Jan 31 Habs Players Can Control Their Own Trade Fate.

With this past week of games that saw the Montreal Canadiens lose back to back games in the state of Florida, extending their winless streak to 4, the Montreal Canadiens came back home to face the Los Angeles Kings. The difference in the Habs' play from their lacklustre performance in Florida, that had Carey Price saying he went from the best time of his life ( the Allstar weekend) to the worst time, and their play against the Kings was night and day.

It was quite evident that after an inspired first period in Tampa Bay, the Habs seemed to believe that a one goal lead would be more than enough against a team below them in the standings. The result proved different. Again, Vincent Lecavalier proved all fans who wanted him in a Canadiens Jersey as geniuses, scoring and aiding in fellow Quebecer Martin St Louis' picture perfect 2 on 1 goal.

What was not fathomable was the absolute no-show that the Canadiens put forth against the Panthers where they lost 5-1 and seemed to abandon their young goaltender once again, prompting Price to say that they would have to get out of this together and that now was not the time to start pointing fingers.

Well, it would seem that either some fingers were in fact, pointed, or the Habs did actually find a way out of their downward spiral when they put in a literal 60 minute effort that saw them head into the 3rd period down by a goal and win the game within regulation time.

The 4 games prior to the LA game had all pundits (me included) thinking that the only way to ease the Habs' bleeding was a major transaction either involving a proven power forward or a gritty, experienced puck moving defenseman...or both, while we were wishing.

Well, if the Montreal Canadiens were to put forth the same effort they did last night, with relatively stable defensive play, great goaltending when needed and primary scoring by the ones that are supposed to, then perhaps the Canadiens players hold the key as to whether a trade is imminent or not.

Komisarek had hit everything that moved, Carey Price made key saves at the opportune times, including a breakaway save off of Frolov and the scorers were Koivu, Higgins, Andrei Kostitsyn and Plekanec. Pacioretty got into a fight, D'agostini got an assist, and Josh Gorges took one for the team as he was trying to make a play and was hit high and hard and had to leave for the rest of the game.

With this being one of the nights that Alex Kovalev decided to perhaps take off and with key pieces of the puzzle Alex Tanguay and Georges Laraque still out of the line-up, the sky is the limit as to what this team's potential could be if they collectively fired on all cylinders.

The problem with living in Montreal is that we all live our ups and downs with every Canadiens' win or loss and in order for all that I have just written to actually have any credence, the Habs will have to string up much more than a one game winning streak. That could start as soon as this afternoon as they face the.... Boston Bruins.

Perhaps I should have written this article AFTER that game?

Tags: Alex Kovalev \ Andrei Kostitsyn \ Carey price \ Chris Higgins \ habs \ Mike Komisarek \ Montreal Canadiens \ NHL \ Saku Koivu