Sunday, February 18, 2007
Huet out indefinitely
Who had struggled in goal of late, is 19-15-3 this season
with a 2.74 goals-against average.
MONTREAL Goaltender Cristobal Huet will undergo surgery on a torn left hamstring and will be out of action indefinitely, the Montreal Canadiens announced Saturday.
The operation is to be performed on Sunday.
As he left the Bell Centre, Huet said he would have a better idea of how long he will be out of action after the surgery.
When asked if he expects to be back before the end of the season, he said: "I don't know, we'll see."
Huet, the team's top goaltender, was injured while stretching for a puck as Brian Rafalski scored during a 5-2 Montreal loss in New Jersey on Wednesday night.
The Canadiens called up Jaroslav Halak from AHL Hamilton on Friday to fill in as backup in goal to second goalie David Aebischer.
After a tepid performance by Aebischer in a 5-3 loss to Carolina on Saturday, coach Guy Carbonneau said the 21-year-old Halak will get his first NHL start Sunday night in Columbus.
Huet's teammates said they will have to soldier on.
"Obviously, it hurts," winger Mike Johnson said. "He was at the all-star game this year for a reason.
"But we have two No. 1 goalies here. David played well for us early and he'll have to the rest of the way, but he's done it before, in the regular season and into the playoffs. It's good that our organization has a lot of depth at that position."
Huet, who had struggled of late, is 19-15-3 this season with a 2.74 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage. He was outstanding in November and into December, when he had much to do with the Canadiens' strong first half of the season.
Now, Aebischer will likely see the lion's share of time in goal.
"I cherish a challenge," Aebischer said. "As an athlete, that's what you want.
"I spoke (to Huet) a bit. He feels OK, but it's tough for him to have surgery, especially down the stretch."
Halak ready for the challenge
Jaroslav Halak attracted attention during the Canadiens' training camp in the fall.
MONTREAL – Slovakian goaltenders haven’t exactly been breaking down the doors to the NHL. Called up from the Hamilton Bulldogs on Thursday, Jaroslav Halak could his open the door as early as this weekend.
While it remains to be seen how long Cristobal Huet will be out with a left hamstring injury suffered Wednesday, Halak isn’t just in Montreal as an observer.
“I don’t know much about him but [Hamilton Bulldogs head coach] Don Lever has told me good things about him,” said head coach Guy Carbonneau. “He’s not here as a tourist, that’s for sure. If he doesn’t play tomorrow [Saturday], then most likely on Sunday.”
Even if he’s only played in 41 Bulldogs games since February 2006, Halak has still found the time to add his name to the franchise record books with nine shutouts.
His call-up didn’t surprise Maxim Lapierre, who witnessed firsthand what the Canadiens’ No. 41 is all about during his time in Steeltown.
“He looks big in the net,” noted Lapierre, who was fortunate or unfortunate enough to face Halak during the goalie’s junior days with the Lewiston MAINEiacs. “He was really good when I was in Hamilton earlier this season and last year. He’s a big part of the Bulldogs’ success this season.”
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Halak took his first step towards an NHL debut Friday morning when he took to the ice at the Denis Savard Arena for his first Canadiens practice since training camp.
“I’m really happy to be here and to have been called up,” said the smiling 21-year-old. “I felt really good out there. NHL players have the best and hardest shots and shoot more on the corners. That’s harder to stop but I’ll get used to it.”
While Halak isn’t sure when he’ll make his NHL debut, should it come this weekend he’ll have some help in front of him as the Canadiens’ clinic is relieved of a patient. Mike Johnson, who missed the last two games with the flu, is expected to be back in the lineup Saturday. Alex Kovalev skated on his own Friday and should be back in three weeks while Craig Rivet, who’s been out with pneumonia, is waiting for test results before he can lace up his skates and start practicing again.
Britney Spears Shaved Head Shock: Britney Bald Pictures Stun Fans
Britney Spears has shocked fans by shaving her head. She didn't just cut her hair, or change her hair color, she has gone completely bald. The once blonde pop princess stopped at a Tarzana salon and asked them to shave her head on Friday night. When the hairdresser refused, a source says Spears "grabbed the hair clipper and started doing it herself," reports Us Weekly Magazine.
Britney Bald Pictures Stun Fans
She was spotted by fans and paparazzi as a crowd gathered outside a Los Angeles tattoo parlor after the buzz cut and Britney was minus her trademark mane. A tattoo artist at the Body and Soul parlor told KABC television that Ms Spears' was tattooed with "cute little lips on her wrist".
is Britney headed for a breakdown?' That seems like the right question to ask and the website reports that employee Emily Wynne-Hughes at the tattoo parlor says the singer was agitated and a "nightmare" to deal with. When asked about her new 'do, an exasperated Britney told Hughes, "I don't want anyone touching me. I'm tired of everyone touching me."
Her two new tattoos - a black, white and pink cross on her hip and red and pink lips on her wrist - cost $80. During the one-hour visit, the employee noticed a stain on the singer's white handbag, and Brit explained she had "spilled Nyquil all over it."
The employee says it was clear that the fallen pop princess was "on the verge of a nervous breakdown."
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