Game #81 ~ Tampa Bay Lightning @ Montreal Canadiens. Friday, April 7th, 2017.

[Clues]

Friday, April 7th, 2017

Lightning (40-30-10, 90 points) @ Canadiens (46-25-9, 101 points)

TV: NBCSN, SNE, RDS

7:30pm

It's now official that the Canadiens will be playing the New York Rangers in the opening round of the playoffs, but Claude Julien's troops still have two regular-season games left before the highly-anticipated series officially gets underway.

The Canadiens will wrap up the home portion of their schedule on Friday night when the Tampa Bay Lightning visit the Bell Centre.

Michael McCarron and Andreas Martinsen draw back into the lineup. They'll play on a line with Dwight King. That means that Steve Ott, Torrey Mitchell and Brian Flynn are all healthy scratches.

Meanwhile, Carey Price will make the 500th start of his NHL career. Following the morning skate, Julien confirmed that Price will not be in goal against the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday night, though. He may not even make the trip to Michigan. That decision will come later on tonight.

Julien also indicated that defenseman Alexei Emelin will miss the final two games of the regular season. After being called up from the AHL's St. John's IceCaps on Thursday, Brett Lernout will take his spot in the lineup against the Lightning and patrol the blue line alongside Nathan Beaulieu.

With respect to Shea Weber and Jordie Benn, Julien mentioned that the pair will be ready for the start of the playoffs. While Weber is out for the final two games of the season, Benn may play against Detroit.

The two teams met last Saturday night in Florida, with the Canadiens posting a 2-1 overtime win. Alexander Radulov sealed the deal with his 17th goal of the season just 51 seconds into the extra frame.

Since then, the Canadiens have played two more road games, besting the Panthers in Sunrise before falling to the Sabres in Western New York. Only Tomas Plekanec managed to light the lamp against Buffalo on Wednesday night.

Jon Cooper's club posted a 4-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday night at the Air Canada Centre to keep their Eastern Conference playoff hopes alive. 

The Lightning moved to within three points of the Maple Leafs for the second wild card spot with just two more games remaining on their schedule. Mike Babcock's contingent could have punched their playoff ticket with a win.

https://www.nhl.com/canadiens/news/pregame-the-tampa-bay-lightning-pay-a-visit-to-the-bell-centre-on-friday/c-288529768

 

[kinot-2]

Thanks Clues, (is that a car tire I see  ).

 

Line-up for tonite:

Pacioretty-Danault-Radulov;
Byron-Plekanec-Gallagher;
Galchenyuk-Shaw-Lehkonen;
King-McCarron-Martinsen

Markov - Nesterov
Davidson - Petry
Beaulieu - Lernout
(Benn rotating but not playing)

Price starting
Montoya

[H_T_L]

Thanks Clues.

The D is pretty weak looking for tonight. Regular forward lines but Nesterov will play with Markov and the rookie will play 3rd pairing with Bo. Petry and Davidson is the other pairing.

[kinot-2]

Seems like a win-win situation to me. Lose and the Laffs are closer to looking at golf greens. Win and we've gained 2 PTs. Just don't get injured. 

[archey]

Thanks.

Tells me what I need to know. Cool!

[maas_art]

39 minutes ago, kinot-2 said:

Just don't get injured. 

This.

Nothing game.  Nice to be in them from the positive side this year unlike last. 

[vegasrick]

KILL THE BOLTZ

[vegasrick]

4 hours ago, kinot-2 said:

Seems like a win-win situation to me. Lose and the Laffs are closer to looking at golf greens. Win and we've gained 2 PTs. Just don't get injured. 

You forgot one thing:

[Habs=stanleycup]

26 minutes ago, vegasrick said:

KILL THE BOLTZ

[kinot-2]

28 minutes ago, vegasrick said:

KILL THE BOLTZ

 

1 minute ago, Habs=stanleycup said:

Naw,,, I want the Laffs to sweat. I'll go for the Bolts winning in OT.

 

[Habs=stanleycup]

12 minutes ago, kinot-2 said:

 

Naw,,, I want the Laffs to sweat. I'll go for the Bolts winning in OT.

 

LOL I want the Laffs to sweat too but not at the expense of us losing.

Anyway, in the end, all that matters bottom line is the Stanley Cup for US! 

[eldag]

I am not proud of saying that if it means sweating the LAFFS and their pinheaded fans for one more night     ...... 

 

GO BOLTS GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[vegasrick]

Come on, people, we can beat the Laffs.  Heck, Ottawa can beat the Laffs.  We want Tampa Bay OUT of the playoffs at all costs.  I don't even want to think of meeting them in the second round, ESPECIALLY if Stupid Stamkos is back by then or sooner.  

[H_T_L]

One game only tonight and it's blacked out. Go figure. And people ask why I hate the Leafs.

[Habs=stanleycup]

2 minutes ago, vegasrick said:

Come on, people, we can beat the Laffs.  Heck, Ottawa can beat the Laffs.  We want Tampa Bay OUT of the playoffs at all costs.  I don't even want to think of meeting them in the second round, ESPECIALLY if Stupid Stamkos is back by then or sooner.  

Hear hear! Although what most of us dread is the syrupy media fanfare which would accompany a Habs vs Laffs playoffs round lol.

[H_T_L]

6 minutes ago, vegasrick said:

Come on, people, we can beat the Laffs.  Heck, Ottawa can beat the Laffs.  We want Tampa Bay OUT of the playoffs at all costs.  I don't even want to think of meeting them in the second round, ESPECIALLY if Stupid Stamkos is back by then or sooner.  

Tampa in the wild card spot would be OK. No way they get through the Caps and then the winner of the Pens Jackets round. We wouldn't see them until the East finals.

[vegasrick]

Just now, Habs=stanleycup said:

Hear hear! Although what most of us dread is the syrupy media fanfare which would accompany a Habs vs Laffs playoffs round lol.

I'll take the syrup and the series, thank you.  We'll make flapjacks out of 'em.  I blame kinot.  

[vegasrick]

Just now, H_T_L said:

Tampa in the wild card spot would be OK. No way they get through the Caps and then the winner of the Pens Jackets round. We wouldn't see them until the East finals.

Ah, that is true.  So I guess we're dealing with Rags and Prunes in our bracket.  Since it's either the Laffs or Boltz that have to go through that other bracket, we likely won't see either one in the Conference Finals.  

But if we do, I blame kinot. 

[vegasrick]

Let's do something special for Carey Price's 500th start in the final home game of the season.  

[PuckPundit]

5 hours ago, kinot-2 said:

Just don't get injured. 

Why play Price?  What about giving Markov more rest? It's a meaningless match for Habs.

Tampa is desperate and will go for it. They cannot afford to lose.  Why not do them a favour and stick it to the Leafs?   At least we know Tampa will give Washington a better run for their money.

CJ is simply risking Price, Markov, Radulov and Pacioretty to injury.  

[H_T_L]

5 minutes ago, vegasrick said:

Ah, that is true.  So I guess we're dealing with Rags and Prunes in our bracket.  Since it's either the Laffs or Boltz that have to go through that other bracket, we likely won't see either one in the Conference Finals.  

But if we do, I blame kinot. 

Leafs can still catch Sens  and would face the Bruins in round 1. then us

[archey]

Just now, PuckPundit said:

Why play Price?  What about giving Markov more rest? It's a meaningless match for Habs.

Tampa is desperate and will go for it. They cannot afford to lose.  Why not do them a favour and stick it to the Leafs?   At least we know Tampa will give Washington a better run for their money.

CJ is simply risking Price, Markov, Radulov and Pacioretty to injury.  

Duke says you're right.

[vegasrick]

Gallagher wins the Molson Cup for the month!

Price wins Molson Cup for the year!

Philip Danault wins Jacques Beauchamp award!

Meanwhile, Tampa wins this cup:

[H_T_L]

1 minute ago, PuckPundit said:

Why play Price?  What about giving Markov more rest? It's a meaningless match for Habs.

Tampa is desperate and will go for it. They cannot afford to lose.  Why not do them a favour and stick it to the Leafs?   At least we know Tampa will give Washington a better run for their money.

CJ is simply risking Price, Markov, Radulov and Pacioretty to injury.  

Price didn't want to go a week without playing a game. We have no choice with Marky. We're using emergency callups on D as it is.

[vegasrick]

4 minutes ago, H_T_L said:

Leafs can still catch Sens  and would face the Bruins in round 1. then us

Ew.  That would be Therrible.  EDIT: Actually, that might not be so bad.  

What to do.....what to do?  Should we let Tampa win?  Should we destroy the Boltz?  Should we blame kinot?