[SBN Habs blog - Habs Eyes on the Prize]
Record: 27-25-6 (6th in the East)
Scorers: Tomas Plekanec (14g, 41a), Scott Gomez (7g, 30a), Marc-Andre Bergeron (10g, 18a)
(Edit: for the Pens, Mark Letestu and Ben Wallace get the call. Thanks Hockey Beard in SLC)
Earlier this week, after the Canadiens discovered they would be without their second-leading scorer Mike Camalleri for six weeks with a knee injury, Scott Gomez remarked in the post-game that it was just "one of those years." Every fan base sees it: injuries pile up (as do losses), the team drops a few spots in the standings and memories of a healthy team seem like a distant memory.
Fact is, even in the face of injuries the Habs are still finding ways to win. Or at the least, slip away with a point. Thursday night in a shootout against the Boston Bruins, Jaroslav Halak stepped up big to secure the 3-2 shootout win. Two nights before that, it was a 3-2 win over Vancouver. Before that, a 3-2 OT loss to Ottawa that came THIS close to snapping the Sens' win streak.
Guess they're enjoying these 3-2 games lately. (By the way, what was the score last time Pittsburgh and Montreal met? 3-2, Pittsburgh.)
Yet despite their success in two straight, the Habs will have to call upon some reserves to step it up today against the Pens. Unless these two teams meet in the playoffs, this will officially be the last regular season match between them. Pittsburgh currently leads 3-0 and will look to sweep the series today.
Whether or not we'll see Halak or Carey Price in net is still up in the air as of right now. I'd suspect Halak will get the start, seeing as how Price is 0-for-2 in starts against the Pens this year and gave up two goals in one period of relief for Halak back on October 28. Not to mention Halak has been in net for the past three and may be the hot glove at the moment.
Also just a reminder, this is an afternoon game, 2:00 to be exact. So come by and join in on the thread.