Let's take a look at the Montreal Canadiens

by FrankD on Oct 28, 2009 8:00 AM EDT in 2009-10 game previews

Consider this - the Montreal Canadiens have six wins so far this season, making them 6-5 heading into Pittsburgh tonight. Of those six wins, five have come in either overtime or a shootout. Only one, a 5-1 route over the Islanders, resembled anything close to a blowout.

Needless to say, things haven't exactly take off on the right skate for Montreal but they sure are improving quickly. In the first two games of the season, the Habs had to fight extra hard to earn the second point in two consecutive overtime wins over Toronto and Buffalo, respectively. What followed was a five-game losing streak against the likes of Calgary, Vancouver, Edmonton, Colorado and Ottawa. However, the Habs have recently turned it around a bit and will look to win a fifth straight game tonight.

Carey Price was in net for four of those five losses and hasn't started a game since losing 3-1 to Ottawa on October 17. His last win came against the Sabres on October 3.

After the jump we compare Montreal's two goaltenders, look at the big names on the Habs and assess who the Pens will face tonight.

Jaroslav Halak is the likely choice for Montreal, as the backup netminder is 4-1 and a winner in four straight starts. To compare the two:

	GP	MIN	W	L	T	EGA	GA	GAA	SA	SV	SV%	SO
2009 - Carey Price	6	357	2	4			20	3.36	176	156	.886	0

	GP	MIN	W	L	T	EGA	GA	GAA	SA	SV	SV%	SO
2009 - Jaroslav Halak	6	316	4	1			12	2.28	134	122	.910	0

No doubt an exceptional difference. Halak looks like the favorite for tonight.

Other players you want to keep an eye on: Montreal's point leader Mike Cammalleri (5, 7a), Tomas Plekanec (2g, 8a) and of course Scott Gomez (2g, 5a). The Canadiens' first line of Cammalleri, Gomez and Gionta is all about speed and efficient passing. They play to catch guys out of position and then capitalize on the slip up. If Pittsburgh wants to counter this line they'd best be served if they didn't chase. Holding ground against a pass-happy team like the Habs will pay dividends in the end. All you have to do is preach patience and discipline.

Pittsburgh looks to rebound after a loss to the Devils on Saturday while Montreal hopes to extend the win-streak to five. Puck and open thread drop at 7:30.

Tweet Comment 22 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

If the Pens play smart D against their top line and forecheck hard, they should be able to beat the Canadiens. Their D cannot handle a solid forecheck.

by Link_Gaetz on Oct 28, 2009 8:10 AM EDT reply actions

looks like the Habs also clean up their own end more when Halak is in net. (alot less shots) I agree with Link. If the Pens put the puck on net alot, we should handle this team without much problem. They just need to be be very agressive offensively, not that that has been a problem so far this year.

by Ulf Murphy on Oct 28, 2009 9:02 AM EDT reply actions

Time to make Gill look like the pylon all the Pens fans know he can be!

by biggoron on Oct 28, 2009 9:53 AM EDT reply actions

You know it’s funny, I saw his name on the roster and it completely slipped my mind to even mention him. And yet I’ve seen him get burned all over the ice whenever I catch a Montreal game. This should be interesting. If anything he would have a better idea of how to defend Sid and Malkin. Or at least you’d think.

Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com and twitter.

by FrankD on Oct 28, 2009 10:56 AM EDT up reply actions

He has a better idea how to defend them, doesn’t mean he can. ;)

by biggoron on Oct 28, 2009 11:01 AM EDT up reply actions

And btw Frank, thanks for breaking Fleury 4 Vezina out of its slump with that great performance last week in League B. Awesome. lol

by biggoron on Oct 28, 2009 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions

yeah that was a tough week for me. Every morning I try to set my rosters and I think I forgot to do it one day last week. Didn’t matter though. Your team annihilated me.

Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com and twitter.

by FrankD on Oct 28, 2009 11:07 AM EDT up reply actions

Speaking of League B, I’ve got Gonchar on my team, but they haven’t added him to IR all this time, so I can’t pick up a replacement defenseman for him. WHY?!?!

by ipenguin67 on Oct 28, 2009 12:12 PM EDT up reply actions

I have him in my 3 other leagues too… IDK why the Pens haven’t put him on the IR yet. It’s killing my team.

by biggoron on Oct 28, 2009 1:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Agreed. I have Franzen, Savard and Kovi on IR but can’t put Gonch on there.

Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com and twitter.

by FrankD on Oct 28, 2009 2:00 PM EDT up reply actions

yes, Gill’s been bad the first few games… as immobile as they get:)

it just confirms my believe that the Pens used him as well and as much as they could last season… and then let him get overpaid by another team … say Montreal:)

You have to see it for yourself...

by Bla Razor on Oct 28, 2009 2:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Hopefully....

Tonight is the night the Sid gets things rolling again. He has yet to have an even strength assist on a linemate’s goal this year. I’m still perplexed by that statistic. It could be his linemates…but he needs to get it cranked up. I still can’t believe he is 29th in the league in scoring. All of us (including Sid) would rather have the team win than him rack up points, but over the long haul, his offensive point production (as well as Geno’s) is essential for success. I think the Pens have really shown their mettle winning early without their big stars carrying the normal load, but I’m ready for one of the big two to finally put a 3-4 point night together.

by ButchersDog on Oct 28, 2009 11:50 AM EDT reply actions

I was pretty amazed to hear that up until that game against the Panthers he went something like, what, 200 games without a shorty?

Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com and twitter.

by FrankD on Oct 28, 2009 12:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Well given the fact that he probably saw a total of ten minutes shorthanded time in the entire tenure of Mike Therrien, I’m not. Malkin always saw more time so he got more chances. Sid coulda had a shorty a couple games before that Panthers one too, but the breakaway didn’t pan out.

by ipenguin67 on Oct 28, 2009 12:13 PM EDT up reply actions

yeah this is true, but I could’ve sworn Therrien tossed him out there for at least a few PKs in his last season. Either way, I like the look of it.

Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com and twitter.

by FrankD on Oct 28, 2009 1:59 PM EDT up reply actions

I believe it was his first ever and was like his 301st career game. Now in fairness, how often has Sid been on the PK unit? Not much so it’s really not quite so surprising. Certainly picked a good time to get his first I will say that. 2 team points pulled from the fire in that Florida game. Go Pens, throttle the Habs!

by Dutch71 on Oct 28, 2009 12:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Pens have to be a lot smarter with the puck tonight. I’ve see way to many turnover at our blue line and the red line last few games. Granted those teams have been playing the trap. They need to make smart plays coming out of their own end. Its not something they like to do a lot but especially with Gill on the backend tonight I think you’ll see a little more dump and chase. Tonights the night Kunitz breaks through with a big goal…wishful thinking anyway.

by genomachine-O on Oct 28, 2009 12:28 PM EDT reply actions