1) The Canadiens managed their first shootout win at the Bell Centre this season; this after blowing two one-goal leads in the third period. For once, it went their way, against a Penguins team that came into the game with a 7-2 record in the shootout.
The Canadiens had scored four shootout goals all season before pumping three past Fleury last night.
And Carey Price came up with some huge stops, had a quick word with "the Man upstairs" after Pascal Dupuis hit the post, and came up with the goods on Jason Williams.
Plekanec scored the winner--a successful breakaway attempt after missing so many of them of late.
2) On the Malkin goal, there's no taking away from how special a move that is, and how hard it is to execute with precision.
I asked Carey Price if there's any way to stop that move. He said that with a left-hand shot coming down, you have to cheat a bit to the blocker side and once you're moving that way, there's no way of countering a player like Malkin's reach.
I asked if the poke-check is even an option on that, and he said reach doesn't really allow for it.
I think there is one way to stop it. If you're the goalie and see a player start spinning on you on the breakaway, go against your instinct of worrying about the puck and do your best to trip the guy by crashing into his legs or getting your stick in there. Not like you can get a tripping penalty unless you throw your stick. I think goalies should start considering this one.
3)
One guy in the building last night that didn't boo Scott Gomez... YEAH, WHAT? OK....
4) Louis Leblanc played his best game as an NHLer and what a moment it must have been for him to have a chance in the shootout to deliver a win for the Habs. He didn't cash in, but his goal that got the Canadiens on the board showed that he does have a natural scoring ability, and he gets full marks for the heady play he made in grabbing down that Kostitsyn chip-in.
5) Rene Bourque's goal in the shootout provided a blueprint for Eller and Plekanec thereafter. Fleury was obviously eager to poke-check anyone making a move, and if you watch Bourque's breakaway, you can see Fleury wasn't set for the shot at all, and that he had his right hand moving up to the knob of the stick to get the poke-check out.
Perfect shot, by the way. Right in the shelf.
6) The Canadiens came in with a plan last night and did an excellent job shadowing Malkin. Plekanec was unlucky when he tipped an intercepted pass in front of Price out to James Neal who tied the game up.
In fact, the game's #1 star finished as a -2, but you'd have to consider this to be among the best games Plekanec's played all season.
7) P.K. Subban, centre of all things controversial in Montreal, did his best Carey Price impression to save the game (do I smell goaltending controversy?). That was a heck of a play, followed by an outrageous breakaway pass from Alexei Emelin, who was the culprit in tripping Price, who struggled to get back to the net on the play.
8) Ryan White scored two goals in his game with the Bulldogs earlier in the day, and looks like he's very eager to get up into the Montreal lineup.
He can play a maximum of five games in the AHL before having to be subjected to waivers on re-entry, but I'd bet he'll be on his way to Montreal sooner than later.
9) Could Mathieu Darche be a viable trade commodity for the Canadiens this season? That's the question a lot of people were asking around the rink last night. But I don't think they were showcasing him, despite playing over 20-minutes in the game last night. They set up a defensive plan, and he, Travis Moen and Plekanec did the job quite nicely.
10) Last night's game was a thoroughly entertaining one at the Bell Centre, a sight not often seen around those parts this season.
When Price stopped Letang in the shootout, the Canadiens seemed destined to capture their second-straight win. Especially with Bourque giving them the quick go-ahead on that laser of a shot. But, you know the Habs... always making it harder than it needs to be.
Don't know about luck, but the bounces went their way, and I doubt they're eager to give them back...
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
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