UnderDogX Posted April 8, 2006 Share Posted April 8, 2006 (edited) New Jersey Devils (40-27-9) at Montreal Canadiens (40-27-9). In a crucial Eastern Conference showdown, the Montreal Canadiens seek their ninth consecutive win when they host a New Jersey Devils team looking for its sixth straight victory. Montreal and New Jersey are tied for sixth in the conference with six games remaining, while eighth-place Tampa Bay is just two points back of both clubs. The Canadiens extended their winning streak to eight - their longest since a similar run from Oct. 24-Nov. 11, 1992, and four behind the franchise record of 12 set in 1967-68 - with a 5-3 victory over Ottawa on Thursday. Mike Ribeiro had a goal and two assists, and Christopher Higgins and Saku Koivu each had a goal and an assist to back goaltender David Aebischer's 44 saves. Aebischer, acquired in a trade that sent Jose Theodore to Colorado on March 8, broke a streak of allowing five goals in each of his last three starts. "When you come in and you don't play the way you should it's frustrating, especially after a trade," Aebischer said. Higgins, second on the team with 21 goals in his rookie season, has eight tallies in his last eight games. New Jersey has outscored its opponents 19-10 during its win streak, including a 6-4 win over Pittsburgh in the back end of a home-and-home series on Wednesday. Patrik Elias had three goals and two assists, and Scott Gomez contributed a goal and three assists as the Devils reached 40 wins for the ninth straight season. "Patty took over right from the get-go," Gomez said. "We need that. That's his job. He's a goal-scorer. He's had tons of chances in recent games. When he got that first one, you could tell he was on a roll." Brian Gionta had an assist to extend his point streak to nine games. In those contests, the Devils' leading scorer has six goals and six assists. Following this game, the Canadiens host Ottawa, play at Buffalo and Boston, and then return home to meet the Sabres and Devils. New Jersey's remaining schedule is also tough with matchups against the New York Rangers, Carolina and back-to-back home games with Philadelphia before visiting Montreal in the finale. -------------------------------------------------------------------LINK------------------ STANDINGS: Devils - 89 points, 3rd place, 9 PB, Atlantic Division. Canadiens - 89 points, 3rd place, 19 PB, Northeast Division. TEAM LEADERS: Devils - Gionta, 42 goals and 76 points; Gomez, 45 assists; Cam Janssen, 91 PIM. Canadiens - Michael Ryder, 29 goals; Koivu, 42 assists; Alexei Kovalev and Koivu, 59 points; Todd Simpson, 125 PIM. SPECIAL TEAMS: Devils - Power play: 17.5 percent (72 for 411), 18th (tied) in NHL. Penalty killing: 81.7 percent (268 for 328), 18th. Canadiens - Power play: 19.8 percent (86 for 435), 5th. Penalty killing: 80.7 percent (369 for 457), 23rd. GOALTENDERS: Devils - Martin Brodeur (37-23-7, 5 SO, 2.62 GAA); Scott Clemmensen (3-4-2, 3.35). Canadiens - Cristobal Huet (18-8-4, 7, 2.09); Aebischer (27-16-2, 3, 3.12). SEASON SERIES: Devils, 2-0. LAST MEETING: Jan. 5; Devils, 5-4. At East Rutherford, N.J., Elias had two goals and two assists in just his second game back since recovering from Hepatitis A. Higgins had a goal and an assist for Montreal. ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Devils - 16-16-6 on the road; Canadiens - 23-10-4 at home. Edited April 8, 2006 by UnderDogX Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pattyelias Posted April 8, 2006 Share Posted April 8, 2006 Huge game tonight so of course the girlfriend had to make dinner reservations at 9:30. At least I'll get to see the first two periods (trying to put some positive spin on this). Let's go Devils!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thefiestygoat Posted April 8, 2006 Share Posted April 8, 2006 Go Devils! They will win! This should be a very good game to watch, I expect a lot of quality hockey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Posted April 8, 2006 Share Posted April 8, 2006 Damn right this game is important. The standings are secondary. I'm referring of course to the fact that I'm going to be watching the game with Habs fans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devil Fan Posted April 8, 2006 Share Posted April 8, 2006 This game reminds me of a gamebetween the Devils and the Oilers back in 2000-01. Prior to the game, the OIlers are unbeaten in the last 9 games (8W and 1 tie) whereas the Devils are winning 8 straight game (that is the franchise record 13 W straight). Go back into the game, the Oilers struck twice after the first period but the Devils fought back and was leading 5-4 in the late third. Unfortunately, an Oiler scored and sentthis game into OT. Elias, with 2 goals already, stepped up again as he one-timed the Arnott pass from the middle of the two big faceoff circles and won the game to end the OIlers' unbeaten streak and extended the Devils' winning streak to 9 (Salo was clueless after that goal). An encore tonight??? Another 3G night for "HATTRICK ELIAS"???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annabelle Posted April 8, 2006 Share Posted April 8, 2006 LETS GO BIATCHES!!!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven M. Posted April 8, 2006 Share Posted April 8, 2006 GO DEVILS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devils731 Posted April 8, 2006 Share Posted April 8, 2006 Well I feel awful today so cheer me up Devils! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DevilsMJ Posted April 8, 2006 Share Posted April 8, 2006 No TV in Ithaca as usual. At least I can watch the Sabres play the sens and the isles play the caps... oh wait they'll black that one out too. LET'S GO DEVILS!!!!!!!!!!!! LET'S GO BRUINS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandman441 Posted April 8, 2006 Share Posted April 8, 2006 I'll be in chat as usual. I will try not to forget to bump the lucky thread over on HFboards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
devils26 Posted April 8, 2006 Share Posted April 8, 2006 LETS GO DEVILS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elias2600 Posted April 8, 2006 Share Posted April 8, 2006 I think this is going to be a great game. two on fire teams, even in the standings, pride on the line. what a matchup at the end of the season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annabelle Posted April 8, 2006 Share Posted April 8, 2006 so halfway through the first period i realize that hey, i can watch this game!! What's better than Devils hockey? DEVILS HOCKEY IN FRENCH!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zibook Posted April 8, 2006 Share Posted April 8, 2006 GIONTA !!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annabelle Posted April 8, 2006 Share Posted April 8, 2006 GOMEZ!!! sorry or was that Gio? lmao who cares..it's a goal! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brodeurfanatic Posted April 8, 2006 Share Posted April 8, 2006 2min 5 on 3. Big penalty to kill before end of 1st! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HellOnICE Posted April 8, 2006 Share Posted April 8, 2006 F U KLEE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
devilsfan26 Posted April 8, 2006 Share Posted April 8, 2006 Way to go Klee!! We have a delayed penalty on us, so let's take another penalty! Two minute 5 on 3 for Montreal now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annabelle Posted April 8, 2006 Share Posted April 8, 2006 lookit Klee helping the team...o wait, no he's not..boo to klee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vinnie Posted April 8, 2006 Share Posted April 8, 2006 Klee is a retard but he didn't slash him, he high-sticked him and he fell on his knee...but why is he playing ahead of Hale/Albelin? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mddevsfan Posted April 8, 2006 Share Posted April 8, 2006 Anyone else think that Begin injury was karma getting him back for trying to sell that high-stick? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thefiestygoat Posted April 8, 2006 Share Posted April 8, 2006 Marty Imagine that first period without him. He is on fire tonight! Parise-Gomez-Gionta and anyone on the penalty kill. Weird first period. NJ had some good chances despite being outshot. They need to stop taking penalties. Eventaully Montreal will capatilize. 4 penalties to 0 so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chimaira_Devil_#9 Posted April 8, 2006 Share Posted April 8, 2006 WHY OH WHY is Hale not playing, he was showing sings of really developing, and we are wasting him by playing Klee, i dont hate the guy as some of you guys do on this site, but he is really starting to pi$$ me off with dumb a$$ plays. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vinnie Posted April 9, 2006 Share Posted April 9, 2006 2nd PP coming up...hopefully it's not as pathetic as the first one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ev0lemi Posted April 9, 2006 Share Posted April 9, 2006 geez when he does that coast to coast stuff its just gorgeous! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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