After
beating the best team in the East on Saturday, the Canadiens (28-13-3)
play host to the Central division leading Predators (30-10-4). The game
is set to start at 7:30 and airs on RDS and Sportsnet East.
This
is the first of two meetings between the Habs and Preds this season, and
the only one in Montreal. Last year these team played a pair of tight
games, with the Habs losing the first 2-1 on a late goal by Seth Jones and winning the second 4-3 in overtime thanks to a fantastic individual effort from David Desharnais.
What to Watch
Tomas Plekanec
had a career night on Saturday with two goals and two assists in
Montreal's 6-4 win over the Islanders. Plekanec was playing his third
straight game on a line with Max Pacioretty, who picked
up a pair of assists of his own on Saturday. Pacioretty's six-game goal
streak came to an end last game, but his current seven-game point
streak is still intact.
Not only has Filip Forsberg
been one of the biggest stories for the Predators this season, he's
been a big story in the NHL as the current front-runner for rookie of
the year. Forsberg has 39 points in 43 games and a third best +23 rating
on the season.
What's at Stake
After beating the
Islanders on Saturday, the Canadiens get another chance to prove they
deserve to be considered among the league's elite by taking on the NHL's
best team in terms of points percentage. The Predators have earned
72.7% of their possible points this season to lead all teams, but the
Habs are hot on their heels at 67.0%, good for fifth overall.
Who's Out
All signs point to a return to action for Carey Price, who wasn't dressed for Saturday's game. P.A. Parenteau (concussion)
is expected to miss Tuesday's game as symptoms of the concussion he
suffered against the Devils earlier in the month have returned.
While Price may be ready to return on Tuesday, Preds netminder Pekka Rinne (knee) won't be back for at least the next few weeks. Eric Nystrom (upper body) and Ryan Ellis (lower body) are also out.
What Else
This
is the last game before the Habs break for the upcoming All-Star Game
this weekend. When they return to action, the Canadiens will play a
stretch of 21 games in 40 days from January 27 to March 7.
The Question Mark
Last
game we asked which Hab needs to step up in the second half of the
season, this time we want to know which Hab has most surpassed your
expectations so far this season.
The
Canadiens (26-12-3) are in Columbus Wednesday night to face the Blue
Jackets (18-19-3). The game is set to start at 7:00 and airs on RDS and
Sportsnet.
This is the first of three meetings between the Habs
and Jackets, and the first of two in Columbus. Last season the Canadiens
won two of their three games against the Blue Jackets, including a 3-2
shootout victory in Columbus. The Habs erased a two-goal deficit and David Desharnais scored the only goal in the shootout to seal the victory.
What to Watch
It
looks like the Canadiens will try a new look on the man advantage in
Columbus, as coach Michel Therrien looks to spark the fourth worst power
play in the league. In their last seven games, the Habs have scored
just once in 21 opportunities.
Look for PK Subban to play the point on the first unit with Desharnais, P.A. Parenteau, Max Pacioretty and Brendan Gallagher up front, while the second unit should consist of Andrei Markov, Sergei Gonchar, Tomas Plekanec, Lars Eller and Alex Galchenyuk.
Injuries have taken their toll on the Blue Jackets this season, but Nick Foligno and Ryan Johansen have
managed to stay healthy and lead the way this year. Foligno has 40
points in 39 games including ten points in his last seven. Johansen is
right behind him for the team lead with 39 points on the year, he's in
the midst of a ten-game point streak.
What's at Stake
Although
they earned a point Saturday night against the Penguins, the Habs lost
their second consecutive game for the first time since the first week of
December. The losing streak hasn't hurt the Canadiens too badly yet,
they're still the top team in the Atlantic in terms of point percentage,
but they still trail the Lightning by three points heading into
Wednesday's action.
Who's Out
With Parenteau set to return, the Habs are healthy again. The only other change to the line-up could be on defense, where Mike Weaver might play Wednesday in place of the struggling Alexei Emelin.
The Blue Jackets have been without Nathan Horton (back) all season. Ryan Murray (knee) has also missed most of the year, but he has started to practice again. Artem Anisimov (triceps), Brian Gibbons (knee), Boone Jenner (back) and Jack Skille (lower body) are also out.
What Else
In just over a week, Columbus will play host to this year's NHL All -Star Game. Only Carey Price was named to the All-Star team from the Canadiens, although Jiri Sekac was
selected to take part in the rookie skills competition, filling in for
an injured Tanner Pearson. Despite an impressive first half of the
season, PK Subban was not named an All-Star this year, although there is
a chance he'll be called to fill in for the injured Victor Hedman.
The Question Mark
We want to hear from you, express your outrage at the fact that PK wasn't selected as an All-Star this season.
The
Canadiens (24-11-2) are in New Jersey to start the New Year against the
Devils (13-19-7) Friday night. The game starts at 7:00 and airs on RDS
and Sportsnet East.
This is the first of three meetings between
the Habs and Devils, and the first of two in New Jersey. Last season,
the Canadiens took two of three games against Devils, losing their final
meeting 4-1. David Desharnais had a goal, two assists and a shootout goal in three games against the Devils last season.
What to Watch
The Canadiens ended 2014 with four straight wins and look to keep their streak alive in the new year. Lars Eller has points in his last three games, including his league-best fifth game winning goal scored against the Hurricanes on Monday. Nathan Beaulieu played
over 19 minutes for just the third time this season on Tuesday against
the Panthers, but it was his second game in a row reaching that mark.
The 22-year old defenseman seems to be slowly earning the trust of his
coach, gaining more responsibility with each game.
With 21 points, Jaromir Jagr leads
the way for the Devils at age 42. Jagr is fifth in all-time scoring
with 1,776 points, and sixth in goals with 711. Former Hab Mike Cammalleri leads
New Jersey in goals with 11. The Devils could certainly use more help
in the goal scoring department, the team is 28th in goals per game,
averaging just 2.08 so far this season.
What's at Stake
With
33 points on the season, the Devils are having a tough time keeping up
in the Eastern Conference playoff race. The Canadiens have fallen two
points back of the Lightning and a point back on the Penguins and
Islanders, but with the Bolts and Pens playing each other on Friday as
well, even a win means the Habs won't catch up with all their
competition.
Who's Out
The Canadiens are healthy to start off 2015.
The Devils on the other hand are the latest team to be hit by the mumps, Patrik Elias and Michael Ryder both missed the team's last game with the illness, but could be ready for Friday's game. Steve Bernier (leg) is doubtful to play on Friday, while Stephen Gionta (hand) and Bryce Salvador (lower body) are out long term.
What Else
Carey Price is
expected to start against the Devils on Friday, his 400th career start,
and 400th in a Habs uniform. Price will be only the third Canadiens
goalie to reach 400 games, passing Ken Dryden's 397 just before the
holiday break. Price will be trying for win number 200, as he moves up
that list as well, he's currently fifth all time in wins for the
Canadiens.
The Question Mark
The holiday season is a great
time for hockey with marquee events like the Winter Classic and the
World Junior Championship both taking place this week, so what we want
to know from you is: what is your favorite hockey related event?
After
an extended Christmas break, the Canadiens (22-11-2) look to pick up
where they left off when they face the Hurricanes (10-21-4) in Carolina
on Monday. The game is set to start at 7:00 and can be seen on RDS and
Sportsnet East.
This is the second of three meetings between the Habs and Canes this season, and the only one in Carolina. Alex Galchenyuk scored his first career hat trick the last time these teams met and Max Pacioretty picked up three assists to lead the Habs to a 4-1 victory.
What to Watch
As good as Galchenyuk and Pacioretty have looked together, David Desharnais has looked alright as well on a line with P.A. Parenteau and now Lars Eller. Desharnais has three goals and two assists in his past five games, a quarter of the 20 points he has in 35 games this season.
There
haven't been many bright spots in the Canes season so far this year,
except the possible high draft pick at the end of the tunnel. The
Hurricanes are the second worst team in the NHL, three points ahead of
the league-worst Oilers. Defenseman Justin Faulk has emerged as one of the team's best players, leading the Canes in scoring with 20 points.
What's at Stake
The
Canadiens may have had an extra couple of days off but their
competition hasn't. Both the Red Wings and the Lightning picked up wins
on Saturday leaving the Habs in third place in the Atlantic division,
but with games in hand.
Who's Out
The Canadiens are rested and healthy headed in to Monday's action.
Jordan Staal is set to make his season debut on Monday and Jiri Tlusty is expected to return to the lineup as well for Carolina. Alex Semin (upper body) is day-to-day.
What Else
The
IIHF World Junior Championship is underway taking place in Toronto and
Montreal this year, and the Canadiens have four prospects taking part.
Goaltending prospect Zach Fucale is the starting netminder for Canada, Artturi Lehkonen is captain of the Finnish team, Jacob De La Rose is wearing the "C" for team Sweden, and Martin Reway is
captaining the Slovaks. As impressive as it is to have three prospects
captaining their respective teams, the Canadiens top draft picks from
the past two seasons, Michael McCarron and Nikita Scherbak, were left off their countries' roster.
The Question Mark
What have been the Habs greatest strengths and weaknesses so far this season?
The
Canadiens (20-11-2) end their homestand Saturday when they host the
Senators (14-12-6). The game is set to start at 7:00 and airs on TVA and
City.
This is the first of four meetings between the Habs and
Sens this season, and the first of two in Montreal. Last season the Habs
went 3-1-1 against the Sens, winning the last three meetings. The last
two times the Canadiens and Senators met, the Habs overcame three goal
deficits to win.
David Desharnais scored in the
final second of a 5-4 OT win to draw the Canadiens even in their March
15 win over the Sens, a game that the Habs trailed by three in with less
than three and a half minutes remaining.
What to Watch
Desharnais has looked pretty good on a line with P.A. Parenteau since Lars Eller's
injury. In the past three games Desharnais has two goals and two
assist, while Parenteau has had a pair of assists of his own. The duo
practiced on Eller's wings on Friday, which could mean that Alex Galchenyuk will get the opportunity to stay at center as Desharnais shifts to wing.
Kyle Turris is
coming off consecutive two point nights, he has three goals and seven
points in his last five games. With 23 points, Turris is tied with Erik Karlsson for the team lead, although at minus 12, Karlsson has the team's worst plus/minus rating.
What's at Stake
The
Canadiens have taken six of eight possible points since their homestand
began, they'll be looking to end on a high before hitting the road
until after the New Year. The Senators are seventh of eight in the
Atlantic division, but with 34 points in 32 games, it's still too early
to count them out of the playoff race.
Who's Out
Max Pacioretty
was forced to leave Thursday's game against the Ducks early when he was
shoved into the boards by Clayton Stoner. Pacioretty was taken to
hospital as a precaution, but the injury doesn't appear serious and he
is listed as day-to-day. Defensemen Mike Weaver (concussion) and Bryan Allen (illness) could be healthy enough to dress Saturday, which would mean Michel Therrien will have a decision on who to sit.
The Senators are missing defensemen Patrick Wiercioch (undisclosed) and Marc Methot (back). Zack Smith (wrist) and Chris Neil (knee) are also out.
What Else
Paul
MacLean was the first coach to lose his job this season when he was
fired by the Senators earlier in the month. MacLean was replaced by
David Cameron, MacLean's assistant since 2011. Despite a long coaching
career in the AHL and OHL, this is Cameron's first head coaching job in
the NHL. He brings a 3-1-1 record into Saturday's game.
The Question Mark
With
the holidays around the corner, what would you get Marc Bergevin,
Michel Therrien or your favorite Habs player for Christmas?
The
Canadiens (19-10-2) are home to host the Hurricanes (8-18-3) Tuesday
night at the Bell Centre, for the third match in their five-game
homestand. The game is set to start at 7:30 and airs on RDS and
Sportsnet East.
This is the first of three meetings between the
Habs and Canes, and the first of two in Montreal. Last season, the Habs
went 2-0-1 against the Hurricanes. The team lost 5-4 in overtime after
blowing a 3-0 third period lead. Jeff Skinner had two goals and an assist to spark the Canes' comeback.
What to Watch
Jiri Sekac scored
a pair of goals in Montreal's 6-2 win over the Kings, giving him four
points in the last three games and his first multi-goal game in the NHL.
PK Subban scored a goal and added a pair of assists Friday as well, bringing him up to 22 on the season. Sven Andrighetto still has a point in every NHL game he's played after scoring his second career goal and third point.
The
Hurricanes have lost five in a row, sending the team crashing to the
bottom of the league standings tied with the Edmonton Oilers. The
Hurricanes don't have a single player with a positive plus/minus rating
who's played over 15 games this season. Justin Faulk the team's leading scorer with 17 points is also a team worst -15.
What's at Stake
Depending
on how their division rivals do on Tuesday, the Canadiens have a chance
to end up anywhere from first in the division, if they earn a win and
Detroit and Tampa don't, to fourth, if the Leafs win their game and the
Habs lose to the Canes.
Who's Out
Lars Eller (upper body) is nearing a return but won't be back in time for Tuesday. Mike Weaver (concussion) is also working toward a return, as is Bryan Allen (flu).
The Hurricanes are missing Jordan Staal (leg), Andrej Nestrasil (upper body) and Alexander Semin (lower body). Jiri Tlusty (undisclosed) missed Saturday's game against the Flyers but could be ready to return on Tuesday.
What Else
Montreal's new look line-up is expected to stay intact for at least one more game, giving Alex Galchenyuk
another opportunity to show what he can do at center on the team's top
line. Despite not picking up a point in the two games he's played in the
role so far, Galchenyuk has not looked out of place in the role. David Desharnais meanwhile, looked pretty good between new linemates P.A. Parenteau and Michael Bournival, picking up a goal against the Kings.
The Question Mark
What for you has been the Habs highlight of the season so far and which player are you most excited to watch each game?
Well, it took another lacklustre effort, this time against the Dallas Stars on Saturday before Michel Therrien finally did the unthinkable: He surgically removed David Desharnais from Max Pacioretty's hip and replaced him with Alex Galchenyuk.
Now Habs fans have been clamouring for a Pacioretty-Galchenyuk-Brendan Gallagher combination for a while now and they finally had a chance to see it in action - albeit briefly - in the third period of what had been a non-competitive game up until that point. The Stars went on to win the game 4-1, but the Canadiens showed signs of life in the period. The second change Therrien made was moving Tomas Plekanec onto a line with Jiri Sekac and Sven Andrighetto, who scored his first NHL goal in his first NHL game.
Photo Credit: allhabs.net
The big question going into Tuesday's home game against the Vancouver Canucks is whether or not we will see a full game of these line combinations or if Therrien the juggler will switch things up again. Building chemistry takes some time and Therrien never likes to take time and see how things develop. Instant results or see you later seems to be his mantra. Unless you're Desharnais, in which case you remain with Pacioretty regardless of the circumstances.
Until Saturday night.
Alex Galchenyuk is a natural centerman who has not had the opportunity to play the position on a consistent basis. Arguably, if Lars Eller had not gotten injured, he would probably still be toiling on the wing. Galchenyuk has the best stick skills on the team. Pacioretty may be a natural goal scorer, but Galchenyuk has the skills and vision to create scoring chances and put the puck in the net. With space in the middle and an opportunity to produce, he should be able to feed the sniper with some creative passes and give the diminutive Brendan Gallagher a chance to clean up the rebounds in front of the net. There is no reason why this trio cannot all score 20+ goals before the season is over. Provided they stay together. And how long they stay together is the million dollar question.
Michel Therrien's coaching decisions have been less than stellar this season. He has been a far cry from the coach who came in during the lockout and changed the losing culture in Montreal. Last year showed some regression across the board in many categories aside from their overall record, at least until the playoffs came along. He abandoned the puck possession approach that worked during the lockout-shortened season in favor for a dump-and-chase approach and it did not work. Then he went back to puck possession during the playoffs and they had the magical run to the Eastern Conference Finals. This year he reverted back to his favored dump-and-chase approach and the team is floundering from a lack of scoring, a lack of discipline and this time there is no Thomas Vanek lingering on the trading block to come in and save the season again. Off-season acquisition P.A. Parenteau has been disappointing so far, with only 6 goals and 11 points in 29 games and David Desharnais needs to have his play called out by mayor Denis Coderre again as his two goals and 15 points in 29 games is terrible for a player who averages over 17 minutes per game on the top line and top power-play unit. Therrien finally separated him from Pacioretty on Saturday, which may be a blessing in disguise for the Habs offense.
Jiri Sekac spent a chunk of time in the press-box until Marc Bergevin dealt away Travis Moen and Rene Bourque to essentially force Therrien's hand to play the touted rookie. Aligned with Lars Eller and Brandon Prust, Sekac responded by putting up 8 points in 16 games of third line minutes after his press box vacation. With Eller going down with an injury, Sekac finished the game with fellow countryman Plekanec and Hamilton Bulldogs prospect Sven Andrighetto. There is a lot of talent and speed on this line. Plekanec is also defensively responsible, which should recover some of the rookie mistakes his line-mates may make as the season progresses. A smart Therrien should allow this line an opportunity to be creative with the puck. All three have tremendous stick skills and following a dump-and-chase mantra would be a waste of their skills and play away from their strengths. But alas, it is Therrien logic that ultimately decides how things play out.
Therrien appeared to see the light in Dallas. He saw the need to take some chances and make the changes that he was unwilling to make to this point. He created two line combinations that have the talent and ability to dominate a puck-possession game and put the puck in the net. If he can find a way to adapt his strategies to exploit the strengths of these two line combinations and give them the patience and time to develop some chemistry, he may have solved the scoring woes and save the season. The 17-10-2 record is misleading, as the Habs have failed to generate any offense in the first period of games and often have to rally late to win the games. This resilience is a testament to a never-quit attitude but not the recipe for success at the NHL level. If he decides to revert back to his previous ideas and force these talent trios to dump the puck and chase after it, we can expect to go 3-6-1 in the next ten games too.
The choice on how your season plays out is all yours, Michel. Choose wisely.
---
Nick Malofy is a transplanted Montrealer, currently living in evil LeafLand. He is a contributor here at HabsAddict.com and give him a follow, as he can often be found rambling on Twitter.
The
Canadiens (17-10-2) return home for the first time this month to host
the Canucks (18-8-2) Tuesday night. The game is set to start at 7:30 and
can be seen on RDS, Sportsnet East and Sportsnet Pacific.
This is
the second and final meeting between the Habs and Canucks this season,
the Canadiens took advantage of two late goals the first time these
teams met to salvage a point in a 3-2 overtime loss. Henrik and Daniel Sedin combined in OT for the game winning goal.
What to Watch
For the first time this season Max Pacioretty won't line up next to David Desharnais at the start of the this game. Instead, Alex Galchenyuk will
center the top line, a position many Habs fans expect the 20 year old
to fill for many seasons to come. Galchenyuk has six goals and 18 points
on the season, putting him behind just Pacioretty and Tomas Plekanec for the team lead at 20.
The twins are once against leading the Canucks in scoring, but newcomers Radim Vrbata and Nick Bonino have
been pitching in regularly as well. Vrbata with 12 goals and 23 points
in 26 games is on pace for a career year, his previous best is 62 points
with the Coyotes.
What's at Stake
The Canadiens have gone
1-5-1 in their last seven, crashing down the standings the Eastern
conference along the way. The Habs are at the start of a five game
homestand that will take them close to Christmas. They can recover some
ground over the next two weeks and starting the stay off with a win will
help their cause.
Who's Out
Lars Eller (shoulder) is out indefinitely for the Habs. Mike Weaver suffered a concussion Saturday night in Dallas and could miss significant time as well. The good news for Montreal is that Michael Bournival is healthy and expected to make his return to the line-up on Tuesday.
The Canucks are without Dan Hamhuis (lower body) and Zach Kassian (finger). Shawn Matthias (head) missed the last Canukcs last game against the Senators Sunday and may not be ready to play Tuesday either.
What Else
Jean Beliveau has
been lying in state at the Bell Centre Sunday and Monday prior to his
state funeral on Wednesday, and the Canadiens organization will have
their chance to say goodbye before Tuesday's game. Member's of the
Canadiens from throughout the years have paid their respects to the
legend.
The Question Mark
With five home games to play
including matches against the Kings and Ducks, how many points would you
be satisfied with in this homestand?
Similar to last season, but after 29 games and a 17-10-2 this time, the Montreal Canadiens have seen their first place overall in the NHL evaporate due to poor play in recent weeks, going 3-6-1 in their last ten games and failing to win consistently, especially on the road.
First in the NHL not a long time ago, the Canadiens are now ranked 11th in the league with only a seven-point lead of the ninth place Florida Panthers who have four games in hand on the Habs...
Let’s see 10 reasons why Michel Therrien needs to change his way of coaching or to be fired if GM Marc Bergevin and owner Geoff Molson have any hopes to see their team make the playoffs this season.
1. The slow starts almost every game: the Canadiens have scored only NINE GOALS in the first period, good for last place in the NHL. At the same time, the team is 6th in the league with 26 goals allowed in the first frame for a goal differential of -18 in the first period. -18! You cannot give up the lead every game and expect to win every time. Therrien just can't seem to prepare his team correctly. The Canadiens are the only playoff team with a negative goal differential this season (-2).
2. His ingrained man-crush on David Desharnais. While I like David as a person, Therrien needs to stop giving him every chance to succeed and remove him from Max Pacioretty's line. The diminutive pivot has only one even-strength goal this season and two in 29 games. He only has 15 points overall and is currently on pace for a mere 42 points over a full season. Despite his lack of offensive production, the head coach keeps giving him first power play duties as well as plenty of ice time. In Dallas, Desharnais played a season-low 14:43 minutes... that's not what I call "benching".
3. His consistent use of veterans such as Bryan Allen, Mike Weaver or Tom Gilbert over youngsters Nathan Beaulieu and Jarred Tinordi. The two young defensemen are currently playing in the AHL while the above veterans keep making mistake after mistake. The same happened up front with Rene Bourque and Travis Moen who had to be traded by Marc Bergevin so that rookie Jiri Sekac could draw into the line-up every night.
4. His constant line juggling and questionable decisions regarding his offensive lines and defensive duos. For example, Therrien keeps pairing two righties together in Gilbert and Weaver, while he sticks two lefties together in Gonchar and Emelin. His constant use of grinder Dale Weise on a line with David Desharnais and Max Pacioretty is comical at best.
5. His affinity for a dump-and-chase style of play with a passive forecheck is not working. Because of the small size of the club’s forwards, the Habs would be better suited to adopt a west-east approach instead of a north-south strategy that is simply not working. The team needs to penetrate the offensive zone with the puck instead of dumping it and failing to retrieve it. The Habs need to forecheck with two forwards and use their speed to create turnovers in the offensive zone instead of letting the opposing teams come out of their zone too easily and enter the neutral zone without any pressure.
6. The utilization of natural center Alex Galchenyuk on the wing, even though players like Lars Eller and David Desharnais have struggled mightily at times. We finally saw Chucky at center last game due to the injury to Eller, but we can bet he will be back on the left wing for the contest against the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday.
7. Poor defensive positioning had led to numerous scoring chances from the opposing teams and if it were not for Carey Price’s and Dustin Tokarski's stellar play, the Canadiens would have a far worse record. The defensemen have a hard time making a good first pass, often icing the puck because of an inaccurate pass or clearing the puck by the boards with the wingers having no real opportunity to catch the pass and make a clear exit of the defensive zone. The team is so discombobulated in the defensive zone that the opponents have been able to take advantage of this flaw.
8. The indiscipline of the team: while the Canadiens are 28th in the league with only 76 power play opportunities, and converting them at a dismal 14.5% rate, the team is 29th in the NHL with 105 penalty kill situations so far. Luckily for Therrien, his PK unit is doing the job, killing 83.8% of the penalties good for 11th overall. The team's penalty ratio is a pedestrian -31 differential on the season, a big reason why the club is in a downward spiral at the moment.
Therrien is clueless most of the time.
9. The inability to adjust the power play units after the early season failure. The solution is quite simple as the team needs to use movement and quick passes to free up Subban and his lethal one-timer to have any kind of success. I analysed the situation a few weeks ago here.
10. His inability to adapt during games and to match up his lines, especially at home where he is supposed to have the advantage with the last change. We have often seen the Canadiens get caught with their fourth line on the ice while the opponent’s first line jumps on the ice; situations that often led to a goal.
Below you will find the Habs’ expected lines for Tuesday’s match-up against the Canucks:
Max Pacioretty – Alex Galchenyuk – Brendan Gallagher Sven Andrighetto – Tomas Plekanec – Jiri Sekac
Michael Bournival – Deavid Desharnais – P-A Parenteau
Brandon Prust – Manny Malhotra – Dale Weise Extra: Eric Tangradi
Once again I am puzzled at the hockey decisions made by Michel Therrien and his coaching staff.
As for the defensive pairings, nobody has a clue what the duos will be and who is going to play or be scratched since both Bryan Allen and Mike Weaver seem to be injured and the team has yet to call up another defenseman from Hamilton…
It sounds like Therrien is quickly losing his dressing room as a result of poor decisions this season… Is it time to panic in Montreal, or it's simply a bump in the road?
According to several news outlets, the future of left winger David Perron is sealed in Edmonton after the comments he made on the team's poor start last Friday. Stacked on the wings, the Oilers are currently looking for depth at center because the team is very thin at the position after talented youngster Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.
The team was forced to keep rookie Leon Draisaitl and play journeyman Marco Arcobello as the organization's 2nd and 3rd line centers, respectively, because of its lack of depth down the middle. Now that the team has lost seven games in a row and has fell out of playoff contention, once again, general management Craig MacTavish is finally looking to shake things up.
According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, the Canadiens have been interested in David Perron and GM Marc Bergevin is not afraid to make a move as shown by his latest acquisitions of Sergei Gonchar and Bryan Allen.
With the excess of defensemen in Montreal as well as the possibility of trading one of the team's top-three pivots to make room for Galchenyuk at center, it would make sense that the Habs call the Oilers about Perron.
One of the names currently being mentioned as a possibility for the Oilers, other than Artem Anisimov and Patrick Berglund, is diminutive center David Desharnais as mentioned by Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal.
Off to a very slow start for a first-line pivot, Desharnais has only 2 goals and 9 assists for 11 points in 23 games, posting a good +9 rating along the way. While DD has improved at the dot, winning 197 of the 363 (54.3%) draws he has taken so far, the Saint-Apollinaire native has only 22 shots this year, which is less than a single shot per game.
As for Perron, he only has 2 goals and 8 helpers for 10 points in 22 games for a struggling team. The good side about him is that he is only one year removed from a successful season during which he potted 28 goals and 29 assists for 57 points in 78 contests. A left-winger who shoots right, Perron is also bigger than Desharnais (6'0'', 200-lb vs. 5'7'', 175-lb), which is not a minor detail when it's playoff time.
If we look at some advanced stats, Perron has a Corsi For % of 54.0, which is pretty good with a bad team like the Oilers. He has also been extremely unlucky as his low PDO of 96.5 and his -11 plus/minus rating can be easily explained by the poor goaltending of the Oilers this season, which is ranked last in the NHL with a putrid .885 save percentage. Perron is also shooting a paltry 3.8% (2 goals on 52 shots), while his career average is 12.8%; as a result, expect a improvement in this department, which means the goals should start coming very soon.
At the other end of the spectrum, Desharnais has been very lucky with a high PDO of 105.7 and a +9 plus/minus differential that is helped by the Canadiens' solid save percentage of .919 this year. His Corsi For % of 52.1 ranks him fourth on the team, but he's trailing his favorite line-mate Max Pacioretty by seven points, despite spending most of his ice time with him.
Financially, Perron's cap hit is $3.812,500 for the next two campaigns, making him a free agent at the end of the 2015-16 season at the ripe age of 28. As for the 28-year-old Desharnais, who is earning $3.5 million this season, he will still have two years left on his current contract after the season.
Such a move would allow the Bleu Blanc Rouge to shift Alex Galchenyuk back to his natural position at center and would give the team more depth at left wing after Max Pacioretty.
The Canadiens could sweeten the deal by trading a second-tier prospect like Dalton Thrower or a middle-round pick to help the Oilers rebuild their ever-struggling franchise.
Being the easiest center to replace internally, David Desharnais would be the current Habs' player that most fans would want to trade first in the event Marc Bergevin makes another move up front.
Would you make that trade, or would you rather send another forward to land Perron?
The
Canadiens (14-5-1) play host to the Blues (12-5-1) Thursday night at
the Bell Centre. The game is set to start at 7:30 and can be seen on RDS
and City-Montreal.
This is the first of two games between the
Habs and Blues this season, they'll complete the series in St. Louis
towards the end of February. Last year the Canadiens only managed to
take one point from the Blues in the two games they played. They were
beaten handily in St. Louis, by a score of 5-1, and they lost 3-2 in a
shootout when they hosted the Blues in Montreal. T.J. Oshie scored the only shootout goal in that game, showing off the skills that would later make him an Olympic hero.
What to Watch
The Canadiens are waiting for their top center, David Desharnais,
to pick up his scoring pace. Coming off a 52-point season last year,
Desharnais has just two goals and ten points so far this season, and his
production has been sporadic at best. Meanwhile, his linemate Max Pacioretty has been holding his own, leading the team in scoring with 8 goals and 16 points this season.
The Blues are led offensively by a pair of 22-year-old snipers, Vladamir Tarasenko and Jaden Schwartz.
While he's been held pointless in his last two, Tarasenko is coming off
a seven-game point streak and a span in which he scored 16 points in 9
games. Schwartz meanwhile had a six-game point streak come to an end
Tuesday when the Blues were shut out by the Bruins. He had picked up 10
points in that time.
What's at Stake
After getting shut
out by the Penguins on Tuesday, the Canadiens have a chance at
redemption against another one of the league's best. While they've only
lost five regulation games so far this season, four of those losses have
come against top performers, the Lightning, Blackhawks, Penguins, and
Flames. A win against the Blues will go a long way to prove the Habs
deserve to be considered among the NHL's elite.
Who's Out
Michael Bournival (shoulder) has begun practicing again, but there is still no indication of when he may return. Mike Weaver (upper body) missed Tuesday's game and did not practice on Wednesday. It's unclear whether he'll dress Thursday night.
St. Louis is healthy heading in to Thursday's game.
What Else
After
a perfect night against the Flyers on Saturday, the Canadiens' power
play has gone cold once again, going 0-for-7 combined against the Red
Wings and Penguins in their last two games. While St. Louis is the
stingiest team in the league in terms of goals against per game, their
penalty kill ranks 20th in the league at just a 79% efficiency, so the
Canadiens may get an opportunity to find space with the man advantage.
The Question Mark
Considering
the Habs motto is "No Excuses", give us your best excuse why the Habs
were shut out badly by the Penguins on Tuesday.
Lars Eller is a third line centre. He will never be anything more
than that. If the organization and Lars himself don’t make that clear to each
other, Eller will be another one of those players that everyone will always
wonder about. What if this? What if that?
Some will say that I’m being hard, but I’m not. He has had
his chances. He’s going to be a very good shut down guy with some offensive
upside. As long as Eller does not accept that role he will always be playing
musical chairs, on the wrong line and with the wrong teammates. He has consistency issues. When expected to produce, it's as if he cracks under pressure. He fits the third-line centre role perfectly. When on his game, extremely reliable defensively and can surprise you with speed and strength which will create some offense.
David Desharnais and Tomas Plekanec aren’t going anywhere as
long as they have contracts. Desharnais has no trade value due in part to what
I write below. Plekanec is one of the best two-way players in the game. He is a
good second-line centre and in a perfect world probably the best third-line
centre in the game. I would hesitate to move him.
Desharnais is untouchable. For some strange reason Montreal
Canadiens management and coaching refuse to entertain the possibility of
playing Max Pacioretty with anybody else. It is undeniable that they have
chemistry. Desharnais is a very good playmaker. But if he’s that good, then why
not try different line combinations? Why not test Plekanec with Pacioretty or
Galchenyuk with Pacioretty?
To be very clear, if I thought that there was any chance the
organization would even consider trading Desharnais, the title of this article
would be: “Desharnais needs to go so... “
Why fix or toy with something that’s not broken? Because
your number one centre is undersized, because your number one centre can’t play
shorthanded. Because your number one centre can’t play in crucial defensive
missions; whether it’s to preserve a lead or play against other teams top
lines. David Desharnais is and always will be a one-dimensional player. In my opinion, and please know that as a fan
that bleeds Blue/White/Red, it hurts to
say this, but “the Montreal Canadiens will not win a Stanley Cup as long as
David Desharnais is the number one centre.”
It’s becoming more and more evident that Alex Galchenyuk is
a special player. He has more natural skills than anybody on the current line-up.
His passes are divine and his puck control is
comparable to the elite players in the league. Michel Therrien has to let him express
himself. The coach needs to, has to free Galchenyuk from Plekanec. He needs to
let him spread his wings and fly. Galchenyuk is ready. Game after game he shows
his creativity, his passion and skill. Other than Max Pacioretty’s scoring
ability, Alex Galchenyuk is the next best thing, maybe better. With all due
respect to Plekanec and Gallagher, they are simply not skilled enough to play
with the future star. I’d even say that there’s probably no forward on this
team that’s talented enough to play at Galchenyuk’s level or simply follow his
lead. One of the only players that has been able to finish what he has started
was PK Subban.
If the Montreal Canadiens won’t move Desharnais from that
top line, then they have to find a way to make a trade and add a "Power Forward" to
the team that can play at the level that Galchenyuk is capable of. That being
said I am not saying it’s easy because every single team in the league wants
those big forwards that can’t score.
Montreal will have to make the right offer, they will probably
have to overpay. I am not a GM but it’s obvious that it will at the very least
cost one or two established guys from your line-up + either Jarred Tinordi or NathanBeaulieu and
probably a first-round draft pick. In order to get you have to give. Those of
you that think it’s too much, well it’s never going to happen.
I have complete confidence in Marc Bergevin and I strongly
believe that we are in good hands for many years to come. The Montreal
Canadienshave a 14-5-1 record. The team
has had a great stretch as of late; however, just as Bergevin has done so far,
you can always improve and I strongly believe that the big step forward will occur
when Galchenyuk becomes that #1 centre.
1.Who do you think should be moved in order for
Galchenyuk to play centre?
2.Does Michel Therrien have what it takes to bring
Subban, Galchenyuk and others to the next level or just like in Pittsburgh, the
Canadiens will have to bring somebody else to finish the job?
3.Do you
think Bergevin will pull the trigger on a blockbuster trade?
4.Will the #Habs maintain their position for the
rest of the season or is this just an illusion?
I’m a fan just like all you other wackos out there. These
are my opinions and if you do or don’t like them tweet me or comment on the post.
I often comment on referees as I was an official for over 15 years. Hockey is
more than just a sport, it’s a way of life!
The
league leading Montreal Canadiens (14-4-1) are home to host the
Metropolitan leading Pittsburgh Penguins (12-3-1) Tuesday night. The
game is set to start at 7:30 and airs on RDS and Sportsnet East.
This
is the first of three meetings between the Habs and Pens this season,
and the first of two in Montreal. Last season the Canadiens took two of
three from the Penguins, including a wild 6-5 shootout win to end the
season series. Daniel Briere had a pair of goals and an assist in that game while David Desharnais had two assists and the only goal in the shootout.
What's to Watch
While he's seen his average ice time shrink since Sergei Gonchar became a Canadien, Nathan Beaulieu has
now dressed in eight consecutive games and continues to have a positive
impact. He has two assists in the last three games, including one on
the Habs' first power play goal in November towards the end of
Thursday's victory over the Bruins. All this despite playing a total of
21:42 in three games, over three minutes less than PK Subban played in Sunday's game versus the Red Wings alone.
With
the second most potent offense in the league, the Penguins currently
have four players at a point per game or better. Through 16 games Sidney Crosby (25 points), Evgeni Malkin (19), Patric Hornqvist (19), and Chris Kunitz (16) each have at least a point per game. Meanwhile in nets, Marc-Andre Fleury is
top ten in the league in wins (10, 3rd), save percentage (.925,
8th), goals against average (2.13, 9th), and is tied for the league lead
in shut outs with three.
What's at Stake
It's lonely at
the top, but the Canadiens probably don't mind. They're on top of the
league for now, but just a single point ahead of the Lightning and well
within reach of the Penguins, who hold three games in hand. The Habs
will look to extend their lead and keep their foes at bay for another
day on Tuesday, they'll also be trying to improve their season best six
game win streak.
Who's Out
The Canadiens are without Michael Bournival (shoulder), but are otherwise healthy heading in to Tuesday's game.
Olli Maatta (neck)
who had surgery at the beginning of November to remove a tumor from his
thyroid gland, could possibly return to action Tuesday in Montreal. Pascal Dupuis will not play on Tuesday, he's sidelined with an undisclosed injury.
What Else
With
their win against the Red Wings on Sunday, the Canadiens improved to
10-1-0 against Eastern conference teams and 6-1-0 against teams in their
division. As far as teams from the East go, the Canadiens have only
lost to the Tampa Bay Lighting. Unsurprisingly, the Pens and Bolts also
have strong records within the conference, but neither are quite at
Montreal's level. Tampa has a 8-1-1 record against the East while
Pittsburgh boasts a 7-2-1 mark.
The Question Mark
Approaching the quarter mark of the season, how would you grade the Habs' offense, defense, goaltending, and coaching thus far?
The
NHL leading Montreal Canadiens (13-4-1) take their show on the road
after a perfect four-game homestand that started with Guy Lapointe's Number
5 being lifted to the rafters. The Habs are in Detroit to face the Red
Wings (8-3-5) Sunday night at Joe Louis Arena. The game starts at 7:00
and airs on RDS and City.
This
is the second of four meetings between the Habs and Wings, and the
first in Detroit. The Canadiens were held without a goal for close to 57
minutes the first time these teams played, and then Alex Galchenyuk put the Habs on the board to tie the game and set up a David Desharnais overtime winner.
What to Watch
The Canadiens power play is back on track with three goals in three attempts on Saturday. P.A. Parenteau, David Desharnais and PK Subban each scored with the man advantage, giving the Canadiens a 3-0 lead, before the Flyers broke the ice. Sergei Gonchar picked up his first point in a Canadiens uniform, and then his second, collecting a pair of assists on the night.
The Wings are coming off a 4-1 win of the Blackhawks on Friday, Luke Glendening came up big with a goal and an assist, just his second and third points on the year. Henrik Zetterberg had an assist on Friday, bringing the team leader up to 17 points in 16 games on the year.
What's at Stake
With
the Habs on top of the standings, every win brings the team closer to
the Presidents' trophy and first seed in the Eastern Conference. The
team has won their last five straight, a season high and the longest
streak in the NHL right now.
Who's Out
Michael Bournival (shoulder) is still missing for the Canadiens. Dustin Tokarski is expected to get the start Sunday night, giving Carey Price a break after Saturday night's performance.
The Red Wings are without Jonas Gustavsson (shoulder) and Stephen Weiss (groin), but the injuries to their team's core have cleared up since the last time these teams met
What Else
After
being held without a power play goal for 10 games, the Habs have now
converted on four opportunities in a row. Since Gonchar's arrival, the
Canadiens are four for eight with the man advantage and have jumped up
to 23rd in the league at a 14% success rate.
The Question Mark
Now that the power play is fixed beyond a shadow of a doubt, what do the Habs need to work on next?
The
Canadiens (8-2-1) return home to host the Flames (6-4-2) Sunday night
after completing their Western Canada road trip. The puck drops at 7:00,
and the game airs on RDS and City.
This is the second and final
meeting between the Habs and Flames this year. The Canadiens took the
first game less than a week ago, winning 2-1 in a shootout. Both
regulation time goals were scored by defensemen in the first contest, Tom Gilbert got his first goal with the Canadiens after Flames captain Mark Giordano opened the scoring for Calgary.
What to Watch
If
you're watching the Canadiens, it's a good idea not to turn the game
off early. The Habs have scored 12 third period goals, just one less
than they've scored in the first two periods combined. In fact, you can
probably just tune in after the first. After 11 games into the season,
the Canadiens have yet to take a lead into the first intermission, not
altogether surprising considering they've scored just four first period
goals.
Johnny Gaudreau followed up his strong
game against the Canadiens last week with an even stronger one against
the Predators. Tuesdat he had an assist on the Flames only goal versus
Montreal and tallied six shots, while Friday night he had five shots,
the game winning goal and an assist, bring him to six points on the
year.
What's at Stake
With 17 points in 11 games, the
Canadiens have slipped to second overall in the league, trailing the
Ducks by a point but holding a game in hand. The Lightning have also
caught the Habs in the standings, but again the Bolts have played an
extra game.
Montreal will put their perfect home record to the
test Sunday night. They'll be looking to improve on their 4-0-0 start at
the Bell Centre.
Who's Out
The Canadiens got slightly banged up in Vancouver on Thursday, with a head shot to Alexei Emelin causing the most concern. Emelin did return to finish the game and it seems like he escaped without any lingering effects.
The Flames are dealing with injuries to Matt Stajan (knee) and Joe Colborne (upper body), both of whom were knocked out of Tuesday's contest against the Habs, though Colborne could dress Sunday. Mikael Backlund (abdomen) is also missing. Reinforcement arrived for the Flames on Friday in the form of Michael Ferland, but the rookie was forced out of his first NHL game with an upper body injury.
What Else
Michel
Therrien brought a whole new look to his forward lines at practice on
Saturday, hoping to wake up his team's anemic offense. Dale Weise, skated with David Desharnais and Max Pacioretty, the same linemates he finished Thursday's game with in Vancouver.
Alex Galchenyuk, could find himself at center Sunday if the practice lines hold. Look for him to play with Rene Bourque and Brendan Gallagher on his wings, while Lars Eller may line up beside Tomas Plekanec and P.A. Parenteau. Even the defensive pairings got a shake-up with Jarred Tinordi and Nathan Beaulieu practicing together.
The Question Mark
What are your thoughts on the new lines Therrien was testing at practice?
The Canadiens (7-2-0) are in Calgary Tuesday night to face the Flames (5-4-1) at the Saddledome. The game is set to start at 9:00 and can be seen on RDS2 and City-Montreal.
This is the first of two games between the Habs and Flames this season, they'll meet again this coming Sunday back at the Bell Centre in Montreal. Last season the teams split their two meetings, with Carey Price and the Canadiens earning a 2-0 win on home ice. The Habs got goals from Rene Bourque and David Desharnais to help power them to victory.
What to Watch
For the first time this season, the Habs were shut out Monday night against the Oilers, a 3-0 defeat, despite directing 29 shots at Ben Scrivens. Manny Malhotra had a rare off night at the faceoff dot, winning just 41.7% of his draws. It marked the first game this season that Malhotra ended the game under 50% on the draw.
24-year-old Calgary native Joe Colborne is of to the hottest start of his career with eight assists in ten games. Colbourne is playing on a line with Jiri Hudler and Sean Monahan. Defenseman TJ Brodie, also got off to a strong start this season and parlayed that into a five-year, 4.65 million AAV contract extension.
What's at Stake
The Canadiens are still on top of the NHL, but things can change very quickly in this league. With division rivals like the Lightning and Bruins facing injury trouble early this season, the Habs should be looking to build up their cushion while they have a chance. The team will also want to bounce back after being held goalless the night before.
Who's Out
Czech rookie Jiri Sekac has been a healthy scratch for the past three games, but after the team's poor offensive showing on Monday he could finally draw back into the line-up. Jarred Tinordi was left in the press box on Monday as well in favor of Nathan Beaulieu.
The Flames were without winger David Jones (lower body) for most of this season, but he's expected to make his return on Tuesday. Mason Raymond is day-to-day with an upper body injury and is expected to miss the game against the Habs.
What Else
While the Canadiens had another strong night on the penalty kill Monday, they also continued to struggle on the power play, going 0-for-4. The Habs are now 23rd in the league with the man advantage, scoring just three times on 26 opportunities, including an empty net power play goal against the Bruins. The Canadiens have generated a mere 34 power play shots this season, adding three shots on four PP attempts on Monday.
The Question Mark
What do the Habs need to do to improve their power play?
As soon as teams were allowed to sign players on July 1st, 2014, the Montreal Canadiens called veteran Manny Malhotra to offer him a one-year deal worth $850,000. Many Habs fans had no clue who Malhotra was and most only remembered him from his days as a Vancouver Canuck.
Three months later, the underrated impact of this signing is already felt after six games, the Habs being 5-1 and standing atop of the Eastern Conference standings.
Not known for his offensive abilities, the 34-year-old pivot has no point and no penalty minute so far this season, centering the team's fourth line. But we can't assess Malhotra's impact by looking at his offensive numbers, because his value truly likes at the face-off circle and in the dressing room.
Malhotra currently leads the ENTIRE NHL with a face-off percentage of 66,3% among qualified players, winning at least 60% of his face-off in all but one game this year. His face-off skills also appear to help David Desharnais and Lars Eller, who have improved considerably at the dot. Desharnais' efficiency is up 5.6% while Eller's efficiency is up 1.9%. Only Tomas Plekanec continues to struggle at 46.1%.
Malhotra really improved at the dot under former Blue Jackets head coach Ken Hitchcock for whom he played between 2006 and 2009. That's where he started to take more draws and he quickly got better, consistently posting face-off percentages about 60%. It also helps a lot to have taken about 11,183 draws against a plethora of centermen during his 16-year career in both the Eastern and Western conference.
As a team, the Canadiens are currently sitting at 54.5% in their match-ups. Only two teams are better, the Carolina Hurricanes and the Columbus Blue Jackets, ironically two of Malhotra's former teams.
Malhotra's arrival has allowed head coach Michel Therrien to start Plekanec's line much more often in the offensive season as he is not the go-to-guy any more when it comes to defensive zone face-offs. Plekanec's offensize zone starts are up 7.6% from 38% last season to 45.6% this season, allowing him to start less often in his own end and get more playing time alongside his linemates, Alex Galchenyuk and Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau, in the offensive zone.
Behind the Lens: Manny Malhotra
The native of Mississauga, Ontario, is also an adept penalty killer spending a quarter of his playing time (12 minutes on average per game) down a man, and we all know how undisciplined the
Canadiens have been so far.
"That's why we wanted to acquire him this summer, said head coach Michel Therrien. We understand the importance of face-offs, but his contribution doesn't stop there. We can use him down a man or to protect a lead late in the game. He has been a very good acquisition for our team."
Playing on 2:55 minutes on the penalty kill this season, Malhotra allows Tomas Plekanec to get more rest and less defensive responsibilities. So far this year, Plekanec is spending 51 less seconds per game on the PK (2:57/game in 2013-14 and 2:06/game in 2014-15) and 49 seconds less overall on the ice per game down from 19:46 to 18:57.
This slight decrease might prove beneficial for the team over the long term as it would mean that Plekanec would play about a game less of taxing minutes over an 82-game calendar. The organization hopes that a rested and more productive Plekanec will help the team go even deeper in the playoffs than last season when the team lost in the Eastern Conference final against the New York Rangers.
So far so good as Plekanec is the team's leading scorer with seven points in six games to go along with a +3 plus/minus differential.
Do you agree that Malhotra's signing has been the best off-season move by GM Marc Bergevin?
