Montreal goes for record-tying 10th straight win to start season
If there can be a big NHL game in October, it’s taking place Tuesday night in Vancouver (10 p.m. ET), where the Montreal Canadiens will attempt to win their 10th consecutive game to start the season, which would match the league record.
Canadiens defenceman P.K. Subban said on Monday that it’s “just another game” and added, “Our goal is not to break records, it’s to win a Stanley Cup. I think we’ll save the champagne or whatever anyone expects us to do for another day.”
Montreal has trailed for less than three minutes for the entire season and allowed more than two goals for the first time in Saturday’s 5-3 victory over Toronto. The Canadiens will be facing a desperate opponent in the Canucks (3-2-3), who are 0-2-2 entering the finale of a five-game homestand.
“It’s not fun when you have a homestand like this,” Vancouver centre Brandon Sutter said.
In the last 10 meetings, the Canadiens hold a 7-3-0 advantage. However, in the last dozen games played in Vancouver, the Habs are only 3-9-0.
You might expect a close game because the Canucks have played four consecutive one-goal games during their homestand, losing twice in regulation and twice in overtime. The Canadiens have been averaging nearly four goals a game while allowing 1.25 per contest.
Canadiens seeing opponents’ best
Montreal netminder Carey Price, the reigning Hart and Vezina Trophy winner, improved to 7-0-0 despite facing a 52-shot barrage from Toronto, which coach Michel Therrien said is a sign of things to come.
“We have to be aware of something: From now on, we are going to see the best from every hockey team,” Therrien said. “That’s a huge challenge mentally to be at the top at this time of the year.”
Price, who has surrendered a total of nine goals in his seven starts, owns a 6-1-2 record with a 2.19 goals-against average versus Vancouver.
Canucks’ Prust knows Habs well
Forward Brandon Prust, who spent the past three seasons with the Canadiens prior to being traded to Vancouver in the off-season, is well aware of the challenge awaiting his club.
“It’s a good squad over there, from the back all the way up. They’re off to a good start and we’re going to try and ruin it for them [Tuesday] night,” Prust said. “Playing a team that is 9-0-0, we’ve got a lot to prove.”
Oddly enough, the Canucks are a perfect 3-0-0 on the road but have yet to win in five home games (0-2-3), losing each by one goal.
Overtime
- Captain Max Pacioretty has a team-high seven goals and 11 points for the Canadiens, who feature four players with at least 10 points.
- Canucks G Ryan Miller is 26-12-6 with a 2.33 GAA versus Montreal.
- The Canadiens are 6-for-14 on the power play over the past four games.
- Miller was the goaltender for the Sabres when they tied the NHL record for consecutive wins in 2006-07, first set by the 1993-94 Maple Leafs.
Source: www.cbc.ca/sports