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Post by CentreHice on Apr 1, 2014 13:13:56 GMT -5
Alexei Emelin, who returned to Montreal on Monday for family reasons, rejoined the Canadiens Tuesday in Tampa and was on the ice for a morning skate as the team prepared to face the Lightning Tuesday night (7:30 p.m., TSN-HABS, RDS, TSN Radio 690).
The return of Emelin means defenceman Jarred Tinordi will be a healthy scratch for the second straight game. Carey Price will start in goal for the Canadiens, while Ben Bishop will be in the Lightning net.
The lines at Tuesday’s morning skate were the same as during Monday’s practice, with Lars Eller on the third line with Daniel Briere and Brian Gionta, while Rene Bourque drops to the fourth line with Ryan White and Michael Bournival. George Parros will be a healthy scratch.
The game could be a playoff preview with the Canadiens and Lightning looking like they will be first-round opponents.
“Given that this could be a playoff preview tonight, this is a game that everyone’s been waiting for,” defenceman Francis Bouillon told reporters in Tampa after the morning skate. “We’re two teams that play similar styles of hockey. They’ve got good depth, a good goaltender and also a lot of speed. It’s important for us to go out there and win this one to earn a playoff spot. It’s an important game and we definitely want to win it.”
The Canadiens have won five straight and can clinch a playoff spot with a win over the Lightning. In the first three meetings between the teams this season, one went to overtime and two went to a shootout with the Lightning holding a 2-0-1 record.
Said Lightning sniper Steven Stamkos: “We’re fighting with them for home ice. It’s going to be a playoff atmosphere. … We’re not worried about the playoffs now, we’re just worried about playing hockey and getting as many points to finish as high as we can.”
Here’s how the lines and defence pairings are expected to look for the Canadiens against the Lightning:
Pacioretty-Desharnais-Vanek Galchenyuk-Plekanec-Gallagher Eller-Briere-Gionta Bourque-White-Bournival
Markov-Emelin Bouillon-Subban Murray-Weaver
In other news, prospects Connor Crisp and Brady Vail have both signed contracts with the AHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs after completing their junior seasons.
Crisp, a 6-foot-3, 226-pound forward, played 67 games with the OHL’s Sudbury Wolves this season, posting 28-27-55 totals and 120 penalty minutes. He was selected by the Canadiens in the third round (71st overall) of the 2013 NHL draft.
Vail, a 6-foot, 194-pound forward played 67 games with the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires this season, posting 32-51-83 totals and 39 penalty minutes. He was selected by the Canadiens in the fourth round (94th overall) at the 2012 NHL draft.=============================================== More big minutes for Bouillon. Gah! Poor Tinordi....it appears he'll be odd man out, until we're down 3-1 in the first round, and it finally becomes apparent to MT that a 38-year-old small dman can't get the job done. Even when Gorges comes back, I'll bet Bouillon stays and Weaver sits. MT loves Murray and Frankie. And, as always, beware of Malone. Can't put anything past him. Another reason to perhaps have Tinordi in the lineup....but no.....
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Post by Willie Dog on Apr 1, 2014 13:53:48 GMT -5
Let's see how many times Murray is on the ice when Stamkos is on. Since the Bolts have last line change, I think this will happen a lot.
Also, how Tinordi sits while BooBoo and Murray play is beyond me.
Glad to hear Crisp and Vail signed on to the Dogs. We need more potential NHL forward prospects on the Dogs.
Looking forward to seeing Crisp in a Habs Uni. 6-3, 226 lbs... by the time he comes to the Habs he could put on a bunch more pounds in muscle.
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Post by HFTO on Apr 1, 2014 19:00:42 GMT -5
Nice hard work goal by Gally.. need traffic or need to get Bishop moving east west to have success.
T Bays size on D and in goal need to use speed and create havoc in front perimeter game will doom them in a playoff series.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Apr 1, 2014 19:39:53 GMT -5
This preview of the first round matchup still lacks some intensity.
Price is on tonight.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Apr 1, 2014 19:51:12 GMT -5
Booboo off for a bit of a weak tripping call.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Apr 1, 2014 19:54:25 GMT -5
Tampa ties it on the PP.
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Post by CentreHice on Apr 1, 2014 19:55:09 GMT -5
Booboo off for a bit of a weak tripping call. It was weak....but he stuck his stick between Callahan's skates.....and whenever a player like Callahan falls on such a play, the refs in this league are going to call it. 1-1....as Callahan scores. Now we have a PP.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Apr 1, 2014 19:56:52 GMT -5
A bad PP ends early, Vanek goes off.
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Post by CentreHice on Apr 1, 2014 20:05:39 GMT -5
Price with a highlight reel glove save on Purcell.
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Post by HFTO on Apr 1, 2014 20:07:19 GMT -5
old school acrobatics Price with a 10 bell stop..boys need to give ho the lead now
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Post by Bones on Apr 1, 2014 20:08:22 GMT -5
Price with a highlight reel glove save on Purcell. We get goaltending like that this post season we could do some damage.
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Post by CentreHice on Apr 1, 2014 20:12:47 GMT -5
PP not clicking.
That should NOT be a goal....the Bolt was in the crease impeding Price.
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Post by HFTO on Apr 1, 2014 20:12:49 GMT -5
Price holding them in but don't liken scoring chances they are getting...and voila T Bay goal
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Post by CentreHice on Apr 1, 2014 20:13:49 GMT -5
No goal. That's the right call.
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Post by HFTO on Apr 1, 2014 20:15:57 GMT -5
pheww that was close...definitely in the crease but no contact until after it was in caught a break..better cut down the soring chances...don't like this playoff match up given our struggles getting to the Tampa net
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Post by Bones on Apr 1, 2014 20:16:18 GMT -5
He was certainly deep in the crease but didn't really make contact with Price til after the puck went in. Tough call, i'll take it, but it could have went either way.
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Post by Boston_Habs on Apr 1, 2014 20:17:43 GMT -5
I cringe every time Doug Murray is on the ice. For the life of me I don't see how MT can play him over Tinordi.
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Post by CentreHice on Apr 1, 2014 20:26:21 GMT -5
Gotta get simpler on the PP. Crowd the net...and shoot.
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Post by CentreHice on Apr 1, 2014 20:30:30 GMT -5
I cringe every time Doug Murray is on the ice. For the life of me I don't see how MT can play him over Tinordi. Murray and Bouillon. But they'll both play in the playoffs. Tinordi will sit...until it's too late. Here's who I see MT using in the playoffs. Markov-Emelin Subban-Gorges Murray-Bouillon/Weaver The third pairing SHOULD be Tinord-Weaver. IF he wants to play mobile, puck movers.
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Post by CentreHice on Apr 1, 2014 20:38:02 GMT -5
Jackets blow a 2-0 lead at home to Colorado...but get the loser point in OT.
Leafs are up 3-2 over Calgary late in the third.
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Post by Bones on Apr 1, 2014 20:39:30 GMT -5
If this is a preview of out first round matchup.. Looks like it could be a boring one.
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Post by Bones on Apr 1, 2014 20:45:25 GMT -5
Ugh another penalty just as the action was finally starting to heat up. We can't keep giving them PP's
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Post by HFTO on Apr 1, 2014 20:48:45 GMT -5
especially if they play with this D corps that can't move the puck or clear bodies...if they spend this much time on their heals and can't get too Bishop it'll be another 1st rd exit...Price is saving them so far...I really don't like this matchup
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Post by CentreHice on Apr 1, 2014 20:50:27 GMT -5
Still time for 5 more penalties on the Habs, refs!
I agree, HFTO. We need puck movers on our blue line.
Any toughness lost with Tinordi over Murray is more than made up by Tinordi's speed.
Gorges replaces Bouillon....and we ice the best we have.
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Post by Bones on Apr 1, 2014 20:52:49 GMT -5
especially if they play with this D corps that can't move the puck or clear bodies...if they spend this much time on their heals and can't get too Bishop it'll be another 1st rd exit...Price is saving them so far...I really don't like this matchup It's a frustrating matchup for sure.
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Post by HFTO on Apr 1, 2014 20:55:06 GMT -5
Ridiculous chances they have given up last 2 periods
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Post by CentreHice on Apr 1, 2014 20:56:41 GMT -5
Pleks has had three excellent looks this period. His aim is way off.
Now we're getting a PP. Markov was boarded by Thompson.
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Post by HFTO on Apr 1, 2014 20:57:58 GMT -5
still need size up front we have it in Beaulieu Tinordi even Pateryn on the back end but will be surprised if we see them regularly...why other teams drafted kids can play but ours can't is beyond me.
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Post by drkcloud on Apr 1, 2014 20:58:39 GMT -5
Weak giveaway by Desharnais. And that may be it. Can't do stuff like that and expect to win
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Post by Bones on Apr 1, 2014 20:58:39 GMT -5
Our top line has been very lackadaisical tonight.. Cost us a shorthanded goal and a couple pp,s.
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