dlbalr

Well, that was a pleasant surprise to say the least, always helps when a team more or less rolls over too. Doing the 3 Stars will be interesting tonight.

The Habs have already confirmed Auld -

<p align="center"> <img border="0" src="http://www1.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Brad+Staubitz+Minnesota+Wild+v+Montreal+Canadiens+8izcZA2CUYcl.jpg" width="500" height="367"><br> </p> <table align="center"> <tr> <td align="center" width="250"> <img src="http://www.jerseydatabase.com/jerseys/fronts/0/0/70.png" border="0" width="158" height="131"> <p>39-26-7, 2nd Northeast</td> <td align="center" width="250"> <img src="http://www.jerseydatabase.com/jerseys/fronts/0/1/104.png" border="0" width="158" height="131"><p> 35-29-8, 3rd Northwest</td> </tr> </table> <table style="border-collapse: collapse;" align="center" border="1" bordercolor="#111111" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="500"> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#000000"><font color="#FFFFFF"><b>Projected Lines:</b></font></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" width="250"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td align="center">Moen - Gomez - Gionta</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center">Cammalleri - Eller - Kostitsyn</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center">Pouliot - Desharnais - White</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center">Dawes - Pyatt - Palushaj</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center">Hamrlik - Wisniewski</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center">Gill - Subban</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center">Mara - Picard</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center">Auld</td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p align="center">Price</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center"><i>Scratches:</i> Weber</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center"><i>Injuries:</i> Markov, Gorges, Spacek, Sopel, Pacioretty, Plekanec, Halpern, Darche</td> </tr> </table> </td> <td align="center" width="250"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td align="center">Brunette - Koivu - Miettinen</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center">Bouchard - Brodziak - Havlat</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center">Cullen - Madden - Clutterbuck</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center">Kobasew - Peters - Nystrom</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center">Schultz - Burns</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center">Zanon - Spurgeon</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center">Prosser - Stoner</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center">Theodore</td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p align="center">Backstrom</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center"> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center"><i>Scratches:</i> Staubitz, Peters</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center"><i>Injuries:</i> Scandella, Latendresse, Sheppard, Harding, Barker, Zidlicky</td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#000000"><font color="#FFFFFF"><b>Scoring Leaders:</b></font></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="34%" align="center"><b>Goals: </b>Brian Gionta (26)</td> <td width="34%" align="center"><b>Goals: </b>Martin Havlat (21)</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="34%" align="center" bgcolor="#EAEAEA"><b>Assists: </b>James Wisniewski (36)</td> <td width="34%" align="center" bgcolor="#EAEAEA"><b>Assists: </b>Martin Havlat (39)</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="34%" align="center"><b>Points: </b>Tomas Plekanec (53)</td> <td width="34%" align="center"><b>Points: </b>Martin Havlat (60)</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="34%" align="center" bgcolor="#EAEAEA"><b>+/-: </b>Tomas Plekanec (+14)</td> <td width="34%" align="center" bgcolor="#EAEAEA"><b>+/-: </b>Clayton Stoner (+9)</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="34%" align="center"><b>PIMS: </b>P.K. Subban (102)</td> <td width="34%" align="center"><b>PIMS: </b>Brad Staubitz (146)</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center" bgcolor="#000000"><font color="#FFFFFF"><b> Game Info:</b></font></td> </tr> </table> <table style="border-collapse: collapse;" align="center" border="1" bordercolor="#111111" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="500"> <tr> <td width="186"><b>Puck Drop:</b> 6:00 PM EST</td> <td width="155"><b>TV: </b>RDS, CBC, KSTC</td> <td width="155"><b>Radio:</b> <a target="_blank" href="http://cjad.player.amri.ca/">CJAD</a>, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ckac.com/webradio/">CKAC</a></td> </tr> </table> <table style="border-collapse: collapse;" align="center" border="1" bordercolor="#111111" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="500"> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#000000"><font color="#FFFFFF"><b> Last Meeting:</b></font></td> </tr> </table> <table style="border-collapse: collapse;" align="center" border="1" bordercolor="#111111" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="500"> <tr> <td width="186"><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="490" height="306" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/p3BaZzqqzdk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></td> </tr> </table> <table style="border-collapse: collapse;" align="center" border="1" bordercolor="#111111" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="500"> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#000000"><font color="#FFFFFF"><b>Other Notes:</b></font></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="33%" align="center">Gill officially back in for the Habs, Weber sits. In goal, it's a double-backup matchup, Auld is 6-2 lifetime vs the Wild with a 1.69 GAA and .932 SV%.</td> </tr> </table>

Conboy with an abuse of officials misconduct at the end of the game, might be a suspension forthcoming there. Marlies lost at least.

I posted this on our Twitter page earlier but I'll note it here as well. Mathieu Carle took over the franchise lead last night for points by a defenceman, surpassing Andre Benoit. Also, (not posted on Twitter either), Hamilton's next powerplay goal will be their 1,000th in franchise history. Given the state of the powerplay, that may take until April.

We have to hope that the Marlies falter since they're down a couple more key players in Kadri and Lashoff, at least for now. Dawes and Palushaj should be back within a week (they have to be sent down as players return) so help should be on the way soon. The fact Hamilton has several games in hand on Toronto (while being ahead of them) also gives me a smidgen of hope as even if Lake Erie passes them, they should have a decent shot at 3rd. It's looking like the crossover will come into play though.

Wonder if Bishop will have a cage on like Wisniewski tonight after getting hit last night. The photo evidence: http://yfrog.com/h4p7msij Somehow he came back and finished the game though if that eye's swollen shut, there's no way he'll play.

After having a shot to close the gap on 1st in the division, the Bulldogs (36-25-7) look to simply hold onto a playoff spot tonight as they finish up their back-to-back set of games against the Heat (33-26-9). Active scoring leaders: Goals: Dustin Boyd (16) Assists: Brendon Nash (22) Points: J.T. Wyman (32) PIMS: Jimmy Bonneau (157) +/-: Brendon Nash (+16) Active scoring leaders: Goals: Matt Keith (19) Assists: T.J. Brodie (24) Points: Matt Keith (33) PIMS: Matt Pelech (173) +/-: Brodie/Bancks (+6) Puck drop is at 10:00 PM EST and can be listened to by clicking this link: http://cham.player.amri.ca/

There's a stat I'm mentioning in the HW Recap (which will be up a day early, by the way), which mentions that Subban is 3rd in the NHL in minor penalties taken, tops among d-men. That's most certainly problematic. Moving forward into the postseason, that's gotta be quelled and soon. Does he get more grief than he probably should? Yeah, I think it's fair to say that. But, is he contributing to his own problems? Absolutely.

Tampa really called Subban out in the media after this one. Here are some of the post game comments: Lecavalier: Guy Boucher: Malone, comparing it to Derek Jeter faking being hit by a pitch: Lecavalier again: More quotes here: http://www.tampabay....ubban-a/1158360

I'd be curious to see if the USA chants come out when other Canadian teams play. I catch quite a few Leaf games over the course of the year and I rarely, if ever, recall hearing such a chant when Toronto's playing Boston or the Rangers. I also whipped up a quick 3 Stars piece from this one: http://www.habsworld.net/article.php?id=2427

Should point out that the quote is from Dave Stubbs, not Mike Boone who has a different Twitter account.

The winner was scored with 45 seconds left in regulation. When you're that close to a point, on the road, with that depleted of a roster, that stings.

Alouettes added yet another RB, DeAudra' Cobb from Hamilton, giving them 6 on the active roster. At this point, I'd say the incumbent Whitaker is likely on his way out. Kitwana Jones, primarily a ST guy (I'm guessing here; saskhab, what's the report on him), another good sign giving the Als' poor special teams success.

Same here, Carolina and the others are just too far back I think. Assuming both BUF/NYR go around .500 the rest of the way, 89 points seems to be around what 8th will get.

Saw those same highlights, Gill did make the trip. It was said the other 2 didn't. Pretty sure I remember reading Gill skated this morning.

He'd have to clear entry waivers, just like a player would coming from Russia to the NHL.

Though I disagree on Pyatt who has had more chances than anyone gives him credit for, you make a good point with Dawes and Palushaj, who since the trade have played together in Hamilton. A little extra chemistry never hurt at this time of the year. And if that line had that many chances, some credit goes to the other linemate, which just happened to be Pyatt.

Dawes didn't fall down constantly so he exceeded my expectations after seeing him slip and slide all over at the Bulldog game I went to. Palushaj had a brutal mistake on his first shift (giveaway to Bergeron) but played well aside from that, had a couple of decent scoring chances. Nothing special from the 2 but considering how deep into callups the Habs are already, could've been a lot worse for sure.

The Habs' twitter feed is saying no lineup changes, suggesting that Gill won't play after all.

He's claiming no alcohol, pretty good read from the local paper as he's set to return to action: http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/article/id/197147/

The only reason I say they're not out for sure is that Montreal to Minnesota isn't exactly a long trip, things could change between now and late tomorrow night.

What's left of the Bulldogs (36-24-7) travels to Abbotsford to take on the Heat (32-26-9) who sit 5 points out of the last guaranteed non-transfer spot in the North. They do have 3 games in hand on that team (Toronto) though. Active scoring leaders: Goals: J.T. Wyman (15) Assists: Brendon Nash (22) Points: J.T. Wyman (31) PIMS: Jimmy Bonneau (157) +/-: Brendon Nash (+16) Active scoring leaders: Goals: Matt Keith (18) Assists: T.J. Brodie (24) Points: Keith/Nemisz (31) PIMS: Matt Pelech (156) +/-: Carter Bancks (+6) Puck drop is at 10:00 PM EST and can be listened to by clicking this link: http://cham.player.amri.ca/

That's right, both Halpern and Plekanec didn't make the trip but Gill did. I'd imagine both are out for Sunday as well, actually.

Sounds like Perry Pearn had a big say in the matter, having seen him with the Rangers a few years back. I thought of the two Bulldogs, Palushaj was more likely to get a shot but what do I know?