The big news out of the Montreal Canadiens practice this morning was that Captain Max Pacioretty will make his season debut tomorrow night against the Ottawa Senators.
"If everything goes well, I could get into the game tomorrow [against Ottawa]." - Max Pacioretty #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/K0p4GNaWs8
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) September 30, 2015This is obviously great news for Pacioretty and the Canadiens. With the season opening on October 7th, Pacioretty needs at least one preseason game to get into game shape. I would not be surprised to see him play in both of the final preseason games against Ottawa, just to be sure that he is up to pace. While there is always the risk that he could re-injure his knee, he would run the same risk in a regular season game. If he has the medical clearance from the Canadiens doctors, it is all the better for him to get into the action and redevelop his chemistry with Tomas Plekanec and Brendan Gallagher.
For Plekanec, Pacioretty cannot get into the lineup soon enough. While it is only the preseason, Plekanec has been seemingly coasting along. Gallagher was almost invisible in Quebec City, a very rare occurrence for him. Thus far in the preseason the Canadiens offence has really only come through two lines, Eller-Galchenyuk-Semin and Fleischmann-Desharnais-Weise. Players such as Jacob de la Rose, Brian Flynn and Sven Andrighetto filled in on the left wing for the most part during the preseason, not much for Plekanec to get excited about. Plekanec is a veteran, one who will be a free agent at year’s end. He knows he doesn’t have to push himself in the preseason to get into game shape. Hopefully that lines play will improve quickly with the arrival of Pacioretty. During the playoffs last season, they were the only line who were contributing (save for a few goals by the fourth line). If Galchenyuk and Desharnais’ lines are able to keep up their chemistry and goal scoring, this would make the Habs top nine the deepest and most dangerous it has been in quite some time...
Today’s practice lines and pairings:
#Habs practice D & G:
Markov - Subban
Emelin - Petry
Beaulieu - Gilbert
Tinordi - Pateryn
Barberio - Juulsen
Price
Tokarski
Condon
— John Lu (@JohnLuTSNMtl) September 30, 2015#Habs lines:
Pacioretty-Plekanec-Gallagher
Eller-Galchenyuk-Semin
Fleischmann-DD-Weise
Flynn-Mitchell-Kassian
JDLR-Hudon/Andrighetto-DSP
— John Lu (@JohnLuTSNMtl) September 30, 2015As expected, Nathan Beaulieu was back with Tom Gilbert on the third pairing of defence. Mark Barberio got a good look against Quebec City and he actually acquitted himself well. It was certainly his best game of the preseason. GM Marc Bergevin will have to decide shortly what to do with the logjam on defence. There is no way that he risks losing Jarred Tinordi on waivers. He either stays with the club as an 7-8th defenceman or gets traded. Could the strong play of Greg Pateryn and Mark Barberio mean that Gilbert is on the trading block? The decision will have to be made quite soon. Tomorrow night will be 2015 1st round pick Noah Juulsen’s first taste of professional hockey as he has recovered from a concussion. He will be returned to Everett in the WHL shortly afterwards. I have to think that Jarred Tinordi will get another look tomorrow nigth as well…
Brian Flynn appears to be the new pet of coach Michel Therrien as he seems to have won the final 12th man spot next to Torrey Mitchell and Zack Kassian. Devante Smith-Pelly is most likely the 13th man on the roster. Even though he came to camp lighter and in better shape, Smith-Pelly has simply not done enough to impress. Flynn’s versatility as winger or center plays into his favour, and he can also be counted on to defend on the penalty kill. Andrighetto and Charles Hudon will be re-assigned to St. John’s, although Hudon has had the best camp of all of the forward prospects. He looks to be the most NHL ready of them all and likely to be the first call up. De la Rose should also be sent to St. John’s as some time in the AHL playing quality minutes will only benefit him, rather than being an extra forward and sitting in the stands.
Tomas Fleischmann should sign a contract with the Canadiens shortly. It has been rumoured that the hold up is over term as Fleischmann might be asking for a 2 year deal. After what he went through this past off-season, I can’t blame him if he and his agent are trying to push for a little more stability. However to commit two years to Fleischmann after just one solid training camp might be hard for Bergevin to accept. I am confident the Canadiens and Fleischmann will work it out in the coming days. I hope it is only a one year deal. If it is a two year deal I hope the second year comes at a real bargain basement price.
Finally, Therrien confirmed that Carey Price will start tomorrow night and Dustin Tokarski will get the final nod on Saturday. The backup debate will depend on Tokarski’s performance against the Senators. If he plays solidly than he will stay. If Tokarski struggles, than Bergevin’s decision will be a little more difficult…
#Habs Price will play Thursday vs #Senators and Tokarski will get the start Saturday in Ottawa.
— John Lu (@JohnLuTSNMtl) September 30, 2015Cheers and follow along! Follow @Jenbcutler