Montreal Canadiens’ Andrei Kostitsyn Sounds-Off

Montreal Canadiens right wing Andrei Kostitsyn (centre) celebrates his third period goal against the Ottawa Senators with teammates Tomas Plekanec, Yannick Weber (left) and Lars Eller (hidden) during third period NHL hockey action in Ottawa, Friday January 21, 2011. The Candiens defeated the Senators 7-1. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Daily Hab-It: Kostitsyn Sounds Off -- CTV

MONTREAL — I find it somewhat astonishing that European players still have a tendency to believe that comments made to the local media will somehow remain in the bubble of their native language.

But every summer, we invariably catch wind of some inflammatory comments from a player speaking to their local paper, and this time it's Andrei Kostitsyn who has stepped in it.

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My Comment: Calls for him to be traded are now making the rounds.

Gainey Resigns As Habs' GM

Bob Gainey (left) with Canadiens president Pierre Boivin and newly appointed general manager Pierre Gauthier. Photograph by: Pierre Obendrauf, The Gazette

Canadiens' GM Bob Gainey passes Torch To Pierre Gauthier -- Montreal Gazette

MONTREAL – The Canadiens didn’t have to look far to find a replacement when general manager Bob Gainey decided to step down.

Pierre Gauthier, who has served as Gainey’s right-hand man for the past 61⁄2 years, is the team’s new GM.

“I’ve done my best and now it’s time for me to pass the torch,” Gainey said during a news conference at the Bell Centre yesterday afternoon. “I believe that the general manager position requires a long-term vision and a long-term commitment. At this point, I’m not prepared to make a commitment of four or five or six more years in this position.

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More News On The Resignation Of Bob Gainey

Pierre Gauthier named General Manager -- Canadiens.com
Gainey steps down as Habs GM -- CBC
Canadiens GM Bob Gainey steps down -- CTV
Gainey resigns as Habs' GM -- Globe And Mail
Time runs out on Habs GM Gainey -- SI.com
Gainey planned exit strategy long ago -- CBC
Last two seasons hurt Gainey's legacy -- Montreal Gazette
It was time for Gainey to go -- Montreal Gazette
Cox: Gainey was one of the best -- Toronto Star
'Bob brought silver polish to his job' -- National Post
A quick look at Bob Gainey's career -- Canadian Press

Playoff Hunt Intensifies As Habs Rest

From The Montreal Gazette:

Canadiens cling to 8th place, but other teams have games in hand.

MONTREAL – Scott Gomez figures the Canadiens will have a better idea of where they are in the Eastern Conference playoff hunt by the time they play their next game Thursday against the visiting Dallas Stars.

"We have some time off and that will give the other teams a chance to catch up," Gomez said after the Canadiens let a point get away Saturday in a 2-1 overtime loss to the New Jersey Devils.

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My Comment: 8th place is nothing to be proud of.

Montreal 3 New York Islanders 0

Canadiens' Andrei Markov smiles as he is congratulated for his goal by team mates during the second period of their NHL hockey game against the New York Islanders in Uniondale, N.Y., Saturday night.Photograph by: Shannon Stapleton, Reuters

St. Andrei Markov Brings Canadiens Back To Life As Jaroslav Halak Posts 40-Save Shutout -- Montreal Gazette

Canadiens 3, Islanders 0

UNIONDALE, N.Y. - Andrei Markov returned to the Canadiens' lineup after a 35-game absence Saturday night and had an immediate impact - scoring two power-play goals.

But the difference-maker was backup goaltender Jaroslav Halak, who made 40 saves as the Canadiens beat the New York Islanders 3-0.

Halak, who has been angling for a trade because he wants to play more, showed why general manager Bob Gainey can’t afford to deal him away.

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More News on Saturday's Hockey Game

New York Islanders fall to Montreal Canadiens as goalie Martin Biron loses fifth straight start -- New York Daily News
Halak, Markov lead Canadiens past Islanders -- AP
Welcome return: Markov scores twice, Halak perfect as Habs shut out Islanders -- The Examiner
Islanders, Biron buried by Canadiens, 3-0 -- New York Post
Habs hope to keep rolling on road trip -- CBC
Markov shows how ready he is -- National Post
Snowstorm grounds Canadiens on Long Island -- AP

Andrei Markov To Return To Habs' Lineup Vs. Islanders

Andrei Markov, the Montreal Canadiens' all-star defenceman, will return to action Saturday night when the Habs visit the New York Islanders. Photograph by: John Mahoney, Gazette file photo

From The Montreal Gazette:

All-star defenceman missed 11 weeks of action.

MONTREAL – Andrei Markov will celebrate his birthday weekend by returning to the Canadiens' lineup on Long Island Saturday for the Habs' game vs. the New York Islanders.

Markov, who turns 31 on Sunday, was given the green light Thursday night by Habs doctor David Mulder, and now it's up to head coach Jacques Martin to determine how much to use his all-star, given that he's missed 11 weeks as of Saturday's game.

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My Comment: He has been badly missed.

Minnesota 3 Montreal 1

Why I oughta ...: Canadiens' Josh Gorges lashes out at former teammate Guillaume Latendresse of the Wild for rushing the goal crease Thursday night at the Bell Centre. Photograph by: Allen McInnis, The Gazette

Skidding Habs Lose 3-1 To Wild -- Montreal Gazette

CH looks ahead to seven-game road trip.

MONTREAL – As homecomings go, let's agree it never will be confused with Guy Lafleur's 1989 return to the Forum in the uniform of the New York Rangers.

And as results went, it did nothing to put the brakes on a Canadiens team that's skidding down the standings on a dangerously icy road.

The Habs lost their fifth straight game Thursday night, falling 3-1 to the returning Guillaume Latendresse and his Minnesota Wild.

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More News On Last Night's Hockey Game

Wild hand Habs 5th straight loss -- CBC
Wild hand Canadiens their fifth straight loss -- National Post
Niklas Backstrom makes 30 saves to lead Wild past Canadiens 3-1 -- CTV News
Niklas Backstrom makes 30 saves to lead Wild past Canadiens 3-1 -- Canadian Press
Koivu's PP goal leads Wild past Canadiens -- AP

New Jersey 2 Montreal 1

Devils' Bryce Salvador powers around the Canadiens' net with Habs' Matt D'Agostini in pursuit in Newark, N.J., Wednesday night. Photograph by: Jim McIsaac, Getty Images

No Shutout But Brodeur Beats Habs -- Montreal Gazette

Devils' goalie ties Roy's mark for most NHL games.

NEWARK, N.J. – Martin Brodeur reached one National Hockey League milestone and missed out on another Wednesday night.

But the New Jersey Devils’ veteran goaltender wasn’t too upset over not earning a record 104th NHL shutout because he and his teammates emerged as 2-1 winners over Carey Price and the Canadiens in a dull contest that deserved the announced attendance of 12,178.

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More News On Last night's Hockey Game

Brodeur ties Roy record in win over Habs -- CBC
Brodeur ties Roy's record as Devils edge Habs 2-1 -- CTV
Brodeur ties record for most games played by goaltender -- Reuters
Brodeur matches NHL mark in Devilish 2-1 win -- AFP
Brodeur reaches another milestone in Devils' win -- AP

Trade Rumours Swirl Around Halak

Canadiens' Jaroslav Halak makes a pad save against the Senators in a game at Scotiabank Place on Dec. 8, 2009. Photograph by: Phillip MacCallum, Getty Images

From The Montreal Gazette:

NEWARK, N.J. – As the Canadiens prepare to face the New Jersey Devils Wednesday night (7 p.m., RDS, CJAD Radio-800), the focus will be on a goaltender, and it’s not Martin Brodeur, who is in position to break Terry Sawchuk’s NHL record for career shutouts.

The man in the news is Canadiens backup Jaroslav Halak, who may or may not have asked general manager Bob Gainey for a trade. While Gainey told veteran ruefrontenac.com columnist Bertrand Raymond that he has talked to the Philadelphia Flyers about Halak, the goaltender was coy on Tuesday.

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More Trade Rumors Of Canadian Golie Halak

Gainey comments on Halak trade rumours -- Examiner
Habs offer Halak to Flyers -- CTV
Canadiens reportedly shopping Halak for top-six forward -- National Post
Canadiens offer goaltender Halak to Flyers -- TSN

Buffalo 4 Montreal 3

Canadiens' Maxim Lapierre unloads on Sabres' Andrej Sekera at the Bell Centre Monday.
Photograph by: John Mahoney, The Gazette

Canadiens Fall 4-3 To Sabres -- Montreal Gazette

Buffalo nets winner with two-man advantage.

MONTREAL – Penalties once again proved to be the Canadiens’ undoing Monday night as they dropped a 4-3 decision to the Buffalo Sabres.

The Sabres were enjoying a two-man advantage when Clarke MacArthur scored at 14:41 of the third period to snap a 3-3 tie.

Glen Metropolit, who was in box Saturday night when the Atlanta Thrashers scored the winning goal in overtime, took an extra minor in a battle with Derek Roy at 12:57 and he was joined by Ryan O’Byrne, who took a high-sticking penalty at 13:34.

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More News On Last Night's Hockey Game

Canadiens pay for penalty binge -- Montreal Gazette
Canadiens give it away to Sabres -- Montreal Gazette
Penalties haunt Montreal in loss to Sabres -- National Post
Canadiens drop 3rd in a row -- CBC
Sabres' win streak reaches four -- AP
Lack Of Discipline Sinks The Montreal Canadiens. -- Bleacher Report
Sabres-Canadiens: Penalties Sink Habs, Coach Shrugs -- Bleacher Report
Kostitsyn stays hot but penalties continue to haunt Habs -- The Examiner

Is Markov About To Return To The Canadiens?

Markov Nearing Return To Canadiens' Lineup -- Montreal Gazette

MONTREAL – “It looks like the doctors got it wrong,” one acquaintance said after he heard about defenceman Andrei Markov’s imminent return to the Canadiens’ lineup.

You might recall the Canadiens reported that Markov would be out of commission until February after the tendons in his leg were sliced by Carey Price’s skate in a freak accident during the opening game of the season on Oct. 1 in Toronto.

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More News On Andrei Markov

Markov on pace for early return -- National Post
Return of Markov could be key to Canadiens' playoff chances -- Montreal Gazette
Canadiens' Markov Skates Again; Looks To Be Getting Closer -- TSN

Fromer Canadiens Hockey Player Nilan Battles Off-Ice Demons

Chris Nilan played for 10 seasons with the Canadiens Life was good, but that was then, this is now – and it’s not a pretty picture.

From The Montreal Gazette:

In his 10 seasons with the Canadiens, Chris Nilan was among the toughest, most feared and most penalized players in the National Hockey League. He played to inflict pain, to intimidate.

You can find his name in the team’s media guide in the list of all-time records: Nilan: 2,248 penalty minutes. Nilan: most penalty minutes in a season: 358.

There was nothing complicated about his game plan: hit first, hit hard, and he was well-schooled in it.

They were lessons he learned growing up on

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My Comment: I never liked him as a player .... too many stupid penalties that cost the Canadiens many games. But an enforcer on the ice is something that the Canadiens lack right now .... actually .... the Canadiens are lacking a lot of things .... but Chris Nilan did bring a certain toughness to the Canadiens when he played that is absent in today's team.

Atalnta 4 Montreal 3 (OT)

Habs' PK Streak Ends In Atlanta -- Montreal Gazette

Thrashers 4, Canadiens 3 (OT)

ATLANTA - The streak had to end sometime, but it couldn’t have come at a worse time for the Canadiens.

The Canadiens had managed to kill off 33 consecutive penalties and they came within three seconds of making it 34.

But Ilya Kovalchuk, who was largely invisible for most of the game, scored his 17th goal of the season at 1:18 of overtime to give the Atlanta Thrashers a 4-3 win over the Canadiens.

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More News On Last Night's Hockey Game

Thrashers power past Habs in OT -- Canada.com
Kovalchuk lifts Thrashers over Habs in OT -- CBC
Thrashers solve Canadiens' penalty kill with OT win -- CTV
Montreal Canadiens-Atlanta Thrashers: Penalties Finally Hurt the Habs -- Bleacher Report
NHL: Atlanta 4, Montreal 3 (OT) -- UPI
Kovalchuk back on track, so are Thrashers -- AJC
Penalties prove costly, Habs fall to Thrashers in OT -- Examiner