Jump to content
The Official Site of the Montréal Canadiens
Canadiens de Montreal

Pittsburgh @ Montreal | Jan. 19 2008 | Final: 2-0 Pittsburgh


HabsFanInPitt27

Recommended Posts

Guest HabsFanInPitt27

MTL.gif

VS

PIT.gif

At Bell Center

800px-Bell_Centre_06.jpg

Habs previous game

On their third try, the Montreal Canadiens finally figured out how to win a shootout against the Thrashers.

Andrei Kostitsyn and Saku Koivu scored in the tiebreaker after Cristobal Huet handed Atlanta a gift goal in the third period, allowing the Canadiens to escape with a a 3-2 victory Thursday night.

In their two previous meetings this season, the teams also went to the shootout tied at 2. Atlanta came out on top in those games, but the Canadiens survived this one for their fourth win in five games.

"You're never too confident in a shootout," Koivu said.

Huet was eager to make up for his blunder in the third, which squandered a 2-1 lead.

As a Montreal power play was ending, he ventured into the corner to play the puck. But Huet froze when trying to decide whether to give it up to teammate Roman Hamrlik or simply clear the zone.

Eric Perrin sneaked in to poke the puck away, and it skidded right in front of the unguarded net to Pascal Dupuis. He buried it for his ninth goal with 10:58 left in regulation.

But the Thrashers went 0-for-2 in the shootout. Slava Kozlov shot wide and Marian Hossa's attempt to go five-hole was blocked by Huet, who squeezed his pads together in the nick of time.

"It was a good chance to redeem myself," the goalie said.

Huet wasn't too thrilled about Atlanta's first goal, either. Hossa attempted a pass across the crease, but the puck struck Huet in the arm and wound up behind him to give Atlanta a 1-0 lead on the power play late in the first.

"It was a good opportunity for me to really step up and make sure we didn't get beaten in the shootout," Huet said. "I definitely felt I owed the team something after the two goals."

The Thrashers lost for only the third time in 13 games that went to extra time.

"We've been pretty good in those situations," said coach Don Waddell, whose team squandered a chance to get back to .500 overall. "We didn't get that extra point, but we got one."

Before his shootout goal, Kostitsyn tied the game at 1 early in the second period with a brilliant rush to the net.

The 20-year-old Russian took a pass near center ice, cut to his left to avoid Perrin, shifted back to his right to get around defenseman Ken Klee and flipped a shot past Kari Lehtonen for his 12th goal of the season.

"Andrei was very good tonight," Huet said.

Michael Ryder gave the Canadiens their first lead with 13:58 left in the third, finishing off a nifty bit of passing.

Skating along the boards, Bryan Smolinski worked the puck over to Guillaume Latendresse, who relayed it to Ryder cutting in front. He jabbed at it with his stick, managing to deflect a wobbly shot over Lehtonen's left shoulder.

The Canadiens are heading home after a four-game road trip, though they might want to stay away. They improved to 16-10 on the road, compared with an 8-12 mark in Montreal.

"We seem to be a lot more comfortable on the road," coach Guy Carbonneau said. "We still have a young team, and on the road you have less distractions. Everyone kind of sticks together and that makes it a lot easier."

Even with the loss, the Thrashers earned a point to claim sole possession of first place in the weak Southeast Division. Carolina dropped a point behind with a 5-1 loss to Ottawa.

Every team in the division is below .500.

"Wins are hard to come by," Waddell said. "If we only give up two goals, we're going to win most of those games. Unfortunately, we just couldn't get any offense going."

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest habsforevernomatterwhat

I found out yesterday that im going to this game. Hope it goes better than the last time I went to see a Habs-Pens game (we lost 6-4)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest overlords
I found out yesterday that im going to this game. Hope it goes better than the last time I went to see a Habs-Pens game (we lost 6-4)

Last time i went, we won with an overtime goal by alex kovalev. Maybe i can go for you? :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest FlHabsFan

Hope the offense has a good game tomorrow! For some reason, teams playing b2b games seem to do well against us. Were the ones looking tired. I hope this isnt the case!

Go Habs Go!!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest d80jcrant
Pens play tonight, so hopefully they will be tired come game time tomorrow.

GO HABS GO!!!!!!!!

Exactly, Habs have to skate and skate hard, Pens should wear down. I kind of hope the Pens win tonight so they will be less desparate tomorrow, LOL

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest FlHabsFan
Exactly, Habs have to skate and skate hard, Pens should wear down. I kind of hope the Pens win tonight so they will be less desparate tomorrow, LOL

Theyre playing tampa....Need I say more? :P

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest jennifer_rocket

I hope we don't have to face that BEAST of a goaltender Ty Conklin. Seriously, when did that guy get so good? Here's to hoping Huet has an error-free game. Here's to hoping Andrei Kostitsyn continues his impressive play. Here's to hoping Cristopher Higgins and Saku Koivu break out of their respective slumps and have two point games each. Here's to hoping we win in regulation!

GO HABS GO!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest King-Carey-31

this is a monumental game in terms of where we sit in the standings, if Ottawa is missing Heatley AND Alfie for an extended amount of time, then we might be able to pop into the division title picture, not to mention a win tomorrow will get us back on pace with the RED HOT Pittsburgh Penguins.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest Tankfist

Hopefully Vinny and Marty take the wind out of Conklin's sails for us.

And lets hope our D shutdown Crosby and Malkin letting them only get a couple of shots all game.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ty Conklin has been playing waaaayyyy out of his league for 11 games. He's due to crash and burn.

all cher for conklin to crash and burn

HIP HIP!

HURRAY!!

HIP HIP!

HURRAY!!

HIP HIP!

HURRAY!!

go habs go

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest HabsFanStuckInToronto!

Time for Montreal to strut it's stuff on CBC's HNIC nationwide tomorrow!

This game is going to be unbelievable and no doubt a playoff atmosphere. There is so much on the line: playoff seed # 4, two hot streaks colliding and of course Sidney coming back to Montreal.

As for the game, I would expect either a highscoring score or a goaltending duel to the effect of 3-2 etc. It should showcase a lot of emotion as both teams want to win badly, the atmosphere will be great and the rivalry between these 2 teams has really grown in recent years. When was the last time there was a bad game between these two?

I am so confident with the way Montreal is playing especially recently and if they can shut down the top line, Montreal will have a much easier job winning.

GO HABS GO! GO HABS GO! GO HABS GO!

Ps. Huet in net, he deserved it after his in-game reboung in Atlanta. Something tells me he is ready to go on a tear with the way he reacted.

GO HABS GO! GO HABS GO! GO HABS GO!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest futurestar3

we didnt really ha ve much in the opening thread so im gonna add on

Markov- one of the leagues leaders have come home and lets hope he continues his hot streak with ten points in his last 11 games.

A. Kostitsyn- He's been an offensive force with 8 points in his last 8 games. He had a beauty last night with the shoot out winner. The speedy winger who's on pace for 22 goals will look to continue his hot streak tomorow in montreal

Huet starts again...i think-there has been no reports of the starting goaltender but there is no reason why huet would not continue his starting streak.

Pleks emerges- tomas plekanec has come to be a fantastic player supporting our first line with consistent scoring including a hot streak of 12 points in 8 games

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest Greek Hab

O nice, Pens play tonight vs. Tampa. Hopefully we get them tired tomorrow. Hope their plane is delayed by 4 hours. Hope we win. Hope Komo breaks Crosby's neck. ;)

GO HABS GO!!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest overlords
O nice, Pens play tonight vs. Tampa. Hopefully we get them tired tomorrow. Hope their plane is delayed by 4 hours. Hope we win. Hope Komo breaks Crosby's neck. ;)

GO HABS GO!!!

komi and kosto can split the duties. maybe one will take crosby and the other will take malkin. Hamr can hold laraque back :D

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest Greek Hab
komi and kosto can split the duties. maybe one will take crosby and the other will take malkin. Hamr can hold laraque back :D

Bouillon can hold Laraque's legs. :lol:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...