"Swedish Twins walked into an arena.The timekeeper asks ; `What can I do for you ? ”“Two points please…? ” Replied the pair in unison.” Sorry. ” Said the scorer. ” We don`t serve that anymore since a guy named Price bought the joint .” Do you know where we can get them ? ” Asked the pair in unison.” Toronto ! ” Replied the statistician.East vs West"
In what may well be a pre – cursor to a Stanley Cup final series, the Montreal Canadiens and the Vancouver Canucks played an `old time hockey `, `puttin`on the foil `type of game last night at the Bell Center.
Fans in this city have seen enough over the years to recognize a great opponent when they witness one and those sentiments ripple through the arena in the form of a much more subdued reaction when the visitors in question skate onto the ice for the pre – game warmups. The home crowd, regardless of how their beloved Habitants are playing – show their respect for a high caliber hockey team. Last night, led by the Sedins, the Canucks felt that respect from the fans. Unfortunately – they did not receive the same adoration from the Montreal players as Les Habitants skated away with a 2 – 0 victory.
The Habs came on like a reincarnation of many Guy Lafleurs in the first period. Sadly for the home team, the ice quality or nerves parlayed into so many missed passes and or shots – for a while it appeared that all Vancouver had to do was head to the bench and watch. The Habs placed ten shots on Robert Luongo yet if the ice had cooperated, the St . Leonard native might have seen more rubber than a hitchhiker without a ride. Andrei Markov solved Luongo at 6 ; 53 of the first as he fired a wrist shot into the upper corner moments after Brian Gionta`s attempt at a rebound failed. Tomas Plekanec picked up an assist on the play as his journey to become the team`s leading scorer at season`s end remains unscathed. Markov`s goal is the first of his season as the defenceman played in his fifth game since returning to the line – up.
The Canadiens cannot score goals. Specifically, the Canadien forwards cannot score goals so on an evening that marked the 300th occasion that the Habs and Canucks have played one another, the Montreal defence took it upon themselves to undertake the forwards misgivings.
Roman Hamrlik or `Hammer `as he is known by his multi-color mates, jumped on an errant Cammalleri slapshot as it ricocheted off the boards. He then fired a cannon of a shot into the short side. Luongo is a big man and covers most of the net when he is primed for a shot. Hamrlik showed why he was the first overall pick by the Tampa Bay Lightning in 1992 and placed the vulcanized disc into a two inch diameter hole. All this took place at 4 : 39 of the third period and although the team from Carey Price`s home province are a very good one , number 44 `s goal was the final nail in the Canucks ` coffin. Fifteen minutes remained in the period and the only drama left in the building was whether or not Price would earn his second shut – out of the season and the fifth of his career.
It was during this time and with less than five minutes remaining on the clock that Mr. Price displayed why he was awarded a five million dollar contract just before the season got underway. Near the eighteen minute mark, Henrik Sedin was sent in on a partial break away during a Habs`powerplay. Price`s blocker went up in what seemed like hours before Sedin shot right at it. Carey is deeper in a zone right now than a Canadian Football Player. If that was not enough proof, with just under 15 seconds remaining – Price made two saves that made even the Grinch`s heart grow ten times larger. After stopping a point shot in it`s tracks, Price tracked the rebound down and placed his left pad on the ice to impede the shot`s direction. Grammatically it was incorrect as Carey placed an exclamation point after the parentheses of a break away stop he made in the first few minutes of the first and his final one. In Quebec, the natives speak slang. I do not think they minded as the Montreal goalie recorded his eight win of the season as he stopped 35 Vancouver shots.
Habs – Bruins Tomorrow
This season appears to be the season of the goaltenders. Jaroslav Halak is keeping more pucks from the mesh than a cardboard fixture at an Atom practice. Mathieu Garon`s 1.28 GAA in Columbus is making the former Habs management bend their heads in shame for letting him go. The most surprising tail to emerge from between the pipes is that of the Bruins Tim Thomas. After a disastrous 2009 – 2010 campaign in which the former Vezina Trophy winner lost his starting job to Tuukka Rask – Thomas has rebounded to post a diminutive 1.05 GAA and a whopping .967 save percentage. Both of which lead the NHL. As the Habs head into Beantown tomorrow evening to resume an almost century long rivalry – Thomas and Price will be at the forefront. Expect a strong defensive game, the type that is normally played out among the melting snowbanks as Spring pushes Winter aside. The Habs lead the Bostonian crowd in the standings but the Bruins hold three games in hand on their division rivals. This match is a true four pointer that may enable either team to make the play -offs given the parity around the league.
The Montreal Canadiens proved themselves to a few people around the NHL last night when they beat a very good hockey team. They also proved something to themselves. Now it is up to them to continue to play at the top of their game against quality opposition and prove to Boston that minus Thomas – la bleu, blanc et rouge sont – la !
No joke.
To receive a Boston point of view on the game, visit http://causewaycrowd.com/ and get Shawn Hutcheon`s take on things.
For all news pertaining to the NHL in general…..please visit Too Many Men on the Site – Fansided`s excellent coverage of the Greatest Game on Ice !
The Habs will be back at home on Saturday night to take on their modern day nemesis – The Carolina Hurricanes.