Game Thread: Habs Visit Isles
by Kevin van Steendelaar on Feb 9, 2012 6:00 PM EST
in Habs Game Threads
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PrintMontreal Canadiens at New York Islanders, Feb 9, 2012 7:00 PM EST
The Montreal Canadiens get another opportunity to play leapfrog in the Eastern Conference standings, as they visit the New York Islanders.
A win could move them into 11th place, depending on what the Tampa Bay Lightning do tonight. Both the Islanders and Lighting have two games in hand over Montreal.
The Islanders are 6-2-2 in their last ten games, coming off a 1-0 shootout win over the Flyers, Tuesday night.
Goaltender Evgeni Nabokov has been a big part of the Islanders' recent success, winning seven of his last nine starts, while allowing just a single goal or less in six of them.
The Russian netminder has faced just two shots against the Habs this season, stopping both. His only appearance came was a less than eight minute relief of injury prone Rick DiPietro, in the Islanders 4-3 win back in October. Nabokov is 5-2-0 (2.81, .893) in his career versus the Canadiens.
Update: Aaron Palushaj, just called up, is a healthy scratch.
MONTREAL CANADIENS PROJECTED LINEUP
Forwards
Erik Cole - David Desharnais - Max Pacioretty
Rene Bourque - Lars Eller - Louis Leblanc
Travis Moen - Tomas Plekanec - Mathieu Darche
Double shift - Scott Gomez - Andrei Kostitsyn
Defensemen
Hal Gill - Raphael Diaz - Chris Campoli
Goalies
NEW YORK ISLANDERS PROJECTED LINEUP
Forwards
Matt Moulson - John Tavares -Kyle Okposo
Michael Grabner - Frans Nielsen - P.A. Parenteau
Matt Martin - Josh Bailey - Rhett Rakhshani
Tim Wallace - Jay Pandolfo - Nino Niederreiter
Defensemen
Andrew MacDonald - Dylan Reese
Goalies
Evgeni Nabokov - Al Montoya
Canadiens vs Islanders coverage
SBN Islanders Coverage from Lighthouse Hockey
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Cunneyworth
Has a legitimate chance for his first ever 3 game win streak against a crappy team. Can he pull it off?
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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 9, 2012 7:01 PM EST reply actions
No Habs scored the first goal agaisnt a mediocre team, they will lose.
by fsaintjacques on Feb 9, 2012 7:13 PM EST up reply actions
This is definitely the trend.
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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 9, 2012 7:19 PM EST up reply actions
20 minutes for Darche = a win I guess.
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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 9, 2012 7:13 PM EST up reply actions
Pacioretty !
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by Kevin van Steendelaar on Feb 9, 2012 7:11 PM EST reply actions
1-0 already, nice start.
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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 9, 2012 7:11 PM EST reply actions
Terrible misplay by Eller there saved by Price.
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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 9, 2012 7:21 PM EST reply actions
Islanders PBP guy is butchering Habs names. Goring is always good for a laugh.
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by Kevin van Steendelaar on Feb 9, 2012 7:23 PM EST reply actions
Looks like Rene Bourque has decided to try tonight.
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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 9, 2012 7:30 PM EST reply actions
It’s not about being picky, he’s been abysmal the last two games after bringing it the first 5 or so. It’s the same crap he pulled in Calgary.
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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 9, 2012 7:53 PM EST up reply actions
Like I said…his role…not figured out yet…his Calgary numbers suggest he knew what it was and played it.
His role isn’t hard to figure out. Otherwise he would have struggled from the beginning instead of a brief hot streak after a trade.
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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 9, 2012 8:09 PM EST up reply actions
Sorry, not arguing…but saying his care level is pretty inconsistent doesn’t jive with his stats, Interested to see what MathMan comes up with.
His stats in Calgary this year were pretty terrible. He role is to be what he’s always been, a semi-tough minutes winger who drives the net.
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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 9, 2012 8:31 PM EST up reply actions
First year his production was down. Why? The reason isn’t that he has suddenly become pretty inconsistent with for no reason.
You’re looking at it the wrong way. The two high point years are the aberration, not the norm.
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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 9, 2012 9:01 PM EST up reply actions
I think I need to look back at his micros and chances… haven’t necessarily been impressed by eyeball, but he’s spent some time playing toughs.
I know his possession was brutal the last two games, but that’s not overly what I’m concerned with because the team is bad, it’s just the little things like having a full second to clear the zone and not doing it, or not battling for the puck. Kent Wilson wasn’t wrong, his care level is pretty inconsistent.
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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 9, 2012 7:56 PM EST up reply actions
Almost as much as you love money.
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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 9, 2012 8:32 PM EST up reply actions
I should just send you cat videos.
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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 9, 2012 8:35 PM EST up reply actions
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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 9, 2012 8:44 PM EST up reply actions
In other news, amazing how our 5-on-5 shooting luck has turned if stuff like Eller’s goal last game and MaxPac’s shot off the wing are going in.
Now… can we get average-to-good in both 5-on-5 and PP next year please?
Now… can we get average-to-good in both 5-on-5 and PP next year please?
Don’t be absurd, we’re not the Bruins!
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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 9, 2012 8:03 PM EST up reply actions
This is true, you weren’t exactly asking for the moon.
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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 9, 2012 8:10 PM EST up reply actions
20 ES goals by Max
Only Toews, Malkin, Kessel and Stamkos have more.
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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 9, 2012 8:20 PM EST reply actions
The question becomes…what would he be doing if our PP was clicking? What was his PP goal rate last year?
If he scored on the PP at a similar rate to last year, he’d have 29 goals right now.
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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 9, 2012 8:25 PM EST up reply actions
Wow. That’s an impressive stat. And can anyone doubt that he’s better than he was last year as well?
Is it possible that one of our players could challenger for a scoring trophy in the future?
If Pacioretty has a lucky season like Lucic is having where he shoots 20%, he could get 50 for sure.
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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 9, 2012 8:33 PM EST up reply actions
280 shots (Pacioretty’s season pace before tonight’s game) at 18% gets you exactly 50 goals.
Even without extraordinary luck, he’ll score 40.
Jeez, a slightly above average luck year will get him 40. Safe to say he could settle in at ~12% and be a consistent 30-35 goal scorer.
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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 9, 2012 8:41 PM EST up reply actions
32 since he got suspended and will only play 79 games.
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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 9, 2012 8:46 PM EST up reply actions
If we’d had a semi-functional PP this year he could have hit 40.
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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 9, 2012 8:49 PM EST up reply actions
I’d bet on him to score 40 before long, but, seeing as I’m about as lucky as the Habs, that would be condemning him to a career ending injury or being traded for nothing.
Better not not bet on it then, or we’ll have to hunt you down.
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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 9, 2012 8:50 PM EST up reply actions
So did I so I can’t judge for that one.
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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 9, 2012 8:53 PM EST up reply actions
With confidence in the knowledge that the Bruins were incredibly lucky and that the Habs were due for some regression, many bad bets were made.
At least we know stats are worthless now, right?
Hahaha in the face of injuries and bad coaching, no stat seems to matter.
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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 9, 2012 9:00 PM EST up reply actions
Moen
Second dangerous giveaway in defensive zone…
He doesn’t look like he was ready to come back.
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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 9, 2012 8:25 PM EST up reply actions
This is pretty unusual for him. He’s one of our most competent defensive forwards usually. I really hope we keep him around. If we don’t, we just have to replace him, and he’s shown himself to be an adequate fill in for top 6 when pushed.
Eller's line
Getting absolutely dummied in possession.
Eller is -6 Fenwick, -9 Corsi.
Leblanc is -3 Fenwick, -6 Corsi
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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 9, 2012 8:45 PM EST reply actions
I’m not sure, I haven’t checked the shift charts.
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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 9, 2012 8:46 PM EST up reply actions
Eller’s split close to even time against Tavares’ and Nielsen’s lines.
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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 9, 2012 8:49 PM EST up reply actions
Seems like Cunneyworth isn’t worried about which forward plays against Tavares, but he’s matching Gorges and Subban against him heavily.
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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 9, 2012 8:52 PM EST up reply actions
Well, then that’s something I can congratulate him on. Would still rather have Pleks-Darche against him.
Take the wins you can get at this point. Tougher to line match on the road too.
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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 9, 2012 8:57 PM EST up reply actions
It’s so amazing how the keep putting Subban on the right side PP so neither he nor Kaberle can shoot. Just great coaching.
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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 9, 2012 9:08 PM EST reply actions
Last week they set up with inverted defensemen for a couple shifts on the PP and looked really good. It’s becoming increasingly apparent that it was a “mistake” by the players.
Way to go Randy!
That’s what confuses me, both Subban and Kaberle look comfortable on their off sides.
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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 9, 2012 9:18 PM EST up reply actions
The new Twitter layout is freaking me out.
I’m still trained to expect a meltdown this period.
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GOMEZ
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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 9, 2012 9:08 PM EST reply actions
GOMEZ!
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Hardly a celebration from Scott as well, but a huge grin with Kostitsyn yapping at him on the bench.
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I think their server is crashing.
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Got through, took about a minute.
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“For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty, when Gomez finally scores.”
Even the Bible foresaw this day.
by JD__ on Feb 9, 2012 9:14 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Agreed. He’ll probably get some recognition next home game though.
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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 9, 2012 9:21 PM EST up reply actions
The puck was retrieved after the goal.
It will be mounted on a calendar perched on the back of a bronze monkey.
Monkey will be permanently grafted to Gomez’s back?
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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 9, 2012 9:30 PM EST up reply actions
I can’t help but feel really happy for Gomez.
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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 9, 2012 9:18 PM EST reply actions
Now that Gomez has scored, Markov’s going to come back from injury, Gauthier’s going to re-hire Martin and trade Bourque for Cammalleri, and we’re going to pass the Bruins for the division lead.
That and Rocket Richard is going to wake from the dead and sign a contract with the Habs.
by Alexandre S on Feb 9, 2012 9:19 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
They had the right fucking camera, can’t they show it again?
by fsaintjacques on Feb 9, 2012 9:26 PM EST up reply actions
High stick.
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There’s no way that’s a legal goal. Give me a break.
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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 9, 2012 9:26 PM EST reply actions
What a fucking joke. Brutal ruling the NHL should be ashamed of and then the typical 3rd period collapse. I almost hope they lose now.
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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 9, 2012 9:29 PM EST reply actions
I have Pacioretty in 3 pools, so I’d rather not.
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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 9, 2012 9:31 PM EST up reply actions
They gave him the goal. HAT TRICK Pacioretty!
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Nice.
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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 9, 2012 9:43 PM EST up reply actions
5 hole
Why does Price never has is stick covering the five hole?
Are we really going to be getting on Price after the saves he’s made tonight?
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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 9, 2012 9:30 PM EST up reply actions
I’m not saying he should be blamed, but he have an annoying tendancy for 5 hole goals.
by fsaintjacques on Feb 9, 2012 9:32 PM EST up reply actions
They’ve got to go in somewhere.
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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 9, 2012 9:43 PM EST up reply actions
And this one was screened.
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Earth is shaking
Gomez scored, Monkeys at l’Antichambre are praising Subban. It’s time to buy a lottery ticket.
Habs now a -5 in goal differential. Now even if you discount the fake goals.
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New Jersey: 8th in NHL. +5 goal differential. 9-3 shootout record. Adjusted +/-: 1.: 0.
Montreal: 23rd in NHL (after win). -5 goal differential. 2-7 shootout record. Adjusted +/
Fuck this season.
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And fuck the auto-format.
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Whoa, wait a sec, I read that wrong. Even worse than I thought!
NJ: +1 goal differential, 9-3 shootout record, adjusted plus/minus: -5.
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I was at the game
And when gomez scored I flipped. all the isles fans around me were glaring. Also anyone else notice nabokov never made it to the bench when they had 6 guys out?
by Hunter Durfee on Feb 9, 2012 10:05 PM EST via Android app reply actions
Nabby’s stick almost interferred with the puck when Pacioretty was chasing it for the buzzer beater hattie. Door was still open. That’s all I saw of that.
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AND WE HAD A WITNESS TO THIS OCCASION!
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Nabokov never even made it to the bench? I saw him nearly interfere but wow.
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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 9, 2012 10:24 PM EST up reply actions
Gomez had a 125 shots to produce 1 goal. Assuming Gomez’s true shooting talent is a dismal 5%, how unlucky was he over this 12 month span?
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by Stephan Cooper on Feb 10, 2012 12:49 AM EST reply actions
Well that’s easy. The odds of no goals on 124 shots in this case are 0.95 ^ 124.
So one in 578 or so.
You win an internet cookie. Don’t go and eat it all at once though.
With 559 currently active NHL forwards, the odds that someone will be going through a similar streak of bad luck at any given point look reasonably good. Gomez probably stands out more than the background on that because of a horrifically bad natural conversion talent for a forward. Lower percentages are more volatile in results than higher percentages as best exemplified by Gill’s 2 game goal streak last season.
The closest example I can think of off-hand is actually Phanuef’s streak of futility.
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by Stephan Cooper on Feb 10, 2012 11:32 AM EST up reply actions
Over the last year or so, Gomez’s bad luck has been epochal.
Seriously, Gomez is the Cleaveland Spiders of hockey luck.
I just looked that up. Man the 19th century had some wacky team names.
Beaneaters
Perfectos
Superbas
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by Stephan Cooper on Feb 10, 2012 10:14 PM EST up reply actions
It’s funny because the other night I felt bad for Magnus Paajarvi. I believe he is leading the league in shots without scoring a goal this year, and he made a fantastic play on an Edmonton PP vs. Detroit only to be robbed by MacDonald… and then, of course, Sam Gagner (having the exact opposite kind of roll/luck right now) cashed in the easy rebound goal. I guess at least he got an assist.
Gomez is now tied for 8th on the team in power play goals (w/Pacioretty and Subban), BTW.
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Paciorettty on pace for 30 goals with virtually no power play boost. Mind=blown.
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by Stephan Cooper on Feb 10, 2012 11:33 AM EST up reply actions
I wonder if his 5-on-5 shooting percentage isn’t abnormally high to make up for the lack of PP goals, though. Wonder if those stats are flying around.
His ES on-ice shooting % is only 9.61. A tad high but not out of the realm of talent.
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by Andrew Berkshire on Feb 10, 2012 3:02 PM EST up reply actions
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