Clues Posted March 8, 2012 Report Share Posted March 8, 2012 Game #68 Thursday, March 8th, 2012. 9:30pm RDS(HD), TSN-HABS(HD) Canadian rivals meet as Oilers host Habs Canadiens (25-32-10) at Oilers (26-34-6) Last 10: Montreal (2-7-1) Edmonton (4-6-0) Season series: This is the second and final meeting this season between the two Canadian franchises. They last played Nov. 8 in Montreal, where Ryan Jones started the scoring and Ryan Smyth closed the game out with an empty-net goal. In the end, Montreal lost 3-1 despite outshooting the Oilers 29-14. Big story: There is very little subtext to this matchup between these historic Canadian franchises. Both teams are effectively playing for next season and are firmly placed at the bottom of their respective divisions. Montreal has lost nine of its last 11 and Edmonton has dropped three of its last four, meaning both teams will be motivated primarily by pride. Team Scope: Canadiens: Having dropped seven of their last eight, the last month has been a tough one for les Habitants. After going 0-3-0 on a difficult southeastern road swing to close out February, Montreal split two home games against Minnesota and Toronto before embarking on their annual Western Canadian road trip, which started Tuesday night in Calgary. Against the Flames, Montreal found itself playing from behind as Calgary got first-period goals from David Moss and Jarome Iginla. Montreal would fight back, ultimately tying the game 2-2 in the second period before allowing three unanswered goals from Calgary, including a second from Iginla. Trailing 5-2 in the third period, the Habs refused to roll over, getting goals from Lars Eller and Max Pacioretty, his second of the game. Montreal would come on late, outshooting the Flames 10-6 in the final period but getting no closer than 5-4. "It was a game in which we did a lot of good things and a lot of bad things at the same time," Eller said. "When you score four goals and when you throw pucks at the net and you do that stuff, we get the results. At the same time, we did a lot of things that weren't good enough in our own end that gave it away." Oilers: After winning three of four late last month, including a resounding 6-1 win over provincial rival Calgary on Feb. 21, the Oilers showed flashes of the talented, young team some people were touting entering the season. But Edmonton fell back to earth quickly, losing three straight before closing out a modest two-game California trip Tuesday night in San Jose. Against the Sharks, Jordan Eberle needed just 10 seconds to open the scoring with his team-leading 30th goal of the season. But this wouldn't be a cakewalk against the four-time defending Pacific Division champs. Barely three minutes after Eberle's tally, Jim Vandermeer notched his first of the season, tying the game. Ryane Clowe and Ryan Smyth traded second-period goals and the third period would solve nothing despite San Jose holding a 12-6 shot advantage. The game would go to a shootout, where Sam Gagner provided the only scoring and Devan Dubnyk was perfect, giving the Oilers a 3-2 win. Who's hot: Pacioretty has been scorching of late for the Habs, notching 3 goals and 5 points on his current three-game point streak. David Desharnais has seven points in his last five games. … For the Oilers, Eberle has goals in five of his last eight games. Injury report: Montreal's Andrei Markov has been cleared for contact, but he remains on IR alongside Mike Blunden (knee surgery), Brian Gionta (bicep surgery), Mathieu Darche (upper body), and Travis Moen (upper body). Scott Gomez, Raphael Diaz, and Aaron Palushaj are also all likely out with various ailments. … The Oilers are icing a healthy lineup. Stat pack: The annual trip to Western Canada has not been a pleasant one for the Canadiens in recent years. In the previous three seasons, they've gone a combined 1-8-0 on the road against Calgary, Edmonton, and Vancouver -- including 0-3-0 in Edmonton, while being outscored 14-5. Puck drop: Despite their losing records, both Montreal and Edmonton feature talented young scorers on their roster. If the 21-year-old Eberle can exceed the 32-goal mark, it will be the highest total for an Oiler since Smyth had 36 in 2005-06. Meanwhile, Pacioretty's pair Tuesday night gave him 28 goals for the season. Two more and the 23-year-old will be Montreal's first 30-goal scorer since Alex Kovalev had 35 in 2007-08. Habs Notebook go Habs go! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HabsRuleForever Posted March 8, 2012 Report Share Posted March 8, 2012 I bow to your GDT wizardry! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kinot-1 Posted March 8, 2012 Report Share Posted March 8, 2012 Awesome GDT, Clues I bow to your GDT wizardry! I didn't see the predictions from her crystal ball. A real good 4 pointer tonite. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marathon.Man Posted March 8, 2012 Report Share Posted March 8, 2012 Go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weepingminotaur Posted March 8, 2012 Report Share Posted March 8, 2012 I'm a bit worried, guys. So far, Operation Tank Job has proceeded quite smoothly, but this might be one of those trap games you figure you should lose because you're on the road and facing a team that needs to win to show its fans that they can be competitive next season. We simply can't afford to look past the Oilers -- we have to focus on losing every puck battle from the start of the first period on. We show that type of failing consistency and the right result will come. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forever_Habs10 Posted March 8, 2012 Report Share Posted March 8, 2012 I'm a bit worried, guys. So far, Operation Tank Job has proceeded quite smoothly, but this might be one of those trap games you figure you should lose because you're on the road and facing a team that needs to win to show its fans that they can be competitive next season. We simply can't afford to look past the Oilers -- we have to focus on losing every puck battle from the start of the first period on. We show that type of failing consistency and the right result will come. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weepingminotaur Posted March 8, 2012 Report Share Posted March 8, 2012 Thanks for keeping me strong, brother. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennifer_rocket Posted March 8, 2012 Report Share Posted March 8, 2012 Must lose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forever_Habs10 Posted March 8, 2012 Report Share Posted March 8, 2012 Must lose. *post #6 applies Thanks for keeping me strong, brother. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest archey Posted March 8, 2012 Report Share Posted March 8, 2012 i never have thrown a fish on the ice in my life. yet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weepingminotaur Posted March 8, 2012 Report Share Posted March 8, 2012 Campoli-Weber -- our shutdown pairing for the rest of the season. WHO'S WITH ME?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennifer_rocket Posted March 8, 2012 Report Share Posted March 8, 2012 Campoli-Weber -- our shutdown pairing for the rest of the season. WHO'S WITH ME?? I'd rather they play 20+ minutes as forwards on the first line, actually. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeanCountingHab Posted March 8, 2012 Report Share Posted March 8, 2012 I'm a bit worried, guys. So far, Operation Tank Job has proceeded quite smoothly, but this might be one of those trap games you figure you should lose because you're on the road and facing a team that needs to win to show its fans that they can be competitive next season. We simply can't afford to look past the Oilers -- we have to focus on losing every puck battle from the start of the first period on. We show that type of failing consistency and the right result will come. I share your concern. We can't afford to get off to a start like we did in the Leafs game and score the first goal. And even with the right start I don't want to see any of these comeback stunts like we saw against Calgary on Tuesday. That almost cost us the loss, and could very well result in win if we don't smarten up vs the Oilers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hatethosebruins Posted March 8, 2012 Report Share Posted March 8, 2012 Campoli-Weber -- our shutdown pairing for the rest of the season. WHO'S WITH ME?? Im just upset it will be broken up after the season Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weepingminotaur Posted March 8, 2012 Report Share Posted March 8, 2012 I'd rather they play 20+ minutes as forwards on the first line, actually. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weepingminotaur Posted March 8, 2012 Report Share Posted March 8, 2012 I share your concern. We can't afford to get off to a start like we did in the Leafs game and score the first goal. And even with the right start I don't want to see any of these comeback stunts like we saw against Calgary on Tuesday. That almost cost us the loss, and could very well result in win if we don't smarten up vs the Oilers. Yeah, seriously, wth was that? Phenomenal start to that Calgary game but then the wheels came off until the third period. I almost feel like they're so cocky about their ability to collapse in the third that they aren't fully committed to it at other times. We get it, guys, you are the masters of third-period collapses, but not every game is going to be lost in the final frame. Im just upset it will be broken up after the season It tugs at the heart-strings, I know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
js2 Posted March 8, 2012 Report Share Posted March 8, 2012 The Desharnais line is due for a terrible game and what better time for it to happen than tonight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forever_Habs10 Posted March 8, 2012 Report Share Posted March 8, 2012 FirstStar Posted 06 March 2012 - 10:19 PM late start... FH must be happy. But with the way this season has unfolded, I'm not surprised he's not on. If I were in his shoes, I don't think I'd stay up either. See you posted this in our last game FS...and thanks for understanding,same goes for tonight ....though I am gonna PVR the game & watch it in the morning. Be a different story if there was indeed something at stake here,to force me to watch these late start games. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kinot-1 Posted March 8, 2012 Report Share Posted March 8, 2012 Peter Budaj will be in nets tonite. The Master plan continues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest habs1952 Posted March 8, 2012 Report Share Posted March 8, 2012 Must lose. Will lose! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwdemonwolf Posted March 8, 2012 Report Share Posted March 8, 2012 Campoli-Weber -- our shutdown pairing for the rest of the season. WHO'S WITH ME?? If only we had kept Picard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kinot-1 Posted March 8, 2012 Report Share Posted March 8, 2012 If only we had kept Picard Snap out of it,,,,,,he's gone,,never to return, we have to go with who we have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColRouleBleu Posted March 8, 2012 Report Share Posted March 8, 2012 Campoli-Weber -- our shutdown pairing for the rest of the season. WHO'S WITH ME?? Randy Cunneyworth ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weepingminotaur Posted March 8, 2012 Report Share Posted March 8, 2012 Randy Cunneyworth ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest habs1952 Posted March 8, 2012 Report Share Posted March 8, 2012 Hockey I/O polled this question today: Q: Would you like to see the Toronto Maple Leafs make the playoffs? Thumbs up to the 83% of voters who voted NO. :) Thumbs down to the 17% who voted yes. :angry: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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