Blogging About The Montreal Canadiens and Canadiens Hockey

Now that is how you need to be playing against the last place team in the league, not barely win in overtime as the Canadiens did the last time these two teams met. Goals from Glen Metropolit, Andrei Kostitsyn, Sergei Kostitsyn and Andrei Markov lead to a 5-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes in last nights game.

Halak had his third straight outstanding performance stopping 46 of the 47 shots that he faced giving him a .978 save percentage. Halak’s value is rising quicker then ever these days, but does anyone want to see him traded? I don’t really think that we could get a better goalie tandem right now.

Benoit Pouliot played his first game as a Canadien last night amassing 13 minutes of ice time with no points and 2 shots on goal.

Three Stars: 3. Glen Metropolit 2. Jaroslav Halak 1. Tomas Plekanec

Game Highlights

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If it wasn’t obvious how much of a difference that Andrei Markov makes to this team after last nights win then I don’t know what to tell you. His first game back, Andrei Markov notched two power play goals with a +2 defensive rating. Glen Metropolit also added a power play goal as the Montreal Canadiens broke their losing stream with a 3-0 win over the New York Islanders.

Halak made some incredible saves in this one and absolutely deserved the shutout. He must have denied Matt Moulson at least 7 times in this one, just ridiculous. He finished with a 40 save performance and his first shutout of the year.

I really hope that with the return of Markov that our luck will turn around because we really need it. After this goals I think the team in general got better just knowing he was on the ice because some nice passing lead to some nice goal chances.

Game Stars: 3. Marc-Andre Bergeron 2. Andrei Markov 1. Jaroslav Halak

Game Highlights

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It was a tough game but a goal by Kovalchuck early in overtime lead to just one point for the Canadiens.

Goals for the Canadiens came from Glen Metropolit and Andrei Kostitsyn who notched 2 including a Kovalev-esque one-timer which was an absolute bomb.

Price stopped 30 of the 34 shots that he faced finishing with an .882 save percentage. Watching the highlights after the game it would have been mighty hard for Pricey to have stopped many of those goals.

Three Stars: 3. Andrei Kostitsyn 2. Colby Armstrong 1. Ilya Kovalchuck

Game Highlights

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I am in absolute awe that Chris Lee is still reffing in this league. This is the National Hockey League right? Not the Peewee AAA team in Southeast Asia? He not only cost the Canadiens what could have been the game, but he made and missed really bad calls for both teams. If that game was played out without Chris Lee involved then who knows how it could have ended.

The 2 goals by the Montreal Canadiens came from Roman Hamrlik who had the absolute best goal celebration ever, and Matt D’Agostini who netted his second goal of the season on a nice snipe from the side of the left circle.

A bright side in this whole debacle is that both Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin went pointless which can suggest something was done right by the defense.

On another night where the Canadiens were outshot 41 -- 21, Carey Price managed to make 38 saves for a .926 save percentage.

Cammalleri, Metropolit and Marc-Andre Bergeron all had assists on tonights goals.

Three Stars: 3. Pascal Dupuis 2. Carey Price 1. Sergei Gonchar

Game Highlights

* Watch for the bad whistle around 4:50

Controversial Whistle by Chris Lee

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Finally! A decisive win for the Canadiens. They climbed back with three unanswered goals in the third period and finally got some work out of their secondary scoring in Glen Metropolit and Maxim Lapierre who both notched a marker. Mike Cammalleri opened the scoring early in the first period, and Marc-Andre Bergeron went on to have a two goal game including the inevitable game winner.

Price got his seventh win of the season stopping 33 of the 36 shots that he faced which gave him a .916 save percentage on the night. Price has really hit his stride, but I’m beginning to the see the same consistency in the rest of the team as well. Considering we’re missing as many players as we are I would say that this is pretty darn impressive.

Sergei Kostitsyn got his first point of the season, assisting on the goal by Maxim Lapierre, which is a good sign for him. As much as I think that Kostitsyn is a whiny little bitch most of the time, I REALLY hope that he succeeds because he’s a very talented and skilled player.

That A. Kostitsyn, Plekanec and Pacioretty line continues to put up the numbers combining for 5 points on last nights win. Both Plekanec and Pacioretty had two assists each while Andrei Kostitsyn added one.

Game Stars: 3. Antoine Vermette 2. Marc-Andre Bergeron 3. Carey “Mother Fucking” Price

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The Carolina Hurricanes are in Montreal tonight trying to find a way to put together back to back, but the Canadiens look to rebound from a blistering loss in Nashville against the Predators.

Carey Price will be back in net at home which has been a struggling situation for him this year. In his career versus the ‘Canes he has 1 win, 2 losses, and 1 overtime loss which has resulted in a 2.92 goals against average, and a .920 save percentage. The problem is that Price is 0-4 at home this season which he can hopefully turn around against the worst team in the NHL.

Gionta will sit out his second game in a row due to a lower-body (foot) injury that has been ailing him which is seeing Glen Metropolit play on the wing on the top line with Gionta and Cammalleri. If anyone deserves to be promoted it’s Metropolit. He’s been the hardest working player on the ice most nights, and, well, he’s just an all-round nice guy.

Carolina is without top center Eric Staal and starting goaltender Cam Ward for tonights contest so I would expect an easy win for the Bleu, Blanc et Rouge.

It doesn’t look like Ryan O’Byrne will be suiting up for yet another game, but on a bright note he did practice with the team this morning which means he should be back within the next week or so. Thank god.

According to Habs Inside/Out the offensive lines look something like this:

Metropolit-Gomez-Cammalleri
Pacioretty-Plekanec-Kostitsyn
Latendresse-Lapierre-Moen
Stewart-Pyatt-White

Guys who need to step up: Pacioretty, Kostitsyn, Lapierre and Latendresse.

Seriously, I don’t know what to do about Latendresse. He’s been worthless. Trade him? Bench him? Demote him? I don’t know. Just do something Latendresse, please. We can’t have you taking up a roster spot anymore.

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Who knew that in a game where there was only a total of 21 shots in the first two periods by both teams, the third period would bring a total of 4 games, three of which were scored by the Montreal Canadiens, and two of those were within a period of 1:06.

I feel comfortable in saying that we needed this win. It was absolutely detrimental to not only the team but to Price as well, that we got this on.

Goals by the Canadiens in this one came from Mike Cammalleri, Glen Metropolit, Marc Andre Bergeron, and Brian Gionta with an empty netter.

Although he didn’t score, Tomas Plekanec was an absolute MONSTER and if this game was on TSN you can be guaranteed that he would have been McGuire’s. Pleky assisted on the first three of the Canadiens goals’ and finished this one with 17 minutes of ice time. I can see Plekanec moving up to the first line very very soon with the way that he has been playing as of late.

Pricey had a decent game saving 18-20 shots which gave him a .900 save percentage.

On an unfortunate note, it looks like Spacek may have been injured in this one after leaving the game and not returning. Hopefully he’ll be alright because we can’t keep losing defenseman.

And for your viewing leisure, Jay Leach vs Paul Bissonnette.

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I’m not about to sit here and pretend that everything is peachy with this team, but at least we’re not the Toronto Maple Leafs. But seriously, what can the Canadiens do to begin turning things around? What options do they have to improve on their 8-10 start and to get above .500 again?

It’s no secret that losing Markov was probably the biggest detriment to the Canadiens, mainly because they don’t really have anyone that can step up and fill Markov’s shoes as well as he can. We have plenty of defenseman but unfortunately not one of them has this shot, or his defensive prowess. We managed to bring on Gill, Mara, Spacek, and M.A. Bergeron but none of them is a defensive monster. In fact, Gill is whole other type of monster…

It’s hard to find someone to blame for this though, because the Canadiens organization are actually trying to improve defensively. Calling up Mathieu Carle was a good decision. He’s been playing quite good in the few games he’s been in since being called up and is actually a +1 in the three games he’s played in against Boston, Atlanta, and Tampa Bay. Jay Leach may also seem to be a good defensive acquisition, but it will still take some time for that to become more clear.

Offensively we have guys like Gionta, Cammalleri, and Metropolit who are making an impact, but guys like Latendresse, Gomez, and Lapierre who seem to be floundering. Andrei Kostitsyn has been attempting to pick it up lately but continues to look lackluster. So what can be done? Honestly, I think Latendresse is an underachiever and could have spend a few more years on the Bulldogs. He’s just not making any type of impact on the ice and needs to be replaced.

As much as I hate saying this, I think it may be time to call up Sergei and give him some third-line minutes. It can’t be any worse then allowing Latendresse to play the minutes that he is with absolutely nothing to show for it. For god sakes Gainey, resign Metropolit! He’s been the best player on the ice!

And finally, the goalie situation. This is a little more difficult because both Halak and Price are young goalies, and both have their own strengths and weaknesses. I don’t think trading is the best option here because both have a lot of potential.

So what are our options? We could continue to go with, ’start the hot hand’, approach which may just get us through the season. I don’t want to see either goalie traded. The problem is: What do you do with two young goalies to help them progress without pushing them too hard and possible ruining their futures? I’m actually somewhat at a loss with this one.

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Wow. Habbies had it until a minute left in the third when Bergeron tied it up after a shot from the point ended up on this stick. This one went to shootout where Cammalleri had the only goal and boy was it nice. I’m pretty sure he got me pregnant with that snipe.

Ryan White and Tom Pyatt played their first games in the NHL and both had an O.K. game. White even managed an assist on the goal by Metropolit late in the first.

I’m VERY pleased with Mathieu Carle. He is really fighting for a spot on this team. I can tell you that I would much rather have Carle on the ice in any situation then I would Hal Gill.

I think the really story of the night was Carey “I’m Fucking Crazy” Price. Pricey really deserved the shutout, but after the goal by Bergeron he was absolutely possessed. I couldn’t believe the intensity in the shootout, it was almost scary. I don’t think I have ever seen Price show THAT much intensity. He threw those pucks away like they weren’t worth his time.

If Price can continue playing like that then he absolutely deserves to be the legitimate starter.

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Player Info
Birthdate: June 25, 1974
Birthplace: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Height: 6′
Weight: 185
Shoots: Right

Bio From Wikipedia:
Metropolit started out playing for the Nashville Knights in the ECHL in the 1995–96 season. He also played for the Pensacola Ice Pilots and Grand Rapids Griffins before making his NHL debut in 1999–2000 for the Washington Capitals. For the next three seasons, he alternated between the Capitals and the AHL’s Portland Pirates, and also played two games for Tampa Bay in 2001–02.

In 2003 Metropolit crossed the Atlantic to play in Helsinki with Jokerit for the 2003–04 season. In a brilliant first season, he scored the most points on the team, 50, with 15 goals and 35 assists, the fifth-highest total during the regular season. He scored six goals during seven playoff games that year, but Jokerit were eliminated in the quarterfinals.

In the 2004–05 season Metropolit and Marko Jantunen were the team’s best goal scorers during the regular season, both scoring 16 goals, and Metropolit scored the most points on the team with 31 assists, totalling 47 points; the eighth-highest total in the league. In the playoffs he scored five goals and six assists, including a 3-on-5 shorthanded goal against Ilves’s Vesa Toskala in the quarterfinals. The team went on to win the silver medal.

Metropolit became a very popular player with the Jokerit fans, who had a number of chants dedicated to him. He is remembered as a gifted playmaker, with one of his favorite spots, on the outside of the left faceoff circle in the offensive zone, being called “Metro’s office” by TV commentators and fans, in honor of Wayne Gretzky’s “office” behind the goal. He and Marko Jantunen formed a memorable duo on the penalty kill, scoring several short-handed goals. His player number in Jokerit was #50.

After two years with Jokerit, Metropolit moved to Switzerland where he won the Nationalliga A championship with HC Lugano. He also led the league in scoring during the regular season.

In 2006, Metropolit returned to North America when he was signed by the Atlanta Thrashers. After limited playing time with Atlanta, Metropolit was dealt near the trade deadline to the St. Louis Blues, along with a package of draft picks, in exchange for Blues centre/wing Keith Tkachuk.

Metropolit became a free agent at the end of the 06–07 NHL season before being invited by the Boston Bruins to the team training camp. On October 3, 2007, he signed with the Bruins.[1] He excelled as a player and he was arguably having his best NHL season with the Bruins.

Metropolit signed a two-year contract with the Philadelphia Flyers as a free agent on July 1, 2008.

Player Links

Hockey DB Stats

A great article about Metropolit’s difficult upbringing

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