It's PK Time Already

So let me rant for a minute here. I completely understand why PK Subban was a healthy scratch following his disastrous third period against an energetic Edmonton Oilers squad. Subban was twice caught trying to force the play, and it burned the Habs, ultimately costing them the point.

Now not all that surprisingly, the Habs wiped the floor with the New Jersey Devils sans-Pernell to the tune of 5-1. Yannick Weber, Subban's replacement, was more than adequate in the blowout win but by no means a deciding factor either way.

Saturday afternoon, the Habs rolled to a relatively easy matinee win against the visiting San Jose Sharks. Subban sitting for a second straight game raised some eyebrows amongst fans and media alike, but I gave Jacques Martin the benefit of the doubt, assuming he'd be back in against Ottawa on Tuesday night.

Now I'm mad. Tonight the Habs struggled mightily on the powerplay, and desperately missed PK's offensive prowess and powerful shot on the point in nearly seven minutes of wasted opportunity in the second period.

Had the Habs not roared out of the gate in the third period, the talk of the town in Montreal would be PK's extended pressbox vacation. Now Jacques, Ottawa is not Detroit. PK Subban absolutely has to play Friday night, no questions asked.

For the love of PK, it's time.

Habs at the 21% mark of 2010

Okay Habs fans. Andrei Markov is out with possibly a season-ending injury. The playoff saviour, Jaroslav Halak has been dealt for a prospect. If I told you in September that through 18 games the Canadiens were 12-5-1, how hard would you have laughed?

The Four-Game Winning Streak

Coming into the previous week, many pundits said the Canadiens fortitude would seriously be put to the test. They were on the road in Boston, who was red-hot (8-3) and then home to Vancouver, who was riding a six game winning streak and is highly-regarded as a top-five club in the NHL. So what do the Habs do? Take a hard-fought 3-1 win in Boston, and then completely stifle the Canucks at home in a shutout victory.

Fast-forward to Saturday night at home, with the mediocre, but upstart Carolina Hurricanes visiting La Belle Province. The Habs roared out to a 2-0 start, but in the second stanza the Canes potted two quick goals emptying the Bell Centre air. What do the Habs do? Score five goals.

This Tuesday, for me, was the most impressive victory of the season. News of Andrei Markov's injury put Alexandre Picard back in the Habs lineup with the vaunted Philadelphia Flyers rolling into town. Carey Price stood on his head, posting a 41-save shutout, his second in four games.

All is well in Habs-Land, folks. Let's enjoy it while we can. Oh, and did you see Halak's goal?