Well here’s my prediction for tonight’s matchup between the Montreal Canadiens and the Atlanta Thrashers: 0-0 through regulation and overtime. Brian Gionta gets credit for the lone shootout goal, after twenty rounds solves nothing, and they just go to a coin toss.
Hey it could happen!
Carey Price gets the start in goal and has allowed just three goals in his last two home games. The Thrashers will throw Ondrej Pavelec between the pipes. Pavelec is nearly unbeatable against the Canadiens, sporting career a 3-0-1 record with a 1.93 GAA and .946 SvPct.
Overall however, Atlanta is 28th in the league in goals allowed. So if Pavelec has his typical night against any other team in the league, it might be a great chance for the Montreal offence to spark.
Optimistically the Thrashers are looking at the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Realistically, they’re just playing out the season.
Tonight’s game marks Ben Maxwell‘s return to Montreal since being part of the trade that saw Brent Sopel and Nigel Dawes come our direction. Maxwell recorded his first NHL goal in Atlanta’s 5-4 shootout win agains the Ottawa Senators. Maxwell also picked up an assist on the night.
The Canadiens lineup features the same line combinations that coach Jacques Martin had during Sunday’s gruelling practice.
Mathieu Darche gets a shot with the “Number one” forward pairing of Scott Gomez and Gionta. Steven Hindle has an interesting analysis of the only forward on that line making the league minimum.
With the Thrashers near the bottom in 5-on-5 situations, it will be interesting to see how the “new” combinations work, as will the power play. Martin has taken Tomas Plekanec off the point with the man advantage, and gone with a more familiar set up.
More from the Thrashers side of things at Bird Watchers Anonymous
CJAD talked to Habs alumni Bob Filion, who played on the 49-50 squad that was shutout in three straight games, and was in attendane on Saturday to witness history repeat itself.
In five years, Don Cherry, and co. will have another Subban to criticize: The Hockey news profiles Jordan Subban, the youngest brother of P.K. Subban.
