All Habs Playoff GameDay: Thursday May 2, 2013

On this day in hockey history… In 1987 – Bobby Smith scored a goal and added two assists to lead the Canadiens to a 5-3 win over the Quebec Nordiques in Game 7 of the Adams Division Finals, in Montreal.

PROJECTED LINE COMBINATIONS AND GOALTENDERS
(Will be updated following game day skate.)

TOP SCORERS

► Match-up – Ottawa Senators:

• In this first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs between the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators, we will see just how much home ice advantage can play a factor in these playoffs.
• Having finished second in the Eastern Conference, the Canadiens have the home-ice advantage in this series and as we look back at the season series between both teams, we quickly notice that neither team was able to win a game on the opposing team’s home ice. Advantage Canadiens.
• On top of this, while the Canadiens finished the season with equally good home and road records, the Senators on the other hand had a losing record at home. Advantage Canadiens.
• Will these advantages translate into the playoffs? We’re about to find out.

► Rookie in hot water:

• Rookie defenseman Nathan Beaulieu is one of eight players from the Hamilton Bulldogs that help make up the expanded practise squad at playoff time affectionately known at the Black Aces. Beaulieu’s chances of playing in a playoff game this spring may have taken a hit  after he was charged with two counts of assault following an altercation last weekend.  Beaulieu’s father Jacques, who is head coach of the Sarnia Sting, also faces two counts of assault.
• Beaulieu was back in his hometown of Strathroy, Ontario on Saturday for a charity golf tournament. It’s alleged that the two Beaulieu’s teamed up to assault two victims in separate incidents. “Their injuries are described as minor, consistent with bruising, scratching, from being punched,” said Strathroy Caradoc Police Service Deputy Chief Mark Campbell.
• Donald Beauchamp, senior vice-president of communications and community relations for the Montreal Canadiens said that “we have been made aware of the situation.”
• For Nathan Beaulieu, it would appear that maturity is proving to be more difficult to master than hockey skills.

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• Try it out. Share your thoughts with us and the entire All Habs community.

• “For me, there’s no pressure for the players who are playing in the playoffs for the first time. I told them – ‘Don’t feel any pressure. Apply it. Impose pressure on your opponent. This is how we want to handle pressure. The young players have done excellent work throughout the season. What I like is that they’ve steadily improved. Sometimes, you’ll see young players have a good start and then slow down. In our case, there was progression.” — Michel Therrien
• “You can’t buy experience. I’ve always believed that leadership comes from inside the dressing and that players share their experiences with the newcomers. We’ve got good veterans at the heart of our team, guys who’ve won. We’ve also got good young veterans that have had big games and have reacted well. That kind of experience, at this time of year, I see it as a big advantage for our players.” — Therrien
• “I think it’s huge, having veteran guys that can kind of lead the way for the young guys. I think it’s just about talking to them. I think the first game, they’ll have a bit of jitters, but it’s great to see young guys in the lineup. They bring that enthusiasm and that young, youthful energy. It’s going to be fun watching them out there. Obviously, a lot of us remember what it was like to play our first playoff game.” — Travis Moen