Saturday, 5 March 2011
2-4 
FINAL
GOAL SCORERS
MTL: H. Gill (05:27 - 1st) , D. Desharnais (PPG, 08:41 - 1st) , M. Pacioretty (PPG, 14:05 - 2nd) , M. Pacioretty (01:18 - 3rd)
TBL: D. Moore (PPG, 01:25 - 2nd) , V. Lecavalier (14:07 - 3rd)
Last night in Tampa Bay, the Canadiens took on the Lightning seeking there 4th straight win for the first time since 0ctober 29th 2010 against the Islanders. Is there a better way to get it than facing a team they might play in the post season? 3 minutes in, a long shot was stopped by Price and the rebound went right to Moore who was stopped as well. Then at the 5 minute mark of the game, Gionta played the puck to Gill at the point and he would slap it home right past Roloson to make it 1-0 Montreal. That was Gill's second of the season and both coming in back to back games. Then with the Habs on the powerplay, Kostitsyn played the puck to Desharnais in front and he went to the back hand and scored his 8th of the season to make it 2-0 Montreal.
With 7 minutes to go in the first, Gomez came in on a two on one with Gionta and Gomez played it to Gionta and Roloson dove to make the save and the rebound went off the post. A few minutes after that, Kostitsyn raced in to the Tampa zone to beat the icing call. Then Kostitsyn played the puck to Pacioretty behind the Tampa net and Pacioretty played it back to Kostitsyn and Rolson with a great diving save again. With 2 minutes to play in the first Price made a great save with his right pad on Purcell. So after 1 period the score was 2-0 Habs.
Then 2 minutes into the second, with the Lightning on the powerplay. Kubina's shot was stopped but Moore put home the rebound to cut the lead to 1 goal. 30 seconds after that, St.Louis got the puck and made a nice move and took a shot but no dice as he was stopped by Carey Price. Then with 6 minutes to go in the second, the Habs went on the powerplay. Plekanec had the puck at the point and he took a shot but was stopped and the rebound went right to Pacioretty who would score to make it 3-1. That would be your score through 2. Just a few minutes into the third, Gomez came in the attacking zone on a two on one and everybody thought he was going to shoot it, but he didn't and he made a nice pass to Pacioretty who would score to make it 4-1.
Then the Lightning went on a 5 on 3 powerplay. On that powerplay, Stamkos had a chance right in front of the net but Price dove with the poke check to break up the play as the Habs would go onto win this game 4-2. After the game, Lightning Coach Bouchard was asked about his team's slow start and if he was surprised that Gill and Desharnais scored and he replied:"It didn't surprise me, it shocked me.Everything we do now falls on everybody, whether we've got two guys that are out there asleep or whether we've got one or 15." In the victory, Price was great once again as he made 43 saves and has given up just 3 goals on his last 117 shots that he has faced.
"He is playing great out there," Gionta said. "He's moving his feet and making the plays. When he's doing that, he's his best." As for Tampa, Roloson made 19 saves in the lose. But this game was big win for the Habs as they have now won 4 in a row for the first time since October 29th against the Islanders. This win proves that if these 2 teams meet in the first round of the playoffs, that the Habs could win. Most of the media has already counted Montreal out but they are looking at the little facts. Like how Montreal is small.
But there also small and fast as you witnessed in this game. When the Habs won the Stanley cup in 1986 and 1993 the Habs weren't a big and tough team like the Flyers or the Bruins but they still were able to win. The Montreal team from 1993 reminds me of this 2011 team because they have guys who can score from the point, great Goaltending and a fast offense. I think if the team stays healthy they can go deep in the playoffs.
Written By Andrew Di Pardo
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