NHL & Minor Leagues » Für die HabsFans

Canadiens all about comebacks
By Robert Picarello | NHL.com | August 13, 2002

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The theme in Montreal during the 2001-02 season was all about comebacks.
The Canadiens played some inspired hockey last season, with most of the needed inspiration coming from seeing how hard Saku Koivu, Donald Audette and Doug Gilmour worked to merely take the ice. For the other players, most notably goalie Jose Theodore, playing the game seemed simple.

The Canadiens made their first appearance in the postseason since the 1997-98 season and these three veterans provided the impetus.

Even though he only played in three regular-season games, Koivu was a key player who helped Montreal return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in four years. The courageous captain returned to the NHL on April 9 against Ottawa after staging a remarkable battle with intra-abdominal Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma that had been diagnosed during training camp.

Related Links

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Full schedule of team updates
Canadiens 2002-03 schedule
Canadiens team stats
Canadiens official web site
Free agent signings
Free agent list
Offseason trade list
Chat about the Canadiens

Once the playoffs rolled around, Koivu didn't simply lift his team, he also kicked his game into high gear and helped the Habs eliminate the Boston Bruins in the first round and make it to the Eastern Conference Semifinals, where they were eventually eliminated by the Carolina Hurricanes in six hard-fought games.

Koivu was not only an inspirational leader for the club, he was also an offensive force in the postseason, playing in all 12 of the team's playoff games and tying for the team lead in points with 10 off four goals and six assists. For his fearless efforts Koivu was awarded the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, which is given to the NHL player that best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.

Another player who persevered last year was Audette. The Canadiens' forward suffered a gruesome injury against the Rangers on Dec. 1 in Montreal when the blade of Rangers' forward Radek Dvorak sliced through his left forearm, causing him to lose a large amount of blood. Audette needed five hours of surgery to repair severe nerve damage, which forced him to miss the next 49 games of the regular season.

The Habs were happy to see him back in their lineup on March 30 against the Penguins, as Audette was on fire when the injury occurred. Like Koivu, Audette was a key contributor in the postseason. He not only was the club leader in goals (6) during the playoffs, he also was tied for the top spot in points with 10 in 12 games.

Gilmour was also a force for the Habs last season even though it was unclear if the battle-tested veteran was returning for another go-round in the NHL. The 39-year old signed on with the club in early October and played his first game in a Canadiens uniform Oct. 19 at Washington. The versatile forward chipped in tremendously during the regular season, notching 10 goals and 31 assists in 70 games.

In the postseason he turned his game up a notch, tying Koivu and Audette for the team lead in points registering four goals and 6 assists. With 187 points in 182 career playoff games, Gilmour averages more than a point-per-game in playoffs (1.03). He currently ranks in 6th place on the NHL all-time playoff point leaders (60-127-187), 2nd amongst active players behind Mark Messier.

After taking the NHL by storm last season, Jose Theodore proved he can single-handedly guide his team to victory.
The Canadiens also took plenty of inspiration from the play of goaltender Jose Theodore. The acrobatic netminder made it look simple night after night. He stood on his head many times during the season and as a result established career highs in wins (31), shutouts (7), goals against average (2.11) and save percentage (.931).

For his outstanding efforts in the 2001-02 campaign, Theodore was awarded the Hart Trophy as the League MVP and the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's top netminder.

What lies ahead

The Canadiens need to re-sign Theodore, a Group II free agent, along with their second leading scorer, Richard Zednik, in order to expand on their success from last season.

Over the summer the team did re-sign Andreas Dackell, Mike Ribero, Jason Ward, Benoit Gratton, Matt O'Dette and Chad Kilger. Montreal also inked their 2001 first-round draft pick, defenseman Mike Komisarek to a three-year deal and former Stars' forward Randy McKay to a free-agent deal. At the NHL Entry Daft in June, the Habs traded Arron Asham and a 5th round selection in 2002 to the New York Islanders for veteran winger Mariusz Czerkawski.

Along with Asham, the club also lost Sergei Berezin, who was traded to the Blackhawks, center Craig Darby, who signed with the New Jersey Devils, and center Shaun Van Allen, who signed with the Ottawa Senators

Die Eissporthalle darf keine Leichenhalle werden! WACHT ENDLICH AUF UNF TUT WAS DAGEGEN! NUR GEMEISAMEN KÖNNEN WIR DAS SCHAFFEN - ICH ZÄHL AUF EUCH
Lions und der SERC - Gemeinsam gegen das SAP-Pack
"Einen Solarmann, Es gibt nur einen Solarmann..."
9/11/01 - I will never forget