It only took 6 playoff games and I think we can say with confidence that the Ottawa Senators have become the Canadiens de facto rival from Ontario. What a game one that was! It had everything! Own goals! Lumberjack slashes! Triple axel screaming belly flops! Guys with broken wrists throwing punches! Hottest goalies in the league brought down to earth! Shoddy officiating! Just insane!
Slash-Gate has taken the hockey world by storm and rightfully so. This escalated from a needless slash, to a massive embellishment, to a superstar tossed from the game, to a miraculous re attachment and recovery by the spinning and screaming Sens sniper Stone! You couldn't script a more wild beginning to the series! The NHL won't say it, but they are LOVING the start to this series. So much exsposure, so much hatred being formed, so much media attention. The NHL is smiling all the way to the bank on this one.
Ok, ridiculous slashes and penalties (or non-calls) aside, we were all treated to one heck of a hockey game last night. Ottawa was afforded every opportunity to steal this game but just couldn't find the fourth goal. No Pacioretty, no Subban? No problem it appears for this Canadiens squad. The team showed incredible resiliency to adapt to losing Subban and getting no calls until the 5 mins of the game. Petry just stepped up and showed why he will be making around 6 million next season (and 5-6 more years after that). Flynn, Prust, and Mitchell absolutely shredded their assignments on the Ottawa side. In fact, Bergevin's trade deadline acquisitions came up roses last night. I don't know if Andrighetto, Malholtra, and Thomas could have had the impact Petry, Flynn, and Mitchell had in the game. A+ for Bergevin as a GM so far.
Personally, I'm only counting 2 goals scored on Price since that was really all the Sens had scored. Carey wasn't spectacular, but he didn't have to be. And that's a very good thing. Price has shown a ability to bounce back after a less than stellar game (by his standards) so I expect him to really get his Zen on and shine next game. He will have to if you believe the Sens are going to everyone at him next game to either get him of his game or injure him. The D will have to become like the bouncers standing in front of the stage at a rock concert, intercept, push aside, repeat. Maybe toss a few face washes or head locks in there for good measure.
Judging by rookie coach Dave Canerons comments after the game you would have to believe the Sens are going to come out and try to hurt someone. There's further evidence to support this with Chris Neil suddenly coming back onto the fourth line at practice. I thought he had a busted hand? Maybe he just had busted skills. Either way, let's get the boys some extra forearm and ankle protection for next game please.
I feel the team played excellent considering the circumstances. There was a huge push at the beginning, then Markov's brain started all over the crease and shocked the team and their momentum allowing the Sens to build some confidence. The two quick goals by Mitchell and Plekanec put the Sens but momentum back in Montreal's corner. Unfortunately, that's when we found out that Mark Stone's pain tolerance is around the level of a 2 year child who whines a lot. This was a bad call as far as giving Subban the game. 2 minutes? Definitely. 4 minute double minor? I could understand just because of the screaming, spinning, flopping, crying of Stone. But a 5 minute major and the game? Give me a break Kozari. Oh, that's another good point. Kozari was also the official in the infamous first game of the Habs/NYR series last year who hammered them with penalty after penalty after finding it was OK for Krieders legs to drop kick Price's knee after a one handed tap in the thigh. But I digress. Kozari is garbage. There I said it. Moving on.
This could have been the killing stroke for the Sens, and it almost was with them cashing in twice on the PP, but Lars "mother f'ing" Eller said he's tired of this bs before breaking away on a 2 on 0 short handed with Flynn before deking the cheeseburgers out of Hammonds jock strap and roofing a short handed marker. Unreal.
Going into the third I had a feeling the game would tighten up and it did. What was already a stunning game by Montreal's fourth line became the stuff of legend as they worked the boards and Flynn walked the puck from the corner straight to Hammonds front door before saying hello to Pageau (who appeared content to just stand beside him and watch the sweet play) and then buried the puck in the net. For Mitchell and Flynn these were their first goals/points as Canadiens and it couldn't have happened at a better time. There was late pressure from Ottawa after Montreal's automatic sit back and defend after the 10 minute mark but it was no good. Prust had a massive shot block in the last 30 seconds and the Habs kept working the pucks to the corner and trying to keep it to the outside before the final buzzer rang out and the street of Montreal started singing. Unfortunately, the celebration was marred by the punching and wrestling by MacArthur and Stone (who I assume must have hurt his wrist while punching guys and wrestling on the ice, I mean, prove it didn't right?). But after the refs got the garbage off the ice our Habs stood there triumphant and without Pacioretty or Subban. Unreal.
6 playoff games. That's all it took for Ottawa to replace Toronto as the Canadiens hated Ontario rival. 6 games is all it took for there to be a blood lust between two fan bases. NHL playoffs are always the best spectacle in sports and 4 games into this post season is no different. So with that I'll say Go Habs Go and good luck to the refs who draw in for game 2, they will be earning their paychecks Friday night!
Question: Considering PA Parenteau is day to day with a UBI, who draws in if Pacioretty isn't ready?