a beautiful goal.

Finally… I’m sure mostly everyone has notice Andrei Markov is back in the lineup which is truely one of the best Christmas gifts the Canadiens could have received. Andrei looked rusty in his first game back… for about 2 shifts. Since then he’s looked pretty good. Markov has looked really good moving the puck… Bergeron’s frist goal last night came off the quick puck moving of Tomas Plekanec and Andrei Markov. Just beautiful to watch.

And now… the highlights and stats!

You can also find the game stats here:

Game Summary

Event Summary

Facoffs Report

Full play by play

TOI Thrashers

TOI Canadiens

Roster Report

Shot Report

Listening to some stuff going on you’d swear it was February and the team was looking like they were going to miss the playoffs.

Not sure why but it almost seems to me that expectation is always so high. When the “new” guys were being signed, I didn’t expect a whole lot to happen during those days… but I must admit that after the summer was over I did feel a certain optimism. There were new players with both offensive and defensive skill.

Going into tonight the Canadiens have lost 5 straight and perhaps it feels a little worse because they started out with 2 wins in a row.

But let me ask a couple of questions…

Who among you thought they would be at 6-1 at this point??

Who among you thought they would be at 5-2 at this point??

Who among you thought they would be at 4-3 at this point??

Did anyone believe they would have won them all??? Really??

We’re only 7 games into this new season. And we’re talking about a team who haven’t just been re-tooled when it comes to the players on the roster, but the coaching staff has also undergone a facelift.

For me, this means that the familiarity that the players returning would have felt has also (pretty much) been taken away.

We’re really looking at an organization that has experienced change as few have.

I, for one, am not feeling panic at all and I’m certainly not going to throw criticism at Mr Gainey 7 games into a season where there have been so many changes. There was consensus among many that with the changes made, the team did get younger and are set up with a core group of guys for a few years to come. Gainey did display good strategy in changing the players on his roster.

However good or bad these players come together in the next 10 games is really anyone’s guess.

Are you feeling really stressed about this Habs team and the fact they are 2-5?

Well, if you are, I assure you that all is not lost and there is no need for widespread panic. At least, there is no need if you want to stay level headed. If you feel like freaking out, then by all means, be my guest.

Sure, I’d love to see the Habs win every game. But that doesn’t happen. I’d love to see them have a great team every year, month, week…. but that doesn’t happen either.

I’m concerned at this point.

But it’s important to note that the season has just begun and it’s a normal occurance that a team comes out of the gates slowly. For a variety of reasons, this happens.

This is not a straight comparison but it’s to be looked at through the context of an NHL season. The Penguins were 3 points out of a playoff spot last season after 57 games! Anyone remember that??

The Habs are NOT the penguins. But an NHL season is 82 games, not 7.

As many of us were expecting a swift call up of newly acquired Marc-Andre Bergeron it seems as though the Habs feel he needs more time to get it going.

Shawn Belle was called up yesterday to round out the defense as Yannick Weber had been sent down.

Some might not like this move but I don’t mind it at all.

Belle doesn’t have much more experience then Weber has in the NHL, he has played 9 games total and that’s 3 more then Weber.

But Belle isn’t  the same type of player as Weber. Belle is more of a stay at home defensemen and is much bigger and stronger then Weber. What he may be able to provide Jacques Martin is more solid play in front of his goaltender. Belle will add some muscle out there and although we’re badly missing Andrei Markov’s offense we’re also missing the grit that Ryan O’Byrne was showing.

Belle will add some of that defensive grit.

I don’t expect that Belle will have a long stay in Montreal unless (God forbid) there’s another injury on defense. I fully expect that Marc-Andre Bergeron will be in Montreal sooner then later BUT as this season is looking like it will potentially be a long one, if Shawn Belle plays good sound defense for Jacques Martin it may not be the last time we see him this season.

Jacques Martin had given young players a fair shot back in his Ottawa days, he and Perry Pearn may be able to use a guy like Belle effectively.

So Shawn…. hope you have some good strong games in Montreal.

So we’re 3 games into the 2009/2010 NHL season. In these first 3 games there’s been many ups and downs already.

The Canadiens have had 2 big injuries and 1 minor injury in their first 2 games and thankfully last night everyone made it out ok!

Here’s a few thoughts on some ups and some downs so far (in no real particular order).

Ups : Carey Price

All through the summer with all the speculation and chatter about the upcoming season and the questions around all the new players there was another subject kind of floating around.

How would Carey Price play this year?

Now granted, we’re 3 games into the season. There are 79 games left to be played but in his first 2 games Price looked very sharp. He faced a ton of shots in both his games and at the start of the first game, I remember hearing a commentator saying he looked nervous… soon after the rubber was bouncing off of him and he looked composed.

At times his rebound control looked very good.

Downs : Injuries!

So in 2 games the best player on the Team Andrei Markov gets hurt and is out for months… followed by Ryan O’Byrne’s injury.

In a previous article I wrote about Markov I mentioned his offensive production last season… ranking 1st in the league in assists among defensemen and 2nd in overall points among defensive.

Markov is the team’s quarter back and he simply can’t be replaced.

I feel bad for O’Byrne, not that I don’t also feel bad for Markov having been hurt with a major injury, but O’Byrne really seemed to be playing with confidence. Ryan was looking good. Big guy at 6′6 who can skate well for someone his size, long reach and playing physical.

I thought Ryan was poised to have a strong year.

Ups: Georges Laraque, Travis Moen

Many people were calling for Laraque’s head over the summer and going back months into last season.

I thought that if Georges could be healthy he could definitely help the team not just with dropping the gloves every now and then either.

Back when Laraque played in Edmonton I remember watching Oilers games and there were a few things that stuck in my mind about Georges. Yes, one of those things were that if he dropped the gloves he was quite able. But another thing that stuck in my mind was that he could be strong along the boards.

So far, Jacques Martin has played Laraque a fair bit and used him in a couple of different combinations and his play along the boards has been strong. In all 3 games he was able to control the puck along the boards and open up the ice a bit.

Travis Moen is probably one of my favorite players in the lineup. I thought he had a very quiet training camp but since the first game he’s picked it up.

Moen will drop the gloves, he checks well, seems to be well positioned, he will go to the net, block the shots and when he’s banging around the net he seems to have pretty good hands. I remember Tom K could have had about 35 “garbage goals” last year but could rarely capitalize on the chances (Tom…. I love you man)… I suspect Moen will get more of these opportunities then Tom did.

Ups: Brian Gionta, Scott Gomez, Mike Cammalleri

I’ve been very impressed with the way Gionta has been playing. He seems to find a way to get into openings where he can put a shot on goal. And of course, sorry to use this term again… but he plays big!

Generally, I’ve really liked what I’ve seen from all 3 of these guys. The only thing that I’ve found lacking is that their play hasn’t been consistent. But, to be honest, we’re 3 games in. In last night’s game they were very good in my opinion.

They’ve displayed nice skating, passing and the ability to get shots off.

Downs: The team’s tighter defensive system

Heard lot’s about Martin’s system and how protecting the goaltender was going to be a priority.

The team looked disorganized at times… but see, we’re still just 3 games in. And of course, take away Markov and O’Byrne… you get the picture.

We’re just a few games into the season and really these are just some of my observations in these 3 games. In 10 games the team’s defense and offense could be quite different. There could be greater chemistry and a flow in both the offensive and defensive game… or more of the same.

Who knows??

The only way to find out how it will turn out is to keep watchin’…. and if you’re anything like me you certainly will be watching!

When I had heard that Gainey had signed Georges Laraque to a 3 year deal last year, I was thrilled.

I had seen the Montreal Canadiens get pushed around a bit too much for my liking and I was sure that Laraque would provide some of the much needed toughness that was plaguing the team the few previous years.

But last season was a disappointment for Laraque, something I’m sure he’s aiming at making better this year.

As far as the media and all the noise coming out of Montreal last season, it seemed as though the team was ready to be better then they had in 2007/2008 when they were the best in the Eastern conference… many were claiming that Gainey’s “5 year plan” would come to fruition and we’d see a great parade in Montreal for the summer of 2009.

Something that wasn’t meant to be.

Laraque was injured most of the year and took some heat from media and fans. I’m sure this didn’t sit well with Mr Laraque.

As last season unraveled, it wasn’t just Laraque who had a subpar year, the entire team seemed to spiral downward and while there were a few positives at the end of last season (like Montreal making it into the playoffs) it appeared as though nothing could be done to turn it around.

This year I’m full of optimism looking at this team. Maybe I am every year…. quite honestly…. because I’m a hockey/Habs nut.

The Montreal Canadiens will have a very different look, a different character and for those who seem to think they’re alot smaller I beg to differ. In fact though some of their acquisitions are a bit smaller there are other acquisitions who help balance it out.

I’m sorry, but I have to say this.

In my opinion George Laraque may be like a new acquisition on this team. Last season, only playing in 33 games and being unhealthy all year he had no impact.

I’m excited to see that he’s healthy and weighing in about 20 lbs less then last season at 245 lbs.. he’s changed his diet, he’s been into Yoga…. I believe that he also knows that he needs to put last season behind him.

Laraque can be an asset on this team, there is no doubt in my mind. The eastern conference has changed a fair bit in recent years. While the Flyers seem to always ice a pretty tough team, the Bruins and the Leafs, 2 of the most hated rivals have gotten much tougher to play against in the last few years (Leafs much recently of course).

I think Jacques Martin will be using Georges Laraque in a way where he can be much more effective then he was used under Carbonneau last season. Instead of having Laraque solely act as a “defender” when somebody takes a run at his teammates, I think Laraque will be engaged in delivering some punishing blows to opposing teams…. maybe provoking them.

Jacques Martin will know how to use his players better then Carbonneau.

Carbonneau was and still is one of my all-time favorite Montreal Canadiens players and always will be. It’s just too bad he got the head coaching job with such little experience.

A healthy Georges Laraque in Montreal this year…. do you think he can make an impact? Do you think Montreal are gonna be tougher to play against physically with a healthy Laraque, Travis Moen, Paul Mara, Hal Gill?

What do you think???

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, just because I mean it. I’m excited for this upcoming season and it’s great to see the reports coming out of the rookie camps. It satisfies part of my desire to see some Habs hockey.

Watching a report on RDS, it’s interesting to listen to Jacques Martin and the RDS analysts. Martin really seems to leave the door open for any number of young players…. from Chipchura, D’Agostini, Pacioretty.. to Maxwell, Latendress, the Kostitsyns, Lapierre… he goes on to say that any number of these young players could have an important role in the Montreal Canadiens lineup this year.

Martin has given some of his young guys a chance before and many say that he works really well with the young guys. Just think of Daniel Alfredsson, Marian Hossa, Jason Spezza…. some young guys who Martin brought in and believed they could deliver.

I’m wondering if Jacques Martin might just be what the doctor ordered for some of these young guys. Guys like D’Agostini… a guy who’s got a scorer’s touch. Martin has certainly developped young guys like that in Ottawa.

How about Chipchura? Kyle at times seemed to bring some good stuff in the lineup and other times seemed abscent…. or maybe Chipchura’s role wasn’t properly filled. Who knows?

Think that if Martin brings in a tighter defensive role that it would help a guy like Chipchura?? I certainly do.

Not much has been said about Mikael Johansson. Think he could make the team? I’d say that he likely won’t make the team out of the gate but he’ll potentially play some games if/when the Habs get a couple of injuries.

Mathieu Carle is another interesting player… he impressed at training camp last couple of years but ended up getting injured during camp both times! I’m sure he’s feeling that he’s got something major to prove as Yannick Weber and P.K. Subban may have passed him on the depth chart.

Also a report that today another veteran practiced with the group that assembled yesterday… which included Moen, Gomez, Cammalleri, Laraque….etc. Brian Gionta was on the ice in preperation for the training camp.

Read an article on the RDS website about Jacques Martin and how he’s feeling rejuvenated.

He goes on to say that he finds being the coach of the Montreal Canadiens very exciting where there is such a great passion with the fans, the media and the players.

Hey Jacques, just wait ’till the season starts and you loose 3 in a row… and if your captain doesn’t speak… well never mind. You’ll figure it out.

Matin says that in Price he is impressed by his passion and that he’s highly talented.

He’s also met with Gomez, Cammalleri, Gionta, Mara and Moen.

Read the article “Jacques Martin: Je me sens rajeuni” on RDS.

I’ve heard it too… Georges Laraque seems to still have a bad back. That puts some question marks in the minds of some as to how he will be used and how effectively.

Personally, I’m of the attitude of “let’s wait and see”.

I’m still both surprised and pleased at the extent which Gainey has been able to change the face of the team. I simply could not have guessed that none of the UFAs would be back… and that that so many would have signed to play.

Now, back to Laraque.

I was VERY happy when Gainey went out to get him last year. Really, I was. I used to love watching the Oilers (yeah…. well…. I love NHL hockey you know!) when the young Laraque steamrolled through opposing players against the boards to get the puck.

I remember seeing him in an Oilers playoff run some years ago go through 3 Dallas players to grab the puck in the corner. I was impressed.

Last year was a disappointment. It was a disappointment for many fans and I’m quite sure it was a disappointment for George himself. I think he was likely disappointed for 2 reasons.

1 – He was looking forward to coming back to Montreal and playing for the hometown crowd… and seemed to have a great attitude in taking his place with all the media attention the team gets. Injuries took their toll and limited his play through some of the season.

2 – I’m not sure he was placed in a situation where the coach at the time knew how to use him in the lineup.. as sometimes it seemed as though Carbo would try to skate 3 offensive lines.. and really, I’m not sure he fit in that team. He didn’t seem to have a role.

I think he may have a role on the team this year. We still may not be talking major minutes. But I think Martin will know how and when to use Laraque during games. Martin is an experienced coach, and he’s had various “tough” guys in his lineups.

I’m really hoping that Laraque is healthy come training camp. I think he’s got something to give the team if used properly… I also think he’s got value in the dressing room.

I’m cheerin’ for you Georges!