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Habs Earn Weekend Sweep Over Jets and Blackhawks, 3 Pts Back of PO’s |
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Habs Earn Weekend Sweep Over Jets and Blackhawks, 3 Pts Back of PO’s
What. A. Weekend.
The Montreal Canadiens have been circled by the vultures since before the preseason ended. The media was more that happy to pile on with negative slants, attempts to make Shaw appear homophobic, possibly outing Galchenyuk’s attempts to help himself, and as recently as a Saturday intermission segment they suggested trading Price and gearing up for a 4-6 year rebuild.
Pathetic.
Deplorable.
Abhorrent.
That’s how I would described certain “experts” in the media and their attempts to bury the Habs alive after merely 8 games.
Since October 24, 2017 Montreal has won 5 of 7 games and have scored 28 goals in the process. For those without a calculator handy thats an average of 4 goals a game and that stretch included being shut out by a hot LA Kings squad. Take that game out and Montreal has outscored its competition on this stretch 28 to 18. That’s with some subpar goaltending.
Until tonight.
Charlie Lindgren came in from Laval like a man possessed to earn a 2-0 victory for the Canadiens over Original 6 rival Blackhawks and the Canadiens first win in Chicago in 15 years.
But first, let’s discuss Saturday’s game.
Montreal gave us all a glimpse of the pride they have in that dressing room this weekend. So easy it could have been to start mailing it in after the news of Price’s knee injury. So easy it could have been for some vets to not sacrifice the body for a shot. But that isn’t how the Canadiens responded. No. Not at all.
The Canadiens turned to Al Montoya for their Saturday tilt against the high scoring, but defensively weak, Winnipeg Jets. The Jets also showed us why they are in the playoff spot in the way Connor Hellebuyck kept Saturday’s contest from becoming a rout early. He kept his team in the game and that allowed them to take a 4-2 lead in the 3rd period. But, this was no wilting flower. There was no tail tucking. The Canadiens fought back tooth and nail to tie that game and subsequently win it off the stick of Habs Captain Max Pacioretty. It was Pacioretty’s 5th of the season and he added two assists on Shaw’s 2 powerplay goals. The comeback was paced by this seasons whipping boys Tomas Plekanec and Jeff Petry at the 8:17 and 15:16 marks of the 3rd. A couple guys who have had forgettable starts to the year gave us the chance to win the game. That’s heart boys and girls.
TO media would have you believe Pacioretty should have been in the box, but look again. Is Max supposed to move out the ice he occupies just because a player is charging at him? Is Byfuglein really that bad a skater that part of a Pacioretty’s side sends his feet backward and his body swirling? I don’t think so, and neither did the refs. Me thinks the TO is watching their advertising meal ticket in the Leafs spiral out right now and they are a bit testy. Hopefully we hear about how Babcock is ruining Mitch Marner’s development and how they lack any form of competent defence outside of Reilly and Gardiner. They won’t, but it’s true.
But I digress.
Max Pacioretty became a shared occupant of 1st place on the Canadiens all time OT winner list, with Aurel Joliat and Howie Morenz, on Saturday with his 9th regular season OT winning goal. No one can say they didn’t deserve that game after outshooting the Jets 50 to 23. Well, some can say they didn’t deserve it but they would be wrong… And lame.
Weak goaltending almost did them in again Saturday, but it was just good enough for the Win. Montoya only stopped 19 of 23 shots, but it was enough.
Surely, the following night’s game against the solid Chicago Blackhawks team would remind us that the Habs aren’t a very good hockey club. Something I certainly haven’t subscribed to all year (I wear Bleu, Blanc, et Rouge bifocals after all). I’ve told you they were better than their record. I told you the offence turned the corner and the failures were between the pipes. I told you Mete was trending towards looking like a top 2 defender and that we should expect growing pains.
Tonight, I felt slightly justified.
It’s a long season, I understand.
Carey Price is injured, certainly cause for concern.
But tonight our best goaltending prospect Charlie Lindgren came in and gave the Habs something they haven’t had all September, October, and part of November. Lindgren gave them a chance to win. Lindgren fought to track that puck, and did it. Lindgren fought to make sure the PP didn’t deflate the team, and stood his ground. Lindgren’s lateral movement and ability to read the play kept the Hawks from hitting the scoresheet. He was brilliant and maybe his best moment was in the dying minutes with the lights out Corey Crawford on the bench (praying for a goal). Lindgren made saves we are actually used to seeing. Just from a different guy.
Lindgren gave his team a chance to win after a sluggish 1st period and the Canadiens paid him back with interest in the 3rd period on a couple beauty goals by Drouin and Morrow.
So, Drouin and Galchenyuk are now a thing. A pretty good thing too. Galchenyuk’s compete level has increased every game the last couple weeks and the coaching staff has rewarded him with an opportunity. Galchenyuk has seized that opportunity through his hard work alone. Not by sulking or demanding a deal. By skating and fighting for pucks. So much credit should be heaped on Claude Julien right now for figuring out how to motivate Galchenyuk to not just be a good offensive player and PP threat, but a better all around player (by Galchenyuk’s standards). Claude Julien is a elite coach and its showing right now.
The second goal of the 3rd by Morrow was your perfect example of how traffic in front can make any shot dangerous. Andrew Shaw took the clear look away from Crawford for just enough time that Morrow’s long range wrister made its way through everyone and to the back of the net. Shaw has been playing like Gallagher 2.0. IF the Canadiens can get this level of effort from Gallagher and Shaw every night in their top 6, with the skill they possess they will continue scoring.
This was a good hockey game tonight folks. Shots were 38 to 35 for the Hawks, Habs won 55.7% of the draws, and neither team could score on 3 PP opportunities. The Habs fended off a furious Hawks team to start the game and then brought it right back for the remainder of the game. The Canadiens went out and in a little over 24 hrs they showed what they were made of. They showed there isn’t one player who’s is willing to simply roll over and die. They showed…. CHaracter. Now they are only 3 points back of the Cup favourites, according to Vegas bookmakers, and getting better. The NHL better hope Price doesn’t come back with a vengeance otherwise there will be lots of crow to eat.
I hope we get to witness that, I really do. Get back on the bandwagon and get behind your team. They’ve earned that much in the last 2 weeks.
Go Habs Go
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