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Canadiens Win Huge Game Against Pens With Price Out With Sickness

October 14, 2018, 8:40 PM ET [969 Comments]
Brandon Smillie
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
These Habs are giving fans good reason to cheer and giving other NHL squads a reality check, one game at a time.

Coming into the game against the Pittsburgh Penguins the Habs had dropped their home opener to the LA Kings in quite disappointing fashion. I saw a team that could play well but lacked finish and it reminded me way too much of last seasons squad...

The only way to remedy this feeling was to come back strong against a always dangerous Penguins squad in the next game. Then word came out that Carey Price was not going to play due to a flu like illness and the game looked like it may be primed to be a high scoring match with the Pens also without top netminder Matt Murray.

What followed was a fantastic hockey game that showed some of this seasons potential.

The Canadiens dominated most of this game and after 2 periods held a 27 to 11 shot advantage before the Pens woke up for the 3rd period and fired 14 shots at starter A Niemi.

Your Habs battled back from a 2-0 hole after one period of play and thanks to an incredible game by one of my newest favorite Habs Tomas Tatar (2G, 1A) they were able battle back. Tatar is a player I have been highly critical of due to the amazing fleecing Red Wings GM K Holland pulled on Vegas GM McPhee (I'll never let it go). Holland saved his job in moving Tatar for a 1st (Velano), 2nd and 3rd round picks and McPhee won GM of the Year after acquiring Tatar so he could subsequently be a healthy scratch for virtually all of the Golden Knights Cup run.




McPhee was able to move Tatar to the Habs for Pacioretty in a deal that end of the day cost McPhee a 1st, two 2nds, and 3rd round pick with Tatar and elite C prospect Nick Suzuki for Max Pacioretty. This is the guy who won GM of the Year last year folks.... He's also the guy who traded Nashville superstar Filip Forsberg for declining and useless Martin Erat for a Cup run that fell very short.

McPhee's inability to get good value in trades is paying off for the Canadiens so far after it was found out the Canadiens were handcuffed by Pacioretty's multiple trade requests dating back to last season.

Tatar has shown desire and skill for this retooling Canadiens squad and he is winning me over big time with games like last nights. He seems to have brought some good traits with him that made him an effective member of the Red Wings top 6 for most of his career. His game last night had my worries about him nearly wiped away and replaced with a healthy serving of crow that I will happily consume.

A difficult start has led to criticism for talent young forwards Jonathan Drouin and Coach Julien tried to find a spark for the winger last night by pairing him with Max Domi (C) and A Lehkonen.

It paid off big time.

Drouin not only bagged his first point (assist) of the season on Tatar's 2nd goal (PP) in the second period but he led the team in CF% at 74.4%. This isn't all from sheltered starts either as Drouin started 64% of his shifts in the offensive zone and produced 32 scoring attempts for while yielding 11 scoring attempts against. A fantastic game from the dynamic Hab and surely a sign of things to come. Drouin rounding into form should help the Canadiens go from underdog status to speedy sleepers status.

Lehtonen also had a hell of a game producing 22 scoring attempts for while yielding 11 against all while starting only 36% of his shifts in the offensive zone. Lehkonen appears to be cusping on a break out.

Speaking of breakouts, the possible best trade deadline deal of 2018 is continuing to trend the right way. Mike Reilly played a team high 26:07, had a CF% of 54.7%, and only started 35% of his shifts in the offensive zone. Reilly is showing signs of being top end, new age NHL defender. Speed, smarts, and skills are helping him shine right now and it's clear he has the trust of our champion level coach. As soon as Weber returns I wouldn't be surprised if Reilly's offense starts to show. Right now he is being used kind of like a Swiss Army knife and it's more important that he learn to be well rounded for this team than to be deployed as a all out offensive weapon. That could be altered a bit upon Weber's return.




Great game showing great promise for this young group. I say that and instantly think that this is happening without even knowing what stud prospects like Poehling, Suzuki, Hillis, Fonstad, and Brook are going to bring to the table over the next couple years. Enjoy the fun start fans. With everyone and their mothers predicting a bottom 3 finish for these Canadiens it brings out the child like fan in me to see them winning games and dominating possession. I just want to rub it in everyones faces....

It may be too early for that though...

One day at a time...

Go Habs Go
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