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The Underdogs Had Some Bite

August 7, 2020, 7:48 PM ET [678 Comments]
Karine Hains
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Against all odds and contrarily to what most experts had predicted, the Montreal Canadiens put the final nail in the Penguins coffin this afternoon. While most will agree that the Canadiens had no business making the playoffs this season, it's impossible to deny that they were the better team during that series with Pittsburgh. Carey Price had to stand on his head for the first 2 games but after that, we saw 2 real team victories.

This afternoon game was pretty much like a chess match, both sides were careful, neither wanting to make a crucial mistake but that approach was probably the wrong one for the Penguins. If you do not test Carey Price and you do not get him off his game, you're not going to beat him. In the end, both the Pens and the Habs took 22 shots on goal today and neither goalie was overly called upon. However, today, Carey Price did more than stopping shots he also took some shots at Sidney Crosby. He pushed him around, he teased him and well, it looks like he got in his head.

The game was scoreless until it got deep in the third period but it was definitely still exciting from the second period on. The first frame was somewhat boring but once the puck dropped on the second, it felt like both teams tried to push a little bit more. Both sides hit a few posts, and in the end, it was Arturri Lehkonen who scored the game-winning goal. His line with Danault and Byron was the most efficient one out there and they truly deserved to make the difference. Paul Byron was hooked as he was trying to make his way to the net, kept on skating and while moving behind the net, he threw the puck back in front and Lehkonen pushed it in. The Captain would score the insurance marker in an empty net with 32 seconds to go.



Let's be honest though, the Penguins looked flat out there, they didn't play like a team that was fighting for its life, they almost looked like they were going through the motion. That being said, it still counts and the Canadiens can now look forward to their first real playoff series since 2017. Hopefully, the current line-up will have learnt from this battle with Pittsburgh that it's much easier to win when the whole team gives its all and not just Carey Price.

The first round should start on August 11 and as things stand, the Canadiens will take on either the Lightning or the Flyers. The two teams have won their first two games of the round robin tournament and they'll battle it out tomorrow to determine who the top seed will be.

So, I ask you Habs fans, pick your poison! What will it be? Drouin vs Sergachev or the battle of the French-Canadian coaches? The Canadiens played 4 games against Tampa this year and lost all 4, they were outscored 14-6. As for Philadelphia, they crossed paths 3 times during the regular season, won 1 and lost 2 in overtime, they scored 9 goals while the Flyers had 8. So, I guess the Philadelphia match-up is more appealing...Don’t forget though, it's the playoffs so anything can happen.... How many times has Marc Bergevin told us that over the last 8 years?

Should the Canadiens face the Lightning, it will hopefully be a great motivation for Jonathan Drouin to play his former team. He didn't exactly set anything alight in the match-up with Pittsburgh although he scored a timely goal in game 3 and his compete level was much better in the last 2 games. If, however, they end up playing Philadelphia, it could be an interesting goalie battle. Earlier this week, Nate Thompson told the press that Carter Hart reminded him of some guy he used to play with in Montreal.

For those who are disappointed that the Habs lost their shot at Laferenière, of course it would have been great to be able to draft him but you cannot ask professional athletes to lose on purpose. Besides, the Canadiens only would have had a 12.5% chance of landing him. There's no point in wallowing in self-pity now, that ship has sailed so just hop on the playoff train and enjoy the ride! However long it lasts....

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