Guest HabsFanInPitt27 Posted January 7, 2008 Report Share Posted January 7, 2008 VS At Bell Center Game Preview Rookie center Jonathan Toews is a very important player for the Chicago Blackhawks. Their performance in his absence is proof of that. The Blackhawks hope to end a season-high five-game losing streak Tuesday night when they face the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre. Toews had been enjoying an impressive first season for the Blackhawks (19-19-3) before he injured his left knee in the first period of a 9-2 loss at Los Angeles on Jan. 1. Although the injury will not require surgery, the 19-year-old will be out of action for three to four weeks. Taking Toews out of Chicago's lineup leaves a huge void for a team that is hoping to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2001-02. He is the NHL leader among rookies with 15 goals and a leading candidate for the Calder Trophy as the league's best first-year player. Toews' injury is magnified because the Blackhawks are already missing six regulars - defensemen Brent Sopel (broken finger) and James Wisniewski (knee), and forwards Jason Williams (groin), Kevyn Adams (knee), Dave Bolland (broken finger) and Ben Eager (concussion). Including the loss to the Kings, the Blackhawks have dropped all four games without Toews, scoring six goals. Chicago's five-game skid (0-4-1) is its longest since it lost six in a row from March 16-28. The Blackhawks were unable to recover after allowing three first-period goals Sunday in a 3-1 home loss to Detroit. Oft-injured right wing Martin Havlat returned after missing six games with a groin injury. Havlat, who sat out 22 games earlier this season due to an injured shoulder, has five goals and six assists in 13 games. "We're a .500 team, but we think we're better than that," coach Denis Savard said. "The way we started when we were healthy, we feel we can be a playoff team and I still do. The next two or three games, hopefully will get us going." Right wing Patrick Kane - Chicago's other prized rookie - has been held to two goals in his last 24 games after scoring seven in his first 17 contests. Poor special teams also have played a role in the Blackhawks' slump. The power play is 1-for-17 in the past six games while the penalty killers have allowed nine goals in 34 short-handed situations in that span. Montreal's home struggles continued Saturday with a 5-4 overtime loss to Washington. The Canadiens (20-13-8) twice rallied from third-period deficits only to lose for the eighth time in 10 home games (2-5-3). "We didn't deserve to win the way we played in the last two periods," left wing Christopher Higgins said. "It was nice to see we came back two times in the third to tie it up but we definitely didn't deserve to win." Despite the loss, Montreal gained at least one point for the fifth straight game (3-0-2). Left wing Andrei Kostitsyn continued his production with his 11th goal Saturday. He has eight goals and seven assists in his last 14 contests, scoring four goals in his past three games. The Canadiens had won three straight in this series before a 2-1 road loss on Oct. 18, 2006. Chicago has lost its last two visits to Montreal, last winning there on Dec. 3, 2001. Goalies Khabibulin VS Huet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest HabsFanInPitt27 Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 Pictures Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ryder_11_73 Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 GO HABS GO. East vs. West. Normally West wins hopefully not this time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest concreteveins Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 Go Habs GO!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Goodtown Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 HUGE month ahead of us, this is our season! GO HABS GO GO HABS GO GO HABS GO GO HABS GO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Onzeee Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 actually this is a laid back month, the games aren't bunched together and we have no back to backs... have to take advantage Huet back in goal he needs to get himself into stretch form needs to find the 06 version of himself time to get serious here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Blockoman Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 The Blackhawks seem to be slumping and the Habs are riding a pretty good offensive streak. In a perfect world, the Habs would win this one easily, but you never know at the Bell Centre. GO HABS GO!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 1970 Habs Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 As Chicago is struggling I thought Carboneau might come back with Price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AK-1 Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 As Chicago is struggling I thought Carboneau might come back with Price. I would have expected Carbo to go with Price too. When Huet had a bad game (see the 2nd Toronto game), Carbo came back with Huey for a bounceback game. Why wouldn't he do the same with Price? That's what puzzles me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest FlHabsFan Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 Last year, the Hawks beat us 2-1. We need to beat Khabi this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest HabsFanStuckInToronto! Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 We have this one in the bag I KNOW IT! There are a few factors like the unpredictable Chicago offense, but it has been dry as sand for the last 3 or 4 games and Montreal's offense has never been better this season. We had count it....Washington 4 + Tampa Bay 6 + Rangers 3 + Florida 5 + Tampa Bay 5....that's 23 goals in our last five games! Huet should have a solid game so he can firmly place his grasp on # 1, mix that with some outstanding offsense and we have a good formula for a win versus Chicago. ONE THING: By watching Chicago play a few times, Montreal's defense has to watch for the cycling down low and then up to the point. Cut off the cycling down low with physicallity from Komi, Hamr, Boullion or block the shots from the point. BTW, Khabibiloun(sp?) is going to be picked apart by Montreal's offense and McQuire is going to love every minute of it! GO HABS GO! YOU DEFINATELY HAVE THIS GAME! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest HABSrulzzz Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 Will Be at the game tomorrow Night Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JL Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 There's nothing I would have liked more than to see Price get a chance to redeem himself right away, but I'm 100% behind Huet. GO HABS GO!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest d80jcrant Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 Habs are 0-2-1 so far this season vs the Western Conferene. Hopefully this will be win #1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dutch Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 Eventhough its only the jerseys, but I like these original 6 games... I hope it will be a good one. Go Habs Go!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest otherdemon Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 GO HABS GO. East vs. West. Normally West wins hopefully not this time. Yeah, that is weird. With the exception of lone wins by the Devils and the Pens, almost all East vs. West games have ended in favor of West teams. Fortunately, the Hawks have quite a bit of injuries. And Khabibulin can be beat (Kings Hawks 9-2, anyone? ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kindred Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 Last year, the Hawks beat us 2-1. We need to beat Khabi this year. the ironic thing is last year Bryan Smolinski was the one who scored the game winner, now he is on our side Also last year we had played the night before against the falmes in a barn burner of a game and we had Aebi in net for the Hawks. This time around we should be well rested and better in net to face the Blackhawks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest CanadianMike Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 KEEP SAMSONOV OFF THE SCORESHEET!!!! oh wait... GO HABS GO!! go HUET!!! Higgins lead the way buddy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest keithman Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 I was hoping Carbo would give Price a chance to rebound back, he deserves it afterall. but nothing against Huet, Huet can hold it down tonight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sanman Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 Gainey said it best, Price has to earn his way back in. Not sure how if he doesn't get a chance but that's the philosphy. We can't drop another game to a team we should beat. Maybe Carbo wants the best chance for the two points at home. Actually Price on the road might be a better alternative since the team plays better there any ways. After Saturday's lackluster effort I have to think the boys will be hungry for a win. 60 minutes of hard work and we win this one no contest. GO HABS GO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest RadioHab Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 Should be an entertaining game. I am confident with all the injuries they have and looking at our lineup it should be a piece of cake but that all depends how the boys come out at the Bell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest kovysdaman Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 Going to the Bahamas this weekend just won a trip lol I hope the habs can win at least 2 out of three next week but let's start by today. Khabi is not an easy goalie when he's on but we need to shot often against him might be ryder's chance to score a few I was wondering you guys prefer watching the game on tsn hd or rds hd have a good one guys GO Habs Go!!!!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest HabSteve Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 Hopefully the Habs don't take this one lightly and show up from the start to the end, let's try to get a good 60 minutes game to start the 2nd half, easy games in the NHL don't occur too often. GO HABS GO! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Tamara84 Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 Going to the Bahamas this weekend just won a trip lol I hope the habs can win at least 2 out of three next week but let's start by today. Khabi is not an easy goalie when he's on but we need to shot often against him might be ryder's chance to score a few I was wondering you guys prefer watching the game on tsn hd or rds hd have a good one guys GO Habs Go!!!!!!!!!! I enjoy watching the habs on rds hd because I like the announcers. Anyway I have a good feeling about the habs winning this game and since I am wearing my latendresse shirt that I got for christmas everytime I wore it so far we won. Happy new year to all you guys on the forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest russianhabsfan Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 Should be an easy win. 4-2, 5-2 will do it. I'm all with you on this, JL, letting Price get it back and all. But it's also a good idea to put him back there on the road... imagine he flops it again at the Bell Centre... I really hope Koivu shakes the cold off and dekes one in past Khabi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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