The unofficial Captain saves the day. Thrashers 1 Canadiens 2 SO.

The littlest Hab-o Brian Gionta displayed an all out display of skill and tenacity last night, if only we could say the same for everyone who wasn't on the first line last night...

A win is a win, and it did not come at the cost of losing one of our defenseman.

Here are my positives and negatives of the game.

POSITIVE: A win... a glorious two points. The first one in over 266 days. That's actually ludicrous.

NEGATIVE: Ugly once again. Marc Andre Bergeron should not have finished the game in my opinion, you take a defender whose defensive skills are already weak, then multiply it by a Colby Armstrong smack to the head and you get... the Thrashers tying goal. For pete's sake, keep MAB away from Hall Gill at all times, lord knows what kind of shenanigans will go down in the Canadiens zone.

POSITIVE: Jaroslav Halak played very well, especially in the shootout. He was calm cool and collected as he stared down Ilya Kovlachuk, arguably the second most dangerous player in the league, he made some key saves even when the team in front of him played suspect at times.

NEGATIVE: Jaroslav Halak played very well, especially in the shootout. Let's hear how many pulp articles show up in the next few days calling for Halak as the new starting goalie, only to change their mind the next time he loses a game. I feel for Jaro, he could be a starter on maybe 10-15 teams in this league, including the Canadiens! But Carey Price has shown flashes of absolute brilliance that trump the consistency and "verygoodness" of Halak, at least for now... Price was the reason for our first two wins, absolutely stealing those games right out of the hands of Buffalo and Toronto, if he puts in a good performance in a winning effort tomorrow night versus the Isles, then this debate will be put to rest yet again. If he falters however, we might have the ever popular "Goaltender Controversy" that seems to pop up in EVERY city around the league EVERY time a backup wins a game...

NEXT UP: Tavares and the Islanders invade the Bell Centre, as of 9:41 PM tonight they have not won a game yet, so of course they will beat the Canadiens right! :D

Seriously though, we could actually ride this momentum to achieve something productive. Well, I think we can...

Peace true believers,

E

Queen Mab makes his debut tomorrow night. Thrashers vs. Habs preview

A fan shows his love in this new wallpaper dedicated to the Newest Canadien and probable LSD hallucination, Marc-Andre Bergeron.

Some Shakespeare based humor could do us good today, after the Artiste put us to shame on Saturday night.

Yes, Alex Kovalev scoring the insurance marker in the third period was one of the more humiliating moments I have experienced as a Canadien fan. Well, that and the entirety of Pierre Dagenais' career...

We are going to have to bounce back, the Canadiens were controlling the play in the first on Saturday night, and let's face it, the Atlanta Thrashers are not going to challenge for the President's trophy anytime soon, ESPECIALLY if the rumors are true and Ilya Kovalchuk bolts from the NHL after his contract expires next summer and signs in the KHL.

What do we need for the Canadiens to break this ugly slump?

SCORING

SCORING WHEN WE OUTSHOUT OUR OPPONENTS 12-1

SCORING WHEN WE HAVE 5 ON 3s AND NOT LETTING THE DEFENSE GET 17 BLOCKED SHOTS IN THE COURSE OF TWO MINUTES

Go back to basics boys.

Peace True Believers

E

My problem with some Montrealers.

I can see the comments now.

"The Canadiens suck, we are not going to win a game!"

"Carey Price is terrible, Jeff Hackett wouldn't have let up 3 goals!"

Tonights home opening 3-2 loss was one that could've been avoided, but this early in the season we can still look at the positives.

People are yelling for change and we're only 6 games in, I actually heard someone say today that they were hoping the Canadiens lost so the Molsons could fire Bob Gainey quicker.

Where do you get your Meth Amphetamine sir, because it seems to be working quite well...

This town is turning on a team WITHOUT it's best player. This town is turning on a Goaltender who has stood on his head save for one game against Vancouver. Please tell me how any of these goals tonight were his fault.

I dare you.

Say to my face that he should have covered up his pads on the first goal to not let the puck trickle in, tell me to my face that the puck bouncing off two Hab players had no effect on Price's ability to stop that puck.

"Oh, well he should have quick enough reflexes to snag that puck that hit off Shawn Belle, I mean, he was picked #5 overall.."

"Well he's made a save when the guy has had an open net before, why couldn't he just have done that to Ryan O'Reilly, when Scott Gomez was too preoccupied proving to the Ref that he was elbowed rather than cover the man who sneaked in front of the net. ALONE."

Take away the Vancouver 7-1 loss, and we have had one goal games in EVERY game of the season. Almost every question surrounding this team has been answered, many of them positive.

1. Have secondary scoring? Tomas Plekanec leads our team in scoring, and today Andrei Kostitsyn finally peeked his head out and decided he was going to be the talented Russian we knew 2 years ago.

2. Puck Possession? The shots were 31 to 23 and the Avalanche were only able to score through deflections by our own players and one gaffe by Scott Gomez.

3. Goaltending? Any one who says Carey Price is struggling will get a boot to the face. Seriously, forget about his faux pas in BC, and he has a Save percentage of .904, and a Goals Against of 2.5. I know, I know, WHY SHOULDN'T WE COUNT THE GAME AGAINST VANCOUVER, THAT WAS IMPORTANT AND SINCE PRICE DIDN'T WIN HE SUCKS.

E: Roberto Luongo has the same GAA as Price, and the same amount of losses. So um, he sucks?

NO ARE YOU RETARDED! ROBERTO IS SO SICK! BEST GOALIE IN THE LEAGUE!

I am not doubting that Bobby Lu will bounce back from his beginning of the year troubles, I hope to god he does, I have him in my pool... I just think that it's a little early to be calling for the pitchforks and torches and you are not a correct hockey fan if you think Carey Price is not playing well.

This team has answered many troublesome questions, and all the parts of a great squad are here, we just haven't gotten the wins yet.

Do I think we will bounce back soon and finish first. Hell no. Do I think we will stabilize in time to clinch a low playoff seed? Well that sounds a lot more realistic. This is going to be an uphill climb all the way, and I have heard so much garbage from fans around the league about Why their team "sucks because they started out 1-3" or why their team is "going to the finals because they scored 5 goals in a game". We have to give this some time, this is an incredibly new team and a transition is not going to happen overnight. People say "Oh well the preseason should have solved that!" The preseason usually showcased HALF NHL caliber players and HALF AHL players without our top six fowards playing all at the same time. How is Mike Cammalleri going to mesh with Andrei Kostitsyn right away if he played his Exhibition games on the wing with Ben Maxwell?

It is so easy to be negative right now.

We get it, you are going to sound edgy and opinionated.

You want to be part of a mob mentality because as a child you were never included in group activities because you usually ate Play-Doh.

I understand your pain...

But know this. I am watching you closely, and when OR if the Canadiens make a strong push for the playoffs and if it does happen that we pull a great upset and go into a far round, I will hold a party, with yummy finger foods and refreshing beverages, and who knows, maybe a stripper in a cake...

When you come to the door of this party, because hey, you change your mind quicker than Anne Heche and suddenly love the Canadiens, I promise you will not be welcomed in. Instead, a big sign will hang from my door, and a message will read above a large picture of me giving you the finger.

It will read:

ONLY TRUE FANS ALLOWED,

NO MONTREAL HYPOCRITES.

E.

2009 - 2010 Game Preview. GAME 5. Canadiens vs. Oilers

Greetings from Hogtown! And happy Thanksgiving Canada. Like Robin Sherbotsky of How I Met Your Mother says, this is the REAL Thanksgiving!
To the game...
The Canadiens (2-2-0) look to end off their season starting road trip with a win as they play the Edmonton Oilers (1-1-1) tonight. To all attending the game, wear a sweater for pete's sake, as it has already been snowing in Northern Alberta. Depressing. I know...

Game Notes: Glen Metrosexual will be sitting out tonight's tilt with bruised ribs he looks to be able to play in the Canadiens Home Opener versus Colorado next Thursday. Carey Price will be starting tonight despite the call for him to be stoned by the Montreal Media. Sheldon Souray will not be playing tonight, which is a sigh of relief for the Canadiens Penalty Kill which ranks 29th in the league and has been just horrendous.

Keys to Victory: First of all, all Canadiens fans have to realize that to make the Playoffs this year, we're going to have to play an ugly but close game every night, anyone who expects us to blow out opponents is a moron, but anyone who gives this team crap for winning 3-2 in Overtime while getting outshout should take a reality check. This is how we are going to pull off wins, it ain't pretty but it's what's going to have to be done. Let's hope for the best today.

Peace True Believers,
E

Game Four: Canadiens 1 Canucks...um... well let's not dwell on this...

You all saw it... not the best game...

Have some faith, I already heard some of you, AAAND the Jackals jump on the "OMG WE SUCK LIKE WOW WE SUCK LIKE IT'S INSANE HOW MUCH WE SUCK" bandwagon. Take a breather guys. It was one game. Today is a new day. We're going to be alright.

Peace true believers,

E

Game Three Canadiens 3 Flames 4: GOOD EFFORT COMES UP SHORT PLUS CANADIENS VS CANUCKS PREVIEW

.As you can see from this very descriptive and abstract photograph, there were many positives and negatives from yesterday's loss.

POSITIVE #1: The Canadiens finally showed some of the "Puck Possession" game that Jacques Martin was trying to preach at the start of the season. They were moving the puck up well and seemed to be skating with the Flames.

NEGATIVE #1: The penalty kill, was um... well let's just call it stanky... Special teams will have to be worked on.

POSITIVE #2: The First line is generating incredible chances every time they touch the puck and Scott Gomez's first period goal was a thing of beauty.

NEGATIVE #2: Aside from Tomas Plekanec, the secondary scoring players like Kostitsyn and Pacioretty have been... um... super stanky as well. We did not have a power play last night so it was not seen if Yannick Weber's presence is effective or if we need to call up MAB. (Marc-Andre Bergeron).

The Canadiens play the Canucks tonight at 10 ET, Carey Price returning to his home province. Look for an inspired effort, the Canucks are 0-3 and as much as I would like Roberto Luongo to win and get me some points in my Fantasy League, my heart is hoping that he lets up a few more softies en route to a Canadiens victory.

Peace True Believers,

E

Update.

The Canadiens have signed PP specialist Marc-Andre Bergeron to a deal worth $750,000. Bergeron has a rocket of a shot but will start out his Canadiens career in Hamilton. He will try to bloster the blueline after the losses of O'Byrne and Markov.

Jaro Halak will be starting in goal tonight, making my points of "Price playing well" totally invalid. Carey will now have the chance to play in Vancouver, his home region, for the first time as a pro.

That's all for now.
Peace
E