GameDay: Panthers vs Habs Lineups, Therrien, Gallagher, Eller, Tickets

All Habs GameDay: Tuesday January 22, 2013

On this day in hockey history… 

• 1966 – Detroit’s Roger Crozier recorded his 15th career shutout as the Red Wings won 3-0 at Montreal. The Wings had to wear the jerseys of their junior team in Hamilton as their NHL jerseys had been stolen from the Forum locker room the night before.
• 1987 – A snowstorm in New Jersey delayed the game between the Devils and Flames for two hours. When it finally started, only 334 fans were on hand to see the Devils beat the Flames 7-5. The game ended at 11:44 PM.

GAMEDAY: Alex Kovalev returns to Montreal after three-point night on Saturday!

FLORIDA PANTHERS (1-1-0)	vs.	MONTREAL CANADIENS (0-1-0)
	Bell Centre, Montreal, QC 7:30 p.m. EST TV: RDS, FS-F

Projected line combinations (updated following morning skate)

MONTREAL CANADIENS

Forwards

Erik Cole – David Desharnais – Max Pacioretty
Rene Bourque - Tomas Plekanec – Brian Gionta
Brendan Gallagher - Alex Galchenyuk  -  Brandon Prust
Colby Armstrong – Ryan White - Travis Moen

Defensemen

Andrei Markov – Alexei Emelin
Josh Georges - Raphael Diaz
Francis Bouillon – Tomas Kaberle

Scratches

Lars Eller, Mike Blunden, Yannick Weber, Petteri Nokelainen

FLORIDA PANTHERS

Forwards

Tomas Fleischmann – Stephen Weiss – Scottie Upshall
Jonathan Huberdeau – Peter Mueller – Alex Kovalev
Tomas Kopecky – Shawn Matthias – Mike Santorelli
Jack Skille – Jerred Smithson – George Parros

Defensemen

Brian Campbell – Ed Jovanovski
Keaton Ellerby – Filip Kuba
Tyson Strachan – Michael Caruso

Scratches

Kris Versteeg, Sean Bergenheim, Marcel Goc, Eric Gudbranson

PROJECTED GOALTENDERS

Scott Clemmensen (Confirmed)	vs.	Carey Price (Confirmed)
First start of the season for Clemmensen		Price made 24 saves against the Leafs

(updated following morning skate)

GAMEDAY: All Habs Headlines

► Coach opens dog house: 

• When asked to explain why he chose to scratch Lars Eller for Tuesday night’s game, the Canadiens coach said simply, “No time to mess around.” Michel Therrien suggested that Eller needed to upgrade his intensity.

► Lineup notes:

• Alex Kovalev was not given much of a welcome when he returned to Ottawa last night. Expect a similar greeting when he steps on teh ice at the Bell Centre.
• Jose Theodore will be the backup in the Panthers only visit to Montreal this season. Scott Clemmensen will get his first start of the year in goal for Florida.
• Francis Bouillon struggled in the opener and has been bumped to the third defensive pairing with Tomas Kaberle.  Raphael Diaz will be paired with Josh Gorges.
• Alex Galchenyuk will get a chance to play his natural center position with Brandon Prust and Brendan Gallagher, making his NHL debut.

► Insight on Habs Tickets:

It isn’t very often that hockey fans hear the term “bounce-back year” being associated with the Montreal Canadiens. On the contrary, the storied franchise, nicknamed the “Habs,” typically reigns over the Northeast standings, blending skill upfront with grit and puck movement on the blueline and acrobatics in net.

Last year in Montreal, however, events took a different course with the team’s most disappointing seasons in recent memory. Not to be dismayed, always faithful Habs fans are chomping at the bit to fill the Bell Centre back up for the NHL’s shortened–but highly-anticipated–2013 season. The fans eagerness is justified, too. Newcomer Rene Bourque and draftee Alex Galchenyuk bring new promise to the historic franchise.

• At the Bell in 2013, Habs fans will notice a slight discount on Montreal Canadiens tickets . According to data compiled by TiqIQ, the average price for a ticket in 2013 at the Bell Centre will be $231, a 7 per cent drop from last season when the average rate was $249. Still, at $231 per seat, the Habs own the third most expensive NHL tickets around the league.
• Those figures are averages, and when well-known teams come to town to compete in signature rivalry matchups, ticket prices can skyrocket. On February 23 against the New York Rangers, average prices reach $290 with a get-in price of $132. This is similar to the $300 average price tag attached to the Canadiens’ April 15th matchup against the Flyers, and their April 20^th game against the Capitals ($318/seat).
• The Habs’ signature rivalry, of course, is with the Boston Bruins. Tickets for that game, on April 6, are the most expensive of the season averaging $360. Slightly less expensive is their March 2 matchup with the Pittsburgh Penguins. That game will run fans an average of $355.

And remember, for some deals on upcoming Canadiens tickets, check out TiqIQ’s partner, ScoreBig .

► New at All Habs Hockey Magazine and Hockey Pub:

• The Good, the Bad and the Season Opener
• Up Close with Josh Gorges: A Respected, Dedicated Leader
• Puck the Bunny Predicts: Montreal Canadiens vs Florida Panthers [VIDEO]
• P.K. Subban ne mérite pas moins de 4 millions
• All Habs Headlines: New Lines, Eller, Gallagher, Around the League, Archambault, Bulldogs
• Catching the Torch: Collberg is Clutch
• Carey Price is Groin to be Alright
• Help Publish: Montreal Canadiens – Stanley Cup Champions
• Maple Leafs vs Canadiens: More than a Memory, More than One Man
• Leafs – CH: Trop peu, trop tard

► Puck’s take:

• Need to know who will win tonight? Puck the Bunny’s prediction is here.

(Feature Photo: John Morstad)

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Tags: Alex Kovalev, Brendan Gallagher, featured, Florida Panthers, Game day, Habs, Jonathan Huberdeau, Lars Eller, Michel Therrien, Montreal Canadiens, NHL, Tickets

Category: All Habs news, Game preview