On Thursday night, the Montreal Canadiens play the hottest team in the national hockey league, the Ottawa Senators. The Sens have been nothing less than spectacular in their first 7 games, capturing 6 victories and amassing 22 goals in the process, exactly double the amount of the Habs in their first 5 games.
With their talent, speed and work ethic, the 2006-07 Stanley Cup Finalists are showing that last season was no fluke by any means. A big reason for their success is the consistent play from their best players. Jason Spezza (0G-11A), Dany Heatley (6G-4A) and Daniel Alfredsson (5G-4A) have a combined total of 30 points so far this season. Although it is early, the 3 latter players are all on pace for at least 100 points a piece on the campaign.
Carey Price is expected to get his second National Hockey League start on Thursday night in Ottawa. The offensive Pittsburgh Penguins in his debut and now the number 1 team in the overall standings, a stimulating way to start his young NHL career. Price is stepping in for Huet, who has been brilliant in his last 2 starts allowing 3 goals on 62 shots resulting in a .953 save percentage. Unfortunately for Huet, the Habs just have trouble putting the cherry on the cake, outplaying the Florida Panthers Tuesday night at the Bell Center without finishing the job.
Following the game versus the Panthers, Alex Kovalev told reporters that head coach Guy Carbonneau should have taken a timeout to rest his players and set up a game plan. Carbo responded by wishing Kovalev kept it in the room and that they were no whistles in the last 2 minutes for him to do so. Is this Déjà vu all over again? Carbo VS Kovy? Let’s move on already.
At practice Wednesday morning, the Habs forward lines were tweaked once again, they are tentatively as follows;
Higgins-Koivu-Ryder
Kostitsyn-Grabovski-Kovalev
Latendresse-Plekanec-Kostopoulos
Bégin/Chipchura-Smolisnski-Dandenault
Guillaume Latendresse and Steve Begin, both healthy scratches against the Panthers, were penciled in at practice meaning they could very well be back in the lineup versus the Senators. No changes on defence.
NOTES:
-The Habs have yet to lose in regulation on the road this season (2-0-1)
-Daniel Alfredsson has 71 points VS Montreal in 57 career games