Well the last time that Zednick, Koivu and Kovalev were reunited they won 5 in a row. lets hope history repeats itself. Finally will be nice to have at least one line that is a legitimate threat.

http://www.canada.com/topics/sports/hockey/canadiensstory.html?id=b2e2ff72-8275-4cdd-bb17-91649bfdab77

 

Time for Crosby show

 

Rookie's first visit. But Habs won't be among spectators


By PAT HICKEY


This is the day Montreal hockey fans circled on their calendars months ago.

Today marks the much-anticipated first visit of rookie superstar Sidney Crosby to the Bell Centre (7:30 p.m.,TSN, RDS, CJAD Radio-800).

And while Mario Lemieux, the only active member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, stayed in Pittsburgh while getting his heart problems under control, the Penguins offer a supporting cast that includes former Montreal stars Mark Recchi and John LeClair and an added attraction in coach Michel Therrien.

Crosby and Therrien will attract the attention from the fans and the media today, but as far as the Canadiens are concerned, they are merely distractions the team is trying to ignore.

"We're treating this like any other game," defenceman Sheldon Souray said. "We have to worry about our game, the way we play. Crosby's awesome and I'm sure that Michel is going to have his guys fired up. But we need points and we have to concentrate on keeping things simple and getting back to where we were at the beginning of the season.

"People are talking about the teams coming up from behind us, but we were one of the top teams in the beginning of the season and we're trying to focus on getting back and catching some of the teams that have passed us."

From a personnel point of view, coach Claude Julien took a step in that direction during an intense practice session in Verdun yesterday. He reunited his top line of Alex Kovalev, captain Saku Koivu and Richard Zednik. They'll be together for the first time since Nov. 12.

"They've been our best line when they've been healthy," Julien said.

Sadly for the Canadiens, they have all had injury problems this season. Zednik has missed nine games with a strained groin and the flu; Koivu missed 10 games with a strained groin; and Kovalev was out for 13 games after knee surgery.

The trio has been intact for only nine games from Oct. 27 to Nov. 12 this season, but they had a five-game win streak during that stretch and earned 13 of a possible 18 points.

"It felt good to be back together, but I don't know if the coach will keep us like that or try to balance the lines a bit," Koivu said. He went on to say that, while he wasn't 100 per cent, his groin didn't suffer any ill effects from his first game back Saturday in Carolina and a tough workout yesterday.

Koivu picked up two assists in the 5-3 loss and continues to be the team's leading scorer despite his lengthy absence.

Julien said he felt the need to push his team after their recent five-game road stretch, which yielded only one victory.

"You can't be happy when you've come back from a trip like that," Julien said. "I was tough on the guys, but that's my job - to push them to play their best."

Defenceman Craig Rivet was given a day off to rest. He's among the Canadiens who have been asked to log longer than normal ice time as the team copes with injuries and Julien's reluctance to use some of his youngsters.

"We've asked some guys to play a lot, but it's something we have to do because we're living in the present," Julien said. "We need to start winning some games."

While the top line is back and healthy, there are still some health concerns going into tonight's game. Radek Bonk continued to practise with the team, but remains day-to-day with a groin injury.

Steve Begin, who suffered a neck and shoulder injury in Florida last Friday, was examined yesterday and is doubtful for tonight's game.

The Canadiens made some personnel changes last night. Alexander Perezhogin, on the No. 1 line early in the season after Zednik was injured, was sent to the Hamilton Bulldogs. At the same time, the Canadiens recalled forwards Andrei Kostitsyn and Jonathan Ferland and defenceman Jean-Philippe Cote.

http://www.canadiens.com/eng/news/redirect.cfm?sectionID=habsNewsDetails.cfm&newsItemID=4622

 

Game Preview: Canadiens vs. Penguins

 

MONTREAL - Fresh off a five-game holiday road trip that saw them muster only one win, the Canadiens will be looking to start the New Year on the right foot as they welcome Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins to the Bell Centre tonight.

Being back in Montreal will likely be a good thing for the Canadiens (18-13-6), who boast an 11-5-2 mark on home ice, including a recent five game stretch that has seen them pick up at least a point in five of their last six games (4-1-1).

The Penguins (10-19-9), meanwhile, will be playing their second game in as many nights on Canadian soil after working a little overtime in a 3-2 loss to the Maple Leafs Monday in Toronto. The loss was Pittsburgh’s first over their last three games as they come into town having picked up at least a point in five of the seven games since former Canadiens coach Michel Therrien took over behind the bench (2-2-3).

Tonight marks the second of four meetings between the Canadiens and Penguins in 2005-06. Crosby made his first ever showdown against his all-time favorite team a memorable one by scoring a goal in regulation in addition to the only shootout goal in a 3-2 win in Pittsburgh on Nov. 10. The Penguins will be without captain Mario Lemieux tonight, as he continues to be sidelined with an irregular heartbeat.

Bringing out the Big Guns: After picking up a pair of assists in his return to the lineup in Carolina on Saturday, Saku Koivu will be reunited with Alex Kovalev and Richard Zednik on the Canadiens’ top line tonight. With the trio in the lineup, which has been a rare occurrence this season, Montreal has amassed at least a point in 9-of-11 games (6-2-3), while Koivu, Kovalev and Zednik have piled up a combined 10 goals and 23 assists in those contests.

Crosby Show remains must-see TV: Sidney Crosby, who is second behind Alexander Ovechkin among NHL rookies with 19 goals and 43 points in 39 games, has been red-hot since the Penguins handed the coaching reins to Therrien. The recently anointed assistant captain has 12 points and six goals in seven games since the coaching change in Steel Town, as Crosby has flourished on his new line with Zigmund Palffy and Tomas Surovy, who have nine and eight points respectively over the same span.

Crawl of the Penguins: Pittsburgh hasn’t done much marching at the Bell Centre in recent years. Since 1998-99, the Penguins’ visits to Montreal have felt like treks across Antarctica with Pittsburgh going winless over their last 10 visits (0-8-2). The news hasn’t been much better for Penguins since they joined the NHL back in 1967-68 with the Canadiens holding a whopping 62-10-10 edge on home-ice, including a 383-203 goal advantage.

North of 60: The Canadiens and Penguins are enjoying the new NHL so much that 60 minutes of regulation time just isn’t enough. Following their overtime loss in Toronto on Monday, the Penguins have now gone to overtime or a shootout 13 times this season to co-lead the NHL along with the Flyers. Pittsburgh has come out on top only four times in those games. The Canadiens are right behind the Flyers and Penguins with 12 overtime/shootout games with Montreal holding a 6-6 mark.

Manny Almela is a writer for canadiens.com



Jose Theodore will no doubt be looking for revenge against Sidney Crosby, who scored the lone shootout goal in the first meeting between the Canadiens and Penguins on Nov. 10.

brooklynhabfan wrote:

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f'n hilarious.  made me think of "Dags of Blunder" instead of "Days of Thunder"

And Spidey, thx for the stats.  I didn't realize how aweful Ribs was over the last 6 games.  1 pts only?  Yikes.  No wonder he hasn't had much to say.

JohnM wrote:

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I'm expecting a big night from Ribs tonight. He will have no pressure on him and he thrives in these types of situations.

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Well the guy has been whining  about having to play against the other teams checking line so lets see what he can do. He may get his plus minus up to an impressive minus 9 tonite.

 Well im a little worried about this one, the penguins are playing back to back, and when a team loses the first one, their odds of winning the second one increase huge. Hence the fact im a little worried but have faith and think  the boys will win 5-1.  Please win this one guys, would be a nice birthday gift.

Ando wrote:

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...the Habs are on the verge of something here!!!  Either they shake out of this tonight (after Gainey's warning shot demotion) OR this gets ugly...REAL UGLY!!!  And-o is almost afraid to watch!!! Crosby is gonna rock...can the Habs ignite the passion amidst this hype and energy???

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From what I heard about yesterdays practice, it was no daycare. Julien busting thier butts, Gainey sending Perez down..at least they are trying to shake things up here. If these guys do not start getting the message then maybe it is trade trade trade time

Jonny G wrote:

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With the benching of Ribs and Dags and the return of Bonk, anyone know what the lines are gonna look like?

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Are they being benched? I dont knwo how he can afford to do that with no Bonk or Begin

Jonny G wrote:

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barry33 wrote:
Jonny G wrote:

Are they being benched? I dont knwo how he can afford to do that with no Bonk or Begin


They're benched. Bonk will be in the lineup tonight.

http://www.rds.ca/canadien/chroniques/194968.html

Ribeiro et Dagenais dans les estrades



Mike Ribeiro Mardi 03 janvier 2006 - (RDS.ca) - Claude Julien a perdu patience. Mike Ribeiro et Pierre Dagenais ne seront pas en uniforme ce soir face aux Penguins de Pittsburgh.

Ribeiro a marqué sept buts et obtenu 19 passes depuis le début de la saison. Il présente aussi un cumulatif de moins 10.

En ce qui concerne Dagenais, il a compté cinq buts et récolté sept passes en 32 parties.

Hier, le Tricolore a annoncé le rappel des attaquants Andrei Kostitsyn et Jonathan Ferland et du défenseur Jean-Philippe Côté des Bulldogs de Hamilton alors qu'Alexander Perezhogin a pris le chemin des ligues mineures.

Côté a toutefois été retourné aux Bulldogs de Hamilton de la Ligue américaine de hockey mardi.

Côté, âgé de 23 ans, a participé à 26 matchs avec les Bulldogs en 2005-2006. Il a inscrit trois aides (0-3-3) et 51 minutes de punitions. Le défenseur de 6’2’’ et 216 livres originaire de Québec a participé à ses trois premiers matchs dans la LNH plus tôt cette saison. Il n’a inscrit aucun point mais a présenté un différentiel de +1.

On assistera aussi au retour au jeu de l'attaquant Radek Bonk.

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A translation courtesy of babelfish (yeah, OK, my break was pretty short, but someone has to replenish the urinal cakes)

Ribeiro and Dagenais in the estrades

Mike Ribeiro and Pierre Dagenais will not be in uniform this evening vis-a-vis in Penguins de Pittsburgh. Ribeiro marked seven goals and obtained 19 master keys since the beginning of the season.

It presents also cumulative from less 10. With regard to Dagenais, it counted five goals and collected seven master keys in 32 parts.

Yesterday, the Tricolour one announced the recall of the attackers Andrei Kostitsyn and Jonathan Ferland and of the defender Jean-Philippe Côté of Bulldogs of Hamilton whereas Alexander Perezhogin took the way of the minor leagues.

Side however was turned over to Bulldogs of Hamilton of the American League of hockey Tuesday. Side, 23 years old, took part in 26 matches with Bulldogs in 2005-2006. It registered three assistances (0-3-3) and 51 minutes of punishments. The defender of 6' 2 '' and 216 pounds originating in Quebec took part in his the first three matches in the LNH earlier this season. He did not register any point but presented a differential of +1.

One will also attend the return to the play of the attacker Radek Bonk. (Le bon ami de and-o)

Jonny G wrote:

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brooklynhabfan wrote: A translation courtesy of babelfish (yeah, OK, my break was pretty short, but someone has to replenish the urinal cakes) That translation is hysterical!

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I hope the Habs can restrict Crosby to one master key or so tonight.

Habhead wrote:

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Hmmmmm . . . doesn't look good. Halfway through the first . . . Mtl 9 shots, 0 goals Pitt 2 shots, 2 goals

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Pittsburgh has a plan on how to beat Theo. Shoot at him. 5 shots 3 goals. Pathetic. If Julien lets him start the second I will be totally amazed. Once again our goaltending lets us down. After tonite Theo will go fro, the 26th ranked goalie in the league to 28th. This is our top paid player? I have yet to blame goaltending this year but this is horrible. The Crosby goal, Theo on his knees. Second goal, weak backhand. 3rd goal, no rebound control..AGAIN.

Difference tonite. Pittsburgh has a goalie. Ours is back at his house still. 17- 6 shots on goal and we are down 3-1. Scoring chances Habs 8, Pens 1. Need I say more?

-- Edited by barry33 at 20:18, 2006-01-03

1st Intermission


3 1



Shots on Goal: 17 6