Game Thread | Canes @ Habs | 01/31/06

Johab · Guru

Game Thread | Canes @ Habs | 01/31/06

davidb · Guru

As in the past with fast teams like Carolina, we cannot afford to come out slow like we have so many times. We could find ourselves down 3-4 zip if we do come out slow. This is a tough week, Canes, Sabres x2 Bruins x2. We need points and we need them very badly. I say lets win them all and build some great momentum. I know I am being too realistic, but I have been accused in the past of being too negative. The Bruins are also having a tough week with Ottawa, canes habs x2. So we need these games so we can pull away from the surging Bruins. Just my Thoughts

barry33 · Guru

Johab wrote:

I think the key to winning this game is much more than just goaltending. I dont know how this hasnt got much attention but SHOTS ON GOAL!!!!! Games like in phili only happen once in a blue moon...where you score 5 goals on 15 shots....but look what happened in ottawa....and then only 20 shots ( some where after regulation was over ) in toronto. If we're going to beat a very good ( 1st place ) Carolina team...we're going to need ALOT more shots, great goaltending from who i hope will be Theo and Koivu has to keep up his play. ..furthermore, Has anyone else noticed that ribiero has looked pretty good lately? He IS hitting, and is making that 4th line look pretty good offensively. I think Ivanans and Downey are rubbing off on him...in the physical aspect anyway

Johab I cannot agree with you more. Shots on goal are a very real indication of the flow of the play and how much your team competed, or did not compete, in a game. We have not competed. The first 2 wins under Gainey were a blip due to a recipe consisting of a dash of fear, a teaspoon of guilt, and a cup of adrenylyn. Now we are back to the way we were the last month leading up to Julien's canning. Know what I find funny? We have 47 shots in 3 games (including one overtime game). I am waiting for "Coach Kovalev" to make another comment now about Julien's coaching style not allowing the dmen to move the puck and be offensive. Boy Alex old buddy. 47 shots in 3 game...LOVE that new offensive system that is now in place! Any other brilliant observations?

Johab · Guru

davidb wrote:

As in the past with fast teams like Carolina, we cannot afford to come out slow like we have so many times. We could find ourselves down 3-4 zip if we do come out slow. This is a tough week, Canes, Sabres x2 Bruins x2. We need points and we need them very badly. I say lets win them all and build some great momentum. I know I am being too realistic, but I have been accused in the past of being too negative. The Bruins are also having a tough week with Ottawa, canes habs x2. So we need these games so we can pull away from the surging Bruins. Just my Thoughts

Im not sure you have the right word there...i think you mean optimistic. If you were being too realistic, you'd be saying we'll win 2 of 6...as that seems to be the pattern of late. .....yes...grammar man has moved in with me

Nil d · Guru

Johab wrote:

Im not sure you have the right word there...i think you mean optimistic. If you were being too realistic, you'd be saying we'll win 2 of 6...as that seems to be the pattern of late. .....yes...grammar man has moved in with me

You mean "Grammarman".

Johab · Guru

Capital G...of course!!...

SpiderManNL · Guru

SpiderManNL · Guru

AB Habman · Guru

I agree with Johab also, if we don't match speed with speed, we're toast! We need to shut down the neutral ice to slow them up. Our D also has to respect their speed and not get caught flat footed (Souray are you listening)!

Remember they will be pumped with the addition of Weight!

If Theo plays, I have a bad feeling about this one. I think we'll lose big time! Partly because Theo will let in a couple soft goals and we won't have the guns to match theirs! Just a feeling!

Johab · Guru

addition of weight?...why didnt i think of that??? Add weight and that will slow down a team!!! secretly put weights in the canes equipment, they will become exhausted and the habs will be able to skate circles around them!!! Brilliant!!!!!

....i know i know... Doug weight....

Desi · Senior Member

When BG took over with the whip, and brought in Carbonneau to join Jarvis as assistant dungeon-masters, I assumed that there would be an increased emphasis on defense -- and especially in the defensive play of our forwards. With all those Selkes between them, it's certainly something they know a little about. And God knows our defensemen need all the help they can get. But Johab, you've got your pinky on the big problem with defensive systems like the one BG seems to be trying to implement -- shots on goal. At the beginning of the year, do you remember how many times this team outshot its opponents? It was a lot, and it got my attention because it was so out of character for the Habs. Now we're playing mediocre defensively AND not getting shots on goal. Against a team with a mediocre D of its own (Philly, Toronto) you can live with this -- sometimes. But unless Les Boys can muster 30 or more shots against the Canes, look for them to lose another one-sided "laffer".

Les Canadiens sont la

barry33 · Guru

Desi wrote:

When BG took over with the whip, and brought in Carbonneau to join Jarvis as assistant dungeon-masters, I assumed that there would be an increased emphasis on defense -- and especially in the defensive play of our forwards. With all those Selkes between them, it's certainly something they know a little about. And God knows our defensemen need all the help they can get. But Johab, you've got your pinky on the big problem with defensive systems like the one BG seems to be trying to implement -- shots on goal. At the beginning of the year, do you remember how many times this team outshot its opponents? It was a lot, and it got my attention because it was so out of character for the Habs. Now we're playing mediocre defensively AND not getting shots on goal. Against a team with a mediocre D of its own (Philly, Toronto) you can live with this -- sometimes. But unless Les Boys can muster 30 or more shots against the Canes, look for them to lose another one-sided "laffer". Les Canadiens sont la

With the severe lack of scoring we have I am afraid that 20 shots a game ain't gonna cut it Bobby. Especially given the way our goaltending has been doing it's best Swiss Cheese impression and our defence has played gracious hosts. I do not mind a team playing responsible defensively but we are not gonna win many games avearging less than 20 shots a game.

24 Rings · Guru

Desi wrote:

At the beginning of the year, do you remember how many times this team outshot its opponents?

Sigh, those were the days. We used to outshoot everyone and now they can barely muster 15 shots a game. Something is totally wrong here. Especially when I see Mike Ribeiro with an open shooting lane against T-dot and he turns towards the corners and looks to pass. And I think that I saw Souray grow a beard midway through his wind-up...how long does this guy need to get a shot off?

Nil d · Guru

24 Rings wrote:

Desi wrote: At the beginning of the year, do you remember how many times this team outshot its opponents? Sigh, those were the days. We used to outshoot everyone and now they can barely muster 15 shots a game. Something is totally wrong here. Especially when I see Mike Ribeiro with an open shooting lane against T-dot and he turns towards the corners and looks to pass. And I think that I saw Souray grow a beard midway through his wind-up...how long does this guy need to get a shot off?

Good one, 24 Rings! I laughed out loud at that one.........

Saku11 · Senior Member

Doug Weight will not play against the Canadiens tonite. He will arrivew in Montreal late wednesday night.

per Bob Mckenzie

Figaro · Guru

grow a beard - priceless!

Call me crazy, but I think Ribs will do well on the first line. He's got everything to prove and nothing to lose. Maybe he wants to play with Ovechkin or maybe he wants back up from the 4th line for good, but whatever it is, he'llbe wanting to get his "career" of its butt. I also think that the team will be feeling pretty good after winning 2 of 3. So, I'm going to predict a well fought loss of 4-2.

Jonny G · Senior Member

Mtl forward lines are as follows:

Kovy-Koivu-Higgins
Perezhogin-Plecs-Ryder
Sunstrom-Bulis-Zednik
Downey-Ribs-Begin

Streit, Ivanans and Bonk are healthy scratches.

Saku11 · Senior Member

-- Edited by Saku11 at 12:33, 2006-01-31

Figaro · Guru

Interesting lines. Looks like Gainey is trying to balance the D a little over all lines. Higgins and Plekanec as defensively responsible, correct? Still, my prediction is yet to earn an upgrade. Hope I am wrong though.

brooklynhabfan · Guru

24 Rings wrote:

And I think that I saw Souray grow a beard midway through his wind-up...

She-she-she-Shelly!

SpiderManNL · Guru

http://www.canadiens.com/eng/news/redirect.cfm?sectionID=habsNewsDetails.cfm&newsItemID=4695

Game Preview: Canadiens vs. Hurricanes

MONTREAL – After a 10-day, six-game road trip during which they faced five division leaders, the Canadiens are back in the friendly confines of the Bell Centre for five of their next seven games before the Olympic break. Tonight, they welcome the league-leading Carolina Hurricanes, making their first visit to Montreal this season.

Saturday night in Toronto, the Canadiens closed the door on their grueling road trip, notching a 4-3 overtime win over the Maple Leafs. Saku Koivu secured the win for Montreal when he scored his second goal of the night, just over a minute into the extra frame.

Home ice has certainly been an advantage for Bob Gainey’s crew, who are 14-6-2 at the Bell Centre. They’ll look to extend their home winning streak to four, having posted victories over Ottawa, San Jose and Dallas.

Carolina, for its part, is taking its team name to heart. The Hurricanes have swept their way through the month of January, suffering just one loss (to the Capitals) in 13 games. Peter Laviolette and his squad arrive in Montreal riding a four-game winning streak.

Tonight’s contest is the third of the season between Montreal and Carolina. The Hurricanes taken the first two meetings, both played at the RBC Center in Raleigh. The Canadiens, meanwhile have beat the Canes in their last three visits to the Bell Centre, improving their all-time record to 50-17-7-1 against the Carolina/Hartford franchise.

One step at a time: After becoming just the sixth goaltender in Canadiens history to reach the 20,000-minute mark Saturday in Toronto, Jose Theodore is eyeing another franchise plateau. The 29-year-old backstop is just three wins shy of Michel Larocque for sixth place in all-time wins. Theodore kicked aside 21 shots against the Leafs for his 141st career win. He’ll look to inch up the ladder once again tonight, as he makes his 24th career start against Carolina, the most starts he’s had against any club.

Multi-points magic: Saku Koivu, who tallied his second game-winning goal of the season against the Maple Leafs, recorded his third three-point night of the campaign. It was the 10th time in 2005-06 that a Canadiens player has racked up at least three points in a game. Those contests have translated into success come game’s end, as the club has post an 8-1-1 record.

Bottom of the barrel to the top of the heap: Having finished the 2003-04 season at the bottom of the league in goals for, the Hurricanes are now second in the NHL with an average of 3.71 goals scored per game. Already stacked with plenty off offense, Peter Laviolette will now be able to count on veteran Doug Weight, acquired from the St. Louis Blues on Monday. Before heading east, Weight was the Blues’ scoring leader with 44 points in 37 games.

SpiderManNL · Guru

SpiderManNL · Guru

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=153059&hubname=

Canadiens host Weight-less Hurricanes

MONTREAL (Ticker) -- The Carolina Hurricanes have added some new "weight" to an already powerful team.

One day after acquiring veteran center Doug Weight, the Hurricanes look to post their fifth straight win when they face the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday.

The Hurricanes, who have a league-best 76 points, added to their impressive roster Monday by acquiring Weight and Erkki Rajamaki from the St. Louis Blues for three players and a trio of draft picks.

The 35-year-old Weight, who was leading the Blues with 33 assists and 44 points, joins a team that posted its fourth consecutive win with Saturday's 4-1 triumph vs. Atlanta.

Justin Williams and Kevyn Adams each collected a goal and an assist for Carolina, which retired Ron Francis' No. 10 jersey before the game and rode the momentum to its ninth straight home win.

Meanwhile, the Canadiens have to be glad to return home as they have dropped 17 of their last 20 road games.

Montreal concluded its road trip with a 2-4 mark with Saturday's 4-3 overtime victory against Toronto. Captain Saku Koivu scored in the third period and added the game-winner just over a minute into overtime to notch his first multi-goal effort since November 15.

The Canadiens have won three straight home games over the Hurricanes but have dropped a pair of meetings in Carolina so far this season.

thompstar · Veteran Member

3-2 canes after the 1st.....some pretty iffy calls if you ask me, begin hits a guy that just dumped off the puck and gets a penalty for roughing when we are already a man down, then koivu gets hauled down a less then a minute later while trying to kill off the 5-3 and nothing is called. of course carolins scores on the 5-3 to take the lead. other than that it was a good period by the habs, least they are working hard.

SpiderManNL · Guru

1st Intermission

2 refs 1 2

Shots on Goal: 8 5

barry33 · Guru

Story of period one..Theo brutal on 1st and third goal and Saks makes a BRUTAL giveway for the second goal in the neautral zone..and he knew it...comon Saks you know better than that! On the positive side I see alot more jump out of even guys like Ribiero are hitting..Zednick looks like he got the message. but boys every shot with Theo is an adventure for him tonite..8 shots and 3 goals. He is fighting the puck big time and you can see the team hang their head every time he lets one in

Saku11 · Senior Member

Koivu is a freaking turncoat, gives 2 goals to Carolina????? One he tries a stupid ass lob, second, he is scared to put his stick in front of Cole's PP goal. Go home saku!

Nil d · Guru

barry33 wrote:

Story of period one..Theo brutal on 1st and third goal and Saks makes a BRUTAL giveway for the second goal in the neautral zone..and he knew it...comon Saks you know better than that! On the positive side I see alot more jump out of even guys like Ribiero are hitting..Zednick looks like he got the message. but boys every shot with Theo is an adventure for him tonite..8 shots and 3 goals. He is fighting the puck big time and you can see the team hang their head every time he lets one in

I'm not watching this one, but................shots are 8-5 and score is 3-2??????????? This must not be a goaltenders' duel so far! And Theo's GAA and Save% keep plummeting to new lows..........

murphy · Veteran Member

Agree Thompstar but Theo allowed 3 goals on 7 shots. Not good enough. Habs had a 5-1 edge in shots but ended the period at 8-5 Carolina following some penalty problems. The game was going great until the refs decided to make their presence felt. Lets hope the Habs get some calls their way for the remainder of the game.

Nil d · Guru

Saku11 wrote:

Koivu is a freaking turncoat, gives 2 goals to Carolina????? One he tries a stupid ass lob, second, he is scared to put his stick in front of Cole's PP goal. Go home saku!

Out of curiosity, I note you've been bashing Koivu pretty hard these past few days - - - - -- and your handle is "Saku11" !!!! Shouldn't you be calling yourself something else?