Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Playoff Preview: Canadiens Vs Senators (Round 1, Game 4)


Match-Up:
After a disastrous Game 3, the Canadiens will look to bounce back Tuesday when they face the Senators for the second time in Ottawa. The game is set to start at 7:00 and can be seen on RDS and CBC.

The Habs and Sens combined for 236 penalty minutes in Game 3, including 152 minutes doled out during a brawl that saw five Habs square off with five Sens at around the 7 minute mark in the third. For a series between two teams that didn’t have much of a rivalry going into it, things have certainly gotten heated. It looks like the series will continue the same way, both teams have a serious hate on for each other and it doesn’t look like that will change anytime soon.
What to Watch:
Carey Price had a rough night on Sunday, allowing 6 goals on 30 shots. Price was left in nets throughout the third period despite having to backstop a team that had clearly given up on the game.

Down 4-1 in the third the Habs were clearly frustrated which resulted in an all out brawl moments after the fourth Sens goal. The Habs will need to get their emotions under control, which won’t be easy considering Paul MacLean’s decision to call a timeout with 17 seconds left in a game that was essentially over.
Ottawa rookie Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored his first playoff goal on Sunday, and then followed it up with his second and his third. Pageau also became yet another played to lose a tooth in this series, joining Craig Anderson and Carey Price in that department.


What’s at Stake:
The Canadiens aren’t in do or die territory just yet, but a loss on Tuesday would give the Senators a real chokehold on the series. If the Habs can manage a win in Ottawa, they’ll not only even up the series, they’ll regain home ice advantage in the process.

Who’s Out:
The Habs are missing Lars Eller (head) and Alexei Emelin (knee). Brian Gionta and Max Pacioretty both missed Game 2 but were back in action Sunday.

Patrick Wiercioch left Game 3 with a lower body injury and won’t be back for Tuesday’s match. Eric Gryba will likely fill in for Wiercioch now that his suspension is over. Jason Spezza (back) is also out.
What Else:

The Calder Trophy nominees were announced on Monday and Brendan Gallagher got a nod along with Florida’s Jonathan Huberdeau and Chicago’s Brandon Saad. The nomination could be the first of many for the Habs, with PK Subban a likely candidate for the Norris, Michel Therrien for the Jack Adams and Andrei Markov who could very well be the second straight Canadien to win the Masterton Trophy.

The Question Mark:
After Sunday’s undisciplined loss, if you were coaching the Habs what would your message to the team be before Game 4?

Let us know what you think by leaving a comment below or tell us on Twitter by using the #MTLHockey hashtag.
Be sure to tune into the Montreal Hockey Talk Pregame Show an hour before the puck drop and the Post Game Show 5 minutes after the final siren. Join the live conversation by using the #MTLHockey hashtag on Twitter.

8 comments:

Leave your egos behind. This is the NHL goddammit. Make it a rule that the only way you can express your anger during the game is through a shot at that puck and nothing else. We're Habs goddammit. Focus on the game.

RespeC your opponents (the same as game 3) and always keep your head down to draw penalties.

Price = Loss

Budaj = Win

We need a win.

We are currently up 2-0 between periods. Third period will start in a matter of minutes.

PK just got a ridiculous slew foot penalty for no apparent reason. Nullifying our powerplay. Ottawa will have a powerplay to start the third.

Selfish. Self-centred. Putting himself before the team.

What will Price do in the third?

You watch.

PK the selfish penalty, nullifying our powerplay.

Price incapable of the big save.

Budaj would have saved the one off the skate.

Only Gallgher can save us now.

Priceless.

Send Budaj into overtime cold.

So predictable.

As if Price hurt himself. He lost faith in himself.

Play Budaj, we win this series.

While I do wish Budaj had saved that shot in OT. It was going wide. Diaz elbowed it into the net.

Oh well.

It's still not time to make the "Montreal Weak" sign.

It's time to pull together. Sit Price. Play Budaj. PK smarten up. Dumb penalty. Nullified our powerplay opportunity.

I promise we will win the next three straight if we play Budaj.

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