The Montreal Canadiens are still undefeated as they managed to squeak out a win against the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-3, Saturday night at the Bell Centre. For the first time this season, the Canadiens were not the better team on the ice. The Maple Leafs played hard and outshot the Canadiens in each period. The Canadiens had tired legs having played the night before in Buffalo. Their decision making was not nearly as sharp as it had been the previous 8 games. Fortunately, the Canadiens have the X-factor of Carey Price in net and whenever he is there, he gives the Canadiens an opportunity to win. It is often said that you have to be good to be lucky and lucky to be good. The difference between last year’s Canadiens and today’s is that even though they didn’t bring their ‘A’ game, they still managed to find a way to win. Last year they would folded…
Props & Flops from last night’s game:
Props:
Carey Price - As good as the Canadiens have been this season, last night was a reminder the Canadiens will only really go as far as Price takes them. Yes, Price let in 3 goals for the first time this season. However, he still stopped 49 (!) of 52 shots for the win. Incredibly, his night’s save percentage of .942 actually brought his season average down.
Flop:
Alex Semin - I thought that Semin would have a bounce back effort against the Maple Leafs on Saturday night. I was wrong. Semin most likely played his worst game of the season. He had 3 giveaways on the night, 2 of which led to Maple Leafs goals. Earlier in the season Semin got a pass from most everyone as he was at least putting in the effort and not costing the Canadiens. If he keeps this up without contributing on the offensive side, he will be riding the pine a lot more often as Therrien benched him in the 3rd period...
Props:
Canadiens Special Teams - As alluded by head coach Michel Therrien, the Canadiens won the game because of goaltending and special teams (courtesy of the Canadiens.com):
“It was a very difficult game. Tonight we were not the best team on the ice. Our special teams helped us win. That and the prowess of Carey Price…
The Habs scored 2 goals on the powerplay and P.K. Subban played a big part of it. His rocket of shot got the Canadiens on the board to start the game and his shot-pass to Brendan Gallagher on the 2nd PP goal was perfection. The penalty kill also did their part as they killed off all 5 of the Maple Leafs opportunities, including a 5-3 in the second period. Not to mention Max Pacioretty scoring his first shorthanded goal of the season.
Flop:
Canadiens faceoffs - Torrey Mitchell and Tomas Plekanec had very poor nights in the faceoff circle. Mitchell only won 2 of 13 faceoffs and Plekanec won 12 and lost 17. Lost draws directly led to their opponent’s puck possession and it is no coincidence that the Maple Leafs dominated the play for much of the game.
Props:
Montreal Professional Sports Teams - The Montreal Alouettes, Canadiens and Impact all swept their games against their Toronto counterparts this weekend! It was a good weekend to be a Montreal fan :)
Flops:
Toronto Professional Sports Teams - It was a hard weekend to be a Toronto sports fan. The Blue Jays left too many runners in scoring position stranded to halt their magical season, the Alouettes played their best game of the season against the Argonauts who are not even playing in Toronto, the Maple Leafs played a strong game but let in 5 goals in a game they probably should have won and Toronto FC lost their chance at home field advantage when they allowed the Impact to come back and win the game. At least the Toronto Raptors won their final pre-season game but it was played at the Bell Centre in Montreal...
Neither Here or There:
- Andrei Markov was a -3 the night after he had a career game against Buffalo but his play wasn’t reflective of the +/- stat. Markov nor Subban could really be held accountable for the Maple Leafs 3 goals, it was the forwards who did not come back to help out as they had been doing so successfully in the games played before…
- While the Canadiens gave up 3 goals for the first time this season, they still have not allowed a team to score in the first period and have trailed for a total of 2:57 minutes through 9 games. All of their wins have come in regulation as well.
- If and when the Canadiens lose for the first time on their Western Canada road trip, to whom will it be?
- When will Mike Condon get his next start? I expect he might start Friday night in Calgary and for Price to start Tuesday in Vancouver and Thursday in Edmonton. The Canadiens return to a busy schedule when they play the Jets on Sunday, Senators on Tuesday, Islanders on Thursday and the Bruins on Saturday...
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