A Skate to the Face: One of the scariest parts of the game

It’s not a head shot, or deliberate attempt to injure, but a skate to the face is always a terrible concern.

The most recent example comes from Monday’s Habs-Senators game.

Fortunately the Canadiens Travis Moen was treated for a facial laceration to the forehead and was treated at the Bell Centre medical clinic. Props to referee Bill McCreary for immediately waving for the Canadiens training staff to get out there.

The event was clearly an accident, but the player who is usually wearing the skates feels pretty bad about it.

He clearly knows that it could easily be him on the receiving end. It’s part of the risk of playing the game.

The same can be said about an errant high-stick (see Bryan Berard), or a misdirected puck.

Former Canadiens forward Richard Zednik is one of the most recent to have taken a shot from a skate. In his case it was his own teammate.

 

One of the scariest moments happened over 20 years ago to Sabres goalie Clint Malarchuk. Please watch this with extreme caution. This is why neck protection is so critical for goalies in today’s game.

Three years before that, Leafs defenceman Borje Salming was on his back during a goal-mouth scramble. The Detroit Red Wings Gerard Gallant was bumped, lost his balance and stepped right on the rearguard’s face.

It took 250 stitches to repair the damage. How he didn’t lose an eye, I have no idea.

Borje Salming after taking a skate to the face in 1986– Toronto Star

Czech it out! Canadiens on four game winning streak

Roman Hamrlik celebrates his overtime goal against the Islanders

Travis Moen had a goal and an assist and Roman Hamrlik scored the overtime winner, as the Montreal Canadiens beat the New York Islanders 3-2.

It was Montreal’s second win over the Islanders in just four days. The two teams remaining two regular season meetings will take place on Long Island.

Montreal opened the scoring when Glen Metropolit found Jaroslav Spacek, for his first goal of the season, beating Martin Biron at 13:38 of the first period.

Metropolit had missed the Canadiens morning skate, and had been a game time decision. He would finish the night with two assists.

The Canadiens were caught with two many men on the ice, in the second period, and the Islanders capitalized as Jeff Tambellini beat Jaroslav Halak to tie the game at one apiece.

In the third period, Montreal took a lead, just under eight minutes into the third period, when Travis Moen scored one of those “right place at the right time” goals.

“We didn’t play our best in the second period  but we found a way to win,” said Moen. “It’s nice to chip in (with a goal) once in a while.”

The Islanders battled back as Tambellini scored his second power play goal of the night.

In overtime, Tomas Plekanec freed the puck from the Islanders defense,made a little soccer kick and fed a saucer pass to fellow Czech Roman Hamrlik for the win.

“They were changing out there so I took the puck,” Plekanec said. “I kicked the puck out a little bit and it went well.”

Plekanec has 10 points in 11 games this season.

“So far I feel very good,” he said “I’m playing  with strong details and play a good defensive game this year. I feel good. I feel confident.”

“I knew Tomas was going to pass it to me,” said Hamrlik. “I had the empty net so it was easy for me to finish.”

Halak made 29 saves for the win and has been in goal for each of game of the Canadiens current four-game winning streak.

“I probably could have stopped the first one, but the guys rebounded back,” Halak said. “We kept playing at it paid off at the end of the game.”

“We’re going to take one game at a time,” said Canadiens coach Jaques Martin, who danced around any kind of goaltending controversy.

“I’m happy for how he (Halak) is performing, but we’re going to need two goalies to do the job.”

While the shot total was almost even throughout the game, the Canadiens showed they had better puck possession as 26 of their shots were blocked and 18 missed the net. The Islanders had 16 shots blocked and 6 misses.

The Canadiens improved their record to 6-5-0 and are 5-0 in overtime or shootout games so far this season.

They will embark on a two-game road trip to Pittsburgh, on Wednesday, and Chicago, on Friday, before returning home to face the Maple Leafs on Saturday.

Game Photos: HabsInsideOut/Montreal Gazette

Three Stars: 1. Travis Moen 2. Jeff Tambellini 3. Roman Hamrlik

A BC connection sparks Habs to victory

Carey Price (43 saves) to led the Canadiens to victory over the Leafs -Reuters

The Montreal Canadiens “British Columbia Connection” took it to the rival Toronto Maple Leafs Thursday night, getting a 4-3 overtime victory to kick off the 2009-10 NHL Season.

Goaltender Carey Price stopped 43 pucks and had close to 92 in his direction through the night.

“They’re a team that throws a lot of pucks on net,” Price said. “It was good to feel the puck early on.”

Josh Gorges scores the overtime winner -Reuters

His roommate, defenceman Josh Gorges, came in big in the clutch.

First, the Kelowna native filled in for an injured Andrei Markov on the power-play, firing a shot from the point that would be cashed in by Glen Metropolit.

Then, he instinctively followed Mike Cammalleri’s one on three rush and fired in the rebound past Vesa Toskala in overtime.

“It’s about time,” joked Price on Gorges’ first ever game-winning goal. “I’m happy for him. He deserves it.”

Price also made a humorous comment that he and Gorges didn’t do their traditional post-game celebration, in part to Gorges being mobbed by the rest of his team.

“He’s too cool to talk to me now,” he said.

“I didn’t get the puck,” Gorges said on his game-winning goal. “I’m gonna have to go find it now.”

Gorges also helped his goalie, blocking five shots.

 

Travis Moen mixes it up with Jay Rosehill - Reuters

Travis Moen, though a native of Saskatchewan, played his Junior hockey in Kelowna alongside Gorges and is also married to a cousin of one of their former Jr. teammates.

Moen, went to the net and scored the Canadiens’ second goal of the night. He also showed his physical side, mixing it up with Jay Rosehill and former Hab Mike Komisarek.

Next stop, less a Russian: The Canadiens will head off to Buffalo for game two against the Sabres. They will travel without defenceman Andrei Markov, who suffered a cut foot and will be treated and evaluated first.

Habs Blogger Digest : July 29 2009

Thought I’d post another look at the latest Canadiens posts/blogs around the web.

YourHabs.com asks what Bob Gainey may have left to do before the start of the season.

HFBoards has the same question in the form of a poll.

Yves On Habs does a great statistical analysis of the “Old Habs” and the “New Habs”

Eric Engels sees a tough battle this season in the Northeast division.

Lions in Winter does a great job looking at GM’s that are ahead of the curve.

The Flying Frenchmen looks at the signing of Travis Moen as well as the team’s next captain and dealing with the French media.

As always, Habs Eyes on the Prize with a couple gems. First up, Robert looks at Andrei Markov as the Canadiens’ next captain.

Robert then digs up a great read on a truly colorful Canadiens’ prospect from the 1930’s.

TSN looks back at the closing ceremony of the Montreal Forum and someplace else.

Canadiens.com has an August 2009 Calendar featuring new Hab Hal Gill available for download. Check out the Fan Artwork while you’re there too!

Which reminds me, 3-10 game pack ticket sales for the 2009-10 season go on sale September 5th at noon, as do pre-season tickets.

Regular season single-game ticket sales will go on sale September 12 at noon.

The Canadiens ticket link will have further purchasing details to come and tickets for the December 4 Centennial game will be made available for purchase later. Ticket prices are available here.

And finally….Dennis Kane looks at an…ahem…. lesser known member of the Canadiens ‘70s dynasty.