Thu, 9 Oct 2014 Canadiens @ Capitals 7:00 PM EST TVA Sports, SN360, CSN-DC, TSN 690

[habs_93]

The conference-leading Habs

(Last Season: 46-28-8, 100 pts, 4th in EC, 2-4 Loss in ECF)

Visit the Capitals


(Last Season: 38-30-14, 90 pts, 9th in EC, out of playoffs)

The Habs have played notoriously poorly against the Capitals in the regular season during the last few years, going 5-10-3 since 2009-10.

Washington's undergone yet another coaching and attempted culture change, bringing in the ex-Nashville defensive systems coach Barry Trotz and signing defencemen Brooks Orpik and Matt Niskanen to large contracts. But the Caps are still Alexander Ovechkin's team, and they should once again be an offensive juggernaut that's excellent on the Power Play.

Last night's Habs lines from EOTP:

Pacioretty – Desharnais – Parenteau
Galchenyuk – Plekanec – Gallagher
Bourque - Eller - Sekáč
Prust - Malholtra - Weise

Emelin – Subban
Markov – Gilbert
Beaulieu – Weaver

Price

Tokarski

Tokarski is expected to start.

Projected Capitals lines from the Washington Post blog a few days ago:

Ovechkin - Bäckström - Fehr
Johansson - Burakovsky - Brouwer
Chimera - Laich - Ward
O'Brien/Latta - Kuznetsov - Brown

Carlson - Orpik
Alzner - Niskanen
Hillen - Erskine

Holtby

Peters

Holtby is expected to start.

Capitals defenceman Mike Green is a game-time decision.

We're yet another team's home opener opponent tonight. Can we spoil two parties in a row? Here's hoping!

[Guest]

Sweet. Love the video.

We must hold some kind of record for opening other teams seasons.

[kinot-1]

Thanks for the GDT, 93. I'm looking forward to seeing Dustin in goal.

[habs_93]

Thanks for the GDT, 93. I'm looking forward to seeing Dustin in goal.

Thanks. I still think yours was better, but I figured you deserved a night off.

Nothing like starting a season with a back-to-back...

[Semantics]

Orpik is lasting longer as a top pairing d-man than I thought.

Either that, or he's not, and is just playing that in Washington.

Montreal forwards should be able buzz-saw this Washington D. We'll see.

I kind of like Mike Green in the line-up ... he's good for a few mistakes each game, but he may miss the game.

Tokarski starting is smart, and that seems to be the League norm now for back-to-backs. Personally, I do do similar with Prust/Bournival. Throw the platooning players a game once in a while even as the team is injury free. I'm not sure Bournival fights Ward when called upon though! So, there is that!

[Guest]

Something to paste on the team bulletin board tonight.

Holtby went 2-0 in two games against the Canadiens last season and is 5-0 with a 0.98 GAA in five career outings versus Montreal.

We're overdue to get to this guy.

[HabsRuleForever]

nhl.com confirms Green is out for the Caps.

Something to paste on the team bulletin board tonight.

Holtby went 2-0 in two games against the Canadiens last season and is 5-0 with a 0.98 GAA in five career outings versus Montreal.

We're overdue to get to this guy.

Gotta love those SK guys.

[Guest]

nhl.com confirms Green is out for the Caps.

That's funny because TSN says he's a game time call.

[HabsRuleForever]

That's funny because TSN says he's a game time call.

Then we shall see

Washington Capitals defenseman Mike Green confirmed he will miss the Capitals' season opener against the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday because of an upper-body injury.

[habs_93]

Sounds like the same lineup, apart from Tokarski starting. I wouldn't have been opposed to seeing Prust sit or Bournival.

[HabsRuleForever]

Tonight the refs are:

Rob Martell

&

Chris Lee

[southernhabfan]

Thanks Habs_93 I plum forgot that the opening game was last night so I missed it... Tonight I will be out so y'all cannot read my great analysis and play-by-play Go Habs! I probably won't be on here as much (no applauding please) since it doesn't look I will be buying the package from Directv..donations will be accepted though Just kidding

[kinot-1]

Caps are 40 years old, so maybe they will be doing something over that along with the opening game.

[Semantics]

Thanks Habs_93 I plum forgot that the opening game was last night so I missed it... Tonight I will be out so y'all cannot read my great analysis and play-by-play Go Habs! I probably won't be on here as much (no applauding please) since it doesn't look I will be buying the package from Directv..donations will be accepted though Just kidding

aka "Marginal Hab fan"

I've plum forgot my wedding anniversary. I've never forgot the opening game of a Habs season.

[kinot-1]

aka "Marginal Hab fan"

I've plum forgot my wedding anniversary. I've never forgot the opening game of a Habs season.

I can't believe SHF actually admitted it.

[Marathon.Man]

GO HABS GO!!!

[BigTed3]

I don't mind rotating Prust and Weise out from time to time... ditto for Bourque and Sekac if they're not producing. But Bournival would be my first guy in, not Moen. I think this team should have been able to find a spot in the starting 12 for Bournival...

[77bourque77]

Dave_Stubbs

You've probably seen this, too: #Habs Travis Moen is in tonight's lineup, Dale Weise is out; Dustin Tokarski is in goal vs #Caps

2014-10-09, 4:52 PM

From twitter

[habs_93]

I don't mind rotating Prust and Weise out from time to time... ditto for Bourque and Sekac if they're not producing. But Bournival would be my first guy in, not Moen. I think this team should have been able to find a spot in the starting 12 for Bournival...

Yeah, I'm not happy with this development. I understand that perhaps we'll need Moen's penalty killing prowess considering we're playing Washington with their lethal power play, at home, in a game with Chris Lee in it. We're going to have to kill at least 6 or 7 tonight. Still. I think Bournival is underrated as a defensive player, and is just generally more useful.

[jennifer_rocket]

It's nice that we get a game so soon after the opener! Go Habs Go.

[kinot-1]

Pat Hickey is sayin that Habs might be shopping Moen,,, therefore, that's why he's in.

[jennifer_rocket]

Pat Hickey is sayin that Habs might be shopping Moen,,, therefore, that's why he's in.

Some exposure couldn't hurt. Although, something tells me the market for Moen isn't going to be super lucrative right now.

[habs_93]

Some exposure couldn't hurt. Although, something tells me the market for Moen isn't going to be super lucrative right now.

Given MB's propensity to absolutely rob trade partners blind, I could see him getting a second round pick or something for Moen around the deadline, and flipping it for crazy return.

[jennifer_rocket]

Given MB's propensity to absolutely rob trade partners blind, I could see him getting a second round pick or something for Moen around the deadline, and flipping it for crazy return.

That's what I would like to see. A decent draft choice coming back. Right around the deadline makes way more sense rather than now.

Oh, I forgot that Barry Trotz was their head coach.

[ColRouleBleu]

Something to paste on the team bulletin board tonight.

Holtby went 2-0 in two games against the Canadiens last season and is 5-0 with a 0.98 GAA in five career outings versus Montreal.

We're overdue to get to this guy.

Like we were overdue to win the season opener against the Laffs.