No formal introduction today, just a simple thank-you directed towards Veronica for helping out with writing links articles and proofreading my ramblings. It’s much appreciated.
As for you, valued audience member, thank you for reading all the stuff on the site and enjoy today’s collection of hockey goodness.
Montreal Canadiens News and Analysis
- There’s a fair bit of roster news to pass on to you today. On the injury front, Josh Gorges played a single 20-second shift in the third period before leaving with what is presumed to be an injury. If he can’t go today in Edmonton, I would assume left-handed Nathan Beaulieu would draw into the lineup. George Parros, on the other hand, is recovering nicely from his opening night concussion. The winger is “almost symptom-free” according to GM Marc Bergevin.
- Congratulations go out to Andrei Markov, who recorded his 400th career regular season point in the second period of last night’s loss to Calgary. May you score 400 more, General.
- With regard to tonight’s game in Edmonton, Peter Budaj is expected to start, with puck drop slated for 9:30 ET on RDS, TSN-HABS, and SNET-EDM.
- Charles Prévost Linton, the Canadiens main anthem signer for the past four seasons, is an interesting man. He sang in a Québécois rock band called Les Sinners in the 1960s and once used Alex Ovechkin’s stick as a makeshift microphone. Brenda Branswell of the Gazette has the scoop.
General News and Analysis
- Copper & Blue’s Scott Reynolds loves bracket-style tournaments and is interested in naming the top ten players in hockey history. This has the makings of something special! For starters, Reynolds seeks to establish a potential field by ranking players based on major trophy wins (or equivalent rankings in league standings). Five former Habs crack the top twenty by Reynolds’ scoring system: Howie Morenz, Guy Lafleur, Jacques Plante, Maurice Richard, and Jean Beliveau.
- Sergei Fёdorov, current general manager and former CSKA Moscow player, is expected to suit up for the team on Friday. As Chunklets notes, CSKA head coach John Torchetti is probably shitting his pants at the moment.
- Brad Stuart, in his first game of the season, has been suspended three games for a hit to the head on Rick Nash. Here’s reaction from both Fear the Fin and Blueshirt Banter.
- Using Gabriel Desjardins faceoff research and the Winnipeg Jets as a test case, Arctic Ice Hockey’s Garret Hohl examines the importance, or lack thereof, of faceoff differential.
- It’s Hertlmania, brother. Battle of California’s Megalodon has assembled some of the best Tomas Hertl puns for your enjoyment.
- Here’s ESPN’s Hockey Today podcast featuring Scott Burnside and Pierre LeBrun.
- A U.S. Bankruptcy Court has ruled that the NHL will not be able to recover the operating losses incurred when they assumed ownership of the Arizona Coyotes from former owner Jerry Moyes. This establishes a new precedent where an owner could place a franchise into bankruptcy, skirting the NHL’s bankruptcy procedure, without getting sued, as Moyes was. The Globe and Mail’s David Shoalts has the story.
- Speaking of the Coyotes, they have joined the rest of the sports universe and have started charging for parking. With a lease escape option triggered if the team loses $50 million over five seasons, Arizona needs all the revenue they can get.
- Here’s the top five goals of the week according to CBC Sports.
- A couple of Capitals fans took a fantastic selfie at Washington’s season ticket holder party.
- CBC, showing disregard for decency, logic, and taxpayer money, has decided to give Glenn Healy a 140 world column on CBCSports.ca. It’s as awesome as you’d expect it to be.
More from Eyes On The Prize:
- Canadiens at Flames – Top Six Minutes – Too little, too late; Calgary wins 3-2
- Ears on the Prize – Episode 5
- Tomas Hertl with the goal of the year (and other links)
- The winner of the True Rivalry Habs t-shirt is…
- Breaking down film – the Canadiens’ power play and the argument for the 1-3-1/
