#MTLHockey Preview
Match Up
The Canadiens (8-3-1) are home to host the Blackhawks (6-5-1) Tuesday night at the Bell Centre. The game is set to start at 7:30 and airs on RDS and Sportsnet East.This is the first of two games between the Habs and Hawks, with the second meeting set to take place a month later in Chicago. Last season the two teams each took three points in their season series, both earning OT wins on home ice. Andrei Markov scored both goals in Montreal's 2-1 victory in January, while Marian Hossa and Patrick Sharp each had a goal and an assist in Chicago's 3-2 win near the end of the season.
What to Watch
Dale Weise set up Max Pacioretty for the second time in consecutive games in Montreal's 6-2 loss to the Flames on Sunday. Weise now has four assists on the season while Pacioretty has caught Tomas Plekanec for the team lead in points, they both have five goals and four assists through 11 games.The Blackhawks have also had some trouble creating offense recently, they've been shut out twice in their last four games. Marian Hossa picked up a goal and an assist last Thursday against the Senators, marking career points number 999 and 1000. Hossa is just the 80th player in NHL history to reach the 1000-point plateau.
What's at Stake
The Canadiens maintain a tenuous grasp on the Eastern Conference lead, but with only three hard fought points in their last four games, they've let the Lightning catch them in the standings. More than anything, the Habs could use a solid performance after scoring just five regulation goals since their struggles started.Who's Out
For the second straight game, Alexei Emelin was forced to miss some shifts after taking a hit to the head, this time an elbow from Flames forward David Jones. Alex Galchenyuk was also forced to miss some time in the first period of Sunday's game, but returned by the start of the second period.The Hawks are missing Daniel Carcillo (knee).
What Else
The Canadiens have now gone 14 straight power plays without finding the back of the net, stretching back to their 3-2 victory over the Avalanche.Andrei Markov moved up to third all-time in points by a Canadiens defenseman. His assist on Lars Eller's goal tied him with Hall-of-Famer Doug Harvey at 447 points in a Canadiens uniform. Markov sets his sights next on Guy Lapointe, who is set to have his jersey retired by the Canadiens this coming Saturday when the Habs face the Wild.
1 comments:
There is enough blame to go around for the debacle against the Flames; however, I truly believe MT bears a large measure of responsibility for the results. His inane line juggling and his stubborn refusal to give Bournival and Sekac the ice time they deserve, choosing instead to dangle an increasingly ineffective and frustrated Bourque, along with Moen, in front of the faithful. The man is a menace who knows little of encouraging and developing young players. MB, if he's serious about a youth movement, needs to step in and give MT some proper direction.
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