If Habs rookie Lars Eller was a baseball player – he would not be a very good one.
Going into last night `s game against the Los Angeles Kings , Eller was 0 for 20 . Zero hits in twenty at bats . His sole productive output was to be hit by a pitch . To put all this into terms that us hockey loving Canadians can understand as we eat our back-bacon , curse Celine Dion and listen to The Guess Who – Eller had not scored a goal all season long and earned one assist . Us Canadians are more patient than our Southern neighbors . If indeed Lars were a baseball player , he would have been relegated to the Toledo Mudhens by now – eh ?
An `A `game was exactly what Eller , the second European to be drafted in the 2008 Entry Draft , brought to the rink last night . The 6`2 – 198 lb forward from Rodovre , Denmark – displayed all of the skills that have always made him a projected second line player in the NHL. He strides on the ice with a power that enables him to make opposing defencemen appear as Bantam players as the rearguards that attempt to defend him must use all their effort to keep him at bay . Picture a young Mats Sundin in both looks and skill . If Eller can progress
like the former Canuck , Leaf and Nordique – the Habs will have a star for the future . Let us hope that Eller has a bit more heart than Sundin and is not as greedy .
Les Habitants were greedy last night . Greedy for a win after blowing a 2 – 0 lead to the Flyers on Monday night. Coach Jacques Martin was none too pleased as visions of his former team , the Ottawa Senators , must have danced in his head as he attempted to sleep late Monday evening. In under two seasons – Martin has this Canadiens bunch playing the same type of sound structured hockey that enabled the 2006 – 07 Martin – coached Senators reach the Stanley Cup final . You can be sure that Martin does not want the same results at season`s end . Come June , Martin would like to see Travis Moen score two game winning goals in the finals . This time – Moen is playing for Martin and his winners will help and not hinder as the Habs `coach vies for his first Stanley Cup Championship.
Subban ! Subban ! Subban !
P. K Subban did his part in reaching that goal last night as he made a tremendous play in his own zone. Barry Manilow may have `wrote a song that started the whole world singing ` but Mr. Manilow has nothing on P. K as the Canadien defender started a play that `had the whole Habs world on their feet and singing Ole – Ole `.
Subban broke up a King two on one after skating his heart out to catch the pair of wannabe scorers . After gathering the puck in the corner – Subban then sent Andrei Kostisyn on a one on on partial breakaway with a half – rink pass. The Belarusian then made no mistake as he fired a snapshot past the King netminder – Jonathan Bernier . It was 1 – 0 for the Habs and it appeared as if the Kings were on their way to losing their sixth match in the last seven games . LA has also given up more than three goals a game five times in a row. Eight minutes later – Mike Cammalleri took a shot from the blueline on a Habs powerplay that deflected off of King defenceman Drew Doughty and the Canadiens were now close to extending the Kings goals against streak to six . The Habs led 2 -1 going into the second after a fairly even period with Les Canadiens out shooting the visitors 10 – 9.
Another First
Alec Martinez pounced on a rebound in East L. A and brought the Kings to within one before the home crowd had a chance to down their in – between period beers . King Williams , not to be confused with King William the third of England , fired a slap shot off a Ryan Smith `s ankle and the puck landed on Martinez`s stick . Alec fired his first career goal past Price who was fighting Smith and the officials for goalie interference . The goal stood as it was ruled that Smith was forced into Price by the puck – habitually it is the puck that is forced into Price so perhaps this will give the NHL G. M `s something to table during their annual meeting.
Angel Gets his Wings
In the Frank Capra movie It`s a Wonderful Life , George Bailey `s little girl Zu – Zu , proclaims that `every time a bell rings – an angel gets his wings `. Mike Cammalleri must have two sets as his bell was rung on a pair of occasions . Mike was leveled behind the net as he competed for the puck near the end of the first and then again in the early goings of the second . L. A defenceman Jack Johnson and Cammalleri were racing for the puck just inside the L. A zone when Johnson used his stick , his shoulders and his car keys to knock Cammalleri and his head off the puck . No penalty was called on the play and perhaps this fired up Mike `s teammate and the Habs leading scorer – Tomas Plekanec .
Plekanec took a nifty pass from Brian Gionta and fired a tremendous slapshot past Bernier as the King netminder had more of a chance asking Angela Jolie on a date than stopping Plekanec`s blast . This goal showed that the script from Monday `s game would not have the same plot and the Habs upped their energy level – setting the stage for Mr . Eller.
Haven `t You Always Wanted a Monkey ?
There was a scramble in the crease at 18 : 00 of the second . It took precisely six seconds for Alexander Picard and Benoit Pouliot to swat and miss a couple of loose pucks . It took Lars Eller precisely one second to fire his first goal as a Montreal Canadien and remove a monkey the size of Halak of his back. The jury is still out on whether the monkey should be wearing a St . Louis or a Hab jersey yet one thing is certain . Eller does not like primates and hopefully he will continue his run up the stat sheets fast enough to not allow `Bubbles ` cousin to catch up and hitch another ride.
The Montreal Canadiens are playing very much like the New Jersey team that won the Stanley Cup in 2003 . They are a five man machine when they listen to coach Martin shift after shift . The most impressive thing is when they have a letdown as they did against Philadelphia , they bounce back faster than a ground ball through Bill Buckner `s legs .
And Bill Buckner was a good ball player …
Habs Notes
Guy Lafleur will don the skates for the final time on Dec . 5th as the Habs Oldtimers take on the NHL Oldtimers at 1 pm at Le Centre Bell .
This coming Monday , the Canadiens are holding their annual blood drive at La Gare Windsor starting at 7 am until 8 pm . Give blood and meet the present Habs and the heroes from the past .
The Habs are in Atlanta tonight to take on the Thrashers . Atlanta has won three in a row including a win over Washington . Alex Auld will get his second start of the season as Martin opts to rest Price. Price will be in goal tomorrow night as the Habs return home to play Miller and the Sabres.
Check out what the Rach – man has to say at Thrasher Backer.
As always – throw your wife , girlfriend , work or assignments away to read Too Many Men on the Site to get absolutely the best non – Ivy league education .
A very belated Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends ! Excuse the delay in my well wishes – I was too full with Turkey and Football . Not really but it sounds good , doesn `t it ?
If you are a Football fan – gather at La Kachette for the Grey Cup on Sunday. There will be prizes and free chili not too mention a chance to win a keg for ten of your friends for an upcoming UFC Fight ! Details at the restaurant / bar !
Did you know that Maurice Richard scored all five goals in a 5 -1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs ? He was awarded all three stars…no sh** !