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“The players will have to raise their game to try to make up for it,” coach Jacques Martin said. “It opens a door for someone. We’ve been waiting for that since the start of the season.”

Gionta is tied with fellow newcomer, Mike Cammalleri, for the most goals on the team (8) and was signed to a five-year, $25 million contract.  He’s got 13 points in 19 games so I’m sure he’s going to be missed on the ice.

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All of this went down after the Montreal Canadiens lost 3-1 to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday night.  Walsh decided to do what too many people have – say too freaking much on Twitter.  Why can’t people control themselves?  He wrote: “Interesting stat of the night….Price is 10W, 32L in last 42 starts. Hmm.”

That’s such a crappy thing to say.  He’s a young goalie and I know that Walsh’s job is to pimp out Halak but let their talent dictate who starts and who doesn’t.

He later Tweeted: “It was a tongue in cheek comment not meant to be taken seriously, forgot it was Montreal and everyone loses a sense of humor.”

So far this season, Halak has a 5-2 record this season while Price has a 3-7 record.  There’s no need to kick a guy while he’s down.

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What fresh hell is this?  Yes, I realize that Price lost his first four starts and Halak won his first four starts but I didn’t think that Price was going to go out like a bitch.  I’m happy that he’s sharing and being accommodating to Halak, especially since I really like the young goaltender.

Jacques Martin seems to agree, though (and so do I) and Halak has a .942 save percentage and 1.45 goals against average over the last four games.  Still, being called for a fourth game was not what he was expecting.  “I was a bit surprised, but on the other hand I was happy,” Halak said. “Right now we’re winning and coach doesn’t want to change the lineup. We’ll see for how long.”

If Halak starts tonight, Price will have been out for 11 days.  If I had to guess, I would bet that Martin will put Halak in against Pittsburgh tonight and Chicago on Friday and will give Price a chance against the craptacular Maple Leafs on Saturday.

Price also said:  “when the other guy’s playing well, you’ve got to play well too.  So you need that healthy competition between your goaltenders, it just makes for a better team in general.”

No truer words have been uttered…

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The Flames can thank some unlikely heroes for saving the day, though.  Staffan Kronwall and Adam Pardy really stepped it up adding two assists each (Kronwall actually got his first NHL goal which ended up being the game-winner!) but it was Eric Nystrom who really made the difference.  He scored two goals and I’m willing to go on record saying that I think this game would have gone very differently had he not been so active on the ice.  Captain Jarome Iginla also scored a goal (his first of the season).

“A couple fights, a few goals, it was a great game for them,” said Iginla. “It’s huge momentum when they go out and play in the other team’s end, and play physical, and play with energy.”

“They played very well, both of them,” coach Brent Sutter said. “Pards has started to come and the last couple games, he’s certainly been really strong. I thought Krons, this was certainly his best game. He was really solid.”

The Habs weren’t held scoreless.  Scott Gomez, Guillaume Latendresse and Tomas Plekanec each scored a goal.  I think Gomez could end up being a real asset to the Canadiens especially seeing how he played with them tonight.  Maybe there is hope for Montreal…

I was a little surprised that they put Jaroslav Halak in net.  I’m not saying I like Carey Price any better (I actually think that Halak has a lot of potential) but we play Montreal so rarely that it would have been nice to have the two #1 goalies in opposing nets.

Flames netminder, Miikka Kiprusoff has added another win with 27 saves so maybe he’s got a shot at being the most winningest goaltender again this season.

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Since winning the Stanley Cup back in 1993, they have failed to make it very far in the playoffs.  It’s sad because of their rich history and past accomplishments but, for whatever reason, they just haven’t been able to pull it together.

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Let’s start at the top.  They’ve been sold.  It’s always tough when a team comes under new ownership.  I know that it was bought by members of the Molson family, who has had a great track record with the team in the past, but this is a new generation and a new roster.

They’ve also gotten rid of Guy Carbonneau as the head coach with Bob Gainey filling in for the remainder of last season.  Back in June, the team announced that Jacques Martin would be behind the Habs bench in the 2009-2010 season and this could be a really good thing for the team.  He’s the first coach in 16 years who has had any NHL coaching experience.  We’ll see if that makes a difference.

Saku Koivu had only played with the Canadiens in his 13 year career in the NHL so, when the team’s captain was traded to Anaheim, it was a big deal.  It’s disorienting to have all of these changes to the faculty but when the on-ice leader gets shipped out, it can be devastating.  However, since so many changes have been made to the lineup it may not matter.

That brings me to the updated roster.  Along with Koivu, big names like Alex Kovalev, Alex Tanguay and Christopher Higgins have been dealt away, Patrice Brisebois retired and Carey Price is going to have to find a way to keep it together (I think he can do it, too).

On the flipside, Higgins left so that the Habs could get Scott Gomez and they’ve also brought on Brian Gionta and Mike Cammalleri so things could be pretty good as long as everyone gels and that’s a lot of ifs – If the new owners run the team well.  If the new coach is a good leader.  If they pick a worthy new captain.  If the new roster works well together.

So, will this makeover work?  I really can’t tell.  I am doubtful, to be honest, because the Tampa Bay Lightning have proven that enthusiastic young owners, an experienced coach and a hot roster doesn’t guarantee anything.

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This week, a Habs staple announced his retirement.  After 16 seasons with the team (during which time he won the Stanley Cup in 1993) and 18 seasons in the NHL, Patrice Brisebois is saying goodbye to hockey.

He wore his championship ring during his announcement:  "I wore it today for the first time since 1993 because I told myself that I’m a winner.  No one can ever take that away from me."

As is often the case with players in Montreal, Brisebois had his ups and downs with the local media and fans.  He blamed two reporters for turning fans against them since they began booing him like crazy at home games but Bob Gainey quickly put an end to that when he was brought on as the general manager and referred to those people in the stands as “gutless” and “yellow.”  So… no more booing after that.

"I really think Bob re-launched my career," Brisebois said. "I felt free on the ice after he did that. I knew if I made a mistake, I wouldn’t hear those boos again."

The relationship was further strengthened when Brisebois left to play with the Colorado Avalanche for two seasons but was brought back to Montreal by Gainey so that he could end his career with the Habs.  As a result, the crowd welcomed him with a huge ovation during the 2007-2008 home opener and that meant a lot to the defenceman.  "Without Bob, I don’t think it would have been possible," Brisebois said. "That ovation is something I’ll remember the rest of my life."

Brisebois leaves with the following accomplishments with the Canadiens:

• Third place for games played by a defenceman (896)
• Fourth place for goals by a defenceman (87)
• Fifth place in points by a defenceman (371)
• 11th player to play 1,000 career games in a Canadiens uniform

What’s up next for him?  He wants to try his hand as a driver in the Canadian Tire NASCAR series.  "It’s a great team sport, like hockey," Brisebois said of auto racing. "Your mechanic is kind of like your coach, and there’s a game plan, race strategy, so it’s a bit like a hockey team. I’m going to try and go as far as I can in auto racing. I’d love to be able to move on to the Nationwide or Sprint series, but it’s going to be very tough. Another dream of mine would be to do the 24 hours of Le Mans."

Whatever he does, I wish him the best of luck!

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I know he’s a little soft but he’s a solid playmaker.  I think Tampa Bay got a good deal here but I don’t know how great it is for Tanguay.  I’ll try to stay optimistic since he really could work well with Vincent Lecavalier, Martin St. Louis and Steven Stamkos.

In 659 career games, Tanguay has 193 goals and 387 assists.

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It’s a two way deal that will pay him $500,000 (USD) if he stays in the NHL.  Of course, the numbers go down if he ends up being sent to the minors.  No pressure!

The 22-year-old dressed for 53 games with the Habs last season and had 12 goals and nine assists.  He was drafted in the sixth round by the club in 2005.

I am glad they are keeping him.  I know he needs to become more consistent but I think he’s got a lot of potential.  I’m hoping he finds his magic this year for his sake, as well as that of his team…

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Being out on the west coast, I’ve seen Sanford in action a lot and I like him.  In two seasons he’s had a 11-11-1 record, 2.69 GAA and .903 save percentage in 35 regular season games with the Vancouver Canucks.  I don’t think he’s ever going to be a starting goalie but I think he’s a pretty decent backup (at the very least, you’ve got a 50/50 chance with him). 

Of course, many are wondering what this means for Jaroslav Halak who has been shadowing Carey Price.  I have to say that I actually really like Halak too.  I think that he was better a couple years ago but this past season wasn’t great.  I’d like to see him come out to a Western Conference team (the Flames could use a tested backup…).

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Ottawa GM Bryan Murray seems to think so.  At a press conference yesterday, he said: "We can fit both of those guys on our team very nicely, maybe one on left and one on right wing.”

Kovalev also had some things to say: "Sometimes you see teams make changes and go through different players, so it’s understandable (they struggle).  This team, I was surprised with the players offensively and defensively they have, that they weren’t successful.  Hopefully, I’ll bring that little spark or whatever that this team is missing… Definitely, with the player that he is, it would be nice to have him back.  I know Dany a little bit from playing with him for Kazan in the lockout year. He’s a great, talented guy on the ice and off the ice and would definitely help the Senators organization and hopefully will continue to help the organization".

Talk about a Dr. Phil moment.  I feel like it’s time for a group hug and some healing, don’t you?  Apparently Heatley isn’t feeling as warm and fuzzy – he’s not even returning the calls of Sens captain, Daniel Alfredsson.  The drama continues…

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