Florida Panthers at Montreal Canadiens: Game 8 Preview
by John Beatty on Oct 24, 2011 3:00 PM EDT
in Florida Panthers Game Previews: '11-12
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PrintFlorida: 4-3-0 (8PTS)
Montreal: 1-4-2 (4PTS)
Season Series: 0-0-0
Game Time: 7:30 PM EDT
Television: Fox Sports Florida, RDS
Radio: 560 WQAM
Despite back to back shutout losses to the Capitals and Sabres last week, the Panthers are off to their best start in three seasons. Tonight they find themselves facing a Canadiens team that has one win in seven games and is sitting at the bottom of the Eastern Conference. Fans are unhappy and already calling for the coach to be fired. That coach? Former Panthers bench boss and general manager Jacques Martin. Martin was fired as coach after three seasons of missing the playoffs by a couple of points, but inexplicably kept as general manager. He hired his own replacement, Peter DeBoer, and then headed off to coach the Canadiens at the end of the following season. It is an interesting turn that the Panthers could possibly be the team that pushes Martin out of the job he took when he left them.
More from our Montreal cohorts at Habs Eyes On The Prize.
Panthers vs Canadiens coverage coverage at SB Nation.
TSN preview.
LBC Game Thread will open one hour prior to puck drop.
News and Notes
Last meeting
The Panthers were shut out 4-0 at home by Carey Price in early March. Hal Gill scoreg the game winner. Gill's previous goal was a season earlier, also at Florida. Goaltender Tomas Vokoun let in two goals on three shots and was replaced by Scott Clemmensen.
Last game
When Tim Kennedy and Bracken Kearns remained on the roster after Thursday's loss against the Sabres, fans and the media assumed that the team didn't expect Shawn Matthias (illness) and Sean Bergenheim (core injury) back in the lineup. But Dale Tallon decided his team needed a wake up call after being shut out two games in a row and was working on a trade. Kennedy would take Bergenheim's place as he missed his second game with a core injury, but fan favorite David Booth was told right before warm-ups that he'd been traded to Vancouver and Bracken Kearns took his spot in the lineup. The Panthers responded by beating the Islanders 4-2 at home, on the strength of a three point night from Matthias, who had an empty net goal and assists on a goal by Matt Bradley and on Kennedy's game winner. Goaltender Jacob Markstrom started the third period in relief of an ailing Jose Theodore and stood strong against an 18 shot Islander onslaught to get his first NHL win.
Lineup
New Panther Marco Sturm (16) joined the Panthers in Montreal today. New Panther Mikael Samuelsson (26) has some minor injuries and is staying in Vancouver and working out for a few days. Sean Bergenheim's injury is worse than originally thought and he has not made the road trip. Mike Santorelli skated on the fourth line in the morning skate and will play in the game. Tim Kennedy, called up on Thursday, remains on the roster while Bracken Kearns has been returned to San Antonio.
Injuries
- G Scott Clemmensen (knee), 9/26, 3-8 weeks
- F Sean Bergenheim (core), 10/20, 1-2 weeks
- F Mikael Samuelsson (unknown), 10/24, day to day
Scratches
- D Keaton Ellerby (healthy)
- F Ryan Carter (healthy)
Starting goaltenders:
Jose Theodore left Saturday's game with an unspecified injury. Although Jacob Markstrom is expected to start tonight, both goalies practiced and Coach Dineen has not named a starter for the game. The Canadiens, who have yet to win at home, will change things up and give Peter Budaj his first start at Bell Centre this evening.
Lines (from morning skate)
Forwards
- Fleischmann-Weiss-Versteeg
- Kopecky-Goc-Upshall
- Matthias-Kennedy-Bradley
- Sturm-Santorelli-Skille
Defense
- Campbell-Garrison
- Jovanovski-Gudbranson
- Kulikov-Weaver
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Hoping Santorelli picks up where he left off last season and gets moved up a couple of lines.
Steve Diaz
Twitter - @sdiaz6215
if the Panthers push Martin out of a job I would be so happy
by Todd Little on Oct 24, 2011 3:30 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Pretty off topic
Listening to a few kevin dineen interviews, is it only me or does anyone else notice that his voice sounds pretty similar to that of tom hanks?
Sturm Santorelli and Skille together can potentially help sturm out of whatever slump hes been in that Ive heard about which is good… but as well as Santorelli has played is it right to change his linemates? I’m sure he’ll play just fine but I always thought if it’s not broke don’t fix it..
Also interesting to see Ellerby is once again dropped from the lineup
by Rob PKane McMahon on Oct 24, 2011 4:10 PM EDT reply actions
Gonna have to be a remedy to the Ellerby issue soon. Not fair to anyone.
Litter Box Cats - Your tarp-free Florida Panthers Colossus
by Donny Rivette on Oct 24, 2011 4:43 PM EDT up reply actions
Remedy may be for Guds to go back down. I haven’t heard any scuttlebutt about this but in my opinion he isn’t really making much of an impact out there. He hasn’t looked bad mind you, he just hasn’t looked that good either. I think he would be better off with another year in junior.
I really wish the NHL, AHL and CHL could work something out for players like Guds who have outgrown Junior but are not quite ready for a full time NHL gig. Maybe one Junior age prospect per team per year could be assigned to the AHL for a small salary that would not count against his ELC. I don’t know just spit balling but it seems to me the player suffers in this scenario.
Harvey summed it up perfectly, re: Guds
Sending Gudbranson [down] would be cost effective for the Panthers, however, it could break this young man’s spirit. He has nothing more to prove in juniors where he could do some major damage to 16-year-old hopefuls. Playing alongside veteran Ed Jovanovski is the perfect scenario to learn good habits on the job.
Litter Box Cats - Your tarp-free Florida Panthers Colossus
by Donny Rivette on Oct 24, 2011 4:59 PM EDT up reply actions
I’ll hold the bunker door open for you when the missiles are launched.
Litter Box Cats - Your tarp-free Florida Panthers Colossus
by Donny Rivette on Oct 24, 2011 5:17 PM EDT up reply actions
I’ve posted this before but if Kingston traded his rights to a contender maybe having the the OHL playoffs and potentially the Memorial Cup as well as the WJC to look forward to would make going down a little easier to bear for him and at the same time be good for his development. I’m not saying he should go down but it’s an option worth exploring.
whether he’s on a contender or not he’ll still be on a team knocking 150lb 16 yr olds around like theyre nothing opposed to gaining experience he needs in the NHL
by Rob PKane McMahon on Oct 24, 2011 5:27 PM EDT up reply actions
I kind of hope Guds doesn't get sent down.
It makes a lot of sense in many respects but I don’t know if that would make him start hating the franchise. I know it’s a silly thing to think about, but I remember how badly the Bouwmeester situation went and don’t want the Panthers to make a habit out of mishandling star defensemen.
The way I see it, Bouwmeester had all the wrong pieces around him from the start, from management to coaching to players.
The club culture was such that “development” was a dirty word; draft the best you can and get it into the lineup immediately.
There was no plan for success; it was all based upon the ridiculous hope that one of those kids would turn out to be a superstar RIGHT NOW.
Litter Box Cats - Your tarp-free Florida Panthers Colossus
by Donny Rivette on Oct 24, 2011 5:38 PM EDT up reply actions
hope we don't lose him
Love Ellerby. He deserves to play. Who was it he undressed in the Sabres game?
But then who’s gonna sit? Or be traded??
CFS93
by chesterbardo on Oct 24, 2011 4:52 PM EDT up reply actions
it’s his first game. I’m sure they have him starting out on the fourth to limit his minutes as he rounds back into game shape.
I had a dream last night that both the Canadiens goaltenders Injured in tonights game…Should lead to an interesting game.
Ya know they honestly have backup plans (no pun intended) for those type of scenarios.. I believe one time way back Beezer went down to an injury and Fitzpatrick came in.. a few minutes later the trainer was out to check on Fitz after he took a hit and went down.. he popped back up and was ok to go but reporters asked about it after the game and I think Laus said he could have been the guy they went to as he had played goalie when he was younger and would possibly have been the least missed skating wise on the team
by Rob PKane McMahon on Oct 24, 2011 5:30 PM EDT up reply actions
Right you are, Ive heard that scenario myself. Brett Clark was always the Avs emergency goalie.
I’m putting here for reflection later on in the season…. #14 Tomas [Fleischmann] is getting a 40G season. FLASH COUNT: 1G/3A
by RPC on Sep 17, 2011 5:20 PM MDT
Find me on Twidduh And look at my Marmots
by Chris S Roberts on Oct 24, 2011 11:45 PM EDT up reply actions
Dare I say it but...
Do you think we have enough depth at D that Talon can make another trade? It appears that there a quite a few teams that could use a D. Maybe we can get more than fair vlue back in return.
no, I wouldn’t pull the trigger on something like tha yet. Guds still can go back to Junior and if he didn’t I would want to wait awhile to properly evaluate the D-man in San Antonio.
Good thing I’m here to do that for you. There’s no one in San Antonio that you want playing full time in the NHL. The Vets are just placeholders and the only rookie that stands out is Robak.
by Alexander Calloway on Oct 24, 2011 5:27 PM EDT up reply actions
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