Boston Globe (Fluto Shinzawa):
April 21, 2008 10:31 AM
The Canadiens have started their morning skate. Mark Streit is in the white practice jersey worn by the defensemen instead of the red sweater of the forwards.
Streit played forward in Game 6. But if he’s moved back to defense, either Guillaume Latendresse or Michael Ryder would most likely re-enter the lineup tonight. Latendresse and Ryder were healthy scratches on Saturday. The Canadiens would most likely scratch Francis Bouillon on defense if Streit moved to the back end.
* Every Canadien is on the ice.
April 21, 2008 11:02 AM
The Canadiens are concluding their morning skate and some of them are returning to the dressing room. Carey Price was first off and is long gone.
“We’re playing for our lives,” said Tom Kostopoulos. “It’s going to be an intense battle. We’ll see who wants it more.”
Carbonneau on Game 7
April 21, 2008 11:26 AM
Guy Carbonneau has concluded his morning briefing.
“You never know what can happen in Game 7,” Carbonneau said. “That’s the fun part about it. I think both sides might be nervous. The last two games, going down 3-1, they had nothing to lose. They lose, they go home. Now they have something to win. So we’ll see how they react to that.”
Habster:
If Mark Streit plays defense tonight, I hope Guy Carbonneau and Doug Jarvis (who handles the defense during the game) make the right match up on the ice and insulate the offensively gifted, yet defensive challenged Streit.
I’m not thrilled with this move as Streit has difficulties on the one on one containment along the boards and in front of the net, something the Bruins have thrived on the last two games.
You would have to think the coaching staff are looking to add more offensive punch into the lineup with Streit on the blueline and possibly Michael Ryder getting back into the lineup.
In game #6, the defense was carrying the puck into the Bruins zone or at the very least were carrying the puck through the neutral zone and dumping it into the Bruins end. The Bruins are playing a one man forecheck with four players in the neutral zone/blueline area so there is room to move the puck up the ice but the defensemen have to make the proper reads and decisions to make this work.
I understand adding more offense to the lineup but hopefully it won’t be at the expense of the Habs defensive zone coverage which was simply terrible in games#5 and #6.