HabsFanInPitt27 Posted October 28, 2008 Report Share Posted October 28, 2008 VS At Bell Center - Montreal, QC Game Preview The Carolina Hurricanes have managed to hold their own on their longest road trip of the season. The Hurricanes have a chance to secure a winning record on their six-game road stretch as they visit the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday night. Carolina (4-2-1) won 4-3 against the New York Islanders on Saturday to improve to 2-1-1 on the trip, which concludes at St. Louis on Thursday. The Hurricanes are 3-1-1 on the road this season after going 19-20-2 away from home in 2007-08 en route to missing the playoffs for the second straight season after winning the Stanley Cup in 2006. The Hurricanes likely welcomed their two-day break between games, especially goaltender Cam Ward, who made 57 saves as Carolina overcame New York's 60-shot effort to win their most recent contest. "It looked like they were throwing everything at the net," said Ward, who is 2-1-1 with a 3.22 goals-against average. "But it's really not the number of shots that matters - it's the number of good chances, and I think our defense did a great job in clearing out rebounds so there were very few second chances." Ward is 6-2-1 with a 2.76 GAA versus against Montreal, but could be in for a challenge against the Canadiens (5-1-1), who are coming off their first regulation loss, 6-4 to Anaheim on Saturday. Chad LaRose scored his first two goals of the season, while Eric Staal and Rod Brind'Amour each scored their team-leading fourth goals of 2008-09. Staal has eight goals with eight assists in 16 career games versus Montreal and four goals in his last five contests against the Canadiens. Brind'Amour, meanwhile, has at least one point in his last seven games versus Montreal and nine during that span. Carolina, which went 2-1-1 versus the Canadiens last season, will be without defenseman Joni Pitkanen, who is sidelined for at least a month after tearing the meniscus in his knee against the Islanders. Rookie center Brandon Sutter is also likely out for this contest after sustaining a concussion Saturday. After opening with three straight road games, Montreal is 3-1-0 on a homestand that concludes with this contest. On Saturday, Alex Tanguay had two goals, while Saku Koivu added one and Robert Lang two assists for the Canadiens, who took 52 shots but allowed one more goal than they did in their previous three games combined on the homestand. "When you do have 50 shots you have to bury a lot more of those," said Tanguay, who has a team-leading five goals in his first season with Montreal. Andrei Markov recorded an assist Saturday and has at least one in each game this season for a team-leading 10. "We did some good things but the mental focus wasn't there," said Koivu, who has a goal in four straight games and three in his last four contests versus Carolina. "We weren't as sharp as we were used to being in the last couple of games here." Carey Price allowed two goals on 13 shots in replacing Jaroslav Halak on Saturday. Price is 3-1-1 with a 2.11 GAA this season and struggled in his only previous start versus Carolina, making 26 saves before being pulled in a 5-1 loss to the Hurricanes on Dec. 8. Team Leaders Canes Points Ray Whitney 6 Goals Rod Brind'Amour 4 Assists Ray Whitney 5 PIM Tim Gleason 13 Plus/Minus Niclas Wallin 9 PP Goals Rod Brind'Amour 2 SH Goals Ryan Bayda 0 Habs Points Saku Koivu 10 Goals Alex Tanguay 5 Assists Andrei Markov 10 PIM Mike Komisarek 18 Plus/Minus Saku Koivu 9 PP Goals Sergei Kostitsyn 2 SH Goals Tomas Plekanec 1 Pictures Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
animerules1x3 Posted October 28, 2008 Report Share Posted October 28, 2008 Nice GDT buddy. It's almost revenge time on the Hurricanes ! Well... they didn't do us much harm recently, but I hate them, so, it's still a revenge for me to see the Habs beat them. Markov is going to score his first slapper of the season. Just a gut feeling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RSD Posted October 28, 2008 Report Share Posted October 28, 2008 i hope the boys come and play a full 60 minutes...offence and defense...no more of this 1-2 period stuff...time to kick it into gear now its almost a month in...pp needs to step up and take advantage of simple, crisp, tape-to-tape passes...no need to be too fancy and razzle dazzle...GO HABS GO!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AvtomatKos-yn Posted October 28, 2008 Report Share Posted October 28, 2008 Habs will dominate the first period, slow down in second, be completely out of it in the third. Mark my words. If I'm wrong..uhm.....Go habs, love you guys Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leafsbaby08 Posted October 28, 2008 Report Share Posted October 28, 2008 no worries about this one. so the canes are good at the bell centre, so are the florida panthers but that didn't matter. canes have alot of defensive holes and not a whole lot of depth spread throughout 4 lines. there is a chance that our full roster could be at the disposal of Carbo tomorrow. a healthy Habs is a scary Habs. Price will shine. beware the wrath of the Pleks line, trust me, its only a matter of short time before they gel again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nashtak Posted October 28, 2008 Report Share Posted October 28, 2008 i hope the boys come and play a full 60 minutes...offence and defense...no more of this 1-2 period stuff...time to kick it into gear now its almost a month in...pp needs to step up and take advantage of simple, crisp, tape-to-tape passes...no need to be too fancy and razzle dazzle...GO HABS GO!! Wut? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuomiPerkele Posted October 28, 2008 Report Share Posted October 28, 2008 This season Bell Centre is "Sakunation". 4-1 tonight, goals: Markov, Koivu, Kovalev, Tanguey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koreysecord1992 Posted October 28, 2008 Report Share Posted October 28, 2008 Coming off the first regulation loss, the boys should be gunning for a big, decisive W. Carolina has some great talent, but there's a pretty big drop off once you get beyond the upper tier players. Given Montreal's speed, depth, and balanced line-up, they have a definite chance of taking this game early and keeping it! (the big thing...keeping it). As long as the goaltending comes back in top form and the D doesn't allow Carolina to generate a lot of scoring chances the Habs should come away with a win tonight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2VP Posted October 28, 2008 Report Share Posted October 28, 2008 GDT is too long for my liking. Go Canadiens Go Carey Price back in nets= NO WORRIES! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leafs_rock_go_mccabe Posted October 28, 2008 Report Share Posted October 28, 2008 A huge effort would be greatly appreciated tonight. I want to to see the same degree of consistency we displayed last season in not playing two games in a row without taking points away. I fully expect a grreat game from our boys, and I hope the defensive zone lapses from last game are solved. We should, hopefully, get better goaltending tonight, as well. Last game was an off night for both goaltenders, and Price needs to come back strong tonight. Better rebound control, Carey! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roy_133 Posted October 28, 2008 Report Share Posted October 28, 2008 I wonder if Samsonov will get booed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hemsky83_09 Posted October 28, 2008 Report Share Posted October 28, 2008 Any news on the line-up yet? Answered my own question: The good news for the home team is that head coach Guy Carbonneau will be able to throw out his A-list lineup for the first time this season. "These are the guys who were on my list before the season started," Carbonneau said after announcing that Andrei Kostitsyn was ready to return after missing two games with a concussion. With Kostitsyn and Christopher Higgins back in the lineup, Carbonneau will be able to test Ward and company with three potentially high-scoring lines. Andrei Kostitsyn will be reunited with Tomas Plekanec and Alex Kovalev. The line of Guillaume Latendresse, Saku Koivu and Alex Tanguay remains intact, while Higgins will join Robert Lang and Sergei Kostitsyn. http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news...24-c3310f7fdde2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roy_133 Posted October 28, 2008 Report Share Posted October 28, 2008 Any news on the line-up yet? Well I think the only news we're waiting on is whether or not Andrei K gets medical clearance. If he does, he'll be with Kovalev and Tomas, the 4th line (I imagine) would be TK with Lapierre and Laraque. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maximus123 Posted October 28, 2008 Report Share Posted October 28, 2008 Cam Ward has some scary numbers playing in montreal, he's 7-0 with a 1.41 goal average hopefully that all ends once he meets Tanguay and the gang! Go Habs Go!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xxfannyxx Posted October 28, 2008 Report Share Posted October 28, 2008 I'm going tonight!! This better be good!! I can't wait!! :-) GO HABS GO!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlHabsFan Posted October 28, 2008 Report Share Posted October 28, 2008 I wonder if Samsonov will get booed. From his output so far this season, I would ask that same question if it was a home game for the Canes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j2c Posted October 28, 2008 Report Share Posted October 28, 2008 YAY Andrei's back!! I think tonight will be the night that we break the Cane's record against us. Ward if you think its going to be easy cause of your record think again...I think the Habs will win 4-2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flying_Lion Posted October 28, 2008 Report Share Posted October 28, 2008 3 days later and I'm still tasting the bitterness in my mouth from the Ducks' visit. I hope the Team is tasting it, too. It's time to get things going, get the whole lineup firing on all cylinders. Yeah, Ward and the Canes have a pretty good record but so did Florida and we put paid to that attitude. 60 minutes, no less. It's cliche but it seems to be the Habs undoing in too many games. We need a good PP showing, pick apart the holes in the Carolina D and stretch their bench to the limit. Excited to see the full 4 lines for the 1st time. Hopefully the 2nd line can get things going but, IMO, I think they're facing off against harder checking lines after their performance last year. That might be why the 1st line has been opening up a bit. Maybe not but I think, either way, a couple of monkeys will come off some backs tonight. The Team needs a big 2 points to help them pack for their next couple of road games. Lots of road games coming up and another BIG break in the 1st week of November. Every point counts. Price Saves. GO HABS GO! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dintrox12 Posted October 28, 2008 Report Share Posted October 28, 2008 GO HABS GO!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maximus123 Posted October 28, 2008 Report Share Posted October 28, 2008 Begin, Laraque and Brisebois are out, O'byrne back, so is Andrei K. http://www.rds.ca/canadien/chroniques/262458.html expected lineup (dont pay attention to RW or LW im just going by trio ) Latendresse Koivu Tanguay Kostsytsin Plekanec Kovalev Higgins Lang Kostsytsin (Sergei) Dandenault Lapierre Kostopoulos Markov Komisarek Hamrlik O'Byrne Gorges Bouillon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matariel Posted October 28, 2008 Report Share Posted October 28, 2008 Im really looking forward to seeing the 3rd line play.. Higgins, Lang and S Kostitsyn. Lang is looking good, smooth skater and passer, very good at controlling the puck and protecting it, without too many flashy moves like Kovalev, but with similar confidence. ON ANDREI KOSTITSYN.. Im really glad he's back. Its not that his brother didnt fit in with Plecs and Kovalev, it's just that Sergei's better on the right wing, not the left. But one thing bothers me: I really DO hope Andrei is healthy. I had a concussion some years back and the doctor forbade me to practice sports for a full month and a half. Yes, these guys are professionals and i'm just a simple civilian, not paid to play, not forced to play (but forced to pay) and I'm sure there were precautionary reasons for my month and a half absence from sports, BUT in AK's case is one week really enough to recover from a concussion? If he got the green light I guess it's fine, but I'm just afraid Andrei wasn't TOOOOOO anxious to get back on the ice by lying about his symptoms.. I'd rather see him absent an extra day, and not risk his health. I asked doctors and they mention that the usual "down-time" or recuperation time after a concussion is two weeks.. one seems hasty, but hey, it's not my head that's on the (1st) line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hemsky83_09 Posted October 28, 2008 Report Share Posted October 28, 2008 GO HABS GO GO HABS GO GO HABS GO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Innis_Mor Posted October 28, 2008 Report Share Posted October 28, 2008 Begin, Laraque and Brisebois are out, O'byrne back, so is Andrei K. http://www.rds.ca/canadien/chroniques/262458.html expected lineup (dont pay attention to RW or LW im just going by trio ) Latendresse Koivu Tanguay Kostsytsin Plekanec Kovalev Higgins Lang Kostsytsin (Sergei) Dandenault Lapierre Kostopoulos Markov Komisarek Hamrlik O'Byrne Gorges Bouillon Sweet mother of Habs !! .... I dare say that is the fastest / best skating set of 12 forwards the Club de Hockey de Canadiens has iced in a long, long time (like, maybe, ever?). Can't wait for the game tonight!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leafs_rock_go_mccabe Posted October 28, 2008 Report Share Posted October 28, 2008 The lineup looks SOLID! I am happy with Carbonneau's decision making so far this season. He is rewarding those who are playing well, and I am glad to see Kostopoulos has been rewarded by playing in every game thus far. Go Habs! I am sure we are going to win tonight! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColRouleBleu Posted October 28, 2008 Report Share Posted October 28, 2008 Is it just me or does it feel like the season is starting for real just tonight? FINALLY the complete lineup. Watch Sergei tonight, he'll burn the ice, his bro is back and he'll be back to playing with Lang. Also, if Kovy puts in action only a tenth of what he said in that rds.ca interview of 11 minutes, the Pleks line will eat the canes like candy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.