THEBIGGESTHABSFAN123 Posted February 12, 2013 Report Share Posted February 12, 2013 CANADIENS (6-4-1) at LIGHTNING (6-5-0) TV: TSN, RDS, SUN Last 10: Montreal 6-3-1; Tampa Bay 5-5-0. Season series: This is the first of three meetings. They split their four meetings last season, with the home team winning all four games. Big story: Both teams are desperately seeking a victory, with the Lightning losing four straight games in regulation and the Canadiens losing three straight, though one was in a shootout. Depending what happens elsewhere, the losing team could find itself drop out of the top-eight in the Eastern Conference. Team Scope: Canadiens: While the Canadiens were winning six of their first eight games there was little reason for Michel Therrien to tinker too much with his line combinations, even though there were reasons for concern. The biggest one was the lack of production from last season’s number one trio made up of David Desharnais between Max Pacioretty and Erik Cole, who have combined for five goals thus far this season, with Pacioretty still waiting for his first of the season. After 11 games of very little production from the unit, Therrien has decided to split the three up, moving Pacioretty onto a line with rookies Alex Galchenyuk and Brendan Gallagher while Brandon Prust moves into Pacioretty’s spot to the left of Desharnais and Cole. “I had a discussion with that line and told them that if I didn’t see an improvement, I would have to separate them,” Therrien said after Monday’s practice. “They had nice chemistry last season, but they haven’t been able to find it again this season.” The biggest impact the line change may make is that Galchenyuk and Gallagher may be called upon to play a bigger role on the club. Galchenyuk is averaging just over 12 minutes of ice time per night and Gallagher just over 11, but with Pacioretty on their wing now instead of Prust that number will likely increase against the Lightning. “Our kids have reached a stage after 11 games that they’re ready to take on a bit more responsibility,” Therrien said. “It’s part of the learning process.” Lightning: The Lightning lived up to their nickname through the first seven games of the season, electrifying crowds with a high-octane offense that pumped in 37 goals to go 6-1-0 over that span. But over the course of this four-game losing streak the Lightning has scored just six goals while allowing 14, with the worst effort coming in Tampa Bay’s last game in New York when the Rangers beat them 5-1 and outshot them 32-20. “This was unacceptable. Embarrassing,” center Steven Stamkos said after the game. “We're a lot better team than this. If we want to be a good team, we have to play better than this.” The lack of offense can be linked to the power play going completely dry over the last three games, failing to convert on 10 straight opportunities and managing just six shots on goal. Meanwhile, Martin St. Louis hasn’t scored in nine games and Stamkos hasn’t scored in three while others like Teddy Purcell and Vincent Lecavalier have also struggled offensively. “It's surprising,” Lightning coach Guy Boucher told the Tampa Bay Times. “I'd love to say I'll help them put it in, but we're not going to put it in for them. They're doing the right thing. They're in the right place. They're shooting at the right time. It's just not going in.” Who’s hot: If there is one shining light for Tampa Bay, it would be the continued solid play of defenseman Viktor Hedman. Over this four-game losing streak, he is just a minus-1 despite logging heavy minutes and his team being outscored 14-6. … For the Canadiens, defenseman P.K. Subban has four points in the five games he’s played this season. Tomas Plekanec has two goals and an assist in his last three games. Injury report: The Lightning placed left wing Ryan Malone on injured reserve Monday after he suffered a lower-body injury prior to the game against the Rangers on Sunday while participating in the usual pre-game warm-up of kicking the soccer ball around. Defensemen Matthias Ohlund and Matt Taormina are also on injured reserve. … The Canadiens are without center Petteri Nokelainen. COMEBACK TIME Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kinot-1 Posted February 12, 2013 Report Share Posted February 12, 2013 Gold star for your GDT, 123. We gotta right this sinking ship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest habs1952 Posted February 12, 2013 Report Share Posted February 12, 2013 Job well done TBHF. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HabsRuleForever Posted February 12, 2013 Report Share Posted February 12, 2013 Thanks for the GDT TBHF, hope it's a winner. However which Habs team will show up tonight? The one that had been firing on all cylinders to a 6-2 record or the team that has dropped three straight & looked worse each game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I1IscottieI1I Posted February 12, 2013 Report Share Posted February 12, 2013 im excited to see what the pachy chucky gally line can do Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forza-Montreal Posted February 12, 2013 Report Share Posted February 12, 2013 Common Montreal Lets Try to actually score some goals and Hold a Lead tonight! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kinot-1 Posted February 12, 2013 Report Share Posted February 12, 2013 Common Montreal Lets Try to actually score some goals and Hold a Lead tonight! And try to stay out of the box. St. Louis has zero goals in nine games, Purcell and Conacher zero in four, Stamkos zero in three, Lecavalier one in four. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spectre316 Posted February 12, 2013 Report Share Posted February 12, 2013 Go Habs Go! Lets get a win! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 12, 2013 Report Share Posted February 12, 2013 Nice job kid. I was expecting crayons. :P Let's get this ball rolling the right way tonight. Tampa is also on a losing streak and will be hungry. Price will need to be at his best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncivilengineer Posted February 12, 2013 Report Share Posted February 12, 2013 Looks like Prust and Patches are trading spots. http://canadiens.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=655363 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennifer_rocket Posted February 12, 2013 Report Share Posted February 12, 2013 I will be out tonight. I'm sort of glad I won't be watching the game. Hopefully I will come home to some highlights with plenty of Habs scoring! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kinot-1 Posted February 12, 2013 Report Share Posted February 12, 2013 Looks like Prust and Patches are trading spots. http://canadiens.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=655363 I hope it doesn't backfire,,,and no-one scores. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THEBIGGESTHABSFAN123 Posted February 12, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2013 Thanks guys. I was gonna do more but I was late and didn't wanna be more late. As for the game, this is a must win, and I'm not just saying that to say that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kinot-1 Posted February 12, 2013 Report Share Posted February 12, 2013 7:30 start time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Percent Posted February 12, 2013 Report Share Posted February 12, 2013 Looks like Prust and Patches are trading spots. http://canadiens.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=655363 I'm very interested in seeing how this slight change plays out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest habs1952 Posted February 12, 2013 Report Share Posted February 12, 2013 Nice job kid. I was expecting crayons. :P Let's get this ball rolling the right way tonight. Tampa is also on a losing streak and will be hungry. Price will need to be at his best. Crayons? He needs to pass finger painting in school before he can do crayons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kinot-1 Posted February 12, 2013 Report Share Posted February 12, 2013 TB is 44% on the PP at home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FirstStar Posted February 12, 2013 Report Share Posted February 12, 2013 We need a rebound game from our boys. T-bay's looking to stop their skid and they have offensive weapons that could make us pay if we're undisciplined. Stick to your game and stay out of the box. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GhostsInTheForum Posted February 13, 2013 Report Share Posted February 13, 2013 I like Prust but this is a total Guy Carbonneau-style coaching move :-| Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FirstStar Posted February 13, 2013 Report Share Posted February 13, 2013 I like Prust but this is a total Guy Carbonneau-style coaching move :-| It's an odd move putting Prust with DD and Cole, he may create room out there for DD. We'll see what happens. What Prust lacks in skill, he more than makes up for in heart, hustle and grit. I'm curious to see if it sparks anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shanahan1024 Posted February 13, 2013 Report Share Posted February 13, 2013 In the coach's defense Prust is a better play then Travis Moen, but with that said Eller will be on a line with DD and Cole by the mid way point of the game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GhostsInTheForum Posted February 13, 2013 Report Share Posted February 13, 2013 It's an odd move putting Prust with DD and Cole, he may create room out there for DD. We'll see what happens. What Prust lacks in skill, he more than makes up for in heart, hustle and grit. I'm curious to see if it sparks anything. I'm still having nightmares about Laraque playing on the first line in that first round sweep in the 09 playoffs. I know Prust is a far better player but nothing good ever seems to come from playing a bottom six player on the top line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Percent Posted February 13, 2013 Report Share Posted February 13, 2013 I'm still having nightmares about Laraque playing on the first line in that first round sweep in the 09 playoffs. I know Prust is a far better player but nothing good ever seems to come from playing a bottom six player on the top line. I remember screaming at my TV when I saw Laraque on the first line. lol! Was such a strange move... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GhostsInTheForum Posted February 13, 2013 Report Share Posted February 13, 2013 Glad Gord Miller is doing the game. CBC should pick him up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nine1One Posted February 13, 2013 Report Share Posted February 13, 2013 hello people who like the habs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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