Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Eight is Enough: Caps Game Preview and Open Thread

Eight straight. That's how many games the Caps have won in a row with their new lineup and commitment to defence. Are the Habs behind the 8-ball or, as Dick Van Patten would say, Eight is Enough?

Live on the Ocho!: 7:00 (8:00 if not for Daylight Savings Time - stupid farmers costing me an hour's sleep) from the soon-to-be Don Cherry Safety Approved Bell Centre. On RDS and real coast-to-coast TSN. McSplooge or Benoit Brunet? Bob McKenzie or Joel Bouchard? Sound off and radio? Anyone else want to exhume Danny Gallivan and let him and 113 year old Dick Irvin handle this?

I now declare thee the "Not So Great" 8: So, Alex. You've spent your entire NHL career gunning 50+ goals a year, freewheeling, not really backchecking, throwing reckless hits and winning squat. And now your team seems to have figured out defence, you've toned down the borderline cheap shots and with your team firmly in the mix for 1st overall in the conference, we notice you are on pace for 32 goals and 84 points. You and your "defensively responsible" teammates don't scare us! 32 goals? Milan Lucic is on pace for 32 goals, you scrub. Crosby has 32 goals already and he hasn't played in two months. Go back to the KHL you ... pardon? 17 points in his last 13 games, huh? Shit. Okay, maybe he's the "Still Pretty Great" 8.

Also great right now? Rookie Caps goalie Braden Holtby went 4-0 with a 1.05 goals-against average, a .965 save percentage and two shutouts last week, and Carey Price has won 5 of 6 with a 1.17 GAA, a .965 save percentage and a pair of shutouts too. Squid has 3 points in his last three. Plex has 4 in 4. Travis Moen(!) has points in 5 straight games and his work with Lego and Big Tits is invaluable at the moment. For the Caps, Alex Semin has 6 points in 6 and rookie centreman Marcus Johansson has 3 points in 3 games replacing injured Nik Backstrom as Ovie's centre.

Eight Men Out: Not the story of Montreal's defence. Although with Markov (right knee surgery), Gorges (ditto), Spacek (ditto ditto) out and newcomer Brent Sopel (broken hand) questionable, it's close. Wiz still feeling effects of puck smashy face day in Edmonton. Cammy is flu-ridden but probable. Drache has a groin, still out. And I don't know if you've heard, but Max Pacioretty got hurt last week on a "routine hockey play". Sure hope Zdeno Chara doesn't get hurt in a "routine gangland style hit" or something. Be a shame for someone with no prior disciplinary record.

Caps missing Backstrom (broken hand), goalie Semyon Varlomov (knee), and rover Mike Green with - wait for it - a concussion. Another star attraction out with a concussion, you say? Keep whistling past the graveyard, Bettman, YOU FUCKING IDIOT. Goalie Michael Neuvrith is probable for tonight. His injury is listed as "facial". Don't even go there.

[Side bar: Caps 8 game winning streak and renewed commitment to defence coincides with clever deadline trades for Jason Arnott and Dennis Wideman, but also loss of "defenceman" Mike Green. Not gonna read anything into that at all.]

Eighty Year's War: No, not the Bruins and Habs. The Eighty Year's War started with protests in the Seventeen Provinces against the rule of Phillip II of Spain, the sovereign of the Habsburg Netherlands. Here's hoping the protest/demonstration planned for HabsBurg (aka the corner of de la Montagne and Avenue des Canadiens-de-Montréal) this evening is more peaceful but still results in the ousting of the ineffectual, dictatorial leadership the NHL is dying under. Everyone just try and keep your Beeldenstorm under control, okay?

Eighteen?: Better be sure before you go in the champagne room, fella.

Got any thing to add about the Great 8, today's protest or the underrated comic genius of Willie Aames?  Add it in the comments.

147 comments:

Mr. natural said...

@le numero 10:

LOL PHunny, good one, Txs.


PHucken' last minute customer is gonna PHuck up my watching the game tonight, GOD I hate customers.

I feel like PHuckPHace Bettman and the NHL attitude towards the fans.

Anyway, time for another big game, as wise old Mr. n has told you all before we play to the level of the competition, so WATCH OUT! We will fly tonight!

That is all.

Oh ya...GYMFHG!

Die PHuckPHace Die!

Steve said...

Willie Aames, he was funny like Buttman is presidential.

This is another playofflike game for our Habbies. Campbell does not have any children playing for Washington, advantage Montreal. Russia mob will entertain OVEY, advantage Montreal. TFS in net Advantage Montreal.

GYGHG

Mr. natural said...

@steve Russian mob entertaining Ovie, good point, I missed that....rookie mistake.

Steve said...

Well its not written up to the FHF standards but who cares if the cat is black or white as long as it goes after Buttman.fuckface For the last time there is no traveling in hockey.

Young HF29 said...

Bruce Boudreau / Dick VanP - separated at birth?

Nice job 10 and GG! "puck smashy face day" is outstanding

soperman said...

@ 29

If Boudreau and Dick Van P are twins that PHat PHuck Boudreau is the evil dick twin. See the link to his phucking rant on the Hockey News. Shithead.


http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/39077-Capitals-coach-Boudreau-tells-Habs-fans-protesting-Pacioretty-hit-to-stay-home.html

Mr.natural said...

@all: Ya but DVP could probably out coach Boudreau in the palyoff.

Mr. natural said...

DOH!...playoffs.

UK3X said...

Loving the fact you lot moved the clocks on the weekend. Makes this game start at 11 tonight - Whoopee!

Now GYMFCHG!

Anonymous said...

Hating Boudreaux...

Steve said...

He is in my doghouse for his Cherryism, but I love his back story, and that he is a players coach, if not a good coach. I would trade him for Chocula, stupid as that would probably be.

Young HF29 said...

you know, i was waffling as to whether to go to the protest. now Boudreau has FORCED me to go. well done Bruce

Kate said...

About two minutes after I typed my comment this morning , I knew who Allen was. Duh. Two duhs in two days. I need a vacation.

Anyway, who cares what that weeble Boudreau has to say. I hope JM outcoaches him tonight, again. And I hope the Caps crash and burn in the first playoff round, again.

Steve said...

Get your Chara Voodo dolls here, guaranteed to burn without greenhouse gases.

moeman said...

What has Fuckface Boudreau ever won. Shut the fuck up you fat midget.

Young HF29 said...

ok im off to the protest. if i dont make it back alive, tell mom of 29 i love her

moeman said...

Can I have your ovenmitts?

Fishfeet said...

I'm with the Bruce on that one. Maybe Campbell will get his head outta his ass with 30,000 tailgate partiers outside his empty arenas.

iRiRi said...

Boudreau on head shots: ‘You don’t like it, don’t come’ http://natpo.st/flk3gp

Actually, Mr. Boudreau, no, I don't like watching a talented young player (with a bright future ahead of him) get viciously shoved head-first into a stanchion and subsequently concussed but maybe that's just me.

P.S. Max just tweeted this: "Going to the game tonight to show the boys some support.. going to be good to see everyone again.. #biggame"

Do it for PatCHes! GYFHG!

McPhee said...

And asswipe shaved gorilla just tweeted this :

MMMMMGGGHHHHRRRRRRR...BWAA-BWABWABWABWA-PPRRRRTTTT!!!!

Young HF29 said...

sorry moe the oven mitts remain in my kitchen (or bedroom for now)

i declare the protest a bust. maybe a couple of hundred people, along with a hundred press. very peaceful. could barely even mount a decent Go Habs Go chant, let alone any violence. the most important thing I learned was that John Lu is not very tall. and he smokes. there may be a connection

Young HF29 said...

p.s. GYFCHG! DIFP!

moeman said...

oh oh tsn says Habs are 'playing tremendous hockey'.

Steve said...

Fuck how the fuck did the French ever manage the French revolution or even the quiet revolution. Make no mistake their is a anti Montreal bias at NHL and in Canada central asshole, Toronto. Lame fuckers, Gadaffi would have you at hello.

Young HF29 said...

who the fuck is Braden Holtby

iRiRi said...

Huh?

Young HF29 said...

HOW ABOUT WE FIX THE FUCKING BOARDS IN THE BELL CENTRE

FUCK FUCK

moeman said...

cheapass goal. STFU mcsplooge.

Young HF29 said...

MOEmaN!!!! hahahahahahahaha

moeman said...

MOEmaN! Shove that up your ass mcsplooge.

iRiRi said...

Moen!!!

Steve said...

@29 the teargas at the riot has scrambled your brain, he is a goalie that no one ever heard of.

Young HF29 said...

fuck yeah Mara. kick some ass

Young HF29 said...

that's going upstairs. uh oh

Steve said...

I can not believe it, this game is not on pirate radio, or am I just in the wrong dimension?

iRiRi said...

UGH.

moeman said...

Not even close. STFU! mcsplooge.

Fuckface doesn't have intent but a ref does? heh, stupid fuckers.

moeman said...

Meant: Fuckface chara doesn't have intent but a ref does? heh, stupid fuckers.

Steve said...

Okay I closed one eye and found it

iRiRi said...

What about "intent to blow"?

Young HF29 said...

so i says to the hooker, "I'm not paying for that!" she says, "well I intended to blow"

iRiRi said...

I'll take it!

Young HF29 said...

woo! one for the good guys

Steve said...

What is the call going to be from Toronto, goal, but goal

moeman said...

Nice premature celebration eh Hendricks. Come on Bubba Boudreau lose your mind you Fuckface.

Unknown said...

INTENT TO BLOW! INTENT TO BLOW!

iRiRi said...

FUCK YEAH INTENT TO BLOW!

moeman said...

CHez Parée gals should refuse to dance for Fuckface Boudreau and laugh at his tiny little CHub.

Unknown said...

What a stupid rule. Ugh.

If I believed in "karma", I'd be worried right now.

iRiRi said...

Hey Brucey, if you don't like the call...

moeman said...

Speaking of intent, I intended on asking iRiRi about the streaking video but I won't.

Steve said...

Not to bash Gomez but he just made two tape to tape passes to Washington

iRiRi said...

Well, um, you see, I intended on posting it but, err, decided it needs a few re-shoots. If only the Habs would win tonight... (and Thursday. Oh yeah, Friday too...) Is that too much to ask?

moeman said...

Do your best with the reshoots iRiRi. Also, too, use the iZoom, a lot.

moeman said...

ack

Young HF29 said...

FUCK.

moeman said...

STFU! mcsplooge.

Young HF29 said...

srsly, STFU mcsplooge

iRiRi said...

I miss Pittsburgh.

Steve said...

TFS against the world and Nuclear meltdown

iRiRi said...

JESUS PRICE!

Young HF29 said...

well it could have been worse

for your between period entertainment, i put up a new post with pics and commentary from the protest. enjoy

Number31 said...

MVP!MVP!MVP!

Any and all bad bounces are due to the huge amounts of bull shit in the rink this weekend. And I mean that literally.

moeman said...

dreger, still carrying burke's nutsack.

iRiRi said...

Awesome reporting, 29!

Steve said...

According to Pirate Radio Gill and TFS are headed to Hamilton, fuck, we could have used them

Young HF29 said...

thx iRi and everyone

ok cmon Habs, let's get some competence going

Number31 said...

Boudreau asking the ref for ice cream?

Number31 said...

Hannan has a higher save percentage than Holtby.

moeman said...

Tits!

Young HF29 said...

TITS!!!!!

iRiRi said...

Big Tits!

moeman said...

mcsplooge quit blowing Fuckface Boudreau and STFU!

Young HF29 said...

sure, just hit the black man, no penalty

moeman said...

29 knows.

Number31 said...

Halpern hurt. Le sigh...

iRiRi said...

In the words of Kanye, "Gary 'Bush' Bettman doesn't care about black people".

moeman said...

With mcsplooge's splooges you'd think it was 7-1 Caps.

moeman said...

Holy shit Mex shot, the puck.

Young HF29 said...

again, knock down the black man, no penalty

Number31 said...

Annoying thing is I saw the ref really hesitate to make any calls right there. Boudreau promised him ice cream.

Oh well, at least we have Price!

Young HF29 said...

STFU MCSPLOOGE FFS

moeman said...

mcsplooge, STFU!

moeman said...

DDD on the PK, mention that mcsplooge, you fuck.

moeman said...

Nope, mcsplooge blows Semen.

iRiRi said...

Gotta love DD's feistiness!

moeman said...

How many more on the line offsides?

Number31 said...

JESUS PRICE!

McPhee said...

Can you smeLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL??????

PLAYOFFS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Steve said...

offside, no the call from Buttman was offside

iRiRi said...

Price is ridiculous right now.

P.S. Go BlueJackets!

Number31 said...

Wiz hurt. Dropping like flies...

moeman said...

Go Canes, tomorrow.

iRiRi said...

And Pleks to the room. FML.

It's like a freakin' parade going past Joel Bouchard.

moeman said...

tsn's Duthie, "oh yeah, I suppose toronto". Ya think? Maybe check your own website once in a while for parade updates.

Steve said...

I love big Tits, always have, keep him on the team lego. He has a world class shot par none

Young HF29 said...

Wiz back in at least

STFU TSN generally

Number31 said...

Has Holtby made any saves...?

Young HF29 said...

good interview Mr. Lu. you recovered from our banging strippers pretty quickly

Number31 said...

Also fix the fucking boards! Bull riders broke the Bell Centre.

bea.habs.fan said...

they are being outshot. Thank god Price is out of this world.
I started on TSN but all I heard was splooge waxing lyrical about Carlson and all things Washington.
barfed in my mouth each time.
switched to RDS

wild game with amazing goaltending.
Price is keeping us in

UK3X said...

Well that was a better period...I'm streaming the Washington feed and wouldn't you know it - they are pretty even handed in the commentary - even doing a feature on Guy Lafleur in the intermission. Classy! And McSplonge free!

Steve said...

wonderful tribute to the flower, you wont see that on the CBC

Orangeman said...

Just catching up here. Good to see our boys keeping up (barely). I think someone posted the link to Bodreau's comments regarding the protesters. So, these guys are telling the sponsors AND the fans to suck it. Who do they think pays their salaries? What kind of business do they think they're in? I think it shows the mentality of the old boys club in the NHL.

Anyway, that's 2 emotionally unstable coaches who were embarrassed by the Habs in the playoffs that have spoken out against us. But we're the biased ones, remember.

Boy I'd like to stab them in the cock.

GYFHG!

Kate said...

So Caps got a goaltender that reminded them of Price? We have the real thing, so fuck off Boobreau, Ovie, McSplooge et al.

Oooooh, TSN thinks the Habs can do some damage in the playoffs. Fuck, now we're jinxed.

Unknown said...

Missed the second. Sounds like Price is playing okay? ;)

Steve said...

Yeah baby Stab him good, oh fuck just lost pirate radio.

Steve said...

Do Damage in the playoffs, well if we bought Micheal Jacksons Hyberbolic Chamber and we feed our boys some good herbs, can you imagine the full fucking team, ahhh to high to fast going to crash now

iRiRi said...

Halpern and Pleka both done for the night. Time for Mex to step it up.

Young HF29 said...

plexxxe out too??? im dying here

moeman said...

cheap

Young HF29 said...

CRAP CRAP CRAP

Number31 said...

Buzzkill. Price deserves a better team...

bea.habs.fan said...

fuck

Number31 said...

Ref missed that hand on the puck behind Holtby's net in that trainwreck just before.

Orangeman said...

CLB 2 bos 1 7 mins left. I guess the guys saw the scoreboard. Like I said, everytime they get close...

moeman said...

meh, I predict the Caps are out in the first round and Fatface Boudreau gets bounced.

Young HF29 said...

you can hear a pin drop.

JUST ONE GOAL. FOR PATCHES

bea.habs.fan said...

does anybody know what happend to PleXXXe?

Orangeman said...

Well I jinxed that. 2-2 now.

moeman said...

Fuck PFK is beautiful to watCH.

Young HF29 said...

mcsplooge feels bad for the habs for a change. finally realizes we have injuries

someday DDD will bury all those

Orangeman said...

DDD is great and everything, but that's about the third awesome opportunity I've seen him flub since the late 2nd.

moeman said...

Tits' goal was the CH's 11000th, 9000 were scored on the leaf and the Fuckface Bruins.

moeman said...

cuthbert sounds prickish.

Young HF29 said...

ONE GOAL. FOR PATCHES

Young HF29 said...

DO IT ON THE PP. FOR PATCHES

man that "protest" has me all worked up

Kate said...

Wonder if Price is McSplooge's monster.

iRiRi said...

I should point that PatCHes met with the medical staff and his teammates but didn't stay for the game.

But still, FOR PATCHES.

please?

iRiRi said...

COME THE FUCK ON.

moeman said...

heh

Young HF29 said...

nice make up call

Young HF29 said...

feh

iRiRi said...

ARGH.

moeman said...

ack

Number31 said...

Too much booze in the Habs room? Sloppy play. And wow Hamr, don't try too hard to work the pass...

Orangeman said...

No one on this team wants to win tonight, besides Price. It's unbelievably frustrating to watch.

Get an elusive PP down by one. Somehow manage to turn it into being down by 2.

bea.habs.fan said...

well there's the game
double fuck

Number31 said...

Of course, let's put Hamr right back out there!

scorewatcher said...

crap night all around

Young HF29 said...

meh. pass the meth

habs.fan.bea said...

bouchard just sounded completely moronic

there are games you're not meant to win but if you do it screws up the next 2 because you won a game you shouldn't have won?
it made just as much sense in French

Orangeman said...

Whatever. There's something psychological about this team that's not letting them reach 1st. I'm not surprised anymore. Just stay in a playoff position.

moeman said...

TFS™ deserved ore support. Caps beat half a team. They ain't goin' far and Fatface Boudreau will be calling burke.

Number31 said...

Whatevs. I bet McSplooge is drooling over Holtby's irrelevance together with Optimus Reim.

I bet Boudreau will still find something to bitch about.

Pleasedon'tbehurtforlongPlekanec. Ican'ttakeanymoreinjuries.
Bulldogscan'ttakeanymoreemergencycallupseither.

Number31 said...

Patches claims he's ahead of schedule. That kid is something special. Or seriously needs to be tied down.

Kate said...

Speaking of munCHies, I could go for some corn puffs. Styrofoam with salt. Yum.