That’s how you respond after getting hammered 7-1.
Keep in mind what Eric Staal said after he helped the Wild to that easy win last Thursday. “They looked tired…” said the veteran centre after the Habs had played their 8th game in 14 days.
So when they fell behind on home ice 11 minutes into the middle period against the high scoring Rangers on what appeared to be a critically poor power play I didn’t think the Habs would be able to summon enough energy to come back while playing their 9th game in 16 days. True it was the second of a back to back for the Rangers. But a New York-Montreal trip is hardly difficult and besides, the Rangers entered the game with a 7-0 record in the second half of a back to back. Maybe it was the unscheduled presence of Henrik Lundqvist (4-8-2 career at Bell centre with 3.87 and .877) or as their captain suggested, another example of the Habs strong forecheck taking effect in the third period, but that was, considering the circumstance, one of their most impressive wins of the season.
THE GOOD
- Phillip Danault. What happens when you’re playing the best hockey of your career while centering the #1 line and the #1 centre returns to the line up? You play even better. With his speed and smarts Danault set up 3 goals and it would have been a four point night if not for a goalie interference call. Five points in his last 3 games.
- Paul Byron. Danault’s winger scored the game winning goal as the line mates had to adjust to playing most of the game without their right winger. Danault & Byron have combined for 51 points. Kind of a stunning development, no?
- Alexei Emelin. Perhaps stunning is an over statement in this case but it was Emelin’s seeing eye shot that eluded Henrik Lundqvist and set the Habs on their way to the comeback win. His assist on the game winner gave him a rare two point night. Not enough people see Emelin when he’s very happy. This is for you.
Great photo https://t.co/CpadciJ3Mq
— Аrpon Basu (@ArponBasu) January 15, 2017
- Max Pacioretty. Hit the 20 goals mark with style. He’s become close to automatic on a breakaway when picking the 5-hole. Pacioretty’s goal was almost on cue. Since he started scoring again he hasn’t gone more than 3 games without a goal. He hadn’t scored in his last 3. The goal caused the Bell Centre to explode with joy. Tied with Vladimir Tarasanko for 4th highest goal total in the NHL.
- Alex Galchenyuk. Welcome back. (The Rangers actually did a good job containing the Habs #1 trio, limiting Galchenyuk-Pacioretty & Alex Radulov to just two shots on goal. For those keeping score at home that’s a shooting percentage of 1.000.)
- Brian Flynn. Not only did Flynn tie the game at two early in the second period it was his brief presence in front of Lundqvist that allowed the Emelin shot to hit the back of the net. Yet another member of the Habs who has already equalled his career high in goals (6).
- Jeff Petry. Found his game again after dipping in three straight.
- Tomas Plekanec. Nothing on the score sheet but he continued his strong play of late. That’s five games in a row.
- Torrey Mitchell. Locked in tight. Strong night. Perfect in the face off circle (7-0) including a couple of late draws as the Rangers pressed with an extra attacker.
- Zack Redmond & Mark Barberio. Habs third defense pair had a strong night in a limited role (both played less than 11:00). It was Barberio’s shot that Galchenyuk deflected past Anti Raanta to get Montreal on the scoreboard. And it was Redmond’s break out pass that sent Pacioretty away on his breakaway. These two players consistently do a very good job getting the puck out of their own end. Not sure Redmond will allow Ryan Johnston back in as Habs continue to wait for the return of Petry’s defense partner.
- Bell Centre fans. Helped energize their team, mostly in response to the many Rangers fans in attendance who began their rhythmic “Let’s Go Rangers!” chant during the first half of the third period. It was a fun call & response moment as each Rangers chant was met by a round of boos, followed shortly after by the trademark “Go Habs Go!” shout. It sure sounded like playoff time. Shortly thereafter the Habs tied the game and added two more, all in just over a minute, to effectively win it.
- Andrew Shaw. Welcome back. Yes, it’s true his game misconduct resulted in a fatigued team having to play much of the game a man short but his hit on Jesper Fast should not have been a gamer. I don’t blame referee Chris Rooney (who just returned to action after a lengthy injury of his own) for making the call. In regular speed it looked like Shaw might have delivered a blind side head shot but it clearly was not. His early goalie interference penalty that took a goal away from Danault? He was pushed from behind by Kevin Klein but also clearly went out of his way to bump Raanta. Borderline call. But that’s how Shaw plays. You might not like it but he left no doubt that he’s back. And by the way, Shaw is up to 80 minutes in penalties, seven behind league leader Antoine Roussel of Dallas, but in 10 less games played. Perhaps he is seeking to become the first member of the Canadiens to lead the NHL in penalty minutes since – oh you know who. (Chris Nilan with 358 in 1984-85.)
- Michel Therrien. Strong support for Shaw and his players during his post game media session while taking on veteran refs Rooney and Dan O’Halloran – in an honest, straightforward but respectful manner. 800th game of his NHL career.
- Carey Price. Oh yes. Even though it marked the third consecutive game that Price allowed 4 goals or more – and the 5th time in his last 7 starts – he came up big when he had to and made saves that were difference makers. It started early when he made a terrific right pad save on Derek Stepan which was followed a minute later by the Danault goal which was waved off thanks to Shaw. Early in the second, after the Habs had killed off Shaw’s five minute major, Price made two key saves from in close, including one on Ryan McDonagh which was quickly followed by the Galchenyuk deflection to tie the game at one. And then there was that game saving grab of a Michael Grabner shot that would have tied the game at 5 (maybe Grabner should have gone blocker side). The Rangers’ second goal should not have counted. Their weird double deflection 4th goal by Derek Stepan was very close to a high stick. The other two goals were blocker side – again. But, that was a blast by Brandon Pirri on the power play to open the scoring and a shorthanded breakaway goal by J.T. Miller. The Habs needed Price to make saves against the highest scoring team in the NHL and he gave them enough to win the game.
- J.T. Miller. Huh? Hockey Night In Canada’s guest between the second and third period with the Rangers holding a 3-2 lead ended his interview by suggesting the Rangers can “hopefully finish them off in the third.” How’d that work out?
THE BAD
- Status of Andrei Markov. It looked like he was on target for an imminent return. But apparently has suffered at least a bit of a set back. There are two guys who really miss him – Carey Price and…
- Nathan Beaulieu. Still making a few too many poor decisions with the puck. Logged 25:00 of ice time, the third time in the last seven games he’s been at 25 or higher. Too much.
- Artturi Lehkonen. First time in awhile you didn’t really notice him.
- Michael McCarron. Did not exactly rebound after an especially bad night in Minneapolis. Down to just over 7:00. Looks like Daniel Carr will take his place in Detroit with Jacob de la Rose back in the picture. McCarron is having an issue with the pace of the game.
- Power Play. Dreadfully bad with the ‘A’ team back. Generated nothing in two opportunities while allowing the shorthanded goal by Miller after a rare bad pass by Radulov, a give away by Galchenyuk and a flat footed Shea Weber unable to get in the way of a Kevin Hayes pass to Miller. Maybe, with Galchenyuk back, they just need some time to regain some chemistry.
THE UGLY
- Gary Galley. Greenfield Park native sounded downright angry after Pacioretty beat Lundqvist to tie the game at 3 – ripping Lundqvist as if it was Emelin scoring on a break and not one of the NHL’s best goal scorers. He sounded flummoxed on the goalie intereference plays, the Shaw hit on Fast, and on the Rangers’ 4th goal. He clearly has no clue what the rulebook says, apparently inheriting Glenn Healy’s role as former-player-turned-analyst who doesn’t do his homework.
- How is this not goalie interference?
After further review, Rick Nash’s goal on @CP0031 is confirmed! No interference from the @NYRangers #NYRvsMTL #NYR https://t.co/uFSFhuSyv1
— MSG Networks (@MSGNetworks) January 15, 2017
And from another native of Greenfield Park –
With a Toronto based war room with Leaf connections, this replay process is a powder keg waiting to blow if Habs & Leafs meet in playoffs.
— Jack Todd (@jacktodd46) January 15, 2017
