Showing posts with label Patrick Kane. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Patrick Kane. Show all posts

Tuesday, 14 March 2017

Game 70: Hawks vs. Habs

Chicago 4, Montreal 2:

FIRST PERIOD:

- Julien with warm up switch, Plekanec takes the second line centre position between Lehkonen and Gallagher, Danault down to the 3rd lind.

- 7 minutes in, couple of observances. First, Habs are starting strong, doing a nice job maintaining puck possession, and applying majority of offensive pressure. Secondly, Habs are holding on to the puck too long - seeking to set up an open shot. The Hawks are an excellent backcheking hockey team - you're going to have instances of opportunity, but nothing more. Habs need to drive the net more aggressively, put pucks towards Crawford. Nothing pretty. You can't score against Chicago this way.

- Andrew Shaw getting is mind numbingly stupid penalty of the night, out of the way early. 

- Jordie Benn continues to demonstrate his excellent value, doing excellent work on the PK. That looks more and more to be Bergevin's best trade deadline move (although the others, admittedly, underwhelm without comparisons).

- Kane scores. Guess who completely muffed up the play? One Alexei Emelin. My god. The madness continues.
- Surely Claude Julien realizes that against a team like the Black Hawks, you have to get things almost exactly right to beat them on any given night. Surely. So starting Emelin, which inherently catapults risk through the ceiling, seems like an extraordinary misjudgement. 

- Habs actually played a solid first period, holding their own against a much deeper Hawks lineup. The period not unlike the game against Edmonton, followed the same pattern; outplaying the opponent, but those efforts undone because of a defensive error - by the same player. 


SECOND PERIOD:

- Did I say the Habs outplayed the Hawks in that first period? I was wrong. Should have used the word dominated. 5v5 CF: 74.1%. That qualifies for a big ol' wow.


- Anisimov's apparent knee injury (which looked serious) at the end of the 1st period won't be easy to replace. Hawks' scoring punch is significantly lessened without him in the lineup (not to mention it dilutes their main strength - their top 3 lines are very balanced and dangerous).

- Habs first powerplay, which as a whole, has looked pretty bad the past two weeks. THey'll need it to produce some scoring tonight, or the chances of victory will be limited at best.

- Crawford with top class save on Galchenyuk wrister, otherwise, not much to show on that man advantage. Still, the Habs are hanging in there - the Hawks are going to have to work 3 periods for the 2 points.

- Oduya, 2-0. Emelin with more terrible decision making, playmaking, leading directly to the Hawks goal. Sigh. 

- Here's the Emelin check ... of his own guy, which created the Hawks break the other direction, leading eventually to their 2nd goal. Abysmal. 

- Big winner tonight is obviously Nathan Beaulieu. He gets the night off from having to play the Hawks, and Claude Julien dares never scratch him again to create space for Emelin.

- Habs 2nd powerplay looks awfully good, highlighted by a scary save off the mask from a Weber bomb from only 25 feet away. Galchenyuk two more great scoring chances, looks skyward in disbelief. Hawks hanging on to the shutout, but just barely. 

- Monitoring Emelin's usage, Julien is putting him out for tough minutes, including against the Kane line, which is simply baffling to me.

- 2nd period not unlike the first, slightly more evenly played, but the Habs were the better team. Like the first, it's all or nothing, because of an Emelin mistake leading to the other Hawks goal. And so we rinse and repeat.


THIRD PERIOD:

- Better 2nd period for the Hawks, just under 58% CF - but still, the only difference in this game has been two magnificent errors by Emelin which led to Chicago's scoring, plus Corey Crawford has been, as per usual in the Bell Centre, playing out of his mind. What can ya do?


- I ... I ... I ... I don't even know what to say any more, so I'll just read out the play. Emelin chases over to Petry's side in Habs zone, for reasons that are ... unknown. Middle of the ice left completely open as a result, Panarin with about as easy a goal as he'll have in his NHL career to drive the dagger home. 

- The horror. The horror. The horror ...
- Four days to contemplate tonight's loss, how it happened, and who plays this weekend in a 2 set that might very well decide who wins the Atlantic Division this year. I cannot even fathom Claude Julien entertaining sitting Beaulieu out for either game. I also can't fathom how he can still rationalize putting Emelin back into the lineup, other than he has a steadfast belief that Emelin is capable, that he's in a funk, and he just needs to play through it. What Julien might not understand, since he's new to the Habs history, is that Emelin the past while is the Emelin we've seen for the past 4 years - only on a more specular scale of failure. There is no "playing through". Claude, what you 're seeing is what you get.

- Ah, Byron at least puts the Habs on the board, his 19th of the season. Still impossible to believe the Flames just gave him away. 7 minutes left.

- Well, now. Weber with a point shot that finds its way past Crawford, and it's 3-2. More than 3 minutes left. Hold on to your hats.

- It's gonna really suck if the Habs lose this by one. To think of what could have been, had someone not been put in the lineup tonight.

- Toews with the empty netter. That's all she wrote.

- One of those games you feel you might have actually won, so there's plenty of regret to go around. What might have been if Julien hadn't put Emelin in the lineup, we'll never know.



CHICAGO IS IN TOWN! LET'S LOOK AT PATRICK KANE'S POLICE MUG SHOT

Look at that police station face. Isn't he handsome?? No?! Well then have a few drinks. Patrick insists.

Ooookay, then. The Chicago Black Hawks, this decade's version of the 90s Philadelphia Flyers to the Montreal Canadiens, invade the Bell Centre tonight to take on the Habs. As we hinted, the Hawks have not been kind to Montreal this decade - the Canadiens haven't beaten Chicago since early 2014, and have only won twice against the Hawks this decade. Hoo boy.

Given how Chicago has steamrolled the Habs over the years, and given that Chicago is has about at 50/50 shot of winning this season's President's Trophy, you'd want to put your absolutely bestest best hockey guys into your lineup. To the twittersphere!!!!:
Uhhhh ... kay. This doesn't mean what I think it means ... does it?
My god. It does. CLAAAAAAAAAAAAAUDEEE!?!!!!

Nope. Still not buying it. Still not convinced. Sure, rotate some guys out like Beaulieu for lesser opponents - the Habs have games coming up against terrible teams like Detroit, Carolina and Dallas. Against Chicago? Emelin dealing with Richard Panik, Marian Hossa and Kane? Folly. Pure folly.

Oh well. Can't criticize Julien for not giving his guys a shot (that's my positivity - that's all I've got).

So here's what Emelin will be facing tonight:

Schmaltz/Toews/Panik
Panarin/Anisimov/Kane
Hartman/Kero/Hossa
Desjardins/Kruger/Tootoo

 Keith/Seabrook
Campbell/Van Riemsyk
Oduya/Hjalmarsson

Yeeks. Good luck, Carey Price.

Meanwhile on the Habbies side, Tomas Plekanec, whom you may (or may not) have noticed has been missing from the lineup the past week because of injury, will return tonight. Montreal's lines stack up like this:

Pacioretty/Galchenyuk/Radulov
Lehkonen/Danault/Galalgher
Byron/Plekanec/Shaw
King/Ott/Mitchell

And ... that defence ...

Weber/Markov
Petry/Emelin
Benn/Davidson

It's Corey Crawford (2.54/.919) against Carey Price (2.26/.923). Puck drops at 7:40 EST.




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Sunday, 13 November 2016

Game 16: Habs vs. Hawks


CHICAGO 3, MONTREAL 2:

FIRST PERIOD:

 - Obvious key to this game is the Hawks penalty kill, the worst in the NHL at the moment. If Habs can use their speed and draw penalties, it might give them an edge.

- Annnnnd ... a minute into the game, it's the Habs who get sent to the box first. Not exactly what the plan should be.

- Can't figure out Beaulieu - he looked so confident with the puck in the preseason, but as the season wears on, he's prone to play hot potato in his own zone, which means more often than not, his presumed strength of being a puck moving defensman is being wasted.

- Hawks strike first as Forsling with a point shot is deflected past Montoya - replay shows that Hanley was not paying attention to his position, bumping into his goaltender a second before Forsling's shot. We speculated last night whether Hanley had played himself out of a start tonight - he obviously hadn't, but he did play a role in that Hawks first goal.

- Crawford seems to be "on" tonight, couple of goal robberies on Pacioretty early in the first, and Shaw late in the period. Habs will need to do a bit more of what we saw against the Kings on Thursday - more aggressiveness driving the net, getting in Crawford's face (and mind).

- Oooh, Hawks shorthanded. Let's see how their PK unit, rated worst in the League, looks.

- Weber with a slap shot that hits Pacioretty in the mouth. Blood all over the ice. Not looking good.

- Habs powerplay not being aided by the presence of Tomas Plekanec.

- Reasonably even period - Hawks, who've currently got the biggest PDO in the League, aided by a bounce to get them on the board, while Corey Crawford made a couple of very good saves to keep Habs off the board. So the luck remains with Chicago, as it has most of this season.  Still, Habs played a pretty good road period of hockey, doing a good job in their own zone. Still, more aggressiveness in the Hawks zone is needed - more bodies in front of Crawford to create some rebounds.

 SECOND PERIOD:

- Not out of line to call that period pretty even - Habs SA CF (5v5) right at 50.0%, Fenwick 35.4%:


- There's that speed factor - Markov with long pass to spring Carr on a break, he takes a slash and puts right back on the powerplay.

- Weber with a weak-ish goal, a simple snap shot carrying the puck deep, that deflects off a defender's stick, and over Crawford's shoulder. Habs get their lucky bounce to tie the game.

- More excellent adjustments by the Habs. They're now driving the net, this time it's Byron getting in Crawford's face to create distraction as Markov wrists a shot top corner, and suddenly Habs take the lead, 2-1.

- Nearing halfway mark of the 2nd, David Desharnais not getting much ice - just 6 shifts in the game so far, barely over 5 minutes total. Therrien is clearly displeased.

- Now it appears Desharnais isn't even getting 4th line duty - he sits on the bench as Mitchell moves back to centre, with Gallagher and Carr on Mitchell's wing. That's a pretty dire sign.

- Schmaltz with a point shot, Montoya surrenders way too much rebound with a pad save, and Hossa, who never misses these chances, jams home the puck to tie the game. Beaulieu and Hanley probably could have been a bit more organized in front of the crease. Those two haven't been clicking.

- Emelin's second penalty has definitely taken the wind out of the Habs' sails this period. They were cruising up until that Hawks powerplay (of which they scored shortly after Emelin left the box).

- Also point of consideration, this is the Habs 4th game in 6 nights. They're battling, but it might be impossible.

- Patrick Kane with a beaut, after an outstanding shot block, and a sloppy turnover by Pacioretty, Kane drives the net with Max basically mugging him, and beat Montoya. Heckova effort, the Hawks take the lead.

- With Desharnais getting almost no ice time tonight, or last night for that matter, Habs have been mostly rolling just three forward lines the past 24 hours. They're clearly having trouble keeping up as periods progress - this 2nd period a pretty prime example.

- 2nd period tale of two halves. Habs dominate first, Hawks the second, with goals split 2-2. Canadiens still have a shot, although considering the number of games they've had to played lately, a victory tonight was going to be awfully difficult. A loss tonight won't be devastating.


THIRD PERIOD:

- Habs and Hawks after 40 minutes. Keeping in mind this is 5v5, you can see where the Habs basically ran out of steam halfway through the period - a sure sign the team has some tired legs:


- 15 minute intermission break making little difference - Habs are basically spent tonight. Hawks skating circles around them first 5 minutes of the period, Montoya largely responsible for keeping this a one goal game.

- Maybe too much action for Montoya in this period - it might be an equipment issue, but it looks like he's hurt - lower body issue.

- Montoya, who's been heroic this period, stays in. Possible cramping issue? He looks still in discomfort.

- Habs defence also looking very tired, making sloppy giveaways deep in their zone, Montoya just barely keeping his team in this game. Still 10 minutes left, but this team's gas tank is clearly on empty.

- 7 minutes left, Habs making a push but it's really only keeping them on a more even keel with Chicago. Montreal will need some kind of timely scoring by players who are overdue for some goal scoring - Pacioretty and Gallagher are two top-6 forwards that immediately come to mind.

- Crawford robbing Shaw again - the push is on, but Crawford's playing awfully well. Habs will need to look at their goal scoring goal scorers to pull something out (Pacioretty/Gallagher).

- Hawks in shut-down mode, Habs pinching hard, gambling, trying to somehow generate a tying goal.

- Whelp, 4-on-4 late in the 3rd, a bit of an opportunity here for the Habs with ice much more open.

- Therrien smartly takes Montoya out, giving his club a 5-on-4. But sends out Plekanec to centre 1st line non-powerplay powerplay, which is mystifying.

- Great push by the Habs final 3 minutes, but Crawford holding steady.

- Hawks hang on, but it was still a pretty decent effort by the Habs, considering how tired they looked. Montoya was fantastic, Habs gave up far too many shots, Desharanais was lost, Pacioretty still seeking a goal, ANY goal, and Andrei Markov continues to play like he's 26, not 36.
GAMEDAY GAME PREVIEW: PUCK LUCK SHOWDOWN IN CHICAGO

The seemingly undefeatable Montreal Canadiens are in Chicago tonight to take on the Black Hawks. The Habs, coming off their 10th straight win on home ice, a convincing win over the Detroit Red Wings, face a Hawks team that's red hot, winners of 7 of their past 8 games.

Both teams share interesting similarities this season. Both are off to excellent starts, both have enjoyed excellent goaltending (Carey Price, .957 SV%, Corey Crawford, .935), both are shooting the puck well (Habs 9.58% - 4th, Hawks 8.85% - 6th) - and in case you hadn't noticed the elevated goaltending and shooting percentages, both are reaping the rewards of that thing called puck luck - the Habs PDO of 105.1 is 2nd only in the NHL to the Hawks at 105.3.

It's not only luck that's similar. Both have put up very good even strength scoring - Habs are 2nd rated in the NHL, Chicago is 4th. Power plays have been decent - the Habs man advantage, which has only recently turned a corner, is 8th best in the League, the Hawks a respectable 12th. Both teams also have similar numbers for shots, shot attempts, shots allowed ... it's pretty remarkable how the teams stats are so closely aligned.

The similarities extend beyond team stats. Drilling down, both clubs have been significantly aided by secondary scoring, with each club's top lines struggling to hit the scoresheet this season. For the Hawks their number 1 line of Toews/Kane and Hartman have scored just 11 collective goals in their first 15 games, while the Habs Plekanec/Pacioretty top line duo have only found the back of the net 4 times.

Indeed, keep an eye out on both team's 3rd and 4th lines tonight, specifically Richard Panik (6G, 4A) for the Hawks, and Phillip Danault (5G 4A), who's scored twice since being moved to centre Thursday night in the Habs 4-1 over the Los Angeles Kings.

No changes for the Habs lineup tonight, except for between the pipes, where Chicago native Al Montoya will get the start. Tonight's game is the 4th versus the Hawks in Montoya's career - his record 1-1-1 with a 2.92 GAA. Otherwise, here are the Habs lines:

- Andrighetto/Plekanec/Gallagher
- Byron/Galchenyuk/Radulov
- Pacioretty/Danault/Shaw
- Carr/Desharnais/Mitchell

Weber/Emelin
Markov/Petry
Beaulieu/Hanley

Al Montoya

And for the Hawks, their lineup should look like this:

- Hartman/Towes/Kane
- Panarin/Anisimov/Hossa
- Hinstroza/Rasmussen/Schmaltz
- Desjardins/Kruger/Panik

Keith/Campbell
Kemeny/Seabrook
Forsling/Hjalmarsson

Corey Crawford

Should be noted that Crawford in playing back-to-back games. Also of note, the Habs haven't won a game in Chicago since 2002.

Puck drops at 7:10 EST.


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Friday, 5 December 2014

Game Twenty-Eight: Habs vs. Hawks


THIRD PERIOD:

- Two period possession numbers pretty much split, Fenwick at 50%.

- If the Hawks score on this powerplay, it'll be yet again an indirect result of the Habs immobile defenders.

- Patrick Kane having trouble hitting open nets tonight. Game should be tied.

- Hawks need to make sure in the future to disway their starting goaltender from getting slammed at concerts. It's been an important difference tonight.

- Absurd hooking call on P.K., an the Hawks take advantage. The targeting of Subban by bad referees must stop.

- Questionable blind hits and boards not being controlled or called by the officials. This game could get nasty as it finishes.

- Hawks have the legs in this period, the loss of Eller and the aged defensive legs, you'd have to figure the Hawks are favoured to win this out before the regulation clock runs out.

- How'd he miss that? Galchenyuk is going to have nightmares for days if the Habs lose this game. 



SECOND PERIOD:

- Fundamental rule of officiating. If you aren't sure, don't call it. Subban given a four minute penalty for high sticking. Reply shows his stick never came close to making any contact.

- Habs survive the 5-on-3, justly I suppose. Canadiens did a very good job forcing Hawks to the perimeter.

- Hawks buzzing, Habs defense as usual is slow footed and unable to react to the rush, Price making two superlative saves to keep his team alive. For now.

- Excellent work by Gallagher carrying (!!!) the zone, drawing three Hawks out of position, dishes to Gonchar, who scores one of his two goals he'll get this season. Tie game. It's getting interesting.

- Habs, dare I say, actually outskating the Hawks at the halfway mark of the 2nd.

- Powerplay as usual, pretty tame. Now Prust with a pretty clear embellishment off a harmless Kane stickcheck. Habs sucker another man advantage.

- P.K. with an unstoppable rocket from the line. It wasn't even fair. Habs lead 3-2. Outworking and outskating the Hawks this period has paid off big time.

- Habs announce that Eller will not return tonight because of an upper body injury. Also, Sekac's status is in doubt. Makes for a difficult 3rd period.

- Emelin, once more, is beaten badly on the outside, this time by Hossa, and gets a tripping call to end the period. A defenseman with average speed and skill doesn't draw that trip.

- Early saves by Price keeping his team in this game, and the Habs chip away by mostly outskating and outworking their opponent, putting the Canadiens in an unlikely two period lead. However, these are the Hawks, and the Habs have suffered some key injuries tonight which will but intense pressure on their bench for the third period. It'll be tough, very tough, for Montreal to maintain this lead.


FIRST PERIOD:

- Annnnnnnnnd ... we're off. Rozsival finishes off a nice three way passing play, Habs 4th line caught badly up ice. Man, what about putting someone like ... oh I don't know ... DALE WEISE out there? 2:13 in and it's 1-0.

- Weise is trying, I'll lend him that. But his skills lend zero to a guy like Pacioretty, who's already got a plateful of problems having to deal with an incompetent centre. Just .... arghhh.

- Chicago plays such a nice clean, efficient transition game, I often wonder just how superb this Habs team could be if they were ever able to replicate this kind of well organized (coached) hockey.

- All in all, Habs doing their best to keep some pace with the Hawks, so the net final result might not be a total wipeout again. Still, hard to fathom the Canadiens being able to compete much longer.

- Gonchar looking everyone of his 40 years tonight, and a bunch more.

- Emelin is a pylon at centre ice, and Kruger is allowed to skate around him with ease and enter the zone. Rebound is deposited in by Smith, and it's 2-0. Habs just can't afford to serve a team like the Hawks these gift goals.

- Well, there's hope. Gallagher puts the Habs on the board. 

- Not a horrible first period, but once again, for the 25th time out of 28 games this season, Habs were the worse first period team. For the most part the Canadiens did a decent job possession wise, some of the zone exits and entries were reasonably decent. But the Hawks are just a better organized and playing team, they feast of teams like the Habs. Don't see much hope tonight.




GAMEDAY GAME PREVIEW:

Oh Patrick Kane. Don't you ever change. Don't you ever stop going out in public and making a celebratory drunken ass of yourself. You must set the example for others to follow! Such as, say, your teammate Corey Crawford, who earlier this week accidentally injured his foot when he "stepped wrongly" on some stairs at a Rise Against (seriously?) concert. Assuming when you say "stepped wrongly" as in "so drunk he could barely step forward". BINGO. Out nearly a month with a fractured foot. YOUR CHICAGO BLACK HAWKS EVERYONE.

Speaking of never changing ... the Habs. Here we are at the 1/3rd mark of the season, and our esteemed coach continues to do the same thing over and over again, expecting a different result. The results being, in this case, putting the should-be scoring megastar Max Pacioretty next to the frustratingly meek David Desharnais, the later of which is 327th in the whole damn NHL in shots taken - a pathetic 30 shots in 27 games. FOR THE SUPPOSED NUMBER ONE CENTRE.

So Pacioretty, saddled with the guy who never does anything other than dipsy doodle around with the puck, spends most of his shifts trying to figure out what the hell his centre is doing, while the rest of the faithful scream out to coach Therrien to put him next to someone at least half-competent, like Lars Eller.

Oh but it gets better. Not satisfied with pairing up his best forward with one of the most underachieving centres in the game, Therrien has been regularly promoting forth liner Dale Weise to play on the top line, because ... we have no idea. A good chunk of the rest of us have been readily suggesting that Therrien try, I mean ... AT LEAST TRY, to put the ridiculously fast, exciting and hard-nosed playing Jiri Sekac alongside with Pacioretty and Eller. I mean ... THAT'S A LINE.

But nope. Just the same old thing. Over and over again. And in the meantime, the Habs continue to lose, what with Doug Murray Part Deux getting more than 11 minutes of ice time a night, while guys who can actually play, you know, defense, are stuck either up in the pressbox, or sit stapled to the bench in meek hopes that they'll crack the 8 minute mark.

The Habs are not, and we must underscore this, not playing very well right now. Which is to be kind. The game in Minnesota was a total deception on the scoreboard - the Canadiens, until the Wild decided to take a cruise victory vacation for a good chunk of the 3rd period, were completed overwhelmed by a pretty ordinary Minnesota team, getting outshot exactly 3 to 1 through the first 40 minutes of the game.

And tonight? Against a true powerhouse like the Chicago Black Hawks? Not even Carey Price can wallpaper over the holes in this team's walls like he did Wednesday night.

It's probably going to be a very long, ugly night in Chicago. Maybe it's best if we all just turn in early.

Puck drops at 8:40 EST.
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Tuesday, 8 April 2014

Game Eighty: Habs vs. Hawks

OVERTIME:

- Whatever the result, Habs have demonstrated tonight they are capable of competing against elite teams.

- Ugh. What a way to lose a game in overtime. Budaj batting the puck into his own net. Sigh.


THIRD PERIOD:

- Gallgher just doesn't look 100%. Total speculation but I strongly believe he's playing injured.

- Hawks nearly convert off a poor giveaway by Bouillon (or course). Betcha if there's a mistake that leads to the first goal, Bouillon will be involved.

- White is back. That's good news. 

- Game is a defensive standstill now. Habs still haven't had a powerplay in the game.

- Man, Beaulieu reminds me so much of a young Matthew Schneider.

- Bournival, who's had a fantastic game battling for pucks, creates the puck turnover to Bourque who does a fine job carrying the zone. Weise cashing in a funky bounce off a Gorges wrister. 1-0.

- Bournival, Bourque and Gionta the Habs best forwards tonight. Also Plekanec. All battling hard.

- Rene Bourque has the major mojo going tonight. If he can bring this game into the first round, it will make this Habs team far more difficult to handle.

- Tinordi at times looks like the most confused player in the rink. Needs to work on his awareness.

- Hawks tie it. Gionta fails to clear the zone, Moron takes advantage with a labeled and unstoppable shot booker side. And here I was heaping all that praise on the captain. He's got to clear that puck.

- Sweet give and go between Vanek and Bouillon, who blasts one through Crawford from 50 feet1. Great shot by Bouillon but Vanek with sweet hands and awareness. Brilliant.

- Habs having trouble playing with the lead. Hawks really turning the screws, Budaj doing all he can to protect the lead. Barely.

- Crawford just robbed Patches from his 40th. Oy.

- Beaulieu has to be far less flippant playing the puck up the boards from his corner. It's creating significant turnovers and scoring chances for the Hawks.

- Habs looking for the dagger but they'd be careful not to open this game up.

- Oy, Bouillon with a hold, more out of exhaustion I suspect. It's a bad penalty to take with just 4 minutes left in the 3rd.

- Budaj get ready cause the wave is coming and it's gonna be heavy

- Bournival and White with a fantastic PK shift. 

- Hossa ties it. Weaver caught out if position. Oy.

- Crawford does it to Pacioretty again. Wide open net with just seconds left. Brilliant feed by Vanek. Oh well.

- Disappointing OT result. That was an excellent road game for the Habs, all undone by last minute Hawks goal. Still, to get at least a point out of Chicago is a good night.


SECOND PERIOD:

 - Oy boy. Habs Hab lost both Galchenyuk and White to injury in that first period. Therrien must essentially run three lines against this deep Hawks team. Can you say screwed?

- First period shot block totals for the Habs - 14. That's crazy high.

- Very, very tight checking both sides first five minutes. Just two shots (both by Hawks).

- Pacioretty with clear cut break and hooked by Seabrook just as he was about to hook. That ought to have been a penalty or penalty shot.

- Briere has been given some pretty golden setups by his linemates tonight, but has muffed every opportunity.

- Budaj very calm, very good positionally. Making easy saves on tough chances.

- Gallagher really struggling with the command of the puck tonight. Really struggling.

- Game has been relatively mistake free - probably will require one to break this tie.

- Desharnais line has generated two breaks so far - this Hawks defense does have a tendency of sometimes being caught napping.

- Gorges quietly having a very solid return game tonight. Thats good news heading into the first round.

- Nathan Beaulieu jumping up to get a good scoring chance on Crawford. You just know that Therrien will have nothing of that kind of play. Here's hoping the coach won't squeeze the spirit out of Beaulieu's play. 

- Subban does so much to cover for his partner's incompetence - in this instance it's Bouillon (as usual).

- Still scoreless but much better period for the Habs - had far better presence in the neutral zone, and much better possession. This game, if trend continues, might end up a toss up. Good road game against a tough opponent.



FIRST PERIOD:

- Quite a pace to start this game, seven minutes straight without a whitsle, Crawford tested a couple of times, Budaj also with a couple of nice saves.

- Beaulieu is partnered with a Bouillon, looks like he hasn't missed a beat. Very solid positional play in his own zone.

- Briere with a Bourquesque "almost" off a three-on-one. I'm wondering if it's contagious.

- Habs are collectively wayyyyy to soft off the Hawks transition, not playing aggressive in the neutral zone, and it's creating grade A scoring chances on Budaj, who's doing his best to hold them back. It can't be for much longer, though. 

- Habs are being taken to the shed, Hawks totally outskating and out possessing Montreal on a totally lobsided scale. Canadiens doing a great Leafs inpersonation this period.

- Crazy that the Habs have registered two more shots. It's been so crazy one sided.

- Galchenyuk hit awkwardly along the boards by Hossa, he's left the bench and hasn't returned.

- That said, a pretty decent period for both Bourque and Gionta.

- Scoreless is a major victory for the Habs - they were saved by some fine shit blocking, but still, this team looks way too passive against an undermatched opponent. Canadiens must intensify their neutral zone play in the second or else Chicago will start scoring with great regularity.


GAMEDAY GOO (APRIL 9)

- HOO BOY. Ben Bishop. In case you missed it, Bishop went down to injury in the first period against the Leafs last night, with an apparent arm (shoulder? wrist?) injury. He was assisted off the ice, and missed the rest of the game (Leafs lost, they're done for the season, ha ha ha har har ... okay enough about Toronto).

Here's the play:



Word out this afternoon is Bishop will not play for the remainder of the regular season (three games), but has not been ruled out for playing in the first round of the playoffs, which will start in 7 or 8 days from now.


Tampa will be in tough ... really, really tough, against the Habs if Bishop is unable to play either all, or even a part of the first round.


HEALTHY SCRATCHES UPDATE (April 8):

- So the Habs are prepping for the first round by shelving three regulars for tomorrow night's game against Chicago. Carey Price, Alexei Emelin and Andrei Markov will not play (and will actually stay in Montreal).

Habs haven't yet announced who'll be called up to sit for Price. Probably Tokarski. 


HAPPY TUESDAY!!

HEY no messin' around. Guess who was up at the crack of dawn this weekend lining up online for post-season tickets? YEAH ME. Guess who got Section 105 seating for the Tampa series?? YEAH, ME BABY!!

'Course, this puts a small crimp in the plans to bring ya'll live blogging coverage for a good chunk of the first round, since I'll be in the stands having a grand ol' time.

Anyway, enough rubbing it in your faces. Let's talk some Habs. Practice this morning, and maybe ... just maybe ... some good news??

Forwards:

Line 1: Pacioretty/Desharnais/Vanek
Line 2: Galchenyuk/Plekanec/Gallagher
Line 3: Bourque/Eller/Gionta
Line 4: Bournival/Bourque/White

Defense:

- Markov/Emelin
- Gorges/Subban
- Tinordi/Weaver (YAY).

Guess who's on the 4th line D? Bouillon! Anyway, that front 6 set is just exactly what I'd run with in the post-season (although I'd be fine with flipping Beaulieu and Tinordi).

Anyway ... progress!!!


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