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Series Preview: Pens vs Habs aka "Must See TV."

June 2, 2020, 1:44 PM ET [38 Comments]
Eklund
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When it comes to ratings, you would be hard-pressed to find a more popular series than the Montréal Canadiens versus the Pittsburgh Penguins. If ever a series was made for Hockey Night in Canada it was Crosby versus the Habs.

The Penguins have to be considered the favorite...That truly is an understatement. With everyone healthy, the Penguins are flat as scary as anybody in the NHL...and Montreal is really NOT a playoff team yet... But you should also know this....Whenever we think a series is this cut and dry... it isn't.

So I watched the three games the teams played this year.

Game 1. December 10th in Pittsburgh.

* Tristan Jarry came into this game with back to back shutouts...

* No Crosby in this game.

*Very early, the Canadiens made a big mistake which led to a Guentzel goal on what was essentially a 2-0 break away.

*The Canadiens ended Jarry's streak in the second period on a goal by Tatar...The streak totaled over 177 minutes. The Habs then scored two more quick goals...eventually taking the game 4-1.

* Carey Price was a difference-maker especially until the Habs got on the board. He was calm, very solid on his rebounds, and was positionally sound causing the Penguins players to attempt to aim the puck too often...a lot of shots were fired wide.

Game 2, January 4th in Montreal.

* No Crosby OR Guentzel. Habs also with a ton of injuries...

* Matt Murray in Goal for Penguins. He was amazing in this game. As was Price. This was a great game to watch two star goalies at their best. Both goalies with amazing highlight saves.

* Habs took a lead early. Lehkonen. Aston-Reese score almost immediately to tie it.

* The Penguins defense had a tough time staying with the young speedy Canadiens.

* Lehkonen scored again in the second to give the Habs a 2-1 lead.

* Rust tied it with an early third period goal.

* Murray stoned Lehkonen on a breakaway in the third... game headed to OT

* Tanev scores in OT after a bad change by Suzuki..Pens win 3-2

* Nate Thompson had a big game for the Habs...he was of course traded to the Flyers at the deadline.

Game 3. February 14th in Pittsburgh.

* Crosby back, and the second game for newly acquired Jason Zucker..Crosby had three assists, Zucker two goals...

* Tristan Jarry in goal for Pitt and he was the story. He outplayed Price in this game.. Jarry stopped 34 of 35 shots. The Penguins scored 4 goals (one empty net) on onoy 28 shots.

* The Habs speed continued to frustrate the Penguins..

* Shea Weber not in this game. Kovalchuk had several chances.* Penguins win this one 4-1.

So what do you think happens in this series?



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