I NEED A BREAK

Won't be watching much Habs or anything (except catching up on some movies) while I'm off for holiday break but I will be posting a couple of times - just not The Good The Bad And The Ugly - until Habs - Jets post game the night of January 4th.

Really not much to say about that December 22 loss in Winnipeg other than "rock bottom".  Hugely important bounce back in Ottawa as Habs finally find an opposing goalie(s) they can beat. Even more important for Mike Cammalleri to hit the scoresheet after some stinging - but in my opinion - truthful quotes following the loss to the Jets. Among them (courtesy Pat Hickey game story December 23), "I think we have to get a little more creative (on the power play). I think it's a cop-out to say we have to get more shots, more bodies to the net.  I think we have to move bodies around and look for shots from different spots."

And on the lack of apparent chemistry, "I think we're walking a fine line between keeping it simple and hard and not creating any hockey plays.  You say let's keep it simple and forget you're in the NHL.  If you keep it too simple, the other team just regroups and comes at you all night."

Here's hoping the following list of people found what they were looking for under the Christmas tree/ Chanukah bush:

• Mike Cammalleri - His touch.
• PK Subban - His smile.
• Scott Gomez - A milk carton.
• Randy Cunneyworth - Respect.
• Jacques Martin - Ken Hitchcock's phone number.
• Geoff Molson - Pierre McGuire's phone number.
• Pierre Gauthier - Nuts.
• Andrei Markov - Playoff games.
• Anthony Calvillo - A healthy offensive line.
• Marc Trestman - A healthy Anthony Calvillo.
• Joey Saputo - Not an empty seat.
• Noel Butler - A new seat.
• Chris Nilan - Success at Sundance.
• Rod Francis - Three more Bills wins.
• Mitch Gallo - Three more Leafs wins.
• Jennifer Heil - A business degree.
• Andie Bennett - A HNIC gig. 
• Pete Marier - A gig.
• Terry DiMonte - A Mark Twain handbook.
• Ted Bird - A new bridge.
• Montreal - Three new bridges.
• Montreal Music Fans - Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Tom Waits, The Allman Brothers, Lou Reed (without John Zorn and without Metallica).
• Shane Murphy - A live album.
• The National Hockey League - Sidney Crosby.