Canadiens Earn Two Wins in Busy Week

So much has happened over the last couple of days in the world of Habs news. First the Canadiens earned a huge two points Saturday against the Minnesota Wild. For the first time in what has felt like a lifetime, the Canadiens controlled and play and came away with a comfortable 4-1 win. The Canadiens started the first period slow, a reoccurring theme in this early season, but got their act together and took control of the game in the second and third periods to post back to back wins.

Then on Monday the Canadiens finally decided to deal with the Rene Bourque conundrum by placing the enigmatic forward on waivers then assigning him with the Hamilton Bulldogs of the AHL. Higher expectations were placed on Bourque this season after he broke out in last years playoffs, scoring eight goals and eleven points. However Bourque had only recorded 2 assists in 13 games so far this year which made GM Marc Bergevin's decision painfully easy. I have always thought Bourque possessed all the tools to become a dominant player in the league. When he wants to be, he is strong, fast and has a great shot but for some reason he could not take advantage of those skills. I don't know whether it is a attitude issue or what but hopefully, for his sake he can use this situation as a learning experience and get his game back on track. 

Marc Bergevin wasn't done with his roster moves. On Tuesday the Canadiens moved another under performing forward, Travis Moen, to the Dallas Stars in exchange for defenseman Sergi Gonchar. On the surface this seems like a strictly salary trade. Moen is signed for another year at $1.85 million, while Gonchar is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year.  I do not hate this trade as much as other Habs fans. The guys over at SB Nation Eyes On The Prize have published an article explaining how Gonchar cannot help the Habs.

http://www.habseyesontheprize.com/analysis/2014/11/11/7194977/sergei-gonchar-trade-canadiens-travis-moen-habs-powerplay

It is worth the read even though I disagree. While Gonchar is a shell of his former self, he cannot hurt the Canadiens' abysmal power play which ranks 28th in the league. As long as Michel Therrien doesn't rely too much on Gonchar I think he could help the struggling Habs power play.

Tuesday night saw the Canadiens, minus the newly acquired Gonchar  take on the red hot Winnipeg Jets. The Jet came into the game with eight points in eight games. The Canadiens entered the contest looking to extend their win streak to three games. Despite PK Subban playing one of his worst games of the season and the power play still refusing to click, Carey Price was on his game once again and earned his first shutout of the season stopping all 29 Jets shots. Lars Eller, Alex Galchenyuk and Tomas Plekanec scored for the Canadiens who take on the Boston Bruins Thursday night.