The Canadiens seem to be getting their collective mojos back and are starting to look like the team we all thought we had.The rhetorical question that everyone in the media is asking is "Who could have thought the week would end on such a high note?" especially after losing their sixth in a row against the Florida Panthers on Monday then with upcoming games against the Flyers and the Bruins? Not me, that's for sure. Now winners of their last 3 after a solid 4-2 win over Boston last night in Montreal (while not giving their opposition any points either)…

Ay-yoy it was an eventful day yesterday for Montreal Canadiens fans, as well as the team and organization itself.First, we heard conflicting reports about Max Pacioretty's wrist injury from the previous game. He may require surgery. No he doesn't need surgery. He's for sure not playing against the Flyers. No, he'll be a game-time decision. Well as it turns out, he did play -- thank goodness for that. Ended up, he was key to the Habs' 5-1 win last night against the Philadelphia Flyers in Montreal last night. Yannick Weber et al celebrate his goal with 2.6 seconds on the clock…

Mnsr Pierre GauthierGeneral ManagerMontreal Canadiens Hockey ClubBell CentreMontreal, QCDear Mr. Gauthier,First off let me say that I do not envy you. Your job is very difficult. Especially when there are millions of people who think they could do it better than you. It's easy for me to sit back, crack open a cold one and shout at the television screen and pretend that I know what I'm talking about. It's easy for me to think that I would have made all the right moves for the Canadiens in the offseason.Although I must say, I have been watching and playing hockey…

My evening last night can be summarized by the good, the great and the not so great.It started with dinner with my brothers at Fabbrica, Mark McEwen's take on artisanal Italian food here in Hogtown. We tried a bunch of different plates. Washed it down with Italian beer and San Pellegrino. It was good.Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals pounded 3 home runs in Game 3 of the World Series. First ever National League player to do so. Joined the ranks of Babe Ruth (who did it twice) and Reggie Jackson as the only players to achieve the feat.…

So get this. My brother who lives in Chicago came to town on Thursday and we watched that night's game against the Penguins. He enjoys hockey and goes to see the BlackHawks every once in awhile especially when the Habs are in town, but he leads a busy life and has other pursuits. Aaron Asham scores on a borderline highstick for Pittsburgh's 3rd goal October 20, 2011. He always seems to get one of his 5 per season goals against the Habs. The Pens won the game 3-1. And although he still is (and always will be) a Habs fan…

DESPERATION!!! And I don't mean Habs Nation should be desperate. I'm talking about the way the Canadiens need to play to be successful.Carey Price makes the save against the Avalanche's Milan Hejduk last night at the Bell Centre. Montreal lost the game in a shootout 6-5.Off to a slow start last night and down 1-0 early on, the Canadiens ramped up their energies and began playing with desperation. And it started to show results.For stretches last night, the Habs put a lot of pressure on Colorado and generated many scoring opportunities. There was desperation to their play and they were…

Should we be concerned after a 1-2 start by the Habs? Should we be worried the team let their fans down with such a weak performance to open up the season against a playoff bubble team at best -- the Calgary Flames -- who were winless before last night's 4-1 whooping against the Habs??? Mad and disappointed maybe. But worried? No. The Habs have seen regulars go down already and a lineup that appeared quite good in August has yet to be iced due to injury: Markov, White, Cammellari, Spacek, Campoli. That's enough!!! Lars Eller made his debut last night…

Now you can get HabsFan in LeafLand right to your email!!! I know, it gives me the warm and fuzzies too. Add your email using the feature on the right-hand side of this page and you will receive my latest blog postings and updates hot and fresh straight to your email. Looks great, tastes great and best of all it's convenient and less filling. It even reads great from your mobile phone. So you know, I do not have access to your email information nor will you receive any SPAM that's associated with this site. I've tested this out with…

Well well. The Winnipeg Jets have officially taken off and good for them. After 15 long years, NHL hockey is finally back in Winnipeg and let's hope this time its for keeps.Habs rally around injuries to play an all-around team game last night in Winnipeg. Montreal won the game 5-1.Photo: REUTERS/Todd KorolEspecially if the Habs keep getting results against them like they got last night with a 5-1 win to ruin the Jets' party. But unfortunately as has been the case over the past few seasons, the price for the Habs to win was extremely high.Both Jaro Spacek and Mike…

Things are starting to reach the boiling point around the world of hockey where fighting is concerned.Chris Nilan is one of the hockey heroes from my youth. To this day, my brothers and I still repeat Dick Irvin's call from back in the '80's in that whiny voice "...Chris Nilan on a breakaway. Scores!"I didn't see it but more than a few people came up to me the day following the Habs' 2-0 loss to the Leafs this past Thursday night talking less about the game and more about Don Cherry's rant on "Coach's Corner."Good for TSN to air a…

Onwards and upwards for the Montreal Canadiens' 2011-2012 season.Josh Gorges means business last night after taking on Ryan Malone in the third period last night in Quebec City. Habs won the game 5-1. Photo: REUTERS/Mathieu Belanger.The Habs in Quebec City? Used to be quite the game when the Nords were still in town. Now backing the team from Montreal, Quebec City residents did their job pushing the Habs to their strongest outing of the preseason with a 5-1 romp in the rubber match against the Tampa Bay Lightning.This is what we want to see all season: Brian Gionta, Scott Gomez,…