GDT Game #82 - Carolina Hurricanes @ Montreal Canadiens - Wednesday, April 16 @ 7PM EST - CENTRE BELL

[xXx..CK..xXx]

I’m not waiting. I’m not giving those fans on HabsWorld time to digest Monday’s shootout loss to the lowly Chicago Blackhawks. I’m not being patient and waiting for the result against Columbus prior to deciding how to angle this game thread. In the moment this game will matter and after making game threads for the Habs’ longest win streak of the year at 6, if I can do anything to help our chances even prior to Columbus playing Philadelphia tomorrow, then I will do my best.

 

 

This Year’s Final Matchup:

 

Carolina Hurricanes 🌀 @ Montreal Canadiens  - Wednesday, April 16th @ 7PM EST - Centre Bell

 

 

Montreal Canadiens Lineup

 

Forward Line Combinations

Defensive Pairings


Goaltending Tandem

 

Players to watch: Caufield, Suzuki, Demidov, Laine, Hutson, Montembeault 

 

***UPDATED LINE COMBINATIONS***
 

Caufield-Suzuki-Slafkovský
Demidov-Newhook-Laine

Gallagher-Dvorak-Anderson
Heineman-Evans-Armia

 

Matheson-Carrier
Guhle-Hutson
Struble-Savard

 

Montembeault 
Dobeš

 

 

Carolina Hurricanes Lineup 

 

 

Forward Line Combinations

 

Defensive Pairings

Goaltending Tandem

Players to watch: Jarvis, Aho, Blake, Svechnikov, Hall, Andersen

 

***UPDATED LINE COMBINATIONS***

 

Svechnikov- Kotkaniemi- Hall

Robinson - Jankowski -Roslovic

Carrier - Brind’Amour- Stankoven

Jost - Nadeau

 

Orlov - Burns

Gostisbehere - Walker

Stillman - Morrow

Fensore

 

Pyotr Kochetkov

Frederik Andersen

 

Storyline:

 

Well Carolina, we meet again. 
 

 

Hopefully this time, with a different outcome.

 

After Monday’s result, this game becomes very important at the time of writing. Montreal can clinch with a single point or better. If Columbus loses a point in either of their remaining games or wins one or more of their remaining games outside of regulation, Montreal will clinch regardless.

 

New Hab arrival Ivan Demidov had a stellar introduction into the league and single handedly helped the Canadiens blast off to a 2-0 lead against the Blackhawks on Monday evening. With that being said, the Canadiens cooled down as the match wore on and lost 3-4 in a shootout. The emphasis on Thursday’s game will have to be more on overall team play, rather than focusing on Ivan Demidov night.

 

Carolina has been resting players as their position in the standings are locked in. With a matchup against the Devils promised and home ice clinched, there is very little need for them to risk any injuries to one of their players. We will see closer to game time if some players may sit out. The Habs will have to ice their very best unless Columbus loses/doesn’t win in regulation tomorrow, in which case they will be able to rest a few players as well.

 

This year I’ve found myself in some uncharted territory, having rooted for some enemies in Toronto, Boston and now Philadelphia tomorrow as they are set to face Columbus. Columbus has been on a 4 game win streak led by AHL goalie Jet Greaves. Should tomorrow be the day where he finally falters? Let’s hope Michkov and Demidov are great friends.

 

Go Habs Go! 
 

Let your play in the final game of the season do the talking. Columbus, you may lose tomorrow.

 

The home team has won every game this season.

 

Carolina has lost 5 of their last 6 games. 
 

 

We have the player with more goals.

 

 

We have the player with more assists.

 

 

We have the goalie with more wins.

 

Only mentioning positives.

Discuss .

[Butterface]

Glad you’re doing the thread. Well deserved.

 

Hoping the Canes rest their big guns.

 

I was a little sad you didn’t offer up Dobes to make the nicest play of the game so I went with Hutson.

Rough Chicago game for my health…. I think I went full bipolar … High highs…. Low lows… glad I wasn’t hooked up to my EKG machine. Nurse would have brought out the paddles a few times.

 

This needs to get put to bed. We, by some mathematical miracle, are still 83% to make the post season….. 

[Commandant]

27 minutes ago, Butterface said:

Glad you’re doing the thread. Well deserved.

 

Hoping the Canes rest their big guns.

 

I was a little sad you didn’t offer up Dobes to make the nicest play of the game so I went with Hutson.

Rough Chicago game for my health…. I think I went full bipolar … High highs…. Low lows… glad I wasn’t hooked up to my EKG machine. Nurse would have brought out the paddles a few times.

 

This needs to get put to bed. We, by some mathematical miracle, are still 83% to make the post season….. 

 

We both know that the only way Dobes will play is if Columbus gets eliminated by Philly. 

Biggest game of the year, Marty is gonna go back to Montembault.  Everything he's done as a coach should tell you that. 

[Prime Minister Koivu]

This won’t happen but if Heineman is good to go then I would sit Low Effort Laine. 
 

Laine is a cannon shot on the PP but every other part of his game is pathetic. I see why other fan bases turn on him. 

[hab29RETIRED]

6 hours ago, Butterface said:

Glad you’re doing the thread. Well deserved.

 

Hoping the Canes rest their big guns.

 

I was a little sad you didn’t offer up Dobes to make the nicest play of the game so I went with Hutson.

Rough Chicago game for my health…. I think I went full bipolar … High highs…. Low lows… glad I wasn’t hooked up to my EKG machine. Nurse would have brought out the paddles a few times.

 

This needs to get put to bed. We, by some mathematical miracle, are still 83% to make the post season….. 

I went though the same stages in the Chicago game. It would be nice for Columbus to poop the bed tonight and save me from being bi-polar and risk having a heart attack on Wednesday.

[hab29RETIRED]

41 minutes ago, Prime Minister Koivu said:

This won’t happen but if Heineman is good to go then I would sit Low Effort Laine. 
 

Laine is a cannon shot on the PP but every other part of his game is pathetic. I see why other fan bases turn on him. 

Issue is he needs to be with a playing centre/winger. He is what he is, but we haven’t been able to play him with the guys with the right skill level.

 

Newhook has tons of speed, but his hands and brain can’t keep up with his feet, he is also not a playmaker. Laine set him up with a prime chance on Saturday and he should have had two goals last night after Demidov set him up for another great pass. Ideally, he is a third line player.

 

if play him with Demidov and Newhook the only option. We need to have Demidov play with a guy who can finish. I like Heineman, but I wouldn’t be sitting Laine for him.

[Butterface]

5 hours ago, Commandant said:

 

We both know that the only way Dobes will play is if Columbus gets eliminated by Philly. 

Biggest game of the year, Marty is gonna go back to Montembault.  Everything he's done as a coach should tell you that. 

 

I’m unconvinced Monty is our best netminder. He’s been alright, just not proving beyond doubt he’s the #1.

 

He should be more convincing.

 

So I don’t know, but I suspect it will be Monty.

 

Moneypuck has us at 93%.

Playiffstatus has us at 83%

Paranoia has me at 50%
 

 

 

 

[Prime Minister Koivu]

13 minutes ago, hab29RETIRED said:

Issue is he needs to be with a playing centre/winger. He is what he is, but we haven’t been able to play him with the guys with the right skill level.

 

Newhook has tons of speed, but his hands and brain can’t keep up with his feet, he is also not a playmaker. Laine set him up with a prime chance on Saturday and he should have had two goals last night after Demidov set him up for another great pass. Ideally, he is a third line player.

 

if play him with Demidov and Newhook the only option. We need to have Demidov play with a guy who can finish. I like Heineman, but I wouldn’t be sitting Laine for him.

I get the hype or draw of Laine’s shooting ability because it is elite. That is his entire game. 
 

Laine doesn’t back check, he doesn’t hit, his passes are picked off the majority of the time. He doesn’t fight for puck possession and he rarely wins battles. 
 

Winnipeg and Columbus fans turned on Laine and I can see why. 
 

PP specialist 

[Butterface]

21 minutes ago, Prime Minister Koivu said:

I get the hype or draw of Laine’s shooting ability because it is elite. That is his entire game. 
 

Laine doesn’t back check, he doesn’t hit, his passes are picked off the majority of the time. He doesn’t fight for puck possession and he rarely wins battles. 
 

Winnipeg and Columbus fans turned on Laine and I can see why. 
 

PP specialist 

I agree with some of this (not all). But I also feel we are better off with him than without.
 

Could this change if we get a couple more gifted players ? Yes.

 

If we could find two players that make up for his goals, but put in a better defensive effort….then yes I’d be willing to part with him. 
 

Until then, love him or hate him, we need him. 

[Commandant]

1 hour ago, Butterface said:

 

I’m unconvinced Monty is our best netminder. He’s been alright, just not proving beyond doubt he’s the #1.

 

He should be more convincing.

 

So I don’t know, but I suspect it will be Monty.

 

Moneypuck has us at 93%.

Playiffstatus has us at 83%

Paranoia has me at 50%
 

 

 

 

 

Im not asking if youre convinced or not.

 

Im telling you that the person who makes the decision, MSL is convinced (based on previous actions) and thats who will start given same.

[DON]

2 hours ago, hab29RETIRED said:

if play him with Demidov and Newhook the only option. We need to have Demidov play with a guy who can finish. I like Heineman, but I wouldn’t be sitting Laine for him.

It seemed Laine & Demidov did play together on some shifts?

For a guy coming off injuries with 20g in 51 games, most Habs fans are of similar opinion on his play.

[The Chicoutimi Cucumber]

Laine is what he is, but I find he's looking frustrated and unhappy lately. I think he wants to be more productive, but to do so without paying attention to the gritty details and willingness to go to dirty areas. 

 

As for Monty, the guy made massive saves last night, I don't understand this argument that he is somehow 'not convincing.' As others have noted, I think this is the Price contrast rearing its head.

[sbhatt]

6 minutes ago, The Chicoutimi Cucumber said:

As for Monty, the guy made massive saves last night, I don't understand this argument that he is somehow 'not convincing.' As others have noted, I think this is the Price contrast rearing its head.

 

I agree...damn near anyone is going to seem inadequate stacked up against the memory of prime Carey Price.

[Prime Minister Koivu]

If we can’t beat a weakened Carolina team then I don’t know what to say. Gonna try and put my frustrated pessimism behind me. 
 

We are going to crush them and Laine is going to score a hat trick off of Demidov passes. 
 

Go Habs Go

[xXx..CK..xXx]

14 hours ago, Butterface said:

Glad you’re doing the thread. Well deserved.

 

Hoping the Canes rest their big guns.

 

I was a little sad you didn’t offer up Dobes to make the nicest play of the game so I went with Hutson.

Rough Chicago game for my health…. I think I went full bipolar … High highs…. Low lows… glad I wasn’t hooked up to my EKG machine. Nurse would have brought out the paddles a few times.

 

This needs to get put to bed. We, by some mathematical miracle, are still 83% to make the post season….. 

 

You’re right but keep in mind that I made the poll with the impression that Montreal’s game will matter. With Carolina, I wasn’t sure which way they would go because their game is not as meaningful. If Columbus loses today and Montembeault rests, then Montembeault = Dobeš in terms of the poll. I just have a feeling this game will matter but of course am also hopeful that there’s a lot of jinxing going around, including within this thread. I’ll update to Montembeault/Dobeš and then edit once the Columbus game is over tonight. If Montreal needs the game, they will indeed go with Montembeault, and I like Dobeš.

[The Chicoutimi Cucumber]

1 hour ago, xXx..CK..xXx said:

 

You’re right but keep in mind that I made the poll with the impression that Montreal’s game will matter. With Carolina, I wasn’t sure which way they would go because their game is not as meaningful. If Columbus loses today and Montembeault rests, then Montembeault = Dobeš in terms of the poll. I just have a feeling this game will matter but of course am also hopeful that there’s a lot of jinxing going around, including within this thread. I’ll update to Montembeault/Dobeš and then edit once the Columbus game is over tonight. If Montreal needs the game, they will indeed go with Montembeault, and I like Dobeš.

 

We're going to lose to CAR because we always lose to CAR, especially when it matters. It's been that way for decades; that franchise is like Tampa Bay in that way. My main hope is that we lose in OT.

 

[Bigfist]

The Hurricanes and Canadiens are my two favorite teams.  For many, many years, before there was a team in Raleigh (I live in NC), Montreal was my team.  I still have Guy Carbonneau sweaters and a puck autographed by Yvan Cournoyer.  I really want to see the Canadiens make the playoffs, and I think they will.  The truth is Carolina is not playing particularly well right now, and while some of this has to do with their playoff spot being locked in for a couple of weeks, they also have been sloppy.  After the Leafs won the OT game Saturday over the Canadiens, they had to come to Raleigh and play less than 24 hours later.  Should have been an easy Hurricane victory, but the Canes were the ones that looked tired and disinterested and ended up losing 4-1.  After the game with Montreal, the Hurricanes will play the next night against Ottawa.  Brind'amour has been rotating Kochetkov and Andersen in goal.  Andersen has been ok, but Kotchetkov has been playing very poorly.  I am not sure who Rod will go with in goal against the Canadiens, but as I said, neither of them is Ken Dryden.  Hockey is not the religion in NC that it is in Montreal (that distinction goes to college basketball), but for the first time since he was named head coach, I have seen a fair amount of criticism of Rod this year.  Admittedly, local press coverage of the Hurricanes does not match anywhere near the coverage in Montreal of the Canadiens, so you might not be aware of some of the heat Rod has been taking.  The other question, of course, is if Rod will sit guys like Aho, Jordan Staal,  Slavin, Jarvis, and Burns (I guess the tweet above indicates some or all will not play).  Even if not, my guess is that their minutes will be limited.  I'll be watching and good luck.

[Helmethead]

34 minutes ago, The Chicoutimi Cucumber said:

 

We're going to lose to CAR because we always lose to CAR, especially when it matters. It's been that way for decades; that franchise is like Tampa Bay in that way. My main hope is that we lose in OT.

 

We still paying for that 86’ game 7 OT Lemieux winner over Liut’s shoulder?

[The Chicoutimi Cucumber]

2 minutes ago, Helmethead said:

We still paying for that 86’ game 7 OT Lemieux winner over Liut’s shoulder?

 

Could be. TBH I feel like the first 1/3 of the 21st century has been one big payment for the fabulousness of the second half of the 20th 

[tomh009]

53 minutes ago, The Chicoutimi Cucumber said:

We're going to lose to CAR because we always lose to CAR, especially when it matters. It's been that way for decades; that franchise is like Tampa Bay in that way. My main hope is that we lose in OT.

 

Not quite always!

 

[GHT120]

6 minutes ago, tomh009 said:

 

Not quite always!

 

 

1 hour ago, The Chicoutimi Cucumber said:

We're going to lose to CAR because we always lose to CAR, especially when it matters.

 

[tomh009]

I think end of February mattered, when the team was trying to demonstrate to Hughes that it deserved a chance to fight for a playoff spot. At least it mattered more than any other game in the past four seasons.

 

But if there is a "games that matter" stat somewhere I'd love to take a look.

 

[Commandant]

45 minutes ago, tomh009 said:

I think end of February mattered, when the team was trying to demonstrate to Hughes that it deserved a chance to fight for a playoff spot. At least it mattered more than any other game in the past four seasons.

 

But if there is a "games that matter" stat somewhere I'd love to take a look.

 

 

We lost to them in he 2003 and 2006 playoffs so clearly they have our number, even though no one from those series is even in the NHL today.

[The Chicoutimi Cucumber]

LOL. I said what I said

[xXx..CK..xXx]