Montreal Canadiens vs Tampa Bay Lightning

March 9, 2010, by Homme De Sept-Iles

Downie hacks Moen right in the mid-section. Replay shows how deliberate and iron-hawk it was. Man. Sticks are like email. They make people brave.

Montreal Canadiens vs Anaheim Ducks

March 8, 2010, by Homme De Sept-Iles

Carlyle is hiding his disappointment behind his ferocity.

Montreal Canadiens vs Los Angeles Kings

March 7, 2010, by Homme De Sept-Iles

We see a shot of the King bench and I don’t see a lot of silver glitter. The days of grainy gay and grey gretzky are done. It’s all matte and mute now. The uniforms look fat letter and thick font. They’re not bad but they’re not compelling.

Montreal Canadiens vs Boston Bruins

March 2, 2010, by Homme De Sept-Iles

Canadiens win the faceoff on the glistening ice. Boston’s logo at centre ice, as I’ve said often, is compelling and tonight it is nearly majestic. I’m glad to return to a traditional rivalry with the usual suspects on a Tuesday night when only those who care about and understand the teams involved are watching. More or less.

Montreal Canadiens vs Philadelphia Flyers

February 13, 2010, by Homme De Sept-Iles

Briere has a “my business here is done” look on his face as he settles onto the bench. It was done here a long time ago, bud. Now you’re just wasting everyone’s time. Must be nice. Four-gamer.

Montreal Canadiens vs Philadelphia Flyers

February 12, 2010, by Homme De Sept-Iles

Stick to Price’s mask as he lies on the ice. And the Flyers jam at it like witch-hunters. And it goes in. Hartnell’s pitchfork was sharpest.

Montreal Canadiens vs Washington Capitals

February 11, 2010, by Homme De Sept-Iles

Demers talks about Neuvirth a bit. Then he references the NFL. He wants to know what the details are on injuries. Renaud Lavoie adds that in a serious league, we are told what is going on. Oh, get over it. In a league run by gambling interests, we are told what is going on. Be glad that this league, your NHL, doesn’t have the same type of transparency.

Bob Gainey May Step Down

February 8, 2010, by Homme De Sept-Iles

My sources say that Montreal Canadiens general manager Bob Gainey may be stepping down.

Montreal Canadiens vs Boston Bruins

February 7, 2010, by Homme De Sept-Iles

I think Steve Begin is going to coach in the NHL one day.

Montreal Canadiens vs Pittsburgh Penguins

February 6, 2010, by Homme De Sept-Iles

We get a brief shot of the Pittsburgh bench. The grey ash of the crowd is behind the players' winking white helmets. And a balding dude who resembles Rick Tocchet is behind the Penguin players. I wonder how bad it all smells. Hockey is one of the most unpleasant-smelling of the sports.

Montreal Canadiens vs Boston Bruins

February 4, 2010, by Homme De Sept-Iles

Bruins move it out. They are bent raster and dusty spider; confused offensive.

Montreal Canadiens versus New York Rangers

January 17, 2010, by Homme De Sept-Iles

Should spotlights be sweeping the ice surface for the start of a second-period game in January? What about understatement?

Montreal Canadiens versus Dallas (Minnesota) Stars

January 14, 2010, by Homme De Sept-Iles

This whole mob thing is very annoying. Why do we have to have the mob hanging around? And why does every country have a version? One day the universe will swallow something.

Montreal Canadiens versus New Jersey Devils

January 9, 2010, by Homme De Sept-Iles

Crowd rises like yeast. The smell is bitter. The ice is cold. The action is froth. Whistle. Commercial. Not a beer one.

Montreal Canadiens versus Washington Capitals

January 5, 2010, by Homme De Sept-Iles

Ted Leonsis, Washington’s chief cheese has that “I’m somebody” demeanour. He’s chewing on pistachios and wearing a Hugo Boss suit. Well, I don’t know what he’s chewing and the suit could easily be a Moore’s. Leonsis has a tan and very black hair. Deeply black.

Montreal Canadiens versus Buffalo Sabres

January 3, 2010, by Homme De Sept-Iles

Buffalo’s giveaways are so out of character that I wonder about all kinds of things. Buffalo is ranked second in the Eastern Conference and fourth in the league. For total points. Their giveaway-takeaway ratio is 435-229. That leaves them at -206, the third-worst rating in the NHL. Montreal is at -259 and Edmonton is worst at -282.

Montreal Canadiens vs Toronto Maple Leafs

December 26, 2009, by Homme De Sept-Iles

Milbury pisses me off with his talk of hard-nosed Team Canada forwards as we see his picks and CBC gets the mute for the first time tonight. Milbury’s team is missing Toews. Glenn Healey’s picks look like a faster team. Are we going to get embarrassed on the world stage again? Get ready, we look as if we’ll lack speed, skill and class. What’s left that can win it? Goaltending, defence, intimidation and home ice advantage. Might be enough. Is that how you want to win?

Montreal Canadiens vs Carolina Hurricanes

December 23, 2009, by Homme De Sept-Iles

I think I’m about 20-22 commercials away from cheering against Team Canada. As usual. Will they lay off already? And then the homer announcing is going to start. Can they at least try to be balanced? Just try?

Montreal Canadiens vs Buffalo Sabres

December 14, 2009, by Homme De Sept-Iles

Buffalo’s site, like many NHL sites for American-based teams, has a “Buy This” entry page and you can only enter the site by clicking the ad. I feel shrugged-shoulder about it. Selling tickets makes sense. But aesthetics count. And so does soft selling. It’s complex, eh.

Montreal Canadiens versus Ottawa Senators

December 8, 2009, by Homme De Sept-Iles

Bergeron goes down the right side to start the team. He moves in on pad and crease. Whack. Goes out. Andrei. Raises his hands like Superman. Smiles like a vacationer.

Montreal Canadiens versus Philadelphia Flyers

December 7, 2009, by Homme De Sept-Iles

The Flyers are a poor team and we are playing worse than they are. Philadelphia can’t pass, can’t skate and can’t commit to this game. And the Canadiens, far more skilled and professional in their attitude are about even in time of possession. Really shameful.

Montreal Canadiens Versus Boston Bruins

December 4, 2009, by Homme De Sept-Iles

Centennial Game. Brunet says the Canadiens have shown a lot of character tonight. I agree. It’s not easy to play well and play a mortal’s game on a night when mortals are perceptually immortalized. But if one sees enough of these celebrations, one becomes impervious to them, I’ll venture.

Buffalo Sabres Versus Montreal Canadiens

December 3, 2009, by Homme De Sept-Iles

Nice job helping your backup goaltender. Seven, eight, maybe ten, maybe twelve guys are picking and choosing their times to exert and when to relax. It’s an art. Like the cab driver who catches all the reds and pretends he’s driving the Queen’s Cadillac stretch and slows for every speed bump. Wow. What an important vehicle you must own, sir. Are you protecting your expensive shock absorbers?

Toronto Maple Leafs versus Montreal Canadiens

December 1, 2009, by Homme De Sept-Iles

Jacques is in an all-brown costume. Velour-looking jacket and near turtleneck without the turtle part. Tip-top friendly. Demers reminds us that the last time the Canadiens played Toronto, Kaberle had four points.

Montreal Mystique Interviews Guy Carbonneau

November 30, 2009, by Homme De Sept-Iles

Montreal Mystique interviews former Canadiens captain, head coach, three-time Stanley Cup champion and three-time Frank Selke trophy-winner, Guy Carbonneau.

Montreal Mystique Interviews Sylvain Archambault

November 18, 2009, by Homme De Sept-Iles

Montreal Mystique interviews Sylvain Archambault, director of Pour Toujours...Les Canadiens.

Carolina Musings and In-Game Scribbles

November 17, 2009, by Homme De Sept-Iles

Pacioretty is thrown to the ice like a mannequin by Carolina defenceman Andrew Alberts. Slides into the corner unharmed. Pacioretty has to hit the weights and steaks (and that doesn’t mean I’m condoning the lethal burger and hubris combo).

Boston Musings and In-Game Scribbles

November 5, 2009, by Homme De Sept-Iles

Silence these beasts.