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Canadiens warm-up for playoffs with win over lowly Leafs

TIM WHARNSBY

Globe and Mail Update

Latest comment posted at 12:38 AM EST 06/04/08

In the regular-season finale for Montreal and Toronto, the Canadiens were good enough for a 3-1 win
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  1. Montgomery C. Burns from Springfield, Canada writes: What a gutless play by Apple Turnover on Habs rookie. As much as I dislike the Habs, it was great to see the Leafs lose the final game of the season. What a disappointing year for them finishing in 12th place a full 9 points out of 9th.
  2. Unit Shifter from Canada writes: The Habs look powerful.
    What do you think Scot Louks?
  3. Unit Shifter from Canada writes:
    <span style='font-weight:bold;'>Good to see Kovalev jumping in to the fray.</span>
  4. Paul, Bytown, from Canada writes: Why is this even being reported? The habs made it, the Leafs....Cricket sounds in the back ground.
  5. Montgomery C. Burns from Springfield, Canada writes: Just finished reading the piece, 'Why The Leafs Stink' in Macleans. It makes Peddie look like $hit and rightly so. The latest news is a ticket scandal uncovered at MLSE. Check out The Toronto Star for the article.
  6. Mariposa Belle from Leacockland, Canada writes: The Canadiens are not a team filled with exceptional talent. They work within a system and respect the coach.

    This is why they they are on top of the East, rather than the Sens.

    Carbo may lose to Boudreau for the Jack, but Gainey is a GM that other teams wish they had.

    Still hoping for a Sens-Habs Eastern final.
  7. Scot Loucks from Pickering, Canada writes: Good stuff... and goodbye Raycroft and I hope McMistake after that cheap slash and spear at the end.

    So Montreal gets the Bruins.... gotta like that habs fans.
    Ottawa goes up against Washington or Pittsburgh.... ouch.

    I figure New York takes out New Jersey which leaves Phili playing whomever doesn't play Ottawa.

    Ottawa fans better hope that Don Cherry is right and a more relaxed Sens team goes into the playoffs....

    I'm picking Phili to lose..... the big question in the east in the first round is going to be Ottawa.... Do we get Senators from October? or do we get the current version.

    -------------------

    Nice goal by Bell.... is he worth another look next fall? He certainly was a different player once he got some ice time and he brought some grit that was severely lacking on this leaf team.

    Glad to hear Cherry mention Jay Harrison...

    Apparently Williams can't play for the Marlies because he would have to clear waivers.... that's too bad. He would have helped them.

    Didn't you just love that first goal on Raycroft? And people wonder why he didn't play more... LOL.

    Cheers
  8. Howard Young from Canada writes: Why did McCabe slash the kid and follow it up with a few spears? If he had a problem with him he should have just dropped the gloves right off the bat.
  9. Howard Young from Canada writes: According to HNIC, a Montreal - Boston 1st round meeting is inevitable.
  10. Montgomery C. Burns from Springfield, Canada writes: McCabe is a gutless puke. Perhaps he was working on his chip shot when he takes to the links next week.
  11. Beer and Popcorn from Canada writes: Time to kiss the muskoka five goodbye
  12. Canadian First from st. Catharines, Canada writes: Nothing but a team of no-talent, no-class greaseballs, put together by idiots and led by, at best, a mediocre coach. The only really good thing about the Laffs is their fans - gotta love 'em for sticking with this bunch of losers.
  13. Dave Morris from Ottawa, writes: Montreal-Boston will be a great and hard fought series...Claude Julien also has something to prove. The Canadiens in their post game interviews all had the right perspective: it's all about winning another Stanley Cup. Anybody who's seen a game at the old Forum during the glory days knows tradition is an intangible that gives the Habs an advantage. Gainey and Carbo know it, and they have transmitted that to their players. Kovalev has hoisted a Cup...he's ready to win another one. Great mix. Balanced scoring from speedy forwards; excellent defensemen, Markov, Hamrlik, Komisarek, Streit, Bouillon, with O'Byrne, Gorges, Brisebois and Dandenault in relief...and Price is playing like Ken Dryden did...maybe better? We'll see...
  14. Howard Young from Canada writes: Congratulations to the Habs on a great regular season. The pundits originally predicted they wouldn't even make the playoffs.

    Continue playing like giants and manhandled the Bruins.

    I hope the Sens can pull it together and meet the Habs late in the playoffs.
  15. Mariposa Belle from Leacockland, Canada writes: Scot - McCabe is Johnny Walker Red on skates. Overpriced with no talent and a nasty aftertaste.

    Maurice, after yesterday's interview, is a dead man walking. He may have burnt whatever career he had in the NHL with yesterday's bonfire.

    As for the Habs - they can go a long way listening to Carbo - if they don't, they will crack and crumble. Carbo and Bob are the reason the Habs play as a team. Probably the best 'team' in the league.
  16. Scot Loucks from Pickering, Canada writes: The one thing I noticed tonight that Montreal... especially their D... don't give the puck away very much. A total of 10 giveaways and two were by Price. No other player had more than 1.

    Meanwhile the Leafs had 16 and I think that was generous as they only counted Blake for one. But Kaberle had 3, their other Defensemen had like 2 each... except for Kronwall.. he only had 1.

    McMistake had only 1 according to the stats... but he was avoiding touching the puck.

    Cheers
  17. M K from Canada writes: Montgomery C Burns wrote “The latest news is a ticket scandal uncovered at MLSE. Check out The Toronto Star for the article.” Oh me oh my! - a ticket scandal, let’s all run and look at that article boys and girls...pfft! Another example of Leafs fans (aka drama queens) getting themselves in a tizzy over another non-story. WHO CARES! You girls go read your ticket story, the rest of us will watch our teams play in the playoffs.

    Scottie Lookes wrote: “So Montreal gets the Bruins.... gotta like that habs fans. Ottawa goes up against Washington or Pittsburgh.... ouch.” Actually, swift, we won’t know who will face who until after tomorrow’s games. A Flyers win in extra time (a distinct possibility) will mean Montreal vs Ottawa.

    One things is for sure though, Springtime means golf time for the Leafs. Hahahaha! Glad we could help you out the door with that azz whoopin Thurs night. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out. Enjoy the links. Three years in a row...ouch.
  18. Scot Loucks from Pickering, Canada writes: M K from Canada writes:

    Scottie Lookes wrote: “So Montreal gets the Bruins.... gotta like that habs fans. Ottawa goes up against Washington or Pittsburgh.... ouch.” Actually, swift, we won’t know who will face who until after tomorrow’s games. A Flyers win in extra time (a distinct possibility) will mean Montreal vs Ottawa.

    -------------------------

    Uh.... no it won't genius. Monteal would be in first and Boston 8th.

    But what can we expect from a poor little Sens fan....

    Just for you .... Sens out in 5.
  19. garlick toast from Canada writes: mtl. has 7 players with 50 points.they went from a team of 4th liners to a team of 2nd liners.that,combined with a solid defence and carey price might be enough to put them over the top.
    i can't get over how well hal gill plays now that he's a pen.as a leaf he always looked stunned on the ice,like he didn't know where to stand.now he moves,blocks shots and makes good outlet passes.it must be the improved coaching.
  20. j q from Canada writes: Congrats to the Habs on a great season! Hope for more of the same beginning next week. I'm not defending McCabe, but Stewart cross checked him in the back pushing him towards the boards at the end of a nothing game. McCabe should've just let it go. I didn't much like the reactive slash or spear.

    Some of the Habs seem to be making another statement beyond their first place finish with a little gamesmanship. The Plekanec butt end on Stajan, and then Kostitsyn's shove on Stajan going to the bench seemed a bit over the top. With the partying going on, I don't begrudge the Habs fans overlooked the fact that they essentially beat half of the AHL Marlies squad with the back up goalie between the pipes.

    Well, to all other leaf fans, we know how to take our lumps and move on. Best of luck to the Habs, Sens and Flames!!
  21. brad maddigan from Canada writes: Habs look ready for the playoffs. They had this one in cruise from the 2nd period on. Team speed was responsible for several Leaf penalties. Montreal matches up well with the Bruins. I like their chances. Go Habs go!.
  22. King Dong from Kingston, Canada writes: Leafs exit with a whimper. Big surprise. Looks like Montreal and Boston. Lucky for them they avoid Ottawa in the first round. Should be interesting to see how they fare against Boston and big Chara in a play-off series. If they get through to the second, I doubt it will be without injuries. Should be a rough and tumble series.
  23. Howard Young from Canada writes: MK, you must employ different stats people than HNIC. They never indicated that Ottawa could play MTL, they said either Pitts or Washington depending on what Pittsburgh does against Philly.
  24. brad maddigan from Canada writes: King Dong, have you been in a coma for the past 6 weeks? Ottawa is a team in a deep spiral who will be lucky to win a playoff game. Montreal pounded the Sens in the last 2 meetings. Or are you one of those Sens fans still in denial thinking they can recapture their spirit from last October. Good luck with that. As for Boston, they work hard, and they do have Chara, but they also have lost 10 straight to the Habs, and regardless of what the players might say publicly, the Bruin players have let Montreal get into their heads. Maybe they can get them out, but don't bet the house and the car on it.
  25. j q from Canada writes: It's interesting what Cherry said about Lecavalier's injury. I saw the hit by Cooke on one of the highlights and wondered why there wasn't a greater outcry. Just goes to show what little impact there is playing in non rabid hockey markets. You can bet that Bell's hit on Alfie will be debated and recalled ad nauseum.
  26. Pat Billings from CDN, Canada writes: The leafs proved to us once more that they are a sore losing classless orgnanization.

    First, Tucker who was invisible all night decides to fight Gorges, who doesn't fight. I gues Tucker didn't want to be on the ice for the final whistle.

    Moore throwing cheap crosschecks. He's getting in the leaf spirit.

    Worst of all. McCabe first slashes and then throws TWO spears on Stewart, a first-game rookie. Too bad, it was the end of the game b/c I would have liked for McCabe to come back on the ice and get what he truly deserved. McCabe is not just terrible at hockey but he's also gutless.

    I'm glad the Habs made it out without any injuries. It could have been worse, a meaningless game against a cheap sore losing group usuallly gets ugly.
  27. Alberto Bayo from Canada writes: Excellent ending to a excellent season. Price was his usual solid self, AK27 leads the way, and the rookie Stewart was feisty and made an impact. First place for now and a quarter-final match-up against our favorite whipping boys...the Bruins. Nice to see that big grin on Higgins face. Get well soon Captain K. you'll be needed.
    I like that one sign in the stands tonight...'It smells like 1986'
    Oh...that McCabe...what an a**hole. GO HABS GO
  28. Dave S from GTA, Canada writes: Looks like some of the Leafs want to change their colours to blue & yellow. Maybe next year.
  29. Joel S. from Toronto, Canada writes: Habs fans, I hope you're not putting too much stock in this result tonight. A lot of Marlies on the team, and a bunch of losers on the ice who were probably thinking about how it is their last game as a Leaf.

    I really hope the massive changes that need to take place actually do. Jim Balsillie should have been the best thing ever for this organization. Unfortunately I have little hope for the future of this team, they're even bungling the GM search.
  30. John McMortimer-Boyles from An Undisclosed Underground Location Safe From Nuclear Attack, Canada writes: Well done Habs!!

    Anyway, it will be Habs against Boston in the first round. If Pittsburgh loses their last game, Montreal will be top of the conference and Boston will be 8th. If Pittsburgh wins, Montreal will be second and Boston will be 7th. Either way, Montreal plays Boston.

    Ottawa will play Washington if Pittsburgh wins. Ottawa will play Pittsburgh if Pittsburgh loses.

    The only one certain in the Eastern Conference right now is that New Jersey will play the Rangers.
  31. garlick toast from Canada writes: ottawa had better bring their A game to pittsburg.i don't think they can beat the pens the way they've been playing lately.
  32. Ziggy . from Canada writes: McMortimer-Boyles so are Montreal and Boston not in the Eastern Conference because for sure they are playing each other or did you forget what you just wrote.
  33. John McMortimer-Boyles from An Undisclosed Underground Location Safe From Nuclear Attack, Canada writes: Ziggy, you're right. I should have said the only things certain about the Eastern Conference is New Jersey will play the Rangers and Montreal will play Boston. Mea culpa.
  34. Proud Canadian from Canada writes: So from what I see, McApe was the be all end all tonite for the Laughs. He's been that way all year long, along with Tucker, Bell, Blake, Pavi. De plane comes back to Toronto tonite, the boys are invited to the ACC for 10 tomorrow morning to clean out their stalls, lockers, dont leave the trash behind, take it all with you. Get a room for a night, the plane leaves at 1505 Monday for Europe, the cruiser with the cottage kid Tucker is out after 1000 Monday morning(to allow no disturbance to the rush hour traffic) on a quick trip to Muskoka, and the McApe and the rest will be at Devil's Pulpit with the clubs in hand. First tee, 9AM. McApe, Cole, Cherry, Neale, with the caddie Millen. Twack, right down the right side into the pond..........
  35. Blair . from Vancouver, Canada writes: Joel S. from Toronto, Canada writes: Habs fans, I hope you're not putting too much stock in this result tonight. A lot of Marlies on the team, and a bunch of losers on the ice who were probably thinking about how it is their last game as a Leaf.

    Indeed, and Toronto, please not to cry to hard when you realize you were playing a team featuring a number of recent Hamilton Bulldogs. Price, O Byrne, Lapierre, SK, Stewart. Then look at the ages of Higgins, Pleks, Gui, Komi, AK. Difference is one teams kids can play, and one, well, can't.
  36. pierre lefebvre from Brossard, Canada writes: Soon a candidate for coach of Maple Leafs will become available. Stephane Dion could coach Toronto`s team using hand language instead of English words. Semaphore signals could be innovative for this team of losers. Last Stanley Cup in 1967 because Don Cherry does not deserve being rewarded for his basic instinct ideas...
  37. F. Trevor from Kelowna, Canada writes: Not to worry, Leafs fans.
    Through every series this year and right up to the cup final, Bob Cole and Don Cherry will find some excuse to talk about the Leafs.

    Cheers to next season, when we can look forward to Saturday after Saturday of watching the Leafs lose on Hockey Night in Toronto because Canada only has one team, right?

    Take a hint, CBC.
  38. Scot Loucks from Pickering, Canada writes: Blair . From Vancouver....

    You are correct .... more that half the Montreal team is only in their first or second year in the NHL.

    and Kudos to Montreal.... I am cheering for them in the playoffs.

    But Joel S is still correct... in terms of games played.... the Leafs were the AHL... and you have to admit.. the first two goals were definitely RAYCROFT goals.

    Cheers.
  39. Scot Loucks from Pickering, Canada writes: Good luck with that F. Trevor ....

    Try increasing your population.

    Cheers
  40. Rob Rocket from Thunder Bay, Canada writes: First round draw against Boston isn't something to be sanguine about. Winning streaks end, and the Bruins played the Habs very tightly in the last two games. It's the playoffs. New world.

    Stewart showed some skill in addition to 'grit'. He's come a long way the hard way and will hoist a Stanley Cup long before McCabe, whose cheap shot at the end was a sorry sight. Not ready for the cup this year (although with Price???) but there is so much talented youth on this team that, while the era of dynasties is over, they are going to be contenders for a long time.
  41. Scot Loucks from Pickering, Canada writes: Good post Rob Rocket... I agree with you.

    Cheers
  42. The Artist from Halifax, Canada writes: Scot Loucks writes:

    Good luck with that, Trevor F...

    Try increasing your population.

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    You are joking, Scott?

    There are 33 million Canadians and only 5 million in the GTA ...

    I think, Trevor F, is actually right on target with his wise comments...

    Take a hint, CBC !
  43. George S from Toronto, Canada writes: Way to go Habs! Nice to see Higgins pop a couple more in, he's been hot of late and I hope this streak continues into the playoffs. The Habs have had success against Boston this season but, I hope that the Habs don't relax too much,the playoffs are a whole new season.
  44. Al MacDonald from Cathedral of Hockey, Canada writes: Awesome season for the Habs. And the final game this year certainly makes up for the final game last year.......in spades. Getting the Bruins in the first round is just icing on the cake. Now does anybody think the CBC/HNIC will finally get it together or will we have to endure watching the Sens until they get eliminated?

    Go Habs Go!
  45. D W from Switzerland writes: re Leafs:
    weak analysis in current Macleans about why they are bad; so they sell out every game?, Montreal draws 21,000 a game forever and still makes the right moves to get back in cointention since Gillett took over the franchise;

    re Habs:
    2008 and 2009 could be historic franchise years, with a potential Stanley Cup run, the 100th anniversary of the franchise, the All-Star game, maybe an outdoor game at McGill, and potentially a championship core again with Dryden, oops, Price in nets -- les Canadiens sont la!!
  46. Allan Martel from Canada writes: It's all been said above - the gutless, classless McCabe and Tucker incidents - eloquent proof of their poison in any dressing room particularly one filled with newbies around which the Leafs must try to rebuild.

    A dysfuntional organisation from top to bottom, rotten to the core and in need of a fleet of exterminators. The gutless cheap shots must go; the whining excuse makers must go; the self-proclaimed myths of greatness must be expunged; the token individual efforts must go; the arrogance of Leaf Nation will never go, but it will be humbled by year after year of failure.

    The contrast with the Habs building on a positive tradition and using hockey smarts, great management and coaching and a team first approach could not be clearer. The standing ovations for Kovalev and the Habs team stood in marked contrast to the season at ACC with the boo birds in full flight most nights.
  47. Allan Martel from Canada writes: If the Leafs ever recover to become even a shadow of what they once were; if they can earn - yes earn - back the support of their fans then even the Leafs themselves will look back on these years as a black mark to be expunged from an otherwisw wirthwhile history.

    After the McCabe slashing and spearing at or after the end of the game against a new rookie playing his first game in the NHL, the Leafs should fire him. Not trade him, not buy him out - but instead, terminate his contract and fire him for cause - for conduct unbecoming a member of their organisation, conduct inconsistent with the values that the Leafs represent.

    But this too is dreaming, for McCabe's actions are completely consistent with current Leafs values and these too must change.

    The Habs should go deep into the playoffs; the sens - who knows - but I know that win or lose, the Sens will play with class reflecting the values and attitudes of brian Murray and the rest of a class organisation. That's one more thing that the Sens and Habs have in common and that the Leafs are sorely lacking.
  48. Allan Martel from Canada writes: So this is my last rant about the Leafs this year. It should be clear by now that it won't be thedraft or free agent signings created by cap room that will turn this organisation around. It will only be a complete housecleaning not only of players and management but of the values and attitudes that they bring to the game.

    Bobby Clarke and Brian Burke may be winners in some folks books, but they are simply other examples of the classless goon focused approach to this wonderful game that McCabe and Tucker personified so eloquently last night, hopefully on their last night also.
  49. King 99 from HockeyTown, Canada writes: I don't understand the headline that reads Habs sink lowly Leafs. If they were truly lowly wouldn't that indicate that they were in last place? The Leafs have the eight worst, or around there record. That's far from lowly. The Habs fans started to rub it in in the second period? What they thought that the Leafs were going to launch some sort of heroic comeback to beat and pass the Habs? Pretty insecure fans if you ask me. I don't imagine they were that cocky after about the tenth or even twenty'th game of the season. Be that as it may they had a great season(compared to the Sens) and may end up in the final. Now for Cliff the process should have started after the last horn. No matter what it takes you have to rid yourself of the '5', even Mats. I imagine Blake will be the hardest to get rid of because of the cap hit. Nobody will take him at that price, unless you send him down at the beginning of next season. You can't have Sundin back either because he started this mess. It's too bad becasue he's obviously been their workhorse but if you're going in a different direction....No more no-trades, specially No Movement.
  50. j q from Canada writes: Thank god the season is over. Though I bet the constant over the top, drive by slagging of the Leafs will continue. I notice that the 3M's reserve their vitriol strictly for one team all season with nary a post on the Nucks thread. While I think McCabe should've let Stewarts cross check in the back go without a response at games end and did not like the reaction, no one on these boards has wanted to talk about the Plekanec buttend on Stajan. So be it! Let's all just move on. Good luck to the Habs, Sens, and Flames in their quest.
  51. Earl Anthony from Canada writes: Congratulations to the Habs for giving us an unexpectably great season. Who would have thought on New Year's Eve 1975 (Red Army vs Canadiens) that the Habs would be closing out their 2008 season with a Russian captain! Great season for Kovalev.

    Kudos to Raycroft for a good game.
  52. Wally Grisold from Toronto, Canada writes: The great Leaf lampost (B. McCabe) will now try to play golf, I understand that the only time he ever hit 2 balls straight was when he stepped on a rake. Have a nice long summer on Long Island or Muskoka.
  53. Mr. Habs are the best from Canada writes: What a classless group of thugs. This team is exactly what is wrong with the NHL. Look at what happened at the end of the Vancouver game. Hand shakes and congratulations, we get idiots like McCabe and Tucker showing exactly what this organization is all about. Idiot players, idiot coaching staff, idiot managers, idiot owners and now we get thieves in the selling department who scalp their own tickets. As for Sundin, he has shown how selfish he is. He could'nt care less about the Laughs. Had he cared, he would have gone on a one month road trip with another team to help the "make beliefs" get something for the future. Nothing, nadda, ziltch. They get the same team of no trade clauses. The only clause they need is Santa Clause..... Also, I keep reading him being called a leader and great player. What the %$*& has he ever won. NOTHING AT ALL. He is a born loser. No leadership skills what-so-ever. Quebec (Colorado) won the cup after getting rid of this dead wood. I know, some will say he is a point per game player. Please, he is a selfish player who is in it for himself. I hope the Laughs sign Raycroft for 5 years with a no trade clause. They should re-sign the whole team for 10 years. I love seeing this bunch of misfits losing. Same thing next year please. By the way, Fletcher looks like he should be in a home somewhere with a nurse feeding him soft bananas in a corner. Ever seen "weekend at Bernie's"? This is more like Seasonend at Fletchies. That guy died 10 years ago and no one took the time to tell him. Whaaaaaaa haaaaaa haaaaaa LOSERS
  54. AJA M from Canada writes: From a Canadian hockey fan perspective the Leaf organization is an embarrassment. I assume that the Laff coach sent McCabe out in the last minutes of the game last night to get his pound of flesh as per his remarks after the Sens game. For an organization which has such a proud past it is a pain to watch the current group of "people" who they claim to represent Canadian hockey. Shameful!
  55. Doktor David from London, Canada writes: Have to admit that I was too busy with the NCAA's and doing some photography to take in the game last night. In a way I'm glad I missed most of it - a very sad display at the end and perhaps the last nail in this season's coffin. I don't really care what the motivating moments were: spearing an opponent is just plain thuggery.

    Enough said on that subject. I'll be watching with interest the playoff series that ensue. I'm happy the Caps made it in - the "feel good" story of the season in my opinion. I still think that Detroit winning the best overall is the quietest I can remember - they are a great big "thing" lurking in the weeds, folks; wouldn't surprise me in the least if they go all the way.

    Enjoy the march to the Cup!

    Cheers! (under license from SL)
  56. Verona Raven from United States writes: Leafs....kathud!
  57. W R from Canada writes: brad maddigan from Canada writes: Habs look ready for the playoffs..... Montreal matches up well with the Bruins. I like their chances. Go Habs go!.

    Montreal matches up well with the Bruins?? Montreal will destroy the Teddy Bears in four straight. No contest.
  58. Swifty J from Mtl, Canada writes: DW wrote: "weak analysis in current Macleans about why they are bad; so they sell out every game?, Montreal draws 21,000 a game forever and still makes the right moves to get back in cointention since Gillett took over the franchise;"

    Not so, DW. By the time Gillett took over you could wander down to the Molson Centre on game night and easily buy tickets at the box office. Once inside, there were plenty of empty seats and the atmosphere in the stands was as dreary as the team on the ice. When you have 21,000-plus seats, only filling 18,000 of them is a big deal. No doubt TV ratings weren't very good either.

    You can bet everyone in the Canadiens organization remembers those days very well and is working very hard to make sure they never return. And now even pre-season games sell out at full price.

    The Leafs simply haven't gone through something like that, and having a smallish seating capacity means they probably never will. So the basic point of the Macleans piece is right, though it's hardly news. Except like most articles of the kind, it glosses over the fact that playoff success is even better for business than simply selling out all the regular season games.

    While I admire Leafs' fans' loyalty, the fact is that many more of them need to turn off the TV, stop buying merch and stop going to games to really light a fire under the organization's collective behind.
  59. Swifty J from Mtl, Canada writes: I wish I could be as confident as WR that the Habs will simply roll over the Bruins. I very much hope they do, but expect the Bruins to put up a fight.

    If the Bruins try to play the intimidation card right off the bat, the Habs should triumph easily enough. If they play smart, disciplined hockey the games will be close. The Bruins have proven they can play smart and disciplined -- but they've only done so once or twice against the Habs this season.

    Which Bruins team will show up? Which Chara will show up? Can they disrupt the Habs' speed-and-finesse game without a parade to the penalty box? I don't think the answers to those questions are set in stone by any means.
  60. Ian m from United States writes: That "1967" chant is great - I hope fans the league wide pick it up next year (except for Chicago, of course).
  61. Timothy Philips from Canada, Canada writes: The universe is unfolding as it should.
  62. paddy o'reilly from Canada writes: Thank you Mr Habs. for the insight and the humour. ROFLMAO

    Last time I saw McCabe pull the slash-double-spear-to-the-groin routine was against Chara when he was still in Ottawa. Chara grabbed McWeasel and tossed him around the ice like the useless bag of crap that he is.

    Millen started to object to the McCabe mugging but petered out. Cherry said "it was good to see McCabe step up"'

    Very classy move by Iginla towards Linden. . . very classy.

    The two solitudes are alive and well.
  63. The Habs from Toronto, Canada writes: They will beat the B's but it will not be a walk. Glad no one got injured by the convict. I really was hoping that McGrattan would just show up and jump Bell and beat him to a pulp.

    Shades of '86 ? Caps in, which is great. 'Canes out...which is even better. Stamkos goes to the Lightning...Ovechkin MVP and hopefully the Calder to Price.
  64. rick binda from Montreal, Canada writes: How are the greens right now in Ontario?
  65. John Stanton from Canada writes: There should be no hyphen between "warm" and "up" in the headline, since this is a verb phrase. Hyphenation between "warm" and "up" is only proper for a noun phrase, as in "a vigorous warm-up." Similarly, "I predict the Sens will melt down in the playoffs; it will be a typical Ottawa melt-down."
  66. Verona Raven from United States writes: Golf and cocktails in Muskoka....in April. Seems like a regular thing in Leafland.
  67. Warren H from Canada writes: stanton; thanks for your usual in depth analysis. how long did it take you to come up with this post ? LMAO
  68. alex just a canadian from Canada writes: mcabe slash and spear on the kid with a couple of minutes left in a lost game should be sent to the campbell for disciplinary action. The game was lost, there was no reason other than being a sore loser. 10 game supension next season. This type of behaviour leafs or anybody else who are not in the playoffs MUST NOT BE TOLERATED just because they have nothing to lose. Of course campbell will turn a blind eye and who knows maybe it will be a Crosby next time, not a rookie. Even I though the Leafs players had a little class, guess not.
  69. Czar Nicholas from Ottawa, Canada writes: Congrats to a truely amazing season thus far for the Habs. With the age of this team, good solid seasons in the future look very likely.

    So where should Price rank for rookie of the year?

    I hope that Montreal and Ottawa play on alternate nights!
  70. Czar Nicholas from Ottawa, Canada writes: John Stanton from Canada writes: There should be no hyphen between "warm" and "up" in the headline, since this is a verb phrase. Hyphenation between "warm" and "up" is only proper for a noun phrase, as in "a vigorous warm-up." Similarly, "I predict the Sens will melt down in the playoffs; it will be a typical Ottawa melt-down."

    ---------

    Ya, Canada's best team since the lockout (or would you prefer lock-out :P ). Says something about the state of hockey in this country I guess. Assistant captain of the November Cup winners tries to slash a rookies nads, the best goaltender after Brodeur can't float his team into the playoffs again, Edmonton will give the defending cup champs an amazing draft pick for the summer, Calgary might surivive the first round this year, Ottawa might survive the first round and if Montreal doesn't make the conference final i'm sure they will get the choke label that somehow has left Toronto...
  71. Proud Canadian from Canada, Canada writes: Stanton, where does this become a Sens post? Dumbo loser, without a team. Go figure
  72. j q from Canada writes: McCabe reacted to a shove in the back via cross check with nothing left on the clock. Not the best response given the end of the season. At least McCabe settled it with the rookie man on man as opposed to Plekanec's buttend on Stajan, and Kostitsyn shove on Stajan after a stoppage. Tell us which of the players has class again?
  73. SY GIL from Toronto, Canada writes: I hope I have seen the last of mccabe in a Leaf uniform. His last act epitomizes the Leafs - undisciplined and selfish. Time and time this season and last few, they get all these retaliatory penalties. Mccabe was checked cleanly by the Montreal player. If he couldn't take it, he should've dropped his gloves. Instead, he slashed away. Was that because it was near the end so he felt he could get away with it?

    MLSE should allow the Leafs to finish dead last next year to put themselves in the best position to get a franchise player. King Richard should forget about the playoffs. Oops, less money for the TPP to bridget the $13 B shortfall! In the long run, they'll make that back and then some.

    They must resist buying out any of the overpaid fatcats. If they assessed their performance to be inadequate, then ship them to the Marlies. Don't worry, they won't need any UFA. When they stock themselves of young talented players, then they can add some veteran help through the UFA route.

    Hope the expert writers can lay off their criticism if the Leafs can see their way to tank it. The Corporate seats will continue to be sold out. MLSE would only lose the money made from the playoffs and some uniform sales only for next season.

    THE KEY TO SUCCESS IS NOT TRYING TO MAKE THE PLAYOFFS NEXT YEAR BUT TO TANK AND TO RAID OTHER TEAMS TALENTED SCOUTS TO RESTOCK THE LEAFS SCOUTING DEPT. WHICH SEEMS RARELY BE ABLE TO FIND GEMS THAT OTHERS HAVE OVERLOOKED AND WHICH SEEMS TO HAVE AT LEAST ON TWO OCCASIONS HAVE PICKED PLAYERS WHO CAN'T PLAY BECAUSE OF MEDICAL REASON (LUCAS CEREDA) OR WHO'S FOREVER ON IR (COLIACCOVO).
  74. alex just a canadian from Canada writes: the old guy shames the leafs even more:

    Toronto defenceman Bryan McCabe slashed and speared the youngster before the two fought in the dying seconds of the contest. "I finished my check and he didn't like it.

    isn't that the story of the franchise, big man mccabe you do toronto and its fans proud.

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