Wed, 4 Mar 2015 Canadiens @ Ducks 10:00 PM EST RDS Sportsnet FS-West TSN 690

[habs_93]

CANADIENS (41-17-5) at DUCKS (41-17-7)

TV: RDS, Sportsnet, FOX Sports West
Radio: TSN 690 CKGM, AM 830 KLAA

Canadiens Last 5: 4-0-1 (L1)
Ducks Last 5: 4-0-1 (W3)

Season series: The Anaheim Ducks are trying for a two-game sweep of the Montreal Canadiens. Frederik Andersen made 23 saves and Matt Beleskey had the winning goal for the Ducks at Bell Centre in December.

Canadiens team scope: Most of the Canadiens spent their day off away from the rink. But for forwards Torrey Mitchell and Brian Flynn, Tuesday was a chance to watch video and meet with their new coaches after being acquired from the Buffalo Sabres at the NHL Trade Deadline. Mitchell, who grew up near Montreal and rooted for the Canadiens, was especially excited. "It's an incredible feeling. I'm excited. My family is excited. They're all excited I'm coming home to play for the Canadiens," he said, according to the Montreal Gazette. "It's a dream come true. In a span of 10 minutes, I went from the 30th-place team to a team that has a chance to win a Stanley Cup. I hope that I can take advantage of this opportunity." Neither Mitchell nor Flynn is assured of playing Wednesday, when the Canadiens will be trying to atone for a 4-0 trip-opening loss to the San Jose Sharks on Monday.

Leading Scorer: Max Pacioretty (30-25-55)
Ice Time Leader: P.K. Subban (26:04)

Ducks team scope: While the Canadiens were resting in Southern California, the Ducks were on the road, defeating the Arizona Coyotes 4-1 to tie the Nashville Predators for the most points in the NHL. Andrew Cogliano had two goals, and Andersen won for the 50th time in 68 career decisions, matching Bill Durnan's mark for the fastest 50 wins by a goaltender in NHL history. "This is the team that has to do it," said center Ryan Kesler, who scored a shorthanded goal. "We look good on paper, but we have to put it down. [Tuesday] was a good first step."

Leading Scorer: Ryan Getzlaf (20-41-61)
Ice Time Leader: François Beauchemin (22:46)

All Time Record vs. Anaheim: 12-10-2-1 (.540 Point %)

Last Meeting: 18/12/14

ANA 2 - MTL 1

[jedimaas]

looking for a big push-back game tonight. have they confirmed who's in nets? Sounds like they are expecting Tokarski.

[kinot-1]

Thanks for the GDT, 93 .

To be the best, you have to beat the best.

[kinot-1]

Gotta keep an eye on the Sekac guy, I hear he's a dangerous player. On the other hand DSP should have a good game

[Guest archey]

He who gets up at 4 AM, that would be me, should experience a California game through the miracle of recording it.

Thank you for agreeing with me..

[kinot-1]

Manny and PAP are healthy scratches. Morton and O'Rourke are your refs.

Carey gets the start.

Petry will be paired with Tom Gilbert on the blue line.

Defenceman Alexei Emelin is still out with a shoulder injury, but he’s skating, The Ducks are missing 21-goal scorer Matt Beleskey with a shoulder injury, while Sami Vartanen and Tim Jackman are out with lower-body issues. Vartanen is one of the keys to the Anaheim power play, registering 17 of his 34 points with the extra man.

[BigTed3]

I'm fine with Malhotra sitting. Not sure PAP has deserved to be a scratch two of the last three games and only play the 4th line in the other. He's essentially being Ellered: you didn't score any goals playing 7 minutes with Malhotra and Weise, therefore you deserve to be benched? That's not right.

I also don't understand the wish to play two right-handed D men together and two lefties together on another pairing. It seems to be something of a bad idea to purposely choose to have two of your three defensive pairings feature guys playing out of position.

[kinot-1]

Stoner's hit on Patches, Dec. 18th at the Bell. Notice that it's Prime Ticket

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xA2q2zEnyG0#t=48

[Guest habs1952]

It's been a long day so the Habs better make it worth my time by playing a great game tonight.

[kinot-1]

It's been a long day so the Habs better make it worth my time by playing a great game tonight.

We don't care how hard done by you are,,,, just be here.

[Marathon.Man]

GO HABS GO!!!

[kinot-1]

In other news (not to make light of another teams misfortune ), but two days after acquiring Brett Connolly at Monday's trade deadline, the Boston Bruins have lost the services of the forward for the next six weeks. Connolly was hit by a shot during Boston's practice on Wednesday. The team confirmed that he has a broken finger on his right hand.

OK,,, I'm making light of it.

[kinot-1]

Here’s how the Habs lines and defence pairings are expected to look against the Ducks:

Pacioretty–Desharnais–Gallagher
Galchenyuk–Plekanec–Weise
Eller–De La Rose–Smith-Pelly
Prust–Flynn–Mitchell

Markov–Subban
Beaulieu–Gonchar
Gilbert–Petry

[kinot-1]

John Gibson in goal for the Ducks. 2.51 GAA, .920 SV%

[habs_93]

Morton and O'Rourke are your refs.

We had Morton in the Sharks game. Fantastic.

[southernhabfan]

I called the NHL office and demanded the game start at 8:00 pm EST....I was kind but firm!!! So..take note everybody..this proves that a call is worth...well..anyway..the game will now start at 7:00 PM!!!! pacific

[kinot-1]

I called the NHL office and demanded the game start at 8:00 pm EST....I was kind but firm!!! So..take note everybody..this proves that a call is worth...well..anyway..the game will now start at 7:00 PM!!!! pacific

Either you weren't firm enough or the NHL doesn't give a dam about you.

[habs_93]

Anaheim played last night, and travelled. So if we come out flat and get outplayed yet again, that has to be considered.

[jedimaas]

I also don't understand the wish to play two right-handed D men together and two lefties together on another pairing. It seems to be something of a bad idea to purposely choose to have two of your three defensive pairings feature guys playing out of position.

Especially when MB made a point of saying he was looking for a right shooting defensman this summer & again at the trade deadline - but we're using 2 guys on their off sides now... odd.

[vegasrick]

He who gets up at 4 AM, that would be me, should experience a California game through the miracle of recording it.

Thank you for agreeing with me..

The game will be over by then.

In other news (not to make light of another teams misfortune ), but two days after acquiring Brett Connolly at Monday's trade deadline, the Boston Bruins have lost the services of the forward for the next six weeks. Connolly was hit by a shot during Boston's practice on Wednesday. The team confirmed that he has a broken finger on his right hand.

OK,,, I'm making light of it.

I'm just glad Boston lost another player.

[Guest]

I'm fine with Malhotra sitting. Not sure PAP has deserved to be a scratch two of the last three games and only play the 4th line in the other. He's essentially being Ellered: you didn't score any goals playing 7 minutes with Malhotra and Weise, therefore you deserve to be benched? That's not right.

I also don't understand the wish to play two right-handed D men together and two lefties together on another pairing. It seems to be something of a bad idea to purposely choose to have two of your three defensive pairings feature guys playing out of position.

I'm fine with sitting PAP myself. The only time he has done anything for us this year seems to be in the shootout. If we're going to play Flynn and Mitchell, it's probably a good idea they play in their first game together until they've had a couple practices with the team . As for Manny,,,,i doubt he sees another game for us baring a long list of injuries.

[southernhabfan]

Watching the Property Brothers as I await the drop of the puck out west..sigh. My eyes are already heavy. I wish Bettman et al listened to me about changing the time of the game(s)..

[BigTed3]

Especially when MB made a point of saying he was looking for a right shooting defensman this summer & again at the trade deadline - but we're using 2 guys on their off sides now... odd.

I mean, it's supposedly the reason we traded Gorges. I think that decision seemed to come from MB, who wanted to force MT to use Emelin on the left side. Instead, Therrien has managed to foil the 3R, 3L set-up Bergevin gave him and throw two guys off-wing instead of just one. Baffling.

[Guest archey]

Unrelated to the game tonight I just finished a study unintentionally related to one of our new forwards. I didn't realize that in studying Mitchell Illinois I was looking into an area with someone's name.

It has a restaurant called the itsy-bitsy.

I will hope for an itsy-bitsy goal from the guy.

[Guest]

Once again,,,i doubt i'll be watching the 2nd and 3rd from a sitting position.