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It certainly wasn’t the best of the weeks for
the Habs but they closed off their season with three of a possible six points. 
The Bulldogs had similar results in their penultimate week of the year but were
mathematically ousted from playoff contention nonetheless.  Rene Bourque
has been a disappointment all year long but I have a hunch he could be a
positive in the postseason; my Final Thought explains why.

Cheers
and Jeers

Cheers to…

1) Brian Gionta, a deserving recipient of the
Jacques Beauchamp Trophy.  Of course, his response to the award (going and
getting the overtime winner against the Rangers) was also worthy of a cheer of
its own.  He has stepped up in the postseason before and if his recent play
is any indication, he might do so again this year.

2) Francis Bouillon.  Not only was his
goal against Chicago another clutch tally (his other goal of course being an OT
winner) but he also didn’t hesitate before taking on a much bigger Derek Dorsett
to stand up for David Desharnais.  You can be critical of his over-usage
but one thing you can’t be critical of is his heart.

3) Cracking the 100-point plateau.  While
this was a regular occurrence back in the 70’s, it hasn’t been lately.  In
fact, it’s the first time in six seasons that the Habs done so and just the
second time since the 1992-93 season.  That’s a nice accomplishment for
sure.

Jeers to…

1) The powerplay.  I’m not sure what it is
that they’re trying right now – it seems to be a hybrid of point play and down
low attempts – but it’s not working.  The plan now should be to tailor a
strategy to beat Tampa Bay specifically instead of general strategies. 
Maybe that extra level of focus gets it going…it can’t get much worse.

2) Thomas Vanek.  We all now know that
he’s a gifted passer but that doesn’t mean he should be looking to pass all the
time.  I know the plan was to try to get Pacioretty his 40th goal but Vanek
passed up a lot of good scoring chances to give Pacioretty a much weaker shot. 
That needs to change come playoff time; if the shot’s there, take it.

3) A lousy ending to George Parros’ season and
perhaps his career.  The start of his year was highlighted with him
suffering a concussion in Game 1.  Coincidentally enough, the end of his
season was almost the same.  He lost a fight and never saw the ice after
that for the rest of the game.  If that is it for him (and with his injury
history, I’m not sure there will be many suitors in free agency), that’s a
terrible way to go out.

StatPack:

SKATERS


#

Player

GP
G A +/- PIM SH TOI
6 Douglas Murray 1 0 0 E 15 0 6:29
11 Brendan Gallagher 3 0 0 -1 0 6 40:22
14 Tomas Plekanec 3 0 0 -2 0 6 55:23
15 George Parros 1 0 0 E 5 0 2:27
17 Rene Bourque 3 0 1 +1 0 4 40:19
20 Thomas Vanek 3 0 1 +1 2 8 62:27
21 Brian Gionta 3 1 0 -1 0 5 54:06
22 Dale Weise 3 1 0 +1 0 3 38:31
24 Jarred Tinordi 1 0 0 E 0 1 19:01
26 Josh Gorges 3 0 1 -1 0 1 64:28
27 Alex Galchenyuk 1 0 0 E 0 0 1:10
40 Nathan Beaulieu 1 0 0 +1 0 1 16:29
43 Mike Weaver 3 0 0 -2 2 1 52:35
45 Michael Blunden 1 0 0 E 0 1 5:47
48 Daniel Briere 3 0 0 E 2 10 45:55
49 Michael Bournival 3 0 0 E 0 5 32:46
51 David Desharnais 3 0 1 +1 0 1 62:11
53 Ryan White 3 0 0 -1 0 1 24:00
55 Francis Bouillon 2 1 0 +1 9 2 32:57
67 Max Pacioretty 3 0 0 E 0 12 64:36
74 Alexei Emelin 2 0 0 E 4 1 47:40
76 P.K. Subban 3 0 0 -1 2 3 71:17
79 Andrei Markov 2 0 0 E 0 3 53:47

GOALIES


#

Player

Record

SV%

GAA
30 Peter Budaj 0-0-1 .893 2.97
31 Carey Price 1-1-0 .972 1.00

Scoring
Leaders:

Goals: Max Pacioretty (39)

Assists: P.K. Subban (43)
Points: Thomas Vanek (68)
+/-: Andrei Markov (+12)
PIMS: Brandon Prust (121)
Shots: Max Pacioretty (270)

The Dog
Pound

Even though they were mathematically eliminated
from playoff contention, it was still a pretty good week for the Bulldogs who
picked up three points to keep their hopes of not finishing last in the division
alive. 

News and
Notes:

– Brady Vail suffered an ankle injury in St.
John’s, ending his season.  Has he done enough to secure a contract? 
Given the Habs’ reported hesitation before, I’m not sure he’ll get one. 
Martin St. Pierre also suffered an undisclosed injury.

– Jack Nevins is the latest junior prospect to
join the team following their CHL clubs’ elimination.  Martin Reway, though
eligible, won’t join the team as he is off to Slovakia’s training camp for the
Worlds.

– In his last 21 games, Nathan Beaulieu has a
plus/minus rating of -15.

– Lines from the most recent game:

Forwards:

Sorkin – Andrighetto – Thomas
Courtnall – Dumont – Leblanc
Crisp – Macenauer – Holland
Tarnasky – Nattinen – Nevins

Defence:

Beaulieu – Pateryn
Chouinard – Drewiske
McIver – Schiestel

Results:

April 8:

St. John’s 3, Hamilton 1

April 9:

Hamilton 4, St. John’s 3 (SO)

April 12:

Rochester 4, Hamilton 3 (SO)

StatPack:

SKATERS


#

Player

GP

G

A

+/-

SH

PIMS
2 Greg Pateryn 3 1 0 +2 7 2
4 Davis Drewiske 3 0 1 -3 6 2
8 Nathan Beaulieu 1 0 1 -2 3 0
9 Justin Courtnall 1 0 0 E 1 0
11 Nathan McIver 3 0 1 -2 2 9
12 Maxime Macenauer 3 0 0 -1 5 0
14 Michael Blunden 2 1 1 -2 7 2
17 Brady Vail 2 0 0 +1 1 2
20 Louis Leblanc 3 0 2 +1 5 2
21 Nick Sorkin 3 0 0 E 11 0
22 Drew Schiestel 3 1 0 +2 6 0
23 Joonas Nattinen 1 1 0 E 2 0
25 Jack Nevins 1 0 1 E 3 0
27 Sven Andrighetto 3 0 1 -3 14 2
37 Patrick Holland 3 0 0 -2 5 0
40 Gabriel Dumont 3 1 3 -2 9 4
44 Morgan Ellis 2 0 0 -3 1 0
48 Connor Crisp 3 2 0 E 3 0
59 Joel Chouinard 3 0 0 +1 4 0
74 Nick Tarnasky 3 0 0 -2 5 7
92 Christian Thomas 3 0 0 -1 9 0
93 Martin St. Pierre 2 0 1 +1 5 0

GOALIES


#

Player

Record

SV%

GAA
29 Robert Mayer 0-0-1 .927 2.77
41 Devan Dubnyk 1-1-0 .910 2.94

SHOOTOUT
– SKATERS


#
Player G/ATT
27 Sven Andrighetto 1/2
37 Patrick Holland 0/2
40 Gabriel Dumont 0/2
93 Martin St. Pierre 1/1

SHOOTOUT
– GOALIES


#
Player SVS/ATT
29 Robert Mayer 0/3
41 Devan Dubnyk 4/4

Scoring
Leaders:

Goals: Gabriel Dumont (19)
Assists: Martin St. Pierre (37)
Points: Martin St. Pierre (47)
+/-: Ellis/Pateryn (+5)
PIMS: Nick Tarnasky (137)
Shots: Gabriel Dumont (189)

Schedule:

April 15:
Hamilton vs Lake Erie
April 19: Syracuse vs Hamilton

Final
Thought

The old saying goes, "Shame on you if you fool
me once, shame on me if you fool me twice."  I’m not sure how it goes after
that but rest assured I’m long past twice in terms of believing that Rene
Bourque can be a positive player for this team.  It seems crazy but I have
the urge to think this way again as we approach the Tampa Bay series.

With the injury to Alex Galchenyuk and the fact
that Lars Eller seems to struggle on the left wing, there’s an opening inside
the top six alongside Tomas Plekanec and either Brian Gionta or Brendan
Gallagher (I think these two will be flipped at some point in the first round). 
Michel Therrien has tested a few different players in there recently without
much success. 

Last year, injuries forced Bourque into a top
role and to his credit, he was one of the best Habs in the series against the
Senators playing with Plekanec.  With the Plekanec line likely to be used
in a checking role – just like last year – Bourque may have the inside track on
that spot at the start.  If he gets that chance again, I think he could be
a factor in a good way in this series…even if his level of play through the
season would suggest the exact opposite.  Call me crazy but he’s more than
due.