Game recaps, an update on Jonathan Bernier and the latest on the Jets and Senators.
Game Recaps.
MONTREAL GAZETTE: The Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Montreal Canadiens 5-3 to sweep their season series. Vladislav Namestnikov enjoyed a three-point performance for the Lighting, who also lost defenseman Victor Hedman early in the third period to an injury. The Bolts clinched a playoff berth with the win, which was a franchise-best 47th of the season. Max Pacioretty, Jeff Petry and P.K. Subban scored for the Habs.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canadiens have struggled all season long against the Lightning’s speed. Even against a banged-up Bolts roster, the Habs have no answer. If you’re a Canadiens fan, pray that your club doesn’t face the Lightning in the playoffs.
The Canucks celebrate Radim Vrbata’s goal against the Blues.
THE VANCOUVER SUN: Radim Vrbata set up the game-winning goal and scored the insurance marker as the Vancouver Canucks downed the St. Louis Blues 4-1. The Blues also lost sniper Vladimir Tarasenko in the third period to an apparent right-leg injury.
CALGARY HERALD: The desperate Flames remained in playoff position with a 5-3 win over the Dallas Stars. Jiri Hudler, Johnny Gaudreau and Dennis Wideman each had a goal and an assist.
EDMONTON SUN: Richard Bachman made 29 saves for his second straight win backstopping the Edmonton Oilers to a 4-1 victory over the Colorado Avalanche.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Canucks and Flames remain second and third in the Pacific Division, five and three points respectively over the LA Kings, who lost last night to the Chicago Blackhawks.
Notable Headlines.
WINNIPEG FREE PRESS: The Jets are trying to put their heartbreaking loss against Chicago on Sunday behind them as they prepare to face the New York Rangers on Tuesday. The Jets hold the final playoff berth in the Western Conference and are now trying to fend off the LA Kings, who are now only two points behind them.
OTTAWA SUN: The now-slumping Senators are shaking up their struggling top line by replacing Mike Hoffman on left wing with Zack Smith.
TORONTO SUN: Maple Leaf goalie Jonathan Bernier claims he’s not feeling frustrated by his disappointing performance this season.
The biggest difference between the Canadiens and the Lightning is coaching. Whereas Michel Therrien employs the defensive standard of blocked shots and dumping the puck off the glass when in their own zone, Jon Cooper implements a better system of “if we have the puck in their end, they cannot score”.
Hate to say this, however, the only way that I see Montreal winning in the playoffs will be if Carey Price shuts out the opposition. Despite the individual talent available to this team, the line composition is atrocious, and the power play, which is coachable, has been appalling at best, and momentum-shifting, at worst due to the insistence of the dump and chase.
Montreal’s lofty position in the standings can be attributed to the brilliance of Carey Price and very little else. However, I still believe that with a better system in place that would put a premium on controlling the puck in the offensive zone, that the Habs would be a serious contender.
They have the players, they just need a coaching system that will bring 21st century strategies to the team.
I agree good teams and coaches in todays NHL are possession type teams regardless of the talent level on the team, the Lightning are a very good team because they are fortunate to have both….the scary thing about the Lightning I think is the fact that Bishop has just been “meh” so far this year and has been brilliant like he was last year and previously, if he finds away to get to that level, Habs or whoever should be very worried about the Bolts.
*Bishop has not been brilliant like past year.
Easy for Bernier to say now while he is still fairly far down on the scapegoat list, wait until Phil and Dion are gone (and the media start calling his mom) its all their fault right now….meanwhile Nonis giggles.
Goaltending is one of the biggest reasons for this awful season. Its been below mediocre. The past 2 years great goaltending has masked some of the giant flaws on this team, take that away (and the top lines shooting percentage returning to earth) and this is what happens this team is built like a table with 3 legs.
Playoffs are a whole different game bishop has never been can see the Lightning with an early exit this year
Jello that was a joke right?? Did you watch the same game I did, as Lyle said above Habs fan better hope they don’t see us – that was only half the team. 3 of 4 top 4 D’s were out and the leading scorer in Johnson and they were azz whipped – without Price it could have been double digits. He stood on his head, most of those 44 shots were very very good. Trust me the boys and fans remember – paybacks are a bitch.
Experience? that was a playoff warm up – that russian kid(sp) has played 10 games and put up 2-1 – that’s depth my friend. Love the site Lyle, come everyday, throw a log on the fire for me – a good day to ya from the Sandbar
BTW – I am rooting for Calgary and the Hamburglar to make it, not against Canadian teams at all.