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Post by seventeen on Apr 5, 2015 15:10:00 GMT -5
VS Canadiens vs Panthers: Game preview, start time, & TV scheduleCan the Habs take advantage of an opponent with nothing left to play for?The Florida Panthers have spent their season on the murky fringes of the playoff picture. Today, it is clear that any playoff dreams will have to wait until next season. With a Boston win over the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Bruins all but assured themselves of a berth in the Eastern Conference playoffs. But, before Florida could even think about assistance from other teams, they would have to take care of business themselves against the Tampa Bay Lightning. That dream came to an end just as quickly. After playing Tampa to a scoreless draw after one, the Lightning took ever, eventually earning a 4-0 shutout victory to end Florida's contention. The win would have done both teams a favour. The Canadiens and Lightning are tied in the points column, each with 104. And while the Habs have a game in hand, the Lightning hold the tie-breaker in regulation plus overtime wins (ROW), meaning that the Canadiens must finish with more points than Tampa if they are to take the division title. As of now, that division title looks like the best possible outcome for the Canadiens' regular season. Two points lost to the Capitals and Devils leave the Anaheim Ducks, and in the East, the New York Rangers, in the driver's seat for the Presidents' Trophy. If the Habs are to track down a piece of hardware they have not won since 1978, they'll need all six of their remaining available points. That gauntlet starts against the Panthers tonight. How to Watch Start time: 5:00 PM ET In the Canadiens region (French): RDS In Canada (English): Sportsnet In the Panthers region: FS-F Elsewhere: NHL GameCenter, NHL Center Ice Know Your EnemyThe Panthers have played in 47 one-goal games this season, and that trend has percolated through the entire Habs-Cats season series. These two teams have played four one-goal games, of which Montreal has won three. In each case, the Canadiens have allowed no more than two goals, with the four starts split between Carey Price and Dustin Tokarski. Roberto Luongo has already played three starts for Florida against Montreal, but odds are that Dan Ellis gets the green light this evening. Luongo played last night, and with the Panthers season effectively over, it is unlikely that Gerard Gallant asks his veteran star to strain unnecessarily. Of course, the problem for Florida has never been who is in the nets, but rather, who was putting the puck toward their opponent's goalie. The Panthers have some excellent up-and-coming talent, with two examples currently residing on their top line, but the talent level drops into an abyss in the bottom-nine. The Habs know that most of the danger of facing Florida lies with Jaromir Jagr, Aleksander Barkov, and Jonathan Huberdeau. The Canadiens have experienced success against Florida, despite the productivity of those three important players. Tonight, the Tricolore will get another shot at shutting down the Panthers best and brightest. Last Time OutThe Canadiens entered last week's game against Florida knowing that they would have to contain that top line. Despite the advance notice of the challenge that lay ahead, the Habs proved unable to defeat it. That line spent about half of their ice time facing off against P.K. Subban and Andrei Markov, a duel which ended close to a draw. An unfortunate breakdown led to a goal while Montreal's top pair was on, but otherwise, all threats were neutralized. When Alexei Emelin and Jeff Petry, often in their own zone, were asked to faceoff against Florida's best, the outcome was a little different. The Panthers ate the pair alive, and were held at bay only by the unique talents of the Canadiens goaltender. In good measure a product of that specific match-up, Emelin-Petry came out looking like the Habs' worst pair, allowing two goals and earning abysmal possession numbers of 25.71% of 20.00% respectively. With a friendlier zonal deployment, that pair had more success last night. Playing against the likes of Mike Cammalleri, Travis Zajac, and Patrik Elias, the pair looked much more effective. They came out close to a combined even (Petry ahead, Emelin behind) on shot attempts, and even generated a little bit of offense. Defensive match-ups were then left to Tom Gilbert and Nathan Beaulieu, and to a lesser extent, P.K. Subban and Sergei Gonchar. While the outcome of last night's game was unfortunate, it may prove to be valuable case study in deployment of the Canadiens defense corps. If Michel Therrien is resigned to keeping these pairs together, it looks he will also have to accept sheltering Emelin as well. It seems a popular theory amongst the Habs fan base that Therrien is biding his time, waiting for the playoffs to engage his best strategy. Whether or not that is true, tonight's match is one of only three remaining opportunities to determine just what that strategy might be.
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Post by seventeen on Apr 5, 2015 16:11:05 GMT -5
Interesting #1 line....Patches with DD and Spelley. One out of three ain't bad.
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Post by Dschens on Apr 5, 2015 16:18:49 GMT -5
Max hurt. Ouch.
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Post by Skilly on Apr 5, 2015 16:19:34 GMT -5
Someone is going to have to explain to me the logic of putting DSP on the first line. It makes no sense, and its a no-win situation for Therrien.
Let's say DSP scores tonight, or has a multiple point night. Are we really going to go into the playoffs with DSP on the top line thinking one game with our best player has him out of his funk? That's a recipe for playoff failure.
If DSP continues to be the offensive black hole he is, then we put DD and MP in slumps going into the playoffs and searching for chemistry with someone.
We continue to put DD and MP back together after two games apart. DD is better to the team away from MP. Gives us two lines instead of one.
Now MP is injured ... Yeah. DSP certainly scared the opposition from hitting us, huh. We are going to get mertilized in the playoffs, unless we start taking the game to teams and playing with our strengths.
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Post by seventeen on Apr 5, 2015 16:20:13 GMT -5
Patches hits his head on the boards after a trip, going to the dressing room, on his own steam, but looking a bit woozy. Normally, I'd say, it's ok, it's just his head, but one hates to see Patches hurt. Five on three now. PLeks throws puck in front and it goes in. STill not the best place to shoot from, but what the heck.
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Post by Skilly on Apr 5, 2015 16:20:27 GMT -5
There you go ...keep it away from "One and out" and we score.
Plekanec's 200th
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Post by Dschens on Apr 5, 2015 16:22:08 GMT -5
Pleky with the goal on the PP.
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Post by seventeen on Apr 5, 2015 16:26:25 GMT -5
Someone is going to have to explain to me the logic of putting DSP on the first line. It makes no sense, and its a no-win situation for Therrien. Let's say DSP scores tonight, or has a multiple point night. Are we really going to go into the playoffs with DSP on the top line thinking one game with our best player has him out of his funk? That's a recipe for playoff failure. If DSP continues to be the offensive black hole he is, then we put DD and MP in slumps going into the playoffs and searching for chemistry with someone. We continue to put DD and MP back together after two games apart. DD is better to the team away from MP. Gives us two lines instead of one. Now MP is injured ... Yeah. DSP certainly scared the opposition from hitting us, huh. We are going to get mertilized in the playoffs, unless we start taking the game to teams and playing with our strengths. You may be over analyzing it. My first thought was WTF? Without any analysis at all. In fact I think when we're trying to aniticipate what Therrien will do, we should go along these lines: 1) DD will be paired wth Patches 2) think of the most ludicrous, far-out strategy you can imagine and there's a good chance he'll do that. As York is suggesting, I think Max has a concussion. They better play it safe and right with him and not get him back ASAP. There's no need.
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Post by Skilly on Apr 5, 2015 16:29:16 GMT -5
To fill the gap with MP in the dressing room ... Eller-DD-Smith-Pelly .... Our "#1" line.
Marc Bergevin really let this team down not reinforcing our top 6 by finding a winger
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Post by Skilly on Apr 5, 2015 16:35:24 GMT -5
Montreal is going to the PP again .... Florida sighs in relief, 2 mins where PK will kill the clock for them
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Post by seventeen on Apr 5, 2015 16:36:05 GMT -5
Smith-Pelley seems to have little hockey sense.
Ok, now Patches is out, at least for now. Do DD and SP still get #1 ice time? The PLeks line, arguably the best line to start the game, has to be #1 now.
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Post by seventeen on Apr 5, 2015 16:37:32 GMT -5
I love this PP line. I meant, Eller, DD and SP.
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Post by Skilly on Apr 5, 2015 16:40:02 GMT -5
See how Florida plays different on their PK when Subban is off the ice ...
When Subban is on, they play two forwards high, with one cheating to his shot (cause that's all Subban thinks of doing, and the whole league knows).
When Subban is off the ice, they only have one guy high, and it opens lanes up to pass.
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Post by seventeen on Apr 5, 2015 16:51:38 GMT -5
Desharnais has 7:12 of ice time in the first period, the most of any forward and 12 seconds less than Petry, who has the most of all the Habs. I guess Therrien is trying to get him going. Meritocracy at work.
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Post by seventeen on Apr 5, 2015 17:06:12 GMT -5
Nice deke and quick turn back from Galchy to draw the penalty.
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Post by seventeen on Apr 5, 2015 17:08:03 GMT -5
Skilly, that was a wrist shot from PK on the PP. Designed for a tip in, as it should.
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Post by Skilly on Apr 5, 2015 17:08:37 GMT -5
Watching the replay of the Pacioretty injury ...
Not sure who passed it to Max, but it was in Max's feet. Pacioretty was bumped by the Florida defenseman, and he lifts his back foot to avoid him, at the same moment the puck goes into his fore foot and the defenseman pushes him, causing him to twist and go into the boards back first.
I'm not sure if it was DSP, but wouldn't that be something. Mr Zero Offense IQ putting the pass into the feet that caused us to lose our best player for the rest of the year ..
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Post by Skilly on Apr 5, 2015 17:10:56 GMT -5
Now Subban is down .... Puck in the face
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Post by seventeen on Apr 5, 2015 17:10:59 GMT -5
Guys, is DLR hurt? He's got 3 minutes in the game and I haven't seen him out for a while.
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Post by Skilly on Apr 5, 2015 17:12:55 GMT -5
The announcers, York and Barrett, are making light of the montreal injuries and near injuries (slew foot on Beaulieu) .... no thought on that Florida may really want to play "spoiler", ... They are running Price a few times too
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Post by Skilly on Apr 5, 2015 17:13:37 GMT -5
Subban is back .... Looks like he has a fat lip
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Post by Skilly on Apr 5, 2015 17:15:06 GMT -5
DLR out there now 17
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Post by seventeen on Apr 5, 2015 17:15:22 GMT -5
I think that's a stretch, Skilly. Very few guys are that low in character that they'd be out to injure someone. The Panthres are just playing for pride now. DLR has to be hurt. What's going on?
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Post by seventeen on Apr 5, 2015 17:16:16 GMT -5
I must have missed him. (DLR). I'd be giving him some of Max's minutes.
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Post by seventeen on Apr 5, 2015 17:17:46 GMT -5
Stupid penalty, well deserved goal.
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Post by Skilly on Apr 5, 2015 17:17:53 GMT -5
Our forwards sure don't play high on the PK .... They let Ekblad walk right in and tee it up
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Post by Skilly on Apr 5, 2015 17:19:10 GMT -5
Nice pass from Subban ...Gallagher scores
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Post by seventeen on Apr 5, 2015 17:19:49 GMT -5
Subban attacks in transition, with the Panthers caught deep, catches BGal all alone on the left wing and Brendan blasts it in. 2-1.
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Post by Dschens on Apr 5, 2015 17:20:31 GMT -5
Guess we've found our new RW. PK for RW! Nice goal.
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Post by seventeen on Apr 5, 2015 17:22:16 GMT -5
DD just gave the puck away on a very soft pass. While there are parts of his game I've never liked (mostly defensive), he's now making poor offensive plays. HE passed behind to Eller on that break in the first, when he had a clear shot at goal, now he caused an unforced turnover in our end. This is not like him. It's as if he's regressed.
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