Pre-Game Talk: Canadiens vs. Maple Leafs | SN | October 8th, 2014 | 7:00PM

[Primary Assist]

Let's put it this way: would you consider the Leaf's chances to make the playoffs this season improved by swapping Bernier for Price?

I would.

No, he loses his Reebok sponsorship after smashing so many goalsticks against the posts after the Leafs D hangs him out to dry. Bernier excelled in his role as the one defensive stalwart. Without Bernie the Leafs have Ekblad and Rielly as the second pairing. I'm not saying Bernier > Price, not at all, but Price has excelled on much, much better teams than what Bernier had last year.

 

[Paradoc]

Price > Bernier
Kessel > Pacriorietty

stop this now

No one is saying here that Bernier > Price. We're discussing that the gap between Bernier and Price isn't that big as some people think it is.

 

[Durrr]

No one is saying here that Bernier > Price. We're discussing that the gap between Bernier and Price isn't that big as some people think it is.

This is assuming both goalies continue their play from last season, but Bernier is far from proving that he can do that.

 

[Paradoc]

This is assuming both goalies continue their play from last season, but Bernier is far from proving that he can do that.

Of course not, that why we were suggesting that Bernier at his best is a top 5 goaltender in the league just like Price. No one here is saying that Bernier > Price. He had a great season but he has to repeat it numerous time in order to be considering in tier 1 group.

 

[TheCLAM]

Of course not, that why we were suggesting that Bernier at his best is a top 5 goaltender in the league just like Price. No one here is saying that Bernier > Price. He had a great season but he has to repeat it numerous time in order to be considering in tier 1 group.

Price has a great skill-set, I'd say he's a tier above Bernier. I feel the difference is that Price is a franchise goaltender while Bernier has potential to become a very good #1. There is a difference.

 

[Sam I Am]

No, he loses his Reebok sponsorship after smashing so many goalsticks against the posts after the Leafs D hangs him out to dry. Bernier excelled in his role as the one defensive stalwart. Without Bernie the Leafs have Ekblad and Rielly as the second pairing. I'm not saying Bernier > Price, not at all, but Price has excelled on much, much better teams than what Bernier had last year.

As a Habs' fan, I only wished that Price had excelled on "much, much better teams".

Last year's roster was perhaps the best version that Price has played on. Decent and much more disciplined than the Leafs but it did not exactly evoke memories of Lafleur, Shutt and the Big Three.

Unless your talking about Team Canada...

 

[TheCLAM]

No, he loses his Reebok sponsorship after smashing so many goalsticks against the posts after the Leafs D hangs him out to dry. Bernier excelled in his role as the one defensive stalwart. Without Bernie the Leafs have Ekblad and Rielly as the second pairing. I'm not saying Bernier > Price, not at all, but Price has excelled on much, much better teams than what Bernier had last year.

Price I agree has had better player personnel around him, that comes a lot from his skill-set. It's a double edged sword, is Montreal significantly a better team? or do they have a threat in net that make them a lot better than they appear to be? I think it's a lot easier to assume the latter. It's not like we are comparing the Leafs to the Kings, it's the Habs they have a lot of similarities.

 

[Atomos2]

David Alter ‏@dalter 55m55 minutes ago
#leafs new message in the dressing room: Blue Noise, If you are not in the way, sacrifice for each other, succeed together, unite a city.

I approve.

 

[LeafsMonster]

Looks like JVR/Kessel will at least start the season. A lot will depend on what Lupul/Kadri bring us. As for Rielly/Phaneuf, I think that pair would be better than Gardiner/Phaneuf. No offense to Jake, I just think Rielly has that higher 200 foot IQ. Once he gets the experience and puts it together he will be better all around than Gardiner.

I think Rielly will ultimately be the smarter and more skilled player, and I do think him and phaneuf would make a good pairing, just not sure if he can handle top pairing right now. But I'd love nothing more than Rielly taking on the challenge and performing well.

 

[Maple Leaf]

Easy win for the Leafs

 

[showtime8]

Easy win for the Leafs

Take it easy Heals.

The biggest question mark that I have for the Habs is their depth on defense. And that's the same question that I have for the Leafs.

Gilbert is not Gorges. And in that sense, Percy is not Franson.

There are similarities up front. Pacioretty can score and is on the same level as JVR. Bozak & Desharnais are equal. 2nd lines don't differ too much.

The biggest difference in the teams are how they are coached and how much better Price is than Bernier. Price definitely has the edge, but by how much?

 

[JackJ]

Take it easy Heals.

The biggest question mark that I have for the Habs is their depth on defense. And that's the same question that I have for the Leafs.

Gilbert is not Gorges. And in that sense, Percy is not Franson.

There are similarities up front. Pacioretty can score and is on the same level as JVR. Bozak & Desharnais are equal. 2nd lines don't differ too much.

The biggest difference in the teams are how they are coached and how much better Price is than Bernier. Price definitely has the edge, but by how much?

Percy is better.

 

[showtime8]

Percy is better.

He hasn't even played 1 NHL game yet and he's already better?

 

[MapleLeafs9]

Can it be tomorrow already!?!?!

 

[Suntouchable13]

He hasn't even played 1 NHL game yet and he's already better?

Don't act like it's hard to be better than Franson. Oooh, he had 33 points last season. Big whoop. The guy skates like he is skating in sand, gets walked consistently by speedy skilled skaters.

 

[X66]

Don't act like it's hard to be better than Franson. Oooh, he had 33 points last season. Big whoop. The guy skates like he is skating in sand, gets walked consistently by speedy skilled skaters.

Lol, we all have no problem admitting we played in a terrible system, yet we can't cut Franson some slack for playing that system. With his speed limitations it hurt him more than anyone, we'll see how he is in the new system.

 

[Duffman955]

Lol, we all have no problem admitting we played in a terrible system, yet we can't cut Franson some slack for playing that system. With his speed limitations it hurt him more than anyone, we'll see how he is in the new system.

What new system?

 

[p.l.f.]

I look at that Habs lineup and wonder how they even made the playoffs
then I remember they have some guy named Price....... ahh
Those forward lines are like a mixed bag of ok but not great ,and they're pretty small on avg

 

[senor martinez]

What I think is that we have so much energy in the building tomorrow that our leafs might crush the habs with a plenty of good hits and goals.

Looking at our energy guys like Santorelli, Winnik Komarov and others / comparing them to habitaires energy ones.... we might have this one in the bag.

Interesting to see wich type of start we get with leo komarov this time around... he was real good for us two seasons ago. Early on he brought so much freshness into our game against the habs also. The same type of feeling might be there tomorrow and to be seen. Not many hockey players can play the piano btw. That to me tells a lot, a lot about an intelligent player and human being. Special would another word I would use in the case of Komarov.

 

[sommervr]

Watching Habs Sens exhibition feels like I am watching a DVR game at half speed with the sound off.

 

[Drakkar]

I look at that Habs lineup and wonder how they even made the playoffs
then I remember they have some guy named Price....... ahh
Those forward lines are like a mixed bag of ok but not great ,and they're pretty small on avg

Subban is also a huge part of the Habs succes. Few teams have that luxury on D.

 

[Drakkar]

What I think is that we have so much energy in the building tomorrow that our leafs might crush the habs with a plenty of good hits and goals.

Looking at our energy guys like Santorelli, Winnik Komarov and others / comparing them to habitaires energy ones.... we might have this one in the bag.

Interesting to see wich type of start we get with leo komarov this time around... he was real good for us two seasons ago. Early on he brought so much freshness into our game against the habs also. The same type of feeling might be there tomorrow and to be seen. Not many hockey players can play the piano btw. That to me tells a lot, a lot about an intelligent player and human being. Special would another word I would use in the case of Komarov.

The Habs are a great counter team, can't wait.

 

[TMLeafer]

Can't wait! Opening day is always something special.

 

[p.l.f.]

Subban is also a huge part of the Habs succes. Few teams have that luxury on D.

He's a good color man on TV
no racial pun intended)

 

[zeke]

2yr Stats (until the 5-10gm mark):


Line 1

C Tyler Bozak (28): 104gms, 31gls, 77pts, 43.9cf%, 21:40 (82gms, 25gls, 61pts)
C D.Desharnais (28): 127gms, 26gls, 80pts, 53.1cf%, 16:55 (82gms, 17gls, 52pts)

W Phil Kessel (27): 130gms, 57gls, 132pts, 44.9cf%, 20:21 (82gms, 36gls, 83pts)
W M.Pacioretty (26): 117gms, 54gls, 99pts, 54.9cf%, 17:45 (82gms, 38gls, 69pts)

W J.Vanriemsdyk (25): 128gms, 48gls, 93pts, 44.7cf%, 20:21 (82gms, 31gls, 60pts)
W P.Parenteau (31): 103gms, 32gls, 76pts, 49.9cf%, 17:59 (82gms, 26gls, 61pts)

Line 2

C Naz Kadri (24): 126gms, 38gls, 94pts, 45.9cf%, 16:53 (82gms, 25gls, 61pts)
C T.Plekanec (32): 128gms, 34gls, 76pts, 47.7cf%, 19:35 (82gms, 22gls, 49pts)

W Joffrey Lupul (31): 85gms, 33gls, 62pts, 42.8cf%, 18:01 (82gms, 31gls, 60pts)
W A.Galchenyuk (20): 113gms, 22gls, 58pts, 48.6cf%, 13:30 (82gms, 16gls, 42pts)

W B.Kozun (24): ---
W B.Gallagher (22): 125gms, 34gls, 69pts, 53.9cf%, 15:13 (82gms, 22gls, 45pts)

Line 3

C M.Santorelli (29): 83gms, 12gls, 32pts, 50.6cf%, 15:32 (82gms, 12gls, 32pts)
C Lars Eller (25): 123gms, 20gls, 56pts, 48.8cf%, 15:33 (82gms, 13gls, 37pts)

W D.Clarkson (30): 108gms, 20gls, 35pts, 49.7cf%, 16:13 (82gms, 15gls, 27pts)
W R.Bourque (33): 90gms, 16gls, 29pts, 46.5cf%, 14:50 (82gms, 15gls, 26pts)

W L.Komarov (27): 42gms, 4gls, 9pts, 45.7cf%, 13:56 (82gms, 8gls, 17pts)
W J.Sekac (22): ----

Line 4

C P.Holland (23): 64gms, 9gls, 16pts, 44.6cf% 11:26 (82gms, 12gls, 21pts)
C M.Malhotra (34): 78gms, 7gls, 13pts, 41.8cf%, 11:32 (82gms, 7gls, 14pts)

W D.Winnik (29): 124gms, 12gls, 49pts, 48.6cf%, 15:57 (82gms, 8gls, 32pts)
W B.Prust (30): 90gms, 11gls, 27pts, 45.7cf%, 13:10 (82gms, 10gls, 25pts)

W M.Frattin (26): 69gms, 9gls, 20pts, 50.7cf%, 12:28 (82gms, 11gls, 24pts)
W D.Wiese (26): 101gms, 9gls, 22pts, 44.0cf%, 8:52 (82gms, 7gls, 18pts)



Pair 1

D D.Phaneuf (29): 128gms, 17gls, 59pts, 41.3cf%, 24:13 (82gms, 11gls, 38pts)
D P.Subban (25): 124gms, 21gls, 91pts, 52.0cf%, 24:09 (82gms, 14gls, 60pts)

D S.Robidas (37): 86gms, 6gls, 23pts, 49.6cf%, 21:19 (82gms, 6gls, 22pts)
D A.Emelin (28): 97gms, 6gls, 29pts, 47.1cf%, 19:25 (82gms, 5gls, 25pts)

Pair 2

D J.Gardiner (24): 92gms, 10gls, 35pts, 46.6cf%, 21:00 (82gms, 9gls, 31pts)
D A.Markov (37): 129gms, 17gls, 73pts, 50.5cf%, 24:49 (82gms, 11gls, 46pts)

D M.Rielly (20): 73gms, 2gls, 27pts, 44.5cf%, 17:37 (82gms, 2gls, 30pts)
D T.Gilbert (31): 116gms, 6gls, 41pts, 50.9cf%, 19:57 (82gms, 4gls, 29pts)

Pair 3

D R.Polak (28): 120gms, 5gls, 19pts, 49.5cf%, 17:46 (82gms, 3gls, 13pts)
D M.Weaver (36): 99gms, 2gls, 22pts, 48.7cf%, 19:07 (82gms, 2gls, 18pts)

D S.Percy (21): ---
D N.Beaulieu (22): 23gms, 0gls, 4pts, 49.1cf%, 13:47 (82gms, 0gls, 15pts)



Starting Goalie

G J.Bernier (26): .922sv% (69gms)
G C.Price (27): .919sv% (98gms)

Backup Goalie

G J.Reimer (26): .917sv% (69gms)
G D.Tokarski (25): .946sv% (3gms)



Injured / Suspended

W D.Booth (30): 78gms, 10gls, 22pts, 53.0cf%, 13:21 (82gms, 11gls, 23pts)
D C.Franson (27): 124gms, 9gls, 62pts, 45.2cf%, 20:00 (82gms, 6gls, 41pts)

None