For the first time in franchise history, the Montreal Canadiens started their season off with a perfect 5-0 record, setting a new record in decisive fashion with a win over the New York Rangers at the sold-out Bell Centre in front of a raucous crowd. Carey Price took the big honours of being named first star by shutting out Henrik Lundqvist and the Rangers, as the Habs won by a score of 3-0.
As the season progresses, the chemistry is becoming more and more apparent, and it's clear that their team spirit is higher than it's ever been. Captain Max Pacioretty praised his teammates and stated in an interview earlier last week that there's a very different feeling in the locker room compared to past years. This tight knit group adores playing for one another, and that was especially demonstrated during the penalty kills and 5-on-3, where forwards and defensemen were blocking shots just as often as Price was until the latter could gobble up the puck and stop the Rangers' attack dead in its tracks.
Say what you will about Price's heroics, but he wasn't the sole difference maker. Sure, sprawling across and robbing Rick Nash will surely make the highlight reels for weeks (months?) to come...
And maybe Price laying Chris Kreider out will forever solidify his status as a badass...
Let's not forget that 200 feet across the ice, King Lundqvist stood tall and kept his team's hopes alive, robbing the likes of Alex Galchenyuk, Brendan Gallagher, Max Pacioretty, and a couple of defensemen. Were it not for him, the score could have easily been 5 or 6-0 in favor of the home team. Just ask Rangers head coach Alain Vigneault.
It was a game well worth the price of admission for those in attendance, and I felt as though the crowd was louder last night than it was during any of last year's playoffs. It's understandable- hockey fans who tuned in were treated to a spectacular show of speed, skill, grit, perseverance and tremendous goaltending at both ends of the ice. It truly was playoff hockey in mid-October.
A few notes:
- David Desharnais' line is performing exceptionally well. They're arguably starting to outplay Alex Galchenyuk's line and are starting to bury the wonderful chances that Desharnais is creating for his line mates. Both Tomas Fleischmann and Dale Weise scored last night, with the second game-winning goal coming off of Fleischmann's stick in consecutive games.
- The defense corps was steady and effective, once more. Alexei Emelin continues to impress, and it won't be long before fans everywhere will accept that he belongs on this team. He's blocking shots, making tape-to-tape first passes along the ice as opposed to chipping pucks off of the boards, and is confident in his means.
- Lars Eller and Galchenyuk looked good once again, but Alexander Semin's confidence needs work. He was bounced around in the lineup last night, often being replaced by a deserving Devante Smith-Pelly. Michel Therrien knows that Semin belongs on a top-six line and is not ready to throw in the towel just yet. However, as we've all been saying from the beginning of the season, Semin needs to shoot more. He needs to quickly release his wrist shot as opposed to taking an extra millisecond to snap it. The goals will come for him.
- Tomas Plekanec has four goals in five games. Two of them were empty-netters, but it must feel good for him and Pacioretty to do well, especially since Brendan Gallagher has been rather invisible thus far. I'm under the impression that Gallagher is not in the best shape that he's been in, or that he's playing with a nagging injury of sorts. He's slower than usual and his endurance is lacking, and he's often seen getting back to the bench with his head down in exhaustion. He needs to score a goal in order to re-establish himself.
- Andrei Markov played 24:19. As a player that stays extremely fit and healthy, that's fine for now. Twenty games into the season, however, those twenty-five minutes needs to start turning into 21-22. Nathan Beaulieu is supposed to be slowly taking away some of Markov's minutes in order for the latter to be better prepared and rested on time for the playoffs. It's early, but at the age of 37 when spring rolls around, I'd rather not take my chances.
Finally, another Original Six rival will be in town on Saturday night as the Habs host the Detroit Red Wings. While they might not be as well-rounded as the Rangers, the Red Wings are not to be taken lightly, and Therrien has mentioned several times that it's important for the team to stay humble.
I don't think that will be an issue, but it'll be of utmost importance that the players stick to the game plan that's allowed them to score three or more goals per outing.
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
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