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Vanek Upstages Roy Return

March 18, 2014, 8:46 PM ET [14 Comments]
GARTH'S CORNER
NHL news by Garth • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Update:


Thomas Vanek sniped his way into the hearts and minds of the Montreal Canadiens fans at Bell Center on Tuesday night.

The Austrian sniper ruined Patrick Roy's long-anticipated return to Montreal by scoring three beauties, including the PP GWG with a sliver over five minutes remaining in the third period.


Here's Vanek's first of the night





Here's the PP GWG



and, the night cap



The recently assembled Pacioretty-Desharnais-Vanek line combined for seven points against Roy's Avalanche.

Vanek is a streaky scorer and it would not be a surprise to me if he now goes on a multi-game goal scoring spree.

6-3 Habs over Avs.


***








Moulson scored twice in his return to Long Island.

Moulson was voted the game's first star.






Here's his 20th goal of the season.




***



Matt Moulson didn't figure in the future plans of the NY Islanders. That's what GM Garth Snow said after he sent the multi-time 30-goal scorer to Buffalo with a 1st and 2nd rounder in exchange for Thomas Vanek. Moulson took the trade in stride and he handled it like a pro, despite the fact that his wife had given birth to their second child two months prior.


"We had a newborn when we first got traded to Buffalo. My wife had to hold down the fort for a while by herself and figure out all the moving. She did a pretty good job of that. Luckily I had her. It's tough when you're moving back and forth and don't see your family for a while. Hockey's the easiest part for me."

That's cold blooded. Trading a guy like that. What a huge mistake it was to trade Moulson, who doubles as captain John Tavares' best friend. Tavares and Kyle Okposo are the respective godfathers of Moulson's two young children. Moulson was a popular man in the Isles' room. He was family. Still is. Always will be.



Thanks, Wild TV

Snow butchered the Moulson trade. Straight up. He gave up far too much for the rental player that Vanek turned out to be. Vanek punctuated the bad deal when he turned down a reported $50 million contract extension to stay and play with the Islanders.

Sabre GM Tim Murray maximized the value for his pending UFA Moulson when he traded him to Minnesota on NHL trade deadline day. The Sabres received forward Torrey Mitchell and two second-round draft picks from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for forwards Matt Moulson and Cody McCormick. The draft picks received by the Sabres are for the 2014 and 2016 NHL Entry Drafts.

Vanek was traded to Montreal on trade deadline day in exchange for a 2nd rounder and a former 2nd round prospect.

Moulson never did get a chance to play the Islanders while with the Sabres. Its too bad because Moulson certainly would have been looking to light the lamp one more time inside Nassau County Coliseum.

Fast forward to Tuesday night when Moulson showed his old boss Snow and his legion of loyal fans that he's still got it.






BAM!


Moulson's 19th (2 in MIN, 11 in BUF, 6 in NYI) goal of this, his most turbulent NHL season.

What was Garth Snow thinking when he traded Moulson in the first place?



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