Game Thread | Montreal vs. Thrashers | 12/26/05

SpiderManNL · Guru

Game Thread | Montreal vs. Thrashers | 12/26/05

Johab · Guru

Any official word on Theo or Saks coming back??? I sure hope both are back tomorrow. And if not then im really gonna start worrying. As much as you all ...not all but some of you hate theo and saku...we are a better team WITH them than without them. Montreal HAS to start winning games again....This is getting for more than pathetic...

And Spiderman...im curious...do you make your own avatars...or did you find that...and if you do make your avatar....could you make one for me if you have time...i can give you an idea of what i want and you could put it together...ill send you some of my moms homemade cookies in exchange ;)

barry33 · Guru

Any teams that have been successful on a regular basis have some key ingredients. Number one being stable goaltending that is reliable game in and game out. The habs have not had that, both with Theo and Huet. They get one real solid performance and then a so so. Look at Buffalo. They have had an awesome one two punch with Biron and his backup who is back from injury and playing well. It all starts in goal and goes from there. The other area that needs addressed right away is the center ice position. How badly is Saks hurt? If he is not back tonite I think that there are serious concerns about his health. We were already thin there to begin with but you take Saks out, and Pleks, and you are left with Begin and Ribieoro. Not good. Not good. Not good. Did I say not good yet?

The other key ingredient is toughness. I have noticed the last few games that we are being pushed around. We cannot allow the Chris Neil's and Brandon Whitt's of the league to get in the face of Kovalev or Koivu. Gainey, if you are going to put Streit in the lineup to fill out a jersey, why not put Ivanis there? (I know that they use Streit at forward in case we lose a dman).

ray · Senior Member

Yes calling Ivan up would be a great idea, as long as he plays smart and doesn't go looking for trouble. We can't afford anymore guys taking bonehead penalties, the last few losses were because of stupid penalties. Ivans presence would certainly help and maybe create some room, more so than Streit would. Need a solid defensive game because the Thrashers have alot more fire power than we do, we also need alot of shots as Atlanta's goalie problems are huge. Will help that Ilya is suspended for this one.

SpiderManNL · Guru

Johab wrote:

And Spiderman...im curious...do you make your own avatars...or did you find that...and if you do make your avatar....could you make one for me if you have time...i can give you an idea of what i want and you could put it together...ill send you some of my moms homemade cookies in exchange ;)

My wife makes them and I can't see why she wouldn't make one for you.......PM me and let me know what you want and I'll ask her to make it.

-- Edited by SpiderManNL at 13:02, 2005-12-26

SpiderManNL · Guru

http://www.canadiens.com/eng/news/redirect.cfm?sectionID=habsNewsDetails.cfm&newsItemID=4618

Game Preview: Canadiens vs. Thrashers

ATLANTA – With eight straight losses on the road, the Canadiens are hoping the Christmas break is just what they needed. They kicked off their annual holiday road trip Friday in Washington with a 4-2 loss to the Capitals. Despite tossing 43 shots at goaltender Olaf Kolzig, Claude Julien’s troops suffered just their second loss when leading after 40 minutes.

The Thrashers celebrated Christmas a couple of days early, posting a 1-0 win over the New Jersey Devils on Friday. Bob Hartley’s crew picked up points for a seventh consecutive game, following a five-game skid at the beginning of December. Rookie goaltender Michael Garnett, making his 15th straight start, made 29 saves to earn his first NHL career shutout.

Tonight’s meeting is the third of four between the Canadiens and Thrashers in 2005-06. Montreal has won the first two, a 2-0 win in Atlanta back on Oct. 12 and a 3-2 final in the first-ever shootout win in franchise history on Nov. 22 at the Bell Centre.

Super seven: Michael Ryder and Andrei Markov each picked up a point against the Capitals on Friday, extending their respective point streaks to six games. In that span, Ryder has scored five goals and earned an assist, while Markov has one goal and six helpers. Before his three game suspension, the 27-year-old defenseman had earned at least a point in his three previous games.

Eight is enough: The Canadiens will look to avoid equaling their worst road record in more than a decade tonight. In a strike-shortened 1994-95 season, Montreal dropped nine in a row on their opponents’ ice between Feb. 27 and Apr. 1, 1995.

Nine is just fine: Since joining the NHL in 1999, the Canadiens have been more than comfortable at Philips Arena. Montreal will be looking for its ninth win in 12 meetings in the Thrashers’ building (8-1-2). In the 11 games so far, the Canadiens have outscored the Thrashers 33-12.

Breaking even: With their recent successes, the Thrashers head into tonight’s contest looking to hit the .500 mark for the first time since the Canadiens’ last visit on Oct. 12. Bob Hartley’s squad were 2-2-0 back then and were six games under .500 as recently as Dec. 3, their lowest mark of the season.

Andrei Markov has earned at least a point in nine consecutive games, beginning with the Canadiens' 3-2 shootout win over the Thrashers on Nov. 22.

SpiderManNL · Guru

Nil d · Guru

ray wrote:

Need a solid defensive game because the Thrashers have alot more fire power than we do, we also need alot of shots as Atlanta's goalie problems are huge. Will help that Ilya is suspended for this one.

Well, the goalie (Garnett) had a 29-save shutout his last game, so that could be a problem. The Thrashers have a ton of firepower, even without Kovalchuk, and are looking to get to .500. This one scares me, I'm not afraid to say.

SpiderManNL · Guru

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=148275&hubname=

Canadiens in Atlanta to face Thrashers

ATLANTA (Ticker) - The Atlanta Thrashers look to notch their fifth win in six games and return to .500 for the first time in more than two months tonight when they host the Montreal Canadiens.

Despite playing without suspended All-Star Ilya Kovalchuk, the Thrashers were able to post a 1-0 victory Friday over the New Jersey Devils. Marian Hossa scored the game's only goal and rookie goaltender Michael Garnett made 29 saves en route to his first career shutout.

Kovalchuk, who leads the team with 22 goals, was suspended for throwing his stick into the stands in Thursday's shootout loss to Washington but will be back on the ice Monday.

Atlanta has picked up at least one point in each of its last seven games (5-0-2) and has a chance to even its record for the first time since it was 2-2 on October 12.

The Canadiens opened a five-game road trip Friday with a 4-2 setback to Washington. Steve Begin and Richard Zednik each scored for Montreal, which lost for the third time in four contests despite holding a 43-31 advantage in shots.

Cristobal Huet got his third straight start in goal and made 27 saves in place of starter Jose Theodore, who is day-to-day with a bruised knee. Huet will get the nod again tonight.

Montreal has defeated Atlanta twice in as many meetings this season and leads the all-time series, 16-4-2.

brooklynhabfan · Guru

Nil d wrote:

ray wrote:
Need a solid defensive game because the Thrashers have alot more fire power than we do, we also need alot of shots as Atlanta's goalie problems are huge. Will help that Ilya is suspended for this one.
Well, the goalie (Garnett) had a 29-save shutout his last game, so that could be a problem. The Thrashers have a ton of firepower, even without Kovalchuk, and are looking to get to .500. This one scares me, I'm not afraid to say.

I saw that game with Garnett. He looks good when he's on. And Kovalchuk, what can I say, he's like a phantom out there, makes a lot of really good players look static.

But I'm going for a big win from us tonight. I say 5-2. I think the shower chat (think of the commercial possibilities) was a good thing. I bet it's going to be a full on 60 for us, with no slacking. I bet even young master Ribs might even have a shining moment tonight.

Now where's that stick of incense? I'm due down at Our Lady of the Avoidance of Stupid Penalties for nightly prayers.

SpiderManNL · Guru

1st Intermission

1 0

Shots on Goal: 15 5

SpiderManNL · Guru

2nd Intermission

3

0

Shots on Goal:

30

18

Nil d · Guru

SpiderManNL wrote:

2nd Intermission 3 0Shots on Goal: 30 18

Shots are actually 30-23 (Habs had 18 in second period).

Sounds like they're not in this one.....................

davidb · Guru

No they are not in this one, and it does not bode well for the rst of the road trip

Nil d · Guru

davidb wrote:

No they are not in this one, and it does not bode well for the rst of the road trip

I see Kovalchuk in the stats (he just scored). I though he was suspended - why is he playing?

SpiderManNL · Guru

Final Score: 4 0

barry33 · Guru

Gainey needs to hang his head in shame for that lineup out there. Is that the best we have? Begin and Ribieoro for centers? It got so bad a couple times when we had a bunch of penalties to kill that Juilen had to start using Kovalev and Dagenais to take the draw. Pathetic. Yes Bob, let;s wait until we lose 22 in a row before you actually make a trade or get something off of waivers. But hey why worry Bob? Your job is safe. You can fire the coach and blame it on him. Never mind the fact that you leave him hanging out to dry with little better than an AHL lineup. As for Koivu. we need to find out how long he is going to be out and if he cant be in the lineup then damn well get someone who can.

barry33 · Guru

Nil d wrote:

davidb wrote: No they are not in this one, and it does not bode well for the rst of the road trip I see Kovalchuk in the stats (he just scored). I though he was suspended - why is he playing?

he was suspended for Friday nights game

murphy · Veteran Member

Didn't have the opportunity to see much of the first period but saw the 2nd and 3rd. Habs seemed to be lacking drive and enthusiasm although they had 36 shots on net. Barnett played a super game (I guess he is trying to grab the #1 job) and Huet also had a very good game. Two of the goals were the fault of his D (Komo should have taken his man on the 2nd goal; Bouillon should not have made a play on the 3rd goal as the puck deflected off his stick over Huet's shoulder). The 4th goal was scored when the Habs were down 2 players.

I don't want to always zero in on Ribs but again he was on the ice too long-one instance in the 3rd when Habs had a PP he was on the ice for all 2 minutes plus maybe 15-20 secs after the penalty ended. Way too long-Julien should bench him period.

davidb · Guru

When you win it is a team effort. This game last night was a total team effort in the loss. It is very very very sad.