With a build-up worthy of Mayweather- Pacquiao, game 2 of the Canadiens-Senators series threatened to escalate into an old school donnybrook. Instead, fans were treated to a fast paced, hard fought battle with every inch of the ice contested. The Senators were able to match Montreal stride for stride in the opening period and headed to intermission with a 1-0 lead in a tight checking affair.
 
Both opening periods in this series have been tight,  evenly played affairs. What is becoming apparent however, is that The Habs are able to set a blistering pace from the opening whistle that the Sens cannot match for 60 minutes.  Last night's action saw the Canadiens take complete control of the game and the series in the second period.
 
Early in the second, with MacArthur off for boarding, Max Pacioretty announced his return with a wicked wrister right through Hammond's wickets. Desharnais, Markov and Subban made a series of excellent plays and Max found a soft spot in the Sens coverage and made no mistake. The Habs went 1-6 last night on the power play, but that does not reflect the unit's play. Pacioretty, Desharnais and Smith-Pelly were dynamic.
 
We have seen Desharnais and Pacioretty produce for  3 1/2 years now, but one question going into the play offs was could the Canadiens find someone to round out their top 6? After a frustrating ride after his arrival, perhaps Smith-Pelly can be that winger. Last night DSP had 6 shots on goal, 3 hits and was a true net presence on the power play. Bergevin said when the Habs traded Jiri Sekac, that you had to give something to get something. It appears that they have found a missing piece of the puzzle in #21. Smith- Pelly also took every opportunity to hit Karlsson and was unlucky to walk away for this contest without a goal.
As the second wore on, The Habs were able to roll 4 lines, with each line having its way with Ottawa. The Canadiens have proved that they have 2 lines capable of producing a goal each night. Plekanec with Galchenyuk and Gallagher produced the OT winner. Pacioretty with Desharnais and DSP had a power play marker and were dangerous all night. The third line of Eller, Weise and De La Rose played 14 minutes of effective hockey. They hemmed the Sens in their end for long stretches and any break out was chased down with tenacious back checking and solid body positioning.  Prust, Flynn and Mitchell were not as dangerous offensively last night, but Mitchell and Prust were excellent on the PK and this line more than held up their end of the bargain.
 
This Habs squad, after questions all season about line combinations, seems to have found a line-up with the speed, depth and skill to provide headaches for any opponent. The Senators came into this series as the critics' darlings. Two games in, they have found out why Montreal had such a successful season.   
To beat Montreal, first you have to neutralize an effective forward group. Next step , is to find a way to navigate through a defense corps that has found its legs. Markov and Subban are a top 5 top pairing in the entire NHL. A 30 minute, possession driving pair that can control the entire game while they are out there.  Petry has stepped into a top 4 role and balanced the entire 6 man unit. He can play PP, he can skate the puck out of his own end and is finding the confidence to assert his will more and more. Emelin gives me a heart attack 3 to 4 times a night. Last night, he also delivered a series of punishing hits that take their toll over a night and over a series. Emelin is an effective player when he keeps it simple. Tom Gilbert played another solid 20 minutes. If this is your 5th defensemen, that is some depth. He pairs well with young Beaulieu and gives the Canadiens a back line that can rival either the Ranger or Tampa for best in the east.
 
The last and biggest piece of the puzzle is the MVP. Price infuses this team with confidence. Last night Price went through long stretches without being tested, yet any time Ottawa was able to mount an attack, #31 was there to shut them down. He made some marvelous saves in traffic and it must be a frustrating proposition for the Sens, to skate and battle for 180 feet only  to be routinely turned away by Price.
 
Midway through the second, after twice icing the puck on seemingly easy zone exits, PK showed why he is a true original. The downpour of criticism on #76 is heavy and constant. PK probably couldn't sneeze without some "expert" getting upset with the Kleenex he used. Last night after a slow start, PK stepped into a DSP pass and unleashed a howitzer over Hammond's shoulder. It was an absolute bomb. Subban found his game in the second and played a team high 29 minutes. Most impressive was that with every eye on him and every Senator approaching with bad intentions, Subban was able to produce another standout game under the brightest of  lights. People can complain about some of his antics, but the shot last night, the one timer against Boston in game 7 in '12, the entire Bruins series last year, show that PK is a gamer. He is absolutely a guy you want on your side when the chips are down.
 
The third saw the Canadiens pushing to plunge a dagger into the Senators collective chests. They forced the sens into taking a number of penalties and couldn't find the net to close it out. Ottawa was gifted a power play on a MacArthur dive and tied the game with seconds left in their PP; 6 minutes to go in the game. Onward to overtime
 
My note on OT is simply Gallagher=warrior. Fans can argue who will be captain of this team when there is a next captain. But no one can argue who provides the heart and the soul. Gallagher is a marked man. Both officials and opponents routinely test him. Opponents are given leeway to whack, punch and slash him with impunity. Officials refuse to call any of these fouls. Gallagher simply persists. Last night, there was not an ounce of #11 that did not end up spilled on the ice. He keyed the turnover that lead to Galchenyuk's winner and night after night provides the standard of effort that others on this team are forced to match. It would be had to look at him or in the mirror after a game like last night, if you too hadn't completely emptied your tank.
 
Quick Hits:
 
1) Sens are in a pickle. Hammond has not been very good. Both games have been close, but they are going to need significantly more from their tender to make this a series. Anderson in game 3 or dance with the girl who brought you?
2) Ryan? Turris? Hoffman? Zibanejad? All MIA so far. Stone gets a pass for his bruise and MacArthur has been solid, but the depth of scoring the Sens boasted coming into this series has been non-existent. This is Hoffman's first run, so perhaps he gets a pass, but these other guys need to step up. The only offense we see from Ottawa comes through #65. They get some chances when they activate their D, but that leaves them vulnerable against a counter attacking team like the Habs. Without a tender to bail them out, this could be a short series.
3) I am sure the Canadiens saw the expert prognostications coming into the series. It had to be a slap in the face to be the 2nd overall team in the NHL and see yourself as an underdog. The first two games of this series have proved that they are far greater than the sum of their parts. Price is all-world, but this team in front of him is far better than they are

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