Dec 31 Habs Now Intact, Future Is Promising

The Montreal Canadiens have done something they were not able to do since October 1^st. Play with their entire roster intact. And the preliminary results are promising.

The 2-1 overtime victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning, while not an offensive onslaught by the Habs, showed signs that Bob Gainey’s “science experiment” was perhaps, taking effect.

Andrei Markov, absent from October 1^st to December 19^th and has extended his point scoring streak to 6 games since his return, potting 3 goals and 5 assists in that span.

Brian Gionta, also injured for 21 games, was back for his second straight match since his injury and has had a point in both, including the game’s first goal against Tampa. More importantly, Gionta has solidified a second line that consists of the recently acquired Benoit Pouliot and the recently awaken Scott Gomez.

Pouliot, who the Habs got in return for ne’er do well Guillaume Latendresse has shown the willingness to shoot the puck, head to the net and use his soft hands around the opponent’s goal. He was rewarded for his efforts with a goal against Ottawa and could have had as many as 3-4 assists last night if any of the opportunities created by this new trio would have come to fruition.

Gionta, while criticized by many, mostly due to his expensive contract, has come on of late, garnering a goal and six assists in his last 4 games and appears to be rejeuvinated as his potential linemate for Team USA, Gionta is back in the mix.

Overall, the Canadiens, barring any other injuries, can perhaps now start to build the team they started with back in October, before all the injuries came to plague them.

A first line of Plekanec-Cammalleri-A, Kostitsyn which has been the go-to line since mid November and the producers of the overtime winner last night, can be, on some nights, as good as any other in the NHL.

The newly formed line of Gionta-Gomez-Pouliot can, and if the tendancy is maintained, will produce that oh, so important secondary scoring.

The 3^rd and fourth lines consisting of S. Kostitsyn, Lapierre, Moen, Metropolit, Laraque, D’Agostini and Pacciorety can fulfil their roles of energy and enforcing lines with less pressure to score than in earlier weeks and don’t forget Marc-André Bergeron who can play at forward, as he did last night, or on D if need be.

As for the Defence, I belive it’s safe to say that with the return of Markov, ALL defensemen are standing taller, except for Hall Gill, who can’t get much taller, and playing a little more confidently, knowing their quarterback is back. Not only does Markov take some ice time back from some being asked to play overtime on too many nights, but he makes any other player on his line play better. Others that have stepped up and appear to be up to this season’s challenge are Roman Hamrlik, Jaroslav Spacek and Josh Gorges who have been valiant since Markov’s demise. And let’s not forget Hal Gill who is now being noticed for all the right reasons. Since his own foot injury has healed, he has been a steady presence on the penalty kill that has, in part, steadily raised the Habs into 8^th best in the NHL.

And for those reading on to see which side of the Halak/Price bandwagon I’m hopping on to, I’m sorry to disappoint. While I did have a preferential slant towards Carey Price for all the potential this young prodigy could bring forth, Halak has been the one who has been put in the situation to shine or fade on many nights and on most occasions, including the recent 4 road-game winning streak, he was up to the task. I am now of the ilk that the Canadiens should keep both these RFA’s until at least the trade deadline before making any decisions they will surely regret in the future.

The playoffs are won with goaltending and if the Canadiens do squeak into the post-season, can you think of a better 1-2 punch between the pipes. I have difficulty thinking at this point that any real fan of the team would cringe with the nomination of either goalie just before game-time. Or, to drive the point home further, heaven forbid one of them succumbs to injury, the team could be a lot worse off had they not had this dynamic duo protecting the pipes.

Tags: Andrei Markov \ bob gainey \ Brian Gionta \ Carey price \ habs \ Hal Gill \ Jaroslav Halak \ M-A Bergeron \ Mike Cammalleri \ Montreal Canadiens \ Roman Hamrlik \ Scott Gomez \ Tampa Bay Lightning \ Tomas Plekanec