Lovett's Magnatones Posted February 29, 2016 Share Posted February 29, 2016 Today's GDT, brought to you by the fine copywriters of the AP: The last time the Montreal Canadiens faced the San Jose Sharks, they were hoping a recent slide was just a hiccup in their promising start to the season. This time, they are hopeful a desperate run might save it. While the visiting Canadiens are holding onto their postseason hopes by a thread in the Eastern Conference, the Sharks look to lengthen the rope between them and the rest of the bubble teams in the West by continuing their defensive dominance in this series on Monday night. After a 19-4-3 start to the season, Montreal (30-27-5) has drifted to 13th place in the East and trails eighth-place Pittsburgh by five points. The Canadiens have only held onto their slim playoff hopes thanks to three victories on a four-game point streak. Their last streak of at least that length ended on the first day of December and was followed by regulation losses in 10 of 11 games, the fifth defeat coming on Dec. 15 against San Jose (33-22-6). While opening the Canadiens' season-high six-game skid, the Sharks' 3-1 win in Montreal also extended a strong defensive streak in this series. San Jose has surrendered only three goals in the last five games as part of a 5-1 record against the Canadiens since December 2011. Martin Jonesmade 26 saves in the latest win, and he had 23 while helping the Sharks snap a two-game skid with Sunday's 4-1 victory at Vancouver. It took San Jose more than 44 minutes to wake up offensively, butJoe Pavelski, Tomas Hertl, Patrick Marleau and Justin Brauneach scored in the third period to help the Sharks move 12 points ahead of the Canucks for the Pacific Division's third guaranteed playoff spot. ''We knew the importance of the game and I thought we were OK for the most part,'' said Jones, who became the fifth goalie in Sharks history with 30 wins in a season. ''We just didn't have a lot of jump and we kind of gave away a lot of pucks when we had full control, but in the third, we really stepped it up.'' Jones has a .934 save percentage over his last nine starts. Goaltending has been a topic of discussion over the weekend for the Sharks as they acquired James Reimer from Toronto on Saturday in exchange for struggling backup Alex Stalock. It is still unclear when Reimer will join the team, so Jones could make his ninth straight start on Monday or it could go to Aaron Dell, who was called up from the AHL to fill the void until Reimer is ready. Jones' two career starts against the Canadiens prior to this season while with Los Angeles were polar opposites. One of his 12 career shutouts came from a 6-0 win in Montreal on Dec. 10, 2013, but he allowed six goals in a 6-2 loss there on Dec. 12, 2014. While San Jose strengthens its grip on a playoff spot, Montreal hasn't quite let go yet. The Canadiens snapped a five-game road losing streak with Wednesday's 4-3 victory at league-leading Washington and followed with Saturday's 4-1 home win over Toronto. Max Pacioretty scored twice in the third period against the Maple Leafs, while Mike Condon made 31 saves. ''We've always had hope in this room,'' Pacioretty said. ''I won't look at the standings. I'm taking things one day at a time, one game at a time, and hoping for good results.'' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlbalr Posted February 29, 2016 Share Posted February 29, 2016 It will be Jones starting for SJ with Dell backing up. Mike Brown is on the 4th line at practice taking Devante Smith-Pelly's spot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbhatt Posted February 29, 2016 Share Posted February 29, 2016 I'd love to see an improbable win tonight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DON Posted February 29, 2016 Share Posted February 29, 2016 NO, enough of this winning crap! Once Price is back we will see more of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Posted February 29, 2016 Share Posted February 29, 2016 Yep, the drive for the bottom 5 starts tonight on the west coast swing. Should be 3 losses in a row. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyhasbeen Posted February 29, 2016 Share Posted February 29, 2016 I agree a bottom 5 pick would be nice. But..... We can beat Washington even without Price so slipping into 8th should put us in round 2 vs a NY team. My preference for sure. I don't give up very easily. That is how I live. If we do lose the 3 on the coast we are done, win them and we could be very close to that wild card spot if the Pens have a bad week. GO HABS GO Only cowards throw in the towel before they are knocked out 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovett's Magnatones Posted February 29, 2016 Author Share Posted February 29, 2016 I agree a bottom 5 pick would be nice. But..... We can beat Washington even without Price so slipping into 8th should put us in round 2 vs a NY team. My preference for sure. I don't give up very easily. That is how I live. If we do lose the 3 on the coast we are done, win them and we could be very close to that wild card spot if the Pens have a bad week. GO HABS GO Only cowards throw in the towel before they are knocked out We can beat Washington without Price? Did you smoke some post-deadline crack cocaine? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyhasbeen Posted February 29, 2016 Share Posted February 29, 2016 We can beat Washington without Price? Did you smoke some post-deadline crack cocaine? No, I watched the game! That was without Price was it not? We won? So who is smoking what? Price is skating in gear, should play in 2 weeks. We are not out. You might be. I am not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
l<OV4L3V Posted February 29, 2016 Share Posted February 29, 2016 Sharks 5 Habs 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DON Posted February 29, 2016 Share Posted February 29, 2016 Caps were just overconfident Johnny, it is hard to get up for crap teams sometimes. I wouldn't get too excited about that nor Leaf win. Keep calm and tank on! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyhasbeen Posted February 29, 2016 Share Posted February 29, 2016 I may agree after the next 3, or I may say I told you so. Let's let history write itself. I hate the tanking concept. The whole idea playing any game to not win makes me ill. I play every game I play to win. I am cut throat at Monopoly even... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyhasbeen Posted March 1, 2016 Share Posted March 1, 2016 Christ this is a late start. It is so past my bedtime and still a half hour to puck drop. Glad I have nothing to do tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DON Posted March 1, 2016 Share Posted March 1, 2016 Hope McCarron maybe gets a regular shift and bit more ice than 10minutes again. Just to see... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DON Posted March 1, 2016 Share Posted March 1, 2016 What is Subban good for today, 2 points seems about right. He only has 1pt lead on Tomas for team lead. Come on high scoring game! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trizzak Posted March 1, 2016 Share Posted March 1, 2016 Down 2-1 after 1. Sharks look gooooooood. Habs not so much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DON Posted March 1, 2016 Share Posted March 1, 2016 4:22 for McCarron, bit better! Another point for Subban and Bartley seems a pretty weak d-man. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Stogey24 Posted March 1, 2016 Share Posted March 1, 2016 It's like Mitchell's body moves too fast for his brain. He's pretty bad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commandant Posted March 1, 2016 Share Posted March 1, 2016 This defence can't deal with San Jose's three line attack. Miss Beaulieu, Petry, Gilbert, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trizzak Posted March 1, 2016 Share Posted March 1, 2016 It's a bit embarrassing to watch San Jose play with so much drive AND creativity, and then see how little the Habs have of either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trizzak Posted March 1, 2016 Share Posted March 1, 2016 Galchenyuk is miles ahead of everyone else on this team as far as offensive ability, it's insane. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyhasbeen Posted March 1, 2016 Share Posted March 1, 2016 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hab29RETIRED Posted March 1, 2016 Share Posted March 1, 2016 It's a bit embarrassing to watch San Jose play with so much drive AND creativity, and then see how little the Habs have of either.it helps not having a team of 4th liners.Galchenyuk is miles ahead of everyone else on this team as far as offensive ability, it's insane.which is why he's always trying to do it all on his own. Who's he supposed to pass to - he doesn't play with gallagher or Maxpac?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BCHabnut Posted March 1, 2016 Share Posted March 1, 2016 it helps not having a team of 4th liners. which is why he's always trying to do it all on his own. Who's he supposed to pass to - he doesn't play with gallagher or Maxpac?? No. He plays with the underutilized underprivileged Ubertalented Lars Eller. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovett's Magnatones Posted March 1, 2016 Author Share Posted March 1, 2016 Well it sounds like this game wasn't worth being groggy at work today. I'm glad I missed it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neech Posted March 1, 2016 Share Posted March 1, 2016 We should start giving days off to PK, Gallagher, Patches, Markov, Pleks and giving the youth a bigger look. No use wasting their legs on these games. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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