Game Thread: Habs Start 4 Game Homestead Against The Panthers

[Habs n Jays Fan]

Florida Panthers(17-19-7) at Montreal Canadiens(21-21-3)

All Time Series: 26-26-6-2 159 GF 159 GA

Vitals:

Montreal: 113 GF(T-21st), 122 GA(T-18th), 9-10-2 Home, 25.0% PP(1st), 83.9% PK(T-9th), Habs are 10-6-1 against Florida since the Lock-Out

Florida: 120 GF(T-10th), 133 GA(24th), 10-11-2 Road, 17.3% PP (19th), 79.0% PK(24th), Panthers have lost 5 of their last 7 games

Previous Meetings:
Dec. 31st- @ Fla- 5-4 W

Probable Goalies:

Jaroslav Halak: 11-6-0, 2.64 GAA, .922 SV%, 1 SHO
Career vs Fla: 3 GP, 3-0-0, 3.25 GAA, .907 SV%

Tomas Vokoun: 12-13-7, 2.69 GAA, .922 SV%, 3 SHO
Career vs Mtl: 13 GP, 3-5-1-2, 2,85 GAA, .909 SV%

Players To Watch:

Montreal- Jaroslav Spacek
Season- 43 GP, 3 G, 9 A, 12 Pts, +5, 38 PIM
vs Fla- 14 GP, 1 G, 6 A, 7 Pts, +3, 10 PIM
Streak- 1 goal and 2 assists over his last 19 games

Florida- Stephen Weiss
Season- 43 GP, 18 G, 20 A, 38 Pts, -3, 12 PIM
vs Mtl- 21 GP, 6 G, 8 A, 14 Pts, -5, 10 PIM
Streak- 14 goals and 17 assists over his last 27 games

Pre-Game Reports:

Montreal:
Andrei Kostitsyn(knee)- Not Expected To Play
Sergei Kostitsyn(ankle)- Not Expected To Play
Ryan O'Byrne(personal)- Out...He's back home in BC dealing with family issues

Florida:
David Booth(concussion)- Out
Kendal McArdle(shoulder/arm)- Out
Dmitry Kulikov(knee)- Out

[HabsFan87]

I wonder whats up with O'byrne, I hope its nothing serious. He has been such a surpise this season, finally using that big body of his. Can't wait for him to return. Also who would have thought Andrei Kostitsyn going down would affect our offence so much? I'm still waiting for D'Agostini and Pacioretty to do something for once on a CONSISTENT basis. Pacioretty is highly over-rated by our scouts is all I can say, he's been a dud so far. They groomed him to be the trigger for Gomez and Gionta and he's done diddly squat. Pacioretty should be traded.

[Habs n Jays Fan]

Pacioretty should never have been in the NHL this early(I think someone listened to Pierre McGuire when he said Pacioretty was NHL ready last year). He was so under-developed last year coming out of University. He wasn't overly impressive in the AHL either and they're doing the exact same thing they did with Latendresse. They should just send him down to Hamilton, have him play consistent minutes on the Top line with Desharnais and Trotter and develop properly. Plus, sending him down would really help his defensive game with Guy Boucher running things. He's only 21 and I think it's still way to early to just give up on him. He just needs confidence and development time, both of which can be achieved down in Hamilton.

[McMikel]

As we look at Price/Halak, remember a similar controversy with Volkoun...

D'Agostini and BGL are the first two off the cliff, follow closely by the Brothers, then will talk about Patch. O'Byrne has family issues in BC.

[Habs n Jays Fan]

Why is D'Agostini playing on the top line? Have I missed him scoring a bunch of goals lately?

[McMikel]

This may be D'Agostini's last chance. And so far, he is blowing it. He had Cams wide open and could not pull the puck from under himself. Send him off to join Chips and bring back Koivu...

[Habs n Jays Fan]

Pouliot is doing much better then I anticipated and I really like it. Seems that trade is really working out for both parties.

[Habs n Jays Fan]

Good game. Defence was very good, kept the shots to the outside and limited the scoring chances. D'Agostini picked up his play in the 3rd but still should not be on the Top Line and probably is on his way out sooner or later. Lapierre played his best game in a long while, which is great and hopefully he keeps it up. The only problem I had in this game was Halak constantly looking behind himself. He had a good game but he needs to know where the puck is at all times.

[McMikel]

^^^ Again, you stole my thunder. This time about Lapierre. He should have been the first star (for the Halak fans, he only had four tough saves). D'Agostini played himself off the 1st line before the game was over. His days are numbered. If Pouliot keeps this up, it looks like he'll be everything Lats could have been.

Bottom line: HUGE win, TWO huge points...

Saturday, lets stop this awe crap with their goalie and let the ex-Devils light him up. Carey tosses a shutout, eh?

[Habs n Jays Fan]

Any shot Brodeur takes an off day? A guy can hope right?

[McMikel]

Our guys are very effectent with goals:SOG. He needs to be on his "A" game when we kick his a...