Montreal Canadiens

[hockeymanG23]

are they saving Pleks 1000 game for at home?

That’s the first thing I thought. At least that would be one positive for the home crowd to see this season.

[ericdaoust]

I'm starting to think Bergevin is trying to acquire every waived/demoted dman with NHL experience and try to turn them into 3rd pair dmen.

[ericdaoust]

Lehkonen is on pace for 82 goals

[Thunder]

Lehkonen is on pace for 82 goals

246 actually

[ericdaoust]

246 actually

[Thunder]

Fun game, disappointing finish.

Kotkaniemi is a pretty kool kustomer.

[2014olympicgold]

Montreal outplayed Toronto easily. Toronto got lucky that they were able to win on high end skill which won't win them games in the NHL consistently.

Montreal really impressed me, Domi....making that trade look good and had a breakaway but Dermott got lucky with that pokecheck from behind. If Montreal can keep up that speed all yr, they'll actually be a wildcard threat I think.

I don't even think Price has to be his MVP caliber self to get this team in the playoffs, I think if they get points early in the season while teams take a while to realize that speed, they'll do well.

[ACC90]

Montreal outplayed Toronto easily. Toronto got lucky that they were able to win on high end skill which won't win them games in the NHL consistently.

Montreal really impressed me, Domi....making that trade look good and had a breakaway but Dermott got lucky with that pokecheck from behind. If Montreal can keep up that speed all yr, they'll actually be a wildcard threat I think.

I don't even think Price has to be his MVP caliber self to get this team in the playoffs, I think if they get points early in the season while teams take a while to realize that speed, they'll do well.

That sums up also my opinion following the game.
I was always a critic of Price, but I must say that he played a really good game.

Good first game : Domi, Kotkaniemi, Reilly
Not impressed : Armia, Drouin

[tweetdrivr]

Montreal outplayed Toronto easily. Toronto got lucky that they were able to win on high end skill which won't win them games in the NHL consistently.

Montreal really impressed me, Domi....making that trade look good and had a breakaway but Dermott got lucky with that pokecheck from behind. If Montreal can keep up that speed all yr, they'll actually be a wildcard threat I think.

I don't even think Price has to be his MVP caliber self to get this team in the playoffs, I think if they get points early in the season while teams take a while to realize that speed, they'll do well.

I'm not ready to label this a wild card team after one game. They looked good and fast I agree but lets have this conversation after 10 games...not 1. The Bruins got their asses handed to them and they aren't excited about what to do with Hughes next season at this point. Price was good but I felt the Tavares goal was stoppable. That was sort of his MO last year...make the big saves (like the one coming across on Leivo) but let one in he probably shouldn't have. For an opening night road game against a team that is "supposed" to be really good this year it went well. And they got a point. Not bad...but still 81 to go...

[tweetdrivr]

Just for fun I'm saying Domi leads the team in points (followed closely by Drouin - a new dynamic duo) and Lehkonen leads the team in goals with 33.

So far so good on my prediction!!! Domi is leading the team in points and Lehkonen is tied for the team lead in goals!!

[rataylor22]

Montreal really impressed me, Domi....making that trade look good and had a breakaway but Dermott got lucky with that pokecheck from behind.

I mean Domi played pretty good but that poke check from Dermott was a high skill play. There wasn't anything lucky about it. Lets give the dude his due.

[2014olympicgold]

I'm not ready to label this a wild card team after one game. They looked good and fast I agree but lets have this conversation after 10 games...not 1. The Bruins got their asses handed to them and they aren't excited about what to do with Hughes next season at this point. Price was good but I felt the Tavares goal was stoppable. That was sort of his MO last year...make the big saves (like the one coming across on Leivo) but let one in he probably shouldn't have. For an opening night road game against a team that is "supposed" to be really good this year it went well. And they got a point. Not bad...but still 81 to go...

If Montreal plays like that every game, I don't think they do, but if they play like that they'll steal quite a few points.

I mean Domi played pretty good but that poke check from Dermott was a high skill play. There wasn't anything lucky about it. Lets give the dude his due.

Oh yeah, skill was involved. Very high chance that that poke check is unsuccessful. But gotta be lucky to be good and good to be lucky was my view on that play. That play happens again, could be a hold or a trip. Hope my train of thought is understood?

[ericdaoust]

https://theathletic.com/579795/2018/...ht-and-weight/

Canadiens listed as 2nd youngest team. Also they are the smallest team by far.

[ACC90]

I started to watch hockey and following Montreal Canadiens since 1999 (9 years old) and I always had the perception that they were small... I see that doesn't change in 20 years haha

One statistic that I would love to see is the offensive production.
I never had in my life saw a Montreal Canadiens player in top 10 NHL at the end of the season... I made a little research and it was finally true.

Here is the best/worst production since 1998-1999

Best
07-08 : Kovalev 84pts - 11th (Ovechkin with 112pts)
14-15 : Pacioretty 67pts - 21th (Benn with 87pts)

Worst
00-01 : Koivu/Petrov 47pts - 115th/116th (Jagr with 121pts)... OK Koivu played only 54 games
17-18 : Gallagher 54pts - 95th (McDavid with 108pts)
99-00 : Rucinsky 49pts - 91th (Jagr with 96pts)

That's really sad....

[evans334]

This team has been carried by hot/skilled goaltenders for decades.

Same as it ever was.