Habs clinch the Atlantic division with their 4-1 win over the Panthers
April 4, 2017, 2:34 PM ET [67 Comments]
Jennifer B Cutler
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • RSS • Archive • CONTACT
As they headed into their match Monday night against the Florida Panthers, the Montreal Canadiens needed just one win in their remaining four games to clinch the Atlantic division title. Rather than be dramatic, they immediately took care of business by defeating the Panthers 4-1 to lock up first place. While the Panthers had little if anything to play for, it was still impressive that the Canadiens were able to pull out the victory without their All-Star goaltender and number one defenseman Carey Price and Shea Weber in the lineup. Charlie Lindgren of the St. John’s Ice Caps got the start in net since Al Montoya was still not ready for game action.
What bodes well for the Canadiens is that they were not complacent against the Panthers. They showed up to play from the moment the puck was dropped. The team has not taken their foot of the pedal since defeating the Ottawa Senators on March 25th as that sparked their current five game win streak. The Canadiens already know that they will host the New York Rangers in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. They want to be in tip top shape as they head into the postseason and not dragging their feet…
Puck Props & Flops:
Props:
Artturi Lehkonen - What more can be said about the 21 year old rookie forward from Finland? He has been on a tear as of late as he has taken his game to another level with the playoffs around the corner. With eight points in his last nine games including two goals and an assist against the Panthers, Lehkonen has discovered some nice chemistry playing mostly on a line with Alex Galchenyuk and Andrew Shaw. It also marked a shift to the right wing so as to accommodate Galchenyuk playing on his natural side. Lehkonen has already been impressive throughout his rookie year displaying a level of hockey IQ that is beyond his young age. He has proven that he can be trusted in all situations and never gives up on a play. Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin once said that you need players to get you in the playoffs and then you need players to get you through the playoffs. Lehkonen has the tools to be both of these types of, especially considering his previous success with Frolunda and Finland’s world junior program.
Charlie Lindgren - In just his second career NHL start, Lindgren looked cool, calm and collected throughout the game. He made 31 saves and allowed just one goal to the Panthers, a pretty successful night for the young goaltender. As Al Montoya returned to practice Monday morning, it appears that Lindgren’s stay with the Canadiens is about to end. He has had a very strong rookie campaign in the American Hockey League with the St. John’s Ice Caps with a 22-17-1 record and the team in the thick of a battle for one of the last remaining playoff spots.
Andrew Shaw - He has done a tremendous job since being moved to center and has really been able to stabilize Galchenyuk who now has less pressure defensively. Through Shaw’s strong play, Galchenyuk has been able to focus on rediscovering his own game which in turn benefits Shaw and Lehkonen as they will reap the rewards from that. Perhaps no other forward has benefitted as much from the coaching change as Claude Julien has been to bring out the best in Shaw. We have seen throughout the Chicago Blackhawks playoffs success that Shaw is one of those players that will get you through them. The Canadiens are now banking on just that…
Max Pacioretty and Alexander Radulov - With his assist on Radulov’s empty net goal, Pacioretty has tied his career high in NHL points with 67, matching his jersey number. With three games left in the regular season Pacioretty is in an excellent position to break that mark. For Radulov, it was his 18th goal of the season and what is really noticeable is how much he and Pacioretty really enjoy playing together. He celebrated the empty net goal as though it was an overtime one, just because of the pure joy he gets from playing hockey. Meanwhile, his put on a skills clinic against the Panthers:
Flop:
NHL deciding not to send players to the Olympics:
Yes, we get that what it comes down to is money. The IOC refused to cover expenses and the NHL owners for the most part have little interest in letting their star players travel to the other side of the world without any direct financial benefit. The end result though is without the NHL players at the Olympics, everyone loses. The players first and foremost miss out on a chance of lifetime to experience the Winter Games and represent their country. The fans miss out on seeing the best players in the world face one another. The casual sporting fan who would otherwise not watch hockey misses out on witnessing the game’s best and may lose interest without them there. The NHL misses out on an opportunity to further grow the game. It is not just about growing the game in Asia but the additional media attention it will get in the United States alone that should make it worthwhile for the NHL to be there.
The real question though, is if the games were reversed and Beijing was taking place in 2018 and not 2022, would the NHL still have decided to draw the line and announce their decision not to go? Beijing will host NHL exhibition games in 2017 with an eye of increasing the sport’s popularity in China in time for the 2022 games. The NHL is being paid handsomely to go to China. Would they dare to say no to going to the Olympics there? It is easier to say no to Pyeongchang where they have little interest in growing the game…
The Canadiens will close out their three game road trip in Buffalo on Wednesday night.
Today at 7:14 am by wciappetta
» utube 6/4/24 MM&C IQD Update-Iraq Dinar-2024 Budget Passed-Gazzette-Timing-197 Companies Cease Dol
Today at 7:04 am by Rocky
» utube 6/3/24 MM&C IQD Update-Iraq Dinar-Accelerate- Digital-Financial-Banking Reforms-Best Budget
Today at 7:02 am by Rocky
» Al-Rafidain: About 1,502 loans were issued to those registered under the Riyada initiative since las
Today at 6:59 am by Rocky
» Al-Maliki: There is no intention to approve the general amnesty law
Today at 6:57 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani: Understandings with France amounting to one billion euros to build industrial projects...
Today at 6:48 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani: The available factories for construction materials cover only a quarter of the need
Today at 6:46 am by Rocky
» An economist indicates the absence of the private sector in the 2024 budget
Today at 6:44 am by Rocky
» Central Bank of Iraq sales exceeded $270 million at today’s auction
Today at 6:43 am by Rocky
» The Iraqi budget is moving toward “publishing and disbursing” without presidential approval
Today at 6:42 am by Rocky
» A government parliamentary agreement regarding residents of slums
Today at 6:41 am by Rocky
» Al-Rafidain: Implementing the comprehensive banking system in the White Palace branch
Today at 5:22 am by Rocky
» Sudanese sponsors the signing of a cooperation agreement between the Trade Bank and the German Expor
Today at 5:17 am by Rocky
» Financial inclusion in Iraq: a success story that defies the odds
Today at 5:14 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Finance: All revenues are not enough to meet the country’s needs, and the budget prohi
Today at 5:13 am by Rocky
» Iraqi Business Council: The budget schedules are flexible and include sacred paragraphs
Today at 5:11 am by Rocky
» Democratic Party: The cessation of oil exports through Türkiye has caused Iraq huge losses
Today at 5:08 am by Rocky
» The government's lack of seriousness in removing the Americans leaves Iraq exposed to them
Today at 5:06 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani sponsors the signing of an agreement between the TBI Bank and a German institution
Today at 5:05 am by Rocky
» Water scarcity and air pollution...the most prominent challenges facing Iraq
Today at 5:03 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Finance: Contract employees are included in the budget
Today at 5:03 am by Rocky
» An investigation committee will be formed into the file of trainees of Korean companies / document
Today at 5:02 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Finance: The region’s share in the budget is still unclear
Today at 5:00 am by Rocky
» A representative wonders about the fate of 57 trillion dinars in the budget
Today at 4:59 am by Rocky
» A new group of targets of restaurants and foreign agencies was arrested in Baghdad
Today at 4:58 am by Rocky
» Including transfers and attracting investors.. The Supreme Judiciary determines the advantages of re
Today at 4:56 am by Rocky
» International Finance Corporation.. An agreement to qualify youth in Iraq and Lebanon
Today at 4:55 am by Rocky
» Oil reveals new government directives related to 4 sectors
Today at 4:53 am by Rocky
» The Council of Ministers takes a series of economic decisions
Today at 4:52 am by Rocky
» Did the 2024 budget schedules do justice to the Kurdistan Region?
Today at 4:50 am by Rocky
» Parliament's finances determine the amount of disbursement during 2024
Today at 4:49 am by Rocky
» “You will lose confidence in them.” A deputy criticizes a “dangerous phenomenon” committed by member
Today at 4:48 am by Rocky
» Sudanese Advisor: Iraq's external debt has fallen to 9 billion dollars
Today at 4:47 am by Rocky
» Erbil markets 300 food trucks to the rest of the governorates daily
Today at 4:46 am by Rocky
» The Prime Minister inaugurates the second specialized workshop to support the private industrial con
Today at 4:45 am by Rocky
» The Prime Minister sponsors the signing of a cooperation agreement between the Iraqi Trade Bank and
Today at 4:43 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani: Voting on the budget supports the government’s work
Today at 4:42 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani: Iraq is the cornerstone of stability in the region and the world
Today at 4:40 am by Rocky
» The Commission is looking into developing electronic voting devices
Today at 4:39 am by Rocky
» Baghdad urges steps towards combating corruption
Today at 4:38 am by Rocky
» This year: launching the electronic housing card
Today at 4:37 am by Rocky
» The Cities Authority promises reasonable prices for residential units
Today at 4:36 am by Rocky
» Imminent disasters must unite us before it is too late
Today at 4:35 am by Rocky
» Iraq is taking steps to combat corruption
Today at 4:34 am by Rocky
» The remaining $9 billion of Iraq's external debt
Today at 4:33 am by Rocky
» Today.. the launch of the activities of the Petersburg International Economic Forum
Today at 4:31 am by Rocky
» The results of “OPEC Plus” are positive, and Iraq pledges to comply
Today at 4:30 am by Rocky
» The Minister of Commerce calls on citizens to receive food basket items from agents
Today at 4:29 am by Rocky
» What if other banks follow suit?
Today at 4:28 am by Rocky
» Experts: We are getting close to “zeroing” gas burning
Today at 4:27 am by Rocky
» Recovery of an Iraqi official accused of intentional damage to public funds
Today at 4:25 am by Rocky
» The Iraqi Trade Bank issues the first batch of Kurdistan Region employees within the “My Account” pr
Today at 4:23 am by Rocky
» Iraqi Workers' Communist Party: The oil workers' class unit thwarts a new theft!
Today at 4:22 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani: The 2024 budget schedules include positives that contribute to the path of economic refor
Today at 4:21 am by Rocky
» An opportunity for Iraqi doctors to leave hospitals and work inside airplanes
Today at 4:18 am by Rocky
» The fever of attacking “foreign institutions” spreads to Diwaniyah.. One person was injured in an at
Today at 4:16 am by Rocky
» During the current year.. Iraqis are on a date with the launch of the “electronic housing card”
Today at 4:15 am by Rocky
» The exchange rates of the dollar against the dinar in Iraq today
Today at 4:13 am by Rocky
» After approving the budget schedules... Parliamentary Finance resolves the controversy over the empl
Today at 4:12 am by Rocky
» A source reveals Saudi mediation between Iraq and Kuwait to end disputes
Today at 4:11 am by Rocky
» In preparation for the 2025 elections, the Commission forms a committee to develop electronic voting
Today at 4:10 am by Rocky
» Displaced people fall victim to politics... Immigration complains about the lack of cooperation betw
Today at 4:07 am by Rocky
» Today, the Ministry of Commerce is preparing a new meal from the food basket
Today at 4:06 am by Rocky
» Integrity Investigation Court: Iraq combats money laundering and its procedures control the position
Today at 4:05 am by Rocky
» The Commission is preparing early for the 2025 elections...a specialized committee to modernize resu
Today at 4:03 am by Rocky
» How much is Iraq’s foreign debt worth? The Sudanese advisor answers
Today at 4:02 am by Rocky
» An Arab newspaper talks about the budget in numbers: This is the value of revenues and its deficit
Today at 4:01 am by Rocky
» Parliament sends the budget schedules to the Ministry of Justice... for this reason
Today at 4:00 am by Rocky
» utube 6/4/24 Summary / Status Iraqi Dinar ReValue IQD VND Exchange Rates
Yesterday at 8:24 am by Rocky
» The Central Bank explains the “fiscal control” mechanism contained in the budget
Yesterday at 6:42 am by Rocky
» The path to development...Iraq's economic gateway and its point of stability
Yesterday at 6:40 am by Rocky
» Announcing the establishment of the Iraqi-French Business Council on the sidelines of the Iraqi-Fren
Yesterday at 6:36 am by Rocky
» The coordination framework reveals the latest developments in the election of a new Speaker of the H
Yesterday at 6:34 am by Rocky
» In a “quick” session... Parliament votes on the 2024 budget, and controversy accompanies three parag
Yesterday at 6:32 am by Rocky
» Minister of Construction regarding encroachment on service projects: How can a citizen destroy his p
Yesterday at 6:30 am by Rocky
» Thousands of workers are dissatisfied after being laid off from work due to investment in agricultur
Yesterday at 6:29 am by Rocky
» A different vision for the budget schedules presented by an economic coalition
Yesterday at 5:13 am by Rocky
» Where is the danger in budget tables? An economist breaks it down
Yesterday at 5:12 am by Rocky
» A parliamentary movement for justice for 20,000 employees in state institutions
Yesterday at 5:09 am by Rocky
» Between Al-Halbousi and the leaders... new disputes undermine progress in Baghdad
Yesterday at 5:08 am by Rocky
» An economist confirms the possibility of Iraq entering the field of investment in oil derivatives
Yesterday at 5:07 am by Rocky
» A parliamentary question about the fate of 57 trillion dinars in the 2023 budget
Yesterday at 5:06 am by Rocky
» High central bank sales in the currency auction
Yesterday at 5:04 am by Rocky
» Al-Halbousi's party is conditioning the change of Al-Mashhadani on political dialogues
Yesterday at 5:01 am by Rocky
» Involved in wasting more than 6 billion dinars.. Iraq recovers a health official from Belarus
Yesterday at 5:00 am by Rocky
» Finance Committee after voting on the budget tables: There is financial abundance for the governorat
Yesterday at 4:59 am by Rocky
» Detailing the “secrets” of the budget...the increase in the value of salaries for 5 ministries, and
Yesterday at 4:58 am by Rocky
» Bitcoin exceeds $70,000
Yesterday at 4:57 am by Rocky
» 3 gains behind extending the oil production reduction agreement until the end of 2025
Yesterday at 4:55 am by Rocky
» Parliament Finance clarifies... What is the fate of contract employees in the 2024 budget?
Yesterday at 4:54 am by Rocky
» The Retirement Authority announces the disbursement of end-of-service benefits to more than 6,000 pe
Yesterday at 4:53 am by Rocky
» Iraq exports more than 7 million barrels of crude oil and its derivatives to America in a month
Yesterday at 4:53 am by Rocky
» Approving 36 service projects and referring them for implementation in an Iraqi governorate
Yesterday at 4:52 am by Rocky
» Nearly 80 trillion dinars disappear from the 2022 and 2023 budget.. Deputy: “No one knows where it w
Yesterday at 4:51 am by Rocky
» Kuwait: Three countries, including Iraq, pledged to fully adhere to the OPEC+ agreement
Yesterday at 4:50 am by Rocky
» What is the truth about there being a parliamentary tendency to challenge the budget schedules?
Yesterday at 4:49 am by Rocky
» By land: An Iraqi aid convoy launches to relieve the people of Gaza
Yesterday at 4:48 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani: Voting on the budget supports the government’s work
Yesterday at 4:46 am by Rocky
» Arbitrage
Yesterday at 4:44 am by Rocky