Game Thread | Sens vs. Habs | 12/20/05

SpiderManNL · Guru

Game Thread | Sens vs. Habs | 12/20/05

brooklynhabfan · Guru

Hmmmm - is it fair to guess on this one?

If our injuries have taken a left turn again, I say 5-2 Sens, if not, I say 4-2 Sens, Watch for Murraplekiggins to work a little magic

Is Spezza still out?

heet_150 · Guru

brooklynhabfan wrote:

Is Spezza still out?

He had 1 goal and two assists on Saturday. Good God, I hope he didn't do that while injurred.

By the way, Alfredson, Spezza and Murderer (I mean Heatley) - combined 139 points.

brooklynhabfan · Guru

heet_150 wrote:

brooklynhabfan wrote:
Is Spezza still out?

He had 1 goal and two assists on Saturday. Good God, I hope he didn't do that while injurred.
By the way, Alfredson, Spezza and Murderer (I mean Heatley) - combined 139 points.

Damn, thought the hip was still bugging him.

139, Yowzai!, does our whole team have that yet?

heet_150 · Guru

And to get even scarier - plus/minus ranking for the league: 1. Heatley +25, 2. Meszaros +24, 4. Alfredson +21, 5. Spezza +20, 6. Redden +19, 12. Chara +17, 16. Phillips +15, and 17. Pothier +14. By my count, that's 8 in the top 20.

Any guesses as to where the first hab shows up? Times up - Andrei Markov tied for 98th at +5.

SpiderManNL · Guru

http://www.canada.com/topics/sports/hockey/canadiensstory.html?id=731c4933-9ea5-46f7-b4ab-e5fd074f24ff

Kovalev hopeful, Zednik doubtful

By PAT HICKEY

A frustrated Alex Kovalev said he'll be disappointed if he's not in the lineup tonight when the Canadiens entertain the first-place Ottawa Senators at the Bell Centre (7:30 p.m., RDS, CJAD Radio-800).

"They told me the decision to come back was up to me, but that wasn't true," said Kovalev, who is waiting for a doctor's OK to resume playing after recovering from knee surgery performed Nov. 15.

"I was ready to play last week, but the doctor said he wanted me to wait at least five weeks."

Kovalev said the five-week edict came from Charles Burke, the orthopedic surgeon who performed the arthroscopic procedure in Pittsburgh.

David Mulder, the Canadiens' team physician, will watch the morning skate and examine Kovalev before clearing him for action tonight.

"I was ready after three or four practices," said an agitated Kovalev, who resumed regular practices eight days ago.

"I don't think you can expect one player to turn a team around and it's going to take me a few games to get back into it. That's why I wanted to get started as soon as I was ready."

Kovalev's return would be a boost to a team that has lost nine of its last 12 games and is trying to cope with a number of injuries.

While you can list Kovalev as probable for tonight's game, No. 1 goaltender Jose Theodore is out with a bruised knee, Radek Bonk continues to be sidelined with a groin injury and Tomas Plekanec is out with a knee injury.

Richard Zednik is doubtful after missing yesterday's practice with the flu, and captain Saku Koivu left early to receive treatment on his groin.

"Saku didn't reinjure anything; he just felt a little tweak and decided that it was best not to push it," coach Claude Julien said.

The Habs attempted to fill some of the holes by recalling goalie Yann Danis and forward Andrei Kostitsyn from Hamilton.

Theodore will miss his second game since he was struck on the left knee during last Thursday's 5-3 loss in Edmonton. He continued playing after the injury, but the knee was swollen the following day.

"It's still swollen and I can't bend it," Theodore said yesterday. He practised with the team, but his mobility was limited.

"I tried to move around and work on covering the angles, but I couldn't go down into my butterfly," Theodore said.

His absence means Cristobal Huet gets his second start as a Canadien. He stopped 24 of 28 shots in a 4-3 overtime loss in Minnesota Saturday night.

"He was a little nervous at the start, but I thought he played a pretty good game," Theodore said. "It was tough because he hasn't played in a long time."

Huet, who underwent major knee surgery in July, missed training camp and didn't join the Canadiens until early last month. He seemed to spend a lot of time flopping on the ice, but made several big saves down the stretch to help salvage a point.

Plekanec,who has been the most impressive of the Canadiens' young forwards this season, suffered a knee injury in Minnesota. While the Canadiens are waiting for the result of tests, it appears he won't be back before the new year.

The Canadiens are on the road for five games after tonight. They play in Washington Friday, return home for Christmas, then begin a four-game road trip on Boxing Day in Atlanta.

phickey@thegazette.canwest.com

© The Gazette (Montreal) 2005

SpiderManNL · Guru

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=147666&hubname=

Kovalev returns to face Senators

Sports Network) - The Ottawa Senators hope to remain on track tonight when they visit the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre, but Alexei Kovalev might have something to say about it.

The injury-plagued Canadiens, losers of two-straight, will have Kovalev back in the lineup tonight.

The Sens have won two of their last three games after a 2-1-2 lull. On Saturday, Daniel Alfredsson, Jason Spezza and Wade Redden each scored a goal and had two assists, as the Senators dominated the rival Toronto Maple Leafs, 8-2, at the Corel Centre.

The Senators set a franchise record by scoring six power-play goals in downing the Leafs for the fourth time in four meetings this season.

Dany Heatley and Bryan Smolinski each added a goal and an assist for Ottawa, which won for only the second time in the past five games. Dominik Hasek made 27 saves in the victory.

Ottawa leads the Northeast Division with 48 points -- one ahead of second- place Buffalo.

The Senators, who are 10-2-2 on the road, will visit Philadelphia on Thursday to continue the three-game trek than begins tonight.

On Saturday the Habs dropped a 4-3 overtime contest in Minnesota. Brian Rolston scored two goals and had a pair of assists to lead the Wild.

Andrei Markov, Richard Zednik and Ryder scored for the Canadiens, who have lost seven of their last nine games. Huet made 24 saves in defeat while making his first start of the year for the Habs.

Saku Koivu returned to the lineup for Montreal and had an assist after missing the last five games with a groin injury. He is not, however, expected to play tonight because his groin is giving him trouble again. The Canadiens were without the services of former Hart and Vezina winner Jose Theodore, who sat with a bruised left knee. Theodore is not expected to play this evening either. The same goes for Zednik, who is suffering from the flu.

The Canadiens, who are 10-5-2 on home ice, will begin a five-game road trip on Friday in Washington.

The Senators are 3-0 against the Canadiens this season, and have won nine of the last 11 meetings overall.

SpiderManNL · Guru

Seeing as how Zeddy and Koivu are not playing tonight, I hope Juliens puts Perezhogin and Kostitsyn on a line with Kovalev.

SpiderManNL · Guru

http://www.canadiens.com/eng/news/redirect.cfm?sectionID=habsNewsDetails.cfm&newsItemID=4584

Game Preview: Canadiens vs. Senators

MONTREAL – The Canadiens will be happy to find themselves in front their fans Tuesday night after dropping their seventh straight on the road Saturday in Minnesota. Despite the return of captain Saku Koivu, Claude Julien’s troops fell 4-3 in overtime to the Wild.

Before heading out for the traditional holiday road trip, Montreal (16-9-6) will host the league-leading Ottawa Senators (23-5-2) tonight at the Bell Cenre. The Canadiens will be able to count on the return of Alex Kovalev, who will be back in action for the first time since undergoing surgery on his left knee on Nov. 15. While the Russian star returns to the lineup, Montreal will have to do without Saku Koivu (stiff groin), Richard Zednik (flu) and Tomas Plekanec (knee).

After losing three of their previous four games, the Senators hopped back on to the winning track Saturday. A visit from the Maple Leafs proved to be just what the doctor ordered as Ottawa crushed Toronto 8-2, scoring six power-play goals. Bryan Murray’s crew picked up its 12th win in 13 meeting against Northeast division rivals in 2005-06.

Tonight’s contest is the fourth meeting between the Canadiens and Senators this season. Ottawa has taken the first three, with the last victory a 4-0 final on Nov. 29 in Ottawa.

Welcome back, Kovalev: Alex Kovalev will be appearing in his first game since Nov. 12 against the Maple Leafs. While he was out, the Canadiens went 4-6-3 in 13 games. Before undergoing knee surgery, the 32-year-old was second in team scoring, with 19 points in 18 games.

Huet vs. Hasek: After making his Canadiens debut Saturday in Minnesota, Cristobal Huet will make Bell Centre debut tonight against the Senators. Huet, who stopped 24 of 28 shots against the Wild, will face Dominik Hasek at the other end of the ice. Hasek whose 1.99 goals-against average and .932 save percentage lead the NHL, will be facing Montreal for the first time this season; Ray Emery led his team to victory in the first three meetings. The Czech netminder is 21-10-4 lifetime against the Canadiens while Huet will be facing the Senators for the first time in his career.

Third period triumphs: Throughout the season, the Senators have shown their ability to play right to the end. The Northeast Division leaders have lit the lamp 51 times in the third period, the most of any team in the league. On the other end, they’ve allowed only 19 goals in the final 20 minutes, the least in the NHL.

Michael Ryder has been on a roll of late, riding a four-game goal-scoring streak into tonight's matchup.

thompstar · Veteran Member

well good luck to the habs tonight, we all know they will need it with so many key players out....get one back and lose two more, when is it going to stop??????????

maybe we will catch them off guard and squeek out a point or 2, ya never know

brooklynhabfan · Guru

thompstar wrote:

well good luck to the habs tonight, we all know they will need it with so many key players out....get one back and lose two more, when is it going to stop??????????
maybe we will catch them off guard and squeek out a point or 2, ya never know

And perhaps the monkeys who just vacated my lower cavity will form an excellent defensive corps and come to our rescue

barry33 · Guru

SpiderManNL wrote:

Seeing as how Zeddy and Koivu are not playing tonight, I hope Juliens puts Perezhogin and Kostitsyn on a line with Kovalev.

With the bodies we have tonite do not be surpised to see the trainer and an usher on Kovalev's line

Figaro · Guru

SpiderManNL wrote:

Seeing as how Zeddy and Koivu are not playing tonight, I hope Juliens puts Perezhogin and Kostitsyn on a line with Kovalev.

That would be a line to be recokened with. I was hoping for Ryder, Higgins and Kovalev.

4-2 Sens, Ryder, Kovalev. Sucks to be us.

barry33 · Guru

Figaro- would you put the usher on the right wing or at Center?lol

Ando · Guru

Don't laugh - CJ would likely start giving the Usher 15 minutes per game while the likes of Higgins sat!

AB Habman · Guru

Our only chance is if our goalie stands on his head! When has that happened??

ray · Senior Member

AB Habman wrote:

Our only chance is if our goalie stands on his head! When has that happened??

Not only stand on his head but score the only goal, for a 1-0 win. This is going to be ugly. I can hear the buds fans tomorrow. Whats with all these injuries, do these guys not stretch before games and loosen up. Its getting frustrating.

murphy · Veteran Member

I know one thing the Laffs could comment on and that is the negativity being expressed on these posts. We as fans have no control over what happens on the ice but we can always have hope that our team, with 5 regulars out, will give the Sens a run for their money.

Habhead · Veteran Member

Bad penalty on Rivet . . . Sens score a gimme goal . . . it's gunna be a tough game tonight.

barry33 · Guru

Apparently Spezza was on Souray's gift list

SpiderManNL · Guru

1st Intermission

1 0

Shots on Goal: 10 9

Nil d · Guru

A good first period for the Habs. If they can kill off the 5 on 3, it should be a huge boost for them (plus the refs will be doing the evening-out calls later! ).

And the Souray giveaway notwithstanding, I thought the D played very well. We're losing, but I like what I see so far.

By the way, I'm watching the game on CTV Sportsnet - the announcers are driving me crazy! Not only are they huge Ottawa fans, they chit-chat all the time and hardly do any play-by-play. I can't tell what the lines are, for Pete's sake.

salted_one · Veteran Member

well we left the 1st in a bad state but apart from the penilties it hasn't been too bad. habs look like they are tryin out there and Huet looks ok so far now on to the PK for the first bit of the second and try to score some goals!!

barry33 · Guru

Nil d wrote:

A good first period for the Habs. If they can kill off the 5 on 3, it should be a huge boost for them (plus the refs will be doing the evening-out calls later! ). And the Souray giveaway notwithstanding, I thought the D played very well. We're losing, but I like what I see so far. By the way, I'm watching the game on CTV Sportsnet - the announcers are driving me crazy! Not only are they huge Ottawa fans, they chit-chat all the time and hardly do any play-by-play. I can't tell what the lines are, for Pete's sake.

What do you expect when you get a former Sens player doing the color commentary. Galley even said that Souray got an assist on the Spezza goal. Trust me, Galley was brutal in his short lived career and is in no position to laugh at Souray. By the way I have fallen for that before..thje old "Barry pass it" trick. Rivet has to use his head out here..2, 2 and a 10. For those of us wondering why Streit was playing Center on the 4th line...Rivet's missing half the second period moves Streit back to the point now.

salted_one · Veteran Member

what exacly was the 10 min for im watchin the game on RDS and i don't understand a word of french and i went to get a drink at the time of the penilty oops

Nil d · Guru

Ando wrote:

Don't laugh - CJ would likely start giving the Usher 15 minutes per game while the likes of Higgins sat!

Good one, And-o!

-- Edited by Nil d at 21:05, 2005-12-20

SpiderManNL · Guru

2nd Intermission

3

2

Shots on Goal:

24

23

Habhead · Veteran Member

The second period started rough, but the Habs are showing some much appreciated spark in this game and have fought back to only be 1 goal behind.

Let's hope they can keep the same effort up in the third and get a break from the ref's. The Habs are really get a raw deal from the zebras lately!

Nil d · Guru

Another good period by les Boys. Nice to see them get back in the game after falling behind 3-0.

Kovelev looking good.

And I like that new line - Ryder/Sundstrom/Begin. They're making things happen!

barry33 · Guru

Boy after 2..great effort by the habs...still in the game. Gotta stay out of the box though. We are showing we can play 5 0n 5 with these guys (and yes And-O Claude listend to you and is getting the mathcups on the big line) Have we missed Kovalev or what?! This guy dominates on one leg. Can't wait to get Koivu and Zed back. By the way I really like Ribieoro and Bulis on that line with Kovalev for now. Ribieoro i sshowing more jump than I have seen and his dipsy doodles go well with big Bulis and Kovalev. Ryder looks great on that line with Begin too.