Hab-It Forming: March 23rd, 2011

Useless Performance

We expected so much more last night, when the Canadiens faced the Buffalo Sabres at the Bell Centre. After coming off an 8-1 victory over the Minnesota Wild Sunday, people thought the offense would keep coming. We were wrong.

The Habs’ best players were certainly not that. They were skating slowly, as if just going through the motions. Buffalo was the much faster, more physical team yesterday. The Canadiens were forced to keep their attack along the half-wall by the Sabres’ defense, and without any mid-ice net drive, Ryan Miller had an easy time shutting the door.

Why is Picard Still Getting Ice Time?

It seems to me that Habs’ blueliner Alex Picard should look for another line of work. After being left unsigned by the Ottawa Senators  at the end of last season, much like Patrick Traverse and Radek Bonk, Montreal decided to sign their refuse, and see if he could flourish in a Canadiens’ uniform. If last night was any indication, forget it. Picard was nervous when he had the puck, continuously gave it up, and stood out for all the wrong reasons.

Form this point forward, there’s no reason why Yannick Weber shouldn’t be in the lineup. I realize Thursday’s tilt against the Boston Bruins might be a little too physical for the vertically challenged Weber, but we’ve got nothing to lose. Barring the return of Brent Sopel, who has been nursing a broken hand, what alternative do the Habs have?

Cammalleri Needs To Bring It All Game Long

Canadiens’ left winger Mike Cammalleri is most certainly hurting. He has been seen limping to his car in the Bell Centre’s parking garage, and we know his shoulder is still not 100%. His patented wrist shot and one-timer from the top of the faceoff circle have disappeared, which begs the question, “Why is Jacques Martin still playing him?” I think was would all much rather see Cammy rest a few more games before the playoffs, and then see him suffer like this.

While it was understandable that he wanted to participate in the Heritage Classic in Calgary, since it was his former team, but watching him play like this is difficult. He is capable, when healthy, of so much more.

Et Cetera

• Most hockey minds expect Tomas Plekanec and Jeff Halpern, who have been sidelined for the better part of a week, to return to the Canadiens’ roster on Saturday night versus the Washington Capitals.
• Will someone please find where Scott Gomez lost his will to play the game?
• The Boston Bruins beat the New Jersey Devils yesterday 4-1 , extending their division lead on the Canadiens back to three points, and still have two game in hand. The Canadiens still sit two points back of fifth in the Eastern Conference, behind the Tampa Bay Lightning.