Canadiens Looking For Huge Start To Road Trip With Centennial Classic Win (pacioretty)

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Canadiens Looking For Huge Start To Road Trip With Centennial Classic Win

By Brandon Smillie

Dec 16, 2017 • 11:39 am

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Tonight the NHL kicks off the Centennial Classic in Ottawa, ON in a fantastic rivalry game between the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators. The game will begin at 7pm at Lansdowne Park.

The Montreal Canadiens come into the game kicking off a 7 game road trip to end the season. Couldn’t be a more awesome way to kick off a trip than with a outdoor game against a division rival. The Habs come into the game 6-2-1 in their last 9 games as the fight for their playoff lives has already begun.

The Canadiens are looking to pile up points before 2018 in a desperate attempt to push themselves into the playoff picture. The Habs at 32 points currently sit 5 points back of the 7th and 8th Wild Card spot and 2 points back of the Bruins, but the B’s have 3 games in hand. 2 points tonight in epic fashion would be huge for the Canadiens heading into the end of the years.

It’s no secret that the Canadiens need to run the table a bit to make a run at playoffs. With the points to make playoffs likely in the 95 range, the Canadiens need roughly 32 win in the remaining 50 games, and some help. Not going to be easy, but at this point the playoff race will at least give the team some urgency and attention going into the trade deadline. Players who could/should be moved will hopefully have added value for GM’s seeking playoff help, should the Canadiens slip out.

But that’s a story for another day.

Today, the Habs take on a imploding Ottawa Senators club. A club who’s requests for NTC lists has gone public and includes their best player E Karlsson. This request comes shortly after Karlsson fired a warning shot through the media about not taking less than market value on his next deal. Then then in the last 24 hours the Sens owner E Melnyk provided some brow raising quotes like this (from Frank Seravalli on Twitter, @frank_seravalli):

FS “Do you have the money to keep the Sens afloat?" Melnyk: "For how many centuries? I'm not going to blow a lifetime of working hard on a hockey team.…

Melnyk: "If it doesn't look good here, it could look good somewhere else. But I'm not suggesting that right now. If you open a grocery store and nobody comes, but one opens two blocks down and there’s a line outside, where are you going to have your store?…

Melnyk: "Here, we’re fighting every day to sell a ticket. Honest to god. And when you get to the 3rd rd of the playoffs and you’re begging people to buy a ticket, something’s wrong with that picture. How long can you underwrite a team? Like literally underwrite. Write a cheque.…

Melnyk: “I think the market here has to prove itself, or you have to make changes. We’ve cut everything to the bone in the organization. We are probably one of the thinnest management groups in the league. The next thing you have to look at is players.…

Just. Incredible.

On the eve of the Centennial Classic, a huge money making venture the NHL helps put on with teams, this owner is complaining to the media about the lack of interest from his fanbase, his lack of interest in investing in the team, and that should it continue he will move the team. I think it could be fair to say that Karlsson is not going to be Senator in the future. The owner is at a point where the dollars and cents that he has to invest are not at a comfortable level, but instead of keeping all of this turmoil in house he is venting to the media right before his organizations holiday cash cow. Ticket and merchandise sales must have been extremely disappointing for Melnyk…

But there is a game to be played and your starting goaltenders for tonight look to be Carey Price who is 9-9-2 with .903 SP% and 3.04 GAA, and Craig Anderson who is 8-10-3 with a .897 SP% and 3.05 GAA.

Anderson’s last 10 games have given him a 1-7 record with 28 goals against.

Price’s last 10 games have given him a 6-3-1 record with 23 goals against.

LEHKONEN NEARING RETURN, BUT NOT TONIGHT

A Lehkonen has been skating with club and working himself into game shape but it has been confirmed that he will not play tonight. Julien confirmed he hasn’t been cleared to play.

It will be very interesting to see who is sat when Lehkonen does return as the 4th line (Laval’s 1st line) of Froese, Carr, and Deslauriers has actually played very well. Certainly something that will dominate Habs headlines when the time comes.

NO LINE UP CHANGES EXPECTED

Don’t expect any changes to the line up from Thursdays win against the typically soul crushing Devils (yes, Brodeur is long gone but the spirit of his dominance remains). The team will likely role with what worked and make any adjustments on the fly.

With that I will say to you all, enjoy the festivities if you are attending this event or if you’re watching it on television. Grab yourself your favorite drink and snack and tune in for what will be a grand spectacle. I’ve always wanted to attend one of these outdoor games and I know people who have and they tell me they really enjoyed the experience. So if you’re there tonight make sure you really soak it in for all of us who can’t be there.

Be responisble, be safe, and …

Go Habs Go!

Merry Christmas!

COLLECT THE BEST! COLLECT UPPER DECK!

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Don't forget to check out Upper Deck products at your local hobby shops and online! This seasons Black Diamond is now available with the possibility of finding actual diamonds embedded in the cards! It’s a high end product for serious collectors so if you’re a big collector, or a new one, make sure you stop by your local shop and see if you can get yourself a box (or case).

Follow Upper Deck and Upper Deck Hockey on Twitter for breaking info and cool giveaways like this. They asked on Monday to submit your favorite memorabilia embedded card for a chance to win a Upper Deck #Mailday where you could receive a box from Upper Deck loaded with packs, swag, box, auto, who knows! Be sure to check them out!

Here’s a first look at the upcoming 17 18 UD Ice product!

Follow me on Twitter @BrandonSmillie where I mostly stick to hockey stuff.

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