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Carbo and Bobby Smith in a 1989 ad for Ultramar.  (photo source:  Twitter/@GuerrierSerge)

Carbo and the Vendredi Saint brawl

Between 1982 and 1993, the Quebec Nordiques and the Montreal Canadiens clashed in the playoffs five times. No rivalry between two teams was fiercer during that time period.  The most memorable game between the two teams happened on April 20, 1984, on Good Friday.  The Canadiens were down 2-0 going into the third period when a brawl broke out.  At that time, Guy Carbonneau was 24 years old and only in his second full season with the Canadiens.

Said Carbo in 2008:

"I was going to the net, and the puck -- I remember the puck was under Daniel Bouchard's glove, and I was trying to poke at him, and I fell down in front of him.  Dale Hunter came from behind, cross-checked me, and then Chris Nilan who wasn't really too far away from me during the game, jumped on Dale Hunter, and then one fight started, and everything else just kept going."  (interview by Dick Irvin Jr., Memorable Games in Canadiens History DVD set)

Yes, Guy started the infamous brawl when he was cross-checked in front of the net by Dale Hunter.

Carbo being pushed to the ice by the Nordiques' Dale Hunter.  (photo by Paul Bereswill)

One of the enduring images from the fight is of Carbo helping injured teammate Jean Hamel, who had been knocked unconscious after a punch in the face by Louis Sleigher, off the ice.

One of the penalties issued after the brawl was to Carbo -- two minutes for roughing.  The brawl started up again -- Carbo was grabbed by the sweater and pulled towards the bench by coach Jacques Lemaire.  

A total of 252 penalty minutes were issued and 10 players were ejected from the game.  Eventually, the brawl settled down and the Canadiens came back in the third period and won the game 5-3, winning the series 4 games to 2 -- with help from a late goal from Guy.

All in all, a memorable night at the Montreal Forum to say the least.

2011 Dallas Stars Dr. Pepper Golf Classic roundup

On Monday, Carbo participated in the 2011 Dallas Stars Dr. Pepper Golf Classic, held at the Royal Oaks Country Club in Dallas.  The tourney raised close to $100,000 for the Dallas Stars Foundation, which supports local children's charities in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.

Guy, of course, is an avid golfer and won a hole contest -- closest to the pin on hole #4.  His prize was a Nike VR Wedge, which he generously donated to a raffle so guests at the awards dinner would have a chance to win prizes.  (Dallas Stars)

Another Carbo YouTube oddity

In this one, Carbo helps to lip-sync a song about Maurice Richard.  While watering his plants.

Countering the very best

In the beginning, in junior hockey, Carbo was an offensive force; in 1979-80, his final season with the QMJHL's Chicoutimi Sagueneens, he racked up an impressive 182 points.  When he joined the Canadiens in 1982, the Habs needed someone who could kill penalties and play against the opposing teams' top lines, so he became a defensive forward.  Carbo became so effective at shutting down the competition's best players that he won the Frank J. Selke Trophy three times as the league's top defensive forward.

During the 1993 Stanley Cup Final, Guy went to coach Jacques Demers and suggested that he shadow the Kings' Wayne Gretzky.  He didn't completely shut Gretzky down, but the superstar's offensive output was certainly limited by Carbonneau's checking abilities.

Again, during the 1999 Western Conference Final against Colorado, Guy went to coach Ken Hitchcock and suggested that he counter another superstar, Peter Forsberg.  Said Carbo in 2008:

"That's who I am, that's the kind of style I was playing.  I love to play against the best players, I love the challenge of playing against these guys."  (Hockey Night in Canada)  

Again, he limited the opposing team's offence.  Again, he was rewarded with Lord Stanley's Cup.

Here is a short video to enjoy, from Game 7 of the 1999 Western Conference Final.  Carbo and Forsberg tangle; an angry Carbo gets sent to the box.

Carbo on the current Dallas team

While in Dallas for the 2011 Alumni Classic Weekend, Guy was asked his thoughts on the current state of the Dallas Stars and their chances for bringing another Stanley Cup home.

"It's hard to say [if this is a playoff team or not]. I think last year, they were right there," he said. "They win one game and they would have been in the playoff. They've got more experience this year and a little more depth. But you look around the league and a couple of injuries here and there and you can be out of the playoffs. You look at all 30 teams and you can probably pick one or two teams that are guaranteed to make the playoffs. There are maybe one, two or three guaranteed not to make the playoffs but every in between can be a surprise."

One thing he can declare is that the club is in good hands with a former Stars teammate in Joe Nieuwendyk calling the shots as the Dallas General Manager.

"Newy having been an ex-player and especially a player who played here, he learned the trade the right way," Carbonneau said. "He has a good relationship with the players. I think he wants to bring that family aspect to the team but you've got to still remember that it's a business. So far, the team has done good. They're getting better. They've got really young players. It's just a matter of keeping them together."  (Fox Sports Southwest)

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