TurdBurglar

Got a buddy coming over to watch the game. I won't be here during the game. So... Let's get em boys!

This game will set the tone for the series. Ottawa have some of their injured guys back, ones that "experts" said would lead Ottawa to a better position in the post season. We all know what injuries can do to a team, so taking this game lightly will be a huge mistake. That being said, this series and this game is going to be determined by goaltending. As much as I hate to say it, it depends on if Price can be the Price we all know he can be. Lastly, in the words of PK Subban; the whole team "needs to play like Gallagher." Sums it up pretty well. Wonder how Gionta feels about that, seeing as before this season he was that guy. Just read lolEklund's prediction of the series, point it out for this little gem of a line; "I don't know why, but a hunch that Lars Ellers will be a factor in this series." Hasn't he been a factor all season? What would change now?

Odd, I'd rather Halpern's faceoffs over what White brings. Unless MT is planning on trying to grind it out.

Last I checked we have THE most potent offensive defensive core in the NHL. While we don't have Karlsson, we have a more balance defenseman in Subban, who isn't as strong offensively (arguably) as Karlsson, he's better defensively and hit way more often. Also everyone is pointing out Ottawa's defence is big and that is going to be our downfall. Whats the way to counteract big defensemen? Speed and dump and chase, make them skate and tire them out. We have the type of team to beat their type of defensemen. I'm confident in our team to beat Ottawa.

Is Halpern hurt? Practice lines indicate he won't be starting game 1.

Probably a bar fight. Minor details being blown out of proportion. Few guys in Ontario saw Beaulieu and his dad, knew Montreal and Ottawa were meeting in the playoffs, talked smack, got their asses handed to them and cried to the police. See if I'm not right.

So predictions? Game 1: OTT 2 MTL 3 - This one may go to OT, first round first game jitters, gonna be a 1 goal game Game 2: OTT 1 MTL 3 - Price and the rookie are going to settle in, one or both rookies(Chucky & Gally) are going to get their first playoff point. Game 3: MTL 0 OTT 2 - Anderson is going to be fantastic, we're going to outshoot the Sens, but not get any. Game 4: MTL 4 OTT 3 - We're going to get a 2 or 3 goal lead and see it dwindle, but we will hold on. This may be overtime. Game 5: OTT 5 MTL 1 - On the ropes, Sens are going to have a huge game, pinning us in our zone most of the game. Game 6: MTL 4 OTT 1 - Tired from the burst of effort to stay alive in the previous game, Sens will play a good game, but not get many real good chances. 4-2 Montreal wins series.

I think most of my reservations on Eller were from him being in a bad situation and playing like a player in that situation, not like the player he could be. Last couple of years he was drilled into defensive form, in the long run it looks like this is going to help more than hinder. He was also stuck with Andrei Kostitsyn, streaky at best, and expected to produce points. So stuck in a defensive role with AK47 and Moen, and expect to produce even when AK47 wasn't, which was often. He started this season on the same track he was on last season, but to my surprise after 1 healthy scratch and a few injuries, he turned it around big time. He produced more than DD, nearly as much as Pleks and was on pace for 53 point if he played every game of an 82-game season and solid defensively to boot. Eller's play is making the DD contract look bad TBH. DD signed his contract and disappeared.

Gonna have to say Eller. I was all for shipping him out after the first 10 game. Boy was I wrong.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/magazine/news/20130429/jason-collins-gay-nba-player/#ixzz2Rrh8O559 It's been a long time coming and frankly about time a North American athlete comes out. Now the "seal is broken" it may encourage more players to be themselves.

Seriously? So we're going to be a full game behind the rest? Playoffs start Tuesday. BTW Thursday night RDS was reporting during the 3rd period Montreal will play Tuesday night because they were either finished 2nd or 4th.

Only bad news is I won't get to watch the first round in English. Either way Montreal was playing Tuesday night, since it's not going to be Maple Leafs, it's not going to be on CBC.

I still think we should be resting our top guys. I do want the division too but we're playing Toronto. They know if they win they have us in the first round. They get the lead, they play punishing hockey. Attempting to injure and rough us up for the series against us, it's win/win for them. Why take the chance of our top guys getting hurt for a chance, and not a great one, to get the division. It would be different if it was win and it's ours, but it's not. Boston has a good chance to get the division whether we win against Toronto or not. I'm just saying it would be foolish to risk our important guys against a team that will have the mentality of hurting us as it will probably directly help them. All for a slim chance to improve our position. I would be really surprised if Carlyle doesn't dress more goons for this game just in case.

SO barring a major breakdown, we have home ice locked up, making the Toronto game mean nothing to us Saturday. Should we be resting our top guys and playing all of our AHL callups instead of our regular lineup?

So Jets come out for the 3rd, eliminated, they know it. Refs come out in the 3rd knowing this game is a playoff team vs a non-playoff team. You'd think they would be strict to keep this game from getting out of hand and the Jets not hurt the Habs players before the playoffs. Instead Eller take an unprovoked cross-check to the head and no call. Get job refs!

In our zone our forwards are playing too deep. Causing slow to non-existant breakouts and when our defense chips the puck up their too far back to get the puck all the way out. I think the is forcing more icings and killing our transition game.

I'd rather him lose every draw and play like he's capable of rather than be on fire on draws and play like he's playing now. He's not playing his high-intensity game in the offensive zone and not playing defense. I yelled at the TV after our last PP when DD skated off. He coasted from their blue line to the bench, while the Jets had the puck and skated past him in our zone before he got to the bench. I mean seriously, if you don't give enough shits to get to the bench, then don't even come to the rink anymore.

All we need a 1 point in the next 2 games to clinch home ice advantage. Would love to see 2 wins, but all we *NEED* is 1 point.

Not sure if Markov-Diaz is a pairing we want. Diaz is just getting back and Markov is looking slack defensively lately. Gorges - Subban Markov - Drewiske Diaz - Boullion Maybe? Give Markov a stay at home guy, like Emelin was.

While Pleks should of hit that open net, he waited so long for a reason. He was desperately looking for an opening to get Gio his hat trick. Classy move, but in a game your up by 1 after 3 horrible games, that puck needs to go in the net. Price needs to take his posts out for a steak dinner. An ugly, lucky win but this is the kind of win we needed to get back on track.

A ref better lose his job after this 3rd period. Yes, we are losing by 3. Yes, the game could get out of hand. Morrow fights Subban, challenges Subban while their in the box, Prust steps in, pushes Morrow, 2 minutes. Subban takes a weak shot/push at a Pens player, ejection. That is bullshit officiating.

Here's a fun fact. We're giving up 1.4 goals a PERIOD in the last 3 games and this one isn't over. Missed the first period, kinda glad I did.

Price is breaking in new equipment for the playoffs. Explains the big rebounds, and his weak 5-hole. New pads are stiffer making his movements a bit slower and not as fluent.

Emelin and Diaz has nothing to do with our forwards not taking away passing lanes or even covering their assignments in their own zone.

So I guess we're done playing defense for this season. On a side note; sit DD, he's not producing offensively, not playing his usual hard on the forecheck and not covering his assignment in his own zone. Haven't been really impressed with his play since he signed his new deal.