#MTLHockey Preview
Match-up
The Canadiens (3-0-0) are in Tampa Bay Monday night to face the Lightning (1-0-1) in the last match of their four-game season opening road trip. The game is set to start at 7:30 and will be broadcast by RDS, City-Montreal, and Sun Sports.
This is the first of five meetings between the Habs and Lightning this year. Last season, the Habs went 1-1-2 against the Bolts with their only win coming by way of shootout. The division rivals played four tight games during the regular season last year, with the Lightning taking the only one settled in regulation, a 3-1 win that included an empty net goal to seal the victory. Each of the three other games went to overtime tied 1-1.
What to Watch
The General, Andrei Markov, led the charge (see what I did there?) for the Canadiens Saturday night in their comeback win against the Flyers. Markov got things going with the team’s first goal to break Ray Emery’s shut out bid, and then added two assists to help the Habs draw even. The chemistry between Tomas Plekanec and Alex Galchenyuk continued Saturday night, as Plekanec scored his league best fourth goal of the season and added an assist on Galchenyuk's first marker of the year.
Steven Stamkos is still looking for his first goal of the season. While the Bolts have only played two games, the fact that Stamkos has just 1 assist, is a -1, and has been stopped in his only shootout attempt must be troubling for Lightning fans. On a more positive note, 23-year old defenseman Victor Hedman is off to a strong start, with two goals and an assist already.
What’s at Stake
The Lightning should present the Canadiens with their toughest challenge of the early season. The Bolts will surely be looking to take some revenge on Montreal after the Habs swept Tampa in the first round of last year’s playoffs.
The Canadiens will be also be looking to keep their perfect season alive and return home undefeated after starting the year with four straight road games.
Who’s Out
Alexei Emelin (upper body) was forced to miss Saturday's game against the Flyers. It's unclear whether or not he'll dress for Monday's game.
Rookie-of-the-year favorite Jonathan Drouin has yet to play his first NHL game, he's been sidelined with a thumb injury and doesn't look likely to return in time for Monday's tilt.
What Else
Three times this season the Canadiens have trailed at the end of the first period and three times they’ve battled back to earn wins. Saturday, the Habs overcame their biggest challenge, a 3-0 third period deficit versus the Flyers, but like they had twice already this year, they battled back to draw even and eventually earned their second straight shootout victory.
Last season the Canadiens only won six games in which they trailed after 20 minutes, and just three in which they trailed at the second intermission. This season they've already overcome three first-period and two second-period deficits, and they've only played three games.
The Question Mark
Habs fans, tell us what you are thankful for today.
Tonight’s Show
Join host Steven Hindle along with Kosta Papoulias and Rob Elbaz for the Montreal Hockey Talk Pregame Show as we go live at 6:30 p.m. Monday to preview the Canadiens and Lightning. Danny DiNicolantonio will join us in the second segment to bring you the Lightning perspective.
1 comments:
Ouch !!!
Therrien better not play Weaver on Thursday. He has been absolutely brutal. It's also time to send Sekac to AHL so that he can learn teh North American game.
I know people don;t want to hear it but Moen needs to play with Eller. Eller is -6 in 4 games because his line cannot contain defensively. Need a guy like Moen, or hopefully very soon Tangradi to improve the defensive side of that line
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