PREMIUM
GAME OF THE MONTH (Rogers' 10* NHL) >> 8-3 L11 NHL!
(NHL) Carolina vs. Montreal,
Money Line: -186.00 Montreal (Home)
Result: Loss
Money Line: -186.00 Montreal (Home)
Result: Loss
The set-up: The 31-27-13 Carolina Hurricanes extended their point streak to eight games (5-0-3) with Tuesday's 4-3 win at Florida but they remain seven points out of the second wild card spot in the East, with two teams between them and Bruthe ins. The 41-23-9 Montreal Canadiens are comfortably in the playoffs, leading the Atlantic Division with 91 points. However, despite sweeping a home-and-home set against Ottawa over the weekend in a showdown for first place in the Atlantic Division, the Canadiens still haven't shook the Senators, who have 88 points.
Carolina: The Hurricanes still have a playoff 'pulse' but time is running out. Carolina hasn't lost since March 9 (5-0-3) and has gotten contributions from "everyone" according to Jeff Skinner. "When you go on a run, you're going to have to win different ways and have to have guys step up on different nights and get key plays at key times in games. For us, goaltenders Eddie (Lack) and Wardo (Cam Ward) have had some real good games in that stretch, and special teams have been a factor." Skinner has an eight-game point streak, including five goals in the last three games, heading into tonight's contest.
Montreal: The Canadiens are coming off a 2-1 overtime loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday but in this final stretch, Montreal will only face one team (Ottawa on Saturday) currently in a playoff position. Claude Julien was relieved of his coaching duties at Boston on Feb. 7th (Bruins were 26-23-6 at the time). However, he was hired by Montreal on Feb. 14th, after Michel Therrien was relieved of his head coaching duties with the Candiens. Incredibly, this marks the second time in Canadiens franchise history Julien has replaced Therrien (the first time being during the 2002-03 regular season). It seems to have worked well, as Montreal is 10-4-1 since he's taken over.
The pick: Very tough spot here for the Hurricanes, who are 10-17-9 on the road, where they've allowed 3.11 GPG. In contrast, the Canadiens are 21-10-5 at home, allowing 2.08 GPG. Make Montreal a 10* play.
Carolina: The Hurricanes still have a playoff 'pulse' but time is running out. Carolina hasn't lost since March 9 (5-0-3) and has gotten contributions from "everyone" according to Jeff Skinner. "When you go on a run, you're going to have to win different ways and have to have guys step up on different nights and get key plays at key times in games. For us, goaltenders Eddie (Lack) and Wardo (Cam Ward) have had some real good games in that stretch, and special teams have been a factor." Skinner has an eight-game point streak, including five goals in the last three games, heading into tonight's contest.
Montreal: The Canadiens are coming off a 2-1 overtime loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday but in this final stretch, Montreal will only face one team (Ottawa on Saturday) currently in a playoff position. Claude Julien was relieved of his coaching duties at Boston on Feb. 7th (Bruins were 26-23-6 at the time). However, he was hired by Montreal on Feb. 14th, after Michel Therrien was relieved of his head coaching duties with the Candiens. Incredibly, this marks the second time in Canadiens franchise history Julien has replaced Therrien (the first time being during the 2002-03 regular season). It seems to have worked well, as Montreal is 10-4-1 since he's taken over.
The pick: Very tough spot here for the Hurricanes, who are 10-17-9 on the road, where they've allowed 3.11 GPG. In contrast, the Canadiens are 21-10-5 at home, allowing 2.08 GPG. Make Montreal a 10* play.
