The table was set last night for an original 6 meeting between the Rangers and the Habs and the Canadiens hoped the game would allow them to stop their losing streak and it sure did. Of course, the Rangers didn't have their number 1 goalie in net but Lundqvist's numbers in Montreal have never been that great in Montreal and they were missing a whole scoring line due to injury. So one might say that they were a much more weaker prey then normally but the fact still remains: the Habs won and they did so in convincing fashion. After the game, the whole line-up was all smiles:
😄➡ï¸ðŸ˜„âž¡ï¸ðŸ˜„âž¡ï¸ðŸ˜„âž¡ï¸ðŸ˜„ #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/L8ID1KjxJV
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) December 2, 2018
It is worth noting that in two games with Weber, the Canadiens have only allowed 22 shots on net per game and have allowed 2 goals per game. This is already miles better than how they performed during the month of November. The Man Mountain (as Babcock called him) might not be as flashy as the Habs's former number 76 but his talent and leadership cannot be ignored. Early in the first, the Bell Centre literally erupted when Weber opened the score on one of his patented "Weber Rocket" that seemingly effortless shot from the blue line which is so fast and hard:
Voici un autre angle du premier but de la saison de Shea Weber.
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) December 2, 2018
Here’s an alternate angle of Shea Weber’s first goal of the season.#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/w12pssGBA1
Not content with having opened the score, the Habs captain scored again this time on a breakaway?!? Definitely out of the ordinary for him but one cannot help but marvel at that pass from Tomas Tatar:
Image rare : Shea Weber en échappée!
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) December 2, 2018
(Mention spéciale à la passe de Tomas Tatar)
Here's something you don't see every day: Shea Weber on a breakaway!
(Shoutout to @TomasTatar90 for the sweet pass.)#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/Yim3muWUES
On his backhand with his back on the ice, Tatar managed to set up the captain for his second and his night wasn't over as he also got himself a birthday goal after Lehkonen had doubled his goal total for the year. In the end, the Habs skated away with a 5-2 win and Weber wore the victory cape he had bought the team for the first time ever and deservedly so. On his return to the line-up, Paul Byron looked comfortable and as speedy as always while also getting an assist on Lehkonen's first goal of the game. As for Brett Kulak, the former Vancouver Giants didn't look out of place alongside Weber and offered a solid performance. The same cannot be said for Jeff Petry and Jordie Benn however as they both struggled. The Canadiens' defence would be so much better if Petry could perform the same way whether or not Weber is in the line-up...It's hard to explain but it almost looks like he's saying to himself: "Right, Shea's back I can finally take it easy"...Rather strange.
The Habs will be back in action tonight for a rare Sunday night match-up as they welcome the San Jose Sharks. Chances are that the sole change in the line-up will be Niemi taking over goaltending duties, why change a winning formula? The San Jose outfit should come out strong as they were humiliated 6-2 yesterday afternoon in Erik Karlsson's return to Ottawa. Puck drop is at 19:00 and it should be an interesting challenge for the Habs who have dropped the last six games against the Sharks and have only won one out of the last 11...
Roster move: The Kings have claimed Nikita Scherbak and with Kovalchuk out for 4 weeks post ankle procedure, looks like he’ll get a chance to show what he can do...
Pre game presser: Price will get a second start in as many nights and there are no other changes to the line-up