MONTREAL CANADIENS (2013-14): WEEK 4 RECAP

Edmonton Oilers @ Montreal Canadiens (4-3 Final)

           Coming off a loss to the Predators, the Habs were looking to bounce back with a win over the Oilers.  Plekanec scored late in the second to make it 1-0. Then shortly after that, Gallagher came flying up the left wing and ripped a shot home to make it 2-0. The Habs were off to a great start, but it went downhill in the second. Hemsky and Smid scored the goals for the Oilers in the second to tie the game. 8 minutes into the third, Nugent-Hopkins came in on a 2 on 1 and he played the puck to Petry and he scored to make it 3-2. Jones would score to make it 4-2. Then with 1 second left Gionta scored to make the loss closer at 4-3. In the win, Dubnyk made 27 saves. In the loss, Price made 27 saves.

Anaheim Ducks @ Montreal Canadiens (1-4 Final)

        After losing 2 straight, the Canadiens were looking to start a winning trend as they took on Saku Koivu & the Ducks. 11 minutes in, Beaulieu's shot was tipped in by Bournival to make it 1-0. Shortly after, Bournival fed the puck to Plekanec on the right wing and his one-timer beat Hiller to make it 2-0 after 1. 12 minutes into the second with the Habs on a powerplay, Subbans shot was stopped and Gionta was there to put home the rebound to make it 3-0. Maroon would score a early third period goal for the Ducks, but it wouldn't matter as Bourque would add a late goal as the Habs win 4-1. In the final minute of the game, Saku Koivu was given a standing ovation in what could be his last game at the bell center."It was emotional," said Koivu. "I had the whole building behind me. It was nice. A big thank you for that. I felt great before the game. And obviously at the end, that was amazing."

San Jose Sharks @ Montreal Canadiens (2-0 Final)

        After Montreals win, they had a tougher team to play on October 26th, the San Jose Sharks. There was no score after 1 and the shots were 11-8 Sharks. Then 6 minutes into the second, Marlieu centred the puck to Thorton and he played it to Couture in front and he tipped it past Price to make it 1-0. Tick... Tack... Toe... Goal. Thats the way the goal was for the Sharks as they lead 1-0 after 2. 4 minutes into the third, Marleau's dump in, took a weird hop off the glass and went to Couture who had a empty net and he scored to make it 2-0. That would be the final. In the win, Neimi made 22 saves. In the loss, Price made 35 saves.

MONTREAL CANADIENS (2013-14): Week 3 Recap

Montreal Canadiens @ Winnipeg Jets (3-0 Final)

       October 15th in Winnipeg, it was a big game for Montreal as they were looking to extend their winning streak to 3 games against the Jets. 2 minutes into the first, Prust opened the scoring for Montreal. Then a few minutes later, Subban ripped a shot from the point past Pavelec to make it 2-0. The shots were 10 to 8 Montreal after 1. There was no score in the second and the shots were 13-9 Winnipeg. Briere would score his first goal as a Montreal Canadien on a empty net during a powerplay... His first as a Habs was not top shelf like he imagined, but never the less its still a big moment for Briere. In the win, Price made 36 saves for his first shutout of the year.

Columbus Blue Jackets @ Montreal Canadiens (3-5 Final)

         On October 17th, Montreal returned home to take on the Blue Jackets. Early in the first, the Habs got off to a quick start, generating chance after chance and they were rewarded with a goal on the powerplay by Rene Bourque. Then with 8 minutes to play in the first, Markov played the puck to Bournival on the right wing and he one-timed a shot into the back of the net to make it 2-0. That was Bournivals first NHL goal. 7 minutes into the second, Markov scored a shorthanded goal to make it 3-0. 1 minute later, Jenner scored his first NHL goal to cut the lead to 2. The Jackets would add another goal from Johanson to make it 3-2. 4 minutes into the third, Jenner would tie the game. Late in the third with over a minute to go, Plekanecs weak shot from the point beat Bobrovsky to give Montreal the lead. Plekanec would add another goal on an empty net as Montreal wins their 4th straight, 5-3 is the final. Price made 30 saves in the win.

Nashville Predators @ Montreal Canadiens (2-1 Final)

          12 minutes into the game, the Predators were on a powerplay and Shea Webers point shot went off the skate of Gorges and in to make it 1-0 Nashville. 7 minutes into the second, Eller took the puck to net with one had on the stick and he played it to Bournival who played it to Gallagher and he scored to tie the game. Early in the third, Eller through the puck to the net from a sharp angle and he scored... So he thought. The play was reviewed and was considered inconclusive so the goal was not allowed. Then with 2 minutes to go, Legwand centred the puck to Jones and he scored as the Predators go onto win 2-1."The puck was inside," said Eller about his disallowed goal that costed Montreal the game. "(Rinne) had his glove on it, so technically you couldn't see it was inside. But if it's not outside the line, it's got to be inside. It's logic." The Habs next game is Tuesday against the Oilers.

- Andrew Di Pardo

MONTREAL CANADIENS (2013-14): Week 2 Recap

Montreal Canadiens @ Calgary Flames (2-3 Final)

          On Wednesday October 9th, the Habs started their Western Canadian road trip in Calgary. Monahan and Baertschi scored the goals in the first for Calgary as they took a 2-0 lead. Glencross scored on the powerplay to make it 3-0. But the Habs didn't give up. Subban scored a powerplay with a rocket from the point to cut the lead to two heading into the third. 10 minutes into the third, Galchenyuk's shot went wide and bounced right back in front to Eller and he scored to cut the lead to 1. But thats as close as they would get as Subban took a late penalty which ended Montreal's chances at a comeback. In the win, Mcdonald made 33 saves and was the reason why the Flames won. In the loss, Price made 22 saves.

Montreal Canadiens @ Edmonton Oilers (4-1 Final)


       The next night, the Canadiens traveled to Edmonton to battle the Oilers. Price was given the night off as Budaj got the start. Brandon Gallagher is a Edmonton native and he was playing against the Oilers for the first time in his young career in front of friends and family. He wouldn't disappoint. Early in the second, Ryan Smith opened the scoring for the Oilers on a powerplay. But at the halfway point of the second on a Canadiens powerplay, Galchenyuk played the puck to Gallagher in front of the net and he scored to tie the game.A few minutes later, Prust would give the Habs a lead going into the third. 12 minutes into the third, Gallagher came into the offensive zone on a two on one and he played the puck to Gallchenyuk and he scored to make it 3-1. Pacioretty would add another goal as the Habs win 4-1. In the win, Budaj made 27 saves. In the loss, Dubnyk made 23 saves.


Montreal Canadiens @ Vancouver Canucks (4-1 Final)

         On Saturday October 12th, Montreal visited Vancouver to take on the Canucks. It was Price in net for Montreal and  Luongo in for Vancouver, in a game where two potential Canadian Olympians faced off.  5 minutes in, Pacioretty scored on a one timer in the slot to make it 1-0. That was a powerplay goal. Early in the second Henrick Sedin scored to tie the game. Then disaster strikes. With 5 minutes to play in the second, the Canucks were on a powerplay. Eller cleared the puck in behind the Canucks net, Hamhuis was back to pick it up, he lost control of the puck and it went off the back of Luongos skates and into the net to make it 2-1 Habs. That was the strangest own goal I've ever seen. Eller would get credit for the goal. Plekanec and Gorges would add two more goals for Montreal as they win 4-1.  In the win, Price made 39 saves. In the loss, Luongo made 34 saves.

- Andrew Di Pardo

MONTREAL CANADIENS (2013-14): Week 1 Recap

Toronto Maple Leafs @ Montreal Canadiens (4-3 Final) 

      The first game of the 2013-14 season began last Tuesday for the Montreal Canadiens when they took on arch rival, the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Leafs opened the scoring at the 8 minute mark with a goal by Van Riemsdyk. But with goals from Eller and Gallagher, the Habs took a 2-1 lead into the dressing room.
8 minutes into the second, Phaneuf would tie the game with a wrist shot from the left wing. Late in the second, Bozak had a breakaway shorthanded and he scored to give Toronto the lead. I've noticed over Carey Prices career that he is not that sharp on breakaways, 90% of the time he's deep in his net, which allows the shooter much more time and space to get the shot he wants and it was shown on this play. The score was 3-2 Toronto after 2.

      George Parros is a new Montreal Canadien Free agent signing that was meant to add some toughness and throughout opening night he was defending his team. In a fight with Colton Orr early in the third, Parros lost his balance and hit his face on the ice. He left the game on a structure and will be out for 1 to 2 months with a concussion. After that incident, the Habs lost their energy and found themselves give up another goal to Toronto from Raymond and they trailed 4-2, Eller would score late but it didn't matter as the Habs lose their 7th straight game in Montreal against the Leafs. In the win, Reimer was the first star and he made 35 saves. In the loss, Price made 33 saves. Eller had a goal and 2 assists in the loss and was the second star.

Philadelphia Flyers @ Montreal Canadiens (1-4 Final)  

        On Saturday October 6th, it was a big game for the Habs as they took on the Philadelphia Flyers. Daniel Briere who was bought out by the Flyers in the offseason was facing his former team for the first time. In the offseason, Lecavalier chose to sign with the Flyers instead of the Montreal Canadiens because Philly gave him more money so as you can imagine the fans were booing him all night.8 minutes into the first, Bourque played the puck to Brian Gionta at the side of the net and he had two wackes at the puck before it found its way into the back of the net to make it 1-0 Montreal. That would be the score after 2. 12 seconds into the third, Gallaghers shot went wide and it bounced off the rear end boards right to Eller and he backhanded a shot past Emery to make it 2-0 Montreal.

        Then with the Habs on a 5 on 3 powerplay, Subban played the puck downlow to Galchenyuk and he played it to Gallagher in front and tick, tack, toe we have a goal 3-0. Lecavalier would score at the 10 minute mark to cut the lead to 2. But Bourque would add a late powerplay goal as the Habs win 4-1. In the win, Price made 22 saves. In the loss, Emery made 30 saves. The Habs next game will be Wednesday night in Calgary against the Flames at 8:00pm E.t on TSN & RDS.

Join this blog next Monday for a recap of week 2 of the Habs season.


- Andrew Di Pardo

2013-14 EASTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS PROJECTIONS

Here are my predictions for 2012-2013 Eastern Conference. The * represents the teams I think will make the post season.

Atlantic Division

1. Boston Bruins *
2. Detroit Red Wings *
3. Montreal Canadiens *
4. Ottawa Senators *
5. Toronto Maple Leafs
6. Tampa Bay Lightning
7. Buffalo Sabres
8. Florida Panthers

Metropolitan Divison

1. Pittsburgh Penguins *
2. Washington Capitals *
3. New York Rangers *
4. New Jersey Devils *
5.  Philadelphia Flyers
6.  Carolina Hurricanes
7. Columbus Blue Jackets
8. New York Islanders