HabsWorld.net --
The Montreal Canadiens looked to redeem over a decade of futility in Calgary
as they took on the Flames Wednesday night. The Canadiens fell behind
early, and although the Canadiens made it close, they never made up for the
early deficit, losing 3-2.
The Canadiens faltered from the outset, despite outshooting the Flames 12-5
in the first period and obtaining the period’s only powerplay. Instead,
the Flames opened the scoring when Travis Moen turned over the puck after P.K.
Subban had already committed to a pinch; Sean Monahan quickly tapped in an easy
rebound goal past a hapless Carey Price. A Josh Gorges miscue to Jarred
Tinordi then created a 2-on-1 down low, and Price was again powerless to stop an
easy tap-in goal by Sven Baertschi.
Most of the second period continued to be fruitless for the Canadiens as they
struggled to get the puck past Joey MacDonald despite multiple opportunities.
Carey Price kept the Canadiens in the game early in the period, sprawling across
the crease to deny a sure goal into an empty cage, and playing solidly
thereafter. But with Francis Bouillon serving a penalty for boarding, the Flames
struck again when Curtis Glencross tipped a shot from the point past Price.
Finally, after Brendan Gallagher was tripped up by Mark Giordano, P.K. Subban
put the Canadiens on the scoreboard with a blast from the point with the
man-advantage.
The third began with more intensity from the Canadiens, which was matched
(and then some) by the Flames. Price kept the Habs in the game time and
time again as the Canadiens seemed fixated on creating turnovers in their own
end. After Subban returned after taking a minor for holding, the Canadiens
generated some sustained pressure in the Calgary end which led to Lars Eller
getting his 4th goal in 3 games. The Habs poured it on from that point but
couldn’t get another shot past Joey MacDonald, who played an excellent game.
1 – Brendan Gallagher (3 shots – 1 hit)
Gallagher struggled in his own end, but anytime the puck was in the
opposition’s end, you knew that he wouldn’t be far behind. With 3 shots
on net, Gallagher drove the Flames net with frequency and ferocity, but sadly
couldn’t generate anything on the scoresheet. His tenacious play certainly
drew the ire of the Calgary players and one penalty.
2 – Carey Price (23 saves)
Typically, goalies that earned these awards possess better statistics.
But the fact remains that Carey was hung out to dry on multiple occasions,
facing quality opportunities with little warning, and somehow kept the Canadiens
in the game until the final whistle. Price couldn’t be faulted for any of
the goals, and he denied the Flames on several chances that had no business
being denied.
3 – P.K. Subban (1 goal – 1 assist – even rating)
P.K. was in on both Canadiens goals, and his intensity and skill were at
display in the third period. Unfortunately, that intensity also proved to
be his undoing, as he took two unnecessary penalties in the third period,
depriving Montreal of the opportunity to complete the comeback.
HM – Lars Eller (1 goal – 67% on faceoffs)
Lars continued his hot streak tonight, tallying once again tonight.
Like most Canadiens, he was invisible for the first two periods, but Eller
stepped up his game and created a lot of chances in the third as the Habs
attempted their comeback. As Eller is more inclined to throw his weight
around, teams are beginning to understand that they don’t have an easy answer
for defending the Dane.
