Canadiens 43 shots dominate Islanders 5-1

Glen Metropolit and Tomas Plekanec each had two assists, and Jarolav Halak made 21 saves as the Montreal Canadiens defeated the New York Islanders 5-1.

It was the Canadiens first regulation win this season , and first in 17 games dating to last season, as they improved their record to 4-5.

Montreal opened the scoring when Jaroslav Spacek foiled the Islanders attempt to clear their zone, feeding Scott Gomez at 7:55 of the first period.

Marc-Andre Bergeron scored his first goal, on the power play, in his second game with the Canadiens with a monstrous blast from the point past Martin Biron to close out the period.

“It felt great,” Bergeron said. “I had my family and friends (here). To get that goal for the Canadiens, with the reaction of the crowd, let's just say it was a little louder than I'm used to. I’m very proud to be with the Montreal Canadiens.”

Max Pacioretty scored his first goal since January 2009 at 3:34 of the second period, to give the Canadiens a 3-0 lead.

“I feel like I got the monkey off my back,” Pacioretty said. “Metro told me (in practice) that you got to want the puck. Hopefully I can build off that and I feel like I’m ready to go now.”

Montreal outshot the Islanders 30-12 in the first two periods and New York had 23 giveaways in the game.

Halak, perfect through two periods,  made his sole mistake, early in the third, when he misplayed the puck behind his net, allowing Josh Bailey to score into the empty net.

“I don’t like shutouts,” Halak joked. “Every time you lose a shutout it’s not easy, but the point is to win the game.

“It was a mistake that he (Halak) made,” said Canadiens coach Jacques Martin. “The key is he recovered and we won the game.”

Martin would not tip his hat as to whether Halak would get a third straight start on Saturday night.

Mike Cammalleri replied with a second power play goal and Maxime Lapierre later added a fifth goal for the Canadiens.

“We had to really get on them and make them work.” said Cammalleri. “It was nice to get five goals in instead of two goals.”

The Canadiens finished with 43 shots on the night.

“The effort has been there the last two games,” Scott Gomez said. “it’s good to get it at home.”

Metropolit had missed the last six games with a rib injury with the Canadiens. In that span, Montreal went 1-5.

He was a dominant factor in he faceoff circle going 5 for 7, and showed no signs of wear in eighteen minutes of ice time earning the games first star.

“I don't know if I've ever had that before, maybe once when I was with Washington,” said Metropolit who also saw time on the second power play wave.

“It was good to be back there. I'm just trying to make room on the ice in front of the net.”

For Islanders center John Tavares, his second visit to the Bell Centre was not as pleasant as his first when he was the first overall pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

New York’s star prospect went minus 2, and had no shots on goal.

“It was probably my worst game of the year,” he said after the Islanders got their first win of the season the night before.

“It’s tough after getting over the hump last night.”

The two teams will meet again, in Montreal, on Monday.

Three Stars: 1. Metropolit 2. Pacioretty 3. Bergeron

Official Game Summary and Recap from NHL.com

Game Photos: Montreal Gazette/HabsInsideOut

Canadiens beat Senators 2-1

 Ben Maxwell battles Pascal LeClaire Friday night – Montreal Gazette photo

It certainly wasn’t a playoff game, and you didn’t miss much if you missed the first two periods, unless you like a good fight or tow, otr three.

Nonetheless, the Montreal Canadiens came alive, in the third period of this pre-season tilt, to beat their division rival Ottawa Senators tonight at the Bell Centre 2-1.

Montreal only mustered four shots in the  first period, and the Senators scored the lone goal of the period, when Milan Michalek fired a Jason Spezza pass by goaltender Jaroslav Halak.

Michalek was making his first appearance for Ottawa since being traded from San Jose in the Dany Heatley deal.

The Canadiens showed signs of life in the second, inspired by hopeful Ben Maxwell who tied the game at one on the powerplay at 5:15.

Another hopeful, Eric Neilson, showed the Bell Centre crowd his pugilist skills.

After laying out the Senators’ Jeremy Yablonski with a solid hook early in the period, he later took on Ottawa tough guy Chris Neil to a draw.

Eric Neilson goes at it with Chris Neil – Montreal Gazette photo

The New Brunswick native wasn’t finished as he and teammate Andrew Conboy would have a mini scrap with Ottawa’s Matt Carkner and Cody Bass respectively halfway into the third period.

“Neilson did an outstanding job,” said Canadiens head coach Jacques Martin. “He’s a smart individual who doesn’t put his team in trouble.”

Neilson’s 37 penalty minutes on the night is not surprising. 

He racked up 207 PIM in 53 games with the Peoria Rivermen (AHL) last year and used to be Sidney Crosby’s body guard when the two played Junior in Rimouski.

Brian Gionta, one of the  newcomers with high expectations this season, took a Tomas Plekanec pass to beat Robin Lehner with the game-winning goal at 15:56.

Plekanec and Gionta showed improvement, with linemate Max Pacioretty, as the game progressed, despite Pacioretty leaving the game briefly midway into the game.

The two teams meet again tomorrow, in Kanata, where former Hab Alex Kovalev is expected to play.

Montreal Canadiens Training Camp: Day Three

It was not to be a carbon copy of the last two mornings at the Canadiens Brossard practice facility.

While fans packed the stands, for a third day, to catch a glimpse of the team’s practice and inter-squad scrimmage, the media were eager to talk to Andrei Markov.

A story Tuesday morning, by the Montreal Gazette, reported that Markov had turned down the offer of captain for the storied franchise.

Eager journalists would have to wait until after the session to get some answers.

Today’s workouts would feature the final, two-period, scrimmage between Teams B and C.

Wearing the white practice jerseys, Team C opened the scoring in the first period when Brian Gionta made a flashy move, on a penalty shot, to get the puck past  Robert Mayer.

Mike Cammalleri would tie it at one after taking a cross crease pass from Scott Gomez.

It was Cammalleri’s second pairing with Gomez, in the scrimmages, and the winger is liking what he sees.

“We're starting to get more familiar with each other's game, he said.

“The key is to learn each other's strengths and each other’s game. Then you start making decisions based on instinct, instead of thinking about it, and at that point you become more effective.”

“They’ve got good speed. One’s a playmaker and ones a shooter,” said head coach Jacques Martin on the Gomez-Cammalleri combo. The coach expects that the two will start the pre-season with Andrei Kostitysn on the left wing.

It was all team C, the rest of the way, with goals from Andrew Conboy and Max Pacioretty for a 3-1 win.

“I’m happy with how I played both days,” said Pacioretty, who was impressed by the intensity of the first three days of camp.

“It’s great to see the guys, even the veterans, want to play that hard, even at camp.”

Team B claimed the “tournament title” based on goals four and against as all three teams had won a game apiece.

Gionta and Brock Trotter shared the “scoring title”, while Jaroslav Halak earned “top goalie” after playing shutout hockey during his two appearances.

Attention after focused on Markov, who stated that he had never been offered the captaincy.

“I was surprised cause nobody talked about that and nobody told me about that,” he said.

“It’s not my decision, it’s the coach’s decision. Nobody asked me that.”

Markov also talked about the importance of being the Canadiens captain, especially after the departure of Saku Koivu.

“I just know it’s a big responsibility, and I think it’s not easy to be a captain in front of you guys(media),” he said. “It’s something special to be a captain in Montreal.”

“The organization hasn’t offered Andrei the captaincy," said Jacques Martin, who then put an end to any speculation by announcing that he and GM Bob Gainey will make the decision on captain at the end of training camp.

Martin also defended his reasoning for selecting a captain over a team vote.

“It’s important that we have an individual that shares the same values, the same views, concerns and principles as the organization,” he said.

Mike Cammalleri also added that the position of captain is not currently an issue with the players.

“It hasn’t been such a big issue for us,” he said. “I’d be ok with it. We have enough leaders in this room that will step up and lead by example.”

Like Markov, Cammalleri acknowledged that captain of the Canadiens is a unique position in the NHL.

“It’s the Montreal Canadiens. There is a different level of responsibility that maybe comes with being captain of this organization as far as things outside of the room, such as media attention and things like that, that maybe aren’t present in other markets.”

Training camp resumes Wednesday (11am- 1:30pm), but will be four empty stalls in the dressing room areas tomorrow morning.

Goaltender Jason Missiaen, and blueliners Mac Bennett and Joe Stejskal were returned to their respective, OHL, college and USHL teams.

Philippe Lefebvre, invited for a tryout at camp, will return to Drummondville, but not before signing a three-year-deal with the Canadiens.

“It’s a big event for me,” Lefebvre said. “It means I showed some good things and I worked hard.”

The smell of hockey is in the air!

Ahhh September. It’s almost time to embarrass myself on the ice for another season, and I have my hockey pools already registered.

And oh yeah, the new NHL season is slowly moving upon us as rookie camps open across the league.

Twenty-nine rookies reported in for the Montreal Canadiens camp Monday in Brossard.

A few of them (Max Pacioretty, Yannick Weber, etc.) saw some time with the big club last season and will be working hard to earn a full time spot.

Pacioretty told RDS that he has been having problems getting sleep the last few weeks. Can you blame him?

P.K. Subban was a standout with the main camp last season and will be out to prove he is ready for the pros.

Barring injury, it’s safe to say that the star defenseman, in the OHL with Belleville last year, will start the season in Hamilton.

Subban is ever the optimist and will be ready to show Canadiens coach Jacques Martin that he will be ready if called upon.

Oh Canadiens weighs in on the key rookies to watch.

By Tuesday afternoon, eighteen veteran players, both new faces and old ones, had arrived and were participating in on ice workouts.

Carey Price, Andrei Kostitsyn and Ryan O’Byrne have yet to appear.

Twittering their lives away: Two notable Canadiens media members will be covering the Canadiens camps this season.

The Montreal Gazette/HabsInsideOut’s Dave Stubbs will be Twittering from the team’s golf tournament later this week as well as next week’s main camp.

CJAD’s Abe Hefter has already begun reporting in on the blue-bird site from rookie camp.

Mr. Hefter also gives his first impressions on his blog.

So which one is Hoss?: After this season’s training camp winds down, the Canadiens will spend three days at Teen Ranch, located about 45 minutes northwest of Toronto.  The Habs begin their season October 1, in Toronto.

The facility does boat an Olympic size rink so chances are it will be a working holiday.

CJAD’s Rick Moffatt put it this way in his column in Friday’s West Island Chronicle.

“Carey Price may be lovin it, but if one player gets bucked or "lower body injury" has to cover up a saddle sore, we'll have to put a black hat on Jacques Martin.

Happy trails, Habs fans! Martin's done it before with his Senators squad...and the Ice Corral at "Teen Ranch" in Caledon Ontario has also welcomed the Leafs and Panthers. We won't hold that against them.”

I may have to book a day or two off to hang out in the area. ;)

Blow out your candles, and wish for a deserved induction to the Hall of Fame: A happy 64th to one-time Canadiens and Los Angeles Kings star goalie Rogie Vachon.

A collection of articles compiled by HabsInsideOut’s Dave Stubbs can be found here.

King of the Cobb:  A quick shout out to Ian Cobb, a regular poster over on HabsInsideOut, who invited us to his home, this past weekend, for his annual corn boil.

It was great to meet up with a gracious host, enjoy some good food and beverages, and talk hockey with Ian and some of the other HIO regulars. Thanks again my friend!

Getting closer: Canadiens Rookie Camp starts Sep 7

 

In just three days, the Montreal Canadiens rookie camp begins.

The Official Press Release is below, with information pertaining to the team’s annual golf tournament and full training camp as well.

__________________________________________________________

PRESS RELEASE

MONTREAL -- The Canadiens announced Thursday that 29 players will participate in the team’s rookie camp from September 7-11, at the Bell Sports Complex, in Brossard.

From Monday, September 7 to Thursday, September 10, players will take to the ice twice a day using both surfaces of the Bell Sports Complex; practice sessions divided by position in the morning (8:15 to 11:15 a.m.), and a full practice session from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m.

An intersquad game is scheduled for Friday, September 11 at 9:00 a.m. Off-ice conditioning sessions will also take place every day.
Fifteen (15) of the 29 players at camp are Canadiens draft selections.

The group includes first-round pick Max Pacioretty, as well as prospects P.K. Subban and Yannick Weber. 

Twenty-three (23) of the 29 players also participated in the Canadiens’ 2009 development camp last July.

Players participating in the rookie camp will be available daily to the media following the afternoon practice session (17h30).

Canadiens' rookie camp roster

Annual Golf Tournament

The Canadiens will hold their annual golf tournament to benefit the Montreal Canadiens’ Children’s Foundation on Thursday, September 10 at the Club de golf Laval-sur-le-lac.

Main Training Camp

The Canadiens’ main training camp will debut on Saturday, September 12 as players report for medicals and physical exams at the Bell Sports Complex in Brossard.

The training camp will run until Wednesday, September 30, and will include a stay in the Toronto area (September 28-30), in preparation for the season opening against the Maple Leafs at Air Canada Center on October 1st.

Checking Around the Habs Universe

It’s a quiet Monday on the hockey front, so I decided to see what my fellow Habs bloggers are up to today.

HabsInsideOut.com has some interesting YouTube video compilation’s, made up by regular posters, of the new Canadiens Moen, Gionta, Cammalleri, Spacek and Gomez

Robert Lefebvre of HabsEyesOnThePrize.com has dug up some vintage magazine photos from the late ‘40s and early ‘50s.

Robert is also working on ranking the NHL’s 30 coaches, based on experience. Numbers 21-30 are already up.

The “Pocket Rocket” Henri Richard shares his music playlist on canadiens.com

A few days old, but a good read as J.T from “The H does not stand for Habs” dwells on the myths of the “veteran mentor” goaltender.

Eric Engels debates the expectations of the 2009-10 edition of the Montreal Canadiens.

Yawn….Eklund won’t let the Patrick Marleau to Montreal rumor die, citing that deal may be needed to trigger a Sens/Sharks deal for Dany Heatley.

Andy Bensch of BleacherReport questions Carey Price as a No. 1 goalie. Keep in mind he is a west coast hockey fan and admits he only sees a handful of Canadiens’ games.

YourHabs.com sees Max Pacioretty as the Canadiens' big impact player for 2009-10.

Habs Prospects gather next week for Development Camp

The Montreal Canadiens will hold their annual development camp from July 6 to 12.

Forty prospects will ascend on the Bell Sports Complex in Brossard made up of 25 forwards, 10 defensemen and five goalies.

Twenty-four of the prospects invited were selected by the Canadiens in the NHL Entry Draft, including the team’s 2009 first-round pick Louis Leblanc.

Twenty-four participants are returning from last year’s camp.

Max Pacioretty at the 2008 Development Camp 

Three invitees (Max Pacioretty, Ben Maxwell and Yannick Weber) all saw time with the Canadiens in the 2008-09 season.

The 40 Prospects attending the ‘09 development camp (click for a larger image) – habsinsideout.com

The event is open to the public with the first of the daily on-ice sessions starting Monday at 1:30pm.

The participants will also have daily off-ice conditioning sessions.

A detailed schedule of events will be posted at the complex.

An inter-squad game wraps up the event on Saturday.

Carey Price, Guillaume Latendresse, Kyle Chipchura, Matt D’Agostini, Sergei Kostitsyn and Ryan O’Byrne are some of the 2008-09 Canadiens who have taken part in past camps over the years.