Rocket:

Last weekend, I received an email from one of our readers saying that he was making a road trip to Canada and had tickets for the Nashville – Montreal game. Sean received many excellent suggestions from you about places to eat and drink. Sean also asked if there was a player that he should watch.

Habster suggested keeping an eye on the Kostitsyns. Big Brother said that Andrei Markov is one of the most under-rated defenseman in the league. I mentioned that Gui Latendresse had elevated his game recently.

Checking the game summary, you will see that Andrei Kostitsyn, Andrei Markov and Guillaume Latendresse all scored tonight for the Canadiens. Well done partners! Shall we get some lottery tickets?

Oh, there was one more recommendation for Sean. Here’s what one of us wrote (I think you can guess who it was): “As far as Brise, just watch when the puck comes near him, cause soon after, Nashville will get a scoring chance.” Brisebois had a typical game. That is, Patrice took a bad penalty and he was on the ice for (and played a role in) both Nashville goals.

The Canadiens came out strong in this game. They had a number of scoring chances in the first. Just before the end of the period Josh Gorges made a nice play as Latendresse shot made it through a screen past goaltender Pekka Rinne. The Canadiens outshot the Predators 12-6 in the first.

Steve Begin paired off early with Jordin Tootoo. It was a very rare tilt for Begin. Perhaps Steve was hearing Greg Stewart footsteps. Credit Begin for dropping the gloves although this was a clear decision for Tootoo.

After that, the Habs seemed to go to sleep (and the Bell Centre crowd with them). The Predators outshot the Canadiens 19-8 in the final two periods. The Habs only managed two shots in the 2nd. One of those shots was a laser off the stick of Andrei Kostitsyn after a great cross-ice pass from Andrei Markov. Good puck retrieval on the play by Robert Lang.

Robert Lang with the Kostitsyns were dangerous to score again tonight on most shifts. In the third, good pressure from the Lang line led to Andrei Markov’s goal from a point shot with Andrei Kostitsyn screening in front. AK-46 led the Canadiens with 4 shots.

Alex Kovalev had a great first period but the effects of the flu seemed to catch up with him after that. Tomas Plekanec was dominant in face-offs going 7-0 at one point ending the night at 63%.

Jaroslav Halak didn’t look especially good on Nashville’s first goal but couldn’t be faulted on the second. Halak’s teammates helped him out blocking 26 shots, led by Mike Komisarek with 6 blocks.

Nashville should have been put away earlier as Kovalev, Markov, Plekanec and Lang all had chances to score into an empty net in the last minute and a half.

This game may have been a letdown for the Canadiens as it didn’t come close to the intensity of the Bruin game. In the end it was a win but the Habs will have to play better in Ottawa on Saturday.

Pre-game:

Alex Kovalev will play despite battling the effects of the flu.

Price, Tanguay, Higgins, Dandenault, Koivu, Laraque out with injuries. Stewart is a healthy scratch.

Rocket’s 3 stars:

1. Andrei Markov
2. Robert Lang
3. Jordin Tootoo

(photo credit: AP photo)