Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports
The Montreal Canadiens and Pittsburgh Penguins get set to face off in a matchup of 2005 first round picks and Team Canada teammatesSidney CrosbyandCarey Price. The Canadiens have gone 4-3-1 in January and look to rebound off of what could be their three worst games of the season. Losses to the Toronto Maple Leafs and New Jersey Devils and a stolen two points against the Ottawa Senators.
THE VITALS
THE GAME: Montreal Canadiens (27-17-5, 59 points) @ Pittsburgh Penguins (34-13-2, 70 points)
THE TIME: Wednesday, January 22 7:00 p.m.
TV: RDS, TSN, ROOT
LIVE STREAM:NHL Game Center
THINGS TO WATCH
1. LINEUP CHANGES:Louis Leblancreturns to the Canadiens lineup and looks set to take a role on the fourth line withGeorge Parrossitting out.Nathan Beaulieualso looks to stay in the lineup.Raphael Diazis expected to replaceFrancis Bouillonin the lineup.
UPDATE: It turns out that Murray and Bouillon will both be back in the lineup tonight in place of Diaz and Alexei Emelin. I guess Therrien is thinking… I have no clue what the heck he’s thinking.
2. PICK YOUR POISON: It is expected thatTomas Plekanecline will have the honour of going againstSidney Crosbyline with help from the reunitedP.K. SubbanandAndrei Markov. That leaves who, exactly, to go up againstEvgeni Malkinline? Well, it will probably beJosh Gorgesand Beaulieu together which says more of what Therrien thinks aboutAlexei Emelinand Diaz than it does about Gorges and Beaulieu. Of course, Therrien will not have last change, but at least he won’t have to worry aboutDouglas Murray, Bouillon or Parros.
UPDATE: See above. Yikes.
3. IT’S ALL ABOUT THE CHEMISTRY: Talented player picks up somewhat anonymous teammate who rides coattails. Are we talking aboutMax PaciorettyandDavid DesharnaisorChris KunitzandSidney Crosby? Last time out, Montreal held Crosby to a minus-1 in a 3-2 win but almost blew a 3-0 lead (sound familiar?) thanks to two goals fromJames Nealwith two assists from Malkin. It is unlikely Montreal will hold both superstars off the scoresheet, so to win, the Canadiens need to score.
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