Clues Posted December 29, 2011 Report Share Posted December 29, 2011 Bolts, Habs look to string consecutive wins together Last 10: CANADIENS (14-16-7) at LIGHTNING (15-17-3) Season series: First of four meetings. The teams split their matchups on the 2010-11 schedule, with Montreal taking the two most recent games. Max Pacioretty led the Canadiens with 3 goals and Steven Stamkos also had 3 goals to pace the Lightning. Big story: Two teams that qualified for the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs but have underachieved during the first half of this season will each be trying to build off a key victory two nights earlier. Montreal routed Ottawa to win its first game under interim coach Randy Cunneyworth, while Tampa Bay blasted a very good Philadelphia squad. One team will exit Thursday's showdown with a modest two-game winning streak and some momentum heading into its New Year's Eve game. Team Scope: Canadiens: In Cunneyworth's first four games behind the Montreal bench -- all losses -- the Canadiens scored a total of six goals. They matched that output in 60 minutes against the Senators, responding to an early goal against by connecting for the next five en route to a 6-2 triumph. Lars Eller's shorthander got the party started, and the Habs got a goal and an assist each from Tomas Plekanec, Mike Cammalleri, Louis Leblanc, P.K. Subban and Erik Cole, as well as three assists from Raphael Diaz. They snapped an overall five-game skid. "He's been doing a good job for us and we haven't been playing up to par so it was really good to be able to get that one for him," goalie Carey Price, who stopped 33 shots, said of Cunneyworth. Lightning: Goaltending has been scrutinized more than anything else in Tampa Bay this season, and while it was encouraging to see the offense break out behind a pair of goals from Stamkos in a 5-1 win over Philadelphia, the eye-opening performance of the night came from Mathieu Garon in net. He stopped 31 shots -- including 16 in the first period, when the game easily could have turned in the Flyers' favor. Instead, the Lightning escaped the opening 20 minutes in a 1-1 tie and took over in the second as Stamkos sandwiched his goals around one by Steve Downie. "(Garon) gave us a chance," coach Guy Boucher said in the Tampa Bay Times. "And after that, the players gave it back to him." Who's hot: Cole leads the Canadiens with 14 goals in his first season after signing as a free agent. … St. Louis has 1 goal and 3 assists since returning from facial fractures resulting from getting hit by a puck in practice, and has extended his points streak to five games (3-3-6). Injury report: Montreal forwards Brian Gionta (lower body) and Scott Gomez (groin) and defenseman Andrei Markov (knee) are on injured reserve. … Tampa Bay defensemen Eric Brewer and Victor Hedman left Tuesday's game with upper-body injuries. Brewer returned to finish the game, but both are considered day-to-day, as is forward Nate Thompson (lower body). Forward Ryan Shannon is out 2-4 weeks with a lower-body injury. Defensemen Matt Gilroy (lower body) and Mattias Ohlund (knee) are also sidelined. Stat pack: Eller has scored two of the Canadiens' three shorthanded goals this season. … Stamkos, who tied for the Rocket Richard Trophy with Sidney Crosby in 2009-10, when he scored 51 goals, entered Wednesday's action with 22 goals, tied for the NHL lead with Marian Gaborik of the Rangers. Puck drop: Cunneyworth was Ottawa's captain and Jacques Martin its coach when the modern-day Senators earned their first playoff berth in 1997. Flash forward almost 15 years and Cunneyworth has now replaced Martin as Montreal coach and earned his first NHL coaching victory against Ottawa. "I would have taken it a couple of games earlier but obviously a win's a win, and it's the start of hopefully many more," he said. Player Stats Team Stats go Habs go! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 29, 2011 Report Share Posted December 29, 2011 Two in a row???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hatethosebruins Posted December 29, 2011 Report Share Posted December 29, 2011 C'mon habs win this one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THEBIGGESTHABSFAN123 Posted December 29, 2011 Report Share Posted December 29, 2011 Great job clues. Two in a row, we go! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigTed3 Posted December 29, 2011 Report Share Posted December 29, 2011 The Gazette reporting today that because TB is missing so many D men right now, if Hedman can't go, then J.T. Wyman might move back to play defence... a guy who couldn't crack our line-up out of Hamilton when he was playing his natural position; that's a move we'd have to take advantage of. Garon expected to start for Tampa, according to Renaud Lavoie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HabsRuleForever Posted December 29, 2011 Report Share Posted December 29, 2011 Great GDT Clues, don't know how I'm going to follow that? Let's go for two W's in a row please boys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forever_Habs10 Posted December 29, 2011 Report Share Posted December 29, 2011 Two in a row???? what's the odds down in vegas? Let's go for two W's in a row please boys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hatethosebruins Posted December 29, 2011 Report Share Posted December 29, 2011 The Gazette reporting today that because TB is missing so many D men right now, if Hedman can't go, then J.T. Wyman might move back to play defence... a guy who couldn't crack our line-up out of Hamilton when he was playing his natural position; that's a move we'd have to take advantage of. Garon expected to start for Tampa, according to Renaud Lavoie. JT wyman is in the NHL!? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THEBIGGESTHABSFAN123 Posted December 29, 2011 Report Share Posted December 29, 2011 JT wyman is in the NHL!? That surprised me too, lol. Don't they have any defenceman in their farm team instead of moving an AHL forward to D? Lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kinot-1 Posted December 29, 2011 Report Share Posted December 29, 2011 Awesome job Clues, let's hope it does not go for naught. I'm expecting a big WIN tonite. Contain their top 3,,,,and we should come out on the good side of things. 3 PERIODS OF HARD-WORKING HOCKEY PLEASE. ,,,,notice, I said please. Can you hear me down there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maddienmike Posted December 29, 2011 Report Share Posted December 29, 2011 Don't have time to write a poem ,great GDT Clues will miss the game tonight,have to go back to the Sunshine Coast and get the last of our stuff,I am so exhausted it's no fun moving,but we will win,just keep those positive thoughts flowing, GO HABS GO :lol: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennifer_rocket Posted December 29, 2011 Report Share Posted December 29, 2011 Currently -18 (feels like -31) in Montreal. What's the weather like down in Florida, I wonder? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kinot-1 Posted December 29, 2011 Report Share Posted December 29, 2011 Currently -18 (feels like -31) in Montreal. What's the weather like down in Florida, I wonder? Currently 10,,,rising to 18 and sunny, this afternoon, 12 this evening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THEBIGGESTHABSFAN123 Posted December 29, 2011 Report Share Posted December 29, 2011 It's gonna snow here in the Toronto area, if the weatherman is right. -6 right now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clues Posted December 29, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 29, 2011 Thank you for the kind words, everyone. Currently -18 (feels like -31) in Montreal. What's the weather like down in Florida, I wonder? I'm so cold right now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 29, 2011 Report Share Posted December 29, 2011 Been lucky here so far. Haven't touched a brush/scraper or shovel yet. Still,,,,wouldn't mind being on that plane with the boys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nine1One Posted December 29, 2011 Report Share Posted December 29, 2011 Currently -18 (feels like -31) in Montreal. What's the weather like down in Florida, I wonder? 64F Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beaubie Posted December 29, 2011 Report Share Posted December 29, 2011 Fantastic job Clues. I'm actually hoping we win this one lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kinot-1 Posted December 29, 2011 Report Share Posted December 29, 2011 I picked this gem off of CBC sports. It seems like Cammy "might" be happy that JM is gone. "I would hope that we can play a little more uninhibited now, have a little more assertiveness in our game," said Michael Cammalleri, who had a goal and an assist. "It's one game, though. Let's not pretend that this is a 10-game winning streak already." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kinot-1 Posted December 29, 2011 Report Share Posted December 29, 2011 Habs I/O, reporting that it will be the same line-up as Tues, game, with Campoli and Weber healthy scratches. Garon in nets for TB. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WinnipegJet Posted December 29, 2011 Report Share Posted December 29, 2011 Habs I/O, reporting that it will be the same line-up as Tues, game, with Campoli and Weber healthy scratches. Garon in nets for TB. Garon has been rock-solid at home for Tampa this year, this could be a tough one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kinot-1 Posted December 29, 2011 Report Share Posted December 29, 2011 Garon has been rock-solid at home for Tampa this year, this could be a tough one. And I am sure Boucher will want to win this game, against his old organization. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColRouleBleu Posted December 29, 2011 Report Share Posted December 29, 2011 I picked this gem off of CBC sports. It seems like Cammy "might" be happy that JM is gone. "I would hope that we can play a little more uninhibited now, have a little more assertiveness in our game," said Michael Cammalleri, who had a goal and an assist. "It's one game, though. Let's not pretend that this is a 10-game winning streak already." Well well well... why am I not surprised Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kinot-1 Posted December 29, 2011 Report Share Posted December 29, 2011 TSN saying that Hedman was injured on Tues. and will not play. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manatee-X Posted December 29, 2011 Report Share Posted December 29, 2011 I picked this gem off of CBC sports. It seems like Cammy "might" be happy that JM is gone. "I would hope that we can play a little more uninhibited now, have a little more assertiveness in our game," said Michael Cammalleri, who had a goal and an assist. "It's one game, though. Let's not pretend that this is a 10-game winning streak already." Was he talking about the coach, though? He might just mean that they could play a little more uninhibited now that they've finally broken out of their offensive slump a little bit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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