GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NHL: MONTREAL (4-4) at CAROLINA (6-4)

NHL: MONTREAL at CAROLINA

<div class="pre">-----------------------------------------
MONTREAL 5 1 1 --7
CAROLINA 1 1 2 --4
-----------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Montreal, Kyle Chipchura 2 (Andrei Markov,
Tom Kostopoulos), 3:18. 2, Montreal, Tomas Plekanec 2 (power play)
(Guillaume Latendresse, Mark Streit), 8:40. 3, Carolina, Jeff Hamilton
4 (Eric Staal, Cory Stillman), 11:21. 4, Montreal, Alexei Kovalev 5
(power play) (Andrei Markov, Tomas Plekanec), 12:20. 5, Montreal, Saku
Koivu 3 (power play) (Unassisted), 18:06. 6, Montreal, Mark Streit 2
(power play) (Roman Hamrlik, Tomas Plekanec), 18:36. Penalties: M
Grabovski, Mon (holding), 5:14; T Letowski, Car (tripping), 8:09; M
Commodore, Car (hooking), 11:53; F Kaberle, Car (hooking), 16:19; G
Wesley, Car (delay of game), 17:30; T Kostopoulos, Mon (major
fighting), 18:38; C Adams, Car (major fighting), 18:38.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 7, Carolina, Eric Staal 8 (penalty shot),
14:46. 8, Montreal, Tomas Plekanec 3 (power play) (Patrice Brisebois,
Guillaume Latendresse), 16:20. Penalties: M Cullen, Car (cross
checking), 2:52; B Hedican, Car (high sticking), 8:34; A Kovalev, Mon
(tripping), 10:46; F Bouillon, Mon (roughing), 13:55; R Bayda, Car
(roughing), 13:55; J Williams, Car (roughing), 15:58; M Komisarek, Mon
(tripping), 18:04.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 9, Carolina, Ray Whitney 5 (Keith Aucoin, Matt
Cullen), 4:18. 10, Carolina, Rod Brind'Amour 3 (Justin Williams,
Frantisek Kaberle), 18:21. 11, Montreal, Mathieu Dandenault 2
(shorthanded) (Saku Koivu, Mike Komisarek), 19:09. Penalties: M
Streit, Mon (interference), 11:25; J Grahame, Car (delay of game
served by J Hamilton), 13:54; B Smolinski, Mon (unsportsmanlike cond),
18:21.

Shots on goal:
----------------------------------------
MONTREAL 15 6 9 --30
CAROLINA 14 14 8 --36
----------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: MON - 5 of 8, CAR - 0 of 5. Goalies :
Montreal, Cristobal Huet (36 shots, 32 saves; record: 4-1-2).
Carolina, Cam Ward (14 shots, 9 saves; record: 6-1-2), John Grahame
(20:00 of 2nd period, 15, 14). A: 16,796. Referees: Rob Martell, Tim
Peel. Linesmen: Brad Kovachik, Brian Murphy.

INDIVIDUAL PLAYER STATISTICS

MONTREAL CAROLINA
G A +/- Shots G A +/- Shots
S Koivu 1 1 even 2 J Williams 0 1 +1 2
T Plekanec 2 2 -1 3 K Aucoin 0 1 +1 2
B Smolinski 0 0 -1 4 E Staal 1 1 +1 4
C Higgins 0 0 -1 3 R Whitney 1 0 even 4
S Begin 0 0 +1 0 R Brind'Amour 1 0 even 3
M Dandenault 1 0 even 2 R Bayda 0 0 -1 0
A Kovalev 1 0 -1 3 T Letowski 0 0 -1 4
K Chipchura 1 0 +1 1 G Wesley 0 0 +1 1
M Streit 1 1 even 4 M Commodore 0 0 +1 0
R Hamrlik 0 1 even 2 C Adams 0 0 -1 1
F Bouillon 0 0 -1 1 D Seidenberg 0 0 +1 3
M Grabovski 0 0 -1 1 T Gleason 0 0 even 3
T Kostopoulos 0 1 +1 0 F Kaberle 0 1 even 0
P Brisebois 0 1 -1 1 J Hamilton 1 0 even 2
M Ryder 0 0 -1 1 C LaRose 0 0 +1 1
A Markov 0 2 even 1 B Hedican 0 0 +1 2
M Komisarek 0 1 even 0 C Stillman 0 1 even 2
G Latendresse 0 2 -1 1 M Cullen 0 1 even 2
G Murray BROKEN FOOT D Tanabe HEALTHY
J Gorges HEALTHY N Wallin GROIN
A Kostsitsyn HEALTHY E Cole FOOT INJURY</div>

 

NHL: MONTREAL at CAROLINA

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NHL
MONTREAL 7
CAROLINA 4</div>

 

Re: NHL: MONTREAL (4-4) at CAROLINA (6-4)

Five goals in the first period for a 7 - 4 win isn't bad. The power play has treated us nicely this year.</p>

 

RALEIGH, North Carolina (Ticker) -- Tomas Plekanec providedquite a power surge for the Montreal Canadiens on Friday.

Plekanec had two goals and two assists - all on the power play -as the Canadiens scored five times with the man advantage enroute to a 7-4 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes.

Winners of three straight, the Canadiens have 16 power-playtallies on 49 opportunities this season.


"I don't think we're doing anything extra than what we did lastyear," Plekanec said of his team's success on the power play."We want to put the puck on net and get the rebounds and tipsand just hang around the net."


Plekanec said the puck was simply bouncing the Canadiens' wayduring the first period.


"We were passing the puck, shooting the puck, hanging around thenet to get rebounds," Plekanec said. "It paid off tonight."

After rookie Kyle Chipchura opened the scoring 3:18 into thefirst period with an even-strength goal, Plekanec began thepower-play barrage by gathering a rebound and scoring at 8:40.

Alexei Kovalev, playing in his 1,000th career game, followedwith a power-play tally from the right faceoff circle just underthree minutes later.


"We try to skate and not stay still, trying to find the seamsand openings," Kovalev said of his team's success with the manadvantage. "We take shots from the blue line and get thoserebounds, which has been really good in front of the net sofar."


Kovalev, 34, joined teammates Bryan Smolinski and defensemanRoman Hamrlik in reaching the milestone this season. In doingso, the Russian also became the 222nd player to skate in 1,000games in the NHL.


Montreal used a 5-on-3 power play to quickly double its lead.Captain Saku Koivu and defenseman Mark Streit scored 30 secondsapart to give the Canadiens a 5-1 bulge.


Canadiens coach Guy Carbonneau credited his team's ability toget the puck toward the net on Friday.


"You can pass it around for two minutes and if you don't shooton net, nothing opens up," Carbonneau said. "Just by shootingthe puck a lot, it opened up other options."


Eric Staal, who assisted on Jeff Hamilton's first-period goal,converted a penalty shot with 5:14 remaining in the secondperiod to draw the Hurricanes within 5-2.


Plekanec's second tally resulted after defenseman PatriceBrisebois' shot missed the net entirely but bounced off the endboards and right to the center, who was stationed just to theside of the net. Plekanec slammed it home to give Montreal a6-2 cushion with 3:40 remaining in the session.


Ray Whitney scored just over four minutes into the third, andcaptain Rod Brind'Amour extended his points streak to eightgames by tallying with 99 seconds remaining, making it atwo-goal game.


Mathieu Dandenault, however, ended the threat with anempty-netter with 51 seconds remaining.


As one would expect, Carolina coach Peter Laviolette was notpleased with his team after it surrendered five power-playgoals.


"We didn't block shots, we weren't in the shot lane, we didn'ttry to get in the shot line," Laviolette said. "From the dropof the puck, we were late in our battles. We didn't have a lotof jump in our stride."


Cam Ward, who surrendered all five first-period goals, made 10saves. John Grahame replaced him at the start of the secondperiod and stopped 13 shots.


Cristobal Huet made 32 saves for Montreal.

 

NHL: MONTREAL at CAROLINA

<div class="pre">------------------------------------
Montreal 5 1 1 --7
Carolina 1 1 2 --4
------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Montreal, Kyle Chipchura 2 (Andrei Markov,
Tom Kostopoulos), 3:18. 2, Montreal, Tomas Plekanec 2 (power play)
(Guillaume Latendresse, Mark Streit), 8:40. 3, Carolina, Jeff Hamilton
4 (Eric Staal, Cory Stillman), 11:21. 4, Montreal, Alexei Kovalev 5
(power play) (Andrei Markov, Tomas Plekanec), 12:20. 5, Montreal, Saku
Koivu 3 (power play) (Unassisted), 18:06. 6, Montreal, Mark Streit 2
(power play) (Roman Hamrlik, Tomas Plekanec), 18:36. Penalties: M
Grabovski, Mon (holding), 5:14; T Letowski, Car (tripping), 8:09; M
Commodore, Car (hooking), 11:53; F Kaberle, Car (hooking), 16:19; G
Wesley, Car (delay of game), 17:30; T Kostopoulos, Mon (major
fighting), 18:38; C Adams, Car (major fighting), 18:38.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 7, Carolina, Eric Staal 8 (penalty shot),
14:46. 8, Montreal, Tomas Plekanec 3 (power play) (Patrice Brisebois,
Guillaume Latendresse), 16:20. Penalties: M Cullen, Car (cross
checking), 2:52; B Hedican, Car (high sticking), 8:34; A Kovalev, Mon
(tripping), 10:46; F Bouillon, Mon (roughing), 13:55; R Bayda, Alb
(roughing), 13:55; J Williams, Car (roughing), 15:58; M Komisarek, Mon
(tripping), 18:04.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 9, Carolina, Ray Whitney 5 (Keith Aucoin, Matt
Cullen), 4:18. 10, Carolina, Rod Brind'Amour 3 (Justin Williams,
Frantisek Kaberle), 18:21. 11, Montreal, Mathieu Dandenault 2
(shorthanded) (Saku Koivu, Mike Komisarek), 19:09. Penalties: M
Streit, Mon (interference), 11:25; J Grahame, Car (delay of game
served by J Hamilton), 13:54; B Smolinski, Mon (unsportsmanlike cond),
18:21.

Shots on goal:
---------------------------------------
Montreal 15 6 9 --30
Carolina 14 14 8 --36
---------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: Montreal - 5 of 8, Carolina - 0 of 5. Goalies
: Montreal, Cristobal Huet (36 shots, 32 saves; record: 4-1-2).
Carolina, Cam Ward (15 shots, 10 saves; record: 6-1-2), John Grahame
(20:00 of 2nd period, 14, 13). A: 16,796. Referees: Rob Martell, Tim
Peel. Linesmen: Brad Kovachik, Brian Murphy.</div>

 

NHL: MONTREAL at CAROLINA

<div class="pre">-----------------------------------------
MONTREAL 5 1 1 --7
CAROLINA 1 1 2 --4
-----------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Montreal, Kyle Chipchura 2 (Andrei Markov,
Tom Kostopoulos), 3:18. 2, Montreal, Tomas Plekanec 2 (power play)
(Guillaume Latendresse, Mark Streit), 8:40. 3, Carolina, Jeff Hamilton
4 (Eric Staal, Cory Stillman), 11:21. 4, Montreal, Alexei Kovalev 5
(power play) (Andrei Markov, Tomas Plekanec), 12:20. 5, Montreal, Saku
Koivu 3 (power play) (Unassisted), 18:06. 6, Montreal, Mark Streit 2
(power play) (Roman Hamrlik, Tomas Plekanec), 18:36. Penalties: M
Grabovski, Mon (holding), 5:14; T Letowski, Car (tripping), 8:09; M
Commodore, Car (hooking), 11:53; F Kaberle, Car (hooking), 16:19; G
Wesley, Car (delay of game), 17:30; T Kostopoulos, Mon (major
fighting), 18:38; C Adams, Car (major fighting), 18:38.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 7, Carolina, Eric Staal 8 (penalty shot),
14:46. 8, Montreal, Tomas Plekanec 3 (power play) (Patrice Brisebois,
Guillaume Latendresse), 16:20. Penalties: M Cullen, Car (cross
checking), 2:52; B Hedican, Car (high sticking), 8:34; A Kovalev, Mon
(tripping), 10:46; F Bouillon, Mon (roughing), 13:55; R Bayda, Alb
(roughing), 13:55; J Williams, Car (roughing), 15:58; M Komisarek, Mon
(tripping), 18:04.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 9, Carolina, Ray Whitney 5 (Keith Aucoin, Matt
Cullen), 4:18. 10, Carolina, Rod Brind'Amour 3 (Justin Williams,
Frantisek Kaberle), 18:21. 11, Montreal, Mathieu Dandenault 2
(shorthanded) (Saku Koivu, Mike Komisarek), 19:09. Penalties: M
Streit, Mon (interference), 11:25; J Grahame, Car (delay of game
served by J Hamilton), 13:54; B Smolinski, Mon (unsportsmanlike cond),
18:21.

Shots on goal:
----------------------------------------
MONTREAL 15 6 9 --30
CAROLINA 14 14 8 --36
----------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: MON - 5 of 8, CAR - 0 of 5. Goalies :
Montreal, Cristobal Huet (36 shots, 32 saves; record: 4-1-2).
Carolina, Cam Ward (15 shots, 10 saves; record: 6-1-2), John Grahame
(20:00 of 2nd period, 14, 13). A: 16,796. Referees: Rob Martell, Tim
Peel. Linesmen: Brad Kovachik, Brian Murphy.

INDIVIDUAL PLAYER STATISTICS

MONTREAL CAROLINA
G A +/- Shots G A +/- Shots
S Koivu 1 1 even 2 J Williams 0 1 +1 2
T Plekanec 2 2 -1 3 K Aucoin 0 1 +1 2
B Smolinski 0 0 -1 4 E Staal 1 1 +1 4
C Higgins 0 0 -1 3 R Whitney 1 0 even 4
S Begin 0 0 +1 0 R Brind'Amour 1 0 even 3
M Dandenault 1 0 even 2 T Letowski 0 0 -1 4
A Kovalev 1 0 -1 3 G Wesley 0 0 +1 1
K Chipchura 1 0 +1 1 M Commodore 0 0 +1 0
M Streit 1 1 even 4 C Adams 0 0 -1 1
R Hamrlik 0 1 even 2 D Seidenberg 0 0 +1 3
F Bouillon 0 0 -1 1 T Gleason 0 0 even 3
M Grabovski 0 0 -1 1 F Kaberle 0 1 even 0
T Kostopoulos 0 1 +1 0 J Hamilton 1 0 even 2
P Brisebois 0 1 -1 1 C LaRose 0 0 +1 1
M Ryder 0 0 -1 1 B Hedican 0 0 +1 2
A Markov 0 2 even 1 C Stillman 0 1 even 2
M Komisarek 0 1 even 0 M Cullen 0 1 even 2
G Latendresse 0 2 -1 1 R Bayda 0 0 -1 0
G Murray BROKEN FOOT D Tanabe HEALTHY
J Gorges HEALTHY N Wallin GROIN
A Kostitsyn HEALTHY E Cole FOOT INJURY</div>

 

NHL: MONTREAL at CAROLINA

<div class="pre">NHL MONTREAL AT CAROLINA
NOTE: RESENDING BOX TO CORRECT SHOTS FACED FOR BOTH
CAROLINA GOALTENDERS.</div>