| Jaroslav Halak looks like he's got the starting job | | | | a 2.77 GAA. |
| sewn up for the Montreal Canadiens if they can | | | | If Halak can manage to notch another shutout |
| make it to the post-season. | | | | against the Islanders Tuesday, it'll be the first time a |
| The Habs goalie is riding a two-game shutout streak | | | | Canadien goaltender has nabbed three straight goose |
| heading into New York on Tuesday. | | | | eggs in 61 years. |
| Montreal can do itself a favour with a win over the | | | | Momentum is definitely on the Habs' side after the |
| New York Islanders on Tuesday, but the team | | | | weekend, although they still have some work to do |
| wouldn't mind if two of its most bitter rivals help out | | | | to make it into the post-season dance. |
| with a couple of wins of their own because the | | | | First up on Tuesday is taking care of business with |
| Canadiens can clinch a playoff spot if their rivals | | | | the Islanders, who are all but out of the playoff |
| come through. | | | | picture but playing well down the stretch, winning |
| The Habs' recent success starts and ends in net, as | | | | four of five. |
| Halak notched two big wins for the Canadiens over | | | | Next (and maybe more difficult) is grudgingly rooting |
| the weekend. On Friday, he stopped 35 shots in a | | | | for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Buffalo Sabres, |
| masterful performance against Philadelphia as | | | | who both have games Tuesday against teams |
| Montreal rode its goalie to a 1-0 victory. | | | | battling Montreal for playoff spots. |
| The 24-year-old followed that up a day later with a | | | | Click Here to Watch NHL Hockey Montreal Canadiens |
| 29-save shutout during a 3-0 win against Buffalo. | | | | vs New York Islanders Online |
| "He made no mistakes," Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said | | | | Ultimately, the Habs do control their playoff destiny. |
| after the game. "I think we could have made it | | | | With three games remaining Montreal is in sixth in the |
| tougher but you've got to give him a lot of credit, he | | | | Eastern Conference, one point up on Boston in |
| played well. He was as good as he was [Friday]." | | | | seventh and two up on Philadelphia in eighth. All three |
| Click Here to Watch NHL Hockey Montreal Canadiens | | | | teams have three games remaining. |
| vs New York Islanders Online | | | | The Canadiens are also eyeing the New York |
| The Slovak was named the NHL's first star of the | | | | Rangers, in ninth. Montreal is four points up on the |
| week thanks to those two games. | | | | Blueshirts, but New York has a game in hand. |
| Enjoying the moment | | | | Both the Rangers and Flyers are in action Tuesday |
| "You're only as good as your last game," Halak said. | | | | against two of Montreal's Northeast Division rivals, |
| "Tomorrow's another day. I'm definitely going to | | | | and the Habs will clinch a playoff spot under three |
| enjoy the moment, but there's always some luck | | | | scenarios: |
| involved, too." | | | | - Montreal wins and Philadelphia or New York loses in |
| Luck has nothing to do with Halak's numbers this | | | | regulation. |
| season, compared to his competition for the No. 1 | | | | - Montreal wins and Philadelphia and New York lose in |
| job in Montreal, Carey Price. | | | | overtime/shootout. |
| In 42 games, Halak is 26-12-3 with a .927 save | | | | - Montreal loses in overtime/shootout and Philadelphia |
| percentage and a 2.31 goals-against average, while | | | | and New York lose in regulation. |
| Price's line is 13-20-5 with a .912 save percentage and | | | | |