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Price's Shut Out Of Av's Sets Up Huge Game In Boston |
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The Montreal Canadiens had themselves a game against Colorado! Just a game earlier I found myself hanging my head after a loss to St Louis by a score of 4-1…. The first time in the season I actually felt “Well, they just don’t have the right pieces yet but they should get a good draft pick…”
I started to write a “Season Crossroads” style blog but was so disappointed I couldn’t even finish it, plus Karine had put up 2 blogs in that time so it helped me move on. I thought to myself, if the Canadiens get thumped by the slumping, but stacked, Avalanche then I can accept reality and write a blog that examines who could be dealt and put out a couple early names I like in the 15th overall range.
The game I saw against the Avalanche was one that helped me bottle up the sorrow, for at least one more game anyways.
The Habs put up a great effort against a team with players that can change the game each time they hit the ice. It’s not easy to stifle and contain a team with 2 players averaging about 1.5 points per game in MacKinnon and Rantanen. Side note, Rantanen looks HUGE on the ice doesn’t he? I’ve watched Av’s games quite a bit this year (I own Mack, Rantanen, and Barrie in my keeper league), but I really didn’t appreciate just how large he was until last game. This guy might end up with an Art Ross or two before his best days are behind him.
It’s tough to imagine this team getting any better but with RD Cale Makar (8 G, 16 A, 20 GP, UMass of the NCAA) and Ottawa’s 2019 1st round pick in hand this team is on the cusp of becoming an unstoppable force. Tell me other GM’s in the west wouldn’t love to slap Sens GM Dorion upside the head for allowing the Av’s the chance to add either Jack Hughes or Kappo Kakko to their team? Disgusting. Consider also that Duchene is unlikely to sign with OTT and could rejoin the Avalanche in the offseason! I know that seems unlikely given the history between Duchene and the Av’s but it could happen! Dorion may have ended up making a deal that will end up near the top of “The Worst Trades Of All Time” list.
At a time when I was accepting the possibility that all may be lost the team held on in a tough game. A game where depth D men came up huge along with newest Habs fan base whipping boy J Drouin. When Kulak made the right play and whipping the puck at the goalies feet on the PK in the O Zone and snuck one past Varlamov to put the Habs up I was stunned. When the Habs proceeded to take it to a stunned Av’s for over two minutes led by the skill of Jonathan Drouin and ending in a perfect pass to Kotkaniemi, who then wired a one timer past Varlamov I nearly hit my head on the ceiling.
The Habs were able to make a huge PK kill afterwards before Benn ripped an end to end empty net goal to seal the win. Price, still nursing an injury, held onto his 3rd shut out of the season and the Habs now have won 2 of their last 3 games and looked a hell of a lot better against the Avalanche than they did in their previous 4 games.
Next up is a pair of back to back games against Eastern Rivals, starting tonight against the Boston Bruins (in Boston) and concluding tomorrow at home against the Florida Panthers.
Tonights game against the Bruins is likely the cliche athletes are used to hearing: The biggest game of the season so far. A game against Original 6 rival in the Bruins is always a game worth watching as a Habs fan but this one has playoff slotting implications. Some might say “I think it’s a bit early to say that Smiles?” but I don’t think so. The players know this game is huge for the fanbase and they know it’s a chance to make a statement to a team you’re battling for position with until the end. A big win for MTL would but the Bruins on notice as the Habs would put themselves 1 pt back of them for 3rd in the Atlantic. It would allow the Canadiens dressing room to start aiming higher in the standings instead of worrying about who might be chasing them. The teams the Habs are battling with if they finish outside the Divisional top 3 are the NY Islanders, Buffalo Sabres, and Carolina Hurricanes.
Some may think these teams aren’t that great due to recent seasons but that would just prove you aren’t watching enough hockey. The Islanders have rallied around their new leadership group and have been getting solid goaltending. The Sabres are a team that has fallen from a high perch earlier in the season, but the team has some serious talent in Superstars Eichel and
Ristolainen along with resurgent Jeff Skinner’s scoring at will and newly minted 1st overall pick R Dahlin on defence. These teams are not to be taken lightly.
The Hurricanes may have a more difficult time keeping pace and aren’t a cap limit spending team and this season are roughly $17 million under the upper cap limit. A team that doesn’t spend like the others must have incredible drafting with incredible efforts to make a lot of noise, typically, but the Canes are a team coming through their own rebuild and are moving in the right direction.
The Canes spent big on Defence centering around stud all round defender J Slavin and D Hamilton (and if he does end up being dealt to MTL I would be THRILLED, depending on the cost of course). It’s helped them insulate their difficult goalie situation, but it’s also helped their young group of forwards play better as well. It’s a reason why I wrote that article earlier this season about the Canadiens spending on Doughty, or why I will be banging the drum for the Habs to hand E Karlsson a blank cheque on UFA day. A good D core that can defend and move the puck up is just a good as a elite goaltender for your team. Everyone plays better when mistakes and pressure don’t end up in your net.
The Canes have taken their lumps recently but with the D group they have and the break outs of S Aho, T Teravainen, and a player who’s almost certainly going to break out in A Svechnikov they are definitely heading in the right direction.
Basically, competition for playoffs is fierce this year and the race is likely already on the minds of players and managers alike. It’s why we are seeing more rumors all over the place lately, like how Edmonton is dangling their 1st round pick this year for offensive help. There you have a GM and co that have drafted so poorly, yet have arguably the best player in the league, and has likely been given an ultimatum of “Make the playoffs at any cost or I will have to change the leadership group again”. I don’t think it’s the right strategy for Edmonton, personally, as they have massive depth issues at all positions and their #1 D man (Klefbom) is out with broken hand. But, I just share my opinions and don’t have any say in anyone’s hockey ops so maybe I just don’t get it.
There is a very small number of teams that can consider taking their foot off the gas in anticipation of playoffs so far so I would expect games to get more intense and lazy efforts punished severely on the scoreboard. The NHL ownership groups wanted parity and the fruits of those efforts are on display fully. Teams that are lucky enough to have good health to go with solid efforts are the ones that earn the chance to raise Lord Stanley’s Cup. Nothing is given, you can’t buy success anymore, and winning is only possible with complete efforts.
I hope I can enjoy this race well into this April.
#GoHabsGo
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
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