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Edit: Galchenyuk out indefinitely & Habs defeat Kings 5-4 in shootout. |
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EDIT:
It was just announced that Alex Galchenyuk is out indefinitely:
From the Canadiens.com:
ST. LOUIS - Alex Galchenyuk suffered a lower body injury on December 4 in Los Angeles.
He went for medical testing in St. Louis earlier Monday, and will be out indefinitely.
He will be further evaluated by team doctors in Montreal on Wednesday.
An update will be released later this week."
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The Montreal Canadiens managed to leave California on a high note as they defeated the Los Angeles Kings 5-4 in a shootout on a rare Sunday afternoon game. It was an exciting match featuring non-stop action and highlight reel goals from both teams. As expected, captain Max Pacioretty was elevated to the Canadiens top line alongside Alex Galchenyuk and Alexander Radulov. The move paid almost immediate dividends as Pacioretty scored on the line’s second shift of the game off of a beautiful cross ice pass by Andrei Markov.
The score would stay 1-0 until the second Jeff Carter would open the scoring for the Kings with the man advantage and Nick Shore put them up 2-1 over the Canadiens just three minutes into the period. Pacioretty would tie the game up on the power play but the Kings restored their lead on a Drew Doughty blast once again on the power play. The teams continued to trade goals in the second as Radulov scored his fifth of the season but Trevor Lewis would once again put the Kings up as he broke in alone on Carey Price and scored to give the Kings a 4-3 lead going into the third period. Andrew Shaw tied the game early in the third frame as Kings goaltender gave a juicy rebound off of a David Desharnais shot. Unfortunately Galchenyuk suffered a knee injury midway through the period and was forced to leave the game.
Overtime would solve nothing despite the Canadiens getting a chance to with the man advantage. In the shootout, head coach Michel Therrien would use a couple of unconventional choices as he used Brian Flynn and Paul Byron with his 1st and 4th picks. Therrien played his hunches well as Flynn scored on his attempt along with Radulov. Carter and Anze Kopitar replied with goals on their attempts while Marian Gaborik and Pacioretty’s attempts were stopped. In the fourth round Tanner Pearson was unable to score on Price and Byron pretended that he was on a shorthanded breakaway as he scored to seal the victory for the Canadiens.
Puck props & flops:
Props:
Alexander Radulov - It was perhaps his best game in a Canadiens uniform and that is saying a lot as he has had many good ones. His combination of passion, skill and competitiveness seemed to inspire linemate Pacioretty as the duo fed off of each other. Not only did he get it done in the Kings zone with a goal and two assists, not to mention his beauty of a shootout goal, but he was excellent defensively as he rushed back to break up Kings odd man chances. On the Canadiens first power play unit he played the point alongside Shea Weber and while it took some time to adjust, eventually they were successful.
Max Pacioretty - His play has been steadily improving over the last few games but it had become obvious for quite some time that he needed to play on the top line and with other skilled players in order to get the maximum contribution from him. It was his first multi goal game of the season which now gives him seven on the season. Unfortunately he did take an unnecessary tripping penalty that led to the Kings opening goal. However, aside from that he proved that he was able to rise up when given a proper opportunity and led all Canadiens forwards with 20:32 minutes of ice time.
Andrew Shaw - After a quiet start to the season, Shaw has come into his own and displayed why Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin felt it was important to trade for and sign the young winger. Shaw has been much more involved in games as of late and had six hits to go along with his game tying goal. He played physical and hard but without crossing the line.
Flops:
Mark Barberio - He simply has not played up to the same level of play that had earned him a two year contract in the offseason. Last year he was able to come up to the NHL midway through the season and step in and help in all situations as they Canadiens dealt with many injuries on the backend. So far this season he is not playing with the same confidence and is not as strong on the puck compared to before. Barberio is losing the individual battles and has been the weakest link on defense since coming in for Nathan Beaulieu.
Alex Galchenyuk - Even before he went down to injury, Galchenyuk had been struggling in the game which is something considering how well his line mates were playing. He has been forcing plays rather than making the smart decision with the puck. Galchenyuk had a harder time creating space and going up against bigger competition in California. He is still by far and away the Canadiens best centerman and the team will sorely miss him if he is injured for an extended amount of time. He will learn from this trip and just imagine how dominant the Canadiens top line can be when they all three are on top of their game.
The Canadiens penalty kill - They allowed two goals and have fallen down to 21st in the league, barely over a success kill rate of 80%. With the best goaltender in the NHL, they should be much better than what their percentage and ranking indicates.
Comme ci, comme ça:
Carey Price - He uncharacteristically allowed four goals in the second period but none of them were of the weak variety. We are just so used to Price making the impossible saves that we are unaccustomed to when he is unable to do so.
Shea Weber - He has been outstanding this season for the Canadiens but his step slowed a bit in California and particularly was not strong against the Kings until he stepped up in overtime to save the team a couple of times. While he and Alexeï Emelin have formed a great shutdown unit, he needs to be a with a more mobile partner and when Nathan Beaulieu returns to the lineup he deserves another chance alongside Weber.
While the Canadiens only earned two points on the California portion of their road trip, they played well for the most part and competed hard against top competition. It has become obvious though that they need better depth at center, especially when it comes to the second line. The Canadiens will conclude their five game road trip Tuesday night in St-Louis.
Cheers and follow along!
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
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