Editorial – Playoff Race for 8th

The Habs are in a battle for the eighth playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.  However, as mentioned in various articles over the weekend leading into today, the Habs have played the most games in the NHL and will now have to wait if the other teams below them can make up some ground with games in hand.

With the turmoil and injuries that have plagued this team and many others around the league, it is a good spot to be in for the Habs.  The team has lost Andrei Kostitsyn for 4-6 weeks after undergoing surgery to his knee, an injury that was thought to be have been a day-to-day ailment.  Sergei Kostitsyn is almost back, but the team has lost enforcer Georges Laraque yet again with his nagging back.

Overall, I do not recall if the team has had a full lineup since opening day, and that was only short-lived.  Adversity has followed this club around, both on and off the ice and injuries don’t seem to be a surprise anymore.  The team has had a good opportunity to bring up some youngsters from Hamilton (which is generally a bonus considering training camp is usually the only time to see what they can do), however, there haven’t been many standouts.

The abundance of injuries around the league and to the Habs to key personnel has probably made GM Bob Gainey reluctant to trade any viable assets until closer to the trade deadline in March 2010.  Since the team is on the fringe of being in eighth place or 13th place in the Eastern Conference, only time will allow this decision to become easier.  I’ve discussed before that Gainey will likely not trade Jaroslav Halak or Tomas Plekanec now, as many teams have other options and the timing is not right for that.  The top line is struggling sans Kostitsyn and Halak is still outplaying Carey Price – both in the easier games and some of the challenging ones.

This playoff race for eighth may just come down to the team that can be the most consistent.  As compared to the Western Conference, the team does have teams that will probably not make the playoffs this season.  The Carolina Hurricanes are already labeled for that scenario and some other teams are starting to drop off as well… dare I say, the Toronto Maple Leafs perhaps?

Anyhow, until the team has gotten a stranglehold on a playoff spot or is floundering near the bottom, the team will rely on replacements from the AHL to fill the gaps and support Coach Jacques Martin as he shuffles the lines yet again to find some scoring chemistry.  Maybe another foray for Marc-Andre Bergeron at the forward position perhaps?  Or possibly double-shifting elite players such as Mike Cammalleri or even Scott Gomez – who earns the salary of two players of his Tier II level of achievement.

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Editorial – Cap Analysis

March 3, 2010 is fast approaching and with the distraction of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, the focus on the trade deadline hasn’t been as rampant as in recent years. The Montreal Canadiens are in somewhat of a predicament depending on your perspective.

After 44 games, the Habs currently sit eighth (45 points) in the Eastern Conference, grasping at the last playoff spot. In the Western Conference, 45 points would land the Habs in 11th spot, behind the Dallas Stars. Everyone knows that the Western Conference is stronger than the Eastern Conference, so even that comparison is somewhat unfair, but the Habs are really in a bind by this position.

If things went sour early on caused by the injuries to Andrei Markov and Brian Gionta, combined with the poor goaltending offered by Carey Price and Jaroslav Halak, then decisions at this point of the season would be easier. However, these injuries didn’t hurt the Habs overall and the goaltending has been excellent on the whole thus far. The Habs are still inconsistent in many facets – scoring, defense, and even special teams, but their placement in the standings doesn’t help matters much.

After a disappointing showing in the 2009 playoffs, would a similar result be worth the pursuit? To finish in eighth for the 2010 playoffs would mean playing either New Jersey, Buffalo, or Washington at this point (if the three contenders for the division push for the Conference title), but could that mean another early exit? Just recently, the Habs were playing at a high level with the return of Markov and riding the hot hand of Halak, but that cooled off too – now they are having trouble winning at home.

The reason their position in the standings is an issue is that the team is good enough to make it, but possibly not good enough to make a real run for the Cup. Is the team really only a few pieces away from becoming contenders, or is that really just the media making more out of a lineup that has many holes on paper? Coach Jacques Martin’s defensive schemes have yet to work and the team has an anemic offense. Scott Gomez is playing like a Tier II centre as expected and future free agent Tomas Plekanec may become a trade casualty depending on the Habs position in late February.

This brings me to the analysis itself. The Habs currently have 14 players signed for 2010-11. They have five unrestricted free agents (two forwards and three defensemen), and also have eight players that will become restricted free agents (in which only two are eligible for arbitration).

The question marks remain as to what players will be back next season? GM Bob Gainey already did an overhaul this past off-season making some odd trades (e.g. Gomez) and letting veteran leaders walk (Alexei Kovalev and Saku Koivu). The salary saved on Koivu and Kovalev might not have been spent wisely and the situation is getting murkier now that potential free agents are playing well.

Here are some of the questions that someone needs to answer – won’t be me, but I am hoping Gainey will have an answer. By March 3, 2010, we might know the real answers:

1. Tomas Plekanec – Sign him or let him go? He had a tough 2008-09 campaign, but has rebounded as the true offensive leader on this team. Where would the Habs be if they didn’t sign him for the one-year, $2.75 M that they have him for now. Plekanec could be the elite centre the team has wanted, but the bad taste of the 2008-09 campaign might influence the future. If he stays, he’ll be in the $4 M category – too much?

2. Jaroslav Halak – Trade him or keep him until end of 2010 playoffs? With the goaltending situation becoming more clear for possible trade partners such as the Philadelphia Flyers or even the Edmonton Oilers, Halak’s stock is quite high, but more so as a free agent acquisition (similar to what Craig Anderson did in Colorado). The Habs might be better served to ride both Halak and Price, as Price is the obvious choice for re-signing. Although Price may not be better than Halak, Halak’s request for trade seals the deal of him not being a player on this roster sometime in 2010. May be sooner than later, but I doubt Gainey would let him go now for a 2nd round pick.

3. Marc-Andre Bergeron – Why not? Simple question eh? At $750k, he was a steal and a dark horse necessity with Markov’s freakish injury. However, Bergeron has been rejuvenated in Montreal and being a native of Quebec doesn’t hurt. At 22 points and the versatility to play forward and defense, not to mention serve as a complementary power play partner to Markov that was missing since Mark Streit or Sheldon Souray both left, this is probably the easiest cap decision to make.

4. Carey Price – How much? Not as simple as letting Halak leave or trading Halak, but this one is up for debate. His numbers do not put him in the elite class in the NHL, and apart from his rookie statistics, the jury is still out whether Price can retain the number one job in this hotbed of hockey. Media scrutiny has gotten him rattled at times and he’s had long stretches of bad play or sitting on the bench behind Halak. $3-$4 M might be too much to pay this guy, but the Habs have put all their eggs in the basket hanging precariously on his neck. As a free agent, he could end up being a back-up somewhere else or could feel “relieved” like Guillaume Latendresse after he leaves. However, Gainey’s career is pinned on Price now… so he’s back for good.

5. Buyouts – Are there any salaries worth eating instead of paying? After doing the research, there are many teams that are still paying ludicrous buyouts (e.g. New York Islanders, Toronto Maple Leafs). However, alleviating the presence of “dead wood” type players helps in the long-term. I believe Roman Hamrlik could fit into this definition and possibly even Scott Gomez. Hamrlik hasn’t played poorly, but at $5.5 M per season for 2010-11, that is a lot to pay for a 30 points or less #4 defenseman. Like Price, Gomez is a major transaction linked to Gainey, so Gainey would not dare do anything with Gomez’s salary – or risk admitting he was wrong in acquiring him. Gionta and Gomez was a nice experiment, but it was funny to see Mike Cammalleri gel with Andrei Kostitsyn and Plekanec instead. Gomez isn’t going anywhere, so it will be interesting to see how much he generates for $8 M (currently prorated to 44 games, he has five goals and 22 assists – 27 points = $159k per point).

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Latest News – Gameday Preview vs. Toronto Maple Leafs

Gameday Preview

Toronto Maple Leafs (6-12-7; 5th in Northeast Division) vs. Montreal Canadiens (12-12-2; 4th in Northeast Division)

Entering game #27, the Montreal Canadiens are looking to recover from a tough shootout loss to the Washington Capitals and take advantage of a Maple Leafs team that got shutout by the Buffalo Sabres last night.  Both teams are struggling to close out games and at times, both teams have struggled defensively and with consistent scoring.  Montreal is looking to welcome back some key members from sick bay, with the expected return of Scott Gomez and Matt D’Agostini.  With the growing list of injuries in the Habs’ lineup combined with apparent cap management issues, look for GM Bob Gainey to make a move soon if the team continues to hover around .500 moving forward.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Team Trends:
The Leafs are heavily reliant on one or two players to carry this squad and this was apparent in the 3-0 loss to the Sabres on Monday night.  Despite a solid effort from rookie netminder Jonas Gustavsson, the Leafs couldn’t score.  Team scoring leaders Tomas Kaberle, Niklas Hagman, and Phil Kessel were neutralized, despite generating a number of chances.

Key Match-ups:
The Leafs bring a great deal of sandpaper in the bottom two lines and on defense.  They have a distinct advantage in size and strength versus the Habs, which will attempt to neutralize the team speed the Canadiens possess.  The power play is the only elite portion of the Leafs’ overall game that is a threat night in and night out, so the Habs will need to focus on limiting power play opportunities and scoring chances from this part of the Leafs overall attack.  The Leafs continue to put up a large number of shots, but the goals aren’t coming on a consistent basis.  The Habs are near the bottom in shots against, so this plays into a Leafs advantage.

Key Players:
Mike Komisarek – Defense
Although not much of a scoring factor on the score sheet, Komisarek returns to Montreal in front of the hostile Bell Centre crowd.  Returning from an extended stay on the injured reserve list, Komisarek brings a physical presence along the blueline that the Habs must respect.  This game has more personal worth to Komisarek beyond just the rivalry, so look for him to attempt to become a major physical factor in tonight’s game.

Mikhail Grabovski – Center
The Habs traded Grabovski to the Leafs, citing poor work ethic and an unwillingness to pass the puck.  Grabovski had a strong 2008-09 campaign, but has come out of the gate sluggish in 2009-10 (4g, 12a, 16pts).  He is generating chances for his linemates, however, Coach Ron Wilson would like to see his second line center generate more offense for himself.  A game against the team that cast him off should bode well for his confidence if he comes to play tonight.

Montreal Canadiens

Team Trends:
A number of factors have caused the 2009-10 Habs to be quite streaky.  They have a strong record in overtime and in the shootout, but have also lost a couple of games in late November in the extra frames.  The team has received solid goaltending at times from Carey Price, but the lack of consistent scoring and penalty killing efficiency has really hurt the squad in close games recently.  The team lost a heartbreaker on Saturday night, after allowing the Capitals to tie with 13 seconds left in regulation time.  The Habs eventually lost in the shootout and bring a bitter taste to tonight’s rivalry game.  Tough losses have motivated the Habs in recent weeks, so this should be a fun game tonight.

Key Match-ups:
The Habs have suffered a large number of injuries (which is the growing NHL trend), but the team has battled through adversity to maintain a .500 record thus far.  The top scoring lines have changed somewhat due to injury, however, Tomas Plekanec and Mike Cammalleri have held the fort thus far.  Scott Gomez returns, so the Habs should win more faceoffs tonight than the Leafs.  Special teams might be the big factor tonight as the Habs are near the bottom on both the power play and penalty kill, and will need to ramp that effort up against the Leafs elite power play unit.

Key Players:
Carey Price – Goaltender
Carey Price has had opportunities to win big games in his young career in the NHL and each game against the hated Leafs rivals are considered big games.  Price has played well in recent weeks, even garnering a star of the week honour in November.  However, with the team unable to provide consistent scoring support on a nightly basis, the team has lost games in which Price has been the best player.  Moving forward, Price could be rounding back into form… it might be too early to state this, but he needs confidence to build if he is going to overcome his early career woes.  Look for him to be at the top of his game tonight.

Glen Metropolit – Center
Metropolit is centering the second line at the moment, although he was originally acquired as a defensive forward.  He has shown confidence in the offensive zone at times, warranting more responsibility and ice time in those key situations.  He could be a x-factor in tonight’s game, as the Leafs defensive scheme will focus solely on the likes of Cammalleri, Plekanec, and Gomez.

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Editorial – Newsflash

A couple of days here and there and the Habs are back in the news again.  I apologize to my readers this week as I have been swamped with a proposal for work, however, the Habs have been quite busy – on and off the ice.

Firstly, the Habs have more injuries to report – Scott Gomez has joined the infirmary with an apparent lower body injury.  He joins Andrei Markov, Hal Gill, Brian Gionta, and Matt D’Agostini on the long-term injury list.  The Habs have been hit very hard with this rash of injuries and despite the lack of bodies, the team has survived thus far.

In other news, stemming from a blatant knee-on-knee hit on Detroit Red Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall, the NHL has suspended Habs enforcer Georges Laraque for five games.  What else can go wrong with this team?  In his limited contribution to the 2009-10 campaign, Laraque has definitely been a distraction for this club thus far.

By the way, the Habs have decided to try to make some changes to the lineup, acquiring Benoit Pouliot from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for enigmatic forward Guillaume Latendresse.  Pouliot is definitely not the impact player that the Habs truly need, but maybe a change of scenery will improve the prospects for both of these players.

The Habs really need some strong play from the remaining core players on this squad.  Carey Price is expected to continue to carry the load and maybe GM Bob Gainey can find a home for his strongest trade asset, Jaroslav Halak.  Mike Cammalleri is the lone bright spot this week and his chemistry with new linemates Tomas Plekanec and Andrei Kostitsyn.  Brother Sergei is also returning to fill in the gaps, maybe this time he will realize the positive situation he is in and not complain anymore… doubtful, but you never know.  A few weeks in Hamilton might have done him some good.

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Latest News – Another one bites the dust

With a team riddled with key long-term injuries plaguing the offensive chemistry and effectiveness of the defensive schemes being implemented, the team has lost its most versatile forward and team leader, Brian Gionta.

Reports have stated that Gionta had been fighting the injury since the first week of November and was attempting to play through the pain, however, after weeks of battling this nagging injury, it has been revealed that Gionta has a broken bone in his left foot.

Gionta has been an integral part of the 2009-10 Habs and he has been a consistent player night in and night out.  With eight goals thus far, Gionta is tied with Mike Cammalleri for the team lead.  He is a key member of the top line and his departure from the lineup could impact the effectiveness of the top unit, especially center Scott Gomez – who relies heavily on the gritty play of Gionta to generate chances.

Gionta’s injury adds to the growing list of Canadiens players in sick bay.  Many of them have been affected by long-term injuries and some are not expected to return until 2010.  Although the timeline for Gionta’s injury is not entirely clear at the moment, this injury is expected to keep him out indefinitely, as fractures of this nature take a long time to heal.

Gionta’s injury just might nudge GM Bob Gainey to move forward with a trade, not necessarily to improve the team and enhance playoff aspirations, but just to keep the team competitive.  The Habs have already begun to exhaust resources from the AHL Hamilton Bulldogs and have expanded roles for unlikely top six forwards such as Glen Metropolit or even Max Pacioretty.  Also, expectations are growing for disappointing forwards Guillaume Latendresse and Sergei Kostitsyn with Gionta’s injury.

What will happen now?  Will the Habs make a trade to save their season?  Will Jaroslav Halak be the trade bait required to land a top six forward to stop the bleeding?  These are the questions that will keep Gainey busy in the coming weeks.

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Editorial – Power Outtage

My apologies to my readers… there has been a slight glitch on the Fanball Sports Network recently and I only regained access to the blog site over the weekend.  Unfortunately, with work and personal events in my life, I was tied up with other things.  However, I didn’t forget to keep a watchful eye on the Habs this week.

Looks like the Habs are starting to get solid goaltending again… this time it’s from the tandem of Carey Price and Jaroslav Halak.  Both netminders are pushing each other in practice and this enhanced level of competition has built up the recent confidence of both Price and Halak.  Despite the strong push from the goaltenders, the team as a whole is still playing up to potential.

Every week there seems to be a new wave of adversity the team has to address.  In October, it was key injuries and sub-standard goaltending, first week of November saw poor defensive play and special teams… halfway through November, we have a lack of scoring.  The Habs sit 22nd overall in the NHL in team scoring with 46 goals for = average of 2.3 goals per game in 20 contests thus far.  The team has only improved on the offensive side of things, for example, they are now ranked 23rd overall on the power play, with a 16.7% success rating.

A positive sign that things may start improving is the penalty kill.  The Habs were near the bottom at the start of November, but have now climbed to 17th overall, with a 79.5% success rating.  This may also be related to the fact that they’ve played some lack-luster power play units recently combined with the tandem of goaltenders limiting goals scored on special teams.

A concern at this point is the lack of scoring on all levels.  The power play and top two scoring units have hit a collective slump and the defensive schemes have not worked, as the team is still giving up a ton of shots on goal and quality scoring chances.  Montreal has given up 613 shots on goal thus far, which equates to an average just under 31 shots on goal per game.  Thankfully, Price and Halak seem to be working out the kinks between them and their responsibilities between the pipes – let’s hope the team wakes up from this funk because I’d hate to see another 50+ save performance from any goaltender go to waste.  Halak was pretty good this week too… it’s just too bad that no one else but the two goaltenders competed at the expected level of play this past week.

The Habs have been abysmal in terms of generating quality scoring chances and despite Coach Jacques Martin’s surprise practice on Sunday, it doesn’t look as if this might wake up his team.  From what I read about the results from practice, it looks like the entire team was in a bad mood and they took it out on Price and Halak – who both got shelled in practice.  I think Martin’s efforts might’ve just backfired, angering both netminders in the process.

This brings me back to my online debate – Is it time to break up the top line and spread the scoring around?  Or is it too early to make wholesale changes to the top unit?

I’ve been asking this question for two months now and many of you believe that you know the answer.  Although the top trio of Mike Cammalleri, Scott Gomez, and Brian Gionta have generally been the best forwards in Montreal, the team does not have much beyond that in terms of scoring potential.  When lines like these get cold, the team hurts in the scoring department even more… which brings me back to my question – should they be playing together?

Yes and No.  Yes for the power play as the trio has developed a strong chemistry.  Yes when they need a spark after a lack-luster effort after two periods of scoreless hockey.  No if the team wants to develop a solid group of six scoring forwards instead of three.  The team needs to balance this lineup, the short-term growing pains might be difficult to watch, but the long-term benefits should be warranted.  Mike Cammalleri is a natural center and Gionta and Gomez are missing a speedy winger.  The trio are great together, but the team could be better if kept apart.  I don’t want to speak for Martin or GM Bob Gainey, but please find someone to play with Gomez and Gionta… Cammalleri will be great on any line.

As for options – don’t know.  I cannot really predict who works well with these guys.  There are some disappointing players on the team right now and there are some guys battling some nagging injuries.  Cammalleri could get double shifted, which would be a stop-gap solution for the short-term, but in the long-term, the team still needs an elite forward to join this group or short scoring droughts will continue to plague this team.

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Editorial – Curse of the Injury Bug

After a loss to the Atlanta Thrashers, the Habs are starting to realize that they cannot continue to plug away at the schedule, hoping to get wins by playing weaker teams.  With the injuries continuing to mount in Montreal, the team has to make some stronger decisions.

Here are some questions that I have been pondering since last night’s loss:

What happened to Jacques Martin’s “win and you’re in” strategy?

Guess this concept wasn’t going over very well amongst Habs fans and upper management, as Carey Price was handed over the reigns in last night’s loss, despite Jaroslav Halak winning  a squeaker against the Maple Leafs on Saturday night.  Price looked okay in the first period, letting in an unlucky bounce goal, however, as the game progressed, Price looked lost and out of place at times, allowing five goals on 30 shots.  Some of the goals were not his fault, but some of them were of the weak variety.

He’s had a tendency to guess at shooters preferences as opposed to playing the right angles and challenging them.  I don’t know if this can be attributed to poor goaltending or bad coaching – or maybe a little from column A and B.  However, Price is not really feeling it right now and his body language on the ice and in pre-game and post-game interviews is really telling.  He claims he is not having fun out there, a bad sign for a goaltender who couldn’t do anything wrong in his rookie campaign.  If Martin has some fortitude to stand up to upper management, he should reinstate this strategy until Price earns his starting job back.

How many more defensemen will the Habs lose this season?  Over/Under 2.0

If I were a betting man, I would go with the over.  The Habs have already lost Andrei Markov and Ryan O’Byrne for extended periods of time, and now have to adjust to dealing with the loss of Hal Gill.  Although Gill doesn’t provide much offense, he is an important cog on the defensive side of the puck.  With the team near the bottom in many defensive categories, this will not improve with Gill’s nagging leg injury.

The Habs are going to continue with stop-gap solutions from the AHL farm system, however, the likes of Mathieu Carle doesn’t bode confidence for improvement on the defense.  Martin’s defensive schemes better kick in soon, or look for the Habs to rely heavily on out-scoring opponents night in and night out.

Is it time for a trade?

A few weeks ago, I was going to say no.  They picked up Marc-Andre Bergeron, and although he is not a replacement for Markov, he is a strong addition to the power-play.  Once that was taken care of, it was only a matter of time until more injuries plagued this 2009-10 squad.  Matt D’Agostini is down with a head injury and players like Glen Metropolit have already missed some time.  Enforcer and energy drink extraordinaire Georges Laraque is missing some time with a back injury and this makes the forward ranks open for more aggressive units.

A minor trade could seal some holes in the line-up, but not if it comes at a hefty price.  The strong trade bait the team has going right now is Jaroslav Halak as GM Bob Gainey already traded some key prospect assets in acquiring Scott Gomez in the off-season.  Halak is a strong asset both in the short-term and long-term and until Price can regain form, Halak is staying.  The team needs help on defense, but could use help in getting secondary scoring – at least to alleviate some focus on the top line.  An influx of talent from the AHL is not out of the question, especially with the likes of Max Pacioretty, Guillaume Latendresse, and Andrei Kostitsyn struggling.  Maybe it’s time to see what some of the other youngsters can do – maybe one or two of them will stick with the big club on an interim basis.  Whatever happens, a trade could shake-up this team in both positive and negative ways, so GM Bob Gainey should tread lightly for the moment.

Can the Habs add from the Tier II and Tier III piles available?

With the team already approximately $1.1 million over the cap at the moment, the team would have to unload some salary via trade or waive and / or demote some key assets to free up some space.  With the players remaining, there aren’t a lot of viable options anymore.  With the KHL competing to sign veteran free agents, the usual base of players looking for work has gotten smaller.  However, here are some names to bounce around:  Miroslav Satan, Greg De Vries, Philippe Boucher (coax out of retirement), Patrice Brisebois (coax out of retirement), Kyle McLaren, and of course, Brendan Shanahan.

None of these options are going to fix all of the problems, but similar to Bergeron, they represent scraping the bottom of the barrel to hopefully find something that works.  At the very least, none of these choices would impact the team’s cap issues, as long as money can be freed up somehow.  Just something to consider moving forward as some would look good playing for the red, white, and bleu.

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Latest News – Weekend Update

The Habs have shown that there are still some pressing issues after losing a close game to the Blackhawks on Friday night, while winning a nail-biter against the Leafs on Saturday night.

The Habs should have not been in the game against the Blackhawks, if not for a solid 33 save performance by goaltender Carey Price. Price kept his team in the game, despite falling behind 2-0. The Habs were outshot and outchanced in every period on Friday night (36-22 total) and were shutdown with the man advantage, going 0-4.  In fact, Price’s stellar play should have warranted the start against the Leafs, however, the carousel continues in Montreal.

Saturday night’s affair was quite different, as the Habs were dominant throughout the game, suffering only mental lapses and unlucky bounces leading the Leafs hanging around to steal a single point at the Bell Centre. The Habs received some secondary scoring from some unlikely sources such as Glen Metropolit and Hal Gill, while enigmatic forward Guillaume Latendresse scored only his second goal of the season, while defenseman Roman Hamrlik rounded out the scoring.

Jaroslav Halak has found his winning stride once again and this goaltender “win and you’re in” strategy may continue as the Habs have flip-flopped back and forth after each loss incurred by both netminders. Although he looked shaky on a couple of the early Leafs’ goals, the last two goals were not necessarily his fault. The third goal was caused by poor defensive positioning, while the game-tying goal was a one-in-a-million pinball type goal by Tomas Kaberle. Halak showed his mettle in the shootout, stopping both shots, while his counterpart, Vesa Toskala, was unable to stop any of the shots from both Scott Gomez and Mike Cammalleri.

The Habs enter November with a couple of days off and now prepare to host the Thrashers on Tuesday. The last time they played, Halak was between the pipes and could face them again as he won this time around. I believe this may be what the Habs need to do right now as both goaltenders seem to be pushing each other through this internal competition – maybe this will finally improve the confidence level of Price, as Halak has continued to be unaffected by this goaltending controversy. As long as Coach Jacques Martin makes his criteria selection clear, both will strive to be better.

However, as shown by the win against the Leafs, there are still more issues to be addressed. The Leafs are a poor team right now (1-7-4) and they are struggling at many positions at the moment. This game should have been an easy two points, but instead, the Leafs gave the Habs a scare. Much more of a scare than those vintage 1912-13 jerseys.

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Latest News – Gameday Preview vs. New York Rangers

Gameday Preview

New York Rangers (7-3-0; 2nd in Atlantic Division) vs. Montreal Canadiens (4-5-0; 4th in Northeast Division)

Entering game #10, the Montreal Canadiens are hosting the New York Rangers at probably the best time.  They are facing a Rangers team that has lost a couple of games in a row and have cooled off after a blazing hot start.  In the meantime, the Habs have won two straight games and are building confidence.  This game should be a telling sign as to which team’s current streaks are for real – are the Rangers overrated or do the Habs still have many kinks to work out?

New York Rangers

Team Trends:
A team structured with some key veterans and a growing roster of elite prospects, the Rangers are a team that could be the surprise of the Eastern Conference.  With a hot start to open the season, the Rangers have relied heavily on their top line, elite goaltending, and young defense corps to win games.  However, things are starting to fizzle out as expected and the Rangers are trying to break out of their current funk.

Key Match-ups:
The Rangers have a solid top line and some young, inexperienced defensemen playing a large amount of minutes.  Similar to the Habs, the Rangers are built around a core group of forwards and have not received much secondary scoring beyond the top lines.  The defense is the biggest x-factor as many of them are gifted offensively and they will provide the added scoring that is needed.

Key Players:
Marian Gaborik – Right Wing
The oft-injured winger has opened the season with 13 points (7g, 6a) and he has shown a great deal of chemistry with his linemates and on the power-play.  Many fantasy owners are fearful that it is only a matter of time until the wheels fall off for Gaborik, who has missed a number of man games due to injury over the last four seasons.  Gaborik is offensive cog behind the Rangers early success and he will be a major factor moving forward if he remains healthy.  The Habs need to limit his chances similar to what was accomplished vs. the Thrashers with Ilya Kovalchuk.

Henrik Lundqvist – Goaltender
Lundqvist is the best player on the Rangers.  He is expected to continue to carry the team on his back through both winning streaks and losing streaks and he will be looked upon to be a stabilizing force for a team that has challenges in finding balanced scoring and with a young defensive corps.  Lundqvist has struggled in his previous starts against the Habs in Montreal (2-1-1 record, 4.51 GAA) and will look to improve on that record tonight.  If he struggles, the team will buckle behind him, so look for the Rangers to limit scoring chances, odd-man rushes, and power-play opportunities.

Montreal Canadiens

Team Trends:
Confidence is starting to build in Montreal.  With the recent wins against the Thrashers and Islanders this week, the Habs are looking to survive a bigger test against a better opponent.  The team will need to continue to improve the scoring at even strength and on the power-play and limit the chances generated by the top lines of the Rangers.  With the team experiencing a positive goaltender controversy with Jaroslav Halak outplaying Carey Price at the moment, let’s see if the team rides the hot hand during this modest winning streak.

Key Match-ups:
Defensively, the Habs are bigger, but much slower.  This continues to be an issue on their overall game, both on the penalty kill, offensive break-outs out of the zone, and at even strength limiting long passes.  During their five game losing streak, the defensive gaffs were abundant, however, in the last two games, the defense has been good.  The team is receiving offense from their new acquisition Marc-Andre Bergeron, who is viewed solely as a power-play specialist, and the team needs to utilize a full team defensive scheme to reduce shots on goals and quality chances.  Montreal’s defense vs. New York’s top line should be the main match-up to watch.

Key Players:
Scott Gomez – Center
Scott Gomez should have added incentive to play against his former club this evening.  The Rangers utilized Gomez as their focal point of the offense for two seasons, but he never amassed more than 70 points or 16 goals during that span.  He has been an offensive enigma after signing his lucrative contract and he may continue this trend in Montreal.  He has all of the skills to be an elite center in the NHL, however, Gomez has not found his touch since leaving New Jersey in 2006-07.  Reuniting with Brian Gionta has helped, but it will take a full season to assess his true value in the current campaign.

Jaroslav Halak or Carey Price – Goaltender
Coach Jacques Martin has been non-committal about who he will start tonight, claiming that he will use a good night’s sleep to make a strong, gut selection.  He is confident in both of his goaltenders, which worries me as many are blinded by the struggles of Price’s overall play.  Price is saying the right things right now, but he’s been a risky play overall due to a lack of confidence and inconsistencies.  Halak has shown and proven thus far that he deserves a chance at the number one position and the team will not let that happen as long as the structure of the franchise is built upon Price as the foundation.  Halak could get the third start in a row, but until he falters, doubt around Price will remain.  The only way Halak can take over right now is if he wins every start.  Difficult to do, but if he continues to win, it will be difficult to put Price back in there.  This situation could escalate as fans and media will continue to pick sides.  Readers know where I stand.

*Note:  Just got an update on Twitter, looks like Halak is going to start tonight.  Coach Martin has been quoted to state that he doesn’t want to mess with his winning lineup at the moment – which translates to similar lines to the last two games along with Halak between the pipes.

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Latest News – Gameday Preview vs. New York Islanders

Gameday Preview

New York Islanders (1-3-3; 5th in Atlantic Division) vs. Montreal Canadiens (3-5-0; 4th in Northeast Division)

Entering game #9, the Montreal Canadiens are embarking on three straight games against the teams from New York.  They play two home games against the Islanders and one home game against the Rangers.  The Habs are coming off a shootout victory over the Atlanta Thrashers, a game in which the team continued to display offensive futility.  Moving forward, the team needs to be more consistent in even strength and power-play opportunities if they are going to compete in the Northeast Division, let alone the Eastern Conference.

New York Islanders

Team Trends:
Filled with a budding young roster, the Islanders have many holes in a number of key positions.  Not unlike the current Habs squad, the team has relied heavily on one scoring line and has received limited balanced scoring from other individuals.  The team is still addressing the goaltender situation with two veterans fighting for the number one job until injured incumbent Rick DiPietro is ready to return from his long-term injury.  The Islanders are coming off their first win and are looking to snowball this into more tonight.

Key Match-ups:
The Islanders were a tough opponent for the Habs last season, despite being a sub .500 squad.  The youth, speed, and exuberance of the Isles will be the biggest asset going for them against a Habs team still trying to find an identity with many aspects of their overall game.  The veterans on defense and between the pipes should make this game closer than it should be with all of the youth up front, but the Habs have had trouble scoring thus far in 2009-10, which should be something the Islanders can take advantage of if out to an early lead.

Key Players:
Mark Streit – Defense
After a stellar offensive season in New York in 2008-09, Streit returns as the team’s stud defenseman.  With the loss of Andrei Markov to a long-term injury, the Habs will be facing their former power-play quarterback tonight.  Streit brings a number of positives to the table, with a booming shot, tremendous vision in the offensive zone, combined with experience and composure on the power-play.  Off to somewhat of a slow start in 2009-10, Streit should have added incentive to hurt his former team this evening.

Martin Biron – Goaltender
Slated as the starting goaltender for this evening, I lobbied for the Habs to sign a veteran goaltender such as Biron to solidify the challenges that goaltender Carey Price is having this evening.  A French-Canadian goaltender could have been the solution in Montreal and may still be one for the long-term.  A native of St. Charles, Quebec, this game is somewhat of a homecoming for Biron.  Fighting for a prominent role in New York, Biron could become trade bait once DiPietro returns to 100%.  Right now, Biron is viewed as a 1A goaltender alongside fellow veteran Dwayne Roloson.  A strong performance tonight could bode well for Biron’s stock overall.

Montreal Canadiens

Team Trends:
Having broken their five game losing streak, more issues have surfaced over the last few days.  The Habs seem to be in the news quite a bit recently, which has proven to be a distraction.  With the issues related to Sergei Kostitsyn’s AHL demotion, to the concussion challenges with Marc-Andre Bergeron in the Thrashers game, combined with drama from Georges Laraque’s commercial… what else is going to happen?  Oh yeah, tack on a goaltender controversy between Jaroslav Halak and Carey Price.  Is this starting to take shape now that Halak will be starting two games in a row?  Only time will tell what other drama ensues.

Key Match-ups:
The Habs were successful the other night in limiting their shots on goal allowed, however, they didn’t cash in on many strong scoring chances.  This lack of scoring from the team overall could be signs of a chronic problem and GM Bob Gainey knows he must do something.  Some pundits may say that a shake-up in personnel may be too early, others believe that this lack of scoring punch was one of the main challenges not addressed back in the off-season.  The top line of Scott Gomez, Mike Cammalleri, and Brian Gionta have provided speed and offensive output, but are starting to become the focal point of opposing team’s game plans.  If something isn’t done soon to strengthen the secondary scoring or increase output from the power-play, expect more challenges to come to fruition.

Key Players:
Marc-Andre Bergeron – Defense
All eyes were on Bergeron the other night after he debuted for the Habs.  More eyes were on Bergeron the day after, as Bergeron was in the center of a controversy related to concussions and the team’s practices to mitigate head injuries.  Despite all of these issues, Bergeron is now the key focal point on the blue line – both on the defensive side of the puck and to help strengthen the fledgling power-play unit.  Bergeron should provide some structure to a unit that has looked lost since losing Markov, so hopefully, the offense can be derived from his presence on the back-end.

Jaroslav Halak – Goaltender
As I predicted at the start of this season, Jaroslav Halak will eventually be the starting goaltender in Montreal.  Despite what pundits may continue to say, Halak has quietly made a cult following for himself in Montreal amongst fans and media.  Best way to do that is win or give your team a chance to compete every night.  Carey Price has faltered out of the gate in 2009-10 and in comparison to 2008-09, he may not have the full season to recover.  GM Bob Gainey is already on the hot seat and the best Price could do is help alleviate some of that pressure with elite play.  Instead, he’s lost his last four starts along with a 4.18 GAA.  This poor play has opened the door for Halak to continue to make a long-term case for himself as the number one netminder in Montreal.  Strong starts against teams like the Thrashers and the Isles will allow Halak more opportunities against better teams.  Let’s watch this to see how it progresses.

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