1) I haven't scoured the press clippings, but I'd hardly be surprised if the common theme among my colleagues centered on the Heritage Classic being anything but.
The event itself was beautifully done, and virtually everything about it embodied the spirit of what we all love about this game, but from an entertainment standpoint it left much to be desired.
Hockey is a game lauded for its speed and intensity; for the ferocity it requires to capture two points in the standings; for the excitement beautiful goals, high-flying hits and remarkable saves offer.
Last night's game featured as much speed as a soccer match. It had about as much intensity in it as an ECHL preseason game. And it most certainly did not feature bone-crushing hits, nor jaw-dropping saves.
It was nothing but a game of survival, one the Flames succeeded in, and one the Canadiens were more than happy to escape--alive and well.
2) The Habs would've loved to have collected two points, and they made the game competitive until Calgary blew things open in the second period. But once this game went to 3-0, the Habs were more than happy to play out the clock, without offering as much as a whimper in defense of what was being done to them.
Given the conditions, and what this team's been going through over the last two weeks, I'm not sure they should be blamed...
3) Sure it's disappointing to see the team continue its confidence purge, but you get the sense they could isolate the Heritage Classic from the losing pattern they've fallen into.
On another night, in another building, Carey Price would've been utterly disgusted by the performance his teammates offered in front of him. He'd have shown everyone how he felt with a post-slamming stick explosion, and major frustration in his post-game remarks.
Instead, Price calmly (he even sounded upbeat) credited the Flames for approaching the game with a plan that proved to be far more successful than what the Canadiens had in store for this one.
Call it a sign of Price's maturity. Either that, or the goalie understood that this gimmick of a hockey game was nothing more than a gimmick.
We'll see how he feels after facing the challenge Western Canada's best team will offer Tuesday night.
4) Price hasn't officially been given the start in his home province of British Columbia, but you know he's starving for a shot at redemption in Vancouver.
Having already been there twice (shellacked in one-game, and sat out of the other), Price yearns to beat the Canucks the way he did when they visited the Bell Centre earlier this season.
He doesn't stand a chance if his team puts in a similar effort to the one we saw in Calgary.
No matter how well he plays, he can't win if this team doesn't find a way past Roberto Luongo.
5) The offense is overdue. With one goal in their last two games, and with the balance Cammalleri's return now offers the team, it's time for the leaders to take the reigns here.
Gomez is prime suspect number 1, but Captain Brian Gionta isn't far behind. A lot's been made of Tomas Plekanec's performance on the road this season (17 of 46 points scored away from the Bell Centre), and Cammalleri is really under the gun to erase a poor first half from everyone's memory.
As for Andrei Kostitsyn, the time his come for his removal from the line up. The Canadiens can ill-afford to waste precious ice-time on his unwillingness to compete. Tom Pyatt can offer the same offensive production with twice the effort.
6) I'm not saying the Habs can unload Kostitsyn before Tuesday's game in Vancouver, but if fans really think a few nights in the pressbox will hurt his value on the market, imagine what his donut over the last 12 games has already done to it. Not to mention his despicable performance throughout the rest of the season (past the 10-game mark).
7) We know this team is sorely missing the play of their two most reliable defensemen. There's only so long you can go without Andrei Markov and Josh Gorges before it influences the outcome of your season.
But the Canadiens would be managing those losses, as they had done formidably before this recent slide, if they didn't have so many other players banged up.
It's nice that Cammalleri could return to participate in last night's game, but there wasn't a single shift that exhibited his readiness.
James Wisniewski is likely playing with a hairline fracture to his cheekbone, and doesn't wish to discuss injury-- as he feels fit to play.
Wisniewski admitted the Heritage Classic was the most frustrating hockey he's ever had to play. He didn't feel comfortable at all in a full cage, and didn't enjoy the conditions of the ice whatsoever.
Hal Gill may have returned from a lower-body injury, but it doesn't take a genius to figure out that if the Canadiens weren't in the thick of a playoff race, he'd likely be taking more time to heal sufficiently.
P.K Subban has taken a few shots to his feet over the last few games. He remains on top of the ice-time totem poll, though he's absorbing too many blows to keep his confidence in a place that'll enable him to perform at the peak of his ability.
But self-pity won't get them out of this slump.
8) A combination of the team's leaders, Carey Price, and Pierre Gauthier's helping hand certainly would get them out of this slump.
If any of the ingredients are missing from the above potion, the Habs will either sputter their way into the post-season, or fail to make it altogether.
9) Not that I believe either of those scenarios will play out, but I think it's getting harder to argue the team will challenge for the division when all is said and done.
10) With 69 points in 60 games the Canadiens will need to collect 25 of the remaining 44 points available to them, in order to clinch a playoff berth.
That task become monumental if they can't figure out a way to collect road points.
If they could win six or seven of the remaining 13 games on the road, that will force them to win six of the remaining nine to be played at the Bell Centre.
Road: Vancouver, Atlanta, Florida, Tampa, St. Louis, Pittsburgh, New York (Rangers), Minnesota, Boston, Carolina, New Jersey, Ottawa and Toronto.
Home: Toronto, Carolina, Boston, Washington twice, Tampa, Buffalo, Atlanta, and Chicago.
By my count, that's 14 of 22 games to be played against playoff contenders. And Buffalo, New Jersey, Florida and Atlanta are all on the bubble.
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
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