Ottawa Was To Be Avoided By The Canadiens In The First Round

For the last few weeks of the hockey season, I was worried about who the Canadiens were going to play against in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. As I watched the Eastern Conference wild card position take shape, it was assumed that Montreal was going to finish in the top two spots. Ottawa was playing great hockey, and their goalie, Andrew "The Hamburglar" Hammond, was providing some outstanding goaltending. The Senators continued to win night after night, and went from being an after-thought in late January to a serious playoff contender.

Fast forward to Saturday, when the Senators faced the Philadelphia Flyers in the early afternoon, while the Canadiens were to play Toronto later that night. After Ottawa beat the Flyers in the afternoon, a win for the Habs meant facing the Senators.

I don't know about you, but I would much rather have the Habs play Detroit than Ottawa. Montreal has handled the Red Wings this relative easethsi season, while Ottawa has had Montreal's number. Ultimately, the Habs won 4-3 in a shoot out, and now have to face  the Senators in the first round, starting Wednesday, April 16th.

In their brief playoff history, Ottawa has owned the Canadiens. The painful memory of the 2013 playoff match up has many Habs' fans concerned. Personally, I DID NOT want Montreal to face the Senators in the first round. 

What do I think will happen? Well lets examine the results so far:

- Ottawa finished the season on a 22-4-4 run, one of the best in the league. Their goalie, Hammond posted a sparkling .941 save percentage and we thought Price's average was good. What is even more alarming is that Price seemed to be less focused in the last four or five games he played. And his average showed it; he had a poor .895 save percentage in his last half dozen games. Not the way you want to go into the playoffs.

- The Canadiens' leading goal scorer and point leader, Max Pacioretty, may be unavailable to start the series against Ottawa, while the Senators' rookies lit it up and carried the Sens into playoff positioning.  Mark Stone has led the Senators with 26 goals ( +/- 21) and played some outstanding hockey. Mike Hoffman, another great find for Ottawa, has chipped in with 21 goals and a +/- of 16. The Canadiens' rely heavily on goaltender Carey Price to win close games. Ottawa, on the other hand, has scored 238 goals to our 221. Despite a recent scoring spurt by the Habs to end the season, how long can that last without Pacioretty's contributions?

 - Finally, there is the question of team toughness. Every time the Senators play the Canadiens, they seem to get the best of them physically. The Habs lack the nastiness that Ottawa comes to the rink with every game. If Ottawa starts the series and establishes their physical domination early, then some players may be intimidated, as has been the case in the past with forwards David Desharmais and Tomas Plekanec.

For the Canadiens to win the series, they need:

• Carey Price can bring his A+ game
• Offensive contributions from the third and fourth lines.
• The power-play must continue to be 20+% efficient, as they have of late.
• To show some backbone, and not fear the Senators' physicality.

If not, the Habs may find themselves on the golf course after the 5th game. 

What do you think the Habs will do? Do they have it in them to continue past first round? 

 

Read More

Who Will Step Up In The Playoffs?

Photo Credit: Montreal Gazette.com

Greetings Habs Addicts!

What a season it has been so far!

The Canadiens cannot seem to score consistently - unless you count Max Pacioretty and his 37 goals. They are also riding one of the greatest statistical seasons by a goaltender in the modern era with what Carey Price is doing. And of course, P.K. Subban could be working his way back into the Norris Trophy conversation with the numbers he has this year (15 goals/57 points). But aside from those three, the supporting cast has been extremely underwhelming offensively this season. Underwhelming enough to wonder just how strong the Canadiens will be entering the playoffs.

The three superstars have had some help. Tomas Plekanec is having another consistent two-way season. The turtle-necked wonder is one of the steadiest performers the Canadiens have had in the last decade and one of the NHL's more under-rated defensive forwards. A nod for the Selke might be in store; however, the competition is always tough with names like Patrice Bergeron, Jonathan Toews, Anze Kopitar and Pavel Datsyuk always carrying larger profiles year in, year out. But with 22 goals, 54 points and a +9 on the year, Plekanec is quietly doing his part.

Brendan Gallagher finally hit the 20-goal mark this year, sitting at 23 goals on the year. He has been a consistent spark plug in the line-up, always going to the dirty areas and getting the job done. Offensively, he has not quite reached his peak. However, expecting more than a 25 goal/60 point ceiling is wishful thinking. Defensively responsible at even-strength, Gallagher is a +20 on the year and only has three power-play goals to his name. In large part due to the ineffectiveness of the relentless "Set up Subban for the one-timer at the point" strategy that Michel Therrien refuses to waver from.

Alex Galchenyuk has taken another step forward in his development. Finally reaching the 20 goal mark, Chucky has 25 assists to go with those goals and spent a brief period of time playing centre on the top line with Pacioretty. Aside from scoring a hat-trick, his time there albeit brief, gave fans a glimpse of the future. Another step forward next year will lead to the big breakout fans are expecting from the former 3rd overall draft pick.

On the blue line, Andrei Markov continues to defy the ageing process. The General continues to provide steady veteran leadership on the blue line and has paired up very well with P.K. Subban. Markov has 9 goals and 46 points, with 23 as the quarterback on the power-play. Markov faded a bit down the stretch last year, however has continued to be a solid contributor as the Canadiens enter the final five games of the regular season.

While these four players have contributed what we expect from them, other veterans have disappointed. These are the players who will need to truly elevate their game come the playoffs if the Canadiens expect to make another run towards the Stanley Cup. There is no Thomas Vanek in the line-up this year to take away the number one pairings on the other teams. Teams will focus on shadowing Max Pacioretty and clogging the high slot to keep Subban from shooting come playoff time. Focus on shutting down those two players will be the game plan.

And then what do we do?

David Desharnais has been incredibly inconsistent this year. After struggling out of the gate again, Therrien removed the tether from Patches and Little Davey was sent to the wing on the third line. And he responded. Desharnais started shooting more, putting the puck in the net and found his game. So naturally, he was moved right back to Pacioretty's side and has since stagnated again offensively. While his 13-goals/46 points in 78 games is respectable, they are mediocre when your title is 'Top Line Centre'.

P.A. Parenteau was brought in from Colorado to provide some scoring punch. After a down year last year in Colorado, fans were expecting him to pair up nicely with Pacioretty and return to the numbers he put up during his time on Long Island playing with John Tavares. Heck, even the numbers he put up during his first year in Colorado would have been sufficient. Instead, Parenteau is suffering through his worst offensive season in the NHL. He battled an injury and missed significant time and has not found his rhythm in Montreal. 7-goals and 20 points in 52 games is not what the Canadiens had in mind when they dealt for PAP. To his credit, he has found some consistency lately and is primed to break out come playoffs. The luck has to change, as his shooting percentage is a paltry 7.9%.

Marc Bergevin made his moves at the trade deadline. He added roster depth from the Buffalo Sabres in Torrey Mitchell and Brian Flynn. He added puck moving defenseman Jeff Petry from the Edmonton Oilers and traded touted KHL signing Jiri Sekac to the Anaheim Ducks for the bowling ball on skates that is Devante Smith-Pelly. While fans were up in arms about trading Sekac, he did not fit the system in Montreal and Bergevin realized it early on. DSP has talent and should break out next season with a full off-season to get comfortable. And in shape. Sekac has talent, but lets not forget how some other highly touted undrafted players turned out. Fabian Brunnstrom anyone? Damien Brunner?

The usual suspects are doing their job. They will need some help. Last year we saw Lars Eller and Dale Weise step up in the playoffs. Can they do it again? Will P.A. Parenteau be that person this year?

The lengthy playoff run rests on the answer to those questions.

Carey Price cannot do it all himself.

---

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.

Read More

Trade Deadline: Will The Habs Address Their Scoring Woes?

Newly acquired Devante Smith-Pelly

Greetings Habs Addicts!

Much has been said about the lack of scoring by the Canadiens this season. While we are sitting in first place in the Eastern Conference by a point - with two and three games at hand over the New York Islanders and Tampa Bay Lightning, respectively - is it safe to say that the play of Carey Price is the sole reason we are in this position?

Carey Price has been outstanding. He has been outstanding since Michel Therrien took over and implemented his often-maligned system. He began to finally turn the corner after Jaroslav Halak was dealt and the franchise committed themselves to the former 5th-overall NHL draft pick. Carey was handed the reigns, matured and has not looked back. He is now among the elite of NHL goaltending. As it stands now, it is a two-horse battle for the Vezina Trophy between Price and Nashville's Pekka Rinne. The only difference is, Nashville can score goals for Rinne. Aside from Max Pacioretty, Montreal cannot. The Predators have scored 181 goals heading into Tuesday, good enough for 7th best in the NHL. The Canadiens have scored 157 goals. Good enough for 11th. In their own conference. Overall, that is 23rd best in the NHL. Big difference in support on a nightly basis.

Photo Credit: ESPN NHL Standings

With a record of 38-16-5, the Canadiens are amongst the elite teams in the NHL. But heading into the playoffs, is it largely smoke and mirrors based on our elite goaltending? Aside from Max Pacioretty, where would our other top-six forwards play on contending teams?
Would Brendan Gallagher be a top-six forward for Nashville or Chicago?
Would David Desharnais get top-six minutes in St. Louis or Anaheim?
Would Dale Weise be playing on the top line for either New York team?

In a gritty best-of-seven series would the Canadiens be able to match the fire-power needed to make a run to the Stanley Cup? Would they even make the Eastern Finals again this year? Are we setting ourselves up for heartbreak by believing they can?

The line-up this year is largely the same as last season minus Thomas Vanek. Danny Briere was swapped for P.A. Parenteau and the contribution is largely the same as last year - next to nil. The kids have been called up to provide some energy, but will Jacob De La Rose and Christian Thomas be able to provide the secondary scoring required for a long playoff run? Can Lars Eller flip the switch again this year? Possible? Will Devante Smith-Pelly (acquired in a trade announced earlier today for Jiri Sekac) be a difference maker here in Montreal during hockey's second season?

Possible? Sure.
Likely? Not very.

There is a big difference between the trade deadline this year and the trade deadline last year. There is no Thomas Vanek available.

Among the pending unrestricted free agents, the top forwards include Mike Ribeiro from Nashville, Mats Zuccarello and Martin St. Louis from the New York Rangers, Justin Williams from the defending Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings and Antoine Vermette from the Arizona Coyotes. Of those names, only Vermette is likely to move anywhere at the trade deadline.

Justin Williams

Los Angeles is currently on the playoff bubble and Justin Williams is the kind of player you want to have in your top-six heading in the playoffs. However, if the Kings fall out of contention, could 'Mr. Game Seven' be a viable target for Marc Bergevin? The 33-year-old Williams is not an elite scorer, but has an offensive game and he steps up his effort in the playoffs every year. With an expiring cap hit of $3.65 million, the right-handed shot could be the equivalent of a Thomas Vanek acquisition for the Canadiens down the stretch. Williams is not likely to be dealt and he might very well have a movement clause of some sort in his contract; however, his name is one worth remembering as Bergevin has surprised us in the past and could work some magic if the Kings decide to mail it in.

Amongst the non-free agents, the sad sack Toronto Maple Leafs are officially rebuilding. Superstar forward Phil Kessel is likely out of most-teams price range at the trade deadline, more likely to be moved during the summer. Joffrey Lupul is talented but never healthy, either. The Edmonton Oilers have names like Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle and Nail Yakupov forever rumoured to be available. All three of these young players would also be pricey acquisitions.

Jaromir Jagr

Jaromir Jagr has openly stated that he would like to be traded to a contending team; however, the New Jersey Devils still feel they are a playoff-contending team. Frankly, trading for Jagr now would be disappointing. Jagr has slowed down this year considerably, physically and statistically. This is a player who wished to join the Canadiens as a free agent to play with countryman and friend Tomas Plekanec four seasons ago. And each summer thereafter as a free agent was spurned by the Habs. Subsequently, he put up some solid numbers for the Philadelphia Flyers, Dallas Stars, Boston Bruins and New Jersey Devils, including 24 goals and 67 points last year for the Devils at age 42. During that stretch and the Habs have had Danny Briere and P.A. Parenteau acquired to provide next to nothing positive at similar cap hits. Bringing in Jagr now, as age has started to take an increased toll on his overall numbers (11 goals, 29 points, -9 in 56 games this season) would be almost too-little, too-late. What better mentor for young players than a future first-ballot Hall of Fame player who has a work ethic second to none and a willingness to mentor younger players. Not signing Jagr originally - tremendous resume, skill set as well as size - was a serious miss by management in this author's opinion.

So what does Marc Bergevin have up his sleeve for the trade deadline? With the injuries to Alexei Emelin and Sergei Gonchar, added depth on the blue line is likely coming and has been mentioned at length already. But where are the goals coming from this time? Thomas Vanek provided a huge spark last year as the team made a huge push into the playoffs. He fell off big time during the playoffs and essentially had the entire city sour on him by the end of the season. Vanek ended up signing in his adopted hometown of Minnesota as the entire league expected he would, but at a fraction of the price expected. His playoff effort was duly noted by the Wild brass for sure. There is no Thomas Vanek available at the trade deadline this season, either.

In the playoffs, you need to score goals and you need balanced scoring. Games get tighter-checking, and goals start coming at a premium. The defensive effort has been strong again and the Canadiens received the balanced scoring last year against Tampa and Boston as they advanced past those two teams. For the most part, goals have been provided by a committee this season too. But to expect us to go deep into the playoffs as a favorite this year with nary a point-per-game player in the lineup is asking for a lot. Something has to be done. If some added scoring punch is not found by the trade deadline, Carey Price better continue to stand on his head because if he slips even a little bit, this season could end a lot earlier than we all hope. Or expect.

---

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.

Read More

Looking ahead to the Habs final 35 games and beyond

Starting this Saturday, the Montreal Canadiens have 35 games left to play. After tonight's 1-0 win over the NY Rangers, the Habs are in 2nd place in the Atlantic division, a point behind the TB Lightning. Fittingly, the Habs are scheduled to play Tampa Bay three times in the month of March. If the playoffs started tomorrow, the Canadiens would face hated rivals Boston Bruins, who they defeated in a hard-fought seven game series last season.

The Month of February

The schedule makers have thrown the Canadiens a bit of a bone this month as the Habs play a bunch of teams currently out of the playoffs. In fact, 11 of the 14 teams Montreal plays in February are currently on the outside looking in. Toronto visits the Bell Center twice, on Valentine's day and two weeks later on the 28th. The Leafs fired coach Randy Carlyle January 6th and the team is in turmoil. The stiffest test will likely be February 24th vs. St. Louis. The Blues are a fast team and have players who can hit the net. One game the Habs will need to be wary of is on February 3rd against Buffalo. I say this because the Sabres are currently on a lengthy losing streak spanning 13 games and teams like this that desperately want to win a game to save face can be the most dangerous to play. Also, earlier this season, the Sabres swept a home-and-home series that was closer than it should have been thanks to the goaltending. Montreal has two back-to-backs in February, so expect Dustin Tokarski to get a couple of starts this month. It is essential that Montreal win most of the games this month. Most of the games are versus teams that have zero chance of making the playoffs. As you will see below the schedule for March is much more difficult

The Month of March

Habs fans, brace yourselves, the month of March is going to be a difficult mountain to climb. In the first week of March, Montreal goes on a California road trip where they will meet the top team in the NHL (Anaheim Ducks) March 4th and the defending Stanley Cup champs (LA Kings) the next night. Oh yeah, and March 2nd Montreal visits San Jose to start the trip. It might be a challenge not to look past this game for the players. When the Habs return home from that California adventure, they face Tampa Bay in the first of three meetings over twenty days. A quick note about Tampa Bay. I think Montreal was fortunate to sweep the Lightning. I still think they would have won last year's playoff round with a fully healthy Steven Stamkos in the line-up. However, Stamkos was barely back from his broken leg last year. This season, Stamkos has been lighting it up and he burned the Habs a few times this season. This month will be a good chance to prepare to playoff-style competition. The teams Montreal faces are the top teams in the league and Montreal needs to figure out how to beat these teams now as they will be facing teams very similar to them in terms of difficulty level a few weeks later

The month of April

At this point, Montreal should have locked down a playoff spot if they win the games they are supposed to win in February and March. If that is the case, some of the veterans such as Subban, Pacioretty and Markov may sit out a game or so to rest for the playoffs. Also, Carey Price will likely back-up Tokarski a couple of games. Three of the five games this month are against non-playoff teams (Florida, Toronto and NJ). The Habs also play Washington and Detroit. There is one back-to-back scheduled April 2-3.

Potential Playoff Match-ups

As I mentioned at the beginning of this blog post, the Habs would face rival Boston if the playoffs started tomorrow. However, this matchup is far from certain as there is still a lot of hockey to be played. I think the current eight playoff teams will end up being the eight that eventually make the playoffs as eighth place New York Rangers have an eight-point cushion over 9th place Florida at the moment. Other potential playoff opponents are the Rangers and the Capitals. I think Montreal has the best chance against Boston, followed by Washington and then NY. Montreal faced two of the three in last year's playoffs, losing to NY in the 3rd round and defeating Boston in 7 in the 2nd round. The last time Montreal and Washington met in the playoffs was in the 1st round of the 09-10 season when the then 8th seeded Habs defeated the top seeded Capitals in seven entertaining games. One cannot make any comparisons between the teams as both Montreal and Washington have undergone significant personnel changes in the past five years, especially Washington who has a completely different coach in Barry Trotz. Anyway, Montreal should be able to beat any of these teams on any given night. Of course the challenge is to do it four times in seven games or less. I think doing so will be toughest against NY, who has pretty much the same line-up as last year and has proven to be a tough match-up this season, including a 5-0 spanking by NY back in November, but Carey Price was not in goal for that one-sided lost. Price is the X factor!

The next 35 games should be fun to watch. Go Habs Go!

Read More

Game 47: Canadiens at Rangers

#MTLHockey Preview

Match Up

The Canadiens (30-13-3) are in New York to face the Rangers (27-14-4) Thursday night at Madison Square Garden. The game starts at 7:00 and airs on RDS and Sportsnet East.

This is the third and final meeting between the Habs and Rangers this year. The Original Six rivals have split their two prior matches, with each team winning on home ice. Martin St. Louis had a goal and an assist the last time these teams met and Henrik Lundqvist posted 21 saves en route to a 5-0 shut out.

What to Watch

The Canadiens seem to have found their way with the man advantage after struggling for most of the season. The Habs have power play goals in four of their last five games, going 8-for-23 over that span. And if the power play is working, you can bet that so is Andrei Markov. The General leads the Canadiens with 15 power play points on the season. Markov has seven assists in his last five games.

After facing Tyler Seguin and the Stars on Tuesday, the Canadiens will need to deal with another elite scorer in Rick Nash when they play the Rangers on Thursday. Nash is second in the league in goals with 28 on the year, he's on pace to handily beat his career high of 41 goals.

What's at Stake

While the Habs still lead the Atlantic division in terms of points percentage, they're also still trailing the Lightning and Red Wings in actual points. The Wings have won six straight games to lay claim to top spot in the division, but they lead the Habs by just two points in the standings, with the Canadiens holding two games in hand.

Who's Out

P.A. Parenteau (concussion) is still out for the Canadiens and they've called up AHL standout Gabriel Dumont to fill in as a 13th forward. Dumont has played 15 career games with the Habs, but hasn't played with the big club yet this season.

The Rangers may be without Mats Zuccarello on Thursday, he missed Wednesday's practice due to illness.

What Else

The Carey Price for Hart talk is heating up at the midway point, and for good reason. No less than four articles came out this week suggesting Price as a serious Hart candidate, from The Globe and Mail, The Hockey News, Puck Daddy, and Habs Eyes on the Prize. While Price is not quite a runaway Vezina lock at this point, there's no doubt he'll be a nominee if his recent play continues.

Price heads into Thursday's action with a 25-10-2 record, a .929 save percentage and a 2.15 GAA, some of the best numbers he's posted in his career.

The Question Mark

The Canadiens have just traded for the best possible player on the market to meet their needs, who did they get?

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 6:00 to preview the Canadiens and the Rangers.

Read More

Game 46: Canadiens vs Stars

#MTLHockey Preview

Match Up

The Canadiens (29-13-3) return to action Tuesday night after the All Star break, playing host to the Stars (21-18-7). The game is set to start at 7:30 and airs on RDS and Sportsnet East.

This is the second and final game between the Habs and Stars this season, and the only one in Montreal. The last time these teams met, Dallas skated away with an easy 4-1 victory on home ice. Tyler Seguin had a pair of goals and an assist in the win.

What to Watch

Carey Price and Jiri Sekac return from their All-Star experiences in Columbus and the rest of the Canadiens return from their extended breaks looking to pick up where they left off. The last time the Habs played, Max Pacioretty was held pointless in a 2-1 overtime victory against the Predators, ending his seven game point streak. PK Subban and Alex Galchenyuk each had a goal and an assist in the win over Nashville.

Averaging over three goals per game, the Stars have the league's fourth ranked offense, led by the NHL's top goal-scorer, Tyler Seguin. Seguin is second overall in points with 52, 12 points more than the Stars' next most productive player, Jamie Benn, who currently has 40 points, including 13 goals.

What's at Stake

While the Canadiens are third in points in the Atlantic division, they still hold a lead over the Lightning and Red Wings in terms of points percentage. The Habs are locked into a close race for top spot in the division that's likely to last the rest of the season, so every point matters.

Who's Out

A week off is usually enough to cure what ails you, but P.A. Parenteau (concussion) is still not ready to play on Tuesday. Aside from that, the Habs are healthy as their schedule is about to kick into overdrive.

The Stars will see lots of players returning to action on Tuesday, but former Hab Erik Cole (upper body) is not one of them, he's expected to miss the match. Valeri Nichushkin (hip) is also missing, his November hip surgery has kept him out of the lineup for most of the season.

What Else

For the Habs a long break translates into a cramped schedule in their next stretch of the season. With only 45 games played to this point, only the Florida Panthers and New York Rangers have played less than the Canadiens this season. To compensate, the Habs will play 28 games between January 27 and March 21, a span of 54 days.

The Question Mark

How much of the All-Star Weekend did you watch and what was your favorite moment?

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 to preview the Canadiens and the Stars.

Read More

The Good, Average & Poor ... Habs First Half Analysis

Greetings Habs Addicts!

Photo Credit: latimes.com

The NHL All-Star game in Columbus was played yesterday, with Team Toews defeating the hometown team, Team Foligno, by a Lacrosse score of 17-12. That's right. There were 29 goals scored in the game, or basically a goal every two minutes of play. Whether or not they were playing with six attackers each and no goalies has yet to be confirmed. Carey Price was the lone all-star for the Canadiens this year, even though P.K. Subban and Max Pacioretty had numbers deserving of an all-star berth. Price was solid, allowing four goals on 16 shots. Price was also wearing a mike and spent most of his time answering questions from Glenn Healy and providing commentary while making saves. It was a lot of fun to watch.

The All-Star game generally marks what is considered to be the half-way point of the NHL season. As for that, it is time to take a look at the the Montreal Canadiens performance to-date.

Overall Record (29-13-3, 3rd in Atlantic; 4th in the East; 8th overall in the NHL)

The Habs are having another season that places them in the upper echelon of the NHL. Michel Therrien continues to ice a team that does not quit when down in a game, in fact the Habs have had a tendency this year to show up for the second and third periods of games while snoozing through the first periods. The Canadiens are second only to the Buffalo Sabres for least amount of first period goals. But the Canadiens are also amongst the league leaders in third-period goals as a team, illustrating a team that does not quit and gets better as the game progresses. It seems if the Habs can come out of the first period tied or trailing by one, they likely leave with a victory. If they lead after the first, they are almost guaranteed a victory. They have also won seven games in overtime or shootout. Even when they fall behind, they do not quit. Stealing point in games they have no business being in has turned into a trend. Carey Price has been the saving grace to the team this year and should be a front-runner for the Vezina Trophy at the end of the year, if not the Hart Trophy as well. No player has meant more to their team than Price means to the Canadiens.

Statistically, the Canadiens have been good but not as good as their record illustrates. Offensively, the Canadiens average 2.6 goals per game, which is 21st in the NHL. On the power-play, they have been operating at a 17% clip which is also good for 21st in the NHL. They have been inept with the man advantage for most of the season, Of the 23 goals the team has scored with the man-advantage, seven of them have come in the last four games. This may be a sign that things are picking up, in which case the Canadiens can be a force in the second half of the season. They need the power play to step up as its hard to continue winning when one-third of your victories come in one-goal games (11 in 29 wins).

Defensively the Habs have been solid. Michel Therrien has iced a defensively responsible team and the bulk of the credit goes to Carey Price. The Canadiens rank 4th overall in the NHL allowing only 2.4 goals per game. They also kill penalties among the best in the league, operating at an 84.9% clip which is 5th best in the NHL. Solid defensive play has kept the Canadiens in games they had no business being in this year. They have allowed some high shot totals on Price, who thrives with the high workload. They need the offense to catch up because Chris Kreider illustrated to us what happens when Price cannot carry the workload. Dustin Tokarski has been a decent backup, but he cannot take the reigns and run with them.

Forwards

Good - Max Pacioretty leads the team with 21 goals and 38 points in 45 games played. Patches has been consistent this year and entered the break coming off a six-game goal scoring streak ... Tomas Plekanec has been consistent this year with 13 goals and 32 points in 45 games anchoring the second line. Plekanec has had a revolving door of line-mates, but has continued to be the teams best two-way player ... Alex Galchenyuk has been coming into his own and has 12 goals and 31 points in 45 games this year. Chucky has finally moved to the centre spot on the top line where he exploded for his first-career hat-trick in December before being moved back to left wing in recent games ... Dale Weise has carved his niche in Montreal as a feisty spark plug with some skills. Fan favorite Weise has seen power-play time, top line time and has six goals and 16 points in 42 games played and has exceeded expectations of him coming into the season.

Photo Credit: usatoday.com

Average - Brendan Gallagher has continued his pesky ways and is continually driving to the net and providing screens on the power play. Gallagher has 11 goals and 25 points in 45 games, on pace for another 20 goal, 45-50 point season. Typical Gallagher ... David Desharnais struggled early on this year and lost his spot on the top line. Since being separated from Pacioretty, Davey found his niche on the third line as a winger and started shooting more. For the season he has 7 goals and 24 points in 45 games ... Jiri Sekac represented the Canadiens at the All-Star game skills competition as a rookie, but spent a stretch of games as a healthy scratch and has seven goals and 15 points in 38 games. Sekac has tremendous skills and has been one of the best players on the ice a few times. Developing consistency will be the key to his development as the season goes forward ... Brandon Prust is Brandon Prust. Chippy, scrappy and fighting as always, Prust has three goals, 11 points and leads the team with 83 penalty minutes. No one is taking liberties on the Habs young players with Prust in the line-up. For a player who has an injury history due to his playing style, Prust has appeared in all 45 games this season.

Poor - P.A. Parenteau was an off-season acquisition that was expected to provide secondary scoring. While his Corsi stats are solid, he has not found the score sheet at all and has a measly six goals and 15 points in 40 games while dealing with concussion-like symptoms. Parenteau was expected to provide 50-60 points of offense and that has not happened. He is in position to improve in the second half ... Manny Malhotra was brought in to win faceoffs and kill penalties. That he does well. At even strength, he has one assist and is a -8 in 42 games played. That he does not do well ... Lars Eller continues to frustrate fans and coaches alike with his inconsistent play. With a second line skill-set and tons of potential, Eller is backing up his big contract with eight goals and 15 points in 40 games played ... Michael Bournival has had a season lost to injury, but has two goals and one assist in 15 games . He should improve over the second half ... Hamilton Bulldogs' call-ups Sven Andrighetto, Eric Tangradi, Drayson Bowman, and Christian Thomas have combined for two goals and three total points in a combined 25 games played with the big club this season, mostly in fourth-line roles. All three points belong to Andrighetto.

Defence

Good - P.K. Subban is playing at a high level as usual. He has really come on as of late with the recent rebirth of the power play. For the year, Subban has 11 goals and 31 points in 45 games, leading the team with 25:21 in average ice time and is a +7 as well. Subban has seen more time on the penalty kill this year and continues to electrify the crowds with his stick skills ... Andrei Markov continues to defy the clock and has been our most consistent defenseman on a game-to-game basis. Markov has lost a step, but makes up for it with sound positioning and continues to quarterback the power play. Markov has five goals and 26 points in 45 games, 14 of those points coming on the power-play. Markov should have his ice time monitored going forward, as he is averaging over 24 minutes per game, which has worn him down the past two seasons.

Photo Credit: thescore.com

Average - Sergei Gonchar was acquired in a deal for Travis Moen and has provided one goal and ten points in 29 games. Gonchar is the elder statesman on the blue-line at 40 years old and continues to QB the second unit, paired up as a mentor with youngster Nathan Beaulieu ... Beaulieu has finally cracked the line-up full time and has only four assists in 30 games, but has been solid defensively and should continue to improve as the season goes forward.

Bad - Alexei Emelin has one goal and 11 points in 43 games and is a +3. On paper, he looks solid. He continues to hit hard, but not the same bone-crushing hits we've seen in the past. He has been tentative since returning from his knee injury last year and is often out of position, turning the puck over or looking lost. Emelin has been paired up with another disappointment in Tom Gilbert, who has two goals and seven points in 42 games played. Brought in to be a puck-moving, right handed shot on the power-play, Gilbert has been mediocre at best at the two skills he was expected to possess ... Mike Weaver provides leadership and depth to the blue line, blocking shots and killing penalties when he finds his way into the line-up. Age and playing style has caught up to Weaver this season, but he still has four assists in 27 games played ... Jarred Tinordi has appeared in nine games this season, with two assists and a -5 to show for it. He has spent the bulk of his season in Hamilton where he just returned after missing games due to a concussion. This season may be lost for Tinordi at the NHL level.

Goaltending

Good - Carey Price has continued his all-world play this season, compiling a 24-10-2 record with a 2.15 goals-against and a .929 save percentage. He has two shutouts as well. Without Price, the Canadiens are not a playoff team. Period ... Dustin Tokarski took the reigns from Peter Budaj during the playoffs last year and is the backup to Price this season. In 10 games played, Tokarski has a 5-3-1 record with a 2.50 goals-against and a .917 save percentage. If Price were to be injured, Tokarski can handle the load better than Budaj, but is better served as a more than capable backup. Combined, this goaltending tandem is one of the NHL's best.

The Habs return to action on Tuesday, as the Dallas Stars head into Montreal. The Canadiens also face the New York Rangers and Washington Capitals this week and look to continue their winning ways as the latter half of the NHL season commences.

---

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.

Read More

Game 45: Canadiens vs Predators

#MTLHockey Preview

Match Up

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.

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 to preview the Canadiens and the Predators.

Read More

Game 44: Canadiens vs Islanders

#MTLHockey Preview

Match Up

The Canadiens (27-13-3) return home to host the Islanders (30-13-3) Saturday night at the Bell Centre. The game starts at 7:00 and airs on TVA and Sportsnet.

This is the second of three meetings between the Habs and Isles this season, and the only game they'll play in Montreal. The Canadiens beat the Islanders 3-1, thanks in large part to a 37-save performance from Carey Price. The Canadiens were out-shot 38-21 in that game, and 14-3 in the first period alone.

What to Watch

Max Pacioretty has scored seven goals in his last six games. There are only five Canadiens that have more than seven goals all season. Pacioretty is now seventh in the league in goals, and with 158 shots on the season, he's up to fifth in the league in that department.

The Islanders are coming off a 6-3 victory over the Penguins on Friday. Kyle Okposo tallied four goals in the victory including three straight in the third period to put Isles ahead for good in that game. The team's captain and leading scorer, John Tavares, had three assists Friday, giving him 42 points in 44 games this season.

What's at Stake

Saturday night, the Habs have a chance to prove themselves against the best team in the East (it's still hard to get used to that). The Isles are four points ahead of the Habs with the Canadiens holding a game in hand. There's still a lot of hockey left to play this season, but a win on Saturday will give Montreal a big boost heading into next week's All-Star break.

Who's Out

Carey Price is day-to-day with an upper body injury, most likely suffered when Pacioretty shoved Matt Calvert into him during Montreal's 3-2 win over Columbus on Wednesday. The injury likely isn't serious and Price will probably be back in action soon so there's no reason for Habs fans to panic, but don't let that stop you.

The Islanders are without Mikhail Grabovski (lower body), Lubomir Visnovsky (upper body), and Matt Carkner (back).

What Else

The Canadiens are still trying to find their groove in 2015. After wrapping up last year on a 7-1-0 run, they've been less successful in the new year, going 3-2-1 so far this month, and 1-2-1 in their last four games. With the Detroit Red Wings catching the Habs in the standings, and teams like the Bruins, Capitals and Rangers hot on their heels, the team will need to pick up their play to defend their spot in the conference.

The Question Mark

With Carey Price and Max Pacioretty leading the charge recently for Montreal, who else needs to improve their recent play the most to help the Habs to victory?

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 6:00 to preview the Canadiens and the Islanders.

Read More

Game 43: Canadiens at Senators

#MTLHockey Preview

Match Up

The Canadiens (27-12-3) are in Ottawa to face the Senators (17-17-8) Thursday night. The game starts at 7:30 and airs on RDS and Sportsnet East.

This is the second of five meetings between the Habs and Sens this season, and the first of two in Ottawa. The Canadiens won the first meeting this season 4-1. Alex Galchenyuk had a goal and an assist, and Max Pacioretty had a pair of assists in the victory.

What to Watch

The Canadiens' power play returned with a vengeance Wednesday against the Blue Jackets, converting three of their seven opportunities. Max Pacioretty scored twice and PK Subban potted his fourth power play goal of the season to help the Habs overcome a 2-0 third period deficit en route to their 3-2 victory.

Mike Hoffman has been the biggest pleasant surprise for the Senators this season, he leads the team with 15 goals and a +18 rating. Bobby Ryan leads the Sens with 30 points on the year, he'll be the team's only representative in next week's All-Star Game.

What's at Stake

The Canadiens are back within striking distance of top spot in the Eastern Conference, sitting one point back of the Lightning and Penguins, and two points back of the Islanders. While the Senators may be division rivals, their .500 record has them 15 points back of the Habs at the midway point, so it's safe to say this isn't a four-point game for the Canadiens.

Who's Out

The Canadiens are healthy again heading into Thursday's action, despite a scare to Carey Price in Wednesday's game. Blue Jackets forward Matt Calvert was sent barrelling into Price at the end of the first period, but Price stayed in net to finish the game. Still with matches on back-to-back nights, expect Dustin Tokarski to get the call in Ottawa.

The Senators are missing noted tough guy Chris Neil (knee), along with Zack Smith (wrist) and Mark Borowiecki (leg).

What Else

The Canadiens have won six straight on the road heading into Ottawa on Thursday. Their 14-7-1 record on the road is among the best in the NHL, behind only the Islanders in terms of road wins and points. In fact, with 29 points on the road, the Canadiens have earned as many points away from the Bell Centre as the Oilers have collected so far this season!

The Question Mark

What was your first impression of the Plekanec, Pacioretty, Gallagher line?

Tonight's Show

Join host Steven Hindle along with Kosta Papoulias and Corey Collard for the Montreal Hockey Talk Pregame Show as we go live at 6:00 to preview the Canadiens and the Blue Jackets.

Read More

Does the Future Look bright for the Habs... or Not?

Trevor Timmins, what has he done for our Habs since taking over as head of scouting in 2003?

As any one who follows hockey will tell you, getting the draft selections right can make you a Stanley Cup contender.

However, if you get them wrong too many times then you will be a perennial bottom-half dweller.
So getting back to Mr. Timmins, how has he done?

His first go around was in 2003, a stacked draft year. In my opinion he real messed it up at his first draft. At the 10th pick overall, he selected Andrei Kostitsyn. At the 40th and 61st picks he selected Cory Urquhart (who you ask) and Maxim Lapierre. Andrei was okay when he played with Kovy and Pleky a few years back, but then disappeared. Lapierre was never more than a fourth liner at best and Urquhart is a no show.

Who could have Timmins selected? Well, it is an impressive list I am about to share, and it makes you cry when you think we could have had even one of these guys instead of what we did get. How about Jeff Carter, Dustin Brown, Brent Seabrook, Zach Parise, Ryan Getzlaf, Ryan Keslar, Corey Perry, Patrice Bergeron, Shea Weber, and David Backes. Anyone of those guys would be a huge help to our Habs today. How he could have missed this talent pool and picked what he did I will never understand.

However, I will give him a little bit of a break since it was his first time at the draft table. What about his second sit down at the draft table? In 2004 he selected Kyle Chipchura at the 18th selection. Who could he have selected instead and was still available instead of Chipchura? How would Travis Zajac look with the CH on his chest? What about Andrej Meszaros, Jeff Schultz, Mike Green, or David Krejci. So in my opinion year two was another big bust.

In 2005, we had the 5th pick overall and selected Carey Price. Nicely done Monsieur Timmins. Our next pick at the 45th spot was Guillaume Latendresse. Big G. never did pan out now did he? Who could be in a Habs uniform instead of Big G.? How about Kris Letang, Adam McQuaid, Keith Yandle, or Mason Raymond. Anyone of these guys could have been had instead of Latendresse.  But he did give us Carey Price, so we will forgive him for 2005 misses. Can you imagine Letang and Subban on the power play today, man that would be something special to watch. And throw in McQuaid's mean streak (which we dearly lack in our line-up today), boy would Price drool at having those two defend his crease today instead of what we currently have.

In 2006, Timmins' fourth time at the draft table. What did he do this time? So far the only good thing he has accomplished is Carey Price. Well in 2006 Mr. Timmins did not do well again. He had the 20th pick and he selected David Fischer. Another colossal failure. He followed that selection with Mathieu Carle (not Matt Carle) and Ben Maxwell. Neither of these two are doing anything significant today to warrant any excitement at their future contributions to the Habs. Now who could  have Monsieur Timmins giving us instead? How would Claude Giroux fit our needs today? Or how about Nick Foligno? And here is a real kicker; as much as I despise these two because they play for the Bruins I would have loved to have them join the NHL in a Habs uniform. Picture what a difference a Milan Lucic and a Brad Marchand could have done for us if they were selected instead of Maxwell and Carle. As much as I detest Lucic now, I would have loved him in a Habs uniform from day 1. So 2006 is another bust of a draft year for Mr. Timmins.

In 2007, his fifith draft I would say Mr. Timmins redeemed himself. He had the 12th pick and selected Ryan McDonagh. (Unfortunately Mr. Gainey in his infinite wisdom traded him away for a bag of hockey pucks (Gomez) to the Rangers.) He followed that up with Big Max Pacioretty and PK Subban. So 2007 was a win no matter how you look at it. He gave us two of our present day superstars who should be around for a long time.

For 2008, we did not have any first round picks because we traded those away. In the second round we received from Mr. Timmins, Danny Kristo and Steve Quailer. Neither of these two would make the Habs's current edition. Who could have been selected in this weak draft year? Well Zack Smith was available along with Adam Henrique and T.J. Brodie. I know, no big super stars but again much better than what we received. So 2008 we can say was a white wash since we never had a first round pick.

Mr. Timmins once again had a weak draft in 2009. We had the 18th selection and picked Louis Leblanc. Leblanc as his name may suggest was a huge blank. Never materialized into anything resembling a prospect. The very next pick was a guy named Chris Kreider. Remember him? He totally destroyed our cup dreams last year when he ran over Price and over our defense every time he entered our zone. After Leblanc we received Joonas Nattinen and Mac Bennett. Who could have been selected? How about Marcus Johansson or Ryan O'Reilly. So 2009 a lost draft year for the Habs.

In 2010, Timmins' 8th try was a good one. He gave us Gallagher and Tinordi. So it is safe to say that no matter who else was available we are definitely happy with Gallagher and the big potential of Tinordi.

As we get to the present years of 2011-2014 the jury is still out on the talent selected. Here are the highlights of those draft years. In 2011, we drafted Nathan Beaulieu in the first round and then did not have a pick until the third round. In 2012, that is when we had the third pick overall and selected our future #1 center in Alex Galchenyuk. That same draft we selected some high potential players in Tim Bozon and Charles Hudon. Both are doing very nicely in their present clubs (Kootenay and Hamiton) and should challenge for positions on the big club in the near future.

2013 saw the Habs get bigger with the 25th pick on Michael McCarron who says he wants to be compared to a Milan Lucic type of player). The next selection was Jacob De La Rose followed by Zachary Fucale and Sven Andrighetto with Martin Reway shortly after. Each one of these selections has high potential to make the big club and make an impact soon. Andrighetto already has several points in his short stint with the big club and showed he has NHL calibre speed and the hands to go with it. Reway had an excellent juniors tournament over the Christmas break as did De La Rose. The only knock I have against Reway and Andrighetto is they are both small players, neither stands over six feet. 2014 saw the addition of Nikita Scherbak, a big fast forward that the Habs need. So far he is excelling with the junior team (Everett Silvertips of the WHL) and looks to have huge potential in the next year or two, plus his 6' 2" frame will definitely be welcomed to the Habs line-up.

So the jury is still out on the last few draft years. We will wait and see how these selections mature and if they can contribute to the big club; and not as a fourth liner either. We have an abundance of fourth liners. Our best draft years were 2005 with Price; 2007 with Max Pac and Subban and 2012 with Galchenyuk. Other than that, the selections by Timmins have not really helped our club. Now I know there are some out there who say Timmins has one of the better records on his selections making the NHL. Yes but how many fourth liners does a club need. The draft is where you find your future stars. Other clubs have done a much better job at selecting players who can be a top-six forward or a top-four defenseman. Just review all the missed opportunities we have had with Timmins in charge. I say he needs to re-evaluate his scouting team because they are not up to were they need to be if the Habs are going to win another Stanley Cup.

What do you think? Are you happy as a Habs fan with what Timmins has brought to the table since 2003 or do we need to revamp the scouting department? Let me know your thoughts. Thanks.

Read More

The Flaw in Picking the All-Star Teams

How does one decide who is worthy of playing in the NHL All-star game. Do you go by individual stats, popularity, or the strength of teams?

Popularity rules when it comes to picking the starting line-ups, as the starters are determined by fan votes. Largely, you see the same players year after year, such as Sidney Crosby or Patrick Kane. Occasionally, you will see a less popular player get voted in if they are having a stellar season

For the rest of the line-ups, GM's and other NHL executives pick the players. Of course, a big challenge is representing all 30 NHL teams. A lot of times, players that should make the team due to individual stats are left off the roster because of the need to pick players from other teams. For example, PK Subban was not picked for the 2015 all-star game. In my hometown of Vancouver, the Sedin Twins were left off the roster. Looking at this issue from a team performance standpoint, 1st place Montreal has only goalie Carey Price going to the all-star game. On the other hand, Columbus, currently in 12th place has three players playing in the all-star game. Yes, I recognize that Columbus is hosting the all-star game this year. However, that should not be reason enough to send three players to the all-star game. I think individual stats and position of team in the standings should carry more weight than merely hosting the game.

There is still a chance Subban could be added to the roster if a player (defenseman) pulls out of the game due to injury, personal reasons, or simply needing to recharge the batteries. Congratulations to Carey Price for making the all-star team. He is a great choice to represent the Habs based on another outstanding start to the season. Price has been the MVP of the team, allowing the Habs to win games they should have lost.

#GoHabsGo

A Habs Fan blogging from BC

Read More

Game 41: Canadiens vs Penguins

#MTLHockey Preview

Match Up

The Canadiens (26-12-2) wrap up the first half of the season Saturday night when they host the Penguins (24-10-6). The game starts at 7:00 and will be broadcast on TVA and CBC.

This is the third and final game this season between the Habs and Pens, they've played a game each in their home building already this season. After losing 4-0 in Montreal, the Habs got a measure of revenge last week when they beat the Penguins 4-1 in Pittsburgh. Max Pacioretty and Tom Gilbert each had a goal and an assist in that game.

What to Watch

Carey Price had an off night Tuesday against the Lightning, allowing four goals on 16 second period shots, but the Habs netminder is having a career year this season. With 22 wins in 33 games, a 2.20 goals against average and a .927 save percentage, Price is on pace to match or set personal records in each of those categories.

Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are always players to watch when the Penguins come to town. The duo has 88 points between them, 45 for Malkin and 43 for Crosby, that's more than the top three scorers combined for the Canadiens (Pacioretty, Alex Galchenyuk and PK Subban combine for 86 points so far).

What's at Stake

The Habs and Pens are both chasing top spot in their division after falling behind the Lightning and the Islanders respectively. The Canadiens are four points behind the Bolts with three games in hand while the Penguins trail the Isles by a single point and have played one game less.

Who's Out

P.A. Parenteau (head) is skating on his own, but doesn't appear ready to rejoin the team yet. Special mention as well to Jarred Tinordi who was injured in a fight Friday night while playing with the Hamilton Bulldogs.

The Pens are missing Patric Hornqvist (lower body), Olli Maata (upper body), Blake Comeau (wrist) and Pascal Dupuis (blood clot).

What Else

Not only did Montreal's seven game win streak come to an end Tuesday night against the Lightning, their perfect streak of wins after scoring first was broken as well. The Habs went into Tuesday's game with a perfect 16-0-0 record when scoring the first goal, but after they opened the scoring, four straight goals from the Lightning ended that streak.

The Question Mark

What are your thoughts on fighting in professional hockey and do the Habs need more muscle in their lineup?

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 6:00 to preview the Canadiens and the Penguins.

Read More

Game 40: Canadiens vs Lightning

#MTLHockey Preview

Match Up

The Canadiens (26-11-2) return home triumphant after a perfect five-game road trip to play host to the Lightning (25-12-4) Tuesday night. The game starts at 7:30 and airs on RDS and Sportsnet East.

This is the second of five meetings between the Habs and Bolts, and the first of three in Montreal. Carey Price gave up four goals on 23 shots through two periods of play before being pulled for Dustin Tokarski who gave up another three in what was ultimately a 7-1 loss. Steven Stamkos scored a hat trick and Victor Hedman picked up a goal and three assists in the game.

What to Watch

Max Pacioretty and Tom Gilbert each had a goal and an assist on Saturday in Montreal's 4-1 victory over the Penguins. Gilbert finished the night with a +4 rating.

The Lightning have found offense from more than just Stamkos this season, in fact, with 43 points in 40 games, Tyler Johnson is the team's leading scorer. Johnson has two goals and four assists in the last three games and now sits fourth overall in league scoring as well as first in plus/minus at +26.

What's at Stake

First place in the Eastern Conference is on the line Tuesday night in Montreal, with the winner guaranteed to control top spot. The Habs and Bolts each have 54 points heading into the match, one ahead of the Penguins and Islanders, although the Lightning have played two more games than the other three teams.

Who's Out

P.A. Parenteau (undisclosed/head) will not be ready to play Tuesday, he'll miss a second straight game. Bryan Allen also likely won't be available to play against the Lightning, he was placed on waivers Monday afternoon and is expected to join the Hamilton Bulldogs if he is not claimed.

The Bolts are missing Rakdo Gudas (knee), who is scheduled for surgery and is expected to miss a fair bit of action.

What Else

Carey Price is once again the Molson Cup winner for December as the team's player of the month, he was also named the NHL's Third Star of the Week for his 3-0-0 performance. Price is the only Hab to earn the Molson Cup this season, taking home the honor in October and November as well, he's also won the overall Molson Cup as the team's MVP for the season five times in his career, including the last four seasons.

The Question Mark

Do the Canadiens need to add any specific pieces do be considered a true Cup contender this season or are they already there?

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 to preview the Canadiens and Lightning.

Read More

Game 38: Canadiens at Devils

#MTLHockey Preview

 

Match Up

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?

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 6:00 to preview the Canadiens and the Devils.

Read More

Game 37: Canadiens at Panthers

#MTLHockey Preview

 

Match Up

The Canadiens (23-11-2) are in Sunrise, Florida Tuesday night to face the Panthers (16-9-8). The puck drops at 7:30 and can be seen on RDS and Sportsnet East.

This is the first of five meetings between the Habs and Panthers this season, the teams will play twice more in Florida and twice in Montreal. The Habs and Cats split their four game series last season with each team picking up a 2-1 win in Montreal and a 4-1 win in Florida.

What to Watch

Carey Price continues to make his case as team MVP posting win number 20 on the season Monday in Carolina, but his 28-save performance the night before likely means it will be Dustin Tokarski between the pipes on Tuesday. Lars Eller and Jiri Sekac looked good on a line together in Carolina, they each scored for the Habs on Monday and finished the night plus-3 and plus-2 respectively.

Last year's top draft pick, Aaron Ekblad, is making a strong case for rookie-of-the-year considerations. He's third in rookie scoring with 19 points on the season and logs an average of 22 minutes per game. Only Nick Bjugstad has more points for the Panthers this year, with 20.

What's at Stake

The Panthers aren't nipping at the Habs' heels just yet, but they are making a strong push to reach the playoffs for just the second time since 2000. The Canadiens have eight more points than the Panthers, but the Cats have three games in hand on Montreal so a loss on Tuesday would mean that suddenly Florida is within striking distance of the Habs.

Former Habs assistant coach, Gerard Gallant, has impressed in his second stint as an NHL head coach, this is his first chance to face his former team this season.

Who's Out

The Canadiens go into their final game of 2014 with a healthy roster.
For the Panthers, off-season addition Shawn Thornton (groin) is the only player missing heading into Tuesday's game.

What Else

Despite a rough stretch at the end of November and carrying into the start of December where the team went 1-5-1, the Canadiens have quickly turned things around winning six of their last seven. The Habs look to end 2014 on a high note with another win and the chance to reclaim top spot in the Eastern Conference.

The Question Mark

What are your New Year's Resolutions for the Habs?

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 to preview the Canadiens and the Panthers.

Read More

Game 35 - Canadiens at Islanders

#MTLHockey Preview

 

Match Up

The Canadiens (21-11-2) are in New York to take on the surprising Islanders (23-10-0) Tuesday night at the Nassau Coliseum. The game is set to start at 7:00 and airs on RDS and Sportsnet East.

This is the first of three meetings between the Habs and Isles this year, and the first of two in Long Island. Last season the Canadiens took two of three from the Islanders including a 21-save shutout performance by Carey Price to help the Habs to a 1-0 overtime victory last December.

What to Watch

The new top line of Alex Galchenyuk, Brendan Gallagher and Max Pacioretty have combined for seven goals in the last five games and look like they're here to stay, at least for the foreseeable future. With six points in his last three games and 24 points on the season, Galchenyuk has moved into second on the team in scoring.

The salary cap losses of others has been the Islanders' gain this season, the team was able to bolster their defense by adding Nick Leddy and Johnny Boychuk to the roster without giving up much in return. Boychuk leads the Isles in ice time per game, making him an integral part of the team's success so far this season.

What's at Stake

The Canadiens have a chance to catch the Islanders in the Eastern Conference standings with a regulation win on Tuesday, but more importantly, they can help solidify their spot at the top of the Atlantic Division.

Who's Out

The Canadiens are healthy again heading in to Tuesday's action, so it will be interesting to see who Michel Therrien dresses. Sven Andrighetto and Nathan Beaulieu both held down starting positions on Saturday and could dress again on Tuesday.

The Islanders are missing Michael Grabner (lower body) and Matt Carkner (back).

What Else

Last season the Habs finished the year 17th in face-off percentage, with a 49.6% success rate. The Predators led the league with a 53.1% efficiency. With the addition of Manny Malhotra this season, the Habs have jumped all the way to first winning 55.4% of their face-offs so far. At 62.4%, Malhotra leads the league in face-offs, winning over four percent more of his draws than Martin Hanzal or Patrice Bergeron in second and third place.

The Question Mark

It's almost Christmas and the Canadiens have a share of the division lead; say something nice about Michel Therrien.

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 6:00 to preview the Canadiens and the Islanders.

Read More