Forever_Habs10 Posted March 3, 2012 Report Share Posted March 3, 2012 Season Series: Fifth of six meetings between these Northeast Division rivals. The Maple Leafs beat the Canadiens twice back in October, but Montreal has won the two subsequent matchups. Toronto did prevail 5-4 on an overtime goal by Mikhail Grabovski in the only game played at the Bell Centre. Big Story: The Leafs will have a new face behind the bench when they take the ice at the Bell Centre. With his team in a 1-9-1 slump and five points out of eighth place, GM Brian Burke pulled the plug on Friday and fired Ron Wilson after nearly four seasons. The new face is Randy Carlyle, fired earlier in the season by Anaheim -- where he and Burke led the Ducks to the Stanley Cup. Team Scope: Maple Leafs: Carlyle didn't stay unemployed long after being let go by Anaheim on Nov, 30. It's a reunion with Burke -- but the GM wasn't thrilled about having to fire Wilson, a longtime friend, despite a 130-135-45 record in 310 games, no playoff berths and 10 losses in 11 games. Like Carlyle, Wilson and Burke go back a long way, both in the NHL and with USA Hockey. "That was not an easy decision for me to make," he said in a statement. Canadiens: In typical fashion for how this season has gone in Montreal, even in snapping a five-game losing streak on Thursday night the Canadiens had to do things the hard way. Power-play goals by P.K. Subban, Lars Eller and Max Pacioretty staked the Habs to a 3-1 lead over the Wild after two periods and David Desharnais extended it to three goals by scoring midway through the third. But the visitors stormed back to tie in the final four minutes, and it took Desharnais connecting again in the shootout for the Canadiens to pull out the 5-4 victory. "It was incredible," Desharnais said. "If the people wanted a show, tonight was a show, I guess. Thankfully we came out with a win, because there were a lot of things that were pretty pitiful." Who's Hot: Joffrey Lupul has consecutive games with a goal and an assist for the Maple Leafs. Phil Kessel has six goals and 11 assists in his last 13 games. … Desharnais has 3 goals and 3 assists during a three-game points streak for the Canadiens. Injury Report: Montreal lost forward Aaron Palushaj in the opening minutes Thursday when he took a stick to the area of his right eye. Neither he nor center Scott Gomez (eye) are expected to play. Forward Mathieu Darche (dizziness/upper body) has missed the last four games. Defenseman Andrei Markov (knee) and forwards Brian Gionta (biceps), Mike Blunden (knee) and Travis Moen (upper body) are on injured reserve. ... The Leafs are healthy. Stat Pack: In addition to scoring his 14th goal of the season, Bozak won 67 percent of his faceoffs (14 of 21) against the Blackhawks on Wednesday. … Desharnais, who went undrafted out of juniors despite consecutive seasons of 100-plus points for the Chicoutimi Sagueneens, leads the Canadiens in scoring with 50 points. Puck Drop: Carlyle, originally drated by the Leafs, is the 16th former player to serve as their coach. In all, he's the 29th coach in franchise history -- and he'll be trying to end a playoff drought that dates to 2004, the longest in franchise history and the second-longest active absence from the postseason. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weepingminotaur Posted March 3, 2012 Report Share Posted March 3, 2012 Nice thread, friend. We'll be in tough to win without Darche, obvs, but here's to a good effort! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forever_Habs10 Posted March 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 3, 2012 Louis Leblanc and Andreas Engqvist were recalled from Hamilton on Friday *because Scott Gomez and Aaron Plaushaj are out of the Saturday night game with eye injuries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marathon.Man Posted March 3, 2012 Report Share Posted March 3, 2012 Gooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColRouleBleu Posted March 3, 2012 Report Share Posted March 3, 2012 Diaz out tonight again, lower body injury. It's not fun for him but it means we're playing 6 D and 12 forwards ... YAY for that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColRouleBleu Posted March 3, 2012 Report Share Posted March 3, 2012 Forwards lines for tonight: Pacioretty-Desharnais-Cole Bourque-Eller-Leblanc Geoffrion-Plekanec-White Engqvist-Nokelainen-Staubitz I like White and Geoffrion's story is great and all but ... poor Pleki **cries** Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennifer_rocket Posted March 3, 2012 Report Share Posted March 3, 2012 Nice thread, friend. We'll be in tough to win without Darche, obvs, but here's to a good effort! Weep. Darche can't carry us the whole way. We need to learn to win without relying on our best player all the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weepingminotaur Posted March 3, 2012 Report Share Posted March 3, 2012 Weep. Darche can't carry us the whole way. We need to learn to win without relying on our best player all the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngryHabsFan Posted March 3, 2012 Report Share Posted March 3, 2012 I know we want to have the best pick at the draft....but there is no way I can cheer for the habs to lose tonight. The feeling of knocking the leafs down the standings even further will be awesome. GO HABS GO! Back to losing games next week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColRouleBleu Posted March 3, 2012 Report Share Posted March 3, 2012 After practice this morning RC had some advice for Erik Cole regarding tonight's game: "Stay out of Emelin's way" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hatethosebruins Posted March 3, 2012 Report Share Posted March 3, 2012 Weep. Darche can't carry us the whole way. We need to learn to win without relying on our best player all the time. But we cant win WITHOUT our best player. At least play him 19 minutes as opposed to 23 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
js2 Posted March 3, 2012 Report Share Posted March 3, 2012 Here's hoping that having a new coach will give the Leafs a boost tonight. The Habs need to lose this to give Edmonton a chance to move ahead in the standings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hydrostatic Posted March 3, 2012 Report Share Posted March 3, 2012 I know we want to have the best pick at the draft....but there is no way I can cheer for the habs to lose tonight. The feeling of knocking the leafs down the standings even further will be awesome. GO HABS GO! Back to losing games next week. Same here, wanna watch the Laffs go DOWN. ...Not as far down as us though. We need that draft pick. Let Carlyle right the Leaf ship just enough for, say, a 10th place finish And great GDT FH, looking forward to it being a winning one! Habs-Leafs on a Saturday, YEAAA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 3, 2012 Report Share Posted March 3, 2012 Very worthy GDT FH. Let's make a point of making Randy feel right at home. He should get use to losing ASAP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest habs1952 Posted March 3, 2012 Report Share Posted March 3, 2012 I know we want to have the best pick at the draft....but there is no way I can cheer for the habs to lose tonight. The feeling of knocking the leafs down the standings even further will be awesome. GO HABS GO! Back to losing games next week. Yup...I've cheered for the Habs for so many years it just isn't in me to cheer against the Habs when facing the Laffs. I can't do it! GO HABS GO!!!! Perfect touch with the Laffs toilet paper FH but you forgot the deodorizer to go with it. Pure ammonia just might do the job. :lol: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kindred Posted March 3, 2012 Report Share Posted March 3, 2012 We need to learn to win without relying on our best player all the time. didn't we try that for like a year without Markov? No Darche? I'm not expecting much then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest archey Posted March 3, 2012 Report Share Posted March 3, 2012 Nice thread, friend. We'll be in tough to win without Darche, obvs, but here's to a good effort! this is totally why i decided not to become a bee keeper. why make honey if there's nothing to go with it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColRouleBleu Posted March 3, 2012 Report Share Posted March 3, 2012 Let's make a point of making Randy feel right at home. He should get use to losing ASAP. Now here's a catch all post if I ever saw one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 3, 2012 Report Share Posted March 3, 2012 Now here's a catch all post if I ever saw one YUP,,,RC vs RC. Either way RC will get a win tonight and RC will lose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColRouleBleu Posted March 3, 2012 Report Share Posted March 3, 2012 YUP,,,RC vs RC. Either way RC will get a win tonight. Some Cola company is missing a great advertizing opportunity "Habs beat Leafs tonight 4-2" - Chris Nilan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kinot-1 Posted March 3, 2012 Report Share Posted March 3, 2012 Excellent GDT FH Just love to beat the HA-HAs tonite. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forever_Habs10 Posted March 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 3, 2012 After practice this morning RC had some advice for Erik Cole regarding tonight's game: "Stay out of Emelin's way" lol...Amen to that But we cant win WITHOUT our best player. Gomez is out too?...great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forever_Habs10 Posted March 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 3, 2012 Just love to beat the HA-HAs tonite. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennifer_rocket Posted March 3, 2012 Report Share Posted March 3, 2012 Arsenal stun Liverpool 2-1, snatching victory on an injury time strike by Robin Van Persie. New Game of Thrones trailer hits the internet and is epic! Even though I'm a huge fan of "Tank watch" I would love to see Montreal obliterate Toronto tonight. Let's make it a perfect sports and TV day! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 3, 2012 Report Share Posted March 3, 2012 Run em over tonight boys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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