Author: Dose

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What’s happening with Laine right now proves that it’s over for him with the CH

We can’t say that the Patrik Laine experience in Montreal has been a resounding success.

The forward has given fans some good moments this season… but for the most part, he’s played Patrik Laine .

And I don’t need to draw a picture for you to understand what I’m implying here.

Laine played in the Habs’ first two playoff games against the Caps, and it wasn’t great.

He seems injured… and maybe that explains why he hasn’t been good.

Let’s not forget that he won’t be playing tonight and will miss a third straight game…

But all in all, it’s got to be over for him in Montreal.

Because if he’s not playing because he’s (a little) injured, it can’t last. He took part in the team’s training session yesterday wearing his full jersey, and he didn’t seem any the worse for wear…

On the other hand, if Martin St-Louis leaves him out even though he’s healthy, it can’t last either.

And that’s why we can say that the marriage (which has seemed imperfect since Day 1) between Laine and the CH must come to an end.

It’s more obvious than ever these days.

The CH acquired Patrik Laine to help out on the power play.

But in the last two games, where Laine has been absent, we’ve seen that the CH is capable of getting by without him.

The (very) young unit of Suzuki, Hutson, Demidov, Caufield and Slaf has scored three times in two games on the powerplay, and the Habs have converted nearly 44% (4 in 9) of their man-advantage opportunities in their last two games.

It can work without Laine, even if the sample size is small.

Then again, the fact that Laine isn’t playing right now speaks volumes, because in the playoffs, all the guys are playing with injuries.

That’s no excuse. Maybe Martin St-Louis is tired of seeing him drag his feet too, and that explains why.

But in any case, we can come to the same conclusion: Patrik Laine and the Habs are finished.

In a gust

– Oh. Keep an eye on…

– 🤣

– Well deserved, once again.

– I love the mentality.

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Tony Marinaro calls a golf club to reserve a tee time for Caps players

Tony Marinaro has more than one trick up his sleeve.

And he was at it again today on his BPM Sports show.

What did he do this time?

The host of BPM Sports’ “Forum” called into a Washington golf club to book a tee time for Capitals players.

Marinaro mistook himself for “someone from the Capitals” and told the employee that the ideal time for the reservation would be next Tuesday.

Why Tuesday? Because Game 7 of the series (if we get there) is on Sunday. Marinaro explained to the employee that the Capitals’ season would end on Sunday, that the guys would be picking up their lockers on Monday… and that Tuesday is the first day the players will have the opportunity to go golfing.

The real deal:

The person on the other end of the line didn’t recognize Tony Marinaro’s voice, and the host took the opportunity to get into the game.

Marinaro said on the phone that the Caps were tired, that the Habs had already beaten them… and he also took the opportunity to taunt Alex Ovechkin :

Even Tony Marinaro, a radio host in Montreal, is in better shape than Ovechkin […] Bro, Ovechkin is like eight thousand years old! – Alex Ovechkin

At the end of the interview, Tony Marinaro and Alex Lanctôt also play the Loco Locass song “Le But” to mock the employee in question and the Capitals.

The result is truly comical.

Tony Marinaro does things in a different way, and it’s perfect that way.

He’s able to keep his listeners entertained because he’s always coming up with wacky ideas, and he’s one of a kind.

Because let’s face it: this isn’t the first time he’s pulled a stunt like this.

He once called an eye center because he thought Martin St-Louis’ vision was impaired…

He once called in to a Boston radio station to rub the Americans’ noses in Canada’s victory in the 4 Nations (field hockey) finals…

He “resigned” from his position live on April 1…

The list goes on. He sure knows how to put on a show!

In bursts

– This is normal.

– Note to self:

– Wow.

– It’s true.

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Rumor: Jon Cooper at Utah HC

The day the Lightning starts going downhill, it won’t be pretty. There are big contracts out there…

With the Lightning on the brink of elimination, one has to wonder if Jon Cooper’s future is still there, or if he’ll want a change of scenery.

I don’t see the Lightning firing him, for what it’s worth. I’m more inclined to believe that if he were to leave, it would be his decision.

And because he only has one year left on his contract (it’s rare to see a coach of such quality approach the end of his contract like this, let’s face it) in Tampa Bay, questions arise.

But right now, questions are being asked.

Larry Brooks, on the subject, has just brought a very interesting element to the table. He says the fact that he’s nearing the end of his contract is odd, and that a well-connected source has told him not to be surprised if he takes control of the Utah operation.

Ryan Smith, the owner, is a good friend.

Does “taking over the operation” mean being a head coach? Does it mean something bigger? It’s hard to say at the moment, but let’s put our money on the head coach position.

What would it mean for André Tourigny? I think we all know.

The Utah club, soon to be called the Mammoth, is counting on a good young emerging club – and on Mikhail Sergachev, whom Cooper knows very well from their years together in Tampa Bay.

Will Cooper soon leave Tampa to head up the Mammoth, moving Martin St-Louis up to third place on the list of coaches with the longest tenure with their current club?

At the moment, in addition to Tourigny and Cooper, Jared Bednar (who hasn’t won in a few years in Denver) and Rod Brind’Amour are also ahead of him. If the stars align, the CH pilot could be second on the list in time to tell.

Note that if the Tampa Bay job opens up, Jeff Halpern could be a candidate. But the position would be highly coveted.

gossip

– With good reason.

– Who’s going to the Worlds?

– Interesting.

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Injuries: several CH players still unsure if they’ll be able to play tonight

Who will play for the Canadiens tonight? We still don’t know 100%. But Martin St-Louis was able to confirm a few things for tonight’s game.

Jakub Dobes will get the start. No surprise, Samuel Montembeault is still in Montreal.

Patrik Laine will not play tonight. I don’t think there are any surprises here, because everything pointed to #92 skipping his turn again tonight.

But there are some things that haven’t been confirmed.

Alexandre Carrier could play tonight, but nothing is certain. We’ll see in due course whether the defenseman, who is a game-time decision at the moment, will be able to play.

But he’s not the only one.

Because of the boo-boos the players have (and surely to hide his game a bit), Martin St-Louis said a few guys were game-time decisions for tonight’s game.

Because Carrier is a doubtful case, I expect all the other defensemen to be able to play – unless a recall from Laval has taken place without us knowing.

With the season on the line, the guys will give it their all.

I say that because without Carrier, the club only has six defensemen. David Savard, who underwent treatment yesterday, is expected to play… and it’s safe to assume that Jayden Struble (or Arber Xhekaj?) will play only if Alexandre Carrier is OUT.

And up front?

Yesterday, Brendan Gallagher and Josh Anderson missed practice. But both can’t miss the game (barring, once again, a mystery recall) since Michael Pezzetta is the only extra, assuming Laine doesn’t play.

So I don’t expect a big wave of absences tonight.

in a row

– Obviously.

– Bizarre…

– Really?

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Patrik Laine “grumbles a bit and is all alone in his corner”

Patrik Laine is one of the players to watch today because of his health. Will the Canadiens’ mysterious forward be able to play tonight’s game?

All indications are that no, he won’t be able to play.

Right now, the word on the street is that Laine doesn’t seem to be in good shape to play tonight’s game in Washington. And Martin McGuire had more to say on the subject.

Last night, on 98.5 FM’s Amateurs de sports, the station’s game announcer said that, at yesterday’s practice, he wasn’t impressed with Laine.

In every aspect of his game.

I watched him at practice and Patrik Laine didn’t convince me that he was ready physically or mentally. – Martin McGuire on Patrik Laine

What McGuire said was that Laine was all alone in his corner, grumbling a bit. He doesn’t see him interacting with others, unlike elsewhere on the ice.

McGuire also believes that, in terms of his body language, it’s as if “the blinds are closed” in Laine’s case. That’s how the 98.5 Sports member wants to put it.

It’s worth noting that when other players do something that gets attention (like Cole Caufield falling into the tape, for example), the guys laugh it off with the main guy. But not with Laine.

This isn’t the first time we’ve heard that Laine is sometimes a bit out of the loop.

We know that Laine’s knee and wrist hurt, but we also know that socially, it’s sometimes more difficult for him. These aspects, plus the fact that he’s not the hardest worker on the ice, are working against him at the moment.

To be continued.

in gossip

– Will he play tonight?

– How to replace Alexandre Carrier, if he doesn’t play? [NYT]

– Read more.

– Interesting.

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David Reinbacher absent from Rocket training (a few hours before the game)

There’s a situation to keep an eye on at the Laval Rocket.

David Reinbacher, who is currently in the Rocket’s Ohio environment in preparation for the start of the playoffs, didn’t train this morning with the rest of Pascal Vincent’s group.

And no, it’s not because he’s been recalled by the Canadiens: it’s because he’s entitled to a day of treatment.

A therapy day on game day is rarer. But let’s face it: it’s not a very reassuring sign right now for the CH prospect’s knee. Because, surely, it’s the knee that’s at stake here.

After all, since his return to action, he’s had his ups and downs in terms of physical health.

A few days ago, Pascal Vincent said that only a recall to Montreal could prevent him from playing. Of necessity, we have to wonder if this is still true.

Does the Austrian still have a good chance of playing for Laval tonight? We’ll see in due course.

Even though Alexandre Carrier is a doubt for tonight’s CH game and David Savard needed treatment yesterday, I never expected a recall from Laval for Reinbacher.

Even if Grant McCagg wanted it to happen.

What’s happening today proves it: throwing him into the lion’s den of the NHL playoffs wouldn’t be a good idea. Let’s wait until next season to assess the possibility – even though he may have the talent to hold his own defensively right now.

After all, there’s a fine line between recalling Florian Xhekaj, which practically happened last week, and a defenseman like Reinbacher.

in gossip

– Respect for the CH.

– He’s skating today.

– Jeff Halpern as coach?

– Nothing less.

– The best players in 2024-2025 according to their peers.

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Biggest night of the year for Montreal sports

When I was in Cégep, I looked for something to do every night. On Mondays, it was Bourbon Street in the Laurentians; on Tuesdays, it was Café Campus, I think; on Thursdays, it was the Loft; on Fridays and Saturdays, it was hot everywhere..

But on Wednesday, there was nothing. It was a damned flat night where I’d get my strength back for the rest of the week.

25 years later, Wednesday is still the night of the week when there’s least activity. It’s as if, collectively, we were taking a deep breath to get enough air for the next three days: Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Except that tonight (Wednesday), it won’t be the same. We’ll be treated to three games involving our Montreal-area professional teams… at precisely the same time!

The Canadiens will try to avoid elimination against the Capitals in Washington.

Montreal CF, who haven’t tasted victory yet in ten MLS games, will try to avoid the worst – elimination in the first round of the Canadian championship – against TFC in Toronto.

And on the road, the Rocket will begin their two-three series against the Cleveland Monsters.

All three games kick off at 7:00 p.m.

Bad timing
There was nothing on the schedule Monday and Tuesday..

There’s nothing on the schedule tomorrow..

But at 7:00 p.m. tonight, we’ll be in demand from all sides. With three highly significant playoff games.

We’re only a few hours away from what will undoubtedly be the biggest game night of the year in Montreal sports. It’s a good thing the three games are being played away from Montreal, otherwise it would have made life difficult for the Montreal Canadiens Rocket and the Montreal CF. #Ticketing

By the way, how will the various French-language sports networks divide up the cake tonight? A Wednesday, not a Saturday, mind you. #CrazyWednesday

It’s simple: field hockey first.

The Canadiens’ game will be broadcast on TVA Sports and 98.5 FM. The Rocket game? On RDS and BPM Sports. And the Montreal CF game, on the very popular OneSoccer streaming site, as well as on the BPM Sports app and website.

I don’t think Sydney Fowo and Jasmin Leroux Alexandre Coupal will be able to afford toopen the lines tonight after the game..

And I’m pretty sure that NOBODY is going to be watching ringette from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. on RDS2..

Where will I be watching my sport tonight?
I’ll be at the Casino de Montréal with JT, HFTV, your boy Max, a few members of the Mise-o-jeu staff and 650 overexcited fans. It’ll be the CH on the big screen and the CF Montréal on my phone…

Who’ll win and who’ll lose?
I think the Canadiens, exhausted, not physical enough and on the road, will play their last game before the fall. I’m afraid it won’t even be close..

But the Habs players believe in their chances, in the words of my good friend JT. There’s still a little hope.

The Rocket has a club to win the Calder Cup. I can see them eating their Ohio opponents alive. Victory by three goals!

As for CF Montreal, the fact that TFC have several injured players and the difficult start to the season for both teams makes me want to believe. I think the game will end 1-0, thanks to Prince Owusu’s left-footed strike against his former club.

On the other hand, if Montreal CF suffer another setback tonight, it’ll be heavy at Stade Saputo on Saturday. Very heavy indeed..

But hey, if that’s what it takes for sports management to open their eyes and come to the conclusion that they need to add quality to the attacking midfield and forward positions, so be it.

Note that the Rocket and the Habs will play on Friday and Sunday (if necessary for the CH), while the Montreal CF, as I just wrote, will be in action on Saturday.

I wonder why the Rocket and the Habs aren’t talking more than that to coordinate their games. After all, Geoff Molson is the president of both teams…

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Utah Mammoth: the club has changed its name on YouTube

For the past year, we’ve been wondering what the new Salt Lake City club will be called in the long term.

With an eye on the 2024-2025 season, everything moved so quickly to get the Arizona Coyotes out and owner Ryan Smith decided to go with Utah HC to give himself time to get the name right.

The plan had always been to pick one for 2025-2026 – whether to keep HC for the long term or change it.

And now, out of the blue, the Salt Lake City field hockey club has just given a huge clue as to what the next name will be. How? By changing its name on YouTube.

The address of the club’s YouTube account is now @utahmammoth, strongly suggesting that the name chosen is that of the Utah Mammoth.

This was among the choices that had been put forward by the club when it came time to ask fans what they thought. And let’s just say it’s very Utah in my book.

Not a bad choice, then.

The next step, once the name is confirmed by the club, will be to unveil a logo and a new uniform. I’m expecting the uniform colors to be similar, but it will definitely need a new logo to go with the new name.

I can’t wait to see how it turns out. But with a name like that, the potential is there to have a logo that looks good.

Breaking news

– Nice contract in Carolina.

– Daniel Brière: a tough playoff loss in Montreal in 2014. [98.5 Sports]

– Of note.

– To read.

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Jacob Fowler’s mask with the Laval Rocket

Jacob Fowler recently had a mask made in the Canadiens’ colors. You can see it here, for those interested.

But since he began his pro career with the Laval Rocket, it was only logical to see the Flanelle prospect sporting a mask in the colors of the Canadiens’ club-school.

Here’s how it looks.

Notice that the helmet is similar to the one he has for the Habs. That’s not abnormal, given that the two teams’ colors are exactly the same.

There’s continuity, but the Rocket logo in front of the helmet is a noticeable difference.

Sylabrush made the mask again, as has often been the case for goalies in the Canadiens’ organization over the past few years. And the result is quite something.

I think a lot of people will like the mask.

And as you no doubt know, Fowler will start wearing his mask tonight. After all, this will be the Rocket’s first playoff game in Cleveland, and without Cayden Primeau, the net is the CH’s hope.

Spencer Knight of the Hawks(you can read what he has to say about him on RG media), who is held in high esteem, will face a big challenge in the coming days, but it’s a great dose of experience for him.

Fowler’s first challenge will be to make a good first impression to gain confidence, to not give momentum to the opponent (who starts at home) and to give himself a chance to keep his job the day Cayden Primeau AND Jakub Dobes finish their season in Montreal.

Because, as you know, the Rocket have a better chance of going far in the playoffs than the Habs…

in gossip

– Of course.

– Pascal Vincent, a good choice for the Blackhawks? [98.5 FM]

– Ouch.

– PWHL: another expansion.

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Patrik Laine in tonight’s line-up: no, says Renaud Lavoie

The Habs are on the brink.

Can they win tonight in Washington to force a Game 6 on Friday night in Montreal? If they want to keep going, they have no choice but to win.

As my colleague Marc-Olivier Cook wrote this morning, if the CH advances to the next round, it will face the Hurricanes.

(Credit: NHL.com)

To do that, you really have to wonder who will be in uniform. Patrik Laine and Alexander Carrier are probably the two biggest question marks right now.

I didn’t put Samuel Montembeault in that category because there’s no question: he won’t be playing Game #5.

And on that subject, this morning on BPM Sports’ Club du Matin, Renaud Lavoie talked about the Laine case. And when asked about a potential return for Laine, his answer was clear.

He said no.

Not only is Lavoie unconvinced about the condition of the Finn’s wrist (not to mention his knee injury), but we’d probably have to move him to the fourth line so as not to break up the other lines.

Fourth trio… second power play… might as well not bring him along at all?

Let’s also note that Renaud Lavoie would rather play Michael Pezzetta than Oliver Kapanen (a center who allows Jake Evans to go on another line) in tonight’s game.

But like my colleague Jonathan Di Gregorio, I don’t eat that bread.

extension

– As for Alexandre Carrier, the fact that he’s been traveling is a good sign. He’s got a sore neck and that doesn’t mean he won’t play tonight, but his situation is one to watch at the moment.

– As far as we know, the Habs haven’t recalled anyone from Laval. It shouldn’t happen, unless there’s a major change.

– The club has no practice on the menu today. However, the extras are expected to skate (which may give some clues) and Martin St-Louis will speak to the media at noon.

– Remember that yesterday, several players were absent from training. Expect to see Brendan Gallagher, Josh Anderson and David Savard in tonight’s game.