Pre-Game Talk: Devils @ Habs Feb.2 2PM.

[peate]

I know the game is days away but man, I'm getting anxious for a Habs game when other are playing. N.J. just beat the Pens, I'm curious to see the standings on Saturday. Patience is a virtue I guess.

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[antoniojr]

I expect a slow start from the Habs. 9 days is great for attending to any injuries and rest the players might need but it also means they haven't had game action in over a week, while it'll be NJ's third game since the AS break. Hopefully grind out 2 big pts.

 

[JeffreyLFC]

why the schedule is so messed up?

 

[admiralcadillac]

The jets play three times before the habs do. Why?

 

[CauZuki]

The jets play three times before the habs do. Why?

why the schedule is so messed up?

It's our week off , every team has one , it's our turn. This is great let some of our injured guys heal up, can't exaclty complain about something that every team has to go through. (This was negotiated by the Players Association to give players a small break from the 82 game NHL schedule)

 

[overlords]

It's our week off , every team has one , it's our turn. This is great let some of our injured guys heal up, can't exaclty complain about something that every team has to go through. (This was negotiated by the Players Association to give players a small break from the 82 game NHL schedule)

Yes I can. I bitch about the shoot out all the time.

 

[CauZuki]

Yes I can. I ***** about the shoot out all the time.

The players decided that they needed this , they had no say in the shootouts being added to the game. You are free to not like it all you want but in the end they are very different topics.

 

[the valiant effort]

9 days off before the annual SB weekend afternoon games kinda pisses me off. It won't be until next Tuesday night that they play a game that fits their usual routine.

Bettman's NHL sticking it to this franchise once again.

 

[stanley25]

It's our week off , every team has one , it's our turn. This is great let some of our injured guys heal up, can't exaclty complain about something that every team has to go through. (This was negotiated by the Players Association to give players a small break from the 82 game NHL schedule)

I think this really did work out for the best. We're 51 games into the season so only 31 games to go. With Montreal not being representated at the All-Star game that means all of our players had a week and half to relax and rest.

Hoping this will do good for players like Domi, Gallagher, Kotka (lately) who play a rough game. We have a couple of smaller forwards that will most likely benefit from the break as well and it also gives Weber some extra time to rest as its not easy coming back from injury after not playing for almost a year.

All in all hope we stay healthy for the playoffs and face the Leafs or Tampa. The way this team plays some nights anything could happen and it's been a while since I've almost gone crazy with joy/hate/lust/rage/pride...ect watching the Habs be the underdogs and win and ohhh how I've missed those Markov/Kovy days.

 

[BLONG7]

Gotta get all the way to saturday..........what a break...seems longer. The R&R should help as the last 31 games are played. The Habs have a real chance to stay in the top 3 of their division, the Bruins are gonna struggle without Rask, if it goes too long. Halak can handle a week or two but that's about it.

 

[Milhouse40]

What's making it so long is that the Habs only played once last week.

New Jersey and Edmonton back to back games at home.
New Jersey is 6-17-3 on the road so far and Edmonton will also be on the 2nd game of B2B.

I expect a little leg rust from the Habs against NJ and Niemi will get the net ( Price's suspension)
But i still expect the entire 4 points on the SB week-end no matter what....the standing might be very different by then

The jets play three times before the habs do. Why?

So does the Pens (including last night's game)

 

[Saundies]

Byron is done his suspension if I'm not mistaken. Hopefully both him and Shawzy are back and in the line up for this one. That'll change the dynamic of the forward group going forward if we can stay healthy.

Drouin - Danault - Gally
Tatar- Domi - Byron
Armia - KK - Shaw
Lehks - Chaput - Hudon/Dlo/Ago

 

[Holystik]

I hope Shaw gets a new neck before this game or the following ones. I wouldn't mind a Cyborgshaw!

 

[MarkovsKnee]

It'll probably be sloppy by us. Boys will have been off for 10 days.

Still hoping for 2 wins

 

[Runner77]

Patience is a virtue I guess.

Patients are virtual, you mean.

I've just gone through a bunch of posts advocating how we should be trading Petry now. And not to mention all those pining for Weber and Price to be moved.

What else can we sell off?

 

[Runner77]

It's our week off , every team has one , it's our turn. This is great let some of our injured guys heal up, can't exaclty complain about something that every team has to go through. (This was negotiated by the Players Association to give players a small break from the 82 game NHL schedule)

I wish they hadn't tacked on the Habs's week off to the ASG. Not to mention that they didn't have any home Rocket games during the hiatus. They should look into fixing that next year.

 

[Be a Hab]

Byron is done his suspension if I'm not mistaken. Hopefully both him and Shawzy are back and in the line up for this one. That'll change the dynamic of the forward group going forward if we can stay healthy.

Drouin - Danault - Gally
Tatar- Domi - Byron
Armia - KK - Shaw
Lehks - Chaput - Hudon/Dlo/Ago

Switch Armia for Byron and I like your line up!

 

[JuJu Mobb]

I hate long breaks and games at 2PM.

 

[Le Tricolore]

Yay hockey.

Looking forward to the two afternoon games. Always a fun weekend.

 

[HockeyDBspecialist]

God, I love afternoon game

 

[psychonaut]

Going with my daughter to this game. When I had season tickets I did not like the afternoon games but now going with my kid is my favorite game of the year.

 

[Habs]

Every year they do this stupid Devils 2pm game, it blows. Stupid Leafs always get primetime.

 

[Licentia]

why the schedule is so messed up?

Who knows why, but this is clearly a disadvantage for us. I don't think we've done well in these kinds of situations this year (back-2-backs, long rests, etc..)

Soccer is far worse. The good teams tend to play more games, as they are invited to play in various other tournaments. This means that the good teams are almost always fresher (less rested,) which means they have an even greater advantage. I'm very glad that the NHL works so hard to create parity between teams.

 

[Uncle Gary]

Niemi has to play this one since Price is suspended right?

 

[antoniojr]

Niemi has to play this one since Price is suspended right?

Correct. Price serves his suspension against NJ and most likely starts against the Oilers come Sunday.