Canadiens scrapping for every point
Last Updated: Tuesday, November 3, 2009 | 12:09 PM ET
By Chris Iorfida, CBC Sports
Forward Scott Gomez buries the puck past Toronto goalie Vesa Toskala on Saturday, one of Montreal's six wins beyond regulation. (Graham Hughes/Canadian Press)The Montreal Canadiens will take to the ice at Bell Centre against Atlanta, exactly two weeks after they posted a shootout victory over the Thrashers at the same venue.
A Habs win would be the team's second in a row and sixth in eight games.
The 2-1 shootout victory over Atlanta on Oct. 20 was very much reflective of Montreal's season so far.
The Canadiens are 7-7, and could alternately be described as plucky or lucky. Montreal is a perfect 6-for-6 in games that have gone past regulation.
Bob Gainey took criticism for signing the talented but small trio of Scott Gomez, Brian Gionta and Mike Cammalleri in the off-season, but maybe it's time to give the general manager some credit for being canny.
In an era rife with shootouts, the trio is a combined 4-for-5 on their attempts, helping to turn single points in to wins.
Gomez and Gionta were the shootout scorers in the previous game with Atlanta, while Gomez and Cammalleri found the mark as the Canadiens held on Saturday for a 5-4 shootout win over Northeast Division-rival Toronto.
Over half the Canadiens gained at least a point during regulation, a welcome spread of offensive contributions.
Guillaume Latendresse scored for the first time in 11 games, with blue-liners Hal Gill and Roman Hamrlik also chipping in goals.
Tomas Plekanec registered two assists, giving him six in the last six games. The Czech Republic native finished with just 19 assists last season after setting up 40 goals the previous season.
Gill questionable
In net, Jaroslav Halak finished with 26 saves. The nominal backup to Carey Price has been in net for five of the team's wins, but doesn't seem interested in making a power play in the crease at this point.
"Ask any goalie and they'll tell you they just want to play," said Halak. "No matter who plays on Tuesday, we just have to get as many wins and points as we can right now. I'm not too worried about."
Gill is questionable to play against the Thrashers after taking a shot off the skate in practice on Monday. The Canadiens have brought Mathieu Carle back up again from the American Hockey League in case the six-foot-seven Gill can't go.
Atlanta (5-4-1) has split games since losing superstar forwards Ilya Kovalchuk to a broken foot.
The Thrashers are being led in Kovalchuk's absence by a waiver wire castoff, prized young defenceman and goaltender thrust into the No. 1 role by injury.
Rich Peverley, cut by Nashville last year, has four goals and five assists during a seven-game points streak.
He scored and assisted in the team's last game, a 3-1 win over Ottawa in Saturday afternoon.
Zach Bogosian, the sophomore, is tied among NHL defencemen in goals scored after getting his fifth, against the Senators.
Netminder Ondrej Pavelec, taking the mantle of top goalie from injured goalie Kari Lehtonen, was the biggest story against Ottawa, finishing with 50 saves.
The Canadiens know full well what Pavelec is capable of, as he nearly stole the Oct. 20 contest with a 34-save effort.
They will return to action on Thursday for the first of six season games against rival Boston, their playoff opponent the last two seasons.
With files from The Associated Press
