by GABRIEL MORENCY

Wasn't it just three weeks ago that the Canadiens had a comfortable 12-point lead for the playoff spot that has eluded them four out of the last five years? Well, that was then and this is now. And right now has not been very kind to the Montreal Canadiens.

Sheldon Souray is out until late March and Jose Theodore is making the stupid proposed rule changes that don't allow goalies to play the puck behind the net look good. The francophone media have declared civil war on Saku Koivu for roughing up their new messiah Mike Ribeiro (we warned you!) and the New York Islanders and Buffalo Sabres are playing solid hockey - instead of worrying about where their captain was born, or what language he freaking speaks!

Global TV's hockey reality show, in which "Ordinary Joe Six-packs" will compete for NHL training camp invitations, will only start in September, but Claude Julien already has a starring roll in his own reality show (no, not King of the Hill!). In his show, he tries to get his team into the playoffs and, more importantly, get himself a contract extension. Whether it is fair or not - and the world is generally a colder place than the ice they play on - if the Habs don't get into the playoffs, Claude Julien's chances of returning next year are about the same as Claude Ryan returning to lead the Liberal Party.

On the other hand, if Julien gets them in, it would be hard for Bob Gainey not to give him an extension, considering some of the circumstances the club has faced this season. Not the least of which remains Gainey's refusal to make the club bigger and give Julien at least a puncher's chance down the stretch.

Isn't it ironic, considering that Gainey played the game with so much heart and conviction, that the GM hasn't gotten his coach some character guys? Though it's not like Julien has an AHL team to work with (although he may well once again in his future!), the simple reality is that there are too many undersized players on the team. Ultimately, their only chance at a playoff spot depends on their All-Star goaltender remembering that he is the club's true captain (and highest paid player). And the rest of the team has to remember to beat the crap out of the opposition, not each other.

Bettor tips

Looking for that rush you haven't felt since the National Football League shut down for the season? Laying it down on a Sunday afternoon matinee between the Nashville Predators and Columbus Blue Jackets not doing it for you? Basketball, not your thing? There are options for the sports bettor who is looking for some action to cure the winter-time blues.

Arena Football

Indoor football on a 50-yard field that regularly sees both teams put up 60-plus points a game while players get crushed into the boards (yes, it is as cool as it sounds!). The team that has the ball last usually wins and it's not a bad idea to take the points and the over, as almost every possession results in a score. Some of the team names may be silly (San Jose SaberCats! New Orleans VooDoo!), but there are some good players in the league, which has spawned quarterbacks like St. Louis Ram Kurt Warner, Edmonton Eskimo Ricky Ray and Pittsburgh Steeler Tommy Maddox.

Week one of the AFL on NBC had better ratings than the NHL All-Star game in the U.S. (but then again, bowling and bull riding competitions beat the NHL in the States). Something the NHLPA should think about when squawking about salary-caps at season's end.

NASCAR

Boring as hell - left, left, left - but if the favorites (Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart) avoid the perennial 10-car pile up, they usually win at prices like 8-1 and 12-1, making it worth your while to check out at least portions of the race, even if you don't understand a freaking word of the Southern drawl of the announcers calling the race.

Sports Rage with Gabriel Morency is vented weeknights 11 p.m.-2 a.m. on TEAM 990 AM. This column appears bi-weekly. Comments: sportsrage@team990.com