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Carbonneau gives troops day off as tall task looms

TIM WHARNSBY

From Friday's Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 9:47 PM EST 02/05/08

Canadiens boss: 'I like our chances because we have been playing well. Can we play better? Yes' ...Read the full article

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  1. a fox from Toronto, Canada writes: Canadiens are missing a player like Brendan Morrow.
  2. wayne powers from writes: It seems everyone has been blaming the goaltending for the Habs problems, but I think at least one long haired multi-millionare, has been on vacation since about game 3 in Boston. Bet the two goalies combined salary is not even a tenth of that high priced floater. maybe he wants to finish early so he can help the mother-country at the world cup, which they call the true trophy of choice.
  3. John Stanton from Canada writes: smart move giving them the day off to try to get them loose. They are playing for pride now not to get blown out quickly but this team doesnt have a prayer to win being down 3-1.
  4. ah sails from Canada writes: this series is far from over...Philly has been outplayed but very fortunate..if the Habs can get a lead, they will win
  5. D M from Canada writes: The rest for the Canadiens will be important. If they are to pull this off, it will be 3 games in 4 nights. With back to back games on Saturday and Sunday, this series could be tied up very quickly. Anyway, winning 2 games this weekend is not an impossible task.

    Go Hab Go.
  6. bob smith from Canada writes: Philly still seems a little fragile to me. If Montreal can get a lead, or somehow dent Biron's confidence they can easily push the series to 6 or 7. But, there's a lot of if's in that sentence. Montreal is short a couple heart and soul type players that are needed in the playoffs. i.e. Morrow as mentioned above. Too many floaters and divers who aren't willing to pay the price. If the Kostityn's and Kovalev would put their head down and drive the net instead of flopping in the neutral zone trying to draw a penalty the series would be reversed right now.

    Maybe a few less wristers and slappers from 60 feet out with no one within 10 feet of the net. All the Habs fans religiously quote the shot statistics in the series without realizing that 12 of Philly's 18 shots are more dangerous than all of the Habs 30 or 40 shots.
  7. Patrick P-A from Canada writes: I don't understand why they put back to back games in the playoffs...
  8. Trilly B from Canada writes: Patrick, I was just thinking that. Most OT games this playoff have been pretty short. But all that's needed is one of those double overtime marathons to suck the life out of the follow-up game.
  9. Ian m from United States writes: Bob - last game the first two of Philly's goals with the goalie in were from at least 25 feet out, while the Habs two goals were a) a deflection and b) a) a rebound - both involved traffic. It seems like many are trying to fit the reasons for this series going badly for the Habs into their mental model that only Anglophone Canadians who never leave the crease can win in the playoffs, but watching with an open mind contradicts that. The aspects of the game in which Philly has been tougher is in cheap shots after the whistle, great goaltending and burying their chances. They deserve to be at least tied based on goaltending alone, but they really should feel fortunate to be up 3-1. if the Habs get a couple early, they could really rout the flyers and of course bring out the cheap stuff from Downie, Hatcher, Richards and the like. It would be really good for the Habs for the Flyers to lose their cool like that. This series doesn't look good for Montreal, but if a few things go right they could win. Oh and FYI - the age of the Power forward is over. Even if the Habs were to come back, they can't beat Pittsburgh, and neither can Philly. A Pittsburgh - Detroit final will show that speed wins in the NHL, so long as you can bury the odd rebound, which the Habs have not done.
  10. bob smith from Canada writes: I think there should be more back to back games, and no 2-day rests. With the exception of travel days that is. When you are switching cities (like this weekend between games 5 and 6), there should be one day in between. But I would like to see games 1 & 2 or 3 & 4 back to back. I would like to see the Cup awarded before June. Of course that is because I am selfish and don't want the Cup playoffs to interfere with my golf!
  11. bob smith from Canada writes: Ian, the only time Montreal enters the danger areas are on the power play or late in the game when they are down and desperate. The definition of power forward is evolving. I would argue that Crosby, Malkin and Hossa are all power forwards if you want to talk about Pittsburgh. Crosby does most of his damage coming out of traffic behind the net or in the corners or splitting the D and going to the net. Malkin will often go wide and cut in, charging the net much like the power forwards of old, same, but to a lesser extent for Hossa. Speed is important, but the most dangerous players are always going to be the ones with speed who aren't afraid to use it to go to the net. Have you ever heard the old Walter Gretzky story about him making Wayne trace the position of the puck on a piece of paper for entire games and then look to see where the action is? If you did that with the Habs the half-boards and VERY high slot would be black. The front of the net....not so much. This is not the regular season, Kovalev is wasting his time on the high halfwall circling. Grow a pair and take it to the net. I can say that as a neutral observer. I don't care who wins. You're just as biased in your Philly bashing as the Habs bashers are. Hatcher's play was ridiculously stupid and I would have given him a game for it (at least). Other than that, the silly stuff before and after the whistle has been pretty evenly dispersed between the teams.
  12. steve allan from Canada writes: If the Habs play with a little more passion, they can come back. They need to keep Halak in net and bench Smolinski.

    On another note, Michael Ryder has been a complete disgrace off the ice in these playoffs and only a loser organiztion will want to sign that misfit when he becomes a free agent this summer. Don't be surprised if the Leafs pick him up!
  13. Neil no more last name from Mississauga, Canada writes: Steve Allan - Well, look at the comedian. What do the Leafs have to do with your teams pathetic second round performance? If you're disappointed with your team, don't project your anger on something unrelated. My four year-old nephew does that.

    To summarize - shut up.

    Halak in net, and benching Smolinski ain't gonna save your team.
  14. bob smith from Canada writes: And Ian...the other team you mentioned, Detroit have been led by Franzen and Zetterburg, two POWER FORWARDS who have 18 of the teams 34 goals, I believe. Datsyuk is next with a handful and he plays a fairly gritty two way game as well. If you want to look at their other role players, Holmstrom, Cleary, Fillpula and Hudler all have power-forward aspects to their game and EARN their goals in the playoffs.
  15. Jude Hannaford from Canada writes: Firstly I need to start by apologizing to Mr Stanton for my last comment last night, I was somewhat fired up. My apologies Mr Stanton. I won't be talking about the refs anymore, I just hope that if there is a bad call that it doesn't decide the game.

    It's all about the first goal. I would like to see how Philly plays without the lead. If the HAbs don't get the first one I have a bad feeling that they may pack it in. If they do lose tonight I will still be happy with their performance this year and Mr Gainey should know how to spend his extra money next year. As I said the other day I would love to see an offer sheet to J Carter, but I could be nuts. Anyone have any thoughts on this idea?

    Vive Lesw Canadiens
  16. Joseph Daniel from Canada writes: If Habs lose can this become GolfGate II ? Perhaps Carbonneau can deflect the blame onto Smitch of Raptors for having the idea of going golfing before an elimination game. Aren't the clubs supposed to come out after elimination ?
  17. Paul A from Montreal, Canada writes: In the early 70's they played 4 games in 5 night in round one. The famous Montreal/Boston series in 1971 was played on that schedule. They played Wednesday and Thursday in Boston and then shifted to Montreal for games 3 and 4 on Saturday and Sunday. The rest is history, not unlike the Flyers will be late Tuesday.
  18. Tom h from Edmonton, Canada writes: Neil no more last name, you need to lighten up. Don't take a little leafs joke like that so personally. I'm a Sens fan, and I was howling with laughter like everyone else when they brought out that ridiculous "gladiator" for game 3. Just accept the burn and move on.
  19. W R from Stratford, PE, Canada writes: This series is far from being over. Montreal has been the better team overall. A blowout for the Habs tomorrow night in Montreal (6-0). Tight win for the Habs on Sunday back in Philly (Kate Smith can't save them) and on to game 7 on Tuesday with the result as Paul A. says above.
  20. gabe steriti from Philadelphia, United States writes: Only an idiot would claim that the top seeded team, coming into this round more rested, and with seemingly more firepower, then proceeded to lose 3 of 4 games, would now all of a sudden wake up and blank the Flyers tomorrow. Mon ami, the Flyers are going to send your precious habitants to the golf course tomorrow. The Flyers have a true team mentality, well balanced scoring and a hot goalie. Les miserables...oops, les habitants... are not capitalizing on their chances. Tomorrow, be prepared to say au revoir to your Canadiens. They are a good team, but not good enough this year. LETS GO FLYERS!
  21. W R from Stratford, PE, Canada writes: Mr Steriti, there's a good chance that the Flyers will send Montreal to the golf course on Sunday (I said it is going to be tight) but not Sat. To expect the Flyers to win in Montreal again is just too much. There's just too much talent on Habs and the racous singing home town crowd is just too big an obstacle for the visitors to overcome. Price will be back in the net and he will be wanting to prove his merit. Not to mention the various Russians who play a fancier, more energetic and imaginative game at home than they do on the road. Put it all together for an easy Habs victory on Sat. night.

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