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Edit: Lernout called up, Sabres defeat Habs 2-1 & CHL prospect update |
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EDIT:
Brett Lernout has been recalled by the Montreal Canadiens:
Without an official update on the status of Alexei Emelin, it appears as though there is at least a strong possibility that he will not be able to play on Friday night against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Lernout is a big, physical defenseman which is likely why he was recalled over someone like Zach Redmond who has more NHL experience. Lernout was drafted in the third round of the 2014 NHL Draft and has 3 goals and 13 assists this season with the St. John's Ice Caps.
Back to last night:
In a game that had no meaning or relevance on Wednesday night, the Buffalo Sabres defeated the Montreal Canadiens 2-1 at the KeyBank Center. There was nothing on the line for the Canadiens as they had already clinched first place in the Atlantic division and know that their first round opponent will be the New York Rangers. For the Sabres they were simply trying to swallow their pride and put on a decent performance in front of their fans to reward them for sticking by in what was yet another disappointing season.
The last few remaining NHL games can be trying for players who have little motivation. The teams that are already eliminated can’t get to the finish line quick enough. The teams that have nothing left to gain in the playoff race have to straddle that fine line of competing and staying sharp but not trying so hard as to risk injury.
As per usual, Price was excellent against the Sabres. Had he not stoned the Sabres on multiple odd man rushes the score would have been far uglier. Some have suggested that Carey Price should not play another game until the playoffs start. That opinion is especially understandable when an opponent such as the Sabres continually crashed his crease and engaged in contact. However, they cannot hide him for the remaining of the season. He needs to play in order to stay sharp. Practice is not the same as an actual game, it is simply not a suitable replacement. Now if Price had some minor injury and needed to rest that is something else altogether.
Since the Canadiens cannot bubble wrap Price, they do need to do a better job of protecting him. The team was already without Shea Weber and Jordie Benn against the Sabres. Brandon Davidson and Nikita Nesterov are not exactly known for their physical play. Due to their injuries the Canadiens were unable to dress their more robust defensemen. They should have dressed a physical fourth line, capable of stepping up and taking care of business. A line of Dwight King, Torrey Mitchell and Brian Flynn does not exactly say ‘Stay away from Price or else’. While head coach Claude Julien might have had good intentions to to allow chemistry to continue to form between his top nine, would it really have been so bad to rest Plekanec and have Mitchell play in his place for one game? That would have allowed at least one of Mike McCarron, Andreas Martinsen or Steve Ott to play, especially if he was still intent on getting Brian Flynn in for his first game since March 7th.
Alexei Emelin did leave the game early with a lower body injury and did not return to the game in the third period. However, no further details were revealed. It is entirely possible that Emelin was held out as a precautionary measure. However, if he is unable to go in time for the playoffs, that would certainly put a dent into Julien’s plans. When Emelin is at his best he is a key contributor on the back end, physical and eating pucks with blocked shots. Brandon Davidson has shown some potential since being acquired by the Canadiens but he is not a replacement for Emelin’s style of play which is geared towards the grind of the playoffs. For better or worse the Canadiens are better off with Emelin in the lineup, unless he is back to playing like he did against the Calgary Flames and Chicago Blackhawks earlier in March…
For those wondering about bringing in blue chip prospect Mikhail Sergachev now that his Windsor Spitfires were eliminated in the first round of the OHL playoffs by the London Knights and fellow Canadiens prospect Victor Mete, the Spitfires have an automatic entry to the Memorial Cup as Windsor is the host city this year. Thus, Sergachev and Habs forward prospect Jeremiah Addison are unavailable as they will (eventually) be gaining a tremendous experience competing for the Memorial Cup in late May.
Mete and the London Knights will now face the Erie Otters in the second round. Mete continued his strong regular season play by contributing a goal and three assists in seven games, including the primary assist on the series clinching goal. A late invite to Team Canada’s December World Junior camp, Mete is now well on the radar of Hockey Canada and is expected to this year earn an invite to the Summer camp.
Canadiens 2015 first round draft pick Noah Juulsen is advancing to the second round of the WHL playoffs as his Everett Silvertips defeated the Victoria Royal in six games. The Silvertips clinched the series in what became the longest game in the WHL and CHL’s history as the game winning goal was scored at 11:36 of the fifth overtime period. Juulsen scored his lone goal of the series earlier in that game. Juulsen will now face the Seattle Thunderbirds in the second round.
Fellow 2015 draft pick (sixth round) Simon Bourque will also advance to the second of the playoffs as his Saint John Sea Dogs swept his former team, the Rimouski Oceanic in the first round of the QMJHL playoffs. Bourque hammered the final nail in the coffin as he scored the series clinching goal in game four, recording a total of one goal and three assists in four games. The Sea Dogs next face the Val-D’Or Foreurs in round two.
2016 third round draft pick Will Bitten saw his season end in dramatic fashion as his Hamilton Bulldogs lost to the Kingston Frontenacs in overtime of game seven. Bitten scored three goals in the series, all of which were on the powerplay and one was a game winning goal. It has been a roller coaster of a season for Bitten who started the year refusing to report to the Flint Firebirds before eventually getting traded to Hamilton. This off season Bitten is hoping to have displayed enough to earn an invite to Hockey Canada’s Summer development camp.
Often forgotten prospect Matt Bradley, the Canadiens fifth round draft pick in 2015 will also advance to the second round of the WHL playoffs with the Medicine Hat Tigers. He picked up a goal and an assist in four games as the Tigers swept the Brandon Wheat Kings. The Tigers will next face the Lethbridge Hurricanes in round two.
Finally, 2016 sixth round draft pick Michael Pezzetta saw his season come to an end when he decided to make this cross check at the end of game five:
Pezzetta was having a strong playoffs for his Sudbury Wolves with two goals in five games but was suspended for two games due to his inexplicable actions. He was already suspended twice this past season for dangerous hits to the head. The Wolves promptly lost game six and were eliminated from the playoffs. Pezzetta is described as a heart and soul type of player but surely the Canadiens could have perhaps taken a chance on a more offensive player in the sixth round as their bottom is crowded enough, both in the NHL and AHL…
Finally, standout goaltender Michael McNiven who was signed as a free agent in 2015 had an excellent first round for the Owen Sound Attack as he led them to a first round victory in five games over the Kitchener Rangers. The Attack suffered a letdown in game one of the second round as the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds handily defeated them 4-1 on Wednesday night.
On the positive side, Shea Weber was on the ice skating in Brossard this morning despite the Canadiens not holding a practice.
The Canadiens will next host the Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday night in the final regular season game at the Bell Centre.
Tickets for the Canadiens playoff home games go on sale to the public tonight at 7pm.
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
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