Game Thread: It Could Be a Devil of a Night for Habs

by Kevin van Steendelaar on Feb 2, 2012 6:30 PM EST in Habs Game Threads

Montreal Canadiens at New Jersey Devils, Feb 2, 2012 7:00 PM EST

So which Montreal Canadiens team will show up tonight? The one that surprised the crap out of the Detroit Red Wings, and gave fans a sign of hope, or that deflated squad from Tuesday night against the Buffalo Sabres?

Their opponents, the New Jersey Devils, are currently playing leap frog with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers for the seventh and eighth playoff spots and are 6-3-1 in their last ten games. We can expect them to show up contending.

This will be the third meeting between the two clubs this season. The Habs won the first meeting 2-1 on December 10th. They then spoiled Randy Cunneyworth's NHL coaching debut, a week later, in a 5-3 loss. In that game, the Canadiens squandered a 3-2 lead, and were booed heavily by the Bell Centre crowd in the third period.

No stranger to the Canadiens between the pipes for the home team, as Martin Brodeur will get the start in goal. With the Devils in a good position for a playoff spot, Devils coach Peter DeBoer said he plans to load up the all-time leader in wins with games for the rest of the season. Brodeur will get the occasional spell on back-to back nights from Johan Hedberg.

The Devils will be missing Calder Trophy candidate Adam Henrique, who is battling a groin problem. Henrique has 34 points in 43 games this season. Henrik Tallinder was placed on IR Tuesday, with a blood clot in his leg, and is expected to be out 6-8 weeks.

Devils forward Eric Boulton was fined $2500 for a slash on Mike Rupp in Tuesday night's game against the Rangers.

MONTREAL CANADIENS PROJECTED LINEUP

Forwards

Erik Cole - David Desharnais - Max Pacioretty

Mike Blunden - Lars Eller - Andrei Kostitsyn

Rene Bourque - Tomas Plekanec - Scott Gomez

Mathieu Darche - Louis Leblanc - Yannick Weber

Defense Pairings

Josh Gorges - P.K. Subban

Alexei Emelin - Tomas Kaberle

Hal Gill - Raphael Diaz

Goalies

Carey Price - Peter Budaj

NEW JERSEY DEVILS PROJECTED LINEUP

Forwards

Zach Parise - Dainius Zubrus - Ilya Kovalchuk

Petr Sykora - Patrik Elias - David Clarkson

Alexei Ponikarovsky - Jacob Josefson - Steve Bernier

Eric Boulton - Ryan Carter - Brad Mills

Defence Pairings

Mark Fayne - Andy Greene

Bryce Salvador - Adam Larsson

Anton Volchenkov - Kurtis Foster

Goalies

Martin Brodeur - Johan Hedberg

Canadiens vs Devils coverage

SBN Devils coverage at In Lou We Trust

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Piling up games for Brodeur has worked so well for the Devils post lockout. Brilliant strategy.

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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 2, 2012 6:36 PM EST reply actions

Especially since Brodeur is… not what he once was. He’s under .900 at evens and overall. There’s a case to be made that he’s the second-best goalie on the club.

by MathMan on Feb 2, 2012 6:39 PM EST up reply actions

Hedberg outperformed him last year as well I believe.

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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 2, 2012 6:58 PM EST up reply actions

Arguably the main reason in the difference in standings between the Habs and the Devils is that Montreal is 1-7 in the shootout and New Jersey is 9-2.

by MathMan on Feb 2, 2012 6:40 PM EST reply actions

20 points from the shootout. Crazy.

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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 2, 2012 6:59 PM EST up reply actions

(Puts on Captain Optimist cap)

The only logic I see in this forward setup is if Leblanc is on the RW, AK on LW and Gomez and other C’s are double shifted between them. If that’s what Randy has in mind, then it’s clever, methink.

I mean, not as clever as putting Blunden and Darche on the 4th and AK/LL on Eller’s sides, but hey, baby steps, right?

(Removes cap)

Bah, who am I kidding.

by Olivier on Feb 2, 2012 6:48 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

I think I lost my optimist cap in the closet.

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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 2, 2012 7:05 PM EST up reply actions

Cunneyworth

Saying there weren’t enough guys “on board” last game. Everyone looked on board until Pacioretty scored and then they sat back the until they were losing.

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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 2, 2012 7:04 PM EST reply actions

And we did have a great final ten minutes.

by Chris. on Feb 2, 2012 7:04 PM EST up reply actions

I guess that’s when everyone decided to get “on board”.

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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 2, 2012 7:10 PM EST up reply actions

I guess that’s when everyone decided to get “on board”.

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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 2, 2012 7:10 PM EST up reply actions

The ship has been listing to the side at least since he forfeited the game against Winnipeg. With stupid decisions like that and Randy being a lame duck because of language I’d be shocked if the players were on board unless they’re the most professional players in hockey.

by Roke on Feb 2, 2012 7:08 PM EST up reply actions

I think it’s a pretty big testament to how good the players are that they’ve been competitive despite RC’s crap coaching.

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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 2, 2012 7:11 PM EST up reply actions

Oh great, Chris Lee is reffing.

by Chris. on Feb 2, 2012 7:08 PM EST reply actions

Aaaaand I called it earlier. Darche – Eller – Blunden against Parise and Kovalchuk.

Cunneyworth is incompetent.

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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 2, 2012 7:10 PM EST reply actions

He’s on the road. Though why he’d send out that unit for the second shift…

by MathMan on Feb 2, 2012 7:11 PM EST up reply actions

You’re right it’s the road and he doesn’t have last change. But that line is still foolish.

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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 2, 2012 7:14 PM EST up reply actions

Bobby Dollas just said Brodeur was like a fine wine and got better with age.

by Chris. on Feb 2, 2012 7:13 PM EST reply actions

He also said Desharnais was “unsung”.

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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 2, 2012 7:16 PM EST up reply actions

Despite being our consistently best C.

by Chris. on Feb 2, 2012 7:17 PM EST up reply actions

Consistently most praised C anyway.

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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 2, 2012 7:18 PM EST up reply actions

Bourque!

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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 2, 2012 7:14 PM EST reply actions

So, did anyone notice that Bourque was brought in to score “the tough goals” but it’s DD who gets the puck off the face to get the goal? I’ve also noticed DD tends to be the one right in the goal mouth.

by Chris. on Feb 2, 2012 7:19 PM EST reply actions

Yeah he doesn’t have much fear.

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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 2, 2012 7:30 PM EST up reply actions

test

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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 2, 2012 7:30 PM EST reply actions

So… why was the only red jersey within thirty feet of AK Brodeur’s?

And WTF was that from Price?

by MathMan on Feb 2, 2012 7:32 PM EST reply actions

This is a game of horrible goals so far. All 3 have been bush league.

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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 2, 2012 7:34 PM EST up reply actions

Good point: Pacioretty for the Masterston?

by MathMan on Feb 2, 2012 7:33 PM EST reply actions

I would have liked to see Gorges at least nominated last year. I mean if playing his whole NHL career since junior on one knee doesn’t exemplify perseverance and dedication to hockey, I don’t know what does.

by Alexandre S on Feb 2, 2012 7:53 PM EST up reply actions

The puck is on Ponikarovsky’s stick and TSN says late hit? It was perfectly timed.

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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 2, 2012 7:38 PM EST reply actions

That Elias hit was brutal. Would have been a suspension back when Shanahan had balls.

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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 2, 2012 7:46 PM EST reply actions

I’m liking the PP that carries it in against the second-best PK in the league.

Needs some work on keeping it in now.

by MathMan on Feb 2, 2012 7:48 PM EST reply actions

We had some solid chances on the first half of the PP at the end of the period.

by Chris. on Feb 2, 2012 7:50 PM EST up reply actions

I would like it a lot more if they kept Kaberle on the right side and Subban/Weber on the left.

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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 2, 2012 8:00 PM EST up reply actions

I was just thinking earlier. How long has it been since we’ve seen a Subban rocket from the top of that left faceoff circle?

by Chris. on Feb 2, 2012 8:02 PM EST up reply actions

Expected.

by Chris. on Feb 2, 2012 9:32 PM EST reply actions

Chris Lee

by HighFructoseCornSyrupSince72 on Feb 2, 2012 9:33 PM EST reply actions

Chris Lee

sucks

by HighFructoseCornSyrupSince72 on Feb 2, 2012 9:33 PM EST up reply actions

Drafting report

Any news on top prospects?

by fsaintjacques on Feb 2, 2012 9:39 PM EST reply actions

That Russian kid is good.

by HighFructoseCornSyrupSince72 on Feb 2, 2012 9:46 PM EST up reply actions

Nirvana

Happy when they win, still kinda happy when they lose.

And Carolina beat Boston 3-0.

by HighFructoseCornSyrupSince72 on Feb 2, 2012 9:47 PM EST reply actions

How does this happen again? I mean, seriously?

9-22 and counting.

by MathMan on Feb 2, 2012 9:47 PM EST reply actions

Remember, today is Groundhog Day.

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by Bruce Peter on Feb 2, 2012 9:48 PM EST up reply actions

Oh, that figures.

by MathMan on Feb 2, 2012 9:49 PM EST up reply actions

so unless i get Andie McDowell to fall in love with me this will happen over and over?

by hab a good time on Feb 2, 2012 9:49 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Sweet, it’s on some free preview channel I have.

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by Bruce Peter on Feb 2, 2012 9:51 PM EST up reply actions

And then it’s on again, and again, and again…

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by Bruce Peter on Feb 2, 2012 9:51 PM EST up reply actions

Randy

6-11-2. When does the narrative pick up on this tidbit, you think?

Team is playing .500 (the bad kind of .500) for the last stretch though.

by MathMan on Feb 2, 2012 9:51 PM EST reply actions

He’s getting a complete free pass, I don’t get it. They called for Martin’s over nothing, but the idiocy of RC is still getting praise.

by Hypnotoad on Feb 2, 2012 9:56 PM EST up reply actions

I saw MA Godin link the start of Plekanec’s troubles with the coaching change (though Plekanec himself did not, that was about the timeframe he did). MAG is easily one of the best guys following the Habs.

Randy probably gets a bit of a free ride due to the whole language controversy, but at some point, that “new coach records” chart they sometimes show will become the story.

by MathMan on Feb 2, 2012 10:18 PM EST up reply actions

Well when RC referred to Plekanec as the third line, you knew something was wrong.

Totally agree that Godin is now the top beat guy for the Habs. He’s been a good friend to EOTP as well.

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but don't forget...

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by Kevin van Steendelaar on Feb 2, 2012 11:16 PM EST up reply actions

Just looking at the rest of the record, that means Martin was fired at 13-12-7. He was above .500 for eff sakes.

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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 2, 2012 10:24 PM EST up reply actions

I wasn’t a fan of the Martin firing at all. It meant even more instability for the organization, and it’s showing bigtime these days.

by Propwash on Feb 2, 2012 10:42 PM EST up reply actions

Well, it looks like the general consensus is that the season is basically a write off. Any ideas on what could possibly happen come trade deadline?

by Propwash on Feb 2, 2012 10:10 PM EST reply actions

Hopefully not too much. Sell Gill, Campoli, Moen for anything you can get. See what offers you get for AK, but I’d rather resign him on the cheap if he wasn’t bluffing when he said he would.

This is not actually a bad hockey club.

by MathMan on Feb 2, 2012 10:16 PM EST up reply actions

I’m pretty sure all they’d get are draft picks for those guys, which in the long run, may or may not work out.

by Propwash on Feb 2, 2012 10:22 PM EST reply actions

Well, true, but they’re not likely to be back next year, so something is infinitely better than zilch.

by MathMan on Feb 2, 2012 10:30 PM EST up reply actions

Call me crazy

But what could we offer Columbus for their #1 pick?

by HighFructoseCornSyrupSince72 on Feb 2, 2012 10:24 PM EST reply actions

The way things are going, it looks like there won’t be that much difference between Columbus’s pick and the Habs’s own come draft day.

Jeff Carter is probably the most interesting tradeable asset the jackets have at the moment.

by Hypnotoad on Feb 2, 2012 10:32 PM EST up reply actions

Hilarious. I go to read a book with the Habs up 3-1 and there’s a blown lead. I guess they should fire Martin for that.

by Roke on Feb 2, 2012 10:35 PM EST reply actions

Though I guess when Darche plays as much as Plekanec and 6 minutes more than Kostitsyn bad results have to happen eventually.

by Roke on Feb 2, 2012 10:41 PM EST up reply actions

Randy finally understood that Darche should play more than Blunden, except he pronounces Blunden “Plekanec” apparently. Ugh…

by Hypnotoad on Feb 2, 2012 10:46 PM EST up reply actions

Blunden got hurt. Saw one shift in the second, then nothing. He had to get someone else to supply energy.

by MathMan on Feb 2, 2012 11:08 PM EST up reply actions

I only saw the end of the game and stupidly thought that Randy had decided to bench his worst player. I shouldn’t assume that kind of thing with him.

by Hypnotoad on Feb 2, 2012 11:12 PM EST up reply actions

Lower body injury….knee/ankle…But almost looked like he got curb stomped on the boards

Kevin van Steendelaar

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but don't forget...

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by Kevin van Steendelaar on Feb 2, 2012 11:17 PM EST up reply actions

Oh so here we are blaming Chris Lee..but YOU decide it’s reading time… JK

Kevin van Steendelaar

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but don't forget...

http://www.twitter.com/HabsEOTP

by Kevin van Steendelaar on Feb 2, 2012 11:13 PM EST up reply actions

Chris Lee made some bad calls? This is the least shocking thing I’ve heard all day.

by Roke on Feb 2, 2012 11:18 PM EST up reply actions

He was actually trending across Canada on Twitter..It was that bad

Kevin van Steendelaar

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but don't forget...

http://www.twitter.com/HabsEOTP

by Kevin van Steendelaar on Feb 2, 2012 11:21 PM EST up reply actions

No small feat there.

The NHL’s inability to develop competent referees would stagger me if I didn’t know their hockey operations department is a joke.

by Roke on Feb 2, 2012 11:24 PM EST up reply actions

I didn’t watch.

I see my boy Leblanc got an assist though. How’d he look?

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by Stephan Cooper on Feb 2, 2012 11:15 PM EST reply actions

Very solid when he was actually allowed to play. After his assist he was benched for a good long while.

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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 3, 2012 11:46 AM EST up reply actions

Hey who's this guy?

Some guy named Berkshire talked to Greg “Puck Daddy” Wyshynski today

Kevin van Steendelaar

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but don't forget...

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by Kevin van Steendelaar on Feb 2, 2012 11:20 PM EST reply actions

At least incompetence has its rewards. Montreal falls to lottery territory.

I think if they really commit to Cunneyworth’s methods they could fall beneath Edmonton.

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by Stephan Cooper on Feb 3, 2012 1:51 AM EST reply actions

Insanity.

To quote that guy in “a history of violence”:

How do you fuck that up?

by Olivier on Feb 3, 2012 2:36 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Great movie.

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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 3, 2012 11:47 AM EST up reply actions

Speaking of the Edmonton

54 scoring chances in their game against Chicago: http://www.mc79hockey.com/?p=4246

Wow.

by Roke on Feb 3, 2012 2:41 AM EST reply actions

That MUST be a post lockout record.

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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 3, 2012 11:48 AM EST up reply actions

Speaking of MC79, has anyone else been following the oiligosphere debate Dellow touched of by looking at how well a guy should be doing in the AHL at 20 if he has a hope of being a scorer at the NHL level? I thought he made a pretty strong case.

Leblanc falls just below his .75 cut of mark, but his NHL production has been really solid, his shot rate is fantastic and he hasn’t played close to a full season so I have to figure he’s still on the fringe of a decent shot at NHL scoring. I’m really confidant he’ll at least be a good top nine guy (arguably is already).

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by Stephan Cooper on Feb 3, 2012 12:24 PM EST up reply actions