Here it is; the biggest challenge this team has faced all year. For some reason it seems plausible this time that the Canadiens can take on New Jersey, and come out with their heads held high. The boys are hoping to go on vacation after a victory over a team they’ve lost to 25 of their last 26 games in ‘the Swamp’. Put aside the obvious story line of this game, the Canadiens are coming off a very impressive win, but so is Jersey. The Devils took care of Philadelphia, and have gone 7-3-0 in their last ten. The Flyers were playing some great hockey themselves, going 7-0-2, before Jersey beat up on them with a 7-3 win.
After crushing Boston in an effort that was more impressive than any other the Habs have displayed in a decade, they appear to be primed for this challenge. The only way their going to make it happen, is by setting the pace, and taking it to the Devils for sixty minutes. They have to be the aggressor. They need to get an early lead. They need to forecheck, and provoke their opposition into setting up the best powerplay in hockey.
Let’s face facts. The main reason the Habs have faired so poorly against Jersey has been the play of Martin Brodeur. It’s as if he was born to play the Canadiens. The Habs need to take a page out of Vinny Levavalier’s book in order to beat him. Last year in the playoffs, Vinny scored 4 goals on Brodeur from within a couple feet from the goal line. You have to shoot on him from strange angles, and you have to shoot as much as possible. The Canadiens really need to simplify their game in all three zones.
Saku Koivu’s line wasn’t the main attraction in Tuesday’s massacre. Michael Ryder and Chris Higgins both need to hit the scoresheet, and considering how well they both shoot, they need to pull the trigger as much as possible.
This is a test for the defense as well. New Jersey boasts some steady offense in Parise, Gionta, Elias, Langenbrunner, Zajac, and Zubrus. Komisarek and Markov have to shut down Parise, and Gionta who lead the Devils charge, as the others have to concentrate on transitioning well through the neutral zone.
It’s time to see what this team is made of. This is a battle between two of the best teams in the East. The Habs will do everything possible to not think about the history. All that matters is two points on the line, in the midst of a very tight race at the top of the conference. This promises to be high-octane hockey. For the first time in a very long time, I’m excited to watch a Habs-Devils match-up. The first paragraph of Tsn’s pregame write up is very interesting:
Forty-eight hours after their ninth straight victory over the Boston Bruins, the Montreal Canadiens will become the victims again when they take on the New Jersey Devils on Thursday.
Anyone disagree?
Enjoy the game!
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
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