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Post by CentreHice on Apr 21, 2014 18:22:45 GMT -5
Before the NHL playoffs started, the people at EA Sports did a playoff simulation with the NHL 14 video game and had the Canadiens sweeping the Tampa Bay Lightning in their Eastern Conference quarter-final series.
That could now happen in reality as the Canadiens take a 3-0 series lead into Game 4 Tuesday night at the Bell Centre (7 p.m., CBC, RDS, TSN Radio 690).
The video-game simulation had the Canadiens losing in five games to the Boston Bruins in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
The Canadiens’ Brendan Gallagher offered a word of caution when he was asked whether the Canadiens were in control of the series after Sunday night’s 3-2 win in Game 3.
“Everyone knows the fourth game is the hardest to win,” he said.
The Canadiens practised at noon Monday in Brossard without defencemen Andrei Markov and Alexei Emelin, who both took therapy days. The forward lines remained the same at practice as they have been for the first three games.
“We understand that we haven’t done anything yet,” defenceman Josh Gorges told reporters in Brossard after practice. “You need to win four games to win a series and we all know the fourth win is always the hardest. We can’t get ahead of ourselves by any means because we still haven’t accomplished anything. Our focus has to be like it has been the first three games on playing the right way, playing a complete game and doing all the little things well. At the end of the day, we’ll look back on how the game went and move on from there.”
The Lightning held an optional practice at noon Monday at the Bell Centre.
“(If) we play with the passion and determination we played with last night, I truly believe there’s really not much more wrong that can go against us,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper told reporters after practice. “I think at some point karma is going to come around. You just need it for one night. All of a sudden now—you’ve just got to win one. And then you win that one and everybody is back on a plane. Who knows what happens after that.
“The one thing I really appreciate about our team is nobody is hanging their head,” he added. “Nobody is feeling sorry for themselves.”
On the status of No. 1 goalie Ben Bishop, who has missed the first three games with an elbow injury, Cooper said: “He won’t be ready for Game 4. I can’t sit here and say if he’d be ready for the rest of the series. Clearly we’d have to extend the series for any hope of that. Every day he is getting closer and closer, but no Game 4.”
Lightning sniper Steven Stamkos said he felt “pretty good” after practice Monday and expects to play in Game 4. Stamkos missed the last 3:51 of the second period of Game 3 after taking an inadvertent knee to the head from Canadiens defenceman Alexei Emelin. Stamkos went to the locker room, but returned for the third period.
“It was just a weird play,” Stamkos said after the game. “I didn’t feel quite right. Obviously, I was good enough to come back in. We’ll see how it goes (Monday).”
The Canadiens called up 10 players from the AHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs on Sunday: goaltenders Devan Dubnyk and Dustin Tokarski; forwards Sven Andrighetto, Mike Blunden, Gabriel Dumont, Louis Leblanc and Christian Thomas; and defencemen Nathan Beaulieu, Davis Drewiske and Greg Pateryn. They will practise this week, starting Tuesday, in Brossard with the Bulldogs’ coaching staff.
The Bulldogs failed to make the AHL playoffs, finishing last in the North Division with a 33-35-8 record.
Here’s how the Habs lines looked at practice:
Pacioretty-Desharnais-Vanek Bourque-Gionta-Eller Prust-Plekanec-Gallagher Bournival-Briere-Weise Parros-White-Moen
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Apr 21, 2014 18:43:28 GMT -5
I like the callups. Keep them in the system and expose them to the playoffs. They'll probably see what Montreal is like when you're winning.
Would like to put the Bolts away in this one. The more controversial the better. Did notice Glenn Healey feeling a bit sorry for Tampa. #whatever
Don't want to go back to Tampa.
Cheers.
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Post by Tankdriver on Apr 22, 2014 0:18:31 GMT -5
Bolts are going to go all out in the first 10 minutes. If we can weather the storm, we should win this. Still have to take it one shift at a time.
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Post by seventeen on Apr 22, 2014 1:30:31 GMT -5
Just get Bourque rev'd up to start us off quickly.
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Post by blny on Apr 22, 2014 5:42:26 GMT -5
Get Ginnette back!
Agree that Dolts will be throwing everything including the kitchen sink in the first ten. Guys sounded well prepared during interviews yesterday.
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Post by BadCompany on Apr 22, 2014 8:04:34 GMT -5
We need to end it now. Call me paranoid, but I fear that if any team can blow a 3-0 series lead it would be this one, in this series. Why? Well, for several reasons:
* The Bourque Factor. Yeah, it's been a welcome and great surprise. But that's all it's been, a welcome and great surprise. If that goes away, and we all know Bourque can go away, we lose a big chunk of what has made us dominating. Not all of it, but a big chunk of it. You need players to step up and surprise you, we all said it before the playoffs began, but I would have more confidence in somebody like Eller or Galchenyuk providing that LONG TERM surprise, than Bourque.
* The Lindback factor. Lindback played his best game the other day, but he still let in a couple of stinkers. Never mind getting Vezina candidate goal-tending from Bishop, I firmly believe that if Tampa had of gotten adequate goal-tending in the first couple of games this might be a very different series. And by adequate I mean Peter Budaj level. Lindback was just a horrible goalie, even for a backup. I'm not saying we would be losing the series, but I don't think we'd be up 3-0 either.
* The Called-Back-Goal Factor. Think we're going to get any calls the rest of this series? The Court of Public Opinion says we "deserve" to lose at least one game at the hands of the officials, to even things up. I doubt the officials themselves see it quite so blatantly, but I doubt that any close call is going to go our way.
* The Injury Factory. Sort of goes hand-in-hand with the above. Tampa, should they choose, will probably have free reign to crash Carey Price whenever and however they want for the rest of the series. Price clearly sold the "interference" and that's going to be in the minds of the refs going forward. I don't want Price limping off the ice with a torn ACL because somebody fell on him. I'd be tempted to dress BOTH Murray and Tinordi just to discourage even the faintest thought of this happening.
End it now. End it with a dominating, no-doubt-about-it, 6-0 win. Put this one away and move on. Don't let it linger or fester, because lingering and festering things tend to hurt you the longer you let them linger and fester.
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Post by Willie Dog on Apr 22, 2014 8:22:16 GMT -5
We need to end it now. Call me paranoid, but I fear that if any team can blow a 3-0 series lead it would be this one, in this series. Why? Well, for several reasons: * The Bourque Factor. Yeah, it's been a welcome and great surprise. But that's all it's been, a welcome and great surprise. If that goes away, and we all know Bourque can go away, we lose a big chunk of what has made us dominating. Not all of it, but a big chunk of it. You need players to step up and surprise you, we all said it before the playoffs began, but I would have more confidence in somebody like Eller or Galchenyuk providing that LONG TERM surprise, than Bourque. * The Lindback factor. Lindback played his best game the other day, but he still let in a couple of stinkers. Never mind getting Vezina candidate goal-tending from Bishop, I firmly believe that if Tampa had of gotten adequate goal-tending in the first couple of games this might be a very different series. And by adequate I mean Peter Budaj level. Lindback was just a horrible goalie, even for a backup. I'm not saying we would be losing the series, but I don't think we'd be up 3-0 either. * The Called-Back-Goal Factor. Think we're going to get any calls the rest of this series? The Court of Public Opinion says we "deserve" to lose at least one game at the hands of the officials, to even things up. I doubt the officials themselves see it quite so blatantly, but I doubt that any close call is going to go our way. * The Injury Factory. Sort of goes hand-in-hand with the above. Tampa, should they choose, will probably have free reign to crash Carey Price whenever and however they want for the rest of the series. Price clearly sold the "interference" and that's going to be in the minds of the refs going forward. I don't want Price limping off the ice with a torn ACL because somebody fell on him. I'd be tempted to dress BOTH Murray and Tinordi just to discourage even the faintest thought of this happening. End it now. End it with a dominating, no-doubt-about-it, 6-0 win. Put this one away and move on. Don't let it linger or fester, because lingering and festering things tend to hurt you the longer you let them linger and fester. Great points BC. The protection of Price must be top of their mind. At home you can put in Murray, but I would be more comfortable with JT as he is an all around better D man. I also think JT and Dream Weaver played well together.
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Post by seventeen on Apr 22, 2014 9:22:47 GMT -5
* The Bourque Factor. Yeah, it's been a welcome and great surprise. But that's all it's been, a welcome and great surprise. If that goes away, and we all know Bourque can go away, we lose a big chunk of what has made us dominating. Not all of it, but a big chunk of it. You need players to step up and surprise you, we all said it before the playoffs began, but I would have more confidence in somebody like Eller or Galchenyuk providing that LONG TERM surprise, than Bourque. I think most posters believe I dislike Bourque's play more than he deserves. What's happened the last 3 games is that he's had a bit more energy and the pucks have bounced for him rather than against him. It simply won't keep up, and I saw signs of it in Sunday's game. While Eller and Gionta will likely continue to play well, having Bourque revert to his regular season black hole self would hurt our rolling 4 lines and I don't want to get this team into a downward spiral. I like our chances, but it could change quickly. The one thing I can still feel good about is that Tampa just isn't that good. Brewer, Gudas, Sustr (shudder).
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Post by CentreHice on Apr 22, 2014 9:26:02 GMT -5
A little too much talk/bravado about a "sweep" on TSN690 today.
They're singing "Kiss Him Goodbye" 12 hours too early.
I just can't allow myself to go there...not even with 1:00 to go holding a 2-goal lead.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Apr 22, 2014 13:58:30 GMT -5
Chris Lee tonight.
Could be fun.
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Post by CentreHice on Apr 22, 2014 15:00:11 GMT -5
A great night for our #1 line and PP to start clicking.
We've been winning without those elements...which is a good sign....but having it ALL come together would certainly be welcome.
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Post by blny on Apr 22, 2014 15:25:20 GMT -5
By the time Bourque fully cools off hopefully Galchenyuk will be back. Slot him in with Eller and Gio and see what happens.
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Post by seventeen on Apr 22, 2014 15:31:39 GMT -5
By the time Bourque fully cools off hopefully Galchenyuk will be back. Slot him in with Eller and Gio and see what happens. Trouble is, will MT actually make such a change? How many games will it take, without scoring, for Bourque to earn himself a seat in the pressbox? To me there's no real decision to make. When Galchy is ready, he goes in and Bourque comes out. Bourque is better than Galchy at clearing his zone along the boards (seriously, he's pretty good at that), but in every other area, AG is better, smarter, more creative, wayyyyyy better passer and much better stick handler. The trouble is that MT is not a guy that makes changes unless something is actually broken. Even if the brakes and tires are down to 1 mm, he won't change them until the car crashes into something. Why else is Booboo still playing? Anyway, I'm not confident that AG will get into the lineup quickly once he's cleared to go.
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Post by stoat on Apr 22, 2014 15:33:51 GMT -5
Bolts are going to go all out in the first 10 minutes. If we can weather the storm, we should win this. Still have to take it one shift at a time. Another "lightning strike" by Bourque at the start of game 4 would prompt the Bolts to take high-risk chances. Assuming that Price holds the fort this could be a blowout.
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Post by UberCranky on Apr 22, 2014 15:37:53 GMT -5
We need to end it now. Call me paranoid, but I fear that if any team can blow a 3-0 series lead it would be this one, in this series. Why? Well, for several reasons: * The Bourque Factor. Yeah, it's been a welcome and great surprise. But that's all it's been, a welcome and great surprise. If that goes away, and we all know Bourque can go away, we lose a big chunk of what has made us dominating. Not all of it, but a big chunk of it. You need players to step up and surprise you, we all said it before the playoffs began, but I would have more confidence in somebody like Eller or Galchenyuk providing that LONG TERM surprise, than Bourque. * The Lindback factor. Lindback played his best game the other day, but he still let in a couple of stinkers. Never mind getting Vezina candidate goal-tending from Bishop, I firmly believe that if Tampa had of gotten adequate goal-tending in the first couple of games this might be a very different series. And by adequate I mean Peter Budaj level. Lindback was just a horrible goalie, even for a backup. I'm not saying we would be losing the series, but I don't think we'd be up 3-0 either. * The Called-Back-Goal Factor. Think we're going to get any calls the rest of this series? The Court of Public Opinion says we "deserve" to lose at least one game at the hands of the officials, to even things up. I doubt the officials themselves see it quite so blatantly, but I doubt that any close call is going to go our way. * The Injury Factory. Sort of goes hand-in-hand with the above. Tampa, should they choose, will probably have free reign to crash Carey Price whenever and however they want for the rest of the series. Price clearly sold the "interference" and that's going to be in the minds of the refs going forward. I don't want Price limping off the ice with a torn ACL because somebody fell on him. I'd be tempted to dress BOTH Murray and Tinordi just to discourage even the faintest thought of this happening. End it now. End it with a dominating, no-doubt-about-it, 6-0 win. Put this one away and move on. Don't let it linger or fester, because lingering and festering things tend to hurt you the longer you let them linger and fester. No, no sir, I'm not calling you paranoid. Tin foil is now the metrosexual coolz wear! I could buy what you're selling where it not for the prodigious ice grazers they have on defense. Then add the great-twice-every-twenty-four-hours saves that any good pylon can claim. No sir, the only way we lose is if we volunteer for it.
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Post by UberCranky on Apr 22, 2014 15:40:17 GMT -5
By the time Bourque fully cools off hopefully Galchenyuk will be back. Slot him in with Eller and Gio and see what happens. From your mouth to the ears of the Gods of Kobol!
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Post by stoat on Apr 22, 2014 15:46:27 GMT -5
* The Bourque Factor. Yeah, it's been a welcome and great surprise. But that's all it's been, a welcome and great surprise. If that goes away, and we all know Bourque can go away, we lose a big chunk of what has made us dominating. Not all of it, but a big chunk of it. You need players to step up and surprise you, we all said it before the playoffs began, but I would have more confidence in somebody like Eller or Galchenyuk providing that LONG TERM surprise, than Bourque. I think most posters believe I dislike Bourque's play more than he deserves. What's happened the last 3 games is that he's had a bit more energy and the pucks have bounced for him rather than against him. It simply won't keep up, and I saw signs of it in Sunday's game. While Eller and Gionta will likely continue to play well, having Bourque revert to his regular season black hole self would hurt our rolling 4 lines and I don't want to get this team into a downward spiral. I like our chances, but it could change quickly. The one thing I can still feel good about is that Tampa just isn't that good. Brewer, Gudas, Sustr (shudder). TB isn't a well-rounded team. Half of their D is what you'd expect to find on a lottery team. So far I've been with you. Bourque is something else. Please bear in mind that he had some highly productive seasons with Calgary. We don't know if he'll become comatose but if he continues his mini hot streak he could play an important role not only in game 4 but in subsequent rounds. I could imagine how Bruins fans would react if he scored on a breakaway against Rask 11 seconds into the first game.
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Post by stoat on Apr 22, 2014 15:50:22 GMT -5
We need to end it now. Call me paranoid, but I fear that if any team can blow a 3-0 series lead it would be this one, in this series. Why? Well, for several reasons: * The Bourque Factor. Yeah, it's been a welcome and great surprise. But that's all it's been, a welcome and great surprise. If that goes away, and we all know Bourque can go away, we lose a big chunk of what has made us dominating. Not all of it, but a big chunk of it. You need players to step up and surprise you, we all said it before the playoffs began, but I would have more confidence in somebody like Eller or Galchenyuk providing that LONG TERM surprise, than Bourque. * The Lindback factor. Lindback played his best game the other day, but he still let in a couple of stinkers. Never mind getting Vezina candidate goal-tending from Bishop, I firmly believe that if Tampa had of gotten adequate goal-tending in the first couple of games this might be a very different series. And by adequate I mean Peter Budaj level. Lindback was just a horrible goalie, even for a backup. I'm not saying we would be losing the series, but I don't think we'd be up 3-0 either. * The Called-Back-Goal Factor. Think we're going to get any calls the rest of this series? The Court of Public Opinion says we "deserve" to lose at least one game at the hands of the officials, to even things up. I doubt the officials themselves see it quite so blatantly, but I doubt that any close call is going to go our way. * The Injury Factory. Sort of goes hand-in-hand with the above. Tampa, should they choose, will probably have free reign to crash Carey Price whenever and however they want for the rest of the series. Price clearly sold the "interference" and that's going to be in the minds of the refs going forward. I don't want Price limping off the ice with a torn ACL because somebody fell on him. I'd be tempted to dress BOTH Murray and Tinordi just to discourage even the faintest thought of this happening. End it now. End it with a dominating, no-doubt-about-it, 6-0 win. Put this one away and move on. Don't let it linger or fester, because lingering and festering things tend to hurt you the longer you let them linger and fester. No, no sir, I'm not calling you paranoid. Tin foil is now the metrosexual coolz wear! I could buy what you're selling where it not for the prodigious ice grazers they have on defense. Then add the great-twice-every-twenty-four-hours saves that any good pylon can claim. No sir, the only way we lose is if we volunteer for it. I agree with you and disagree with BadCompany. I'd say dressing both Murray and Tinordi would amount to spotting the Bolts one goal.
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Post by blny on Apr 22, 2014 15:51:47 GMT -5
By the time Bourque fully cools off hopefully Galchenyuk will be back. Slot him in with Eller and Gio and see what happens. Trouble is, will MT actually make such a change? How many games will it take, without scoring, for Bourque to earn himself a seat in the pressbox? To me there's no real decision to make. When Galchy is ready, he goes in and Bourque comes out. Bourque is better than Galchy at clearing his zone along the boards (seriously, he's pretty good at that), but in every other area, AG is better, smarter, more creative, wayyyyyy better passer and much better stick handler. The trouble is that MT is not a guy that makes changes unless something is actually broken. Even if the brakes and tires are down to 1 mm, he won't change them until the car crashes into something. Why else is Booboo still playing? Anyway, I'm not confident that AG will get into the lineup quickly once he's cleared to go. Galchenyuk hasn't been a bubble player. He's been a virtual lock for the lineup. If MT is certain Bourque has to stay, it will come at the expense of someone on the 4th line and not Agal.
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Post by franko on Apr 22, 2014 16:08:54 GMT -5
Chris Lee tonight. Could be fun. even Ottawa sportscasters realize there's something wrong here. noted that the Habs are something like 3-12 the last games he's called.
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Post by blny on Apr 22, 2014 16:38:01 GMT -5
Well, we had Peel for game 3. Survived that. Here's hoping we can survive tonight. It's not like we're playing the Leafs ... even if the new Tampa uniforms bear a resemblance.
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Post by HFTO on Apr 22, 2014 16:52:18 GMT -5
BC who are you me???...I always worry call me a "Doubting Therrien" and even if this crew can't blow a 3-0lead for this group this is a perfect storm if they can end it now rather than in 5 or 6 or god forbid 7...our smurfs can be served well with a weeks extra rest.
Kudos to MT so far things have gone his way and to the credit of the group they have been resilient but the margin for error especially for this team is a very,very fine line. Winning tonight will increase the confidence and the resiliency of this group...let hope for a change we see the "Eye of the Tiger"
Go Habs
HFTO
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Apr 22, 2014 17:59:28 GMT -5
No, no sir, I'm not calling you paranoid. Tin foil is now the metrosexual coolz wear! ... right next to the poster of J. Edgar Hoover ... I suspect it might play out the way Tankdriver suggests. Weather the first 10 minutes, collect themselves and then turn the tide. Really want to end this tonight. What did I hear PJ Stock just say? "... It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog." (I looked it up and it's a quote from Mark Twain) ... we're going to need that tonight from everyone. Cheers.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Apr 22, 2014 18:12:07 GMT -5
That is some pre game gig.
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Post by franko on Apr 22, 2014 18:14:41 GMT -5
Mr. April
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Apr 22, 2014 18:14:52 GMT -5
Effing eh baby!! Briere.
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Post by Gogie on Apr 22, 2014 18:14:55 GMT -5
Early and often, boys, early and often. Don't let up!
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Post by CentreHice on Apr 22, 2014 18:14:54 GMT -5
4th line comes through again!
Briere from Weise....
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Post by Dschens on Apr 22, 2014 18:15:55 GMT -5
Wow, what a horrible D on the Bolts part. And they complain about their goalie. 1-0 good guys.
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Post by Bones on Apr 22, 2014 18:15:50 GMT -5
Beauty! Briere 1-0 another quick start! Man I just love the energy of our building, is there anything better than playoff hockey in Montreal, I think not!
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