Fan Zone – Playoff Contest: Grow a Playoff Beard Winners

Congratulations goes out to Joey for winning the OhCanadiens.com Playoff Beard Contest sponsored by our friends at Upper Deck Blog.  They were gracious enough to sponsor this promotional event, in which readers submitted playoff beard photos that were voted on by you, the readers.  You can find the Upper Deck Blog on the blog roll or you can use the link above to read more.

As many wouldn’t have predicted, the Habs got all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals, losing the series in five games to the Philadelphia Flyers.  I personally grew my beard for 43 days and was saddened with the prospect of having to shave it off last night after the tough 4-2 loss against the Flyers in Game #5.

Although the Canadiens are disappointed in missing the chance to compete for the Stanley Cup, they should be proud of the fact that they made it much further than the experts and even parts of the fan base gave them credit for.  Congratulations to Joey for keeping his playoff beard for this long and hopefully, you will start growing another one in the 2011 playoffs to defend your title.

As promised, I will be sending you the card from our friends at Upper Deck, which is a 2007-08 Fleer Hot Prospects Hot Materials #HM-JH card of Jaroslav Halak. Included is a piece of game-used material from his jersey, a blue swatch no less.

1st place:  Joey 9.7 rating with 47 votes
2nd place: @UziMTL – 9.5 rating with 30 votes
3rd place: @metricjulie – 5.4 rating with 17 votes
Honourable Mention: @NastyKnate – 4.4 rating with 8 votes
Honourable Mention: @MLSnukka – 4.3 rating with 8 votes
Honourable Mention: @TonyNaldinho – 3.5 rating with 8 votes

Thanks to all who participated and to all of the readers that voted. It was a great playoff run and it was a fun contest to moderate. I will get into contact with the contest winners in the coming days to make arrangements for prize delivery. The 2nd and 3rd place finishers will receive some other cool Montreal Canadiens cards received for this promotional giveaway.

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Tags: @metricjulie, @MLSnukka, @NastyKnate, @TonyNaldinho, @UziMTL, Jaroslav Halak, Joey, OhCanadiens.com, Upper Deck, Upper Deck Blog

Latest News – Eastern Conference Final: Game #5 Preview

Eastern Conference Final: Game #5 Preview – Flyers lead series 3-1

Montreal Canadiens (39-33-10; 4th in Northeast Division, 8th seed in the Eastern Conference, 19th overall) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (41-35-6; 3rd in Atlantic Division, 7th seed in the Eastern Conference, 18th overall)

The Canadiens are facing elimination for the sixth time in these playoffs and they have history on their side right now. The Habs are 5-0 when facing elimination, but are stumbling into Game #5 with a poor effort on home ice on Saturday afternoon. The Flyers have shutout the Canadiens in the three wins thus far in this series, and although they showed a spark in Game #3, they have gone back to not executing the game plan. The Flyers are hoping to close out this series tonight so that they can take advantage of some rest before moving onto the Blackhawks. However, the Canadiens have battled through much adversity in these playoffs and are not going to back down just yet. Should be a fun game to watch tonight either way.

Philadelphia Flyers

Team Trends:
The return of offensive weapon Jeff Carter from injury seemed to spark the Flyers early in Game #4 that carried throughout the game. The Flyers held the Canadiens to only one shot on goal in the second period, and the team was able to shutdown the Canadiens’ offensive attack with a solid team defensive strategy and strong goaltending. The Flyers are rolling a solid four lines right now and the defensive leadership of the likes of Kimmo Timonen and Chris Pronger has carried them thus far.

Keys to Victory:
Game #4 was much of the same as the first two shutout wins in Philadelphia. Solid team defense, allowing the goaltender to see the puck, and limiting the Canadiens chances to the outside, while capitalizing on turnovers leading to odd man rushes. The Flyers have been able to execute on this game plan three out of the first four games and will look to close out this series in Game #5 this evening. Despite the fact that the Habs are 5-0 when facing elimination in the 2010 playoffs, the Flyers are a strong home team and are really playing as a cohesive unit right now. As long as they don’t get too far ahead of themselves looking beyond the task at hand, the Flyers have the confidence to take this series tonight if they can accomplish much of the same as before. Game #3 was a hiccup in terms of execution, but the overall strategy has worked very well overall.

Key Players:
Michael Leighton – Goaltender
Leighton could go for four shutouts this evening and that would be a tremendous feat considering he was a waiver wire pick-up midway through the regular season. Leighton has emerged as the team’s answer in goal, providing steady saves and building his confidence, while quietly having a string of solid outings. He has shown the team management that he is the goaltender of the present and near future, and that should bode well for his long-term career potential in Philadelphia. That being said, Leighton is one win away from carrying his team to the Stanley Cup Finals, and he should be primed to have a solid game tonight to try to clinch this series. The Habs haven’t found an answer to Leighton, as even in the loss in Game #3, he was the best Flyer on the ice.

Jeff Carter – Centre
Even if he is not currently at 100%, Jeff Carter’s return was both inspirational and an aspect of the Flyers overall offensive attack that the Habs had not accounted for as they made adjustments for Game #3. Carter managed to play in 13+ minutes and mustered four shots on goal. He may not be a factor on the scoresheet again this evening, but his presence alone poses matchup issues for the Habs defensively. Carter should open up some ice for his linemates and must be accounted for on faceoffs, which the Habs have been losing many of in the last few periods. Carter should only get stronger as this series progresses, which is not a good sign even if the Habs survive Game #5.

Montreal Canadiens

Team Trends:
Looking for another miracle, the Canadiens are reeling after a tough 3-0 loss in Game #4. The Habs looked lost in Game #4, not even able to generate any real scoring chances in the second period (with only one shot on goal), that the team has a lot of questions to answer and only one game to work out the kinks. The only thing going for them right now is the feeling of desperation, something that inspired the team to win five straight games when facing elimination. Much will be needed tonight to overcome this series deficit, but the previous success shows that it can be accomplished. If the Habs can play a desperate brand of hockey for 60 minutes or more tonight, they still have a fighting chance. They need to pull out all of the stops this evening.

Keys to Victory:
Desperation. Once again, the key motivating factor for the Habs which has worked in the previous two series against the Capitals and the Penguins. It might be a case of the team just running out of gas, but Coach Jacques Martin needs to evoke that emotion from his club if they are going to at least survive another game on home ice in Game #6. The Canadiens have battled through these challenges, going 5-0 when facing elimination, with Jaroslav Halak leading the charge. However, unlike the previous series victories, Halak was not alone in his quest for victory, and the team wasn’t having this much trouble scoring goals. Being shutout in three of the four games thus far is a disheartening trend for this team and shows the many holes in the lineup. The likes of Andrei Kostitsyn, Scott Gomez, and Tomas Plekanec have not scored in double digit games. These forwards alone need to step up tonight and for the duration of the playoffs if they are going to have a minute chance of coming back yet again. If they can do so, the Habs still have a chance.

Key Players:
Jaroslav Halak – Goaltender
One game at a time, one period at a time, one shot at a time is probably the only way the Habs are going to win this game and comeback in this series. Halak has been dialed in for the duration of the playoffs, but he has shown signs of slowing down in this series, with a lack-lustre opening game, and two mediocre losses. If he can channel his previous success in the first two rounds and find a way to revert back to form from Game #3, the Habs could squeak out a win in the tough Wachovia Center in Philadelphia this evening. At the very least, Halak hasn’t been phased by the stress of the playoffs or being outmatched or outshot, so this confidence built from within is a good sign for the Habs. The Canadiens can rally around this confidence and if he can steal a win in Philly, anything can happen in #6 and #7.

Scott Gomez, Tomas Plekanec, and Andrei Kostitsyn – Forwards
The trio is being called out in this segment as they have each gone missing in this series and for a good chunk in these playoffs. All three players have gone double digit games without scoring goals and each have elite scoring talent and offensive abilities. The power outage has resulted in a dwindling power play, a lack of consistent team speed through the neutral zone, and each of the players trying to do too much from an individual perspective. Unlike the previous series against the Penguins or Capitals, the Canadiens actually matchup quite well on paper against the Flyers, with a solid mix of speed and offensive punch to counter the size and grit of the Flyers. However, the absence of offensive support seen from this trio has led to the Flyers focusing on shutting down Mike Cammalleri and Brian Gionta, leading to three shutouts in four games. If they cannot breakout of this offensive funk, the Habs will lose this series tonight. However, look for one of the three to at least show some drive and ambition to lead their team. If they can get these three forwards going, this team could overcome this series lead. Let’s see what they can do.

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Tags: Andrei Kostitsyn, Brian Gionta, Chris Pronger, Jacques Martin, Jaroslav Halak, Jeff Carter, Kimmo Timonen, Michael Leighton, Mike Cammalleri, Scott Gomez, Tomas Plekanec

Latest News – Eastern Conference Final: Game #4 Preview

Eastern Conference Final: Game #4 Preview – Flyers lead series 2-1

Montreal Canadiens (39-33-10; 4th in Northeast Division, 8th seed in the Eastern Conference, 19th overall) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (41-35-6; 3rd in Atlantic Division, 7th seed in the Eastern Conference, 18th overall)

The Canadiens are looking to bring another dominating home performance into this series, hoping to come out of this game this afternoon with a best of three remaining. Despite a lack-lustre performance in Philadelphia, the Habs are beaming with confidence right now, making the correct adjustments to win Game #3 in convincing fashion. The Habs have finally been able to solve entering the offensive zone and have shown that speed can overcome a physical forecheck and larger defense corps. There was even some life shown on the specialty teams, something that the Flyers wanted to continue to neutralize in this series. Game #4 is pivotal as the Flyers could leave Montreal with the split and a commanding 3-1 lead. This should be a fun one to watch!

Philadelphia Flyers

Team Trends:
After dominating the Habs down low and in front of the net, the Flyers looked lost in Game #3, not being able to make the in-game adjustments required to address Montreal’s team speed. The Flyers slower, but bigger defense was left exposed and Michael Leighton looked human after finally ending his playoff shutout streak in the first period. The team needs to make some refinements to the overall game plan if they are going to withstand a similar barrage in Game #3. Also, the team needs to hold their emotions in check if they are going to prevent Montreal’s elite power play from getting started in this series.

Keys to Victory:
The Flyers need to play within the team’s strengths and limit the impact of the team’s weaknesses. The Flyers have a large defense core, with only Matt Carle as the mobile defenseman of the bunch. Chris Pronger looked tired in Game #3 and was caught flat-footed on many of the goals and scoring chances generated by the Habs’ team speed entering the offensive zone. Also, despite being outshot by the Canadiens, the Flyers didn’t capitalize on early scoring chances on Jaroslav Halak, and got little traffic in front of him, allowing him to see many of the shots on goal. Physical play and an aggressive forecheck down low are the team’s strengths. The team let their emotions take over, resulting in an abundance of penalties called and the team’s better offensive players seemingly bothered by the pestering of Maxim Lapierre. If they can ignore Lapierre and get back to a solid defensive game, while taking advantage of their size and grit, the Flyers could sneak one win in Montreal. However, the Habs are flying right now and seem to have made the proper adjustments in this game of chess. Coach Peter Laviolette needs to do the same in return for the team to counter the results of Game #3.

Key Players:
Michael Leighton – Goaltender
Leighton finally showed some chinks in his armour, after allowing the first goal in over two games to start this series, the floodgates were opened and Leighton was bombarded throughout the duration of the game. Leighton was still the team’s best player, trying to do his best to keep the Flyers in the game. Apart from this blip on his results thus far, Leighton should be primed for a better result this afternoon, as he is still a confident netminder. Only difference now is that despite being a journeyman goaltender (even spending a brief point in his career as a depth goaltender on the Canadiens), Leighton hasn’t had to battle through much adversity. He was a career back-up throughout his development in the NHL and when he’s been struggling, he’s seen extended time on the bench, even under Laviolette. If the Canadiens can string together back-to-back convincing wins, Leighton could get rattled. Let’s observe how he reacts to the pressure of this series.

Simon Gagne – Winger
Similar to Daniel Briere, Gagne is from the province of Quebec (Ste-Foy) and is taking this series personally. He is driving hard to the net and so far in this series, has been the team’s best forward alongside Briere. He is red hot right now, with seven points in his last six games, along with goals in each of the three games in this series. Gagne is battling in the tough parts of the ice and with other scoring forwards in the mix such as Mike Richards, Claude Giroux, and Briere, the Canadiens haven’t had an answer to limit the scoring chances of Gagne. He has elevated his game, playing in front of the “home” crowd so-to-speak, and he could be a major factor in Game #4 if his hot play continues. The Canadiens should be focused on the likes of Gagne and Briere right now, due to their added motivation in this series.

Montreal Canadiens

Team Trends:
The return home to the confines of the Bell Centre has rejuvenated the Canadiens. Not only has their confidence returned on many levels, the offense and team speed has as well. The team’s best players have once again carried the team (Jaroslav Halak, Mike Cammalleri, and Brian Gionta), but the team hasn’t been able to achieve balanced scoring from the other missing key forwards. As a result, the team received secondary scoring from the likes of Tom Pyatt and Dominic Moore instead. If the team can achieve a balance of scoring from more than one or two players, the team can overcome this early series deficit.

Keys to Victory:
The Habs seemed to have made the proper adjustments to win Game #3 and with the Flyers now expected to make some adjustments of their own, the team must withstand a more refined attack from their opponent. The Canadiens team speed is their biggest asset, and Game #3 was the first appearance of that in this series. The team has also overcome entering the offensive zone against the larger Flyers defense corps, utilizing a diagonal shoot-in and aggressive forecheck. Also, intense puck pursuit has resulted in offensive zone turnovers, which generated key scoring chances. The Habs continue to outshoot the Flyers, which is a positive to take from the first two games. In addition, Halak has returned to form in Game #3 and is looking to equalize this series with his strong play.

Key Players:
Jaroslav Halak – Goaltender
Halak has slowly, but surely gotten better throughout this series. He utilized his strong positioning in Game #3 and the team was able to overcome the crease traffic that plagued the defense corps in the first two games. As what has been documented throughout the 2010 NHL playoffs, Halak thrives when busy and although the Habs have outshot the Flyers, he has still been quite busy, facing solid scoring chances. Halak needs to continue his strong play in Game #4 in order to equal this series at 2-2. He has shown resilience in these playoffs and the solid play of Game #3 could be the tipping point back to his elite form shown thus far. Look for Halak to be the best Habs player yet again, exuding confidence that the rest of the team feeds off of as the game progresses.

Mike Cammalleri – Winger
With the last change on home ice, Coach Jacques Martin has been able to take advantage of mis-matches against the Flyers #3 defense pairings. Cammalleri is the best forward in this series on both teams and he has shown this elite status by scoring his 13th goal in Game #3. He has been consistent in these playoffs and has battled through defensive match-ups and focus by the opposing team. Mike Richards and Chris Pronger are both on the ice when Cammalleri is in the offensive zone, forcing the Flyers to assign two players with the task of neutralizing Cammalleri. He has still been able to generate his scoring chances and was the driving force of ending the shutout streak started by Leighton. Although he is diminutive in size, Cammalleri has shown a great deal of determination and skill to play in the tough spaces in front of the net. The Habs are waiting for more players to follow suit on Cammalleri’s offensive leadership, however, apart from Brian Gionta, no one else has responded thus far.

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Tags: Brian Gionta, Chris Pronger, Claude Giroux, Daniel Briere, Dominic Moore, Jaroslav Halak, Matt Carle, Maxim Lapierre, Michael Leighton, Mike Cammalleri, Mike Richards, Peter Laviolette, Simon Gagne, Tom Pyatt

Latest News – Eastern Conference Final: Game #3 Preview

Eastern Conference Final: Game #3 Preview – Flyers lead series 2-0

Montreal Canadiens (39-33-10; 4th in Northeast Division, 8th seed in the Eastern Conference, 19th overall) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (41-35-6; 3rd in Atlantic Division, 7th seed in the Eastern Conference, 18th overall)

Home sweet home. The Canadiens are reeling after losing the first two games of this series and having not scored a goal in either game. The Flyers haven’t been dominant, but the Habs have been kept to the outside on most offensive scoring chances. Also, the Canadiens have continued to have trouble to adjust to the offensive strategy of the Flyers. The Flyers continue to drive to the net and create a great deal of crease traffic, something that has disrupted the defensive scheme of the Habs. The Canadiens will need to utilize the home ice advantage tonight if they are going to climb back into this series.

Philadelphia Flyers

Team Trends:
The Flyers are gaining more confidence and goaltender Michael Leighton is the one leading the charge. With the smaller, less aggressive forwards from the Canadiens, Leighton has been able to see all of the shots on goal thus far and it has resulted in back-to-back shutouts. The Flyers defense has been seemingly impregnable at the moment and the team has been playing as a cohesive unit in the first two games. A true testament to the coaching of Peter Laviolette, who is two wins away from leading his team to the Stanley Cup Finals.

Keys to Victory:
Continued physical play and an aggressive offensive strategy will continue to be the Flyers keys to victory. The Flyers have been steady on the back-end, mainly due to the solid defense corps lead by Chris Pronger, but the play of Michael Leighton has also been inspiring. He has been able to shutdown the Habs in back-to-back games and his strong play in 2009-10 has translated into the playoffs. Although the team is trying to remain guarded of the excitement of being ahead 2-0, but if the Flyers accomplish more of the same on the road, this could be a very short series.

Key Players:
Michael Leighton – Goaltender
The Flyers goaltender continues to be the story in this series. Not only has he posted two shutouts thus far, he has created a tremendous following amongst Philly fans. Over the recent playoff appearances by the Flyers, the goaltending has been the team’s Achilles heel. The team thought at the beginning of this season that Ray Emery was the answer, and that Brian Boucher would be a serviceable veteran back-up netminder. In fact, Leighton was toiling in the minor leagues within the Carolina Hurricanes system, low on the team’s long-term depth chart. When Emery went down with a long-term injury and Boucher got injured soon after, Leighton was claimed off of waivers for less than $12k, an investment that the Flyers have been benefiting from right from the start. Leighton has been a breath of fresh air and he has stabilized the goaltending situation for the team built for the playoffs. Although his long-term status is still up in the air, Leighton is the undisputed #1 right now and has proven that he can handle the playoff pressure. The team has rallied behind him and his size and confidence between the pipes is reminiscent of the Flyers’ great Bernie Parent.

Daniel Briere – Centre
Briere has been an offensive threat for the duration of these playoffs. He has scored nine goals and nine assists in 14 playoff games thus far, and he is red hot, with five points in the last three games. Briere’s confidence against the Canadiens probably stems back further when the Gatineau, Quebec native decided to sign with the Flyers as a free agent back in 2007, despite being offered a more favourable contract from the Canadiens. Ever since that transaction, Briere has been booed and heckled by the fan base of Montreal, not to mention being portrayed as a villain in the Montreal media. This series gives Briere a chance to vindicate himself, leading the team on an offensive surge. Briere is primed for an extended hot streak in this series, now that the series has moved back to Montreal.

Montreal Canadiens

Team Trends:
The team’s goaltending has fallen on hard times, but more importantly, the team has been shutout for the last two games. Before this series began, the Habs were already dealing with a power outage amongst the team’s top forwards, with only Brian Gionta and Mike Cammalleri as the main offensive weapons. There has been little offensive output from the defense corps and the team’s power play has been neutralized. The Canadiens are trying desperately to stick handle through the Flyers defensive zone coverage, and have yet to fully utilize their overall team speed. The Habs haven’t found a way to adjust thus far, and this series could get out of hand if they lose Game #3 tonight.

Keys to Victory:
Simple enough, but the Habs need to score the first goal and build on the confidence of that event. Jaroslav Halak has played well in this series thus far, despite a shaky Game #1 and a mediocre Game #2, however, Halak’s confidence will continue to grow if given the lead. The Flyers have utilized a similar strategy to the Canadiens that worked against the Capitals and Penguins, keeping the Flyers on the outside and shutting down the offensive weapons on the team. The Canadiens have fired a ton of shots on goal, but have not been able to capitalize on rebounds or any traffic in front of Leighton. Although the Habs are much smaller than the Flyers, the team has yet to use their overall team speed, something that they need to utilize if they are going to generate a north-south attack this evening.

Key Players:
Jaroslav Halak – Goaltender
Halak improved in Game #2 over his poor performance in Game #1, however, he needs to be better. Although to ask a goaltender to keep the opponent off the scoreboard is a high expectation, it might be the only way for the Canadiens to win tonight. The Habs need to score the first goal and hold onto the early lead if they are going to have a chance to win, so Halak needs to shut the door until this happens. With the way Leighton is playing right now, Halak is losing the goaltender’s dual overall. He needs to elevate his game back to his achievements in the first two rounds and although he cannot score goals from his position, a great start and sustained presence in goal should build confidence for the team tonight.

Tomas Plekanec – Centre
Where has Plekanec gone in these playoffs? He’s shown glimpses of brilliance throughout the second season, but he’s not been a major offensive presence that the Habs need right now. He has been ice cold in this series as the rest of the team has, but since the Penguins’ series, Plekanec has had his issues scoring goals. He hasn’t scored since the Capitals series and he has been solid defensively and in generating chances for his linemates. He does have 11 points (four goals and 7 assists) and is more of a playmaker than a pure goal scorer. However, as the team’s leading scorer in the regular season, the absence of Plekanec on the score sheet has been a major factor in the losses in these playoffs. He needs to play a solid game at both ends of the ice, but needs to focus on ramping up his offensive presence. Look for Plekanec to step up, as the team needs other players to pitch in to win.

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Tags: Bernie Parent, Brian Boucher, Brian Gionta, Daniel Briere, Jaroslav Halak, Michael Leighton, Mike Cammalleri, Peter Laviolette, Ray Emery, Tomas Plekanec

Latest News – Eastern Conference Final: Game #2 Preview

Eastern Conference Final: Game #2 Preview – Flyers lead series 1-0

Montreal Canadiens (39-33-10; 4th in Northeast Division, 8th seed in the Eastern Conference, 19th overall) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (41-35-6; 3rd in Atlantic Division, 7th seed in the Eastern Conference, 18th overall)

The Canadiens were clearly outmatched in Game #1 and need to learn from their mistakes to fight for a split in this series. The Flyers played a stronger defensive game, neutralizing the Habs team speed, while providing a great amount of crease traffic, which seemed to rattle the Habs goaltenders. The Canadiens need to be better down low in the corners and in the slot area on both sides of the puck if they are going to limit chances in front of their own goal and generate scoring chances in the offensive end. With the opening game being one-sided, look for the Habs to bounce back with a solid game plan in Game #2. The Canadiens have split each of the previous series on the road, so look for much of the same in tonight’s game.

Philadelphia Flyers

Team Trends:
Executing on a simple game plan, the Flyers are slowly but surely gaining confidence as this series progresses. The key players have been playing at the top of their game, and although they have shown an inability to get pucks out of the zone at times, the goaltending and the play of their elite defenseman Chris Pronger has been the difference thus far. The Flyers have executed on the strategy of getting bodies in front of Jaroslav Halak, something both the Capitals and Penguins failed to capitalize on. Halak seemed rattled and the Habs defense is too small and ill-equipped to move the larger, grittier Flyers forwards from the slot area. Many of the goals scored by the Flyers will be from this area of the ice, so look for more of the same simple strategy to continue until the Habs learn to adapt.

Keys to Victory:
Physical play will be the Flyers key to victory. Not only are they the larger team on paper, they have a stronger core of gritty forwards and defensemen that will continue to barrage the Canadiens with solid bodychecks and punishing forecheck advances. The play of Chris Pronger in these playoffs has shown that having a stud defenseman that can play the power play, penalty kill, and 30+ minutes of other match-up situations against the opposing team’s top players is a proven commodity. Pronger has been all of that and more and has really forced the Canadiens to the outside in the opening game. The Flyers have also relied on stable goaltending, something that the team historically hasn’t had in the playoffs since the Ron Hextall era. If the team can begin to build upon the early success of this series, tonight’s game could be similar to the result of Game #1.

Key Players:
Michael Leighton – Goaltender
Leighton has slowly become a mainstay in Philadelphia. The Flyers fan base has a short-term memory when it comes to goaltending and Leighton’s expectations will continue to rise as this series progresses. He has shown that he can play within the pressure cooker that is the Wachovia Center and the support he has received from his defense corps and overall team defensive strategy will help. He hasn’t had an off night in these playoffs and being well-rested from missing the first two rounds should help as he should be primed for the remainder of the playoff run. Leighton has no prior pedigree or experience with playoff success, so like Halak, he is just focusing on playing strong each period, not forcing saves, but maintaining his overall composure. With the Flyers revolving door in goal over the years, Leighton could be a strong fit for the future, and this run could cement his chances. Look for another solid game for Leighton tonight, as the Habs currently do not have a way of penetrating the Flyers formidable defensive scheme. Unless adjustments are made by Coach Jacques Martin, this series could be won on the hot play of Leighton alone.

Chris Pronger – Defense
Not much more needs to be said of the Flyers veteran defenseman. He has two prior Stanley Cup Finals appearances, with the Anaheim Ducks and the Edmonton Oilers, and he is viewed as one of the most consistent shutdown defensemen in the NHL. Despite this portrayal, Pronger can also quarterback the power play and is an offensive weapon on most nights, something that the Flyers have been able to take full advantage of in the playoffs. Currently, Pronger has four goals and seven assists in 13 games, with three goals coming on the power play. He is a stabilizing force on the back-end that the Habs need to respect due to his size, positioning, and overall physical prowess. The Canadiens do not have a forward in the lineup that can match physically against Pronger, and this might be the team’s biggest weakness overall. The Canadiens will be forced to win battles along the outside with Pronger patrolling the slot area, this aspect alone elevates Leighton’s goaltending night in and night out in this series.

Montreal Canadiens

Team Trends:
Similar to the opening game against the Penguins, the Habs looked flat after an emotional high, losing 6-0. The team played well through pockets of Game #1, but quickly fell behind and never amounted a consistent attack after the first period. Much of the same in the previous series’, Coach Martin should have an adjusted strategy in Game #2 and should utilize some of the team’s strengths moving forward. The Flyers seem to have trouble with the Habs team speed, something that hasn’t been maximized in the playoffs with the loss of elite defenseman Andrei Markov, and his ability to make stretch passes and zone breakouts. Halak and Carey Price were shelled in Game #1 and seem bothered by crease traffic, so this is a key area of concern for Game #2.

Keys to Victory:
Crease traffic and utilizing team speed are key areas to address as adjustments for Game #2. With only Hal Gill as the main shutdown defenseman in the Habs lineup that can match-up physically against the Flyers grittier forwards, the Canadiens need a unified team solution to address crease traffic and limit the Flyers to the outside. The Habs continue to lose battles down low for the pucks, but combined with bodies in front of the net, cannot contain rebounds and block shots. With Markov still on the shelf, the Habs have yet to maximize the team speed, which is usually generated by strong zone breakouts. Look for puck handling defensemen such as Jaroslav Spacek, P.K. Subban, and Marc-Andre Bergeron to get more of these responsibilities, which should counteract the Flyers aggressive forecheck. They may need to take punishment for this, so durability may become an issue as this series unfolds.

Key Players:
Jaroslav Halak – Goaltender
Similar to Game #1 in the Penguins series, Halak looked tired and had to deal with an abundance of screened shots on goal. His strength is his quickness and positioning, however, with crease traffic, Halak was playing deep in his net and was unable to see many of the shots that actually went in for goals. He needs to play at an elite level again and he needs to show the confidence to overcome this strategy, however, the team needs a unified solution to address the traffic, as the Flyers will continue to put bodies in the slot area. Halak remains poised to recover in this series and the confidence of being the #1 netminder should bode well to the team’s overall success. Despite a lack-lustre effort in Game #1, Halak should be back between the pipes with many adjustments in play for Martin’s game plan. Game #1 should be viewed as a learning experience despite the loss, let’s see if Halak can learn from the mistakes.

Brian Gionta – Winger
Viewed by many as the future captain of the Canadiens, Gionta called out his teammates to play more aggressive and have the will to win in a recent press conference for the media on Monday’s morning skate. Both Gionta and Mike Cammalleri have been the team’s best forwards and the team needs both to ramp up offensively and engage the Flyers in tough situations around the opposing net. Tough to do with Pronger, Kimmo Timonen, Braydon Coburn, and the rest of the defensive minded Flyers floating around, but both Gionta and Cammalleri have adjusted in the past. Gionta is a battler and is not afraid to get into corners and generate chances for his linemates. His leadership in these playoffs is inspiring to his teammates and this should help motivate the team in Game #2. Gionta has all the heart in the world to carry this team, but he needs other skilled players to step up. Let’s see if the words expressed on Monday resonate into a victory.

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Tags: Andrei Markov, Braydon Coburn, Carey Price, Chris Pronger, Hal Gill, Jacques Martin, Jaroslav Halak, Jaroslav Spacek, Kimmo Timonen, Marc-Andre Bergeron, Michael Leighton, Mike Cammalleri, P.K. Subban, Ron Hextall

Latest News – Eastern Conference Final: Game #1 Preview

Eastern Conference Final:  Game #1 Preview – Series tied 0-0

Montreal Canadiens (39-33-10; 4th in Northeast Division, 8th seed in the Eastern Conference, 19th overall) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (41-35-6; 3rd in Atlantic Division, 7th seed in the Eastern Conference, 18th overall)

Not many would’ve predicted this match-up for the Eastern Conference Finals, but both teams have been enjoying a wonderful playoff run. The Flyers are coming off a miraculous comeback in the series against the Bruins, overcoming both a 3-0 Game #7 deficit and a 3-0 series deficit. Meanwhile, the Canadiens are also riding high right now, beating the Washington Capitals in seven games (President’s Trophy winners) and the Pittsburgh Penguins also in seven games (2009 Stanley Cup champions). This series is a toss up when comparing the two teams. The Habs have a slight edge in speed, while the Flyers have a solid advantage in size and grit. Both have solid defensive statistics in these playoffs, but the Canadiens have the better goaltending entering the Conference Finals. This should be an entertaining series to watch as it is a throwback to the rivalry of the 70’s.

Philadelphia Flyers

Team Trends:
Despite the loss of veteran netminder Brian Boucher, the Flyers have not skipped a beat in goal, with the strong play of Michael Leighton leading the charge. The Flyers have a solid defense corps and a strong top six, combining size, speed, and skill amongst the elite forwards on the team. Daniel Briere and Mike Richards are the team’s top forwards right now, but the team relies on a balanced attack to prevent being neutralized to one or two lines. Different from the previous match-ups against the Devils and the Bruins, the Canadiens are much quicker and have solid team speed, something that the Flyers must adjust to in order to be successful.

Keys to Victory:
Grit and determination are keys to victory in this series and in Game #1. The Flyers need to get traffic in front of the net and establish an early aggressive forecheck, something that will take its toll as the series progresses. With the Habs defense corps in flux with the injuries to key components, the Flyers need to take advantage of a lack of mobility on the Habs back-end. Although shots on goal were not an issue against the Habs, crease traffic and getting into Halak’s mindset is a key issue to address early on. Playing in the Wachovia Center should help with the latter and staying out of the box while maintaining a strong physical game overall should set the tone for this series.

Key Players:
Michael Leighton – Goaltender
All eyes are on Leighton now. These are the biggest games in his career and he is making a name for himself in the lore of the Flyers fan base. He was a cast off earlier this season as a waiver pick-up from the Carolina Hurricanes and quickly cemented himself as the starter when both Ray Emery and Brian Boucher went down with injuries. Leighton then suffered a high ankle sprain in late March 2010, and was only going to be ready until the second round of the playoffs. In an ironic twist of fate, Boucher went down in the midway point of the series against the Bruins and as luck would have it, Leighton has his job back and is well rested in comparison to Jaroslav Halak. He has played well in the three appearances thus far, with a 3-0 record, 1.54 goals against average, .943 save percentage, and a shared shutout. He doesn’t have to be dominant for the Flyers to have a chance to win, he just needs to remain consistent and not give up early goals or untimely ones. If he can remain stable behind a solid defense corps led by Chris Pronger, Leighton could have a tremendous series.

Mike Richards – Centre
The captain of the Flyers is the key player on this Flyers squad. Next to Pronger, the offense of the Flyers is generated by Richards down the middle, with contributions from Daniel Briere and other secondary scorers. However, Richards sets the tone from the physical side of the puck, with a tremendous puck pursuit, bone-crushing hits, and a relentless penalty kill. If he plays at an elite level in this series as is expected, his leadership alone could motivate others on the Flyers to elevate their level of play. Unlike the series against the Capitals and Penguins, Richards may not be the main offensive threat in this series to neutralize, but the Canadiens cannot let Richards be a factor in these games if they are going to have a chance to win.

Montreal Canadiens

Team Trends:
Probably the next biggest surprise to the Flyers making it this far is the Cinderella playoff run by the Habs. Not only have they been overmatched in both rounds on paper, but they have battled back in both series, facing a 3-1 series deficit against the Capitals and a 3-2 series deficit against the Penguins. The Habs have been playing well as a unit and have relied heavily on the superb play of their goaltender, Jaroslav Halak. They have gotten some timely scoring from 2010 playoff goal scoring leader Mike Cammalleri and have gotten the leadership from the likes of Scott Gomez and Brian Gionta. Despite being the smaller team in this series, the Habs have played with a great deal of determination and heart, something that has been inspiring to the fan base nationwide. With history on their side, the Habs could be on a path to the Cup final, but a solid series against the Flyers is expected.

Keys to Victory:
The Habs need their best players to play at a higher level (if that were possible). On paper, the Habs are yet again overmatched in both size, skill, and grit, but have a few advantages right now. They have team speed, they are slowly getting healthier on the back end, and have Halak, which has been enough on some nights. The Canadiens need the likes of Gomez, Gionta, and Cammalleri to be at the top of their respective games, however, they also need some secondary scoring from Tomas Plekanec and Andrei Kostitsyn, who were very quiet throughout the Penguins series. The x-factor in this series is the overall play of the Habs defense. They have been successful suffocating the centre ice and neutral zone areas and have neutralized some great players: Alexander Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby, and Evgeni Malkin. However, the Flyers have a more balanced attack and have an aggressive forecheck, so the defense must make quick decisions and show more mobility if this series is going to remain competitive.

Key Players:
Jaroslav Halak – Goaltender
An obvious selection for Game #1. Halak has been red hot in his last 10 games, going 7-3, with a 1.96 goals against average, and .946 save percentage. He is 5-0 when facing elimination and seems to thrive when outshot and kept busy. Halak has benefited from the team being able to keep the crease traffic to a minimum, something that might be an issue in this series. If the Habs can allow Halak to see the shots on goal, he will be primed to stop them. He’s been a workhorse thus far and much will be the same in this series. Playing in Philadelphia is not a welcome assignment for most visiting goaltenders, but Halak could feed off of this negative energy if he gains the confidence early on. Look for the Canadiens to play it conservative early, relying on keeping scoring chances on the outside, while collapsing on rebounds. Same old strategy until further notice, with Halak being the main component of the success.

Mike Cammalleri – Winger
Unlike the first two rounds, Cammalleri will now have to face match-ups against top shutdown defensemen like Chris Pronger and Kimmo Timonen. Braydon Coburn is no slouch either, but the Flyers will probably keep Richards on the ice whenever Cammalleri is out there. This much focus will definitely open up opportunities for his linemates, but Cammalleri must continue to score the goals that the anemic Habs offense will rely on. He needs to be the team’s best offensive weapon and find the open areas. He might have a target on his back this evening and will be the main assignments of Pronger and Richards, but Cammalleri is on fire right now and could overcome this adversity. If he does, the Habs could steal Game #1 with a solid team game and timely chances generated by their diminutive forward lines. The Habs will get many power play chances in this series, look for Cammalleri to be a main weapon in these opportunities.

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Tags: Alexander Ovechkin, Andrei Kostitsyn, Braydon Coburn, Brian Boucher, Brian Gionta, Chris Pronger, Daniel Briere, Evgeni Malkin, Jaroslav Halak, Kimmo Timonen, Michael Leighton, Mike Cammalleri, Mike Richards, Ray Emery, Scott Gomez, Sidney Crosby, Tomas Plekanec

Fan Zone – Montreal Fans: Beautifoto.com

Thank you to the folks at Beautifoto.com for sharing their photos of the celebration in the streets of Montreal after the Game #7 victory by the Montreal Canadiens over the Pittsburgh Penguins for the Fan Zone of OhCanadiens.com.  We will be posting more photos from Beautifoto.com throughout the remainder of the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs, documenting the celebrations related to the Habs Cinderella playoff run.

The Montreal Canadiens are surging through the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs for a chance to win the Cup. These photos show the passion that Habs fans have for their team.

Gotta love Habs fans!

Bring on the next opponent – Jaroslav Halak and the rest of the Canadiens can take them on!

You can find the rest of the photos from this shoot from the following link or on Beautifoto.com. The main site can also be found on the OhCanadiens.com blog roll.

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Tags: Beautifoto.com, Fan Zone, Jaroslav Halak, OhCanadiens.com

Latest News – Game #7 Preview

Game #7 Preview – Series tied 3-3

Montreal Canadiens (39-33-10; 4th in Northeast Division, 8th seed in the Eastern Conference, 19th overall) vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (47-28-7; 2nd in Atlantic Division, 4th seed in the Eastern Conference, 8th overall)

All bets are off tonight as the Habs and Penguins enter a one game playoff for the right to play in the 2010 Conference finals of the Eastern Conference. No one could have predicted that the Habs would’ve eliminated the Capitals, let alone be one win away from knocking off the Stanley Cup champions. Both teams need to play desperate tonight if they are going to win, however, the Habs have the underdog mentality going for them, with less to lose and an entire country backing them now. This game should be a treat to watch, just like the rest of this series thus far.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Team Trends:
The Penguins have shown signs of adjusting to the Canadiens’ defensive scheme of plugging up the middle of the ice and the neutral zone, however, the Penguins have not been entirely successful. They have stopped utilizing their point men to generate offense and the impact of the elite centres on the Penguins have been neutralized overall in this series. Traffic in front of the net has been a proven method to beat Jaroslav Halak, but the Canadiens have been good at maintaining sight lines in front of the crease. No time left for adjustments, the Penguins just need to bring an A level game tonight if they are going to survive this scare from the Habs.

Keys to Victory:
Crease traffic seems to have worked throughout this series, but the Penguins have continued to stray away from a winning formula. In Game #1, the Penguins capitalized on a number of power play chances, scoring mainly on screened point shots from the likes of Kris Letang and Sergei Gonchar. Overall, the play of the point men has not generated as much offense as expected and a lot can be attributed to the lack of offense down the middle with the three elite centres in Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Jordan Staal. The Habs have limited the offense generated from centre to the wingers, and since the Pens do not have elite puck handling wingers, the offense has sputtered at times. Traffic in front of Halak might be the only short-term solution to win Game #7 – let’s see if the Penguins can execute.

Key Players:
Jordan Staal – Centre
With both Malkin and Crosby being the focus of the Canadiens defensive scheme, the Penguins need Staal to step up and become a third option down the middle. He has yet to show his dominance on the penalty kill and has yet to use his size to his advantage against the smaller, less mobile Habs defense, in order to generate chances for his gritty linemates. With Crosby and Malkin being kept to the outside, Staal needs to fight through this strategy and generate chances in the tough areas like the slot and at the high circles. Staal may not be the only offensive weapon at the disposal of the Penguins, but he may be the one player with the drive to get it done tonight, since the dynamic duo of Malkin and Crosby have been frustrated by the Habs and Halak thus far.

Marc-Andre Fleury – Goaltender
Fleury needs to play at an elite level tonight and cannot show signs of weakness or uncertainty, which seemed to fester in Game #6. Fleury was coming off a stellar game in Game #5 and allowed the crowd noise and ridicule of the Habs faithful to get to him mentally, throwing off his concentration, leading to the loss in Game #6. Fleury has the home ice advantage right now, but it really doesn’t matter if he gets off to a bad start. Like Halak, Fleury thrives on being busy and facing tough scoring chances to get warmed up. Although he has shown the ability to win the big games, his confidence level might be suspect in this key game as the Habs have identified areas of weakness in his overall game. Fleury might need to win this game all by himself, as what is usually the case in game sevens. In the battle of goaltenders, Halak might still have the upper hand right now.

Montreal Canadiens

Team Trends:
The surprise Cinderella story of the 2010 playoffs, the Habs are one win away from entering the Eastern Conference finals, a feat not matched since their 1993 Stanley Cup winning squad led by Patrick Roy. The Habs are riding the hot play of both Jaroslav Halak and Mike Cammalleri, and in a one game showdown, these two need to play even better to motivate others on the team to wake up. Slowly but surely, the Habs are rounding into form and could enjoy a balanced attack from the like of Andrei Kostitsyn or Tomas Plekanec, two players who were quiet in the early part of the series. Cammalleri will be the player of focus tonight for the Penguins, so the Habs will rely on the production from other veterans such as Scott Gomez and Brian Gionta to lead them this evening. A unified team effort is key for tonight’s game… go Habs go!

Keys to Victory:
As was the case in Game #6, desperation should be the key component of every Habs player on the ice and on the bench this evening. With the return of Jaroslav Spacek, and the game time decision to bring Hal Gill back, the Canadiens could be inching closer to full strength on the back-end. However, that being said, the Habs cannot forget what has gotten them to this point – a solid defensive scheme and elite goaltending. Halak may be tired and the defense is beat-up, but in a one game showdown, anything can happen. The Habs need to stay out of the bench and still neutralize offense generated by the Penguins centres. If accomplished, the Habs could find themselves in the Conference Finals.

Key Players:
Jaroslav Halak – Goaltender
Halak has definitely made a name for himself in these 2010 playoffs. Not only has his cult following grown since the regular season, but Halak seems poised for more entering tonight’s Game #7. He is no longer unsure of himself and is no longer doubting if he will be starting the next game, something that plagued his game throughout the last two seasons with Carey Price looming over his shoulder. With Halak’s confidence at an all-time high right now, the Habs have rallied around their goaltender, winning games with strong defensive efforts and timely offense. As was the case in Game #7 against the Capitals, Halak was the difference in that game and in the series overall. He needs to be the same here in Pittsburgh and must rely heavily on his defense corps to clean up rebounds and move players in front of the net. If Halak can see it, he’s bound to stop the shot, so that’s the simple strategy for tonight. Since he feeds off of a lot of shots on goal, look for the Habs to remain competitive if overmatched in the first 10 minutes of this game.

Mike Cammalleri – Winger
The elevated play of both Tomas Plekanec and Andrei Kostitsyn has raised the output of Mike Cammalleri in the process. Cammalleri is the only elite goal scorer on the ice for the Habs and he has responded by leading the NHL playoff scorers with 11 goals thus far. He will be the player of focus for the Penguins defensive scheme, however, he has shown the ability to battle through this added attention. He will need support from his linemates if they are going to push through and win, but Cammalleri is dialed in right now and is bound to pot one or two goals tonight as he’s done in the big games in this series. Cammalleri wants the puck right now and it’s up to Plekanec and Kostitsyn to find him on the ice in key scoring areas. If given the opportunity, Cammalleri has Fleury solved and could be the main reason as to why the Habs advance.

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Tags: Andrei Kostitsyn, Brian Gionta, Carey Price, Evgeni Malkin, Hal Gill, Jaroslav Halak, Jaroslav Spacek, Jordan Staal, Kris Letang, Marc-Andre Fleury, Mike Cammalleri, Patrick Roy, Scott Gomez, Sergei Gonchar, Sidney Crosby, Tomas Plekanec

Latest News – Game #6 Preview

Game #6 Preview – Penguins lead the series 3-2

Montreal Canadiens (39-33-10; 4th in Northeast Division, 8th seed in the Eastern Conference, 19th overall) vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (47-28-7; 2nd in Atlantic Division, 4th seed in the Eastern Conference, 8th overall)

With the series shifting back to Montreal and the Canadiens facing elimination, questions remain about the depth of the Habs blueline. It is uncertain if any of the following will be 100% for the Habs: Andrei Markov, Hal Gill, and Jaroslav Spacek, so the focus might now be on the other blueliners to step in and fill the void. Might be too much to ask, considering the Canadiens are overmatched on paper with this high flying Penguins squad. That being said, the team has not shown any signs of giving up and the game in Montreal could be a toss up if the crowd becomes a factor as this game progresses. Look for a lot of emotion tonight from both teams and look for the Habs to feed off of the energy from the home ice. Should be a great game to watch this evening!

Pittsburgh Penguins

Team Trends:
The Penguins have finally shown some adjustments to their overall strategy to disrupt Jaroslav Halak and generate secondary scoring chances. With the Habs blueline in flux, the Penguins could take full advantage of a depleted lineup, shoving bodies in front of the net and generating key scoring chances using the point shot. Sergei Gonchar awoke from his series slumber and now might be the opportunity for breakout games from both Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Malkin was a dominant player in Game #5, but it didn’t show up with any goals, but Crosby is still a shadow of himself, which is a testament to the Habs game plan overall. Look for a ton of traffic in front of Halak tonight, especially with veteran Bill Guerin’s experience as a goal crease nuisance.

Keys to Victory:
Point shots getting through. As with all of the Penguins victories thus far, Halak has been beaten with point shots and screened goals, either on the power play or five-on-five. They have found the key to victory, they just need to execute on the scoring chances generated with this strategy. Unlike the previous losses, the Habs depleted defense corps might not be physically able to move these tough wingers from the front of the crease. If point shots aren’t blocked and get through, limiting goaltender sight lines will be a key area to take advantage of if the Penguins are going to close this series out this evening.

Key Players:
Evgeni Malkin – Centre
Malkin was an aggressive, puck control centre in Game #5 and the Penguins need more of the same from Malkin if they are going to win tonight, or at the very least win this series. With Crosby on the fritz so to speak, Malkin needs to shoulder the load of this Penguins offense, generating chances for his franchise linemate and opening up the ice for the screened point shots. Malkin is due for a breakout in these playoffs and is primed for one tonight. He should be the focus of the defensive scheme this evening, as Crosby’s poor play of late has probably ruled him out to be the main x-factor this evening. Look for Malkin to have a strong game, hoping to help finish the series.

Sergei Gonchar – Defenseman
Gonchar played his best game of the playoffs and generated a number of scoring chances with his puck control and blistering point shots. If his game is on the rebound, the Habs might be in trouble in the last games of this series as the offensive scheme for the Penguins is based on a puck control defense. Gonchar is the general on the power play and is one of the key puck-moving defensemen for the defensive zone breakouts. More important to recover his game than probably Crosby right now, if Gonchar gets going, the Canadiens will not have any chance to neutralize Gonchar’s point presence in this game.

Montreal Canadiens

Team Trends:
The Canadiens played a solid defensive game in Game #5, but the offense was stymied by Marc-Andre Fleury. Fleury was the difference maker and being able to capitalize on chances on goal early and often is key for the Habs to move onto Game #7. The Habs have been limiting the scoring chances generated from odd-man rushes and drives to the net, however, they were beaten by two point shots, something that the Habs have been able to limit since Game #1. With the depleted defense corps of returning injured players set to play tonight, the Habs will need a solid team effort filled with crowd exuberance to be victorious. Let’s see if they can muster up that level of desperation for tonight’s game.

Keys to Victory:
Desperation. 60+ minutes of team play, smart decisions, and aggression needs to be unleashed for tonight’s home game. The Habs have battled through multiple injuries, lack of scoring, and every expert writing them off, and yet they still have a chance to win this series. They have not been overmatched throughout this series, but have been victim to wrong players on the ice or poor execution at times. With the injuries mounting, the Habs need their best players to be their best players. The list begins with Jaroslav Halak and moves onto the likes of Mike Cammalleri, Brian Gionta, Scott Gomez, and Tomas Plekanec. If the desperation of the team can motivate other secondary players or a defenseman to rise to the occasion, we’ll be enjoying a Game #7 final in Pittsburgh fairly soon. Good luck Montreal! Go Habs Go!

Key Players:
Jaroslav Halak – Goaltender
There’s nothing left to say about Halak at this point. He has overachieved at times, but has been a stabilizing force for the Habs playoff run and has been the team’s best player throughout the playoffs. The team has truly rallied behind him and the city, its fan base, and the rest of the country believe he can carry this team moving forward, despite what type of adversity he faces. He’s been battled tested and has faced a ton of shots in these playoffs and has yet to show signs of wear and tear or slowing down. His confidence alone has been enough to win games outright and his timely saves have been inspiring to his fellow teammates. Facing elimination, Halak is 3-0 thus far, stemming from the series against the Capitals. Let’s hope he still has some magic left for tonight to push this series to Game #7.

Tomas Plekanec – Centre
Plekanec has been the most enigmatic player for the Habs thus far in these playoffs. As the leading scorer during the regular season (70 points), Plekanec has looked upon for leadership and offensive support that he has been unable to fulfill at a consistent level. He is the team’s top centreman and utilized on both the power play, penalty kill, and against the top opposing centres. However, with his inconsistency throughout these playoffs, some of the important roles have been delegated to Scott Gomez and Dominic Moore at times. If Plekanec was ever to play an important game in his career, tonight should be that night. I am personally calling him out for his leadership and elite play is one of the remaining pieces the Habs need to tilt this series in their favour. He is long overdue and needs to make it count this evening.

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Tags: Andrei Markov, Bill Guerin, Brian Gionta, Dominic Moore, Evgeni Malkin, Hal Gill, Jaroslav Halak, Jaroslav Spacek, Marc-Andre Fleury, Mike Cammalleri, Scott Gomez, Sergei Gonchar, Sidney Crosby, Tomas Plekanec

Fan Zone – Habs Girls: Catherine

Thank you to the folks at HabsOrDie.com for sharing their beautiful Habs Girls photos for the Fan Zone of OhCanadiens.com.

Featured this month is Catherine.

The Montreal Canadiens are surging through the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs for a chance to win the Cup.  The fan base in Montreal should be proud of how the team is playing and for beautiful fans like these.

Gotta love Habs fans!

You can find the rest of the photos from this shoot from the following link or on HabsOrDie.com. The main site can also be found on the OhCanadiens.com blog roll.

Follow along with us on Twitter at FanballNHL. Follow along with OhCanadiens.com on Twitter at OhCanadiens.

Tags: Catherine, Fan Zone, Habs Girls, HabsorDie.com, OhCanadiens.com