Jump to content
The Official Site of the Montréal Canadiens
Canadiens de Montreal

Game #17 ~ Islanders @ Canadiens. Thursday, February 21st, 2013.


Clues

Recommended Posts

Game #17

Thursday, February 21st, 2013

7:30pm

RDS

1zvek2w.jpg14xp26s.jpg

New York Islanders

(6-9-1)

VS

Montreal Canadiens

(11-4-1)

@

1zbcmrm.jpg

Solid defensive play and sharp goaltending have keyed the Montreal Canadiens' longest winning streak of the season.

The Canadiens look to win six straight for the first time in almost three years while trying to hand the visiting New York Islanders a third consecutive defeat Thursday night.

Montreal (11-4-1) has allowed 35 goals this season - fifth-fewest in the NHL - and two in its last four games after yielding 14 in the previous three. Carey Price and Peter Budaj have combined for a 2.09 goals-against average on the year and each has a shutout while splitting starts over the last four contests.

"Our defensemen are doing a good job of closing gaps and we're not giving up many secondary chances," said Price, who made 24 saves in Tuesday's 3-1 road victory over the New York Rangers. "It's the recipe."

Some timely offense also helped Tuesday even though the Canadiens recorded a season-low 18 shots on goal. Max Pacioretty tied the game late in the second period and rookie Alex Galchenyuk added the go-ahead goal early in the third to help Montreal to its fifth straight victory following an 0-2-1 stretch.

"We were just really focused on getting the win," said Galchenyuk, who has a team-best plus-9 rating.

Though the Canadiens are 0 for 12 on the power play in their last four games, they've killed off all 11 of their opponents' chances during that span.

"We're just doing our job, five in a row now," said Pacioretty, who has five points in his last three games. "We focus on everyone in this lineup contributing."

Montreal hopes that formula works again Thursday when it tries to win six in a row for the first time since March 6-16, 2010. In the midst of a three-game stretch versus the two New York teams, the Canadiens are 7-0-4 at home against the Islanders (6-9-1) since a 4-2 loss Feb. 3, 2007.

Pacioretty has five goals and an assist in his last five games in the series. He notched his only career hat trick in a 4-2 win on Long Island on Feb. 9, 2012.

New York has been outscored 10-1 in its last two contests after totaling nine goals while winning the previous two. The Islanders put 38 shots on net Tuesday, but only got Travis Hamonic's tally in a 3-1 loss at Ottawa.

Though New York has lost seven of nine, it was much more competitive against the Senators than during Monday's embarrassing 7-0 home loss to Philadelphia.

"It was encouraging to see guys play hard," goaltender Rick DiPietro told the Islanders' official website. "We played well.

"There's definitely some positives to take out of (the Ottawa game). But at this point, you need points and you need results. We have a couple more games on the road to get the wins that we're looking for."

Islanders star John Tavares has been held without a point in the last two games after recording seven goals and two assists in the previous five. He had a five-game point streak against the Canadiens snapped in the most recent meeting March 17, although New York won 3-2 in a shootout at the Bell Centre.

1z4fzmo.jpg2qn72ao.jpg

29dxmc7.jpg

go Habs go!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Great GDT... looking forward to a great game. Hopefully everyone is well rested and Gallagher comes back soon. one of these days I'll get a chance to make a GDT.

GO HABS GO!

You only need 50 more posts. Go ahead and sign up for one of the later games. It won't take you long to get to 100 posts. ;)

This is a serious trap game. Bad feeling.

I actually feel pretty good about this one. Depends which Islander team shows up i guess. I'm more uncomfortable about the return match with the Rangers. That one could be tough.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This is a serious trap game. Bad feeling.

It'll be a good measure of our discipline and focus. The media has suddenly jumped on the bandwagon after our wins against Carolina and New York, and the players will be riding high. They have to approach this game with the understanding it won't be an easy win just because we're on a hot streak.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

great-job.gif......there clues as usual on your GDT,you never disappoint ;)..........GO_HABS_GO_zpsa021b1a8.gif
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Gallagher was on the ice this morning so that's a good sign. No announced decision however on tonight's game.

Naby confirmed in net for the Islanders tonight according to RDS.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Great GDT, very nice B)

Gallagher was on the ice this morning so that's a good sign. No announced decision however on tonight's game.

Naby confirmed in net for the Islanders tonight according to RDS.

Damm, was hoping for Dipietro =p

Gonna be a fun game

TBH Carolina felt like a trap game to me too and that turned out alright. I'm hoping for more of the same.

I had the exact same feeling,

Have a weird feeling about this one tonight too, hopefully a good smart game for the 2 points

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Gally is not cleared for contact yet and won't play tonight as per H/IO

Morning practice lines...

Bourque-Plekanec-Gionta;

Pacioretty-Desharnais-Cole;

Galchenyuk-Eller-Prust;

Moen-White-Armstrong

The defensive pairings were

Markov-Emelin;

Gorges-Diaz;

Bouillon-Subban.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Gallagher was on the ice this morning so that's a good sign. No announced decision however on tonight's game.

If Gallagher is back, where you do you play him? I really like Eller on GallyA's wing - he looks pretty comfortable as a RW - dont know if id like him on the LW.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If Gallagher is back, where you do you play him? I really like Eller on GallyA's wing - he looks pretty comfortable as a RW - dont know if id like him on the LW.

Don't think Gallagher is back tonight but I can't see how you pull Lars out of the top 9 at this point. I'd guess Prust goes to line 4 with Moen and either White or Armstrong.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

pricees0.png .

Lets Go Habs...keep the streak aliveeeeeeeeeeeee

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This is a perfect game to gauge the team's will to win. The Islanders are low in the standings and have had some awful games, but they've got a few good players that can burn you if you take them lightly. Will they play sane D and not roll over? Good teams win these games.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This is a perfect game to gauge the team's will to win. The Islanders are low in the standings and have had some awful games, but they've got a few good players that can burn you if you take them lightly. Will they play sane D and not roll over? Good teams win these games.

Yup

It's also the perfect game to take lightly like we did that last Leaf game. Let's see if the lesson they learned that night is still fresh. Hopefully everybody shows up tonight.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just About Game Time......................tumblr_ljvejfb1BX1qj0tjzo1_500.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...