By Beaker

The warden threw a party in the county jail.
The prison band was there and they began to wail.
The band was jumpin and the joint began to swing.
You shouldve heard those knocked out jailbirds sing.
Lets rock, everybody, lets rock.
Everybody in the whole cell block
Was dancin to the jailhouse rock.

Elvis Presley

Who are these guys?

Just watching the Montreal Canadiens do the jailhouse rock with the Boston Bruins - their classic rivals. Yes, I’m having a hard time with the barber-pole uniforms from 1912. I’m all for connecting with history but with these jerseys, it feels like they were let out of Bourdeaux jail to participate in a Sunday afternoon hockey game.

Since I’m here might as well talk a little about the Canadiens and Bruins. The Canadiens (28-15-6) are a good hockey team. There’s some concern over team toughness (which is necessary in the playoffs unless you’re blessed with enormous natural offensive talent) and how that will play out in the playoffs. Moreover, many are calling for chirpy GM Bob Gainey to go out and PRESTO! get a much needed centerman and defenseman.

For all intent and purposes the Habs are a top 10 team in depth, points, goals for and goals against. There have been improvements but is it enough to come out of the Eastern conference this in the 100th anniversary? Not sure.

The Habs seem to hang much of their hopes on goalie Carey Price. The last time I witnessed a player hyped like Price was Eric Lindros. Recall that even before he played a game Lindros was proclaimed the “Next One.” We know what happened, erm, next. Lindros had a solid career but hardly legendary.

We tend to do this a lot in sports (play up the so-called blue chippers) and sometimes we’re right and others we’re wrong.

The Montreal hockey community, the one I know about anway, is divided between believers and non-believers about Price. The non-believers just don’t see what the fuss is about. They’re worried there’s too much on a kid and don’t like the comparisons to Patrick Roy. For their part, the believers point to his track record (although many pro athletes have great track records.) They feel he has the style, technique and calmness to be a success in the league.

Only time will tell. Me? I think we should just let it play out without the hype. I mean, did he really belong in the all-star game? Not that it matters given the state of that all-star game these days in terms of credibility.

The Bruins for their part are having a mentally nutty season. At 38-8-6, the Bruins are currently the best team in the NHL. After productive stints with the aforementioned Habs and New Jersey Devils, is there any question coach Claude Julien knows what he’s doing? Sometimes I wonder what the Habs would be like under Julien had Gainey decided to stick with him. Instead, Gainey opted to go with Guy Carbonneau who has done a good job but gives the impression is learning on the job. Is it me or does Carbo spend a little too much time arguing with referees? If he continues to nod his head after each call he dislikes he’ll end up with a concussion.

The Bruins goal differential is a bruising +63. No wonder they pretty much dominate the +/- category with five players in the top 10.

Record notwithstanding, doubters will reserve comment once the playoffs commence. The other suspicion sketpics have is with goalie Tim Thomas. It seems his unorthodox style has them skating for the ice-hills with uncertainty.

Well, with a league leading .932 save pct. he’s getting the job done. In fact, both Boston goalies are performing as Manny Fernandez clocks in with a .928 - good for third in the league.

Besides, it’s not like we haven’t seen this before: Dominik Hasek anyone? And Hasek is quite possibly the greatest goalie in the last 25 years - statistically speaking.

Quick word on Michael Ryder. Basically thrown out of Montreal, the Canadiens lost faith in Ryder. They weren’t satisfied with his overall play. So Boston picked him up. Julien was familiar with Ryder and next think you know, he’s the complete player Montreal wanted. Something tells me there was a communication breakdown in Montreal. How can he go from being a one-way player to a complete one within a year? Clearly, he had it in him. Maybe the Habs simply didn’t see it or, more likely, he had dropped off their depth chart.

With 18 goals, 16 assists and a +20 (a stat to be taken cautiously) Ryder has quickly turned his fortune around in Beantown.

Back to the game. The inmates are getting restless.