Dead bodies were piling up everywhere on the airwaves …

Jacque Martin , Pierre Gauthier , Erik Cole and Scott Gomez were sentenced to death. To be buried many places. Next to Ghadafi ; under Le Centre Bell and a burial at sea for Mr. Gauthier. When all was said and done – it was the Habs’ assistant coach , Perry Pearn , who walked the plank.

Pearn - A Pirate ?

Someone – I suppose , should pay for the Canadiens worst start on home ice in franchise history. Why Pearn and not Martin? Time will tell. One day ( presumably when George Laraque writes another book ), all information regarding the ‘ behind-the -scenes ‘ scene that took place 90 minutes before yesterday’s game will come to the forefront.

You Gotta Move Like Jagr …

Ten minutes into the game against Kate Smith’s Flyers , all indications of a Hab team playing in turmoil seemed true. The Pronger-less Flyers appeared like Men to the impish ‘mice ‘ in the Canadiens line-up. The Habs chased the Flyers in their own zone, in neutral territory and in the other end of the ice. Philadelphia were vultures and Les Habitants a wounded animal – laying on a desert landscape . The Flyers and the Habs knew it was a matter of time before the end was near. The Canadiens were the keystone cops and the entire game would be written in the Daily Bugle.

Jaromir Jagr – fresh from Siberia ( literally ), took a beautiful pass from Carle at 10:43 of the first period and buried the puck past Carey Price. Jagr gave his trademark salute and all indications pointed towards the floodgates being opened . Another loss seemed imminent for the Habs and their net minder. Price would have to wait to reach his 100th win in the NHL. Another salute seemed real. Then , something funny happened away from the Forum …

Philadelphia did not want to win. They displayed their indifference by hitting not one – two goal posts before the first 20 minutes were up. Simmons’ chance the most apparent as he had time and space to put an easy goal past Price. The Flyers soon learned that if you play with fire – you will burn your chances. With three seconds left in the initial frame and Montreal on a power play – Yannick Weber blasted a shot from the point and in a wink of Patrick Roy’s eye , the score was tied heading to the middle period.

Maybe there is something in the Habs’ water bottles ? Perhaps being tied with a good team on the tails of a losing skid lit the team’s spirits …? Whatever the recipe – Martin must bottle it and feed it intravenously to his players every night.

The Habs came out like their Flyin’ French predecessors. Despite messing up on a 3 on 1 that came across as a bad Marx Brothers skit ( and in turn – making Cammalleri appear selfish ), Montreal kept coming. Since the start of the season – the Habs have not been lucky. Pucks have not bounced their way and the injury bug has taken it’s toll. Last night – the ghosts of the club’s past were on hand to lend a stick.

Andrei Kostistyn started the party mid-way through the period. A scramble around Philly’s net ended with the puck flying in various directions. Thankfully for Andrei and the Habs – the final direction was the back of the net as the disc bounced off the Belarusian’s leg. Max Pacioretty ( a game time decision due to pulled ligaments in his wrist), proved that after suffering a broken vertebrae last season – nothing will stop him now. He received the gift of the night when his teammate , Josh Gorges fired a shot at the Flyers’ net minder Bryzgalov . The puck went off his pads and landed directly on Max’s stick. An easy goal for number 67 and in the space of two minutes , it was 3-1 for a Canadien team looking for only it’s second win in eight games.

Nervous Nellies

If a fan at home , a fan at the game , Jacques Martin or any of his players said they were not nervous heading into the final segment – they would all be liars. A 3- 1 lead for a team that three times let the Toronto Maple Leafs catch-up is minimal against a much better Flyer squad. If the Habs were to win – they needed their veterans and Carey Price to step -up.

Erik Cole played the best game of his Canadien career last night. He demonstrated speed , skill and determination on every shift. He bullied his way to

Pronger - hit in face !

scoring chances for himself and teammates. Price – who has struggled at times so far , also played complete for sixty minutes. By far – his best outing this season. Together along with another goal from Max ‘ Patches ‘ Pacioretty and Mike Cammalleri – the Montreal Canadiens made a victory seem easy against a bigger and stronger Philadelphia team.

On occasion, with backs to the wall – a person or a team can reach deep within and come out on top. It does not mean the Canadiens are out of the woods. Their defencemen are having a hard time with the transition game. The forwards are as inconsistent as Marlon Brando was in choosing his movie roles. Last night proved part luck , part character and part chance. Chance in the fact they did not have to put up with Chris Pronger. A player that instills fear in his own zone. A player with a mean streak.

A player that can pile dead bodies very high …

**************************************************

Please see what Knuckles has to say about the game ! He also has a great story about a dog .

Habs are in Beantown tonight. It will be the first game that Pacioretty faces the criminal Chara. Both squads are not playing well with Boston being slightly above in the standings. Still – it is Montreal – Boston !!!!!