When you finally lock in your playoff spot in the 82nd game of the season, the relief and celebrations that comes with making the playoffs are quickly replaced by the challenge that represents a first round matchup where you will most likely be considered the underdog.
Despite this reality, there seems to be an underlying confidence from the team and fans alike that Montreal has the ability to compete with and even perhaps upset the Washington Capitals, despite finishing the regular season with 20 less points.
You can certainly make a case that Montreal could win this series. If there is one thing this team has managed all season, it’s proving the doubters wrong. Enough so to allow many to hope this playoffs run could last more than one round as we waited for game one to begin.
The Capitals began this game with a lot of aggressivity, using their speed and size to control most of the play in the first period. If Montreal’s young players needed a quick and efficient way to experience playoff hockey, Washington delivered the perfect example of what they should expect moving forward. Despite doing enough to remain within reach on the scoreboard, you could tell the youngest NHL team to make the playoffs in NHL history was a little overwhelmed.
After two periods, the score was 2-0, Washington had a massive advantage in scoring chances and you didn’t really feel like anything was actually happening for the Habs that would objectively justify believing in them making a comeback. If anything, the only reason they we're still in this game was the inspired play of Samuel Montembeault.
But as I was sitting in front of the TV, I still felt like they could win this. That’s what they’ve done all year after all. You don’t become the team with the most 3rd period comeback wins in the NHL by luck. You get these results by showing the kind of resilience and determination this team has shown all season long.
As the third period went on, Montreal slowly but surely started controlling the play. The first line of Suzuki-Caufield-Slafkovsky were getting scoring chances or at least spent a lot of time in the offensive zone. The Evans and Dvorak lines followed with great forecheck and puck possession, you could feel the tide turning and you simply hoped they would find the way (and have enough time) to score the two goals needed to go into overtime.
One line is missing you say? You’re right. We’ll get back to it.
It was fitting to see the team’s two best forwards get a goal each to tie up the game. Despite still being quite young, they are one of the few players on the team with actual playoffs experience. Series winning playoffs experience.
Now as you know, Montreal ended up losing the game 3-2 in overtime on a beautiful goal by Alex Ovechkin, hitting a puck in midair past Samuel Montembeault.
Unsurprisingly, the line on the ice for Montreal when it happened was the Laine-Newhook-Demidov line. A line that I wouldn’t dare name “second line” at this point considering their low icetime and overall impact on the game. It’s been a very tough showing for these three players. Every time they were on the ice they would either spend most of their time trying to defend or would simply do a “one and out” attack where you’ll get a shot on goal (at best) before the opposing team clears the zone and starts attacking.
After the game, some claimed Washington’s game winning goal came after a debatable icing call from the refs but, to me, the real mistake was the inability to clear the zone from Patrik Laine when he reached the red line moments before. For a player that claimed wanting to “turn it up” for the playoffs, we will need much more from him if Montreal wants to win that series.
With game two coming up Wednesday, I do not expect many roster changes from Martin St-Louis. Perhaps Xhekaj could slot in for Struble, if anything to make the Capitals think twice about taking liberties against Montreal’s smaller players, but considering the Habs just lost in overtime against the number one seed in the eastern conference, I doubt Martin St-Louis will consider this solution just yet.
However, if things don’t go according to plan on Wednesday, I fully expect some sort of changes from Martin St-Louis during the game. It’s hard enough beating the Capitals if everyone plays well, you simply won’t beat them with a line that not only doesn’t contribute, but becomes a liability as well. Perhaps moving a Heineman or Armia with Newhook and Demidov could help them get going and retrieve pucks while Evans can help compensate for Laine's nonchalance.
Two days will seem like an eternity for Habs fans as they hope to tie the series before going back to a completely wild Bell Centre. There is no need to panic after that first loss because, as a wise man once said “you need to lose three games if you are to win it in 7”.
Thank you all for reading and have a nice day!
Hugo Brossoit (Scabeh)
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»