71 replies to this topic

[dlbalr]

Carolina Hurricanes	Montreal Canadiens
LINEUPS
Forwards Jiri Tlusty - Eric Staal - Alexander Semin Jussi Jokinen - Jordan Staal - Patrick Dwyer Chad LaRose - Riley Nash - Tim Wallace Andreas Nodl - Jeremy Welsh - Kevin Westgarth Defense Jay Harrison - Justin Faulk Jamie McBain - Joe Corvo Michal Jordan - Bob Sanguinetti Goaltenders Cam Ward Dan Ellis	Forwards Rene Bourque - Tomas Plekanec - Brian Gionta Max Pacioretty - David Desharnais - Lars Eller Brandon Prust - Alex Galchenyuk - Erik Cole Travis Moen - Ryan White - Colby Armstrong Defense Andrei Markov - Alexei Emelin Josh Gorges - Raphael Diaz Francis Bouillon - P.K. Subban Goaltenders Budaj Price
Team/Player Stats
Record: 8-4-1 Scratches: Bowman Injuries: Ruutu, Pitkanen, Gleason, Skinner, Brent Goals: E. Staal (8) Assists: J. Staal (10) Points: E. Staal (17) +/-: E. Staal (12)	Record: 9-4-1 Scratches: Kaberle, Weber Injuries: Nokelainen, Gallagher Goals: Plekanec (7) Assists: Diaz (10) Points: Plekanec (12) +/-: Galchenyuk/Gallagher (7)
GAME NOTES
Puck Drop: 7:30 PM EST TV: RDSHD, TSN Habs, NHLN-US

[dlbalr]

The lines are a bit of a guess for both sides given the injuries; Carolina is trying to get a player (Welsh) up after Brent got hurt in the morning skate which threw their projected lines out the window.

[Machine of Loving Grace]

Ryan White is expected to return to the lineup.

 

If he doesn't take a bad penalty again, should be good to see him fired up.

[Dalhabs]

Put a shockcollar on White.

[Commandant]

Lines I've heard

 

Bourque - Pleks - Gio

Patch - DD - cole

Prust - Chucky - White

Armstrong - Eller - Moen

 

 

It looks like they want Eller at Centre because of the fact we play Carolina.  He'll be needed to contain one of the Staals, as DD isn't gonna be able to, and Chucky is too green.

[dlbalr]

Those make more sense (Eller on the RW would be a first) - here's where I pulled the Hab lines from: http://tvasports.ca/...nement-18022013

[Machine of Loving Grace]

This is a pretty significant game for a multitude of reasons.

 

1.  Carolina and Montreal are both running three game winning streaks. 

2. Montreal has two games in hand of Boston while Toronto has a game extra of Montreal.  Boston has an incredibly spread out schedule in February so for a while, Montreal is always going to be ahead of them in games.  Montreal plays Carolina and New York back to back and then has only a day break before each game.  Boston is on a three day break, then plays the Lightning and gets another two day break.  Toronto is just as busy as the Canadiens.

3. Carolina's Staal's and Tlusty are hot while Semin is going to be expected to turn it up with Skinner down.

4. Muller is pulling a miracle when it comes to Carolina's D, which I'd call bottom three in the NHL.  They are now without Pitkanen and Gleason.  If Montreal doesn't punch through to Cam Ward, there's no excuse.

5. Montreal has New York tomorrow.  That will be an odd challenge.  If Price is 100% for the game, Montreal just has to weather a big team with some slumping stars that are still getting it done out of depth.  Winning tonight and tomorrow could give Montreal some serious cushion for the future schedule.

 

The hardest part of Montreal's schedule is in March.  Montreal has nine road games including five straight against Boston, Long Island, Carolina, Tampa and Florida.  Once they weather that storm, they get four of five days off with a Sens game at home sandwiched in the middle.  I don't expect a good record from those games but if Montreal can simply break .500 from it, I think you can almost guarantee a playoff position.

[The Chicoutimi Cucumber]

This is a pretty significant game for a multitude of reasons.

 

1.  Carolina and Montreal are both running three game winning streaks. 

2. Montreal has two games in hand of Boston while Toronto has a game extra of Montreal.  Boston has an incredibly spread out schedule in February so for a while, Montreal is always going to be ahead of them in games.  Montreal plays Carolina and New York back to back and then has only a day break before each game.  Boston is on a three day break, then plays the Lightning and gets another two day break.  Toronto is just as busy as the Canadiens.

3. Carolina's Staal's and Tlusty are hot while Semin is going to be expected to turn it up with Skinner down.

4. Muller is pulling a miracle when it comes to Carolina's D, which I'd call bottom three in the NHL.  They are now without Pitkanen and Gleason.  If Montreal doesn't punch through to Cam Ward, there's no excuse.

5. Montreal has New York tomorrow.  That will be an odd challenge.  If Price is 100% for the game, Montreal just has to weather a big team with some slumping stars that are still getting it done out of depth.  Winning tonight and tomorrow could give Montreal some serious cushion for the future schedule.

 

The hardest part of Montreal's schedule is in March.  Montreal has nine road games including five straight against Boston, Long Island, Carolina, Tampa and Florida.  Once they weather that storm, they get four of five days off with a Sens game at home sandwiched in the middle.  I don't expect a good record from those games but if Montreal can simply break .500 from it, I think you can almost guarantee a playoff position.

 

That is a superior analysis to what you'd get from the average TV 'expert' claiming to 'set the game up' for us. Nicely done.

 

And looking at how you frame it, I'd say that I hate games like this. These are the sort of games the Habs have typically lost in the past - important 'points in the bank' games which they proceed to drop, compelling them to surpass expectations against more demanding teams later on in the schedule. Hopefully Therrien can get his group focused and ready for the task at hand.

[brobin]

This game is a real test for the Habs. Beating Florida and Philly (who are playing Awful hockey) is nice, but can we beat a hot team? Wait til we have to play Boston...

If this was Price, I would have more confidence but Budaj didnt impress me much in the last game. Several sure goals were saved by the D with Budaj out of position. 19 shots..... I suspect he will get a lot more tonight.

[Machine of Loving Grace]

This game is a real test for the Habs. Beating Florida and Philly (who are playing Awful hockey) is nice, but can we beat a hot team? Wait til we have to play Boston...

If this was Price, I would have more confidence but Budaj didnt impress me much in the last game. Several sure goals were saved by the D with Budaj out of position. 19 shots..... I suspect he will get a lot more tonight.

 

Budaj was good enough.  Montreal has good enough D to make up for his mistakes.  Price should have played Philly but Budaj was always going to play this game with NY tomorrow.

 

Carolina has the second worst PK in the league.  Montreal needs to take full advantage of that.

[dlbalr]

One area that could be a concern - Carolina leads the league in shots on goal per game.  Couple that with Budaj's propensity to kick out more rebounds than usual and the defence may be in for a busy night.

[brobin]

One area that could be a concern - Carolina leads the league in shots on goal per game.  Couple that with Budaj's propensity to kick out more rebounds than usual and the defence may be in for a busy night.

My worry exactly.

[habs rule]

Lets go get em boys!

[habscout]

Go Habs Go ! 

[habscout]

PK looks on tonight.  Big hit, good rush, big shot [on the net even!] :-)

[JMMR]

Yep

PK does look great.

But this game lacks emotion so far.

[hab29RETIRED]

2 big hits for PK tonight.  MT needs to ride him tonight!

[JMMR]

Another huge hit from PK

and Chucky gets 2 for roughing during the scrum.

[habscout]

Good shift by Eller.  Bobby Dollas had a good observation about Eller. He used to watch after making a play, instead of continuing to skate into the play, which he's doing now.

[JMMR]

Chucky gets 2 for holding/hooking

[habscout]

DD frustrates the Bejeezus out of me sometimes. He has the puck in the Carolina end near the corner with two Hurricanes closing in, and MaxPac on the boards in front of him facing him.  Instead of passing to his linemate when he had ample time to do so, he holds on to the puck much too long then coughs up the puck in the corner. Max was wide open, and could have did something with the play.   

[dlbalr]

One of the advantages of starting a backup goalie is that it usually forces the defence to pay more attention to the little things.  The Habs' D did that on Saturday and so far they're doing so tonight.  The average distance of Carolina's shots is over 50 feet away from Budaj (although a 100 ft shot skews that a bit).

[JMMR]

Excellent kill to end the period.

Should give them some momentum.

[Machine of Loving Grace]

Eller is looking great on the top six. 

 

Therrien needs to stop putting Subban on the ice the same time as the fourth line.

[JMMR]

LARS ELLER!

Is playing incredible!