Game 35 : Canadiens vs. New York : Dec. 23rd, 2014

http://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/en/preview?id=2014020505



Canadiens look to finish strong before break


By Brian Hunter


CANADIENS (21-11-2) at ISLANDERS (23-10-0)

TV: RDS, SNE, MSG+ 2


Season series: The Montreal Canadiens won two of three from the New York Islanders last season, including a 1-0 overtime win in the most recent game played at Nassau Coliseum, on Dec. 14, 2013. Max Pacioretty scored and Carey Price made 21 saves for the shutout. The Islanders responded with a 2-0 win at Bell Centre on April 10, 2014, led by power-play goals from Ryan Strome and Brock Nelson.

Canadiens team scope: This is the start of a five-game road trip for Montreal, although the Canadiens will have five days off before they play the second game, on Dec. 29 at the Carolina Hurricanes. "It's going to be big for us," forward Brendan Gallagher said of the game Tuesday. "I think right now you kind of think it as one game and then we've got the Christmas break. … When we come back it'll really feel like a road trip. So for us right now our focus is just on what we have to do to go and win one road game against a team that's playing really well right now." Goaltender Dustin Tokarski returned to the Canadiens on Monday after a two-game conditioning stint with the Hamilton Bulldogs of the American Hockey League. The Canadiens rotated forwards on the fourth line at practice, with Michael Bournival and Sven Andrighetto taking turns on the wing beside Manny Malhotra and Dale Weise.

Islanders team scope: Goaltender Jaroslav Halak, who has won four straight and 15 of his past 17, skated prior to New York's practice Monday and was given the rest of the day off for maintenance, coach Jack Capuano said via the Islanders official Twitter account. Forward John Tavares was sporting some stitches after a shot by Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Radko Gudas hit him in the ear Saturday. Tavares had to get stitches on the outside and inside of his ear, according to Newsday, but reported being fine. The Islanders turned a 1-0 deficit late in the third period into a 3-1 win against the Lightning thanks to goals by Tavares and Anders Lee in a span of 12 seconds, plus a Nikolay Kulemin empty-netter. They have won four in a row, their fourth winning streak of at least four games already this season. The Islanders had one four-game winning streak all of last season.

I don't want to be a scrooge, but I don't think they will win this one. But I am willing to be proven wrong.

historically we don't do well on the road Dec 23 but we are only playing Halak so,,,,

Islanders made some nice moves in the offseason. Don't mind their team.

Should be a good game.

Good test for us

The Islanders are 13-3-0 at home, should be a tough one.

Go Habs!

Huge test for the new first line as its their first road game, with the resulting tougher line match-ups.

We also tend to mail in games this time of the year on the road. Let's at least see a good effort tonight.

As an aside, anyone planning on being at the 12/30/14 game in Sunrise?

Krustchev said:

Huge test for the new first line as its their first road game, with the resulting tougher line match-ups.

We also tend to mail in games this time of the year on the road. Let's at least see a good effort tonight.

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This is also a huge test for the Islanders.

Habsy said:

As an aside, anyone planning on being at the 12/30/14 game in Sunrise?

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For your sake I just that the Habs actually plan on "being" at the game, unlike last season when they were a total no-show.

Well, been 30 years of crap hockey, but Brooklyn finally should provide a good challenge.

Chad Johnson is starting for the Isles tonight, not Halak.

Krustchev said:

Chad Johnson is starting for the Isles tonight, not Halak.

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Then we have a chance. :smilewinkgrin:

Habsy said:

As an aside, anyone planning on being at the 12/30/14 game in Sunrise?

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Is that an invite?

Krustchev said:

Chad Johnson is starting for the Isles tonight, not Halak.

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Funny, didnt the Caps decide not to play Halak against the Blues last year...

GEEMAN said:

Good test for us

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only if we lose

Barring Chad coming down with a sudden outbreak of Vezina tonight, the Isles should just mail it in.

This will be Markov's 800th NHL game.