It was a blowout loss of epic proportions as the Columbus Blue Jackets embarrassed the Montreal Canadiens, defeating them by a score of 10-0. The Blue Jackets had the Canadiens number from the moment the puck was dropped as they controlled each and every aspect of the game. Their league leading power play was a clinic in how to perform on the ice with the man advantage as they scored four of their ten goals while the Canadiens were shorthanded. After being outplayed by the Toronto Maple Leafs and Vancouver Canucks but still finding a way to win those games, the Canadiens were due for a stinker. Nobody could have imagined though that they would have sunk so low and literally hung Al Montoya out to dry.
Puck props and flops:
Props:
Al Montoya - Everyone had the feels for the Canadiens backup goaltender. It was a pitiful effort in front of him and he had to bear the brunt of it. The loss was in no way shape or form his fault. He stood there and took it, for better or worse. Nobody will ever forget his sacrifice for the team. They owe the veteran big time.
Flops:
The rest of the Canadiens - True, some were better than others. However, no one took it upon themselves to demonstrate an ounce of pride. There was no pushback. No desire. They gave up on Montoya as well as each other.
Props:
(Whispers) Canadiens coaching staff for leaving Montoya in - I know that it was awful to leave Montoya in for the full 60 minutes. It was not fair to him and certainly not what he signed up for on July 1st. However, the decision to keep him in was more about protecting Carey Price than rescuing Montoya. The Canadiens had a short turnaround as they had to return to Montreal after the game to host the Philadelphia Flyers. If Price were to get injured in relief during the hot mess, Michel Therrien would have been roasted for putting his number one goalie into an impossible situation. It absolutely sucked that Montoya had to stay in the game and take it. However, Therrien did not make his decision alone. You can bet that Stephane Waite was consulted as well and if he did not agree with it then Price would have gone in. It was a tough decision to make but one that was the right call, even if no one likes it.
---
Game preview Canadiens vs. Flyers:
Aside Carey Price getting the start in goal, if there are any changes to the Canadiens lineup it will only be announced later in the day. For what it is worth, the lines at the end of the game were:
Lehkonen-Galchenyuk-Radulov Pacioretty-Plekanec-Gallagher Shaw-Desharnais-Byron Danault-Mitchell-Flynn
Weber-Beaulieu Markov-Petry Emelin-Pateryn
As for the Flyers, it will be former Hab Dale Weise’s first time lacing up against his old teammates. He was still serving his suspension from earlier in the season when the two clubs first met, a 3-1 Canadiens victory. As per Bill Meltzer, their lines for tonight should be:
FLYERS
12 Michael Raffl - 28 Claude Giroux - 17 Wayne Simmonds 11 Travis Konecny - 14 Sean Couturier - 92 Jakub Voracek 24 Matt Read - 78 P-E Bellemare - 13 Roman Lyubimov 76 Chris VandeVelde - 10 Brayden Schenn - 25 Nick Cousins
23 Brandon Manning - 3 Radko Gudas 9 Ivan Provorov - 32 Mark Streit 15 Michael Del Zotto - 53 Shayne Gostisbehere
30 Michal Neuvirth / 35 Steve Mason
5 questions for tonight’s game:
1) Obvious yes, but will the Canadiens rebound and show up for tonight’s game?
2) Do you expect the new lines to stick and start that way for the Canadiens?
3) If the Canadiens do bounce back, who will lead the way?
4) Will Carey Price carry the team on his back tonight?
5) What will be the final score?
Puck drops at 7pm.
Cheers & enjoy the game! Follow @Jenbcutler