Thursday, January 03, 2008

Habs look to catch fire at home - Lightning Game Preview and Open Thread

Seriously, this looks dangerous.

Waiting in line details - 730 PM start at the Phone Booth. Habs coming off a successful 3-1-2 road trip. But they have only won one game in the last 8 at "home." Bolts come in struggling, losers of 5 straight, and are league-worst 3-13-2 on the road. Something's gotta give.

Pay your cover charge to - Southeast Shootout or BoltsBlog. I have given up on finding new updated Florida hockey blogs.

Hot sexy Habs to watch - Huet between the stripper poles again. He's being ridden like a Number 1 now, and that's fine given he doesn't have a regulation loss since he got back from injury. The Danse à Dix Line had 8 points against the Rangers, and Big Tits is riding a 6-game point streak.

Hot sexy Bolts to watch - Vinny, Vinny, and more Vinny, your NHL points leader with 58. Marty St. Louis and Vaclav Prospal also piling up points.

Skanky Habs to watch - not too many after a successful road trip, so let's go straight to the Injury Report. Rhino (tm Robert at EOTP) is out with his broken thumb for a while, but Smolinski and Bégin are skating. Breezer has been cleared to play and says he's "stronger than ever." Oh God help us.

Skanky Bolts to watch - Anyone in nets. Marc Denis, who dominated the Habs the last time we met in Montreal, has been waived and then shipped to the AHL. Holmqvist has an .886 save % and a GAA above 3. Maybe Karri Ramo might be the next great Finnish goalie, but we've heard that before.

Post-game adult entertainment establishment - you're still tired from New Years. Get some rest for a change.

OK let's hear your dirty, dirty thoughts in the comments.

52 comments:

Anonymous said...

After breaking the curse of the Christmas Road Trip From Hell, anything's possible, right?

Young HF29 said...

I like that optimism fezworth!

Of course, in past years we've been decent at home and sucked on the road, so this year it is just balancing out. (im the pessimist!)

Habsfan10 said...

Unfortunately, they still suffer from the "Curse of Falling Apart When Desparately Clinging to a Lead Late In The Game".

Anonymous said...

I forgot about that one. Curses.

Anonymous said...

But seriously folks, let's start up a trade rumour, just for shits & giggles.

Vinnie for Saku, Ryder, Rhino and a 1st rounder after the game.

Anonymous said...

10, luckily, the Bolts are seeming to suffer from the "Curse of Not Being Able to Build, Maintain, Hold, Beg Borrow or Steal a Lead At Any Point In A Game On The Road".

Surely their curse is stronger than ours.

Young HF29 said...

ooh hey that's good fezworth

but I heard another rumour, Ryder, Matt D'gostini and Halak for Brad Richards

Habsfan10 said...

29, I'd make your rumoured trade as fast as I could dial Jay Feaster.

Fezworth, losing Saku in your deal gives me a moment's pause. Then I realize even Jay Feaster won't make that deal. Where's Phil Esposito when you need him?

Anonymous said...

Brad Richards? He's like, a -29, and we're not even at the All-Star break. Gimme a Souray in his place any day!

Young HF29 said...

Chuck that's why he'll be available - cheap!

It's becoming clear we need some sort of totally bullshit trade rumours feature on FHF. Fezworth you'll get credit

Anonymous said...

HF29 - careful, some of the "media" may start quoting your trade rumours as fact... *coughTSNcough*


Am going to the game tonight, but I'm strangely conflicted about it. I've enjoyed watching the Habs win on my pwetty teevee... yet I left with 10 minutes left in the 3rd period last time. Yes, I know that's shameful, but I couldn't stand another minute of watching them get outplayed like a bunch of heartless pussies.

Who will it be tonight? Jekyll or Hyde????

Young HF29 said...

LG I would have left that game too

I forget, is Jekyll or Hyde the bad one? Whichever one the bad one is.

Anonymous said...

10, I agree; losing Saku would hurt. He's my favourite player, bar none.

Swap him for Kovy. I can lose Kovy.

HFF33 aka Panger said...

Here's a trade proposal: Pleks, Ryder, Huet and a young d (like Rhino) and a draft pick for Vinny. Bolts will not want a big contract back, so forget about Saks. Halak is pointless with Ramo their goalie of the future, while Huet gives them a starter now and cap space July 1.

HFF33 aka Panger said...

Oh, and shouldn't the game in T.Bay (and Miami) be considered a home game for the Habs?

Anonymous said...

I like it Panger. Massive gain in Vinny, and Pleks is really the only person who will be a loss, in the sense that he's currently producing, and has a bright future ahead.

Rhino is still new enough that we're not sure, Ryder is... well, we all know what Ryder is, and Price can probably be at least serviceable until he really becomes TFS(tm). So we don't really need Huet.

And I get to keep Koivu! Ahem. I mean we. We get to keep Koivu.

HFF33 aka Panger said...

Fezworth, I agree: I love Koivu, and the Habs would be crazy to deal him. He is worth more to this franchise than to any other team. Plus, look what has happened to the Oilers since Ryan Smyth was traded.

Anonymous said...

@panger: agreed. Done and Done. I'll call Jay right away and tell him what we've decided.

On another note: We're already approaching 20 comments. By my completely scientific hypothesis of "more comments == more likely to win", this means that we already stand a good chance of taking tonight's tilt. If we hit 40 before the start of the 2nd, I'm predicting a blowout.

Young HF29 said...

random comment 1

Young HF29 said...

random comment 2

Young HF29 said...

random comment 3

not that i believe in this fezworth, you understand

Anonymous said...

i like comments

Anonymous said...

not at all, 29. It's clearly ridiculous. In fact, I have to say. I would just as soon delete random comments. It feels somewhat ... sleazy.

Young HF29 said...

sleazy? on this site??? never!!!

HFF33 aka Panger said...

I love LAMP!

Anonymous said...

@Panger - You owe me a new keyboard...

@Fezworth - I had a conversation with people at the office today (around the watercooler/coffee machine, natch) and I defended Koivu until I was blue in the face. One of the partners to whom I was speaking is a disciple of 110% - 'nuff said...

... then the head of the litigation department came in and totally agreed with me. Heh. You should have seen the backpedaling. I'm surprised they didn't spill their coffee!!

Off to the game... Wish me, uh, the Habs luck...

Anonymous said...

And 'cause I'm ridiculously superstitous...

Random post. Bamp chicka bamp bamp!! (felt appropriate...)

Young HF29 said...

Alright less talk, more rock!

Man, Pierre Houde is REALLY sweating in HD...

HFF33 aka Panger said...

LG77 what did he say against Koivu???

So I KNOW that it ame from Eklund, but how about Ovie instead of Vinny? If Wash thinks they can't re-sign him...

Young HF29 said...

Panger everyone in Mtl is talking about Ovie coming here. It's not just Eklund, though now I believe it less because of that

Anonymous said...

I'd almost prefer Ovie. More years out of him, he doesn't have to be the Great French Hope, and he won't understand 90% of the people who will be undoubtedly calling for his head after 20 games.

@LG:

Anonymous said...

Oops.

@LG: I'm an accountant's husband, and the same sort of thing happens at her firm. The partners/managers always get final say on sports discussions. I'm glad yours sided with you!

Young HF29 said...

THANK GOD we took advantage of an early chance. Kovy!

But who noticed Ryder hesitate and not shoot? Snakebit baby

Anonymous said...

Good GOD look at Chips go. That's glorious

Young HF29 said...

We're having fun now!

Young HF29 said...

end period RDS interview bad English du jour: "Tampa was really high at the beginning of the first period"

he's getting worse

Anonymous said...

I wish, just once in a while, that players would take the piss out of the interviewers. I would love Kovy to answer the question: "What's one thing you've changed about your game?"

with:

"Nothing about my game, but I've begun learning french, and I think that the peace and calmness of the language has made me into a player 10 times better than before."

Just to watch the interviewer's eyes bug out of his head.

Young HF29 said...

Sure, just let Vinny get behind you. It's not like he's the league's leding scorer or anything

Young HF29 said...

Hey! An old-school Ryder goal!

Young HF29 said...

well i WAS having fun...

grrrr

Anonymous said...

Damnit. I'm pretty sure my comments theory is trumped by LG's "Ryder scores, Habs lose" theory.

I hope that doesn't keep happening after he's traded.

Anonymous said...

Oh well. In keeping with ridiculous optimism, at least it wasn't a 3rd period meltdown.

Young HF29 said...

@fezworth - i look forward to the night when Ryder scores against the Leafs and a male stripper when there are 50 comments. then we'll know the truth

Young HF29 said...

Man I love Tits

Anonymous said...

Gosh... those fancy socks the Bolts have make them look so fast!

Anonymous said...

That is most excellent. What great work!

Anonymous said...

WINGS!

Young HF29 said...

Chips, Pleks and Little Tits on the ice together?? Whatevah! I'll take it, they deserved it.

Young HF29 said...

All Higgins on that one. And Ryder sends his trade value through the roof!

Anonymous said...

WOW! I guess when Ryder scores once, we lose. When he scores twice, we win!

Now let's see if I can get this straight. When he gets a hat trick, we get knocked out of the playoffs two days before the end of the regular season. That must mean...

If Michael Ryder scores 4 goals in a game, we will win the cup.

Young HF29 said...

Totally logical fezworth

That game was alright.

Anonymous said...

LG77's game summary:

First period: WOOO! Have we forgotten we're playing at home?

Second period: Nope. Fuckers.

Third period: WOOO! CHICKEN WINGS!! WOOOOOOO!!!!

Jekyll and Hyde in the span of a single game. My nerves can't take it... And the cholesterol from the wings ain't helping!! (But I'll take it!!)