Poor Effort Leads To Bad Loss-Canes 5, Habs 2

Apparently somebody forgot to tell the Montreal Canadiens they had not clinched a playoff berth yet. The Carolina Hurricanes dominated the Montreal Canadiens enroute to a 5-2 win in Raleigh. The Habs had little jump until the 3rd period, but it was too little too late. The Canes jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the 2nd before Brian Gionta scored to cut the lead to one. A Carolina power play goal to start the 3rd was quickly neutralized with a Marc Andre Bergeron blast to get the Canadiens back within a goal. But a pair of late Canes goals, including one into an empty net iced the game and left the Canadiens still without a playoff spot. Jaroslav Halak got the call in net and stopped 28 of 32 shots in a losing effort. Cam Ward was great in goal for the Canes, especially in the 3rd period, and ended the night with 30 saves. The power play went 0/2 while the penalty kill gave up a goal on the Canes only attempt. The TSN crew was able to rip the Canadiens all game in case anyone blind was watching the game...thanks for that. Some other thoughts from a tough game to watch:

>The Canadiens had all kinds of trouble with giveaways. Too many lazy clearing attempts and passes back into their own zone. Sometimes it's best to make the easy play....

>Martin juggled the lines playing Cammi with Gomez and Gionta. They looked pretty good, but couldn't finish. Pleks was stuck with A. Kost. and Pouliot who both had off nights. Both O'Byrne and Sergei Kostitysn were benched in the second, but they certainly weren't the most deserving 2 of this treatment.

>Sorry to pick on Martin again, but with 2:23 to go in a 2 goal game and a face off in the oppositions end is a pretty good time to pull the goalie. Of course he did not, instead waiting until there was 1:38 on the clock.

The Canadiens can never make things easy on themselves. For the second straight year the playoff race will come down to the final weekend. I just hope they don't leave themselves in a must win situation in the last game of the year. The Silver Wolf Whiskey Hab of the Game goes to Marc Andre Bergeron. Bergeron had a solid game which included a goal. Consideration also given to Markov and Moore. Next up, the final game of the season against the Laffs.