Habs take 60-minute nap: Panthers 2, Hyde 1

So here's the summary of what went down last night: zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz....

Whoops sorry. Feel asleep there for a moment. Like I did last night several times while watching that crap. Like this team, who seemed to fall asleep for 60 minutes. 17 shots. No effort whatsoever. Skating? Ha! In your dreams. Work ethic? Not to be seen. Going hard to the puck? Yeah right. Any semblance of offensive pressure whatsoever? Now you're just being silly. A huge four-point game, and we just failed to show up.

I'm totally dumbfounded as to what to write. How can this be the same team that went into New Jersey and won, who came home to face the Rangers and dominated? Remember that whole Jekyll 'n Hyde thing we had going last year? It's back, baby!

So here's your review: Habs Suck. For today at least.

Jekyll 4, Hyde 3

After building big leads in the first half of the last two games, only to a) blow one on Sunday and b) almost blow another last night, HF29 has pointed out the Habs are playing like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. So here a breakdown of last night's game, Jekyll & Hyde style. (Remember, Jeykll is the good one. I always forget.)

Jekyll: the first line combined for 9 points, with Turtleplek potting two (meaning he's just one behind Mr. Spezza). Big Tits again shows why he'll be on the main stage all night.
Hyde: the old number one line is either in the press box (Milk Carton), headed to the forth line (HF10's former Boy Higgins), or benched for half of the third after yet another stupid, lazy, offensive zone obstruction call (Captain K). Trade 'em all.

Jekyll: Offensive zone pressure, cycling the puck, and making tape-to-tape passes. This was Dance a dix line's strength, but Maxim Mag's line was strong on the forecheck, too. At least in the first half of the game.
Hyde: At the 10 minute mark of the seconds (exactly the moment when TurtlePlek scored his second and the Habs' forth), the team made the collective decision that Ottawa was beaten and they could take the rest of the night off. Yeah, because conference leaders take alot of nights off.

Jekyll: No penalties taken in the first half of the game. Way to stay disciplined!
Hyde: two (2!) over-the-glass delay of game penalties. Way to stay disciplined.

Jekyll: CristoWall stoning Randy (I wish I were Luc) Robitaille in the second.
Hyde: HeuT not dealing with traffic in his crease and waving his pad at the puck on the third goal.

Jekyll: Swiss Mister beating the Swiss Sister (Gerber) from 40 feat.
Hyde: Streit leaving as a UFA this summer cause of Carbo's messing with him. Pick a position , Guy!

Jekyll: Breezer only playing 12 minutes.
Hyde: Breezer being in the lineup and NOT IN THE TRUNK WHERE HE BELONGS, DAMMIT.

Ok quickly back to the usual:

Plan the Parade: Habs break a 6 game losing streak again the Sens and pull to within a point of the Division and Conference lead.

Sky is Falling: Almost blowing another big lead. This team seems to need a gritty vet to calm things down when the going gets tough - a vet who can win some defensive zone faceoffs in the last minute (unlike Captain K). At least Garth Murray didn't have to take the draw.

Chez Paree bound: the only thing getting blown around the Habs these days are leads.

Next Evil, EVIL foe: The Leafs visit on Thursday, coming off an 8-0 spanking by Florida last night. MaCabe might be back, which is both good and bad news I suppose. We hope Mats will be a Canuck by then. And we hope Raycroft gets the start (Raaaaay crooofftt...).