Monday, April 28, 2008

Things are Heating Up - Game 3 Preview and Open Thread

Ask and ye shall receive! I wanted some emotion on Saturday night and I guess I got in the form of a Tom Kostopolous sucker punch to the face. Note to all other Flyers - taunt Greek Lighning at your own peril. That Mediterannean emotion will take over and you'll get what's coming to you.

That punch / facewash was only part of the story of the nastiness. The coaches got into a war of words over it. During the game, there seemed to be pushing and fracases after alot of whistles. Big battles along the boards. Some crease and goalie shoving. A playoff series is beginning to emerge. So with the heat rising, let's hit the bullet points to turn up the thermostat even more:

  • 7 PM start, Wachovia Center. Good seats still available! Habs did win twice there during the regular season, but of course that means dick all;
  • God bless the fine threesome of Flyers blogs, Flyers. Femme, eager to go psycho, and Flyers Goal Scored By. Ryan's post about NHL'ers taking internships is killer. And Nadine: 3 down, one to go!
  • The SlowGreekBang Line has been our most dominant line all post-season, so of course Carbo is breaking them up. Habs I/O reports the lines will be: KoKoHigg, Pleks and the two Tits, Slow Gui! and the Greek, then Mad Max, Streit and Bégin. Oh Ryder, will we ever see you in a Habs uni again?
  • Also, Rhino plays again, let's hope he's starting to get comfortable. Breezer continues to be sidelined by his mysterious leg injury. Give it up - which one of our three loyal readers went Gilooly on his ass? I owe you dinner!
  • Props where props are due - Brière, Biron, Timonen, Umberger, Jim Dowd. I knew Habs should never have let Dowd go as a UFA;
  • TFS - who's worried?
  • Other, less important, suckitude - Mad Max, Gui!, El Dandy. And PLEKS! How can I forget him? (thanks matt-ftc);
  • On a more positive note, I think we actually played one of our best games of the playoffs Saturday Night. Seriously. Their hot goalie dominated our shaky goalie. I really feel good about that performance (TFS excluded). Am I on crack? (or meth? wait don't answer that).
We will be watching some of the game tonight at casa del HF29's mom. Look for a special appearance in the comments! So behave. Or not. Mom can swear with the best of you.

93 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wouldn't it be nice for Pleks to find the back of the net tonight? What does he have 1 goal these playoffs?

Young HF29 said...

remind me - who's Pleks again?

Anonymous said...

Haha,
I kind of like the change on the bottom two lines. That "third line" of Laps, Streit and Dandy has been absolutely invisible. Benching Dandy is a good idea, have to keep Streit in because the PP has shown "signs" of life again.

Habsfan10 said...

Maybe Begin can light a fire under Mad Max and Streit. Streit has looked awful for most of the playoffs.

Go hockey pants.

Anonymous said...

remind me - who's Pleks again?

The little girl...

fezworth said...

@sonia: 10 points!

Ian Vitro said...

Dandenault has suck suck sucked and contributed tremendously to the invisible-ness of that line, of whom only Mad Max has even had his name cross the lips of the RDS announcers. Glad to see him sit, but I would be happier to see Ryder up and Streit back on defence...

Young HF29 said...

@Ian vitro (great name btw) - totally agree, I shouldn't have lumped Mad Max in with the rest of that crap line, Max has at least had his moments of working hard. i dont think the RDS commentors have mentioned Dandy once

Young HF29 said...

K im at Casa del madre del HF29. we're getting liquered up before the game. w00t!

moeman said...

hf29, what is Mom drinking?

Nadine said...

Good evening, boys!

Anonymous said...

please boys, let them be stupid and take the penalties...

I am sampling a wide selection of beers tonight during the game. Innis & Gunn Oak Aged Beer from Scotland is not great.

moeman said...

Leffe Blonde et Brune here.

Anonymous said...

Crazy talk, there, FTC, Innis and Gun is fantastic.

Also, are they booing O Canada?
Stay classy, Philly.

Anonymous said...

Matt - usually I like every beer a little, hmmm.
Oh well can't like em all I guess.

Did they boo the anthem? I am watching on RDS and they don't show them

Nadine said...

Matt D: The whole Kate Smith "God Bless America" thing came about because they booed the "Star Spangled Banner."

For the most part, I would say don't be too offended but after that last game, be half-offended.

Young HF29 said...

mom is banging down Bloody Marys

welcome back Nadine! (from wherever you were)

goddamn Koivu AGAIN penalty in the OFFENSIVE ZONE. grrr.....

moeman said...

Be nice to see the Habs bang down some Bloody Martys and Kimmis and Stevies and well you get my point.

Young HF29 said...

quote from Mom: "I thought the crease was supposed to be sacred. What the fuck are all those people doing in there?"

Anonymous said...

I just don't understand how this PP could have so bad so fast. 5 on 3 for 2 mins and they can't even get a shot? Maybe one? Is this an NHL team?

And if I hear "Higgins missed the open net" one more time this series I will have to stab my ears.

Anonymous said...

Wow, Higgins is killing me...he just can't put anything in.

Young HF29 said...

And if I hear "Higgins missed the open net" one more time this series I will have to stab my ears.

stab myself in the heart

/fixed

moeman said...

This series is gonna get some dirty.

moeman said...

Cue Freddie Fender.

CheGordito said...

Philly have sold
their souls for gold.
The Habs can't score,
but the game's no bore.

Anonymous said...

I think I said something about the Habs PP showing signs of life...Well it has flatlined.....

Anonymous said...

Until the Habs can make the Flyers fear their PP, dirty Philly will keep on running the goalie and such. At this point, the benefits of playing dirty far outweigh the costs. Would you fear this PP? Might as well trip Price up every chance you get. Montreal can't even set up, let alone get a shot.

A Concerned Citizen said...

This just in: Gary Bettman has just issued a ruling declaring that any team with a "fucking pathetic" power play automatically loses. The final two periods of tonight's game will not be played, and the game has been awarded to the Flyers, on account of Montreal having the worst fucking power play the world has ever seen.

Anonymous said...

If Higgins scores everyone does a shot...

moeman said...

Trualldat in regards to the lameass PP but two pinged posts, no shit goals on TFS™ and OK 5on5 hockey. Bonus, no Habs carrried out on stretchers.

moeman said...

@matt - ftc, I have an interview at 9am, I hope Higgs pots a hat trick. This means I have to crack open the SKYY in the freezer.

Anonymous said...

Like the attitude Moeman...I concur.

moeman said...

Its one thing to say our Habs have an offensive edge but so many plays go wasted. Maybe Lafleur was right.

Young HF29 said...

RDS stats - 3 posts hit in the first, and one shot during the 5-3 PP

that's not... good

Anonymous said...

fuck

Anonymous said...

Wow....
We are dead...can't score, can't stop anything.

Young HF29 said...

should have stayed at mom's - at least it was 0-0 while i was there

Young HF29 said...

@matt - "this is the collapse" - excellent

Anonymous said...

I would be upset, but I've seen this one coming for the last 10 minutes. Habs can't get anything going offensively.

Anonymous said...

it looks like they are afraid to score a goal...they are playing like pussies. It is like they doubt that their shot is going to go in even before they shoot it...so it doesn't.

Young HF29 said...

i dont feel like being shutout 2-0. and that feels like where this is going

Flyers have one shot this period and scored. kill me.

moeman said...

I must ask, where is Kovy?

Young HF29 said...

{SLC joke} decline, decline!

Young HF29 said...

@moeman - who? oh, there he is, giving it away

Young HF29 said...

Ha-lak! Ha-lak!

Anonymous said...

Seriously, I've never seen an NHL club have such a bad PP. As soon as Philly gets a penalty a Hab should immediately do something stupid to even it up. It's pathetic.

moeman said...

Have the Habs hit anyone tonight? Hey nice-hair-Lapierre, Carbo kept you in the lineup. Do something.

Anonymous said...

Price looks absolutely CLUELESS out there. The best was when we dropped the puck right in front of the net...no lesson learned i guess...oh and that goal was just a beauty...

Anonymous said...

After the Flyer's taunts at the end of last game I saw some interviews with some Habs and they said they'd make them pay this game. Looks like they're bored out there. Way to stick up for yourselves. Philly isn't beating the Habs, they're beating themselves.

Young HF29 said...

no seriously, Ha-lak! Ha-lak!

Anonymous said...

Seriously, get Price out of there.

moeman said...

orangeman said...Philly isn't beating the Habs, they're beating themselves.

Not any more.

Anonymous said...

Just Fold............

moeman said...

Did Carbo not insert Tenderness into the line-up?

GoHabsGo11 said...

Get Perrault, Audette, and Petrov out there. This is ridiculous. They need to figure out that the friggin flyers logo isn't a target on Biron.

moeman said...

Things could be worse, the Habs could be Roger Clemens.

GoHabsGo11 said...

At least they'd be trying if they were takin roids.

Anonymous said...

just trying to keep up matt

is this over yet?

Anonymous said...

It is amazing how a reputation can change. Kovy was always known as a playoff performer.....well I highly doubt he will have that rep after this series...

moeman said...

Lots of time left in the series but many Habs need to do some soul searching. PHI has the confident play, something our Habs almost all season. I'm hoping for a great 3rd period. They may not come back and win this one but they need to give themselves a boost for Game 4. I expect the media jackals to smell blood and rip our team to shreds. the management has to keep our boys settled and focused. I know, easier said than done but still.

Anonymous said...

HF29, unfortunately we have 2 1/3 games of agony to witness...is folding an option? It would be much less painful to watch.

Anonymous said...

Woops, wrong name on m last post...


Moeman, you are correct...they smelled blood after game 2, even the non-sports stations were wripping them here in Toronto.

But what can I say? They are right, the team is fragile and now that a few things haven't gone their way they are folding like a tent...

Nadine said...

Guys, don't give up yet. They are playing my Flyers after all. The only team that beats them for a more consistent display of inconsistency is the refs.

Anonymous said...

but I think moeman is pretty accurate. plenty of time left in the series, but we need to find some soul

Ha-lak! Ha-lak! woooooo

Young HF29 said...

oh Nadine, you do know how to at least try to cheer me up. but you're missing the important point here - habs suck

Ha-lak! Ha-lak! nice save

moeman said...

Carbo's message to his players should be easy; "Its the fucking flyers estie de tabarnaque de calisse de St. Sicroche!'

Anonymous said...

Wow, if that was Kovy, the CBC and everyone in Philly would be saying he dove.

Young HF29 said...

five minute PP! this'll change everything for sure!

wait, what?

Young HF29 said...

hey did we just score a PP goal or was I hallucinating?

Anonymous said...

That's the key to the PP: use the 3rd unit.

Anonymous said...

Could it look any easier to kill a Hab PP???
You know what they need tomorrow? I day off right Carbo? I think they deserve it. No point in working on the PP with that time,

moeman said...

Wow. Merci Monsieur Hatcher.

Young HF29 said...

hey now we're getting somewhere

Anonymous said...

It's a game!

Young HF29 said...

that's it Higgins, shoot at the face!

Nadine said...

@HF29: I'm sorry, what were you saying about trying to make you feel better?

I was telling the truth.

Hatch, you big lug!

Anonymous said...

Higgins is just clueless when he gets the puck around the net.

moeman said...

Here's hoping the Flyers release more on their inner lug.

Young HF29 said...

we're making it exciting at least

Anonymous said...

Markov broke his stick! According to the media and Philly Phans, that's equal to 8 goals! Habs got robbed! Stick manufacturers are against Montreal!

Young HF29 said...

@Orangeman +1

Young HF29 said...

another PP. Nadine, you're still trying really hard. thx

Young HF29 said...

you've got to be kidding me

Anonymous said...

Haha, oh man...well this is how shit they have been. Take a too many men with 3 minutes left, way to go boys.

Anonymous said...

Not so sure about that call. I'm more concerned with who will destroy Richards for giving Halak that punch? Hack the bone!

Young HF29 said...

hmmm. we made it interesting, but still. down 2-1

Anonymous said...

Well, they didn't give up in the 3rd. Too bad they put themselves in that position in the first place. I guess they can build off of this for next game. If you compare this game to game 2, I'm surprised that the scores were 4-2 and then 3-2.

Anyway, I guess it's back to work for me. Almost lunch time, though. Phew! I could use the break.

moeman said...

Can't lay it all at the feet of Scarey Price but goaltending wins the last 2 games.

Not sure why Streit thinks he's Al MacInnis.

Kovy looks gaunt.

Habs coaches will toss and turn over these two weird losses.

Still say the Flyers arrogance will bite them in the ass.

Anonymous said...

@moeman: Agree about the arrogance. I think we saw some of that in the 3rd and it almost killed them. Where does this arrogance come from? Barely made it into the playoffs, barely squeaked by a not-so-great Caps team by crashing the crease, being outplayed in this series, not to mention the consistant dirty plays.

kmart said...

Well it's nice that the Flyers can finally rely on a goaltender to win a game for us. or two. 66 saves through two games means marty has been a busy man, but he's been big. if price picks up his game flyers lose this series easily.

Ian Vitro said...

Dude. Weak. Philly's 2-forechecker system made us look like little bitches for over 40 minutes. Price was at least as bad as Dandenault and Brisebois combined, and the worst is that since Halak wasn't even tested, he may not get the nod for Wednesday.

Seriously have to bring the funk - if we can start game 4 the way we ended game 3 (no, not down 3-2) and actually carry the puck into the Flyers' end - and keep it there - we can show everyone just how lucky Biron has been this series. Honestly, how many more crossbars and posts can we hit?

kmart said...

biron's been lucky on a few, but he's also been rock solid these last two games, he's had .942 save percentage and stopped numerous breakaways.

Bryan Driscoll said...

fucking fuck

that's all...