dlbalr

Wow, no posts in an hour? That was a pretty good period overall, the Habs carried a good part of the play.

Ryane Clowe gets 2 games. That's a far cry from the 10 many were expecting.

An update on Bourque, he did not even travel with the team to Ottawa. If anyone was still looking for confirmation that he's out tonight, there it is. I suppose if he's feeling better he can catch up with the squad in time for Wednesday's game.

Malkin has a concussion and could miss the upcoming game against the Habs on Saturday. He also joins an insanely long list of players injured on one of my pool teams (joining Del Zotto, Frattin, Whitney, and Malone...while two others just returned from missing considerable time). Also, I missed the memo that today is apparently contract extension day... - Braden Holtby - 2 years, $1.85M AAV - John Erskine - 2 years, $1.9625M AAV - David Schlemko - 2 years, $1.1875M AAV

That last bit is somewhat reasonable though, it's hard to win games where a shutout is required.

Those players are 'dime a dozen' though, depth ECHL'ers are released and signed daily. Also, they've lost as many players to WBS than to Hamilton (Farnham, Wild, Payerl, Kuenhackl, McNeill is up now too, Sneep was recalled and then traded). I'd certainly attribute their struggles to horrible affiliate luck.

Wheeling did sign their full complement of players plus adding those from Wilkes-Barre and Hamilton (who originally sent many players down - Delmas, Lefebvre, Leveille, Chaput, Fortier, Schultz, Stejskal). Heck, Fortier got sent elsewhere since there was no room for him. They've just had an abnormal amount of callups due to injuries. It's not like recent years where the Bulldogs only sent down a player or two.

Bourque's not at the morning skate, no change to the lines from last night at practice. That would hint that Bourque won't dress but since it's the flu, a lot could change in the next 6-7 hours.

It's a milestone game of sorts for Francis Bouillon who will play his 500th game for the Habs in this one. A goal would be a nice way to celebrate the occasion.

Delmas had a 44 save shutout yesterday but Wheeling has reverted back to early season form. They've won just two of their last ten and have tumbled back down to 11th in the East.

They've won 4 straight, hopefully that's enough of a sign to the players that they can still get the job done despite the weak roster. No word yet on his situation; I don't think the Habs have had their game day skate yet. We should know more then (whether he's ready to go, a game-time decision, etc).

Well there you go, I suppose it happens more often than I thought. (I knew about Smith previously too, every time he lines up as QB in the wildcat someone mentions it...) Oh, and one for Colin that I'm sure he'll get a laugh out of, the league apparently permitted a team (Edmonton) to trade the same draft pick twice. With the draft getting closer, it appears someone finally noticed.

Montreal Canadiens (12-4-2) Forwards Defence & Goalies Prust - Plekanec - Gionta Pacioretty - Desharnais - Gallagher Eller - Galchenyuk - Cole Moen - White - Armstrong Markov - Emelin Gorges - Diaz Bouillon - Subban Price/Budaj Not Expected to Play Scratches: Kaberle, Weber Injured: Nokelainen, Bourque Ottawa Senators (11-6-2) Forwards Defence & Goalies Silfverberg - Turris - Alfredsson Greening - Zibanejad -Condra Dziurzynski - Smith - Neil Daugavins - Regin - O'Brien Methot - Gryba Wiercioch - Gonchar Phillips - Benoit Bishop/Lehner Not Expected to Play Scratches: Grant, Lundin Injured: Spezza, Anderson, Karlsson, Michalek, Latendresse, Cowen Scoring Leaders Montreal Ottawa Goals Tomas Plekanec (8) Erik Karlsson (6) Assists Raphael Diaz (11) Kyle Turris (8) Points Pacioretty/Plekanec (13) Kyle Turris (12) +/- Alex Galchenyuk (+9) Condra/Karlsson (+6) PIMS Brandon Prust (76) Chris Neil (66) Puck Drop: 7:30 PM EST TV: RDS, TSN Habs, SNET East Radio: TSN 690 FM 98.5

It's an accurate statement in my opinion. Dumont has produced more than expected this season but he's not supposed to be a goal scorer in the pros. Guys like Leblanc, Bournival, and Holland all put up impressive numbers in junior but all project as two-way forwards at the next level, not scorers. I don't get to see the team often but I'd hazard a guess that Tenute is this teams' most skilled offensive player...and he's a playmaker, not a sniper. Gallagher, Geoffrion, and Palushaj were the legitimate scorers on this team and I highly doubt any of them see any more time with Hamilton this year.

Milwaukee got a late empty netter, Bulldogs lose 2-0. http://theahl.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=1010661

I know, I didn't try to pass it off as a credible rumour. It was just something that didn't involve a certain unsigned Colorado centre.

I remembered we had one, it took a while to find though.

I'm really not sure on the naming history and who had it first. 1-0 Milwaukee after 2. Tenute and Stejskal both return to the lineup.

I happened to flip the race on just as the final lap was starting yesterday. This happened: http://youtu.be/TrOlv-GIONU I watch quite a bit of Nascar, I've never quite seen anything like that before. 33 fans required medical treatment either at the track facility or a local hospital.

From Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun: http://www.ottawasun.com/2013/02/23/calgary-flames-captain-jarome-iginla-might-be-tough-to-move

The Bulldogs (20-25-1-5) look to get another win streak started this afternoon as they host the Admirals (24-21-3-3) - the Milwaukee ones, not Norfolk. Both teams have done well lately despite their low seeding in the standings, they have identical 6-4 records in their last 10 games. There is no word on whether Tenute/Stejskal (flu) are now ready to do or whether any of St. Denis, Fortier, and Avtsin are healthy. (Even if Avtsin is healthy, I doubt he'd play...) (based on last games' +/- data) Liambas - Mueller - Latta Winchester - Van Guilder - Beck Henderson - Watson - Puustinen McGrattan - Reid - Bang Ekholm - Moore Bartley - Jarvinen Bitetto - Valentine Smith Blunden - Tenute - HollandBournival - Dumont - Leblanc Quailer - Leveille - Stortini Hagel - Chaput - Lefebvre Beaulieu - Pateryn Tinordi - Stejskal Ellis - DeSantis Tokarski Puck drop is at 3:00 PM, Funny820 as always will have the play-by-play; click the banner below to listen.

Dietz's insane streak continues as he had a goal and an assist (+2) in yesterday's win. He has 9 points and is +8 in his last 4 games. His +/- for February is now +22. His goal last night was his 20th which leads the WHL (goals by d-men). Thrower also had a goal and an assist in the win. Dietz was first star, Thrower second star. Hudon had another two point game with a goal and an assist. He now has 11 points in 4 games (after going pointless in 5). Erik Nystrom had a 3 point game and now has 6 points in his last 5 contests. He is still playing in the 2nd level men's league, not the junior team he started the season with. The North Dakota prospects also had good nights. Kristo had a goal and an assist while MacMillan had a goal and two helpers.

Pacioretty does have a suspension hearing this afternoon at 4, I presume we'll find out later tonight what (if any) supplemental discipline he faces.

Looking at the ice time numbers, Gionta led the way for Montreal forwards. In second, 9 seconds back? Brandon Prust, who played 18:23. I know he was just slotted into Bourque's spot but I think that's a bit much. I'm really happy with the defensive breakdown though, only two players over 20 minutes (Markov - 23:27 and Subban - 21:40). Everyone else played 18 minutes or better (Gorges was 17:56 but that's close enough).

The newly proposed re-alignment would see the Habs placed in an 8-team division instead of a 7-team one (same goes for any team in the Eastern timezone). The 5 teams in the Northeast would still be together, joined by Tampa Bay and Carolina (like before) plus Detroit. 4 Original Six teams in the same division/conference (whatever they call it), that'd be something.