MAX PACIORETTY GETS SUSPENDED!

Is it just me that doesn’t understand the NHL disciplinary board?

THEY ARE LACKING CONSISTENCY.

Recently, Montreal Canadiens forward Max Pacioretty received a three-game suspension for hitting Pittsburgh Penguins defenceman Kris Letang. Actually, NHL disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan called it a “reckless” hit to the head. Just so you know what happened, during the third period, Pacioretty hit Letang in the head with his shoulder, leaving him bloodied with a broken nose. If you watch the replay, you can clearly see that it was difficult for Pacioretty to avoid hitting his head, yet he still gets suspended. Let’s be honest, Letang looked like a house league hockey player skating with his head down. This is the NHL, you put your head down for a second and obviously you’re going to get hit. Granted that those may be the NHL rules, but when Pacioretty suffered a concussion and fractured vertebra after being pushed and getting run into a stanchion by the Boston Bruins defenceman, Zdeno Chara, the board did nothing about it. Then again, Boston Bruin’s Milan Lucic did not get suspended for hitting Buffalo Sabre’s goalie, Ryan Miller, who also suffered a concussion. I am not saying Pacioretty did not deserve to get suspended, but what is with all this inconsistency? If one hit deserves a suspension, so does another.

Pacioretty will be eligible to return to the lineup on December 6^th, when the Canadiens take on the Columbus Blue Jackets.

HABS VS. HURRICANES!

What a game last night! After a 4-0 win against the Carolina Hurricanes, the Montreal Canadiens find themselves in a playoff spot and Price earned his first shutout of the season with a 25-save effort.  Roughly seven minutes into the first period, Michael Cammalleri opened up the scoring for the HABS, with an assist by Carey Price. Soon after, Yannick Weber scored a second goal on a power-play with the help of Cole and Plekanec. Six minutes and thirteen seconds into the second period, P.K. Subban made the score 3-0 with a powerful wrist shot that surprised Ward (Carolina’s goalie). In fact, it was Subban’s first shot of the game and 52nd shot of the season. With only 40 seconds left to the second period, a beautiful backhand by Travis Moen finds its way to the back of the net putting the Montreal Canadiens in a 4-0 lead!! The three stars of last night’s game voted by the fans were P.K. Subbam as third, Tomas Plekanec as second and Carey Price as first.

#14

I decided to dedicate my next blog post to my favorite player: Tomas Plekanec.

#14

Position: Center

Born: October 31, 1982 in Kladno, Czech Republic.

Height: 5’11”

Weight:  198lbs. 

After beginning his career by playing junior for HC Kladno of the Czech Extraliga, he was selected 71st overall in the third round by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. 

Plekanec has excellent speed, hockey sense and play making instincts. Actually, he is usually the one who sets up most of the plays and he puts up some strong offensive numbers as well.  Yes, he is talented like that and he looks good doing it!! Amazing and reliable two-way center. He is also very good at killing penalties.

He does lack a bit of physical strength though (he is rather small), which is why I tend to get really angry when other players hit him. Actually, he does tend to disappear a bit when the HABS play against physical teams. But, that is why we have Georges, Subban and Gill.

2010-11 HIGHLIGHTS
Played his 400th career game with the Canadiens in the NHL, on October 23 in Ottawa.

Led the team in scoring in October with 10 points (tied with A. Kostitsyn).

Led the team with 10 assists and 13 points in November.

Recorded his 300th point in the NHL (assist) on February 15 against Buffalo.

Led the team with 5 goals and finished tied for first with 9 points (J. Wisniewski) in January.

Led the team in February in points (9, tied with M. Pacioretty, P.K. Subban, R. Hamrlik), differential (+4) and shots (46, tied with B. Gionta).

Led the team in assists (35) and points (57).

HABS VS OILERS!

The Montreal Canadiens lost 3-1 to the sixth place team in the NHL presently; The Edmonton Oilers. The first period was rather slow; the Habs weren't playing that well. Sadly, the first goal that found itself at the back of the net was an unassisted backhander by Ryan Jones 5 minutes into the second period. Seventeen minutes into the third period, a wristshot by Tom Gilbert puts a second goal up on the score board for the Oilers. Max Pacioretty revived the hopes of the fans with a beautiful backhander, assisted by Tomas Plekanec and P.K Subban, which surprised Nikolai Khabibulin (oilers' goalie) and prevented an Oilers shutout. Fourty three seconds left into the third period, a wristshot by Ryan Smyth made its way into the open net of the habs making it 3-1 for the Oilers, with the help of Shawn Horcoff. The Montreal Canadiens beneffited from more than one occasion to find the back of the net as well, but they were incapable of completing the play. For instance, Michael Cammalleri missed at least three occasions to score. In the first period, he hit the post of the net to the right of the Oilers goalie Khabibulin. Erik Cole also missed a few beautiful occasions to score and Tomas Plekanec made a couple of costly mistakes.

IT'S OKAY BOYS!!
better luck tomorrow ..