Eastern Conference: Montreal Canadiens (A3) vs Tampa Bay Lightning (A2)

[Jeffhabs20]

Mtl in 7

[fungchen3]

Lightning in 7.

[davewave]

Wherever Montreal plays it will be home ice advantage

[metaldude26]

Does anyone know if Bishop is going to be ready? That makes this series. Unless Gudlevskis is ready to lock horns in another epic battle with Price.

[newfcollins]

Didn't these threads used to have polls on to vote for the winner in how many games? Is it too late to add one?

Anyways, I say Habs in five.

[metaldude26]

Didn't these threads used to have polls on to vote for the winner in how many games? Is it too late to add one?

Anyways, I say Habs in five.

You're right. Poll added. I'll go and do up the rest as well.

[L2TG]

Montreal in 7.

Sorry guys but I will always take the hot goalie when it comes to post-season... have we forgotten about Halak? The PRICE has been very right for the past few weeks and Cary is primed for a solid post-season showing. Also, even if Bishop returns it was pretty clear his play was starting to decline... what is going to change if he suits up? Price has the experience in big games and I think the Habs are peeking at the right time. Last, I think the absence of MSL and that true veteran experience will ultimately hurt the Bolts... they don't have much experience aside from Valteri.

[metaldude26]

Montreal in 7.

Sorry guys but I will always take the hot goalie when it comes to post-season... have we forgotten about Halak? The PRICE has been very right for the past few weeks and Cary is primed for a solid post-season showing. Also, even if Bishop returns it was pretty clear his play was starting to decline... what is going to change if he suits up? Price has the experience in big games and I think the Habs are peeking at the right time. Last, I think the absence of MSL and that true veteran experience will ultimately hurt the Bolts... they don't have much experience aside from Valteri.

Callahan?

[L2TG]

Callahan?

Good point but I don't think MSL can be compared to Callahan... MSL had a deep relationship with the Bolts, almost like a father figure to some. That leadership and experience is irreplaceable come post-season in my opinion. When times get tough the Bolts will scramble.. Give me Briere, Gionta, and Price when push comes to shove.. I think Briere is going to surprise in this series with what he has left.

[Shake]

Ahh shoot I forgot to do the polls ....thank you Steve for getting them up!

You're right. Poll added. I'll go and do up the rest as well.

[andrewklassen]

As a Canadian I'm rooting for the HABS, but just don't think they get by TB. MTL ranks 24th in 5-5 play while TB sits 10th. Add to that, TB has home ice and can dictate matchups easier. Price is excellent, but has to be to bail his team out. Whoever plays goal for TB just has to be good, b/c the team plays more responsibly. I think Hedman is the difference-maker in this series as he is dynamic defensively and offensively...PKS is a liability defensively. MTL can win this and I think it's tight, but the faith that's being put in MTL's depth [Briere, Gionta, Bourque] is just unwarranted IMHO. I think this is the post-season where Briere's legend is finally laid to rest...RIP. Briere's playoff totals last year were already an aberration as he shot over 30%...unsustainable.

TB in 7...hoping I'm wrong.

[doulos]

Gotta take Carey Price in this series. Habs in 7.

[The Comish]

I so badly wanted to say Montreal would take this series because I'm a big Price fan, but there's something about this resilient Lightning team. They persevered through adversity all season from the Stamkos injury to the St. Louis/Yzerman non-tiff(?) and they just keep winning. Bishop coming back could be huge, but it doesn't seem to matter who they throw in net, Lindback actually was pretty good (1st star of the week I believe) and Gudlevskis (sp?) has big game potential. That and I don't think Montreal has enough battle-tested type of players.

[HockeyHobo]

Montreal in this one, as they are the only Canadian team in the playoffs.

[newfcollins]

Does anyone know if Bishop is going to be ready? That makes this series. Unless Gudlevskis is ready to lock horns in another epic battle with Price.

Read somewhere that Bishop isn't in for Game 1, but I can't find any confirmation online yet.