Canadiens News

Price knows he wears an invisible C
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October 7
Montreal Gazette
 
"It had been 61 years since an NHL goaltender had been named captain of his team, Vancouver Canucks' Roberto Luongo ending the drought this preseason when he was given, at least figuratively, the C by his club. So Carey Price thinks it's only a matter of time before he's similarly honoured by the Canadiens. "Maybe in 10 years," Price joked yesterday after the Canadiens' first post-exhibition practice. "I'm still really young. I look to other guys in this room to be a leader. "That (Vancouver) situation is definitely unique. If anybody could carry that workload, it would be (Luongo). He's shown throughout his career that he's a great leader." Price need only look across and up from his ..."
Habs' big worry: injuries
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October 7
Montreal Gazette
 
"On Saturday, after a 3-0 home-ice loss to Minnesota, Canadiens head coach Guy Carbonneau said his players skated through their final exhibition game as though they were trying to avoid injuries. Too bad they didn't do the same yesterday in practice. Defenceman Ryan O'Byrne and goalie Jaroslav Halak were bloodied during a 90-minute workout in Verdun, O'Byrne by a puck, Halak by a stick. Neither was seriously hurt, though O'Byrne went to hospital for stitches and evaluation after being struck beneath the visor by a Maxim Lapierre shot that ricocheted up his own stick shaft. Halak was accidentally cut on the right cheek when jabbed through bars of his mask by the blade of Robert Lang. The ..."
The fight for 25 begins
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October 6
Montreal Gazette
 
""Nine is a good number," the Canadiens' No. 8 said Saturday in the lee of his club's 3-0 exhibition loss to the visiting Minnesota Wild. Defenceman Mike Komisarek played in five of Montreal's nine preseason games, which wrapped up with a less-than-inspired effort Saturday against the Wild of wily coach Jacques Lemaire. The next faceoff is the regular season, Friday in Buffalo against the Sabres. Komisarek was typically in the mud during his five games, recording 21 hits, including 11 during a 3-2 victory in Detroit, and 22 blocked shots, nine alone in a 3-2 win over Florida. "You have to feel good about the team," he said, reminders of his work already worn on a battle-scarred face. "But ..."
Habs waive Denis, Henry
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October 6
Montreal Gazette
 
"The Canadiens yesterday waived goaltender Marc Denis and defenceman Alex Henry, leaving both at the disposal of other NHL clubs. Should they go unclaimed, they will be bound for the American Hockey League's Hamilton Bulldogs. Because of the players' NHL service, the Canadiens had to go through this process to return them to the minors. Denis, 31, signed a one-year, two-way deal with the Canadiens on July 3, having played 348 NHL games over portions of 10 seasons with Colorado, Columbus and, most recently, Tampa Bay. He had been placed on waivers, then bought out, by Tampa Bay shortly before signing with Montreal. Denis clearly wasn't going to be on the Canadiens' season-opening roster, ..."
Wild shut out Montreal Canadiens in exhibition finale
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October 5
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Niklas Backstrom stopped 25 shots, and Stephane Veilleux had a goal and an assist in the Wild's 3-0 win over the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday night in the final NHL exhibition game for both teams. Marian Gaborik and Antii Miettinen also scored for Minnesota, which finished with a 5-2-0 exhibition record. The Wild play host to Boston in the regular season opener next Saturday. "It's both good and bad," Backstrom said of the seven-day break between games. "We have time to rest, but we've played seven games in 11 nights so I think we got into a good rhythm. We have to be sharp to keep up that pace and be ready for next Saturday." Montreal, which went 6-3-0 in the exhibition season, begins ..."
Stars shine in a convincing runup to the season opener
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October 5
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"For the first time, and in the Wild's final exhibition game, coach Jacques Lemaire brought together his full cast -- minus an injured Marek Zidlicky -- for a dress rehearsal in preparation for Saturday's season opener. The result was a convincing 3-0 victory Saturday night over the Montreal Canadiens. The Wild skated so well and played so tightly that the speedy Canadiens, a team being picked by many to win the East, looked slow. "To play that way and finish that well will be a big positive heading into a week of practice and ultimately that first game," defenseman Nick Schultz said. The Wild showed off its best: • Goaltending: Niklas Backstrom was brilliant, making a month's worth of ..."
Carbonneau's contribution will be key to Canadiens' success this season
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October 5
Montreal Gazette
 columnist Red Fisher
"It was only a few weeks ago that a guy was suggesting to Guy Carbonneau that since roughly a half-dozen NHL head coaches had received contract extensions,what was the holdup in his case now that he was entering the final year of his three-season deal? Carbo is a private person. His contract is something that stays in the family. When he signed his first contract as head coach, I remember his reply to a question I tossed at him about its length. "It's longer than one, less than 10," he said with a tight, little smile. Not this time when I asked him the same question the last time we met, although his reply was the same yesterday when the Canadiens announced he had agreed to an extension. ..."
Habs save their worst for last
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October 5
Montreal Gazette
 
"Maybe it was nine games in 14 nights. Perhaps it was playing to avoid injury. Or maybe it was just pond hockey on slushy ice. Finally, the Montreal Canadiens played down to what exhibition hockey usually is, finishing up the pre-season with a lacklustre performance and a 3-0 loss to the Minnesota Wild on Saturday night. Montreal saved its weakest effort for its final game, suffocated, too, by Minnesota coach Jacques Lemaire's airtight, sleep-inducing defensive system. It was a scrambling festival of missed and intercepted passes that ultimately spoiled the home team's unbeaten pre-season at the Bell Centre and sent an almost full house away unhappy. The Canadiens finish their nine-game ..."
Coach Carbo earns extension
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October 4
Montreal Gazette
 
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