In case you missed it, the Montreal Canadiens — “the class of the Eastern Conference” — lost 6-3 to those lowly Toronto Maple Leafs last night. (I say lowly, but don’t look now, Sens fans: they’re ahead of our guys in the standings again!) The Leafs outshot the Habs 41-20 in the game. Montreal coach Guy Carbonneau was not happy at all with his team’s effort, calling it “the most embarrassing game I’ve ever been associated with.”

A terrible loss to an inferior team that is also a bitter rival. An angry coach. Two days off to let it simmer before their next game. Man, I would hate to be the poor suckers who have to play the Habs next!

… crap.

Searching for reasons to be optimistic, I come up with the following: the Habs may be without Tom Kostopoulos on Tuesday, as the NHL is considering disciplinary action over a nasty hit he laid on Toronto’s Mike Van Ryn in the first period. Van Ryn will miss time with a concussion, a broken nose, and a broken bone in his hand. What is it about Van Ryn that makes people want to hit him so hard? Is he really irritating? No doubt the loss of Kostopoulos and his two points on the season will be a crushing blow to the Canadiens.

Also, Montreal has been having penalty trouble lately. The article I cited above says they’ve been shorthanded 38 times in their last five games. The Sens’ power play is still ranked fourth in the NHL; if they can get it going then they might be in good shape.

And then there’s always the slim chance that this loss to the Leafs, rather than causing the Habs to turn themselves around, could be the game that sends them completely off the rails. They fall apart, and the Sens are there to capitalize. I’m hoping for that.

Rumour! Speculation! Innuendo!

Bruce Garrioch has an article in the Sun today detailing a few possible trade scenarios which may or may not involve the Sens: Atlanta could want to move goalie Kari Lehtonen; the Panthers might want Antoine Vermette in return for Jay Bouwmeester (poor Vermette — the annual trade rumour circus is in town already); Mattias Ohlund could be leaving Vancouver. I’m not sure what to think of the Ohlund rumours. Ohlund is the longest-serving Canuck and he has a no trade clause, but Darren Dreger also reported this story on TSN this week, which somehow gives it more credibility.

Another tidbit from the same article: just when we thought he was gone for good, Ray Emery has returned to Ottawa for a visit. But I’m sure his influence couldn’t possibly be so toxic that he’d cause a team he isn’t even part of anymore to lose its mojo simply by coming in contact with some of the players. That seems a bit much, even for Mr. Locker Room Cancer.