Canadiens Dump Rangers 3-2 in Montreal

Drury should be the healthy scratch when Cally and EC are healthy

Lundqvist blew his cork late in the second when Max Pacioretty drove into him and knocked him down. Lundqvist jumped Pacioretty and pounded on him like Ralphie pounded on Scott Farcus in “A Christmas Story”.

Brilliant.

Needed Gaborik and Wolski to show up tonight and they didn’t. Tomorrow against the physical Flyers, they will have trouble making an impact and finding space. Let’s hope they play better tomorrow against a very tough Flyers team. Hank stood on his head tonight after the crazy goals early in the first. Shame the team couldn’t really and get him at least a point.

Gabby and Wolski were as invisible as the Falcons secondary is right now

Coming off a great win against the Canucks and with all of the talk of getting revenge on Subban got to this young team and they didnt have the discipline that they needed to beat a team like the habs. I’m not saying this team shouldnt play with emotion but i think they need to learn how to manage that and part of that falls on our coaching staff

I couldn’t watch this game the way I wanted because the phone was ringing, the baby was crying and a friend came over to the house who could give two shits about hockey.

But what I caught, and from what I’m reading, it seems as if we can chalk this game up to our youth. This is precisely why we need a responsible, talented, veteran presence. I like Iginla but I don’t know the league the way some of you do…

Gabby is very frustrating. He doesn’t step up in big games. He’ll kill the small fish but gets lost when we’re up against the hard squads. This can’t keep up.

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Time to send a message to Gabby- Healthy scratch for a game or two- maybe that gets his head out of his ass.

but if there were a “Hit the Goalies Logo Accuracy” contest, he could go 50 for 50.

I’m not saying trade Gabby but he needs to start hustling and playing harder, tougher hockey. He is dissappearing way too often. A game or two on the bench might embarrass a true professional and get his competitive fire lit. Right now I’m not even seeing a smoldering ember from the guy.

Wow…that third period by the Rangers must have been one of the best this season. 16-1 in chances.

Although I think Jim’s thoughts were pretty dead on.

1. This is where a veteran presence can help - Things weren’t going right last night and the only one doing anything to fix it was Hank, who did what he always does, and stood on his head. From top to bottom things weren’t happening. Wolski got blamed for breaking to the wing on the 3rd goal, but, by the same token, the defenseman CAN’T lose that puck. Eat it if you have to, take the whistle, but don’t get beat behind the net. Montreal was pounding us on defense and shutting us down on offense, and we were getting frustrated.

2. Subban should have been dealt with early - If you’ve played the game of hockey, you know that what Subban did isn’t going to fly. I’m not talking about the slew foot, that is what it is, and I think Sam and Joe like to make too much of it. I was more bothered by Boyle’s nose. That’s an amatuer move. Players are responsible for their sticks and Subban deserved to get popped for it. Ask Aves about the problem with guys “with a visor, running around playing tough, and not backing anything up”. I’m an old time guy, if you wanna wear a visor, that’s fine, but you shouldn’t HAVE TO, beacause guys can’t handle themselves. We knew how the game went earlier in the week, back and forth, up and down the ice. It wouldn’t have been a bad plan to green light the guys to come out physical slow down the Habs, set a physical tone that suits us better, and let Subban get what he had coming to him, and let everyone get it out of their system. Torts needs to get off HIS philosophy or kinder, gentler, more sportsmanlike hockey, and realize how the game is played. Sometimes, it’s gonna get a little tougher then it was in Torts sheltered career as a player, and he needs to let that happen.

3. Stop flipping lines – I should save this section, so I can just cut and paste it when he does this. Constantly flipping lines doesn’t help, if anything I think it hurts us more. Let the guys play out of situations AS A LINE. Change the game plan a little, set simplier goals. If we can’t score, don’t press the situation. Send the lines out with the goal of controlling the puck in the offensive zone for a shift, or just have them play the body. Get them succeeding at SOMETHING, and then then the goals will come. When the whole team is not cliciking, a new wing isn’t the answer.

Sorry for your loss to the Flyers last night but hopefully you can enact some revenge on them later on.

The fact that many of you here are discussing P.K. Subban is music to my ears, and proves to me why he is such a valuable commodity for the Habs. A puck moving defenseman who also has the ability to get top players off of their games. He did it to Mike Richards earlier in the season if you remember.

To respond about calling on Gaborik to play a tougher game, not going to happen. He needs to be surrounded with players to take on that role. He is a shooter and playmaker, not someone to go bruise it out in the corners. He needs help with that. His place is in the slot.

Watching this game, two things struck me:

1) Hank Lundqvist, not nicknamed the “KIng” for nothing. The guy has some great fight in him. Not only did he play terrific, but even I was happy when he lunged at Pacioretty. As a goalie myself, even if it did look like the Habs winger was pushed in, it’s good to see a goalie show some fight, especially when his team was hanging him out to dry. Honestly the Blueshirts owe him one because this game could have been an embarrassing blowout. And I liked the fact he challenged himself after the first to do everything in him power to avoid one (since he’s had a rough time at the Bell Centre).

I also thought Hank was pure class after the game in his explanation to the press about his emotional outburst. Didn’t point fingers, took it on the chin. He’s a good man.

2) Where in the world was Chris Drury? I don’t know what he was like in last night’s game against the Flyers, but I had completely forgotten Drury was on this team, based on his performances against the Habs. Hardly heard his name. He had that post in NYC earlier last week but that’s it. Did he even touch the puck since? Say all you want to say about the overpriced Gomez, but Drury has got to be up there as one of the biggest free agent disappointments of all time (Kovalchuk excluded of course)…the Rangers would be good to find a suitor for him and get someone else in return.

I ask you all: what is up with players going to NYC to suddenly wilt and die? Gaborik is struggling, Higgins was a write-off, Jokinen, Jagr, the list is large!!! Now Drury!! Is this too much money? Glen Sather? Country club atmosphere? Lack of focus playing in the Big Apple????

Honestly, looking at your team, I would be surprised if they make the playoffs, and if they do, it’s because of Lundqvist and Tortorella the coach.

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