Going for it all in Montreal....... part deux

[Big T]

December 18th, 2004


The Chicago Blackhawks (14-14-4) are at the Bell Center for a game with the Montreal Canadiens (17-15-5) The teams are meeting for the first time this year.


Montreal outplayed and out shot the Blackhawks in the 1st period 10-6 but there was no scoring.


Despite the shots, Chicago opens up the scoring at 17:49 of the 2nd period with RD Jim Leppingwell's 3rd goal of the year. Leppingwell beats G Bill Wolfenbarger on a break away deke. The shots are now 28-14 for Montreal.


Chicago puts this baby to rest with an empty netter at 19:52. RW Michal Haluza scores his 1st of the year to make it 2-0. The final shots were 37-21 for Montreal.


Chicago 2 Montreal 0


Chicago G Eduard Kryuvyshanka made 37 saves for the shut out. The 21 year old now has 9 wins with 2 SO's, a 2.90 GAA and a .906 Sv% in 18 games. This is Kryuvyshanka's NHL rookie season, in 99 AHL games he has 45 wins with a 2.24 GAA and a .903 Sv%.


Vegas Golden Knights LW Adam Richardson will miss up to 4 months with a torn calf muscle. The 23 year old now has 12 goals and 35 points with 23 PIMs and a +8 rating in 35 games. For his career, Richardson has 49 goals with 119 points in 195 NHL games.


New York Rangers Francois Roy had 2 goals and an assist in a 6-0 win over the Blues. The 30 year old now has 12 goals and 34 points with 14 PIMs and a +8 rating in 34 games. For his career, Roy has 76 goals, and 175 points in 320 NHL games.


Vegas Golden Knights C Richard Peters had 3 goals and 2 assists in a 6-2 win over the Oilers. The 36 year old now has 16 goals and 40 points with 24 PIMs and a +4 rating in 35 games. For his career, Peters has 129 goals and 302 points in 317 NHL games.

[Big T]

December 28th, 2004


The Montreal Canadiens (17-16-5) are on the road to the Prudential Center for a home and home with the New Jersey Devils (15-17-3) Montreal has lost all 3 meetings including a 6-0 loss the last time these teams met this year. Prior to the game now that RD Steve Thornton is Ok to dress, Montreal demoted LD Berislav Salov to the AHL Condors. The 22 year old played in 3 games and had 0 points, 0 PIMs and a -1 rating.


Montreal get the opening goal at 0:53 with LW Joey Mandoli's 1st goal of the year. Mandoli's shot from the left side near the face off dot is assisted by RD Colton Knoll. Montreal goes up 2-0 at 4:39 while on the PP with RW Joey Mariani's 3rd goal of the year. Mariani tipped in LD Dominick Heatherington's point shot, LW Eric Brenner got the 2nd assist. Montreal extends the lead to 3-0 on RD Rinat Sadriyev's 5th goal of the year at 10:20. Sadriyev pounces on a rebound in the slot with assists to LW Joey Mandoli and RW Robert Cull. The period ends with the shots 10-5 for Montreal.


The Devils make it 3-1 at 12:40 of the 2nd period with RD David Vala's 3rd goal of the season. Vala was sent in all alone on G Bill Wolfenbarger and beats him. The 2nd period ends with the shots 22-11 for Montreal.


Montreal goes up 4-1 at 13:56 of the 3rd period with RW Joey Mariani's 2nd goal of the night, 4th of the season. Mariani's shot from the left face off dot is assisted by C Jeff Pilbeam and RD Vincent Lavoie. The Devils make it a bit closer with RW Billy Aschim's 11th goal of the year from a bad angle near the right corner at 19:43. The game ends with the shots 35-18 for Montreal.


Montreal G Bill Wolfenbarger wins his 100th career NHL game. The 39 year old now has 100 wins 230 NHL games with a career 2.30 GAA and .916 Sv%.


Montreal 4 New Jersey 2


Montreal RW Joey Mariani had 2 goals and was the first star. The 22 year old now has 4 goals and 13 points with 10 PIMs and a +2 rating in 39 games. Mariani won the CHL Plus-Minus Award in the 2000-01 season with a +45.


Philadelphia Flyers C Hakan Nilsson had a goal and an assist in a 3-3 tie with the Penguins. The 22 year old now has 11 goals and 31 points with 18 PIMs and a +2 rating in 36 games. Nilsson was nominated for the 2001 CHL Best Defensive Forward award, won a Stanley Cup in 2002, won the 2002 NHL Best Defensive Forward award and also won the 2003 NHL Best Defensive Forward award.

[Big T]

December 29th, 2004


The New Jersey Devils (15-18-3) are back to the Bell Center for the 2nd of a home and home with the Montreal Canadiens (18-16-5) The Devils lead the series 3-1 so far this regular season.


Just like the night before, the visiting team opens the score in the first minute of play. RW Magnus Sundstrom's deflection beats G Martin King for his 5th of the year at 0:50. The first ends with the shots even a 14-14.


Montreal dominated the 2nd period but could not find the back of the net, the shots are now 35-23 for Montreal.


As they usually say, a good chance at one end ends up with a goal at the other. C Jeff Pilbeam rings one off the post and the Devils come back to score and make it 2-0. RW Magnus Sundstrom gets his 2nd of the night, 6th of the season at 14:17 with a shot from the slot. Montreal pumped a ton of shots at the New Jersey net but lose the game. The final shots were 49-32 for the Habs.


New Jersey 2 Montreal 0


New Jersey G Vitaliy Tkachov made 49 saves and was named the 1st star. The 22 year old now has 6 wins with a 1.64 GAA, a .937 Sv% and 3 SO's in 11 games.


Winnipeg Jets C Peter Horvath had a goal and 2 assists in a 4-2 win over the Golden Knights. The 23 year old now has 15 goals and 33 points with 33 PIMs and a -3 rating in 35 games. Horvath was nominated for the 2002 NHL Best Defensive Forward award.


Vancouver Canucks RW Edmund Perkins had a goal and 2 assists in a 4-3 win over the Oilers. The 22 year old now has 14 goals and 32 points with 12 PIMs and a +3 rating in 34 games.


New York Rangers LW Francois Roy had 2 goals and 2 assists in a 6-2 win over the Flyers. The 30 year old now has 14 goals and 41 points with 18 PIMs and a +13 rating in 36 games. Roy won a Stanley Cup with the 2004 Rangers.


Chicago Blackhawks LW Issac Tokarski was named the NHL Player of the Month. The 22 year old now has 19 goals and 42 points with 21 PIMs and a +11 rating in 35 games. Tokarski had a career high 48 points in 64 games for the Blackhawks during the 2002-03 season.


Detroit Red Wings G Samu Myllymaki was named the NHL Goalie of the Month. The 32 year old now has 20 wins with 7 SO's, a 1.89 GAA and a .922 Sv% in 36 games. Myllymaki had a career high 30 wins in 50 games with the Red Wings and Devils during the 2002-03 season.


New York Rangers LW Francois Roy had 2 assists in a 4-2 win over the Red Wings. The 30 year old now has 14 goals and 43 points with 18 PIMs and a +15 rating in 37 games. Roy had a career high 60 points in 72 games last year for the Rangers.

[Big T]

January 2nd, 2005


The Toronto Maple Leafs (11-27-2) are at the Bell Center to face the Montreal Canadiens (18-17-5) Montreal has won 3 of the 4 meetings this season but lost 2-0 the last time they teams met in Montreal.


Montreal C Dean Casey gets into a fight at 18:11 of the 1st period, Montreal was outshooting Toronto 14-7 at the time. The period ends with the teams on a 4 on 4 for 11 more seconds then the Leafs will have a 1:47 PP. The final shots in the 1st are 17-7 for Montreal.


Montreal finally takes advantage of their dominance in the game so far as C Dean Casey gets his 12th of the season at 19:11 of the 2nd period. Casey out muscled a Leaf player for the puck and scored from the slot. RW Joey Mariani and LW Eric Brenner both got assists. The shots at the end of the 2nd period favor Montreal 30-9.


Montreal RW Petr Klusacek leaves the game with an apparent upper body injury at about the 11 minute mark. Montreal goes up 2-0 at 13:59 of the 3rd period with C Dean Casey's 2nd goal of the night and 13th of the year. Casey deflected RW Joey Mariani's shot, LW Emile Boudreau got the 2nd assist. Montreal shuts down the Leafs in the 3rd and the final shots are 45-11 for the Canadiens.


Montreal 2 Toronto 0


Despite the loss, Toronto G Brent Wiwcharuk was the 1st star with his 43 saves. The 37 year old has 6 wins with 3 SO's, a 2.18 GAA and a .927 Sv% in 23 games this season. Wiwcharuk had a career high 25 wins in 55 games for the Bruins in the 2000-01 season.


The Montreal Canadiens will be with out the services of RW Petr Klusacek for 2-3 weeks as he has been diagnosed with a strained Pectoral muscle. The 22 year old now has 5 goals and 11 points with 16 PIMs and a +12 rating in 41 games. Klusacek had a career high 20 points in 47 games for Montreal during the 2002-03 season.


Vegas Golden Knights RD Robert Petty was diagnosed with a strained back after a fall at home. The 34 year old is expected to miss up to 2-3 weeks. Petty has 8 goals and 29 points with 34 PIMs and a +1 rating in 39 games. Petty had a career high 41 points during the 2001-02 season in 48 games for the Golden Knights.

[Big T]

January 4th, 2005

The Montreal Canadiens (19-17-5) go to the unfriendly confines of the Canadian Tire Center and the Ottawa Senators (19-15-6) Montreal has 1-0-2 record in 3 games this year with the Sens.

The Senators open the scoring at 12:49 with LW Josh Pilz's 9th goal of the year. Pilz deflected one past G Bill Wolfenbarger for the 1-0 lead. Montreal ties the score 1-1 at 14:45 with LD Dominick Heatherington's 2nd of the year. Heatherington was sent in clear by C Dean Casey. Montreal goes up 2-1 on LW Emile Boudreau's 13th goal of the year at 16:36. Boudreau was sent in on a breakaway again by C Dean Casey. LD Vincent Lavoie got the 2nd assist. The 1st period ends with the shots 11-8 in favour of the Senators.

The Senators tie the score 2-2 at 9:48 of the 2nd period with RD Mitch Tetrault's 4th of the season. Tetrault's shot from the slot beats the Habs goalie. Ottawa goes up 3-2 with a SH goal at 14:32 when C Kimmo Pulkkinen is sent in alone on a breakaway. The 2nd period ends with the shots 16-16.

The 3rd period was very even but the Habs could not get the equalizer and the final shots on goal were 25-24 for Montreal.

Montreal LW Emile Boudreau got his milestone 200th point during the game. The 22 year old now has 76 goals and 200 points in 252 career NHL games.

Ottawa 3 Montreal 2

Ottawa RD Mitch Tetrault had a goal and was the 1st star. The 22 year old now has 4 goals and 16 points with 99 PIMs and a +5 rating in 41 games. Tetrault had a career high 18 points in 72 games last year for the Senators.

The Montreal Canadiens have activated LD Richard Nytra from the IR. The 22 year old was out since December 10th with back strain. Nytra had 3 goals and 13 points with 14 PIMs and a +4 rating in 33 games this year.

New York Rangers LW Francois Roy had 3 assists in a 4-3 win over the Bruins. The 30 year old now has 14 goals and 46 points with 18 PIMs and a +16 rating in 38 games. Roy had a career high 60 points in 72 games last year for the Rangers.

Nashville Predators G Richard Farrant made 33 saves in a 2-0 win over the Stars. The 28 year old now has 10 wins with 6 SO's, a 2.21 GAA and a .916 Sv% in 29 games. Farrant had a career high 41 wins in 60 games for the Predators in the 2002-03 season.

[Big T]

January 5th, 2005

The Washington Capitals (17-20-5) arrive at the Bell Center and a game with the Montreal Canadiens (19-18-5) Washington has won both meetings this season by 1 goal.

The Capitals take a 1-0 lead at 3:52 with LD Ty Sova's 4th goal of the year. Sova's shot from the Left point beats G Martin King. Montreal has dominated the territorial play and shots 11-1 when LW Robert Cull gets into a fight at 13:06. Lets see if Montreal feeds off the fight. The final shots in the 1st period are 17-3 for Montreal but they are down 1-0.

Montreal tie up the score 1-1 while on the PP as C Dean Casey gets his 14th of the season at 12:42. Casey deflected LW Emile Boudreau's shot, RD Steven Thornton gets the 2nd assist. Washington gets the lead back at 16:55 with RW Ben Burkes 7th goal of the year. Burke capitalized on a rebound and an he buried it in from the right faceoff dot. The 2nd period ends with the shots 25-10 for Montreal.

Montreal continues to put pressure on the Capitals and finally get one past the Caps goalie at 17:14 to tie the score 2-2. LD Dominick Heatherington's shot from the right face off dot goes in for his 3rd goal of the year. LW Robert Cull and RD Steven Thornton draw assists. Montreal go up 3-2 on the PP at 18:22 with C Dean Casey's 15th of the season. Casey's shot from the slot is assisted on by RW Zach Broderick and RD Steven Thornton. Montreal holds on to win and out shot the Capitals 39-13.

Montreal 3 Washington 2

Montreal RD Steven Thornton is the 1st star with his 3 assists. The 33 year old now has 2 goals and 17 points with 24 PIMs and a +4 rating in 33 games. Thornton had a career high of 38 points in 61 game for Montreal during the 2000-01 season.

Detroit Red Wings LW Chad Deraspe had a goal and 2 assists in a 4-2 win over the Senators. The 22 year old now has 16 goals and 39 points with 45 PIMs and a +14 rating in 39 games. Deraspe had a career high 30 goals in 72 games last year for the Red Wings.

Pittsburgh Penguins RD Donavan Jamieson had 2 goals in a 3-3 tie with the Bruins. The 22 year old now has 13 goals and 28 points with 10 PIMs and a +26 rating in 39 games. Jamieson's 13 goals is now a career high improving on 12 goals he got in 70 games for the Penguins and Flyers during the 2001-02 season.

Boston Bruins C Ronald Sutton had 2 goals in a 3-2 win over the Flyers. The 34 year old now has 18 goals and 52 points with 22 PIMs and a +4 rating in 43 games. Sutton had a career high 35 goals in 69 games for the Stars during the 2000-01 season.

Winnipeg Jets C Peter Horvath had a goal and 2 assists in a 5-0 win over the Avalanche. The 23 year old now has 17 goals and 37 points with 33 PIMs and a -1 rating in 38 games. Horvath had a career high 20 goals in 72 games for the Senators during the 2001-02 season.

[Big T]

January 8th, 2005


The Montreal Canadiens (20-18-5) pay a visit to the KeyBank Center and the Buffalo Sabres (13-21-6) Montreal has won both previous meetings this season by identical 5-1 scores.


Montreal goes up 1-0 at 4:30 of the 1st with C Jeff Pilbeam's 8th of the season shortly after the Sabres hit the post. Pilbeam's wrister from the top of the circle is assisted by LW Joey Mariani and LD Richard Nytra. The 1st period ends with the shots 8-6 for Montreal.


Montreal goes up 2-0 at 11:44 when LW Eric Brenner gets his 13th of the season. Brenner tips in LD Dominick Heatherington's shot with the 2nd assist going to RD Steven Thornton. Montreal extends the lead to 3-0 with LD Dominick Heatherington's 4th of the year at 17:47. Heatherington is sent in clear by RD Colton Knoll with LW Joey Mariani picking up the 2nd helper. The shots after the 2nd are 18-12 for Montreal.


Montreal takes a 4-0 lead on LW Emile Boudreau's 14th goal of the year. Boudreau's rebound shot is assisted by C Dean Casey at 1:33 of the 3rd. Shortly after that, its RW Joey Mariani's turn with his 5th goal of the season at 1:53. Mariani's shot from the right circle is assisted by C Dean Casey. Montreal beat the Sabres while outshooting Buffalo 35-17. G Bill Wolfenbarger gets the 17 save SO, its his 2nd SO of the season.


Montreal 5 Buffalo 0


Montreal RW Joey Mariani had a goal and 2 assists and was the 1st star. The 22 year old now has 5 goals and 18 points with 12 PIMs and a +7 rating in 44 games this year. Mariani had a career high 21 goals last season in 72 games for Montreal.

[Big T]

January 9th, 2005


The Pittsburgh Penguins (13-13-5) visit the Bell Center and a meeting with the Montreal Canadiens (21-18-5). The two teams have played just once this year, in Pittsburgh with the Penguins winning 1-0.


The 1st period ends scoreless, the Penguins out shot Montreal 12-5.


The Penguins get the ice breaker at 1:00 of the 2nd period with LD Ryan Howell's 6th of the year to make it 1-0. Howell's blast from the left point beats G Martin King. Pittsburgh goes up 2-0 at 2:03 of the 2nd period as LW Visvaldis Bruss deflects one in for his 13th of the season. Montreal makes it 2-1 at 14:03 of the 2nd period with C Jeff Pilbeam's 9th of the year. Pilbeam's shot from a bad angle is assisted by LD Vincent Lavoie and LW Eric Brenner. The 2nd period ends with the shots 21-15 for Pittsburgh.


The Penguins go up 3-1 while short handed at 11:14 of the 3rd period. LW Visvaldi Bruss gets his 14th of the year SH on a long shot from the right point. Montreal gets back within one at 12:21 with LW Robert Cull's 5th of the season. Cull deflected RW Randolph Lott's shot with the 2nd assist going to C James Courcy. Montreal completes the comeback at 18:11 of the 3rd with C James Courcy's 3rd of the year. Courcy tips LW Robert Cull's shot to tie the game 3-3. The game ends tied with the shots 31-22 for the Penguins.


Montreal 3 Pittsburgh 3


Montreal C James Courcy was named the 1st star with his goal and assist. The 21 year old now has 3 goals and 10 points with 11 PIMs and a +0 rating in 45 games. Courcy had a career high 5 goals in 55 games for Montreal during the 2002-03 season.

[Big T]

January 11th, 2005


The Montreal Canadiens (21-18-6) are at the Air Canada Center on a date with the lowly Toronto Maple Leafs (11-29-3). In 5 games so far this season, Montreal has won 4 and lost 1.


Montreal grabs an early 1-0 lead on RW Joey Mariani's 6th goal of the year. Mariani pounced on a rebound from RD Colton Knoll's shot. Toronto ties it up moments later with RD Ace Ojala's 2nd goal of the season. Ojala beat G Bill Wolfenbarger from the right face off dot to make it 1-1. The period ends with the shots 8-7 for Montreal.


Montreal goes up 2-1 with RW Zach Broderick's 4th goal of the year. Broderick's shot from the left circle is assisted by C Jeff Pilbeam and LD Dominick Heatherington. The Leafs tie the score 2-2 at 13:45 of the period and the teams 4 on 4 with LW Radek Cigler's 10th of the season. Cigler's shot from the slot ties the game. The period ends with the shots 26-12 for Montreal.


Montreal goes up 3-2 at 12:24 with LD Richard Nytra's 4th of the season on the PP. Nytra's shot from the right dot is assisted by C James Courcy and LW Eric Brenner. Moments later, Eric Brenner left the game with an apparent back injury. Montreal adds a empty netter at 19:59 with LD Richard Nytra's 5th goal of the year. Nytra's shot from the left face off circle is assisted by LW Emile Boudreau and C Dean Casey. The final shots are 49-21 for Montreal.


Montreal 4 Toronto 2


Montreal LD Richard Nytra had 2 goals and was the 1st star. The 22 year old now has 5 goals and 16 points with 14 PIMs and a +6 rating in 37 games. Last season Nytra had 5 goals and 13 points in 56 games for Montreal.


New York Rangers LW Francois Roy had 4 goals in a 5-1 win over the Islanders. The 30 year old now has 18 goals and 50 points with 18 PIMs and a +17 rating in 41 games. Last year Roy had 29 goals and 60 points in 72 games for the Rangers.


Washington Capitals C Jude Jordan had a goal and 3 assists in a 6-3 win over the Blackhawks. The 23 year old now has 17 goals and 39 points with 28 PIMs and a +3 rating in 43 games. Jordan had 15 goals and 40 points in 72 games for the Capitals last year.


Vegas Golden Knights RW Solomon McDougall had 2 goals in a 3-1 win over the Blues. The 22 year old now has 17 goals and 28 points with 45 PIMs and a +10 rating in 43 games. Last year McDougall had 15 goals and 29 points in 72 games for the Golden Knights.


Montreal will be without the services of LW Eric Brenner for a couple of weeks. The 21 year old now has 13 goals and 23 points with 10 PIMs and a +6 rating in 46 games. Brenner had 7 goals and 10 points in 33 games last year for Montreal. Montreal recalled LW Li Wei from the AHL. The 22 year old had 5 goals and 14 points with 22 PIMs and a +4 rating in 18 AHL games.

[Big T]

January 12th, 2005


The Ottawa Senators (21-16-7) are at the Bell Center and the 5th game of the year with the Montreal Canadiens (22-18-6) Both team's have a win and the other 2 games were a tie.


Montreal goes up 1-0 at 10:34 of the 1st with RW Zach Broderick's 5th goal of the year. Broderick's weak shot from the right circle floated past the Sens goalie. RD Rinat Sadriyev got the only assist. Montreal out shot the Sens 9-4 in the 1st period.


After an icing call, Montreal wins the draw in the Senators end and eventually score at 3:22 of the 2nd period to go up 2-0. C Dean Casey deflected RD Colton Knoll's shot for his 16th goal of the season. RW Joey Mariani got the 2nd assist. The Senators get on the board after a LW Emile Boudreau giveaway, RW Edward Colles goes in all alone and beats G Martin King for his 2nd goal of the year at 9:58 to make it 2-1. After another Senators icing call forces a faceoff in the Ottawa zone, Montreal takes advantage. LD Vincent Lavoie's shot from just outside the right face off circle beats the Ottawa goalie after a clean face off win by C Jeff Pilbeam. Lavoie's goal comes at 14:46 of the 2nd period making it 3-1 with his 2nd goal of the year. The 2nd period ends with the shots 21-9 for Montreal.


Montreal goes up 4-1 with an empty netter at 19:09 of the 3rd, LW Joey Mandoli hits the empty cage from the right face off circle for his 2nd goal of the year with assist to C James Courcy. The final shots on goal were 32-20 for Montreal.


Montreal 4 Ottawa 1


Montreal LD Vincent Lavoie was the 1st star with his goal. The 21 year old now has 2 goals and 16 points with 31 PIMs and a +8 rating in 47 games. Last season Lavoie had 5 goals and 18 points with 72 games for Montreal.


Philadelphia Flyers C Hakan Nilsson had 3 goals in a 4-2 win over the Maple Leafs. The 22 year old now has 16 goals and 37 points with 22 PIMs and a +2 rating in 44 games. Last year Nilsson had 25 goals and 60 points in 72 games for the Flyers.


New York Rangers RW Lukas Kocian had 2 goals in a 3-2 win over the Capitals. The 21 year old now has 20 goals and 41 points with 44 PIMs and a +20 rating in 42 games. Last year Kocian had 28 goals and 61 points in 72 games for the Rangers.


Buffalo Sabres RW Craig Tollison had 3 goals and an assist in a 7-1 win over the Capitals. The 31 year old now has 17 goals and 36 points with 10 PIMs and a -5 rating in 43 games. For his career, Tollison has 129 goals with 265 points in 293 NHL games.


The Philadelphia Flyers have traded G Omar Vogt and LW David Sanford to the St Louis Blues in exchange for RD Alex Baird and LD Michal Vargha. The 22 year old Voft has 10 wins with 4 SO's, a 2.60 GAA and a .911 Sv% in 29 games. For his career, Vogt has 39 wins with a 2.80 GAA and a .903 Sv% in 137 NHL games.

[Big T]

January 18th, 2005


The New Jersey Devils (17-21-5) are at the Bell Center to take on the Montreal Canadiens (23-18-6) New Jersey has won 4 of the 5 meetings so far this year.


The first period ends scoreless, the shots are 6-5 for the Devils.


Montreal takes the 1-0 lead at 2:11 of the 2nd period with RW Joey Mariani's 7th goal of the year. Mariani's shot from the left face off circle is assisted by C Dean Casey and LD Dominick Heatherington. Montreal goes up 2-0 at 3:59 with D Colton Knoll's 3rd goal of the season. Knoll's shot from the right point is assisted by RW Joey Mariani and C Dean Casey. The Devils make it 2-1 at 18:54 of the 2nd period with RW Billy Aschim's 13th goal of the year. Aschim beat's G Bill Wolfenbarger on the rebound shot from the slot. The period ends with the shots 25-16 for the Devils.


The Devils tie it up 2-2 at 5:08 of the 3rd period with LD Don O'Rourke's 3rd goal of the season. O'Rourke's tip beats G Wolfenbarger. The Devils take a 3-2 lead at 15:18 with LW Michal Sin's 10th of the year. Sin used the wrap around to break the tie. It took just a faceoff and a shot as New Jersey makes it 4-2 on the PP. RW Billy Aschim beats G Wolfenbarger from the right dot at 16:43. Montreal does make it interesting, C Dean Casey scored his 17th of the season at 18:24 to make it 4-3. Casey's shot from the right circle is assisted by LW Emile Boudreau and RD Sinat Sadriyev. The Canadiens comeback in a game again, this time its RW Zach Broderick scoring at 19:30 to tie the score 4-4. Broderick is sent in all alone by LD Dominick Heatherington for his 6th goal of the year. LW Randolph Lott got the 2nd assist. The game end's tied. The final shots were 40-24 for the Devils.


Montreal 4 New Jersey 4


Montreal RW Joey Mariani had a goal and an assist as the 1st star. The 22 year old now has 7 goals and 22 points with 12 PIMs and a +11 rating in 48 games. For his career, Mariani has 54 goals and 164 points in 261 NHL games.


New York Rangers LW Francois Roy had a goal and an assist in a 2-1 win over the Predators. The 30 year old now has 20 goals and 54 points with 20 PIMs and a +15 rating in 44 games. For his career, Roy has 84 goals and 195 points in 330 NHL games.

[Big T]

January 19th, 2005


The Detroit Red Wings (27-13-5) are in town for a visit to the Bell Center and the Montreal Canadiens (23-18-7) Montreal is 0-4 against the Red Wings this year, a team they are chasing for a playoff spot.


With just over 5 minutes left in the 1st period, LW Robert Cull got into a fight. The shots at the time were 7-4 for Montreal, lets see what happens momentum wise. The Red Wings get a late goal in the 1st period as LW Chad Deraspe gets his 19th of the year at 19:51. Deraspe tips a shot past G Bill Wolfenbarger. The final shots in the 1st are 8-7 for the Red Wings.


Detroit goes up 2-0 at 10:12 of the 2nd period with LD Jason Sloan's 1st goal of the season. Sloan's shot from the high slot beats the Habs goalie. Detroit gets another quickly, LW Lukas Simoes gets his 15th of the year at 10:44 from a shot near the right face off dot. The 2nd period ends with the shots favouring the Red Wings 21-15.


Montreal gets on the board at 0:48 of the 3rd as RW Zach Broderick gets his 7th of the season to make it 3-1. Broderick's shot from the right circle on a nifty pass from C Jeff Pilbeam gives Montreal some hope. LD Dominick Heatherington got the 2nd assist. Montreal makes it 3-2 on the PP with LW Emile Boudreau's 15th of the year. Boudreau's shot from the high slot is assisted by C Dean Casey and LD Richard Nytra. Detroit get a 4-2 lead at 15:08 with C Robertas Balcionis's 6th of the season. Balcoinis beats G Bill Wolfenbarger with a shot from in tight. Montreal are not done yet, with the goalie out for an extra attacker C James Courcy gets his 4th of the year at 18:39 to make it 4-3. Courcy's shot from the slot is assisted by LW Robert Cull and RW Dean Casey. Montreal cannot get the comeback tonight though and are now 0-5 against the Red Wings this year. The final shots were 35-23 for the Red Wings. Detroit Josef Hanak hit a milestone with 250 points. For his career, Hanak has 114 goals along with his 250 points in 328 NHL games.


Detroit 4 Montreal 3


Detroit C Roman Petrov was the 1st star with his assist. The 21 year old now has 4 goals and 20 points with 28 PIMs and a +12 rating in 46 games. For his career, Petrov has 14 goals and 61 points in 190 NHL games.


New Jersey Devils RD Eric Moser will miss up to 9 weeks with a torn hamstring. The 35 year old now has 8 goals and 41 points with 36 PIMs and a +9 rating in 47 games. Moser played the 2000-01 season with the Chicago Blackhawks and was signed as a free agent by the Devils for the 2001-02 season.


Buffalo Sabres C Craig Tollison had 3 goals in a 4-1 win over the Avalanche. The 31 year old now has 22 goals and 41 points with 10 PIMs and a -3 rating in 46 games. Tollison started his career with the Winnipeg Jets in 2000-01 before signing as a free agent by Buffalo for the 2001-02 season.


Winnipeg Jets C Peter Horvath had 2 goals and an assist in a 4-3 win over the Bruins. The 23 year old now has 20 goals and 44 points with 35 PIMs and a +3 rating in 45 games. Horvath was the 47th overall pick of the Ottawa Senators in the 2001 NHL Draft. On July 1st, 2003 Horvath was traded to the Jets.

[Big T]

January 25th, 2005


The Philadelphia Flyers (18-23-6) are at the Bell Center and a game with the Montreal Canadiens (23-19-7). Montreal has beaten the Flyers in both the two games this season. Canadiens will be without LD Dominick Heatherington as he is suffering a sinus infection.


The Flyers get the early lead as RW Herb Gaston gets his 6th of the year at 3:34. Gaston's shot from the slot beats G Bill Wolfenbarger. The Flyers go up 2-0 at 13:59 with a goal by LW Bob Gould. Gould's deflection gives him 3 goals on the season. The shots in the 1st are 15-9 for the Flyers.


The Flyers get a 3-0 lead at 1:16 of the 2nd period with RW Magnus Sundstrom's 2nd goal as a Flyer and 9th of the season on the PP. Sundstrom's deflection from in tight has the Habs reeling. The Flyers extend the lead to 4-0 at 14:27 as C Zach Paterson gets his 6th of the year from the slot. Montreal finally gets on the board at 15:16 and make it 4-1 on RW Joey Mariani's 8th goal of the season. Mariani tips RD Rinat Sadriyev's shot with the 2nd assist going to C Dean Casey. The period ends with the shot now 22-18 for Philadelphia.


Montreal make it 4-2 while short handed as C Dean Casey gets the SH goal, his 18th goal of the year at 12:36. Casey's shot from the left point is assisted by LW Emile Boudreau and RD Rinat Sadriyev. That's as close as Montreal can get. The final shots are 33-25 for the Flyers.


Philadelphia 4 Montreal 2


Philadelphia LW Kevin Froats had 2 assists and was the 1st star. The 22 year old now has 4 goals and 11 points with 14 PIMs and a +2 rating in 46 games. The Flyers signed Froats as an undrafted free agent on July 18th, 2003.


Buffalo Sabres RW Craig Tollison had a goal and 2 assists in a 5-2 win over the Blackhawks. The 31 year old now has 23 goals and 44 points with 10 PIMs and a -1 rating in 47 games. Tollison was nominated for the 2004 NHL MVP Award.

[Big T]

January 26th, 2005


NHL Standings and Leaders

[Big T]

January 26th, 2005


Montreal Canadiens Stats


The Canadiens have 22 games left and will likely need about 87 points to make the playoffs. This means they would need about 34 points in 22 games or roughly 16-4-2. The odds are not good.


This would likely make the Habs sellers before February 1st's NHL trade deadline. Possible trade bait would be:


G Bill Wolfenbarger- a free agent at the end of the season.
LW Randolph Lott- also a free agent at the end of the season.
RD Anthony Reynolds- another free agent at the end of the season.

[Big T]

January 26th, 2005


The Montreal Canadiens have traded RW Petr Klusacek to the Detroit Red Wings for RW Ed Bryant. The 22 year old Klusacek had 5 goals and 11 points in 41 games this season. The RFA in July was the Canadiens 126th overall pick in the 2001 NHL Draft. In 158 NHL games he had 19 goals and 50 points. The 28 year old Bryant was a pending free agent at the end of the season. Bryant has 10 goals and 21 points with 14 PIMs and a +3 rating in 36 games with Detroit. In 305 NHL games, he has 107 goals and 222 points.


The Toronto Maple Leafs (13-34-3) will be at the Bell Center to play the Montreal Canadiens (23-20-7) The Canadiens have won 5 of 6 meetings this season including 2-0 the last time they played at the Bell Center. New acquisition RW Ed Bryant will make his debut on the 2nd line tonight for Montreal.


It did not take long for RW Ed Bryant to make an impact, the 28 year old got his 1st goal as a Montreal Canadien at 1:14 of the 1st period on the PP and the 1-0 Montreal lead. Bryant's shot from the slot is assisted by LD Richard Nytra. Montreal goes up 2-0 at 5:00 with LW Randolph Lott's 4th of the year. The former Leaf tipped in RW Zach Broderick's shot with the 2nd assist going to RD Steven Thornton. Toronto makes it 2-1 at 15:19 with C Hector Ruiz's rebound shot beating G Martin King from the left faceoff circle. It was Ruiz's 2nd goal of the year. The 1st period ends with the shots 11-6 for Montreal.


Montreal goes up 3-1 at 1:09 of the 2nd period while on the PP. RW Joey Mariani tips in a shot for his 9th goal of the season with LD Vincent Lavoie and LW Eric Brenner with assists. The Leafs come right back and make it 3-2 with LW Rhett Mallen's 6th goal of the year from the slot at 2:22. The 2nd period ends with the shots 26-13 for Montreal.


Montreal goes up 4-2 at 2:19 of the 3rd period when LW Emile Boudreau sets up RD Rinat Sadriyev's shot from the high slot. For Sadriyev it was his 6th goal of the season. Toronto gets back to 4-3 with a PP goal at 6:58. LD Tim O'Keefe's shot from the right point beats G King for his 5th of the year. Montreal hangs on for the win outshooting the Leafs 36-18.


Montreal 4 Toronto 3


Montreal LW Randolph Lott was the 1st star with his goal. The 33 year old now has 4 goals and 11 points with 6 PIMs and a +15 rating in 46 games.


The Montreal Canadiens have signed RW Ed Bryant to a 3 year, $13.9 M deal extension. The 28 year old has 11 goals and 22 points in 37 games this year. Bryant had a career high 29 goals and 57 points during the 2002-03 season in 72 games with Detroit.


The Montreal Canadiens have signed RD Colton Knoll to a 3 year, $3.0 M deal. The 23 year old now has 3 goals and 15 points with 15 PIMs and a +6 rating in 26 games for Montreal.


The Montreal Canadiens have signed LD Richard Nytra to a 3 year, $3.5 M deal. The 22 year old now has 5 goals and 18 points with 16 PIMs and a +6 rating in 42 games. In 3 seasons with Montreal, Nytra has 11 goals and 44 points in 145 games.


The Montreal Canadiens have signed LW Robert Cull to a 2 year, $5.6 M deal. The 22 year old now has 5 goals and 11 points with 29 PIMs and a +0 rating in 35 games. In 3 season's with Montreal Cull has 26 goals and 58 points in 174 games.


New York Rangers RW Lukas Kocian had a goal and an assist in a 3-1 win over the Penguins. The 21 year old now has 22 goals and 46 points with 58 PIMs and a +22 rating in 48 games. In 2001, Kocian was nominated for the CHL Best Defensive Forward Award, in 2002 he won the CHL Points Award, CHL Goal Scorer Award, CHL Best Defensive Forward Award and the CHL MVP Award. In 2004, Kocian was nominated for the NHL Best Defensive Forward Award and won a Stanley Cup.


Chicago Blackhawks C Gert Linde had 2 goals and 2 assists in a 5-2 win over the Canucks. The 23 year old now has 17 goals and 48 points with 18 PIMs and a +18 rating in 49 games.


The Montreal Canadiens have signed LW Joey Mandoli to a 3 year, $3.1 M deal. The 22 year old now has 2 goals and 4 points with 6 PIMs and a -1 rating in 21 games. In parts of 3 seasons with Montreal, Mandoli has 7 goals and 18 points with 10 PIMs and a -18 rating in 82 games.


The Montreal Canadiens have signed RD Rinat Sadriyev to a 3 year, $6.3 M deal. The 29 year old has 6 goals and 12 points with 12 PIMs and a +7 rating in 45 games. In his 5 season with the Canadiens, Sadriyev has 17 goals and 65 points in 234 games.

[Big T]

January 30th, 2005


The Nashville Predators (17-22-13) the Montreal Canadiens (24-20-7) at the Bell Center. Montreal and Nashville meet for the 1st time this season.


Montreal RW Ed Bryant is getting involved in more then goal scoring when he gets into a fight at the 8 minute mark of the 1st period. The shots were 4-0 for the Predators, so maybe this will spark the Habs. The period ends scoreless with the shots 7-4 for Nashville.


Both teams had 5 on 3's for over a minute, but no one scored. Montreal will get a 5 minute PP with 4:40 remaining in the period as Nashville's Sergey Adaikin got a major for illegal head contact. With 2 minutes left in the period another fight, this time its LD Vincent Lavoie. The shots are now 14-11 for Montreal and the momentum is in Montreal's favor. The period ends scoreless again, now the shots are 14-12 for Montreal.


The 3rd period was scoreless as well and the game ends in a 0-0 tie. The final shots were 22-20 for the Canadiens.


Montreal 0 Nashville 0


Nashville G Richard Farrant was the 1st star with his 22 saves. The 28 year old now has 13 wins with 7 SO's, a 2.20 GAA and a .917 Sv% in 41 games. Farrant won the 2002 AHL Save Percentage Award. In 2003, he won a Stanley Cup, won the NHL Goals Against Award and the NHL Goalie of the Year Award.


New York Islanders C Aleksandr Enukidze had a goal and an assist in a 3-2 win over the Sabres. The 22 year old now has 18 goals and 40 points with 12 PIMs and a +2 rating in 50 games.


Dallas Stars RW Radik Gumerov had a goal and 2 assists in a 6-2 win over the Avalanche. The 21 year old now has 12 goals and 43 points with 10 PIMs and a +15 rating in 51 games.


Chicago Blackhawks LW Issac Tokarski was named the NHL Player of the Month. The 22 year old now has 32 goals and 63 points with 29 PIMs and a +16 rating in 50 games. Tokarski has now set a career high for points exceeding the 48 points he had in 2002-03 in 64 games for the Blackhawks.


New York Rangers G Michal Cadilek was named the NHL Goalie of the Month. The 21 year old now has 24 wins with 6 SO's, a 1.91 GAA and a .920 Sv% in 41 games. Cadilek has now set a career high for wins exceeding the 21 wins he had last year in 45 games for the Rangers.

[Big T]

February 1st, 2005


The Montreal Canadiens (24-20-8) travel to Ottawa to face the Senators (23-21-7) at Canadian Tire Place. The Habs are 2-1-2 with the Senators but lost 3-2 the last time the teams met in Ottawa.


The first period ends scoreless. The shots are 10-7 for the Senators as they start the 2nd period with a short 0:44 PP.


The Senators capitalize on a PP as C Kimmo Pulkkinen gets his 11th of the season. Pulkkinen pounces on a rebound a beats G Bill Wolfenbarger from point blank at 2:57. The Senators go up 2-0 at 11:17 when LW Winslow Fitzstephens gets his 18th on a rebound shot from in the slot. The 2nd period ends with the shots 20-14 for the Senators.


The Senators grab a 3-0 lead at 11:41 with RW Philip Garne's 9th goal of the year. Garne's slapshot from the left face off circle beats G Wolfenbarger. Ottawa gets their 2nd PP goal of the game at 16:32 when LW Josh Pilz bangs home a rebound from the slot. Its Pilz's 10th goal of the season. The final shots are 29-19 for the Senators as the Habs have gone over 6 periods of hockey with out a goal.


Ottawa 4 Montreal 0


Ottawa LW Winslow Fitzstephens had a goal and an assist as the 1st star. The 22 year old now has 18 goals and 40 points with 20 PIMs and a +11 rating in 49 games. Fitzshephens had a career high 41 points in 72 games last year for the Senators.


The Vancouver Canucks have traded RW Edmund Perkins and LD Phillippe Tremblay to the New York Islanders in exchange for LW Greg Meeks and a 7th round pick. The 22 year old Perkins has 18 goals and 42 points with 16 PIMs and a -2 rating in 49 games. Perkins 42 points has set a new career high exceeding 40 points he got during the 2002-03 season in 69 games with the Red Wings.


Boston Bruins C Ronald Sutton had 3 goals in a 4-3 win over the Predators. The 34 year old now has 22 goals and 58 points with 24 PIMs and a +0 rating in 51 games. Sutton had a career high 76 points during the 2000-01 season with the Stars in 69 games.


New York Rangers LW Francois Roy had a goal in a 2-2 tie with the Jets. The 30 year old now has 23 goals and 58 points with 24 PIMs and a +16 rating in 50 games. Roy had a career high 60 points last year in 72 games for the Rangers.

[Big T]

February 2nd, 2005


The Detroit Red Wings (31-15-5) pay a visit to the Bell Center and the Montreal Canadiens (24-21-8). Detroit has won all 5 meetings so far this season. This will be the first meeting between the teams since the trade that saw RW Petr Klusacek go to Detroit for RW Ed Bryant.


The Red Wings open the scoring at 11:20 of the 1st with LW Jonathan Horton's 7th, a rebound shot from the slot that beats G Martin King. The shots end up 11-9 for Montreal in the 1st.


Detroit goes up 2-0 at 3:23 of the 2nd with LW Paul Brown's breakaway goal. It is Brown's 12th goal of the year. Montreal gets on the board at 18:46 of the period with C Jeff Pilbeam's 10th goal of the year. Pilbeam whack's home a rebound from the slot with assists to RW Zach Broderick and LD Vincent Lavoie. The shots are now 27-22 for Montreal after the 2nd.


Montreal ties the score 2-2 at 1:40 of the 3rd period with C Dean Casey's 19th goal of the season. Casey's shot from in tight is assisted by LW Emile Boudreau. Detroit goes up 3-2 on the PP with a goal by former Hab RW Petr Klusacek. Klusacek beats G Martin King from in close for his 2nd goal as a Red Wing. Montreal loses to Detroit for the 6th straight time with the shots 38-38.


Detroit 3 Montreal 2


Detroit C Roman Petrov is the 1st star with his 2 assists. The 21 year old now has 6 goals and 25 points with 38 PIMs and a +16 rating in 52 games. Petrov's 25 points are a career high besting the 21 points he had last year in 72 games with Detroit.


The Boston Bruins have signed C Ronald Sutton to a 2 year, $10.8 M deal. The 34 year old now has 22 goals and 58 points with 26 PIMs and a +0 rating in 52 games. Sutton had a career high 76 points in 69 games during the 2000-01 season with the Stars.

[Big T]

February 5th, 2005


The Montreal Canadiens (24-22-8) travel to the Barclays Center and the New York Islanders (22-24-6) The teams have split the 2 meetings so far including a 3-2 win the last time for Montreal in New York.


The Islanders open the scoring on the PP at 5:19 with LW Ron Oxford's 18th goal of the season. Oxford's shot from the left point beats G Bill Wolfenbarger. Montreal ties it up a 1-1 with C Dean Casey's 20th goal at 12:36. Casey's shot from the right circle is assisted by RW Joey Mariani and LW Emile Boudreau. The Islanders take a 2-1 lead at 16:18 with RW Ken Oliver's 11th goal of the season. Oliver's shot from the slot eludes G Wolfenbarger. The 1st period ends with the shots tied 8-8.


There was no scoring in the 2nd period as the momentum went back and forth, the shots are now 23-21 for the Islanders.


The Islanders seal the deal with an empty netter at 19:29 of the 3rd period. RW Ken Oliver hits the empty cage from the left point for his 12th goal of the year. The Islanders add another empty netter at 19:58 with C Aleksandr Enukidze's shot from the left face off circle for his 20th of the year.


Islanders 4 Montreal 1


New York Islanders RW Ken Oliver had 2 goals and was the 1st star. The 31 year old now has 12 goals and 24 assists with 25 PIMs and a +0 rating in 49 games. Oliver had a career high 63 points in 67 games for the Islanders during the 2002-03 season.