Montreal Canadiens

[ericdaoust]

Parros making progress in his recovery:

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=433751

[newfcollins]

No comments from last night's game, so I'll add a quick one of mine.

P.K. Subban. Last night we saw the good and the bad. When he gets going, he's dynamite. He scored a big goal, got an assist, was pumped, started some nice end-to-end rushes. But then he goes overboard, taking two bad penalties in the third.

Tough to blame the refs on those calls. He needs to learn to not put himself in position to take those penalties.

[ericdaoust]

No comments from last night's game, so I'll add a quick one of mine.

P.K. Subban. Last night we saw the good and the bad. When he gets going, he's dynamite. He scored a big goal, got an assist, was pumped, started some nice end-to-end rushes. But then he goes overboard, taking two bad penalties in the third.

Tough to blame the refs on those calls. He needs to learn to not put himself in position to take those penalties.

Last night I had to do my Capped article (after doing a Fantrax article Tuesday night) plus the game finished an hour later so I was a bit burnt out by the time everything was done. I'll try to chime in with some thoughts later if I have the chance.

The refs don't deserve any blame for the calls last night. Both Subban penalties were so deliberate that they stood out like a sore thumb. Had to be called. I wish they would call that stuff in the third more consistently though. Subban was very good and the only reason the Habs had a chance to make the comeback but he also does stupid things that even a toddler could be taught not to do.

[yougo]

Subban was very good and the only reason the Habs had a chance to make the comeback but he also does stupid things that even a toddler could be taught not to do.

Yeah, he's such an intense and passionate guy when he plays that he can sometimes be victims of brain cramps like that.. LOve this guy.

I watched the first episode of 24CH yesterday and PK's just so funny.

[LeTrefle]

Budaj in nets tonight vs EDM.
Gorges: game time dicision. May be Beaulieu in.

[ericdaoust]

I'll try to chime in with some thoughts on the last two games in the AM. It's getting late.

[ericdaoust]

Apologies to everyone for the lack of updates following the late games. When the game ends that late it's tough to sit down and write a report and when the next day arrives I'm usually thinking of other things.

Wednesday @ Calgary

I thought the team was overall very lazy in this one. It looked like they thought the win was a slam dunk vs the Flames. They played much better at the end but not playing a full 60 minutes is asking for trouble. Subban single-handedly put the team in position to tie and derailed the effort with a pair of dumb penalties.

Thursday @ Edmonton

Much better outing than in Calgary. This was a more consistent effort although things started very slow. Budaj was very good. Gallagher and Galchenyuk are developing some pretty amazing chemistry.

Saturday @ Vancouver

Tons of shots flying at both ends. Price was the difference in this one. The Canucks crumbled after their own-goal that gave the Habs the lead for good. It was nice seeing some of the others (Plekanec/Pacioretty) factor in on the scoring. Balance is important.

Overall Thoughts

-Too many bystanders. This includes Desharnais, Briere, Bourque and to a lesser extent Plekanec. These guys need to get it in gear. It's still early but they are not giving enough and when the youngsters are not on top of their game the team can be in trouble.
-Glad to see the team not sitting back on leads praying for a win. They keep pushing in the third even when they are ahead.
-Subban is getting a ton of points. Needs to cut down on dumb penalties. Especially the ones that are avoidable by simply turning on your brain.

[CloudReader]

This could be the end of the productive EGG line and bad news for Galchenyuk/Gallagher owners. Michel Therrien told CBC that he has been looking to pair up Pacioretty and Eller for awhile now and he's finally done it. The pair didn't look half-bad against Vancouver either.

When Gionta returns, I can see Therrien rolling with:

Pacioretty -- Eller -- Briere
Bourque -- Plekanec -- Gionta
Galchenyuk -- Desharnais -- Gallagher

[habs83]

This could be the end of the productive EGG line and bad news for Galchenyuk/Gallagher owners. Michel Therrien told CBC that he has been looking to pair up Pacioretty and Eller for awhile now and he's finally done it. The pair didn't look half-bad against Vancouver either.

When Gionta returns, I can see Therrien rolling with:

Pacioretty -- Eller -- Briere
Bourque -- Plekanec -- Gionta
Galchenyuk -- Desharnais -- Gallagher

Might be the end of the EGG line, but that does not means that Eller, Galchenyuk and Gallagher will stop produce. Their production rate so far this season was unsustainable anyway, but I fully expect Galchenyuk and Gallagher to finish the season with between 55 and 60 points. Eller had his worst game of the season in Vancouver, but he is playing some great hockey since last season, and you can't spend an extended period of time next to Pacioretty without racking a few helpers. If you watched the last two games, you saw that Plekanec was playing with the kids, not Desharnais.

[ericdaoust]

Coaches change lines so often it's sad. The line could be back together by next week and broken up again the following week.

[CloudReader]

If you watched the last two games, you saw that Plekanec was playing with the kids, not Desharnais.

Missed the Edmonton game after the first period, and I'm pretty sure Pleks started off with Gionta and Bourque. I also thought the Vancouver lines were due to the absence of Gionta. But you're right, Therrien will probably try Desharnais between Gionta and Bourque to get 3 lines going.

I'm a little biased for Bourque-Pleks-Gionta. It has chemistry, can be matched against scoring lines and is a combo on which Bourque produces.

[ericdaoust]

I'm a little biased for Bourque-Pleks-Gionta. It has chemistry, can be matched against scoring lines and is a combo on which Bourque produces.

To me the numbers show otherwise. Gionta and Bourque are leftover wingers paired with Plek who is no longer a 70-point guy like he used to be. As a trio they are above-average defensively and merely average offensively on their best days.

[ericdaoust]

http://www.hockeyinsideout.com/news/...to-fourth-line

Gionta returns tonight, Briere to fourth line, White scratched...

[finnys_fanatsy]

Might be the end of the EGG line, but that does not means that Eller, Galchenyuk and Gallagher will stop produce. Their production rate so far this season was unsustainable anyway, but I fully expect Galchenyuk and Gallagher to finish the season with between 55 and 60 points. Eller had his worst game of the season in Vancouver, but he is playing some great hockey since last season, and you can't spend an extended period of time next to Pacioretty without racking a few helpers. If you watched the last two games, you saw that Plekanec was playing with the kids, not Desharnais.

care to hazard a shot at Ellers point production? i picked him up while he was red hot..hes in my "dispensible" roster spot (the spot that i use to add hot FA's), but if he lookslike 60pnts then i might just hang onto him...

i really liked him on the EGG line thiugh

[ericdaoust]

Some minor changes from what I posted earlier from canadiens.com:

- The Canadiens held an optional skate on Tuesday morning in Winnipeg. Rene Bourque and Max Pacioretty did not practice.

- Michel Therrien confirmed Ryan White and Nathan Beaulieu will be in the lineup against the Jets. Michael Bournival and Jarred Tinordi will not.

- Carey Price will get his fifth start of the season on Tuesday night. He is 10-3-3 in 16 career starts against the Jets/Thrashers.