dlbalr

Leblanc has had a pretty good game so far in limited minutes. The Habs are really struggling at the faceoff dot tonight, just 39% as a team. Eller (2/3) is the only C on the happy side of 50%.

Like I said, I'm with you in that it's a sign he's made it. Just going by the 'official' word. Lines for tonight: Phil Di Giuseppe – Ryan Strome – Christian Thomas Tanner Pearson – Boone Jenner – Tyler Toffoli Brad Ross – Philip Danault – Ty Rattie Brett Bulmer – Michael Bournival – Brett Connolly Nathan Beaulieu – Cody Ceci Joe Morrow – Ryan Murphy Jamie Oleksiak – Alex Petrovic Scott Harrington – Mark Pysyk Bournival with Connolly is interesting, the latter isn't your prototypical 4th liner. Hopefully that's an intended duo on one of the lines for the real tournament but I'd be skeptical of that.

Although officially that isn't the case according to the coaching staff, I'm inclined to think it's a good sign as well.

Time to pull an RDS and do their 'inside the numbers' thing they do between periods. 3 - Number of points for Tomas Kaberle since joining the Habs 3 - Number of points for Petteri Nokelainen 3 - Number of points for Mathieu Darche 3 - Number of faceoff losses for the Habs' 'faceoff specialist' (Nokelainen) 3 - Blocked shots for Hal Gill 3 - Hits by Erik Cole 3 - Total hits by the Islanders as a team

If (and given the course of the season so far, that's a big if) the D stays healthy, a move probably will need to be made prior to the deadline. Weber at RW is only a short-term solution, sooner or later either he'll be moved, or someone else will and he'll slot in as a D option once again. Right now, I'd say the former seems more likely than the latter and the timeline for a deal to happen will in large part be determined by Campoli and how quickly he gets back into game shape. He's played all of 45 minutes (approx.) since Chicago's playoff exit, I expect him to be rusty for a few games.

A stat to ponder going into the game. When the Habs trail after 2, they have 1 win out of 14 attempts (1-10-3). For the Islanders, they haven't won a game in which they've been down after 40 minutes; they're 0-11-2.

The fact that Crosby is out with concussion like symptoms again means there's no way the Pens will contemplate dealing Malkin.

Forget the other NHL teams, he can't even get one with an AHL team. He's playing for South Carolina in the ECHL. I knew his stock had dropped but I didn't think it was this low.

Only one that's a real surprise is Dumba, quite a few thought he was a darkhorse to make it as the 7th D.

Sort of a 'qualified positive' regarding Beaulieu after the 1st period tonight: http://futureconside...kes-day-2-game/ 2 penalties for Gallagher in the 1st, that I don't like.

Wait until they name the actual head coach. Darryl Sutter...yikes.

3/16 PPP's for Desharnais. Gionta only has 3 as well (/15).

Terry Murray out as LA coach. John Stevens replaces him on an interim basis.

After some time to reflect on the deal, 6 of our writers offered up their takes on the trade. http://www.habsworld.net/article.php?id=2666

No need, really. With all the injuries, this will never find its way too far down.

Bulldogs hold on to win 2-1! 3 wins out of 4 in the last 6 days, not bad at all.

I know. Just having a little fun since his track record with the Habs is spotty at best and his source is a text message he got with no specific reference as to the date it was sent. Correct, the roster freeze (also applies to AHL demotions) starts on the 19th. It lasts until the 27th.

Blunden snaps one home to make it 2-1!

Avtsin scores to tie it up! Wahl with a pretty good play to set it up.

Montreal and Carolina on that list...wonder what the date and time of that text he got was?

It'd be nice to see Gomez try the wing but as long as Eller is below average on the draw, that probably won't happen. As for PP time, Kostitsyn got 2:29 yesterday, Eller didn't see any.

Relevant lines/combos for the Hab prospects at Team Canada camp: Red L2 - Phil Di Giuseppe – Michael Bournival – Brett Bulmer Red L3 - Michael Ferland – Mark McNeill – Brendan Gallagher White D3 - Nathan Beaulieu - Cody Ceci

End of 1, 1-0 Rochester despite the shots being 13-5 Hamilton.

1-0 Rochester as Travis Turnbull scored early.

Willsie was suspended for today's game against Rochester due to the spearing incident I mentioned in the Toronto GDT Friday. Fortier is healthy though at least. http://theahl.com/ahl-announces-suspension-p174831