{"id":17395,"date":"2017-10-08T21:52:28","date_gmt":"2017-10-09T01:52:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=17395"},"modified":"2019-11-08T11:11:28","modified_gmt":"2019-11-08T16:11:28","slug":"montreal-canadiens-news-notes-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2017\/10\/08\/montreal-canadiens-news-notes-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Montreal Canadiens Season Underway: News and Notes October 9th"},"content":{"rendered":"

Focused on the Montreal Canadiens, News and Notes is\u00a0a weekly roundup of news, commentary, game recaps, and previews.<\/em><\/p>\n

Montreal Canadiens Season Underway<\/h1>\n

News<\/h2>\n

After an exciting shootout victory care of a sweet deke<\/a> by Jonathan Drouin<\/a><\/strong>, the Montreal Canadiens<\/a> were absolutely dominated by the Washington Capitals<\/a>\u00a0on Saturday, October 7.\u00a0Carey Price<\/a><\/strong> was pulled from the game after the first period, and\u00a0Alex Ovechkin<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0would go on to score 4 goals. It wasn’t\u00a0pretty. It certainly was not what Karl Alzner<\/a> had hoped for his return to D.C to play against his former team.<\/a><\/p>\n

After their loss in Washington, Claude<\/strong> Julien<\/strong><\/a> announced a pair of lineup changes<\/a> prior to puck drop at Madison Square Garden on Sunday. In were Torrey Mitchell<\/a> and Brandon Davidson<\/a>. Out were Ales Hemsky<\/a> and Mark Streit<\/a>.<\/p>\n

After two disallowed goals in the first period, the Habs spent too much time trying to kill penalties. While Price was exceptional, and the rest of the team looked marginally better, they lost to their playoff rivals the New York Rangers<\/a>\u00a0by a score of 2-0.<\/p>\n

In trade news, the Montreal Canadiens\u00a0<\/a>made 2 trades last week. Forward\u00a0Andreas Martinsen<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks for\u00a0Kyle Baun<\/a><\/strong>. The announcement\u00a0came down<\/a> just hours after the Habs sent\u00a0Zach Redmond<\/strong>\u00a0to the\u00a0Buffalo Sabres<\/a>\u00a0for LaSalle Quebec native,<\/a>\u00a0Nicholas Deslauriers<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Commentary<\/h2>\n

Stephen Demone<\/a> is out with his latest Habs webcomic. He wonders what Marc Bergevin plans to do during the season to\u00a0better the team with the almost $8 million free in cap space. So do fans.<\/p>\n

Brendan Kelly<\/strong> in the Montreal Gazette<\/a>\u00a0writes a reply of sorts to\u00a0Jack Todd’s <\/strong>article\u00a0last week<\/a>. \u00a0While Todd criticized the Habs “hate fans,” Kelly\u00a0is ready to\u00a0engage in a conversation about Marc Bergevin\u2019s<\/strong> plan (or lack of a plan) for the team. Kelly concludes: “I\u2019m old school. When my team loses, I\u2019m not happy. I want us to win. That\u2019s not hate. That\u2019s love.” Amen.<\/p>\n

Stu Cowan<\/strong> continues to see the promise of Victor Mete<\/a>. Cowan points out that Mete just keeps beating the odds and Canadiens coach Claude Julien is getting tired of answering questions about the teenage defenceman. Mete was solid in his first NHL game logging 18:43 of ice time, playing on the power play and finished plus-1.<\/p>\n

Think you are a fan? This couple has set the bar pretty by getting married in the Montreal Forum<\/a>. For the first time the Montreal Forum, original home to the Montreal Canadiens, hosted a wedding last weekend. Cindy Bailey and Lee Major tied the knot a few meters from center ice. Bridesmaids wore blue dresses and groomsmen sported red shirts and stood before hockey nets. O Canada was sung. Of course, it was.<\/p>\n

Predictions and Previews<\/h2>\n

The Montreal Canadiens play their\u00a0home opener on Tuesday, October 10. The Blackhawks are off to a strong\u00a0start this season<\/a>. Fans will be hoping for more shots, more goals, and better defense. Game time is 7:30 pm (EST).<\/p>\n

The Canadiens will stay in town and welcome the fast and flashy Toronto Maple Leafs<\/a> this Saturday, October 14. The Leafs have looked impressive so far this season. Leafs and Habs on a Saturday night? Nothing better.\u00a0Game time is 7:30 pm (EST).<\/p>\n

Photo:<\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>