Game Thread | Canadiens vs. Hurricanes | 04/24/06 | Round 1 | Game 2

SpiderManNL · Guru

Game Thread | Canadiens vs. Hurricanes | 04/24/06 | Round 1 | Game 2

SpiderManNL · Guru

SpiderManNL · Guru

MC Girl · Guru

I'm hoping the boys will do it again. 3-0 Habs this time

Johab · Guru

Alright, we ALL know we cant continue being outshot the way we were last night. Im sure Carbo and Gainey will bring that up ( and the players all saw the shot board themselves...so they know ) What the shot board doesnt say is that the majority of shots huet faced were perimeter shots. Montreal did a FANTASTIC job and keeping the shots outside. Huet gets beat when the players are allowed to square in on him and get that far side shot.

Montreal will have to pile on the shots this time and capatalize on the rebounds and scoring chances they get. Like last night. Also, keep the NO LEAD IS SAFE mentality. KEEP PRESSING UNTIL THE FINAL BUZZER!!! We did that last night, Souray scored with a couple minutes left...Carolina gave up already....

One thing i also would like to point out are the 2 different moods of the teams. Montreal is in the "zone" the have been in playoff mode for weeks now and have been playing their best hockey of the year since the Olympic break. You could see it on their faces last night in the pregame interviews. Rivet looked SOOO focused and so did Kovalev and Huet. ( those were the three i saw interviewed. Rivet said it best. "The team is all focused and we know what we have to do. We are all looking to play OUR game and set the tone in the first shift". The first shift...well wasnt exactly the greatest...but the 59 minutes that followed, huet and the team dominated every other aspect other than shots. The Carolina player interviewed looked bored out of his mind, NOT ready at all and his last words were. The team is very confident.and i swear to god if they kept the camera on him you would have seen him

Hope the habs can keep this up!!! GO HABS GO!!!!

barry33 · Guru

For what it is worth, I predicted that the Habs would steal the first game and then lose the second..gaining a valuable split in Carolina. I would love to be proven wrong in this case however. But I expect that if that 'Canes get decent 'tending tonite it will be a different game altogether. Looking at it realistically Saturday, 40 some shots on goal PLUS 22 blocked shots =65 shots on goal. You are playing with fire guys. Carolina got the wake up call Saturday night. If they thought this series would be a cakewalk because of how it went during the regular season they now know differently. I believe that the game will be won or lost in the first period tonite. The Canes will throw everything but the kitchen sink at Huet tonite and if the habs get caught running around early and taking penalties, the game will be over very early. But if they can "weather the storm" and Carlina gets frustrated, it will be a different game.

adam13 · Member

In reviewing all the articles and opinion on Saturday's game versus Carolina you can talk all you want about the amount of shots that the hurricanes took but bottom line...The scoring chances were were more even. Bottom line is the Canadiens will almost always have less shots than the opposition because they like to work the puck around a lot before shooting. I think Habs will play really solid tonight and Carolina will have a real tough time winning if they go down early...so here's to habs scoring a quick garbage goal to shake them Canes....GO HABS GO!

heet_150 · Guru

-- Edited by heet_150 at 13:33, 2006-04-24

SpiderManNL · Guru

http://www.canadiens.com/eng/news/redirect.cfm?sectionID=habsNewsDetails.cfm&newsItemID=4997

Canadiens - Hurricanes: Game 2 Preview

Canadiens lead best-of-seven series 1-0

RALEIGH – Despite their opponent’s best attempts, the Canadiens braved the Hurricanes’ storm in the opening game of the best-of-seven series Saturday night, exploding for six goals in a 6-1 win. The club will look to return home with a 2-0 series lead when they face off for game two tonight at the RBC Center.

Making his first NHL playoff start Saturday, Cristobal Huet outdueled Swiss counterpart Martin Gerber, kicking aside 42 of the 43 shots he faced, including 19 in the second period. Held to 21 shots, the Canadiens took advantage of their opportunities, going 2-for-3 on the power play. Alex Kovalev led the way with two goals and an assist, while 12 of his teammates also found their way on to the scoresheet. Chris Higgins, Tomas Plekanec and Francis Bouillon each collected their first NHL career playoff point.

Montreal is 56-8 lifetime when winning the first game in a series, while the Hurricanes, since moving from Hartford, have taken a series only once in three tries when dropping the opener.

Going back for seconds: This year marks the seventh playoff series between the Canadiens and Hurricanes/Whalers since Hartford joined the NHL in 1979-80. Over their six previous postseason showdowns, the Canadiens are a perfect 6-0 in Game 2, outgunning their long time Adams Division rivals 30-13.

Nordiques Nostalgia: Prior to their 6-1 victory over Carolina Saturday night, the last time the Canadiens exploded for six goals in a playoff game was back on April 28, 1993, when Montreal downed Pierre Pagé and the Nordiques 6-2 at the Forum to eliminate Quebec in six games. The five-goal margin of victory over the ‘Canes was also Montreal’s most lopsided playoff win since Jean Perron’s Canadiens crushed Michel Bergeron’s Nordiques 7-2 at the Colisée on April 24, 1987.

RALEIGH - The Canadiens will be looking to bring home a 2-0 series lead when Game 2 of their opening round matchup with the Hurricanes gets underway, tonight at the RBC Center.

SpiderManNL · Guru

http://www.canada.com/topics/sports/hockey/canadiensstory.html?id=21ed119b-8e14-4ff4-baf9-0e84b6473589&k=49093

Despite shaky Game 1, Gerber gets start

By PAT HICKEY

It's playoff time and that means Carolina coach Peter Laviolette is declining comment on any lineup changes for tonight's Game 2 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinal series against the Canadiens.

But we can tell you that Ray Whitney will return to the lineup after missing seven games with a "lower-body injury" and Martin Gerber will get a chance to redeem himself in goal.

"My leg feels better," Whitney said after he practised with the Hurricanes for the second consecutive day. He lined up with veterans Mark Recchi and Doug Weight and also practised with Carolina's No. 2 power-play unit.

Whitney skated around the question of whether he could have helped the Carolina power play, which went 0-for-5 in the Hurricanes' 6-1 loss to Montreal Saturday.

"I don't add a big, physical presence out there but I do have some skill and speed and I'm anxious to play," he said.

"He should help," Recchi said. "He's a skilled player and he's a right-hander, which is valuable on the power-play."

As for Gerber, you would think he would be a candidate for a seat on the bench after stopping only 15 of 21 shots in Game 1. And you would think he would definitely be a candidate after allowing 34 goals in his last eight games.

But the Hurricanes are hoping that Gerber will snap out of his current funk and show the form he displayed at the Olympics, where he made 49 stops as Switzerland blanked Canada 2-0.

The alternative is rookie Cam Ward, who played only four games since March 4 and has lost all of them.

Game 1 not important? Players on both teams dismissed the importance of Game 1.

"People are asking me whether we can come back and I just remember that when we won in Pittsburgh in 1991, we lost the first game of every series we played," said Recchi, whose resume includes parts of four seasons with the Canadiens.

"It's always good to win the first game, but you win four to advance," said Recchi's good friend, Canadiens captain Saku Koivu. "That was a good win for us, but there are things we have to work on. We can play better."

Ward in demand: There are no francophones on the Carolina roster, but Aaron Ward picked up some French growing up in Ottawa and has been doing interviews in French for the electronic media.

"I don't get much chance to use it," Ward said. "Over the years, there's always been some French guys on the teams I've played on, but not this year. I played with (Mathieu) Dandenault in Detroit and we had (Martin) Gelinas here, but there's nobody else now."

While Ward is the only Hurricane who admits to speaking French, he suggested that some of his teammates can handle the language.

Said Ward: "I'm gonna rat them out. I'm gonna throw them under the camion."

Mixed news for Cole: The Hurricanes miss forward Erik Cole, who is unlikely to play before next season. Cole suffered a broken vertebra in his neck on March 4 and there were mixed results when he underwent a CT scan last week. The test showed the compression fracture hasn't healed completely. While doctors don't believe he will need surgery, he is required to continue wearing a brace on his neck.

© The Gazette (Montreal) 2006

Goalie Cristobal Huet makes a glove save during the third period of Canadiens' Game 1 playoff win Saturday in Raleigh, N.C.

ray · Senior Member

Gaining a split is very huge, but I find too many teams use that as a crutch. Winning the next game is very crucial, the Habs can't have a let down just because they have a split. I'm very worried they might have a bit of let down. The first ten minutes will be hard, as the canes will come out flying. If the Habs can stage off the first flow, they will take the crowd out of the game and go on to victory. GO HABS GO, LETS GO TWO UP FOR THE GREAT FANS THAT WILL BE WAITING FOR GAME THREE. Imagine the electricity in the building if the Habs are 2-0.

jeanthehabtiste · Senior Member

LET'S GO CANADIENS GO!!!

macneil · Guru

in regards to shots , when informed of the shot count rivet thought it was a joke , he couldnt believe they had only 7 shots per period . and the cbc crew mentioned that the shot counter in carolina had a heavy finger when counting their shots . i dont care what the total was we won and thats the total that counts.

MC Girl · Guru

Et la BBBUUULLLIIISSS

Nil d · Guru

Beauty of a first goal! What a pass! What a shot!

Gerber gave him lots of room to shoot, though (Red Light Gerber in nets again?)!!!!

Astralmind · Newbie

Been lurking for a while but time to come out for the playoffs !

Canes powerplay coming up lets see how the boys handle this ! So far, the HABS ROCK tonight.

-- Edited by Astralmind at 19:35, 2006-04-24

MC Girl · Guru

My goodness... I've never seen them play so flawlessly. Huet is on fire!!!!

MC Girl · Guru

RYYYDDDDEEERRRRR WOOO HOOO!!!!!

Astralmind · Newbie

This game is totally insane so far... WOW !

JohnM · Guru

Let's keep the pedal to the medal boys.

MC Girl · Guru

MMMUUURRRRRRRRRRRAAAAYYYY!!!!

mperra (Admin) · Guru

3 zip!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Time for a goalie change!!!!!

brooklynhabfan · Guru

3-O!!!!!!!!

Gerber pulled

Mr Roarke, tell me I don't have to leave Fantasy Island!!!!

mperra (Admin) · Guru

Did I hear right? Harry Neale said ... (Carolina) more turnovers than Betty Crocker.

The Kahuna · Guru

WOW! I've gotta say, I've watched a lot of hockey over the years and as bad as Gerber has been, I'm going to have to say Huet is the most foccused I've EVER seen a goalie...and I'll include St Patrick and Ken Dryden. Huet is scary foccused. Jose who? Patrick who? Jacques who? I love this guy!

Habs are firing on all cylinders in the first, could be the best period I've seen them play this decade...keep it up boys!!!

Has Souray been back since he went off in pain? That's got me a bit worried.

The Kahuna · Guru

mperra (Admin) wrote:

Did I hear right? Harry Neale said ... (Carolina) more turnovers than Betty Crocker.

Best line I've EVER heard from him

SpiderManNL · Guru

1st Intermission

Habs 3 Canes 0

norskipaul · Senior Member

Seems like the storm has changed direction. Could it be global warming...?

Nil d · Guru

The Habs have played 250 periods this year, and that had to be one of the Top 3! Total dominatioin in every facet of the game.

Why I love the Cube: He goes down to grab the puck on an icing play - the same play that got him out of the lineup for two weeks, I might add - TWO Carolina players are on him, both twice his size, and hammer him into the boards. Who comes out with the puck? The Cubester himself, who passes it up ice where the Habs almost score.

And that's why I love the Cube!

The Kahuna · Guru

Nil d wrote:

Why I love the Cube: He goes down to grab the puck on an icing play - the same play that got him out of the lineup for two weeks, I might add - TWO Carolina players are on him, both twice his size, and hammer him into the boards. Who comes out with the puck? The Cubester himself, who passes it up ice where the Habs almost score.
And that's why I love the Cube!

Gutsy play, one of the top plays of the period by the Cube. Kovy's pass and Huet foccused play were right up there too.