After going much of the season with little serious injury trouble, the Canadiens are staring at a few problems this morning, with tests and rehab ongoing. We'll report more later in the day, officially an off-day for the team, when we have the information. But with three games left in the regular season, things aren't pretty:
• Captain Saku Koivu, defenceman/forward Mark Streit and D Francis Bouillon all will put their feet up for the medical staff today or tomorrow. Koivu and Streit took shots off the foot Friday in Buffalo, and though both played that entire game, they sat out last night's 4-2 loss in Toronto. RDS reports that Koivu wore a foot brace and used crutches to board the team's charter home last night.
• Bouillon was drilled in the right instep by a shot in last night's third period and did not return to action. Leaving the dressing room, he told François Gagnon of La Presse that he was hit in precisely this spot during Monday's home-ice win over Ottawa.
• D Mike Komisarek continues to rehab a hip injury, suffered March 20 in Boston. The original prognosis was for him to miss three weeks.
• F Guillaume Latendresse didn't make the trip to Buffalo and Toronto, suffering neck spasms.
The Canadiens had practice time scheduled today at the Bell Centre, but they won't use it. They'll skate tomorrow late afternoon, then bus to Ottawa for Tuesday's game against the Senators. The Habs need just one more point between now and their final game of the regular season, next Saturday at home vs. Toronto, to clinch the Northeast Division title.

When the Canadiens selected defenceman Ryan O'Byrne in the third round of the 2003 National Hockey League entry draft (79th overall), he was viewed as a long-term project. Judging by the progress he has made so far, the team's project deserves a high grade.
After three seasons at Cornell University, O'Byrne turned pro in 2006, joining the Hamilton Bulldogs for their Calder Cup championship season last year in the American Hockey League.
The Victoria native has progressed rapidly since turning pro and made his NHL debut in December, only to have his rookie season interrupted by a broken thumb he suffered during a fight a few weeks later.

But the 6-foot-5, 228-pounder has come back strong and hasn't looked out of place against NHL competition. He has one goal, four assists, and a plus-4 rating in 30 games, along with 45 penalty minutes, including 15 in last night's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Question: What is it like seeing so many teammates from last season's Calder Cup-champion Hamilton Bulldogs joining the Canadiens?
O'Byrne: "It's obviously nice to play with those guys. We won the Cup there
together, we're familiar with each other and we know how to win. It's nice to be up here in Montreal and looking forward to the playoffs. We have a great hockey team going into the playoffs and I'm excited to make another run for it."
Do you think the experience gained last season will help at the NHL level?
"Yeah, absolutely, I mean it was a good lesson for us to learn how to play in pressure situations and compete at the highest level at that time. We learned a lot and came together as a team. A lot of guys had pretty good regular seasons, but they came into their own in the playoffs."
What was it like to walk into the Canadiens' dressing room for the first time and pull on the Canadiens jersey?
"It's pretty surreal. You go out on the ice and you're like: 'The guys before me have won 24 Stanley Cups' and you look at the names on the wall and you have a lot to live up to. I think you owe it to them and the organization to play your hardest every night because of all the history."
If there was one historical figure you could meet, who would that be and why?
"If Muhammad Ali was in a little better health, I would love to meet him. He's quite a character, and in his prime brought a lot of enthusiasm to the sport."
Who was your idol growing up?
"Wayne Gretzky, for sure. I had the L.A. Kings jersey, had the Wayne Gretzky stick. He was the best player at the time and I wanted to be the best, so I looked up to him, obviously."
Who do you model your game after?
"I'm a big guy, a defensive defenceman. I try and play a physical game. I look at a guy like Mike Komisarek and the way he plays and I just try to learn from him. The way he competes, the way he battles, the way he hits and blocks shots and does everything for the team, he's someone to look up to and he's a heck of a player. And he's right here to watch."
What is your offseason routine as you prepare for the following campaign?

"I take a couple of weeks off to regroup and relax. Then I get back into the gym. I'll get my workouts in and I'm a big tennis player during the summer. I think tennis is great for all-around athleticism. You need quick feet, working in agility and reaction time. I try and mix it up all summer."
A lot has been made of the crowds in Montreal. What is your impression of the fans here and what does it feel like on the bench?
"It's pretty amazing, really. When you first get here, it's pretty nerve-racking, to tell you the truth, sometimes. But once you settle down and get used to it, it's amazing. Every night, you go out there and even if you're feeling a little tired, when you hear that opening song and the crowd roaring right before the anthem, all the adrenaline goes through you. The fans are amazing, awesome and passionate."

What was your most embarrassing moment?
"Probably going out for warm-ups with my skate guards on."
Who do you credit most with helping you make it to the NHL?
"Absolutely my parents. You know, they've supported me all along the way. My dad has never told me I played a bad game. He's pretty positive. It's always 'great game' or 'good game.' They have supported me through all the ups and downs and when nobody believed in me."
What team do you enjoy playing against the most?
"The Toronto game during my first weeks when we played at the Bell Centre. Yeah, Toronto is pretty cool, absolutely, Saturday night on Hockey Night in Canada, you can't beat that."
Who has been your best hockey coach?
"My college coaches were pretty superb. Mike Schaefer and Brett Brekke at Cornell University taught me a lot both on ice and off ice. I kind of went from a boy to a man in college and I learned a lot from them."
With a revamped NHL schedule next season, are you looking forward to playing Western Canadian teams, especially the Vancouver Canucks?
"That will be nice. I think everyone is on the same page with that one. It's going to be nice to get a chance to see everybody. Obviously, it will be a little more travel, but there's give and take, so it'll be nice to get out to Vancouver a little more often and play in front of friends and family. It's going to end up costing me a bit more for tickets, but it will be nice to get out there."

Head coach Guy Carbonneau said good health has been a key ingredient in the Canadiens' success this season, but the team might be starting the playoffs without captain Saku Koivu.
While the extent of Koivu's foot injury remains shrouded in mystery, he wasn't dressed last night when the Canadiens dropped a 4-2 decision to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
While there was a report on RDS that Koivu would be out for four weeks, Carbonneau said the team was awaiting a further examination today in Montreal.

"I think he had an X-ray (Friday) night, but that's one of those things where you can't tell the full extent of the injury until the swelling goes down." Koivu was struck by a shot in the first period of Friday's 4-3 overtime win in Buffalo, but continued playing. His foot was swollen yesterday and he was scratched, along with defenceman Mark Streit, who suffered a similar injury.
The Canadiens already are without defenceman Mike Komisarek (hip injury) and Guillaume Latendresse, who is suffering from neck spasms. Another defenceman, Francis Bouillon, limped off after he was hit in the right ankle for the second time this season. He tested the ankle, but said he was unable to return.
The injuries overshadowed another disappointing performance from the Canadiens who missed a chance to clinch the Northeast Division title.
"We didn't play well enough to win, even with the injuries," said Christopher Higgins, who was stopped by Vesa Toskala on a second-period penalty shot with the score tied 0-0.
"If I had lifted it a bit higher, I might have scored and it might have made a difference, but he made a good save," Higgins said.
Despite the loss, the Canadiens remain one point ahead of idle Pittsburgh atop the Eastern Conference standings and control their own destiny in the battle with Ottawa for first place in the Northeast Division.
The Senators' meltdown continued with a 4-0 loss yesterday in Boston, and Ottawa is six points behind Montreal. The Canadiens can clinch first place if they get at least a tie in Ottawa Tuesday or in either of their two remaining home games - Thursday vs.
Buffalo or Saturday against the Leafs.
Anton Stralman and Jiri Tlusty each scored two for the Leafs, who were eliminated from playoff contention this week. Mathieu Dandenault and Tom Kostopoulos scored for Montreal.
Penalties were a major factor, though neither team scored on the power play. The Canadiens kept the Leafs off the scoreboard in the first period despite being shorthanded for nine minutes. Defenceman Ryan O'Byrne accounted for five of those minutes when he was handed a major and a game misconduct for driving Jeremy Williams into the boards.
"We thought we would have a letdown after clinching a playoff spot, but we didn't think it would last for two games," Carbonneau said. "We talked about it before the game and I thought we would come out really hard, but it didn't happen." Josh Gorges found himself pushed around in front of the net on two of those goals and said: "It's my fault, I have to be stronger." It was difficult to fault Gorges on the first goal. Mats Sundin clubbed him into the ice as Stralman launched his shot.

This is what I have.
Adam Wainwright vs LH Jeff Francis at 3PM.

Goold's early lineup article
STLtoday.com - Bird Land - Blog Archive - Opening Day Lineups
mlb preview
The Official Site of Major League Baseball: Gameday
Yahoo scoreboard
MLB - Scores & Schedule Monday March 31, 2008 - Yahoo! Sports
FSN April schedule
FOX Sports on MSN - MLB - St. Louis Cardinals Team Schedule

Repost
Rotation: Rough draft from an earlier Goold's Birdland
He was just trying to look ahead.
Wednesday … Adam Wainwright
Thursday …. Lohse
Friday (in Springfield) … Wellemeyer
Saturday (in Springfield) … Thompson
3/30 … OFF DAY (Looper to pitch somewhere)
3/31 … Opening Day vs. Colorado: Wainwright
4/1 … OFF DAY
4/2 … vs. Colorado: Wellemeyer
4/3 … vs. Colorado: Thompson
4/4 … vs. Washington: Looper
4/5 … vs. Washington: Wainwright
4/6 … vs. Washington: Lohse
4/7 … at Houston: Wellemeyer

Wainwright, Lohse, Wellemeyer, Thompson, and Looper.
We sure need these guys to give us pitching in April.

April schedule
The Official Site of The St. Louis Cardinals: Schedule: 2008 Cardinals Schedule

Additions and corrections are appreciated.

- Opening Day – Colorado @ St Louis – Jeff Francis (L) vs Adam Wainwright
- Win 2 tickets to a Cards Game – enter the “Name the Forum” Contest – Last Chance today to enter contest!


The Big Club

Cardinals' rookies are ready to play - McClellan, Barton, Washington are set for season opener BY DAVID WILHELM / Belleville News-Democrat

Cardinals see progress from last year BY DAVID WILHELM / Belleville News-Democrat

Barton reaps rewards of persistence - Rookie outfielder awed at ability to break camp with Cards By Nate Latsch / Special to MLB.com

McClellan reflects on long road to bigs - Righty earns spot in Cards bullpen, expected to stay there By Nate Latsch / Special to MLB.com

Skip' says Skip will bat atop lineup - La Russa confident Schumaker can be a leadoff mainstay By Nate Latsch / Special to MLB.com

No ill effects for Ludwick after plunking - Cards' Opening Day right fielder feeling fortunate a day later By Nate Latsch / Special to MLB.com

Wainwright is ready to start on opening day - Cardinals pitcher is not ready, however, to admit he's the franchise's No. 1 guy by Joe Cress / Springfield News-Leader

New year, new look By Joe Strauss / ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

An Appreciation of Chris Duncan By Bernie Miklasz / ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

Ludwick penciled in at No. 2 spot over Barton By Derrick Goold / ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

Schedule: Opening-day festivities ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH


Birds in the Bushes

Jay, Martinez turning heads - The top of the Springfield Cardinals' lineup went 11-for-16 against St. Louis by Pam Clark / Springfield News-Leader

Cardinals’ top draft pick will start season with Bandits by Matt Vetu / Quad City OnLine.com

River Bandits finalize roster by Steve Batterson / Quad Cities Times

Bandits' front-office staff an 'all-star team' by Steve Batterson / Quad Cities Times

River Bandits roster has youthful look by Steve Batterson / Quad Cities Times


LETS GO BLOGGING:


Birdland by Derrick Goold – Blog / St Louis Post Dispatch

Obviously, You’re Not a Golfer By Matthew Leach – Blog / MLB.com

Cardinals Corner by Kary Booher – Blog / Springfield News-Leader

viva el birdos

Future Redbirds

View From the Cheap Seats By Scott Wuerz / Belleville News-Democrat

Cardinals Best News Links Blog

C70 at the Bat

If your a Cardinal Blogger and would like to have your site listed here, please send a PM to BleacherBum593.

- The Bum hosts “live” chat at FanHome on Sunday, 8 PM
- Win 2 tickets to a Cards Game – enter the “Name the Forum” Contest
- What do the Redbirds and the River Bandits have in common? Find out tonight at the Season Opening Chat Session
- Back later with the Season Opener Package from the Post Dispatch

The Big Club

Springfield flies high - Double-A Cardinals get boost going into season with win over parent club by Kary Booher / Springfield News-Leader

McClellan back as a major leaguer by Allen Vaughan / Springfield News-Leader

Let the Mozeliak era begin By Joe Strauss / ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

Reyes lands in Cardinals bullpen By Joe Strauss / ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

Cards need to manufacture 'buzz' By Derrick Goold / ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

Ludwick OK after unfortunate trip - Outfielder goes 0-for-6 with four strikeouts and being hit in head By Matthew Leach / MLB.com

Cards drop a game to AA Springfield - Rico Washington homers, makes roster by Associated Press / Belleville News-Democrat

Thompson brushes off rocky start - Righty looking forward to getting to St. Louis, regular season By Matthew Leach / MLB.com

Reyes, Washington make the cut - Reliever, infielder last to make it onto Cards 25-man roster By Matthew Leach / MLB.com

Cards struggle in loss to Baby 'Birds - Thompson allows four runs, 10 hits over four innings of work By Matthew Leach / MLB.com


Birds in the Bushes

Cardinals Report by Kary Booher / Springfield News-Leader

River Bandits roster has youthful look by Steve Batterson / Quad Cities Times


X-Cards/Other News:

MLB Notebook: Houston parts ways with Woody Williams by the Associated Press / St Louis Post-Dispatch

Civil Rights Game is a King’s cause By Steve Henson, Yahoo! Sports

Redbirds striving to keep game in town By Marlon W. Morgan / Commercial Appeal

LETS GO BLOGGING:


Birdland by Derrick Goold – Blog / St Louis Post Dispatch

Obviously, You’re Not a Golfer By Matthew Leach – Blog / MLB.com

Cardinals Corner by Kary Booher – Blog / Springfield News-Leader

viva el birdos

Future Redbirds

View From the Cheap Seats By Scott Wuerz / Belleville News-Democrat

Cardinals Best News Links Blog

C70 at the Bat

George Will.Hudson vs. Perez.
Kibbitz...
GO>>>>

There's a very nice nostalgic piece by houstoncard at OpeningÂ*dayÂ*isÂ*here... - Viva El Birdos.

It's worth the read as we get ready for the baseball season.

It reminded me of this story, written by Grandpa Boog. I haven't seen Grandpa's posts in some time; I hope he's still kicking around. He had a great insight into Cardinal baseball and brought a ton of wisdom and perspective whenever he posted.

Here's Grandpa Boog's story. This will get us ready for the Real Opening Day --
the day when men with Birds on the Bat run onto a green field to play a boy's (and girl's) game.

----

Mr. Tebow's Vacant Lot and Spring
by Grandpa Boog
first posted 03-02-2000


Spring came at different times when I was young, sometimes in February. My brother and I always grabbed our ball gloves, which we had oiled down in the late fall, and head to Mr. Tebow's lot just a few yards to the east of our own house.

We'd grab an older baseball that still was serviceable from the previous year, grab our old shoes, pull on a sweatshirt, wear our stocking caps, and head to the lot next door.

At that young age, it didn't take long to get our arms loose. We'd play catch, "grounders and flys," and all of those imaginary but wonderful ball yard games that kids used to dream up. Our fingers would become absolutely raw in the still-cold late winter and early spring weather, but that was no problem because we were playing baseball again.

That lot still is there. Mr. and Mrs. Tebow are long since passed away. The big tree in what we called "centerfield" also is long gone. My brother's and my youth are long gone, and I live four hours away now, but about this time of the year, he will call me or I will call him, and we talk about Tebow's lot and the great times that we had there.

I often think that maybe I'll gather my three grown children, my six grandchildren, my brother, and Grandma Boog and we'll all meet in Tebow's lot for a game of catch, "grounders and flys" and whatever vacant lot baseball games that old men can remember from their youth.

I get this burning in my belly this time of year for baseball to rip a shot into the corner and thinking "triple." I'd probably just pull up at secondbase, though. I get this yearning for feeling the crack of my old Jackie Robinson 35-inch tree trunk of a wooden bat (I hate the *&^%$ modern sound of the "ping" of an aluminum bat).

I keep my old ball gloves oiled, the ones that the grandchildren love to use when they visit. I keep the ball gloves oiled that my children used years ago, the old gloves that they left here at home when they got married. They love to get them out and say, "Dad, I remember when you bought me this glove, and then you bought me this one when I outgrew the old one. And there's your old catcher's mitt."

And then the baseball stories begin, of their youth and of my youth, and I repeat the stories that my grandpas each told me about loving the Game of Baseball...and they played prior to 1900.

It's a link in our family, a connection between generations, a connection of people and life. We have a reverance for the Game of Baseball.

We become young again in the spring because of baseball. When I was 23, long ago, I moved to a small town and lived next to an 80-year old gentleman who also loved baseball. He asked me one afternoon to please play catch with him. I silently wondered whether or not I should or not. The man was ancient. His wife smiled and said, "He will be okay. Go play catch."

We did play catch. He had a glove that must have been 60 years old. He had bought a brand new baseball. The old gentleman still had good hands; he threw stiffly but accurately. "Always aim for the chest. That way, you'll be pretty close to being on-target" he told me.

Then the old gentleman goes to his porch and brings out a wooden relic of a baseball bat and asks me, "Young man, will you play pepper with me?"

I thought that he intended to do the hitting, but he gave me the bat, backed off an appropriate distance, and said, "I probably can't cover much ground any more, but don't make it too easy for me."

We played pepper for about 10 minutes and he was sure-handed and was aggravated when he couldn't backhand a couple of balls. "When I was young, I wouldn't even have had to backhand those balls. I'd have been in front of 'em."

His wife called us in for lemonade and cookies. And we sat there on his porch for two or three hours. I listened; he talked. The topic was baseball.

And now, I am going to the garage for a cigar. I saw a video clip tonight on ESPN of the first spring training games and got the "good shivers," something that my brother and I always get this time of the year.

I think I'll take the old gloves out to the garage with me, put each one of them on, pound an old baseball into each one, smell the leather, and just get those "good shivers" again.

Stay tuned.

There's a very nice nostalgic piece by houstoncard at OpeningÂ*dayÂ*isÂ*here... - Viva El Birdos.

It's worth the read as we get ready for the baseball season.

It reminded me of this story, written by Grandpa Boog. I haven't seen Grandpa's posts in some time; I hope he's still kicking around. He had a great insight into Cardinal baseball and brought a ton of wisdom and perspective whenever he posted.

Here's Grandpa Boog's story. This will get us ready for the Real Opening Day --
the day when men with Birds on the Bat run onto a green field to play a boy's (and girl's) game.

----

Mr. Tebow's Vacant Lot and Spring
by Grandpa Boog
first posted 03-02-2000


Spring came at different times when I was young, sometimes in February. My brother and I always grabbed our ball gloves, which we had oiled down in the late fall, and head to Mr. Tebow's lot just a few yards to the east of our own house.

We'd grab an older baseball that still was serviceable from the previous year, grab our old shoes, pull on a sweatshirt, wear our stocking caps, and head to the lot next door.

At that young age, it didn't take long to get our arms loose. We'd play catch, "grounders and flys," and all of those imaginary but wonderful ball yard games that kids used to dream up. Our fingers would become absolutely raw in the still-cold late winter and early spring weather, but that was no problem because we were playing baseball again.

That lot still is there. Mr. and Mrs. Tebow are long since passed away. The big tree in what we called "centerfield" also is long gone. My brother's and my youth are long gone, and I live four hours away now, but about this time of the year, he will call me or I will call him, and we talk about Tebow's lot and the great times that we had there.

I often think that maybe I'll gather my three grown children, my six grandchildren, my brother, and Grandma Boog and we'll all meet in Tebow's lot for a game of catch, "grounders and flys" and whatever vacant lot baseball games that old men can remember from their youth.

I get this burning in my belly this time of year for baseball to rip a shot into the corner and thinking "triple." I'd probably just pull up at secondbase, though. I get this yearning for feeling the crack of my old Jackie Robinson 35-inch tree trunk of a wooden bat (I hate the *&^%$ modern sound of the "ping" of an aluminum bat).

I keep my old ball gloves oiled, the ones that the grandchildren love to use when they visit. I keep the ball gloves oiled that my children used years ago, the old gloves that they left here at home when they got married. They love to get them out and say, "Dad, I remember when you bought me this glove, and then you bought me this one when I outgrew the old one. And there's your old catcher's mitt."

And then the baseball stories begin, of their youth and of my youth, and I repeat the stories that my grandpas each told me about loving the Game of Baseball...and they played prior to 1900.

It's a link in our family, a connection between generations, a connection of people and life. We have a reverance for the Game of Baseball.

We become young again in the spring because of baseball. When I was 23, long ago, I moved to a small town and lived next to an 80-year old gentleman who also loved baseball. He asked me one afternoon to please play catch with him. I silently wondered whether or not I should or not. The man was ancient. His wife smiled and said, "He will be okay. Go play catch."

We did play catch. He had a glove that must have been 60 years old. He had bought a brand new baseball. The old gentleman still had good hands; he threw stiffly but accurately. "Always aim for the chest. That way, you'll be pretty close to being on-target" he told me.

Then the old gentleman goes to his porch and brings out a wooden relic of a baseball bat and asks me, "Young man, will you play pepper with me?"

I thought that he intended to do the hitting, but he gave me the bat, backed off an appropriate distance, and said, "I probably can't cover much ground any more, but don't make it too easy for me."

We played pepper for about 10 minutes and he was sure-handed and was aggravated when he couldn't backhand a couple of balls. "When I was young, I wouldn't even have had to backhand those balls. I'd have been in front of 'em."

His wife called us in for lemonade and cookies. And we sat there on his porch for two or three hours. I listened; he talked. The topic was baseball.

And now, I am going to the garage for a cigar. I saw a video clip tonight on ESPN of the first spring training games and got the "good shivers," something that my brother and I always get this time of the year.

I think I'll take the old gloves out to the garage with me, put each one of them on, pound an old baseball into each one, smell the leather, and just get those "good shivers" again.

Stay tuned.

Two quotes caught my eye after last nights loss to Toronto, and they are disturbing ones.

First, Chris Higgins says, "We were looking for an easy game, but it wasn't easy".

Then Guy Carbonneau offers this gem:

"I knew we would have a bit of a letdown after clinching a playoff spot, but I didn't think it would last this long. We have three games left. We have to regroup and end the regular season on a good note."

As I mentioned a week or so ago, after the game against the Blues, that when you dress the B lineup, you send the "easy game coming" message.

Of course, it wasn't in the cards for Saku Koivu and Mark Streit to go down with injuries after the Buffalo game, but it was already known before by everyone that Saturday would see Dandeneault, Brisebois, and Halak getting starts.

That's where the trouble began with this loss. The Habs should have perceived the Maple Leafs as the wiry opponant they always are. Attach all the low brow insults you wish to the blue and white's, they are a proud team that gets peacock heady against the Habs in even the most seemingly inconsequencial tilts.

Carbonneau, despite his intention of getting seldom used players some game action, inadvertantly set up the "easy game" mentality that cost the team a pivotal win by making it known beforehand that the trio mentioned above would play on Saturday.

Now even as the elimainated Leafs appeared by some to be a soft opponant for game #79, the stakes were high. First place in the Northeast looks like it is bagged by the Habs, but until it is, you don't mess with your chances.

Pardon me, but I see an Eastern Conference title within the Habs grasp.

After it was known that Koivu and Streit were unavailable, the coach could have undone the message by changing his mind and starting Carey Price instead. The about face would have sent the right message.

A win last night would have made Monday's game against the Senators near meaningless, but now it is of ultimate importance.

Ottawa hardly looks capable lately of stringing off four straight wins to finish the season, though it is not impossible given their strengths. Montreal looks as though they are counting on Ottawa to fail and hand them what would turn out to be the second rank in the Eastern Conference.

After the performance against Toronto, and with mounting injuries and bobos, the Habs look like a team that might well drop their last three heading into the post season.

There is a sense of mission accomplished surrounding the Habs since they clinched a playoff spot. The words they speak in individual quotes make it seems that they are far from satisfied, but their play tells a whole other story.

















I've read tons of articles on Guy Carbonneau and his coaching methods of late, and there is a recurring theme that sends a sirens shrill up my spine. Carbo learned a great deal as a player, and much of that astute perspective has translated itself into making him a good coach. Lessons learned by Carbonneau last season taught him alot about how players react to different situations, and this season he has benefitted from trusting the coaching instinct more than the former player instinct inherant in him.

One must understand that Carbonneau won both of his Stanley Cups as a Montreal Canadien on teams that were not ranked in the top of the standings and were generally regarded as underdogs.

This was the case in 1986 and 1993, when the Canadiens had the seventh and sixth best overall record in the NHL, respectively.

When the Habs lost the 1989 final to Calgary in six games, they finished with 115 points to the Flames 117. One win along the road cost them home ice against the Flames, and perhaps the Stanley Cup in retrospect.


















Tonight's loss to the Leafs took away the Canadiens ability to control its own destiny. The Pittsburgh Penguins recouped a game in hand that could enable them to leapfrog the Habs in the conference standings. This was essentially what was at stake against Toronto - home ice advantage all the way to the Cup final. If the right teams fall in order, it could even mean home ice in the Stanley Cup final.

Last night, it looked as though the Canadiens took their Maple Leafs opponants with a grain of salt. Too bad that they didn't perceive the Penguins as eventual opponants, because that is what it might now come down to.

By the third round of the playoffs, having the last line change against the likes of Crosby and Malkin could make all the difference in the world.

That is what might have been lost last night by a coach who inadvertantly let his players know a walk in the park lay ahead against the Leafs.

What it all comes down to is killer instinct and how to instill it into a group of players. It's all good to prepare a team with a game plan in mind that counters what an opponant is expected to deliver, but sometimes horses need to be changed in midstream. Coaching is done on the fly, and not beforehand. Game situations change fast and preparations for all scenarios must be covered in advance.

Tonight the Canadiens came prepared to face a team with little to gain.

The resulting loss became Pittsburgh or Ottawa's gain.

Yes, lots of weird things happened as they usually do in games at the ACC, but the Habs lost this one at the drop of the puck because their mindset was tuned to a Sunday afternoon stroll.

Come Monday, the Canadiens are playing the Ottawa Senators for the Stanley Cup.

It shouldn't be approached as anything less.