Canadiens Need To Show Some Killer Instinct

After coming out flat against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday night, the Montreal Canadiens will need to bounce right back as they take on the New York Islanders at 6 PM on Sunday. For a second night in a row, the Habs’ opponent will be desperate to stay alive in the playoff race, and with the Philadelphia Flyers having a three-point lead in the final spot available, the Islanders cannot afford to lose. Meanwhile, the Canadiens must also win to secure home-ice advantage in the postseason.

The stakes are high for both teams, but it’s a matter of life and death for the Isles. The Tricolore flew to New York on Saturday night after the game, and there won’t be a morning skate or a media availability before the game, which means that we won’t know more about Noah Dobson’s status until the teams hit the ice for warmup. One can wonder if he even joined the team after he appeared to block a shot with his hand, something we’ve seen in the past in Montreal, which cost Brendan Gallagher a lot of games back in 2015 (on a Johnny Boychuk shot) and in 2017 (when he caught some friendly fire from Shea Weber ).

If Dobson did suffer that kind of injury, it would be a terrible blow to the Canadiens with the playoffs right around the corner. Canadiens Outworked By The Blue Jackets Breaking: Canadiens Prospect Hage Will Remain In NCAA According To Friedman Canadiens’ Prospect Playing Pivotal Role For WHL Team In The Playoffs The Sainte-Flanelle has faced the New Yorkers twice this season, and each team has won one game. The Isles won 4-3 in overtime in February, while the Canadiens eviscerated the Isles’ defense in a 7-3 triumph in March.

Neither team has confirmed who will man the net tonight, but Jakub Dobes and Ilya Sorokin were both in action on Saturday night. Chances are that Martin St-Louis will opt for Jacob Fowler. Still, considering the Islanders’ precarious position, it’s not out of the question that Peter DeBoer will bet on Sorokin yet again.