xXx..CK..xXx

I understand Jake Allen isn’t on the team anymore but he also barely played the Hurricanes while with the Habs so the point is moot, joke or not. Players come and go, sure, but there are also many key players who have stayed on both teams. The doomed part was certainly sarcastic in a joking way but discussing Jake Allen is completely irrelevant, joke or not. Yes, he’s moved on just like other players, I get that point. But many of our core players are still here, and Carolina has had our number because they are still a good team. If someone were a robot, perhaps the past results would indeed be irrelevant but it’s really not irrelevant in this context. I won’t go in depth in this discussion but Carolina has had our number and joking or not, that doesn’t need to be debated. It’s a fact heading into this contest.

Jake Allen’s record against Carolina is 3-5-1 so much better than the Habs’ 1-10 over that stretch (granted I’m sure some are overtime losses) Allen played only 3 of those 11 games, so he’s not much of a factor in the discussion. Montembeault played 7 of those games and went 1-6, so that’s a little more relevant. Sometimes it’s a reality that a team has your number. Can we win against Carolina despite those statistics? We certainly can. Did we win in Toronto despite having lost our last 9 in their building? No we did not. I still believe we should win this game in the sense that we’ll be going all out and the Hurricanes wil be icing their “B” squad. Is there a little question mark simply because of the opponent? You bet there is… That being said, I don’t believe we’re doomed.

For what it’s worth, here are the poll results thus far: If HabsWorld has the knowledge that we believe we do, well, no one voted for Columbus. It would have to take a real upset for them to qualify and make it!

It’s just the timing. Habs are 6-4-2 and Columbus is 7-4-0 since the thread began. Habs had a 6 game win streak while Columbus were losing 3 in a row, and now Columbus has a 5 game win streak while the Habs have lost 3 in a row (but still gained some points). Did the Habs want it more than Columbus at that point and then the light switch turned off? I don’t believe so. The Habs want it just as much as Columbus, just like Columbus wanted it as much when we were winning our 6 games in a row. Let’s put an end to that discussion tonight.

It’s unfortunate that the first tiebreaker isn’t head to head games when there are only two teams tied, seeing as we won the season series 2-1 against the Blue Jackets. Most first tiebreakers are like that in sports in general. I do suppose it’s unfair for the team who played 2 games on the road though. Big game for the Habs tonight… again.

Outside of my posting positives only mantra within the thread I shall share this. Last 11 games versus Carolina. Dating back to 2021.

It’s amazing that we find ourselves in this situation after the odds were heavily in our favor. Where things were on April 7th: Columbus was last for the most part. Updated Standings: MTL: 77 GP - 85 PTS / (27 RW) - Max Points 95 ——————————————————————— DET: 76 GP - 79 PTS / (27 RW) - Max Points 91 NYR: 77 GP - 79 PTS / (32 RW) - Max Points 89 NYI: 76 GP - 78 PTS / (26 RW) - Max Points 90 CBJ: 76 GP - 77 PTS / (24 RW) - Max Points 89 Record since initial post: MTL: 5-3-0 = 10 PTS (8 GP) DET: 3-2-1 = 7 PTS (6 GP) NYR: 2-3-1 = 5 PTS (6 GP) NYI: 2-4-0 = 4 PTS (6 GP) CBJ: 2-4-0 = 4 PTS (6 GP) Playoff Probability (Hockey Reference) Montreal: 90.7% Rangers: 5.0% Detroit: 3.3% Islanders: 0.9% Columbus: 0.1% Playoff Probability (Playoff Status) Montreal: 89% Red Wings: 5% Rangers: 3% Islanders: 2% Columbus: <1% Playoff Probability (Money Puck) Montreal: 87.4% Detroit: 5.5% Rangers: 3.5% Islanders: 3.3% Columbus: 0.3% ——— Where we find ourselves (April 15th) Updated Standings: MTL: 81 GP - 89 PTS / (29 RW) - Max Points 91 ——————————————————————— CBJ: 81 GP - 87 PTS / (29 RW) - Max Points 89 DET: 80 GP - 83 PTS / (29 RW) - Max Points 87 NYR: 81 GP - 83 PTS / (34 RW) - Max Points 85 NYI: 81 GP - 82 PTS / (28 RW) - Max Points 84 Record since initial post: CBJ: 7-4-0 = 14 PTS (11 GP) MTL: 6-4-2 = 14 PTS (12 GP) DET: 5-4-1 = 11 PTS (10 GP) NYR: 4-5-1 = 9 PTS (10 GP) NYI: 3-6-2 = 8 PTS (11 GP) Playoff Probability (Hockey Reference) Montreal: 100% (incorrect) Columbus: 0% (incorrect) Detroit: 0% Rangers: 0% Islanders: 0% Playoff Probability (Playoff Status) Montreal: 67% Columbus: 33% Red Wings: 0% Rangers: 0% Islanders: 0% Playoff Probability (Money Puck) Montreal: 83.4% Columbus: 16.6% Detroit: 0% Rangers: 0% Islanders: 0% Form: Montreal: L/L/L/W/W/W/W/W/W/L/L/L (1 OTW, 1 OTL, 1 SOL) Columbus: W/L/W/L/L/L/W/W/W/W/W (1 SOW) Detroit: L/L/W/L/W/W/L/L/W/W (2 OTL) Rangers: L/L/W/W/L/L/L/W/L/W (1 OTW, 1 OTL) Islanders: L/L/L/L/W/W/L/L/L/W/L (1 OTL, 1 OTW) Islanders are the only team who have lost 4 in a row since the thread was created. If Habs don’t become the second, the playoffs will be ours.

You’re right but keep in mind that I made the poll with the impression that Montreal’s game will matter. With Carolina, I wasn’t sure which way they would go because their game is not as meaningful. If Columbus loses today and Montembeault rests, then Montembeault = Dobeš in terms of the poll. I just have a feeling this game will matter but of course am also hopeful that there’s a lot of jinxing going around, including within this thread. I’ll update to Montembeault/Dobeš and then edit once the Columbus game is over tonight. If Montreal needs the game, they will indeed go with Montembeault, and I like Dobeš.

I thought Laine along with Dobeš and Hutson were our best players in our 1-0 loss to Toronto. It’s apparent that people want him to be a player that they envision rather than accept and appreciate who he really is. It has everything to do with expectations versus reality. He hasn’t been the best this season at 5 on 5, but he does put effort in, he does back check, he does fight for the puck, etc. He’s happy when we win and do well. He’s not just a zombie going through the motions. There are three main players on the team who make boneheaded turnovers ad nauseum in Slafkovský, Matheson, and Laine, and I happen to like all of them. With that being said, it’s definitely a deficiency within their game as it’s almost predictable that they will do it. It can be seen from “above” so obviously. That does not discount all the positives they bring to the lineup. Frankly, for all of those praising Demidov while criticizing Laine’s effort level, Demidov’s back check, or lackthereof on Carolina’s third goal to take the lead was worse than anything I’ve seen from Laine, so at least use a level playing field when assessing. He literally slowed down versus even coasting and then Carolina’s open player scored. It’s true that many Jets fans and CBJ fans have complained about Laine’s deficiencies but a substantial amount (admittedly not all) of them truly came out of the wood works once he was off their team and was either sent packing or requested to leave. Unless the game on Wednesday is meaningless, we need to ice our best team and Laine is certainly a part of that. As for the shootout, no problem from my end when it comes to the selections, just easy to feel uneasy with the result.

Montreal @ 93.2% leaving Columbus @ 6.8%. They’ve gained even higher ground on Playoff Status: 83% vs 17%.

I’m not waiting. I’m not giving those fans on HabsWorld time to digest Monday’s shootout loss to the lowly Chicago Blackhawks. I’m not being patient and waiting for the result against Columbus prior to deciding how to angle this game thread. In the moment this game will matter and after making game threads for the Habs’ longest win streak of the year at 6, if I can do anything to help our chances even prior to Columbus playing Philadelphia tomorrow, then I will do my best. This Year’s Final Matchup: Carolina Hurricanes 🌀 @ Montreal Canadiens - Wednesday, April 16th @ 7PM EST - Centre Bell Montreal Canadiens Lineup Forward Line Combinations Defensive Pairings Goaltending Tandem Players to watch: Caufield, Suzuki, Demidov, Laine, Hutson, Montembeault ***UPDATED LINE COMBINATIONS*** Caufield-Suzuki-Slafkovský Demidov-Newhook-Laine Gallagher-Dvorak-Anderson Heineman-Evans-Armia Matheson-Carrier Guhle-Hutson Struble-Savard Montembeault Dobeš Carolina Hurricanes Lineup Forward Line Combinations Defensive Pairings Goaltending Tandem Players to watch: Jarvis, Aho, Blake, Svechnikov, Hall, Andersen ***UPDATED LINE COMBINATIONS*** Svechnikov- Kotkaniemi- Hall Robinson - Jankowski -Roslovic Carrier - Brind’Amour- Stankoven Jost - Nadeau Orlov - Burns Gostisbehere - Walker Stillman - Morrow Fensore Pyotr Kochetkov Frederik Andersen Storyline: Well Carolina, we meet again. Hopefully this time, with a different outcome. After Monday’s result, this game becomes very important at the time of writing. Montreal can clinch with a single point or better. If Columbus loses a point in either of their remaining games or wins one or more of their remaining games outside of regulation, Montreal will clinch regardless. New Hab arrival Ivan Demidov had a stellar introduction into the league and single handedly helped the Canadiens blast off to a 2-0 lead against the Blackhawks on Monday evening. With that being said, the Canadiens cooled down as the match wore on and lost 3-4 in a shootout. The emphasis on Thursday’s game will have to be more on overall team play, rather than focusing on Ivan Demidov night. Carolina has been resting players as their position in the standings are locked in. With a matchup against the Devils promised and home ice clinched, there is very little need for them to risk any injuries to one of their players. We will see closer to game time if some players may sit out. The Habs will have to ice their very best unless Columbus loses/doesn’t win in regulation tomorrow, in which case they will be able to rest a few players as well. This year I’ve found myself in some uncharted territory, having rooted for some enemies in Toronto, Boston and now Philadelphia tomorrow as they are set to face Columbus. Columbus has been on a 4 game win streak led by AHL goalie Jet Greaves. Should tomorrow be the day where he finally falters? Let’s hope Michkov and Demidov are great friends. Go Habs Go! Let your play in the final game of the season do the talking. Columbus, you may lose tomorrow. The home team has won every game this season. Carolina has lost 5 of their last 6 games. We have the player with more goals. We have the player with more assists. We have the goalie with more wins. Only mentioning positives. Discuss .

Looks like we need Philadelphia to do us a solid tomorrow.

St. Louis mouthed to Demidov that he was going #4. Defending the decision is not my point but Marty went with his guys and then was going with the next new best option. Think of it like the power play. Demidov didn’t enter the lineup on PP1 but PP2. You guys can guess three of the four forwards on PP1 because they shot today. I can’t complain about the shooters that went. I can complain about not one of them scoring when we’re trying to clinch the playoffs.

Demidov didn’t have a point in his final 5 KHL regular season games and only 2 assists in his last 10 regular season games. Granted, he was being treated unfairly by his coach with not many minutes and being stapled to the bench at times. Then again, we can’t expect him to get a tonne of minutes right off the bat here either for different reasons than in Russia. He then produced 5 points (3G, 2A) in 6 playoff games, having gone 2 of those games without a point. The point of this all is to say that we shouldn’t be expecting to see Demidov produce every game, or be anywhere near a point per game player any time soon. It’s just nice to have him here, and I wish him the best.

Habs last 2 games: April 14: Home vs Chicago @ 7PM EST April 15: Home vs Carolina @ 7PM EST Columbus last 2 games: April 15: Road vs Philly @ 7PM EST April 17: Home vs NYI @ 7:30PM EST Big game tomorrow.

2-1 Columbus (Fantilli)

Welcome back Ovechkin. Carlson isn’t playing today though.

The Habs have certainly made the race interesting over the weekend by deciding to take the hard route into the playoffs. Things definitely won’t feel comfortable until they officially clinch.

Nice to see the letter “e” for “eliminated” next to plenty of teams. Columbus and Washington play at 6pm today. If Washington would prefer to play us in Round 1, they should knock out Columbus today. Washington home record: 26-8-6 Columbus road record: 12-23-4

Just between us and Columbus now (April 12th): Columbus 5-4-0 record since thread creation Updated Totals: Points: 83 Games Remaining: 3 Home: 1 Game Road: 2 Games Maximum Points: 89 Habs 6-4-1 record since thread creation Updated Totals: Points: 88 Games Remaining: 2 Home: 2 Games Road: 0 Games Maximum Points: 92 When we began (March 25th): Columbus Points: 73 Games Remaining: 12 Home: 7 Games Road: 5 Games Maximum Points: 97 Habs Points: 75 Games Remaining: 13 Home: 6 Games Road: 7 Games Maximum Points: 101 Habs: 98.7% Columbus: 1.3% Lost in battle: (0%) - Detroit (April 12th) - New York Rangers (April 12th) - New York Islanders (April 12th)

Detroit eliminated due to Habs making it to at least overtime tonight. Game’s still in progress.

Good news is Habs SHOULD get the next PP.

Yup, but maybe St. Louis gets more frustrated with the officiating than Pezzetta. Still, I don’t think he’ll see the ice much anymore, if it all.

Not sure Pezzetta will see any more ice tonight after his penalty. Although all the calls afterward may shorten St. Louis’ memory.