Cornwall ON – I don’t think Habs coach Jacques Martin can expect Mike Komiserek to get four penalties tonight as he did last year. I do expect at least one scrap which the Leafs will lose.
The 2010/11 NHL season kicks off tonight! In true Original Six tradition the Habs take on the Leafs in Toronto. A lot of question marks fill both teams and Montreal is playing without its two best veteran defenes men. Andrei Markov and Roman Hamrlik both are still with wounded knees and goalie Carey Price having the flu has given Alex Auld the test of his NHL careeer. If he flops tonight it will not bode well for his season en les bleu, blanc, et rouges.
The good news for Montreal is…..well there’s a lot of optimism and hope for PK Subban. Brian Gionta and Scott Gomez are health. It’s not the play offs so Tomas Plekanec should have a great game, and the Habs do have a lot of depth and competition.
Newcomer Lars Ellers will spell my favorite Hab Mike Cammallierri who’s out one game for being Mike Cammallieri.
Montreal will need some games to figure out if Benoit Pouliot wants to play. If Andrei Kostitsyn wants to play for Montreal? If Lars Eller is a player, and if the depth guys can actually give them some depth. Some pundits are marking off the Habs, but I think there’s talent there. Depending on injuries, and that’s a real worry with this squad, with average goaltending they just may nab a play off spot.
In Toronto the pressure is on Brian Burke and his rebuild which he’s done from goal to Defense. The Leafs have a super D corps. The question comes down to can they have any sort of punch up front to keep the puck in the offensive end and hit the back of the net.
Right now other than Phil Kessell the jury is out.
Puck drops at 7PM.
In other NHL games The Calgary Flames, who may not have much heat take on the Day care centre in Edmonton as the battle of Alberta resumes. Chicago starts its defense of Lord Stanley’s cup against the Colorado Avalanche; Philly takes on the Penguins which should be the number two game of the night, and Carolina has already defeated the Minnesota not so Wild who went winless in pre-season.
What are your fearless predictions Hockey fans? You can post your comments below.
