Habs vs Sens

[atomic]

Based on this logic....the Devils never should have made it to the cup final last year.

Devils were 15th in scoring and 9th in goals against. A little differnent from the Sens at 27th in scoring.

[jmwhite]

Devils were 15th in scoring and 9th in goals against. A little differnent from the Sens at 27th in scoring.

Maybe NJ wasn't the best example.

I'm curious though....where did the Stanley Cup winning LA Kings finish in goals for and against during the regular season.?

[mberube]

All these regular season stats don’t matter during the playoffs. It’s a different type of hockey. Teams play tighter. The no quit attitude is always present. That’s why we often see a 7th or 8th ranked team make it to the final dance. It’s unpredictable.

[jmwhite]

PeskySens win the first one. Booyah!

[nokids]

Sens overcome terrible call by refs, clean hit!

[BC MIST]

Sens overcome terrible call by refs, clean hit!

It was awful seeing Eller laid out on the ice in a pool of his own blood and we can only hope that he is not more seriously injured. But with his head down and his own player feeding him a suicide pass, collisions like this one occasionally happen. If there is any further suspension, it is political.

Apart from the poor refereeing, could Bob Cole be any worse at announcing?

[jmwhite]

Apart from the poor refereeing, could Bob Cole be any worse at announcing?

You mean like when he calls Gonchar - Karlsson and then PK - PJ Subban?

[Sakuraba]

It was awful seeing Eller laid out on the ice in a pool of his own blood and we can only hope that he is not more seriously injured. But with his head down and his own player feeding him a suicide pass, collisions like this one occasionally happen. If there is any further suspension, it is political.

Apart from the poor refereeing, could Bob Cole be any worse at announcing?

Right at the end of the 2nd period, just prior to cutting to commercial, I distinctly heard him say "...and the Sens lead Montreal 2 to 1!"

[Break68]

Bob Cole is awful, they need to get rid of him. He just babbles and says the most insane things, I often wonder if he is watching the same game I am seeing on the screen.
Clean hit, Diaz should be fined by his coach for leading Eller with a suicide pass up the middle. And Eller, for god sake man get your head up, otherwise this will happen again: Welcome to the NHL!!!!!!!!!!!!

[sharkshooter]

... And Eller, for god sake man get your head up, otherwise this will happen again: Welcoem to the NHL!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was a clean hit. I hope Eller recovers completely and quickly.

In past decades, players had to look out for themselves. A player receiving a pass like that would have had his head up, seen Gryba coming, and braced for a hit. These days, players put themselves in dangerous positions by focusing on the puck with their heads down, both in open ice and around the boards, expecting the rules and the referees to protect them.

Hockey is a contact sport, but too many are too often not prepared for contact, and they pay the price.

[jmwhite]

Not a suspendable offence in my opinion.

For those who say it is....have a read here. Good analysis. http://offsidesportsblog.blogspot.ca/

[spackler]

Don't worry, if Gryba gets suspended Melnyk will have forensic doctors examine Eller to prove it was a clean hit.

[leftylucas]

A great analysis of the hit on TH2night on TSN2 right after the game by Kerry Fraser. He felt it was not a suspendable offence and also felt that the hit did not merit a penalty. He did go on to say that he understood why a penalty was called on the play. Eller was out cold on contact and his momentum downward to the ice is what made it so horrific. The partisans of each team have differing opinions but if we look at the other side of the coin, take Subban's hit on Neil, if Neil goes down and hits the ice with his face, do the Hab fans get upset if the same penalty is imposed??? I agree with Lyle, if a suspension comes it will be a political decision. Maybe the NHL should ask the Augusta rules comittee on how to approach this.

[sharkshooter]

... Maybe the NHL should ask the Augusta rules comittee on how to approach this.

They don't need to ask how to flip a coin, do they?

[fundonny]

Total clean hit. Bob Cole is horrible. "And number 65 has the puck...."

[jmwhite]

Habs will have their work cut out for them tonight. No Eller, No Gionta and no Mad Max. Sens scould very well be coming back to Ottawa up 2-0.

[mberube]

I agree!! I do not have any expectations....

[nokids]

ouch

[Wilster]

Wow , playoff hockey rocks

[jeffc]

Habs are disgraceful. Bunch of weasels.

[Chambokl]

Jeff, I thought there was no animosity between Ottawa and Montreal....

[jeffc]

Jeff, I thought there was no animosity between Ottawa and Montreal....

there is now. but any team that played like that tonight I would have a big hate on for.

[mpare]

I have been a Montreal fan since 1962, but tonight's game tested my loyalty. They played without the class I associate with the team. Hopefully, this was simply a collective psychosis that will pass as quickly as it came on. As for the Sens, for whom I also have a fondness since 1999, after moving to Ottawa, all I can say is that they played tough, disciplined hockey.

[golfisforfun]

What was classless? Just curious...

[jeffc]

What was classless? Just curious...

the elbows, sucker punches, firing a puck at Turris, Subban jumping Turris and continuing to pound him while he was down. The list goes on....

[gbower]

Subban is totally classless, was in junior and even worse now!!!! Watch his dive and turtle on Tuesday night.

[golfisforfun]

You do realize the brawl and all the crap started from a Zach Smith cross check right?
Subban was very frustrated after all the crap all game including a cross check to the face to start the game... And he lost it.... Oh well...

[Big Johnny69]

Not sure if you listened to the post game interviews on Team 1200, but Pacioretty and Gionta, without directly coming out and saying it, weren't a fan of what Therrien was telling them to do last night. Pac hinted it was a good idea for MacLean to call the timeout. Ok, I'll give you the one instance on Subban, but watch Sportscentre, most "low-lights" are of the Habs players taking liberties at the Sens. There is tough hockey and stupid tough hockey, last night the Habs were the latter.

As for Smith starting the brawl with a cross-check, give me a break...it was nothing to what could have happened if White hadn't caught Smith as much on the side as he did...and if Smith's cross-check was so bad how come no Habs came to his aide like Cowen did for what White did???

I hope there is another drubbing tomorrow night. I'm all for close, exciting playoff games, but now, I want the Sens to bury the Habs every game just to embarrass them....but like MacLean said, they are doing a pretty good of humiliating themselves, so far.

[mberube]

And how many time Neil tried to take Gallagher’s head off? Crosscheck in PK’s face on the first hit….no call? Give me a break. It takes two to dance in this game.

[spackler]

firing a puck at Turris

Agreed, total Alfie move right there. No place for it.

Montreal is playing right into Ottawa's hands. They're never going to win a physical series, they're not built for it and it's not their game. Therrien is getting his ass handed to him by MacLean.