Wednesday, May 19, 2010

The Morning Skate for Wednesday, May 19th

Bullet points for what you missed while having nightmares of living in Thailand right now...
  • Well, now you can panic if you want to. But only if you want to. Flyers 3, Habs 0. More of the same - Habs can't solve Leighton early (or ever), Habs take some penalties, our D gets pushed around, Flyers score PP goals, game over. At least our goals against were cut by half! Meh;
  • Hawks win their seventh straight on the road in the playoffs, 4-2 over the Sharks. Hey, at least Habs didn't lost the first two at home!
  • Canada will be forced to play Russia in the quarters of the I after losing to the Czechs.
This is our morning plea to not feed the trolls, who we expect will be out in full force today. Please direct your rage at CBC or JM instead.

54 comments:

Wendel Clark's Balls said...

Out in 4 without scoring a goal?

That would give the Bruins 2nd place in the "most humiliating playoff exit of the century" competition.

moeman said...

Quotes:

“The word after [the game] was ‘Hey, we did a lot of good things and that’s just sports’,” said winger Michael Cammalleri. “Let’s go home and play some hockey.”

Carina said...

Not to be redundant and "Captain Obvious" but the Habs really need to start scoring on the PP

not signed in because I don't know if it's safe to go back to Orange yet said...

Perspective might be needed. Montreal lost it's first two games in 1993, then came back to win 4 in a row. They won the first two against Carolina in 2006 and ended up losing 4 in a row. The came back from 3-1 down against the Caps and 3-2 against the Pens. This doesn't mean it'll happen again, it just means that the series ain't finished yet. Also, in a year where a team came back from 3-0 down many jumped on the "It's all over!!!" bandwagon a bit early, n'est pas?

Having said that, so far this series feels like 2008 when the Habs outplayed Philly but there was a goaltender mismatch and we went out in 5.

Anyway, keep faith alive. I remember only 4 of us in these here comments just last month on a Saturday morning (for me) expecting the worst in G5 against the Caps. With the way things have gone in the Eastern Conference this spring I wouldn't take anything at face value. Lots of hockey left.

Comparing Apples to Oranges-Man said...

Wow, just skimmed through the CBC comments (fors some reason...hey, I'm bored). Now I understand why the skew to the anti-Habs side. Christ, there are alot of wackos out there and they all hate the Habs. I'm guessing at least a quarter are Philly phans and antoher half are Laff slaves which explains the poor grammar and general illegibility of their posts, but it's way out there. One poster even through out the N word. Good to know our national broadcaster keeps an eye on these things. Yikes.

Seriously, though, Cap fans were annoying and Pen fans were pretentious. But Leaf and Flyer fans seem to be deranged at best, dangerous to themselves and others at worst. Not all of them of course, but a very large percentage.

Ok, totally off topic but a kid outside my window just started with the Ole song! Random! I'll take it as a sign of good luck!

GoldenGirl11 said...

@Orange ya glad I didn't say banana
A kid in Korea just ran past your window singing olé? Part of your curriculum? You're the Jack Black of your school. Kids invovled in a hockey pool too?

Anonymous said...

Well hello habs fans, I was just wondering what does it feel like to be down 2 games, and give a great effort last night and you still cant put the puck in the net... its such a shame to have to come to canadian and take over your stadium.. Cause when its all said and done, no one comes into our house and pushes us around.

Chester said...

Come to canadian ....
Are there no schools in Fillie ?

J.T. said...

I strangely feel no anger. Disgust at that team's braggart fans, yes, but no anger. Our team is doing the best it can under the circumstances, and we can be proud of the effort.

Anyway, I'm taking solace in the absolute certainty that whichever team comes out of the east will be immediately steamrolled by the 'Hawks anyway. At this point, whoever wins the east just ends up with a worse draft pick. And, in Philly's case, a lame "Eastern Conference Champion" banner to supplement the two lonely, fading, tattered Cup banners from the seventies in their otherwise empty rafters.

Anonymous said...

Are we done with the Ole Ole Ole crap? The Canadiens deserve classier fans.

Dman said...

Two things I noted from the first two games in this series:

1) we're not scoring
2) they are.....

Flyers are doing nothing special to win these games and we're not doing anything to win them either.

Time to being out the secret weapon!!! (I have no idea what that is, just thought I'd throw this in to confuse the Flyer fans)

Dman said...

@JT - funny, I was thinking the exact thing. I really wanted an Original Six matchup with the 'Hawks and although I think it would have been fun to watch (well at least for four games), the 'Hawks have a date with destiny and not even the Mighty Flyers are going to get in their way.

IF the Flyers make it past the Mighty Habs, I'm going to cruise the 'Hawks and Flyers blogs and see how cocky the Flyer's fans are then....

Is Orange-face considered offensive to the people of the OC (not because of their locale, but because of their tans)? said...

@GG11: I did lead one class in a chant of "Go Habs Go!" and another in the Ole chant. They know ole from soccer. I also teach adults twice a week and after Montreal won G6 against the Pens I took up the whole class describing the NHL playoff picture. Brackets were drawn on the whiteboard and everything. I considered it a cultural lesson. They seemed pretty interested and amazed that hockey continues into May and June. They eventually got the E in CanadiEns, but the Habitants was a harder take. I should also mention after returning here the day after the Olympic gold medal most of the staff and many of the students congratulated me and Canada and were full of questions.

Basically, I'm a missionary in Asia.

PW said...

I for one laugh everytime I hear the Philly fans spark up the Ole song...bunch of un-original twits.

But after watching the game last night I was pissed...get Urologist needs to be put on ice. He turns the puck over, dishes at the blueline causing offsides, he is just so unsure. Its Rhino time!!

I like how the lines have been mixed up a bit, but I think it would serve the team better to fire Max out there with Gomez or Cammy to screen the Jolly Orange Giant in the net. Gionta's screen doesn't seem to cut it...lol

Thursday night they boys better come out and play some good hockey!!

Jaybird said...

Well I think its safe to say we need to score a goal.

Halak on a short leash?
Bergeron benched?

Chocula is now completely expendable to me once again for his decision to bench O'Byrne WTF is going on with that? And Gagne and Briere can rot in hell...hate them with a passion on a Carcillo level.

Also I like to blame Chocs for Markov not being back yet. Its easier that way. Can we call up Guy Boucher like we did Subban?

lawyergirl77 said...

I have nothing to say. I feel strangely empty.

It's a weird feeling. Neither pessimistic, nor optimistic. Just, well, "meh".

I hope it disappears before tomorrow so that I can scream my lungs out at the Bell Centre...

tislo said...

Direct my rage at the CBC? Sure! Glad you asked!

At the beginning of the playoffs I sent off an Access to Information request to the CBC asking why they decided to show Ottawa instead of Monteal. Basically, I wanted to see their criteria in case next year they screwed us again, but for different reasons (imagine if we were 4th and Toronto 8th?).
And the answer was:
Their programming decisions are not subject to Access to Information,, only admin stuff. So I can ask how much they spend on lunch, but not how an organizaton that gets a billion dollars in federal funding (according to Wikipedia), and has a mandate to "reflect Canada and its regions to national and regional audiences, while serving the special needs of those regions" decides to spend that money. Because I would argue that this regional audience would like to see itself reflected through it's hockey team.
Anyways. You asked 29, this is what I give you.
Anyone else watch the games on mute?

Unknown said...

DJ Troll Slaw here. Keep up the faith Habs fans. You came back to beat the Caps and Pens. So you could come back to beat the Flyers too. There's a major epidemic going on around here. People are falling very ill. I'm no doctor or anything, but I'd say it's just Flyers Fever.

moeman said...

Word to the wise and those that don't need their forehead to bleed, you'll never, ever, get an answer from the cbc (hnic). Ever.

Score you fucking Habs!

GoldenGirl11 said...

@tislo
Mute. Yes. I felt bad but I couldn't take listening to the psychotic orange shirt glass pounding idiots scream any more.

tislo said...

@moeman
Sounds like you've been down this road before?

mr. gillis said...

Habs in 6

Unknown said...

@LG - same here. Just "meh".

Will pay anyone $100 to bitch slap JM. Seriously. And another $100 to lock MAB in a closet for at least 2 more games.

Christopher Sama said...

who needs trolls when there are habs fans...

i think we need a mid-week pick me up.

is it too early for sexy friday?

Anonymous said...

not too early for crying wednesday habs fans... hahahahah, enjoy your moral victories with the "good effort"

Mr. natural said...

Kudos to all for ignoring Trolls.

Yes we are getting spanked, yes the mountain in front of us does indeed look huge, can it be doen..of course it can Jesus H. CHrist, come revisionist histroy time tears from now it would be a footnote to the Caps comeback and then beating the cup defenders.

Forget the score, we are down two games, we've lost two in a row, they are on an incredible streak, streaks end.

This is a team that lost three in a row to Boston, can they be had, (H)absoPHuckenlutely.

Keep the positive vibes flowing , lose any negativity and most of all beleive it because I'M TELLING YOU IT'S DESTINY!!!

GYFH Go!

kmart said...

This series is far from over. I mean, there hasn't even been a home game for the Canadiens yet. This won't be easy for the Flyers to close out, even though I think they will ultimately win the series.

I'm wondering wtf is going on w/ Halak though. The goal he gave up to Leino last night was really, really bad, and not the sign of a confident goaltender.

kmart said...

And to those Flyers fans who are logging in as "Anonymous" and trolling. Find something better to do with your time. That a real pussy thing to do and you make the rest of us look bad.

Anonymous said...

Im the only anonymous mother fucker around these parts you philly fucktards have some respect. the best thing about being a habs fan is that no matter what we have a new love for this team. i dont give a fat baby's dick if we get swept, cuz i think all of us who have been supporting this team and this site all season have had our hearts grow a few sizes larger thanks to this run. i know i started off as the asshole everyone loved to hate but if i can change so can this series. that doesnt make sense but fuck it. lets get a little ten things i hate about the phlyers going and maybe a change of scenery to help spur some change. keep the chins up boys.


PS. sorry for trolling for so long i now realize how annoying and immature it was. hope i can be forgiven in time. GYFH

b said...

I don't fully understand the animus towards MAB. He was -1 on the game, so were Gomez, Gionta, Gorges and Cammalleri. What I did notice was how slowly the pivots were being executed. The system depends on pivots. What I am seeing is a very tired team. The series with the Pens may have been the best seven game series in a decade or more. I also have a suspicion that the ice in Philly is very soft. Both teams did not seem to be moving with the speed that Chicago and San Jose were in the other game. Given how well they played in the first 3 games in Boston, Philly had a pretty long rest after NJ. It would be really miraculous, perhaps eerie if Leighton continued his shutout minutes.

GoldenGirl11 said...

@our delinquent yet lovable anon
Get a fucking name already.
xoxo

Unknown said...

That Cammy quote is driving me batshit crazy.

Doing some good things? Like what? Shooting straight at Leighton's chest? NOT a good thing. PP & PK - NOT good things. Gomez? NOT a good thing OR player.

$100 to slap Cammy upside the head too, and tell him about the bad things they did as well.

chris nilan said...

i believe that this team won the first two rounds in spite of JM... not because of him. now his baffling decisions have caught up to les boys... most unfortonate thing about it is those first two round victories pretty much cemented that he'll be behind the bench another year. why the worst defensman in the playoffs (and probably the league)continues to play over our biggest defensman in a series where size is needed is beyond me.

i've hated that hire since the begining and i stand by my hatred.

i'm not gonna panic though...anything can happen...just please, JM.. let kirk do the talking.

soperman said...

It is amazing to me how many trolls come on to this site and try to make Habs fans miserable. Well, sorry trolls, they have had a great playoff run so far and all you are doing is hoping, just like Cap and Pen fans, that they can close out the series without further incident. You are likely very wrong.

Just like Healy, who said last night that if the Habs lost game two it would be impossible for them to come back. Has he forgotten everything that has happened in the playoffs so far? Healy knows as much about hockey as he does about constitutional law. (Before Glendale voted to guarantee the NHL's losses, he said it was against the constitution of Arizona. Even Pillsbury (Milbury) called him out on that one.)

WV - "facerse" defined as person who is such an arse that you can see it by looking at his face, eg Glenn Healy, McSplooge, Pillsbury, etc.

Unknown said...

The only ones that don't see the Habs losing this series are Habs fans. What you have witnessed in the last 6 games from the Flyers was no fluke... that being said, you might win a game at home, but all the Flyers need is a split. Dunzo when you come back to Philly. The Flyers are not the Caps and they are not the Pens. Unfortunately, Halak got you to the ECF, but just like Brodeur and Rask (both "unbeatable" goalies), it looks like we've found Halaks soft spot. Was he sleeping on the Leino goal? If the panic switch hasn't gone off yet, it will very soon...

Hadulf said...

I'm not going to panic. Yet. Even if I am probably the worst bipolar Habs fan.

However, one thing I thought about today is that, maybe, for a PP or 2, we should jam HSS Hal Gill in front of Leighton. Seriously, could it be worst than it is now? A combination of Mexican, Squid and Gill...Mexican, Giant and Gill...TurtlePlek, Giand and...yes, Gill. Would be worth a try I think.

Hadulf said...

Oh, forgot to add...

Please insert Rhino in the lineup, I mean, it is pretty obvious that he needs to be there. I don't necessarily hate MAB, but he ain't doin' shit for us lately...put him on the 4th line and MAYBE on the PP. Or sit him for a game, I don't care really.

L Dude said...

@hadulf: I was about to say the same thing. Or O'Byrne - if JM decides that somebody of his stature might be of benefit to the team, of course.

WV: unrig. It's time for the Habs to unrig the series. They were obviously payed off to not show up for games 1 & 2.

L Dude said...

MAB makes me M-A-D. Fuck, fanning on passes at the blueline, fear of corners, unwillingness to use his only weapon (I know he finally got one on net last night - too bad it was once there was nobody within 1/2 an acre of Leighton), inability to make a break out pass. Rhino's gotta get a shot tomorrow night.

WV: submis. Oh-oh.

Hadulf said...

Oh yeah, back on my idea of putting Gill/Rhino (from L Dude) in front of Leighton...Cammy needs to be on the PP...

L Dude said...

One more thought. About CBC. Once they said 'Fuck you' to the Habs, they should have had no right to them after the first round. I know there are people without cable...CBC...public broadcaster...blah blah blah. But if they deemed the team unworthy of a national audience to begin with, TSN, who was more than happy to get them, should have had the right to televise their games for the rest of the playoffs.
Seems ridiculous that CBC gets first choice at Canadian teams.

Unknown said...

Great article on the Habs, fucking Leighton, and the fucking Flyers, and this whole fucking series. I know not how to make the fucking link work, despite the fucking instructions. Apologies. Perhaps someone tech savvy can render assistance? Appreciate any help.

http://montreal.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20100519/mtl_habs_fever_100519/20100519/?hub=MontrealSports

Christopher Sama said...

@Tyg

Here's your fucking clickable link.

BTW - it is a good read. Brian Wilde is a smart analyst. Most of what he wrote was bang on, so I'll forgive him for using "Pierre McGuire" in a non-joke sentence.

Leighton > Halak said...

GYFFG!!!

YES! OLE! OLE! OLE!

LEIGHTON IS THE NEW HALAK!!

DROWN YOUR SORROWS IN SOME POUTINE!

lawyergirl77 said...

Reason why I'm still optimistic? Ridonk save percentages never last.

To wit: Halak is a very streaky goalie. He's HOLYFUCKINGSHITOMG amazing for, say 8 games and then he's mortal for 4. Still a decent win percentage, but it brings the save percentage back down to a remarkable, but by no means perfect level.

Leighton's number is bound to come around, just like Halak's. (See also: Rask, Tukka). It will either happen in the ECF or the SCF. I hope it happens in the ECF... which is why I still have hope in this series. It's a small bit of hope, but hope nonetheless.

After all, if someone would have been telling me that the Habs would still be playing hockey on May 19th, I would have said they were nucking futs.

Unknown said...

@Mr Trivia - my hero for today. Smooches to you. Thank you.

You're nicer than me. I don't forgive shit that easy, especially about McSplooge.

Unknown said...

Markov out for 6 FUCKING MONTHS! Motherfucker Penguins asshole needs a good rash in a nasty place! A pox on that fucktard! Cooke? Was it Cooke? If it wasn't a pox on him too! A pox on all the flightless fucking birdies!

ARGGGGGGHHHHH!

lawyergirl77 said...

Fuck.

Oh well. Rushing him back would have been a mistake anyway, so I'm glad at least the "will he or won't he?" game is now done.

Public Domain said...

well that was a little disheartening.. I almost asked moeman for "Un Canadien Errant" but maybe not..

@LDude - how touching that you should consider those of us without cable.

Anyway, nothing a double-batch cant fix:

GLUG GLUG GLUG GLUG GLUG

.........

cool

Pronger gets terminal diarrhea! Pleks gets 5 goals in Game 6! Gagne's granmamma convices him to toss! Hartnell's hairdo gets caught in ventilation system - some bystanders injured. AK & SK go all Sedin!! Walsh tells Jaro what's really at stake! and... are those wine gums? I love wine gums.

Gotta go.

Go Habs Go!

p.s. please get better Andrei, we shall need you next March.

soperman said...

@ "Leighton > Halak"

56 shots in two games? He hasn't earned the right to wipe the snow off Jaro's skates!

moeman said...

@tislo, yup.

Unknown said...

@ldude. Just to let you know there actually is a city in Canada that you can't get CBC without cable. Victoria, BC. We're a fucking capital city, and you can't get fucking CBC, which in my eyes makes them even worse considering I pay for that Habs hating bullshit, and then have to pay for it again on my cable bill.

Anonymous said...

LONG LIVE DJ COLE SLAW!!!11

Random Hab Girl said...

Anonymous (the one who talks about Philly fucktards haha): I LOVE YOU. I feel better now.

EVERYONE ON THIS BLOG, INCLUDING THE CREATORS: I LOVE YOU TOO!!!!!!!!! you are so creative, intelligent, funny and authentic. Best Habs blog ever. Seriously. Reading all your comments (even at work) has been part of my amazing habs experience this year. Don't stop believing until it's over, whenever that is-
And you know what, we're back to where we were. The underdogs. Anything can happen. I had a sick feeling this morning, but am feeling much more optimistic tonight.