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Habs Prepare for Steep Climb Without Ropes

May 9, 2013, 2:32 PM ET [1641 Comments]
Habs Talk
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It's somewhat unbelievable that the Ottawa Senators drew an opponent in the playoffs that seems to have suffered identical malaise to what they faced all season. They persevered. Can the Canadiens?

The Habs begin their quest to take three straight elimination games from a team that seems destined to beat them. Despite efforts that merited better results, the Habs are in a deep hole and several of their diggers are now lost in the darkness of injury.

Gionta done. Price done. Prust out. White out. Eller out. Pacioretty, Bourque and Ryder are all believed to be playing hurt.

It's been an incredibly difficult series for Raphael Diaz, who came back from a concussion that kept him from the lineup for 25 games this season. It would seem the elevated pace of play has been nearly impossible for him to adjust to.

Josh Gorges has had a rough time next to Diaz, as the pair are a combined -8 through four games.

Andrei Markov, Montreal's powerplay leader has yet to register a point in this series. Max Pacioretty, who led the Habs in scoring, has also gone four games without a point.

Michael Ryder's pretty much in the same boat, even if he scored the insurance marker in game two, he's struggled infinitely to make even the simplest of plays.

David Desharnais played an inspired game four after three flat performances to begin the series.

This isn't intended to be an indictment. Despite all the injuries and the lack of performance for key players on the team, the Canadiens still have a chance to take this series to the limit and potentially even win it.

If things don't change for the struggling players, that reality becomes much more of a fantasy. There's obviously nothing they can do about the walking wounded.

Peter Budaj was sensational this season. I'm not sure I ever expected to classify Budaj as such, but you can't argue with the results and what we saw from him. At 8-1-2, Budaj gave the Canadiens a chance to win every time he played.

All that said, Budaj let in a brutal goal coming cold off the bench in relief of Carey Price, leaving the Canadiens down 3-1 in the series after his overtime gaff.

Budaj's only regulation loss this season; a 5-1 drubbing to the Senators on January 30th.

In five playoff games, Budaj is 0-1, having never started one in his career!

Will Michel Therrien extend Alex Galchenyuk's leash in this one?

It would seem Therrien has no choice but to rely on Galchenyuk more with all the injuries the Canadiens have suffered.

Granted, Galchenyuk plays a different position than Gallagher does, but it has to be hard being stapled to the bench and seeing Gallagher take a regular shift. Both players have been key contributors to the Canadiens success, and Galchenyuk's been one despite far less ice time. At a certain point, the Habs have to trust him as much as they do their young Calder nominee.

Michael Blunden is a serviceable player and should bring some of the energy and grit Ryan White was providing for the Canadiens. There's no replacing Brandon Prust.

Any other lineup adjustments will come as a surprise after tonight's warm-up.


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