Canadiens: Desperate Islanders Should Be Quite A Challenge

After losing a must-win game in regulation against the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday night, the Montreal Canadiens ’ lead over the Wings and the Boston Bruins has disappeared. All three teams have 84 points, but the Habs remain in third place in the Atlantic Division since they have a game in hand. However, Detroit and Boston will face off tonight, meaning one of them will have two more points, and the other could have one as well, should the game not finish in regulation.

In other words, Montreal needs the two points, but Saturday night’s visitors do as well. The New York Islanders are currently ninth in the Eastern Conference, just one point behind the Wings and Bruins, meaning Patrick Roy’s men should be playing with desperation tonight. The team that wants it more will come out on top, and if the Canadiens can’t play with urgency in those circumstances, one can wonder when they will.

Canadiens Dobson Isn’t Afraid To Sacrifice His Body Canadiens’ St-Louis: Laine Is Not An Option Canadiens: Big Mistakes Lead To Costly Defeat The Isles are 6-4-0 in their last 10 games, while the Habs are 5-4-1 and both teams have lost their last game. New York has won the only game between the two sides this season, a 4-3 overtime win thanks to a Jean-Gabriel Pageau goal. Samuel Montembeault and Ilya Sorokin were in the net for their respective team.

Neither team has confirmed who will get the start in net, but given the importance of the tilt, it would be shocking if Roy didn’t elect to go with Sorokin. The Russian netminder has a 6-0-2 record against the Habs with a 1. 83 goals-against average and a .