Pregame Preview: Canadiens at Penguins (Game #61)

 
Match Up:

The Canadiens (32-21-6) are in Pittsburgh to face the Penguins (40-15-3) Thursday night, fresh off a 2-1 OT loss to the Red Wings. The game is set to start at 7:00 and airs on RDS and TSN-Habs.

This is the third and final game between the Habs and Penguins this season. The Habs took the first game 3-2 at the Bell Centre, but dropped the last meeting 5-1. Carey Price was pulled from that match midway through the second after allowing 5 goals on 21 shots. Jussi Jokinen had a pair of goals and Evgenin Malkin had a goal and an assist, bringing him up to 4 points in 2 games against the Canadiens this season.

What to Watch:

The Habs only managed two shots on goal in the second period of Wednesday's game, finishing the night with 20 in close to 65 minutes of play. Brian Gionta tallied 6 shots and scored the team's only goal in Montreal's first game back after the Olympics. Peter Budaj had 28 saves in 30 shots and kept his team in the game for 59 minutes until Gionta managed to draw the Habs even.

This will be Pittsburgh's first game since the Olympics ended, they haven't played since February 7. Like the Canadiens, the Penguins have a pair of gold medalists returning from Sochi in Sidney Crosby and Chris Kunitz, both of whom scored in the Gold Medal game versus Sweden. And like the Red Wings, the Pens have an Olympic coach behind their bench; Dan Bylsma led Team USA during this year's Winter Games.

What's at Stake:

A win Thursday against the Conference leading Pens would help the Habs stay a step ahead of the Leafs, but, with Carey Price staying behind as the team traveled to Pittsburgh, the Canadiens will be in tough against one of the most potent offensive teams in the league. The good news is, Peter Budaj had a solid outing against the Wings on Wednesday. The bad news? He'll be playing on less than 24 hours rest if he starts in Pittsburgh.

Who's Out:

The Habs are missing Carey Price (lower body), Michael Bournival (concussion) and Brandon Prust (upper body). Prust has been placed on injured reserve for the time being.

The Penguins are missing Beau Bennett (wrist), Chris Conner (wrist) and goalie Tomas Vokoun (hip). Taylor Pyatt (lower body) and Joe Vitale (upper body) were injured prior to the Olympics but could return for Thursday's game.

What Else:

Dale Weise played in his fourth game as a Hab on Wednesday, and although he played the least minutes so far since joining the team, he still made an impact on the game with 5 hits. Weise's arrival coincided with the return of Ryan White from injury and the pair seemed to have formed an instant chemistry. Since the duo have been put together, the Canadiens are 3-0-1 and have allowed just 5 goals. White had 2 goals and an assist in the two games leading up to the break, which included his first career game winning goal.

The Question Mark:

Habs GM Marc Bergevin has already pulled the trigger on one deal for the Canadiens, sending Raphael Diaz to Vancouver for Dale Weise. What we want to know from you is, how many more deals do you expect Bergevin to make between now and the deadline and what is the team's biggest need?

Let us know what you think, leave a comment or send us a tweet by using the #MTLHockey hashtag on Twitter.

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.

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Pregame Preview: Canadiens at Penguins (Game #50)

 
Match Up:

The Canadiens (27-17-5) are in Pittsburgh Wednesday night to take on the Eastern leading Penguins (34-13-2). The game is set to start at 7:00 and airs on RDS and TSN.

This is the second of three meetings between the Habs and Pens, the Canadiens have already picked up a 3-2 victory on home ice. Max Pacioretty had two goals including the game winner. After three straight goals by the Habs, James Neal scored a pair to bring the Penguins back to within one. Evgeni Malkin had assists on both.

What to Watch:

Max Pacioretty is riding a 4-game point streak heading into Wednesday's game, he's up to 21 goals on the year in 40 games played. Lars Eller has been struggling to find his game recently, he's gone 7 games without a point. Eller had 6 points in his first 3 games this season, but only managed to put up 4 points all of December.

With 68 points in 49 games, Sidney Crosby leads the league and is well on his way to his second career Art Ross Trophy. James Neal and Evgeni Malkin both missed significant action this year but are also over a point per game on the season, Malkin has 48 points in 38 games and Neal has 36 in 28. Chris Kunitz has 24 goals and 49 points in 49 games.

What's at Stake:

After an extended streak of trading wins and losses, the Habs tied with the Leafs for third spot in the Atlantic heading into Wednesday’s game. They're still comfortably holding down a playoff spot, but the Canadiens have gone from looking ahead at teams like the Lightning and Bruins to looking over their shoulders.

Who's Out:

The Canadiens are missing Alex Galchenyuk (hand) and Davis Drewiske (shoulder). Ryan White (upper body) is nearing a return but there's no indication he'll play Wednesday. With Joonas Nattinen returning to the Bulldogs after Saturday's game, Louis Leblanc was called up to the big team.

The Pens are missing Pascal Dupuis (knee), Joe Vitale (wrist), Beau Bennett (wrist), Brian Gibbons (lower body), Andrew Ebbett (ankle), Chris Conner (hand) and back up goalie Tomas Vokoun (hip).

What Else:

The Canadiens are in the midst of an identity crisis, the team hasn't put together back-to-back wins or losses since the Christmas break. The good news is, the Habs have scored power play goals in two straight games, against the Leafs Saturday and the Sens on Thursday, but they've also given up 14 goals in their last three games. The penalty kill is still a strong point for the Canadiens, but the way they've been running, it seems only a matter of time before that falters as well.

The Question Mark:

We want to hear from you, aside from the Penguins, which team do you expect to see representing the East in the Stanley Cup Finals?

Let us know what you think, leave a comment or send us a tweet by using the #MTLHockey hashtag on Twitter.
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.

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NHL 2013-2014 Conference Previews - Metropolitan

Paolo Migarelli comes east, and takes a look at the not-so-well named Metropolitan Conference.

The old Atlantic has been renamed and re-tooled. Add the Washington Capitals, Carolina Hurricanes and one of the 2 newcomers in the East, the Columbus Blue Jackets. 

Renowned as one of the premier divisions boasting its representation by as much as 4 playoff teams before the merger, they will again be one of the tougher divisions to play in and will make for great fireworks down the stretch.

PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

NEW YORK RANGERS

WASHINGTON CAPITALS

NEW JERSEY DEVILS

NEW YORK ISLANDERS

COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS

CAROLINA HURRICANES

PHILADELPHIA FLYERS

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Pens/Bruins Sub-Plots, Acquisition Of Lafleur, Who Will The Habs Draft?... And More

Good Morning Addicts!

Jarome Iginla of the Pittsburgh Penguins will face off against
the Boston Bruins tonight in the Eastern Conference
Quarter Finals.

Normally I like to concentrate on the Habs in this short piece before sharing headlines from various hockey sites, but considering the previous four Stanley Cup winners all kick off the conference finals today I figured I would focus my attention on one match up in particular.

While the series between the Kings and Blackhawks is guaranteed to be a great one, you can't help but look forward to the sub plots in the Bruins/Penguins match up. The two that stick out are obviously the return of Jaromir Jagr to Pittsburgh and Jarome Iginla facing off against a team that not only almost acquired him at the trade deadline, but for a while thought they had.

The Jagr story is getting a little old. When Jagr returned from playing in the KHL for three years in 2011-12, he chose to sign with the Philadelphia Flyers, the rival team of his former Pittsburgh Penguins. Since then he's signed as a free agent with the Dallas Stars before being traded to his current team, the Boston Bruins. So although he's facing off against his former team, it doesn't quite have the same impact it would have if he were still on the Flyers.

Jarome Iginla however, is the story I'm more interested in. At this year's trade deadline the Bruins were all but sure that Iginla was headed to Beantown. Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli had made the necessary moves in the organization and moved all the pieces that needed to be moved in order for Iginla to don the black and gold. I can't be too sure what happened but Penguins GM Ray Shero managed to come out on top and Iginla now has 12 points in 11 playoff games as a Penguin. It should be noted that the Bruins were also high on Brendan Morrow at the deadline but lost out.... to the Penguins.

Habs And Hockey News

- Matt Drake over at Habs Eyes On The Prize writes about the genius of Sam Pollock  and how he managed to acquire the draft pick that was used to make Guy Lafleur a Canadien.

- Speaking of Lafleur, the Habs legend has been quite hard on the organization over the last few years but it seems that "the flower" is finally optimistic about the team's future.

- With the future now mentioned, here's a look at who may be available for the Habs when it's Trevor Timmins and co's turn to make their selection at the 2013 NHL entry draft.


(Photo By AP / Gene J. Puskar)

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Emelin Out 6 Months, Habs At The 2013 Awards, Future Of The Canadiens And More...

Good Morning Addicts!

Alexei Emelin tore a ligament in his left knee after bouncing off
of Bruins forwards Milan Lucic in April.

When Alexel Emelin tore a ligment in his left knee after a hit on Boston Bruins forward Milan Lucic went wrong in April, it became evident just how important the hard hitting Habs defenseman was to the team. The absence of Emelin created a void on the blue line that no other defender on the Habs could fill.

Andrei Markov's play proved that his age and multiple injuries have caught up with him and his play showed that he was less confident on the ice without the protection of his younger, tougher counterpart. Francis Bouillon is well like in Montreal for his heart and willingness to play a much tougher game than his 5'8" 197 lbs frame should allow. Bouillon however doesn't have the bruising effect that Emelin brings to the ice and so the team's lack of size and toughness once again became a  glaring issue.

News came out earlier this week that Emelin's surgery on Friday will keep the Russian blueliner out for six months. This blow will make Marc Bergevin's summer a little more stessful as he will need to find a way to bolster the back end so the Habs can be competitive at the beginning of next season until Emelin returns.

There is no question that regardless of Emelin's injury the team needed to add some size and toughness. What this news means is that it is all the more important now to make changes in the offseason. Douglas Murray of the Pittsburgh Penguins will be a UFA at season's end, if the Penguis fail to re-sign him perhaps Bergevin will take a shot at him.

Habs And Hockey News

- Last week I posted an article on Michel Therrien's Jack Adam's snub, here's a piece I wrote over at TheHockeyWriters.com focusing on the Canadiens who did recieve nominations and which ones have a chance at bringing home some hardware at the 2013 NHL awards.

- Robert Rice of HabsEyesOnThePrize.com writes up on six Habs who can shape the future of the club.

- Seeing as how it was the Ottawa Senators who eliminated the Habs from the post season, I figured I would post five reasons the Senators were eliminated from NHL.com. Also, how good did every Habs fan feel last night when Brendan Morrow of the Penguins blatantly kicked the puck in the net for the Pens first goal on their way to their 6-2 victory. I have to admit I would've been quite displeased if the referee's were to have disallowed the goal.


(Photo by Ryan Remiorz/Canadian Press)

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Vokoun Good-Fleury Bad, Habs Not Too Small? And More...

Good Morning Addicts!



Tomas Vokoun has backstopped the Penguins to the second
round after replacing Mar-Andre Fleury in goal.

 First off I would like to wish a happy Mother's Day to any and all of our readers who happen to be mothers!

And now to hockey. When the playoffs began, the one series I had no real intention of following was that of the Pittsburgh Penguins taking on the New York Islanders. I know that having two teams with high flying offense has a lot of potential of being quite entertaining, but at the same time when it seems one team will just roll through another in four games a lot is taken away from the excitement of it.

The one thing that made me believe in the back of my mind that John Tavares and company could possibly upset the Penguins was the fact that Marc-Andre Fleury was  in goal. Sure enough, after four games the series was tied thanks in large part to Mr. Fleury. Not to take away from the Islanders, it's just that I have no faith whatsoever in Pittsburgh's goalie.

The difference between last years early exit at the hands of the Philadelphia Flyers and their win over the pesky Islanders was Tomas Vokoun. Vokoun started game five and earned a shutout in the Penguins 4-0 victory over the Islanders. The Penguins back up was again called upon in last night's game and his 35 save performance earned his team a spot in the second round with a 4-3 overtime win.

With the win the Penguins will face the Ottawa Senators in the Eastern Conference semi-finals. As long as Dan Bylsma sticks with Vokoun against the Sens the Penguins will more than likely find themselves playing in the Eastern Conference finals soon enough.

My prediction?

Crosby, Malkin, Neal, Iginla, Kunitz, Letang and Vokoun over Anderson and a non 100% Karlsson in five.


Habs And Hockey News

- With their post season cut short, the Canadiens revealed to the media just how injured their roster was in their series against the Sens. With a list including a concussion, seperated ribs and shoulders and sprained MCL's it's hard to imagine the Habs would've went too far had they defeated the Senators.

- As disappointing as the Habs first round exit was, fans in Montreal have plenty of reason to be optimistic heading into next season.

- Andrew Berkshire @AndrewBerkshire argues that the Habs are not too small, an argument that is not often heard.


(Photo by Jason Cohn/Reuters)

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Habs Beat Senators, Knot Series At One, Pittsburgh Blows Three Goal Lead, Therrien Keeps His Cool And More...

Good Afternoon Addicts!



Carey Price drops his tooth off at the bench during last night's
29 save win against the Ottawa Senators

 After falling apart in game one against the Ottawa Senators following Eric Gryba's crushing hit to Lars Eller's head, the Montreal Canadiens bounced back with a convincing 3-1 win last night at the Bell Center.

With Eller, Max Pacioretty and captain Brian Gionta out of the line-up things were looking pretty grim heading into game two of the best of seven series. The Habs however played the way they needed to in order to tie the series up before heading to the nation's capital.

Carey Price played excellent, hopefully putting to rest the doubt that too many Montreal fans have in the team's number one goalie. Price made 29 saves and lost a tooth en route to leading the Canadiens past the Senators.

Ryan White played what was probably his best game in a Habs uniform scoring the team's first goal, throwing three hits and getting under the skin of the Senators. Rene Bourque threw three hits of his own and added an assist giving him two points in two games.

Brendan Gallagher and Alex Galchenyuk showed no signs of playoff nerves as they teamed up for the game winning goal after being reunited on a line with Brandon Prust. The Gally's each have two points in as many games and are looking very promising in their first post season at the NHL level.

With the series tied at one, the series will resume at Scotiabank Place in Kanata tomorrow night. If the Habs show the energy they displayed last night they should have no problem banking at least one win in Ottawa.

Habs And Hockey News

- Coach k (@HabsCoachK) shares his view on last night's game in Tony's Take over at montrealhockeytalk.com

- I have to say, I half expected the Penguins to beat the Islanders in three but after last night's comeback by the Islanders I can't help but wonder if Marc-Andre Fleury will blow it for the Pens for the second straight years. Justin Glock (@JTGlock) of thehockeywriters.com takes a look at last night's collapse by the Penguins.

- Michel Therrien  is focused on the task at hand rather than showing a willingness to lose his cool as he might have ten years ago.

(Photo by Pierre Obendrauf, The Gazette)

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Habs/Penguins Explode For 13 Goals, Tokarski Blanks Monsters And More...

Good Morning Addicts!

Canadiens captain Brian Gionta seems to have found his groove
scoring three goals in his last two games.

The Canadiens may have lost but last night's 7-6 overtime defeat at the hands of the Pittsburgh Penguins was one hell of a game.

It's never easy to accept a loss when your team scores six goals but there is something comforting in knowing that this team does not give up. When Matt Cooke gave the Penguins a 4-2 lead with just under seven minutes left in the first period it was hard for any Habs fan to remain positive. Therrien's group however didn't stop pushing and with just under one second left in the frame P.K. Subban tied the game just two and a half minutes after captain Brian Gionta brought the Canadiens to within one.

Carey Price did not have his best showing. There's no doubt there were a few goals that he would've liked to have back but no one can expect any goalie in the league to go through a full season - or half in this case - without at least a few off nights.

Price, however, can take comfort in the fact  that his team did not give up on him. It's encouraging for any netminder to know that if they let in a softie or two, the guys in front of him will do all they can to get the W.

Brian Gionta scored twice giving him three goals in his last two games. Previous to his empty net insurance marker against the Leafs on Wednesday, the captain had gone seven games without a goal.

Max Pacioretty extended his point streak to three games with a goal and an assist. Patches has now notched 12 points in his last eight games.

Andrei Markov's assist on David Desharnais' fifth tally of the year marked the first time this season the defender earned a point while not on the powerplay.

Tomas Kaberle finished the night with two assists, two shots and a +3 rating. Let's hope some scouts were in town.

The Habs have now gone ten games in a row in which they've earned at least a point. In that span they have a 7-0-3 record and can regain the top spot in the Eastern conference tonight with a win against the visiting Bruins.

Habs and Hockey News

- Dustin Tokarski who was recently acquired from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for Cedrick Desjardins earned his fourth shutout of the year and his first as a Bulldog in Hamilton's 2-0 victory over the Lake Erie Monsters last night.

- With Tyler Seguin and the Bruins in town, here's Andrew Berkshire's comparison between the young Bruin star and the Habs own promising prospect, Alex Galchenyuk.

- Tim Wharnsby breaks down the Habs' recent hot streak.


(Photo by The Canadian Press/Jacques Boissinot)

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Habs/Penguins, Gallagher The Next Marchand And More...

Good Morning Addicts!



Max Pacioretty has tallied eight of his 16 points in his last
six games

The Canadiens host the Pittsburgh Penguins tonight hoping to carry over the success they had in February into March. The Canadiens finished February with a 9-2-3 record.

The Habs are also hoping to continue to find success against teams outside of their division. The Habs have absolutely dominated outside of the Northeast with an overwhelmingly impressive 10-0-1. Their sole loss was at the hands of the New York Islanders losing 4-3 in overtime.

Max Pacioretty has been on fire as of late scoring six goals in as many games after being held without a goal through his first ten. Patches has also notched two assists in that span and has become the offensive threat the team had expected and needed him to be.

Michael Ryder should be more effective on the ice now that he's had time to rest and practice with the team since the trade that brought him back to Montreal from Dallas in exhange for Erik Cole.

Rene Bourque and Raphael Diaz will both miss tonight's contest as they are out indefinately with concussions.

Habs And Hockey News

- David O'Connor of Habs Eyes On The Prize has deemed  fiesty Habs forward Brendan Gallagher as the next Brad Marchand.

- The Hamilton Bulldogs have extended their affiliation with the Canadiens for the next three years.

- Is now the right time for NHL realignment?

- Steve Yzerman look back on Canada's 2010 gold medal and looks ahead to Sochi.

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NHL Roundup: Playoff storylines, Gainey returns, Robinson and more

With a few days off from the grueling playoff schedule, NHL fans got a little breather from the grinding intensity.

And what intensity it has been so far!

Incredible goals, scintillating goaltending, buzzer-beating game savers, crushing body-checks, and overtimes, overtimes, overtimes.

All in all, it has made for some of the most entertaining and exciting playoff hockey in a recent memory. On top of it all, most of the underdogs have made it through to the final four (New Jersey, Phoenix, Los Angeles).

Saturday night will see the finale of what has been a well-fought, evenly contested Rangers-Caps series, with the winner advancing to the conference finals. If things play out the way they have in the other three series, you can expect to see the Caps facing off against the Devils in Round 3.

But the Rangers will surely have a word or two to say about that first, hosting Game 7 in their own barn.

Who gets the momentum?

Like every year in the playoffs, from game to game and series to series, the margin of victory is often razor thing. Moreover, a small mistake, a critical hit, or a back-breaking save can often turn the tide one way or another. These pivotal moments are what make playoff hockey so intense.

It really is a game of inches and entire series have been lost in such critical moments.

For me, there have so far been two pivotal points that stand out in the second round. The first was Caps' forward, Joel Ward, taking a brain-dead penalty in Game 5 with his team leading by a goal and time running out.

With Caps on the verge of taking a 3-2 series lead back to Washington, Rangers' forward, Brad Richards, potted the equalizer with six seconds to play. That set the stage for Marc Staal to unload a slapper, with Ward still sitting in the penalty box, for the OT winner.

To be honest, I thought that was the Caps' chance and that New York would roll over them in Game 6. But this isn't Bruce Boudreau's team anymore.

The Dale Hunter coached Caps have become a resilient, never-quit bunch, and they took Game 6, forcing a decisive Game 7 on Saturday.

So the question becomes, did the Ward penalty become the rallying point for the Rangers, with the Caps letting their chance to win slip away? Or, will it end up being the spark the Caps needed to get over the hump?

We'll find out Saturday night.

Where's the leadership?

On the Flyer-Devils front, there is no question that the Flyers had a tough time dealing with the Devils all series. And the fact that Jersey dismantled Philly in five games speaks to that point.

But in a lot of ways, it really seemed like the Flyers became frustrated by the Devils, the same way the Pens did against Philly in the first round.

In the now famous game where Sidney Crosby and co. lost their minds and decided to brawl with the Flyers rather than playing hockey, we saw evidence of poor leadership.

Now I'm sure to take some shots for that comment, but hear me out.

I loved Crosby's passion, his desire to win and his engagement in the match. However, losing his cool the way he did set the stage for his teammates to follow him down that road. While emotion is important in hockey, if it goes unchecked it will usually lead to a loss.

Controlled emotion is where it's all.

After the meltdown, the Pens were off their game and the Flyers had them right where they wanted.

Fast forward to the Jersey series, and the Flyers, led by Claude Giroux, in a lot of ways fell into the same trap.

The pivotal moment, for me, was Claude Giroux's ill-advised shoulder to the head of Danius Zubrus—the play resulted in a one-game suspension for Giroux, who missed the fifth and final game of the series.

Giroux was frustrated with what he perceived to be a missed call by the refs, and, acting on pure emotion, lashed out. Not only did his act hurt the Flyers in that game, but it also meant that were without the services of their best player the follwing game—an elimination game.

That, to me, is not weak leadership.

The playoffs are a time for selflessness. It's a time when the winners are usually the ones who suck it up and roll with the punches, rather than lashing out and reacting.

Now I'm not saying the Flyers would have won the series if Giroux hadn't made that hit, but simply that, as a leader, you have to know better than to retaliate in the playoffs. I guess Giroux will have all summer to learn that lesson.

On the Habs front

According to a story on TSN, Devils' assistant coach and former Hab hall of fame defenseman, Larry Robinson, would welcome a return to the Habs in some capacity.

Robinson's agent, speaking to La Presse, said they have reached out to the Montreal twice in the past, and have been turned down both times—a fact that I find reprehensible.

So now, with a new sheriff in town (Marc Bergevin), will he turn to Robinson to come on board in some capacity? How would you feel about Robinson running the Habs defense next season? How much better would a player like P.K. Subban be playing under Robinson as a defensive coach?

Also, with up and coming stud defensive prospects like Nathan Beaulieu and Jared Tinordi, perhaps the timing is perfect to make such a move.

Either way, no conversations have taken place yet. Robinson's contract with the Devils expires on July 1st and, until then, the Habs would need Jersey's permission to speak with him. We'll see where this story leads but it is enticing to say the least.

On another (sorta) Habs front, former Habs GM and then special advisor, Bob Gainey, was hired by the Dallas Stars yesterday. He will act in mostly the same role he did in Montreal, working as a special advisor to GM Joe Nieuwendyk.

So does this mean the Stars will suddenly have interest in trading for Scott Gomez?

I keed, I keed!

---
Kamal is a freelance writer, Senior Writer/Editor-in-Chief of HabsAddict.com, and Montreal Canadiens Blogger on Hockeybuzz.com. Kamal is also a regular on-air contributor on TSN 990, CJAD, and LiveSport New Zealand.

Follow Kamal on Facebook and Twitter

(Source: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images North America)

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Pens force Game 6, Wings eliminated, Bettman, Gillis and more

Morning puck addicts!

Don't look now, but it looks like the Pittsburgh Penguins are trying to make a series out of things. Down 3-0 in their first round matchup against the Flyers, the Pens have stormed back, winning the last two games (including last night), to make it a 3-2 series.

The series now shifts back to Philly where the Flyers try to grab that ellusive fourth win. If not, and the Pens can somehow tie the series and send it back to Pittsburgh for a decisive Game Seven, does Philly stand a chance?

On the West coast, the Preds beat and eliminated the Red Wings. They certainly are no longer Detroit's little brother. The question now is, what happens to the Wings? Bounced in the first round and with several aged veterans, what will this squad look like next season?

Don't you just love the playoffs?

Hockey News

Hockey Inside/Out - Predators bounce Red Wings; Penguins force Game 6

TSN - PENGUINS WIN AGAIN TO SEND SERIES BACK TO PHILADELPHIA

TSN - MCKENZIE: LIDSTROM OR NOT, RED WINGS TO SPEND IN FREE AGENCY

TSN - GM GILLIS “NOT SURE” IF GOALIE CHANGE WILL IMPACT NEXT SEASON

TSN - BETTMAN: BROOKLYN MAY NOT BE VIABLE HOME FOR ISLANDERS

TSN - CITY OF MARKHAM VOTES TO EVALUATE FUNDING PLAN FOR NEW ARENA

TSN - DREGER'S MAILBAG: FLYERS' GOALIES AND CANUCKS' CHALLENGES

THN - Goalies hold key to any miracle Penguins comeback; Predators win a changing of guard?

(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images North America)

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Habs News, Roy Video, Torres, Penguins, Canucks, Senators and More

Good morning hockey fans!

Both the Pittsburgh Penguins and Vancouver Canucks avoiding getting swept in a big way last night.

The Pens crushed the Philadelphia Flyers by a ridiculous 10-3 margin. Mind you, the way this series has been played, that score should not come as a total shock to anyone. Even before last night, Ilya Bryzgalov was allowing about 4 goals per game.

Meanwhile, on the other coast, the Cancucks got their first win against the Los Angeles Kings, winning 3-1. Not nearly as striking as the above drubbing, but given how well Jonathan Quick has played, those three goals might as well have been ten.

Finally, the Ottawa Senators tied up their series with the New York Rangers at two games apiece thanks to a dramatic overtime win.

Wouldn't it be something if both conferences top seeds got elimintated?

Mind you, that would not help my Eastern or Western prediction record, but it would be fun to see.

Habs News

HabsAddict.com - Patrick Roy Interviewed on The Random Hockey Show

La Presse - Les obsèques d'Émile Bouchard auront lieu samedi

TSN - Roy mum on plans as NHL speculation continues

Hockey News

HabsAddict.com - Panesar and Moustakas: Post-Season Pandemonium

ESPN - Pittsburgh's centers far from cowardly

ESPN - Things to know from Wednesday's games

The Hockey News - Penguins-Flyers a complete turnaround; Senators no easy out; Schneider relegates Luongo to backup

TSN - McKenzie: Penguins' key three step up in win over Flyers

TSN - Coyotes' Torres suspended indefinitely for hit on Hossa

TSN - Fraser: The missed call on Raffi Torres's hit

USA Today - Canucks avoid elimination, beat Kings in Game 4

USA Today - Turris scores in OT to lift Senators past Rangers

USA Today - Penguins rout Flyers to avoid elimination

USA Today - Brennan: NHL needs to handle violence with harsh punishment

( Photo by Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images)

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Quick Picks: Eastern Conference Quarterfinals

Playoffs are upon us. And that means two things: long, excruciating overtimes that deprive us of sleep and predictions.

For today, I will indulge in the latter, in the game of predictions.

Not that I feel that I can offer any particular insight on the matter, but should I look like a genius with my picks, I would most certainly like to have my prescience available on a public forum of some sort.

If I err, then I can simply brush off my misguided selections and mention that predictions are for gypsies.

First off, let us look at the four confrontations in the Eastern Conference.

New York Rangers (1) vs. Ottawa Senators (8)

My pick: New York Rangers in five games

Why? Ottawa definitely has some positives going for them in this matchup. They have won their season series against the Rangers, are offensively more prolific and their top forwards have produced at a far better rate. The Sens have also shown an incredible ability to come from behind, sitting near the top of the league in third period goals and come from behind wins.

Yet, come the post-season, none of that will matter. The Rangers are one of the tightest defensive teams in the league, sitting in the top-six in goals against, shots against, penalty killing, blocked shots and hits. Meanwhile, Henrik Lundqvist has been superlative, posting a Vezina-worthy 1.95 goals against average and .931 save percentage.

Simply put, it will be too much to overcome for the Senators.

Boston Bruins (2) vs. Washington Capitals (7)

My pick: Boston Bruins in five games.

Why? Unless Braden Holtby – who is the presumed starter as both Michael Neuvirth and Tomas Vokoun are injured – is the next coming of Cam Ward, this could prove to be a short series. Facing the high-powered Bruins, whose +67 goal differential leads the league, is a mighty task for a rookie netminder with 21 games of NHL experience.

Offensively, the Caps are far too one-dimensional and will make life easy for Claude Julien, who simply needs to match Zdeno Chara against whichever unit Alex Ovechkin is assigned too.

There is potential for an upset here, but too many pieces need to come together for that to happen.

Florida Panthers (3) vs. New Jersey Devils (6)

My pick: Florida Panthers in seven games

Why? This series predicts to be one of the closest in the first round.

The teams are far closer than the standings initially indicate, with New Jersey padding their points total thanks to a whopping 12 wins via the shootout. In terms of regulation or overtime victories, the Devils have only four more wins than the Panthers.

The two squads have also combined for an eye-popping 47 overtime games.

Both have serious questions about their goaltending and offense. The duo of Jose Theodore and Scott Clemmensen do not have especially gaudy playoff reputations while the Martin Brodeur advantage has somewhat dissipated in recent years. In two of Brodeur’s past three playoff campaigns, his save percentage has dipped below the .900 mark.

Each attack is lead by players with limited post-season experience. Ilya Kovalchuk, David Clarkson and Adam Henrique have yet to prove themselves as playoff performers while the same can be said for the Panthers’ Stephen Weiss and Tomas Fleischmann.

In the end, though, the Panthers are playing with the advantage of home-ice without any of the habitual pressure associated with being the higher seed. That should provide them with the edge needed to squeak past the Devils.

Pittsburgh Penguins (4) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (5)

My pick: Pittsburgh Penguins in six games

Why? The Flyers are a good team, no doubt, but the analysis is rather simple here.

The Penguins are better in goal, dominant up the middle – they have some dudes named Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin – and, given the absence of Chris Pronger for the Flyers, their blueline is also superior.

It is hard to imagine that a team with such a clear edge at such important positions would not prevail.

What are your thoughts on Round One in the Eastern Conference?

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Louis is an Associate Editor at HabsAddict.com. Born in Chicago, Louis grew up in Quebec City where he earned Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from Université Laval. Find him on twitter @LouisMoustakas

(Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images North America)

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NHLTrade Rumors Galore - Deadline Edition - Part III

With the trade deadline upon us, rumors are swirling all over the Internet, and especially on Twitter, as fake insiders try to get the attention of hockey fans by spreading false information. I will try to dissect some of the hottest rumors around and tell you which players are most likely available.

Thursday the first major traded happened when the Columbus Blue Jackets traded disgruntled center Jeff Carter to the goal-starved Los Angeles Kings in exchange for blue liner Jack Johnson and a 1st round draft pick in 2012 or 2013.

You can find part 1 here and part 2 here. Below you will find part 3 of 3.

Philadelphia Flyers

In the thick of the playoff race and with Chris Pronger out for the year, the Philadelphia Flyers have already acquired two defensemen in Pavel Kubina from Tampa Bay and Nicklas Grossman from Dallas.

The Flyers are tight against the cap and could be willing to sacrifice winger Jakub Voracek and his $2,250,000 salary in order to land the impact player they need to contend for the Cup. Voracek will be a restricted free agent at season’s end and the Flyers will have problems keeping him. While their main issue is in goal, Ilya Bryzgalov and his hefty contract are not going anywhere, and the team will most likely keep Sergei Bobrovsky as an insurance policy.

Phoenix Coyotes

The league-owned Phoenix Coyotes have caught fire lately going 9-0-1 in their last ten games and, as a result, the team now leads the Pacific Division with 73 points. The Coyotes have already made their big trade, acquiring two-way pivot Antoine Vermette from Columbus for two draft picks. Don't expect another major move because of their budget restrictions, but the acquisition of a depth player is not out of the equation. Veterans UFAs such as Shane Doan, Daymond Langkow, Ray Whitney, Taylor Pyatt, Michal Rozsival and Adrian Aucoin should finish the season in the desert.

David Jones will certainly draw interest if the Avalanche decides to trade him.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Thanks to Evgeni Malkin‘s great play and Kris Letang‘s return from his concussion, it is safe to say the Pittsburgh Penguins will be buyers at the deadline as GM Ray Shero has always been very active in the weeks leading to the trade freeze. With Sidney Crosby‘s return this season less than certain, one would think the Penguins would look to add a quality forward to its already potent offense, but right now the team is looking to add a back-up goalie to replace under-performing veteran Brent Johnson.

Names like Curtis Sanford and Chris Mason have been mentioned. Also, if David Jones is moved by the Colorado Avalanche, look for the Penguins to push hard to obtain his services.

San Jose Sharks

After acquiring two-way forward Dominic Moore from the Lightning, the San Jose Sharks are looking to bolster their blue line as they need a steady defensive rearguard such as Bryan Allen or Johnny Oduya to improve their dismal penalty kill (77.5% efficiency). Jim Vandermeer and Colin White have been major disappointments and the team has lost confidence in them. The club could also be looking for another top-nine forward to replace Martin Havlat, who has been battling injuries all season.

St. Louis Blues

After signing goalie Brian Elliott to a two-year contract extension, it is clear the St Louis Blues did not see Ben Bishop in their soup and have just traded him to the Ottawa Senators for a 2nd round draft pick in 2013. With the return of Andy McDonald, the Blues received the offensive boost they were looking and should be pretty quiet at the deadline.

However, they could dangle unproductive RFA Chris Stewart for defensive help as the team would like to add a left-handed shooting defender to its already stellar defensive group, especially with Kris Russell suffering from concussion-like symptoms.

Tampa Bay Lightning

Eight points out of a playoff spot, the Tampa Bay Lightning will obviously be sellers at the deadline, especially since their goalies have been less-than spectacular and their defensive corps has been ravaged by injuries to key players like Mattias Ohlund and Victor Hedman.

Steve Yzerman knows that last season was a fluke and wants to be patient with his team. He has already traded forward Dominic Moore to the Sharks and defender Pavel Kubina to the Flyers for draft picks. He also traded super-pest Steve Downie to the Avalanche for rearguard Kyle Quincey, who he then immediately shipped to the Red Wings a first round pick in 2012.

Two-way forward Adam Hall is drawing a lot of interest and could be traded next, while blueliners Brett Clark and Matt Gilroy could find a taker looking for depth on the blue line. Ryan Malone is also on the market, but with four more years at $4,500,000 and a full no-movement clause until next season, he’s going nowhere.


Toronto Maple Leafs

Rumors are swirling about the Toronto Maple Leafs and their talkative GM Brian Burke, who’s reportedly trying to add a big name to his forward group. Obviously, Burke is looking to add size and is interested in James Van Riemsdyk, Dustin Brown, Rick Nash, and even Ryan Malone to a lesser extent. The Leafs are willing to part ways with a defender such as Luke Schenn, Carl Gunnarsson or Cody Franson to acquire that big forward.

The team is also considering bringing a goalie like Evgeni Nabokov, Nikolai Khabibulin or Josh Harding into the mix as James Reimer and Jonas Gustavsson have been inconsistent this season. UFA center Mikhail Grabovski presents an interesting case as he could become available if Burke decides to unload the shifty Grabovski who is rumored to be looking for a long term deal averaging around five million dollars per year.

Vancouver Canucks

Currently at the top of the Western Conference, the Vancouver Canucks are open for business and are looking to add an impact player up front after placing defender Keith Ballard on the LTIR and freeing $4.2 millions in cap space. The team is dangling RFA Mason Raymond and prospect Jordan Schroeder as trade baits in order to acquire a bigger fish like Dustin Brown or Steve Ott. The team could also add a depth defenseman as insurance.

Young goaltending stud Corey Schneider is not going anywhere.

Washington Capitals

Washington Capitals blueliners Jeff Schultz and Roman Hamrlik could be traded for offensive help as they have both been in Dale Hunter's doghouse recently. With all-star center Nicklas Backstrom still battling concussion symptoms, the team will certainly consider adding an offensive-minded pivot to play with Alexander Ovechkin as the team is currently counting on unproven youngsters Marcus Johansson and Mathieu Perreault to carry the offensive load at center.

Veteran UFA Mike Knuble could also be sent packing. The 39 year-old winger as been playing on the team's fourth line in the last few weeks.

Winnipeg Jets

With the Winnipeg Jets back in the thick of the playoffs race and fighting for the Southeast Division lead with the Capitals and the Panthers, the team will most likely keep defenseman Johnny Oduya, an impending UFA, instead of trading him for a high draft pick. However, the Jets could try to unload UFA Randy Jones and veteran goalie Chris Mason to teams looking for depth.

RFA Eric Fehr might also on his way out thanks to his poor play since his return from a shoulder injury. If the Jets decide to add a player, they will most likely look for depth players such as the Blue Jackets' Samuel Pahlsson or Habs' Mathieu Darche.

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Follow Fred on Twitter for more updates on the trade deadline and the NHL in general.

(Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images North America)

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NHL Trade Deadline Bait: Montreal Canadiens' Travis Moen

There is a definite scent of wheeling and dealing in the air. The Trade Deadline looms as pundits and fans contemplate the different options that present themselves to the Montreal Canadiens.

At HabsAddict, we will also take the time to muse over the various possible maneuvers the Habs may make. In a multi-part series, we will look at both potential trade bait as well as possible targets for the Tricolore. 

Today, we start with Travis Moen, who appears to be one of the team's most likely trade candidates. 

Why he could be traded - Travis Moen is an impending unrestricted free agent on a team that is clearly going into sell mode. On top of that, his spot can be easily replaced internally - and more cheaply - by the returning Ryan White.

Nonetheless, as far as rentals go, he is probably one the Habs' best assets. He was a defensive force in Anaheim's run to a Stanley Cup in 2007, completing a formidable checking line with Rob Niedermayer and Samuel Pahlson. 

This season, he is posting his best offensive campaign and is on pace to break his previous career high of 21 points. Plus, at 6-2, 215 pounds, the winger is also a physical presence who is unafraid to engage in fisticuffs if necessary. 

His experience, size and secondary scoring make him an excellent depth acquisition for a team wanting to make a post-season run. 

What he could be worth - Between a second round draft pick (or equivalent prospect) and a third round draft pick (or equivalent prospect)

The Canadiens have the advantage in a market that appears to benefit sellers. While a second round pick may seem high, it is not unrealistic. 

In recent trade deadlines, similar depth players such as Eric Belanger and Dominic Moore were acquired for second round draft picks.

Others, such as Jeff Halpern, Chris Higgins and Daniel Carcillo were even obtained in exchange for multiple picks and players.

Based on previous history, it is even plausible to see the Canadiens obtain a lower draft pick and a roster player in return, but that may be hoping for a bit too much. 

Who could be interested - Chicago, Vancouver, Detroit, Pittsburgh

Most contending teams look to add players of Travis Moen's type. However, the above four have been rumored to be interested in his services for some time.

Chicago has lost Daniel Carcillo for the season, so it is logical that they would be looking to replace his physical presence.

The same logic applies in Pittsburgh, who currently have Aaron Asham and Tyler Kennedy on their injured list.

As for Detroit and Vancouver, they have their minor bumps as well, but they are mostly believed to be looking to add a physical presence to their bottom-six.


What do you think? Where will Moen go? And for what price?


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Louis is an Associate Editor at HabsAddict.com and an Editor at HabsWorld.net. Born in Chicago, Louis grew up in Quebec City where he earned Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from Université Laval.

He currently resides in Ottawa and works for the Coaching Association of Canada. Find him on twitter @LouisMoustakas

(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images North America)

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Habs win in SO, Stewart, White, Deadline and More

Morning Hab fans.

Well, if nothing else, that was an exciting contest last night, wasn't it?

And, to boot, the Habs won a rare shootout contest on the strength of Carey Price's goaltending. Refereshing stuff.

However, for some, there was still some disappointment yesterday.

Many, including yours truly, were hoping the Canadiens would put in a claim for Anthony Stewart, who was put on waivers by the Carolina Hurricanes.

An inexpensive, still young player, Stewart is a bulking winger able to provide decent, secondary scoring.

While there are questions about his conditioning, he could have been an interesting option to replace Travis Moen and Mathieu Darche, two impending UFAs who are likely on their way out. And he certainly would be an upgrade over Michael Blunden or Petteri Nokelainen.

As a bonus, he could have been had for free via waivers and is a native of LaSalle, Quebec.

Just saying.

Habs News

HabsAddict.com - With Playoff Hopes Fading, Habs Need to Sell Assets

HabsAddict.com - Canadiens-Penguins: Habs Win Battle of Battered Teams

Hockey Inside / Out - Two in a row

La Presse - Plekanec joue les héros

RDS - Holland veut donner raison à Gauthier

RDS - Ryan White compte 2 fois à son retour

Hockey News

IIHF - Entries for Sochi are in

The Hockey News - Boylen: Four GMs given an unnecessarily hard time

Sports Illustrated - Red Wings need answers in net

TSN - McKenzie: Yakupov still clear no. 1 choice

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Canadiens-Penguins: Habs Win Battle of Battered Teams

Recently, Stu Hackel pointed out that Pittsburgh and Montreal sit respectively first and third in man games lost to injury this year.

With the skill and compete level on display Tuesday night, one would have never guessed each team was missing so many key pieces.

An exciting, back-and-forth affair, the Canadiens would eventually win the game thanks to a Tomas Plekanec goal in the eighth round of a shootout.

Rene Bourque and Lars Eller also scored in the tie-breaker.

It was only the Habs' second win this season in the skills competition and undoubtedly a much needed boost to the team's collective confidence.

Final Score: Canadiens 3 - Penguins 2 (SO)

Game Notes

Louis Louis - Between his NCAA and QMJHL career, Louis Leblanc accumulated 81 points in 82 games. Good numbers, but not earth shattering, especially considering the offensive nature of the Quebec League.

Yet, watching him compete at the NHL level, you would expect him to have produced twice that over his junior career. 

His effort is relentless, he is physical and knows how to get into prime scoring areas, as illustrated by his goal tonight.

So far, he is definitely living up to his billing as a first round pick.

Hot Play - It was nice to see Tomas Plekanec and Carey Price's hot play carry over from Sunday's game.

Too often this season, players have disappeared after putting up excellent showings the previous game.

This time, though, the Czech centre was clearly the team's best forward. Plekanec obtained innumerable chances shorthanded and sealed the game with a clever shootout goal.

Meanwhile, Carey Price was again sensational, stopping 32 of 34 Penguins shots and finally getting a much needed win in the shootout.

Mind you, he had help from his posts and from P.K Subban, who dove to block a shot after Price was caught out of his net.

But, as the saying goes, you have to be good to be lucky. And Price is good.

Oops! - Lars Eller scored one of the oddest goals of the season.

Coming along the near boards, he faked a dump in and instead shot the puck on net. His shot then hit the post, went off Marc-Andre Fleury's back and into the goal.

Fleury has proven he can win big games, but boy does he have a rich history of goofy goals, dating all the way back to his infamous World Juniors poke check.

Pittsburgh Needs Wingers - The Penguins are clearly an excellent team. The fact they have survived, even thrived, in spite of injuries to key players such as Sidney Crosby, Jordan Staal and Kris Letang is testament to that.

But this team is starved for wingers.

James Neal is a stud, but after that there is a rather precipitous drop in quality.

Chris Kunitz, Steve Sullivan and Pascal Dupuis are all on track for over 50 points, but a quick look at their playoff numbers demonstrates that neither of them are post-season stars.

Matt Cooke, Tyler Kennedy and Richard Park are certainly not going to provide the bulk of the scoring come spring time.

As good as Pittsburgh is up the middle, their wingers are a weakness that could lead to their demise. Two years ago, Montreal proved that even a group of the world's most talented centres could be contained and defeated. 

Without a significant upgrade on the wings, another team may prove it again this year.

Darche in OT? - Clearly, Randy Cunnneyworth can do no wrong in the eyes of many in the blogosphere.

Many appreciate his more aggressive style and his more extensive use of youngsters. A lot of people are willing to forgive his less than stellar record since taking over, especially since he was clearly put in a no-win situation.

Regardless, I still don't much care for his dismal win-loss record.

Nor do I particularly love three-goal scorer Mathieu Darche playing 2:21 in overtime.

I understand he brings a consistent level of energy and effort, but when the game hangs on the result of a single shot, perhaps he is not the wisest choice.

This is the kind of thing that bloggers and the Twitter-verse would certainly hammer Jacques Martin about.

Randy Cunneyworth should be called out too. 

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Louis is an Associate Editor at HabsAddict.com and an Editor at HabsWorld.net. Born in Chicago, Louis grew up in Quebec City where he earned Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from Université Laval.

He currently resides in Ottawa and works for the Coaching Association of Canada. Find him on twitter @LouisMoustakas

(Photo by Francois Lacasse/NHLI via Getty Images)

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Habs/Pens, Gomez, Thoughts, Rumors and More

Morning puck fans.

There is a lot of good reading in our morning links, including two new pieces by our HabsAddict writers, some trade rumors, talk of relocaiton and a bunch of other interesting tidibits.

In short, I won't babble too much this A.M and let you make that extra cup of coffee to get through some excellent reading.

Before that, just a quick note in the "reverse scoreboard watching" category. With Anaheim's win last night, Montreal are just two measly points ahead of 29th overall.

This is good. Finishing 29th overall gives the team 18.2% odds of winning the first overall pick.

I mean, if you are going to stink, best stink so it's worth it.

Habs News

HabsAddict.com - Roz's Rant: Ten Thoughts

HabsAddict.com - Goal-less Gomez

HabsWorld.net - HW Recap: The Sinking Feeling Continues

HockeyBuzz - The Dark Cloud over Montreal, +10 Notes

Hockey Inside / Out - Gomez speaks

Hockey Inside / Out - Crosby skates at Bell Centre

Hockey's Future - Montreal Canadiens mined some golden prospects in the 2007 Draft

RDS - CH : White et Palushaj cédés à Hamilton

Hockey News

Sports Illustrated - Coyotes to Seattle…or Quebec?

The Hockey News - Campbell: Gagner only had seven points

TSN - McKenzie: Real chance that Leafs make no significant moves

TSN - TradeCentre: Monday's rumours from around the NHL

TSN - Fraser: Here's the deal on premature substitution


(Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images North America)

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Pittsburgh Penguins: looking to add a gritty forward like Travis Moen

Despite numerous rumors and reports, the Pittsburgh Penguins are not looking to add a top-6 forward to their already potent offensive line-up. With Jordan Staal's imminent comeback later this month and Evgeni Malkin's hot streak, the Penguins are back in the thick of the playoff race with 62 points in 50 games, good for the 5th spot in the Eastern Conference. The Pens are on a roll going 8-2 in their past ten games despite the Crosby saga.

With only a few hundred dollars to reach the league salary cap, the team's budget is very slim to acquire a significant salary before the NHL trade deadline, unless the team decides to put Sidney Crosby on the long term injury reserve (LTIR). In light of the recent developments in the Crosby saga regarding the medical errors or omissions made by the Penguins' medical staff, exams have now discovered that Crosby doesn't have any fractured vertebrae, but is rather suffering from a soft-tissue injury to the neck that could be contributing to his concussion-like symptoms. This means Crosby could make a return this season as the injury is not career-threatening.


Potential trade targets for the Penguins:


Travis Moen will be in high demand (Resolute/wikimedia)


Travis Moen (MON): The gritty left-winger has 9 goals and 16 points on the season and is third on the Habs with 73 hits. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound veteran provides that the type of grit and toughness that the Penguins lost after Michael Rupp's departure as a free agent and Aaron Asham's loss to a concussion earlier this season. Asham's return is pretty doubtful this season as he's still suffering from concussion symptoms.


Moen, 29, won a Stanley Cup with the Anaheim Ducks in 2007. The versatile winger can play in a lot of different roles, averaging 15:40 of ice time per game and killing penalties on the Habs' first unit with Tomas Plekanec. Moen is carrying a very affordable $1.5 million cap hit. The power forward will be highly coveted this season as the Red Wings, the Canucks and the Blackhawks are also interested in his services.


Paul Gaustad (BUF): Another interesting option is center Paul Gaustad from the Buffalo Sabres. The impending UFA is having a down season playing on the Sabres' third line. In 44 games this season, Gaustad has only 5 goals and 13 points in 44 contests. Gaustad, also 29, carries a less affordable $2.3 million cap hit, but is a gritty and tough player that can also kill penalties just like Moen. The 6-foot-5, 215-pound pivot has 85 hits on the year and is 55.7% in the face-off dot.


However, the Sabres are exploring options regarding Gaustad and will most likely try to sign to a contract extension before the February 27, 2012 trade deadline.


Taylor Pyatt (PHX): Another player having a tough season, Pyatt is also slated to become an unrestricted free agent at season's end. Carrying an affordable $1.0 million cap hit, Tom Pyatt's older brother has scored 6 goals and 13 points in 51 games for the Coyotes. The 30 year-old winger is known for his physical, yet disciplined, play as shown by his 102 hits and 12 penalty minutes this season. Pyatt, 30, is a 6-foot-5, 215-pound winger that can move up and down the line-up depending on the pace and speed of the game.


Pyatt's future is less than certain with the Coyotes as the team will most likely not play in Phoenix next season, which means he will probably not be-resigned by the team in the next few weeks leading to the trade limit.


Dominic Moore (TBY): If the Lightning decide to become sellers this season Moore would be a sought-after commodity at the trade deadline given his playoff performances the past two years for Montreal and Tampa Bay. While Moore is not a physical player, he's a versatile forward who can play center and both wings. Moore, 31, is in the last year of his contract, carrying a very affordable $1.1 million cap hit. He has a disappointing season, notching only 4 goals and 18 pts on the season.


Moore is very proficient at killing penalties and can chip in offensively as shown by the 18 goals he scored for the Lightning in 2010-11. However, as per ESPN's Pierre Lebrun, discussions are ongoing between between Steve Yzerman and Moore's agent about a contract extension.


Which player would you like the Penguins to acquire? Why?


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Follow me on Twitter for more updates on the NHL and hockey in general.

(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images North America)

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Habs/Sabres, Comebacks, Rumors and More

Morning puck fans!

Well, that was rough last night. The 3-1 score, which featured an empty netter for Patrick Kaleta, is not quite indicative of the game.

With the Sabres getting 40 shots in the contest, it was never really that close.

Thank goodness Carey Price was not playing looking towards the glass or it could have been far worse.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the league, it was a night of entertaining, improbable comebacks.

The Pittsburgh Penguins stormed back from a three goal deficit, tying the game up in the final six seconds and beating the Toronto Maple Leafs in a shootout. The hero? Evgeni Malkin, duh.

The New Jersey Devils also managed to send their game against the New York Rangers into overtime thanks to a last minue tally by David Clarkson. Ilya Kovalchuk then sealed the deal in a shootout.

Out West, Nashville rallied against Minnesota, scoring four goals in the final frame to comeback and secure a 5-4 victory. Not sure I'd be thrilled to face the Predators in the first round. Or any round.

In short, Habs fans, there is entertaining hockey all around. Even if the Tricolore disappoints.


Habs News

HabsAddict.com - Canadiens - Sabres: Habs Fall Flat in Final Forty

HabsWorld.net - HW 3 Stars: Another Home Loss

Hockey Inside / Out - The hole gets deeper

La Presse - Quand c’est difficile, le Canadien perd!

Hockey News

ESPN - Trade rumblings: Flyers' D-man search

Sports Illustrated - Buffalo’s dark season

The Hockey News - Campbell: Post-all-star storylines

TSN - Penguins, Malkin rally for shootout victory over Maple Leafs

TSN - Fisher's two late goals help Predators rally to stun Wild

TSN - Devils rally in final minute, then beat Rangers in shootout



(Photo by Francois Lacasse/NHLI via Getty Images)

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