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Saturday, March 31, 2012

Canadiens @ Rangers 03/30/12

RANGERS GRAB WIN # 50 WITH A 4-1 WIN ; THE HABS AWFUL SEASON CONTINUES






















GOAL SCORERS

MTL:   R. Bourque (17:31 - 3rd)
NYR:   M. Gaborik (08:56 - 1st) , B. Richards (PPG, 00:30 - 2nd) , M. Del Zotto (PPG, 08:17 - 3rd) , M. Del Zotto (16:58 - 3rd)
GOALIES

MTL: C. Price (L)
 NYR: H. Lundqvist (W)





            Last night on Broadway, the best team in the East (Rangers) took on the worst team in the East (Canadiens). 9 minutes in, Marian Gaborik scored from the slot to make it 1-0 Rangers. 30 seconds into the second, Richards fired a shot from the top of the right circle and it beat Price to make it 2-0 Rangers. That was a powerplay goal. 8 minutes later, the Rangers grabbed another powerplay goal with a goal from Del Zotto from the point. He would add another to make it 4-0. But late in the third, Bourque would score on a rebound for his first goal in 16 games to cut the lead to 3 but that's as close as they came as the Habs lost 4-1 and the Rangers picked up win number 50 on the season.

           "I didn't even know tonight was 50," Del Zotto said. "Knowing now, it's great but it's not something we're going to be satisfied with. We want to keep moving forward. We'd like to win the rest of our games.We know we're at the top of the standings, but it's not something we're really that focused on. We just want to peak come playoff time and get all the kinks out of our game." In the loss, Price made 25 saves. In the win, Lundqvist made 19 saves. After the game, Tortorella spoke about getting to 50 wins. "It doesn't mean squat. I will tell you right now it means absolutely nothing," New York coach John Tortorella said.

              "It's about how we're playing as we go through these next four games against tough opponents. It's about our game going into the playoffs. You get measured by the playoffs." The Habs have 4 games to go on what has been a awful season. Over the course of the season, the Habs fired an assistant coach in Perry Pearn,a head coach in Jacques Martin and now their GM Pierre Gauthier. “When he came in, he just announced his decision and told us where the organization wants to go,” explained Gionta. “Obviously we’re committed to winning and everyone is disappointed in the year. It was a move Molson felt was right.” The Habs have a record of 29-35-14 and sit 28th in the NHL (15th in the East) with a 14.2% chance of grabbing pick number 1 in this summers NHL entry Draft.

Written By Andrew Di Pardo

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Geoff Molson's presser (English) - 03/29/2012

2012 NHL Draft Lottery Standings

The Draft Order (Through March 28)

RANK TEAM POINTS GR ROW
1 Columbus Blue Jackets (48.2%) 57 5 21
2 Edmonton Oilers  (18.8%) 71 5 26
3 Montreal Canadiens (14.2%) 72 5 24
4 Minnesota Wild (10.7%) 72 6 23
5 Toronto Maple Leafs (8.1%) 75 5 29
6 New York Islanders 75 6 25
7 Anaheim Ducks 77 5 30
8 Carolina Hurricanes 77 5 31
9 Tampa Bay Lightning 77 6 32
10 Winnipeg Jets 78 5 31
11 Washington Capitals 84 5 36
12 Calgary Flames 85 4 32
13 Colorado Avalanche 86 3 31
14 Phoenix Coyotes 87 5 31

CANADIENS OWNER FIRES GM PIERRE GAUTHIER
















                 This afternoon in Montreal, Canadiens owner Geoff Molson announced that he fired GM Pierre Gauthier. The Habs are last in the East with a record of  29-34-14. "It goes without saying that we're all very disappointed in our performance this season," said Molson."Everyone in this organization, including our players, expected better. Our fans care deeply about our team and want nothing more than a winning team, one that follows in the tradition of our storied past. This season did not deliver on those expectations. Our fans can trust that ownership will accept nothing less than a winning culture in this organization.We need to remember that our fans want us to win, period," Molson told reporters at the team's practice facility in Brossard. "Our organizational culture is to support and adopt this passion for victory. Nothing else matters."

           Molson and Denis Savard will be the Habs interim Gms until they decide who will take over. Leading candidates for the next GM could be: Pierre Meguire and Patrick Roy. 

Canadiens GMs since 1978

  • 1978-1983: Irving Grundman
  • 1983-1995: Serge Savard
  • 1995-2000: Rejean Houle
  • 2000-2003: Andre Savard
  • 2003-2010: Bob Gainey
  • 2010-2012: Pierre Gauthier
Written By Andrew Di Pardo

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Erik Gudbranson vs Ryan White Panthers @ Canadiens HD

Florida Panthers Vs Montreal Canadiens - 03/27/2012

PANTHERS GRAB A BIG 2 POINTS WITH A 3-2 SHOOTOUT WIN





















GOAL SCORERS

FLA:   W. Wolski (13:04 - 1st) , M. Samuelsson (12:48 - 3rd) , W. Wolski (00:00 - SO)
MTL:   E. Cole (PPG, 14:00 - 1st) , L. Leblanc (18:57 - 2nd)
GOALIES

FLA: S. Clemmensen (W)
 MTL: C. Price (L)





               Last night in Montreal with the Canadiens being officially out of the Playoff race (sitting in 15th in the East with 72 points), the Habs are now spoilers. Going into this game the Panthers (3rd in the East) sat at the top of the Southeast divison with 87 points, just 3 points ahead of the Capitals (who sit in 2nd in the division and 9th in the Conference with 84 points). So it was a big game for the Panthers. Wolski opened the scoring for the Panthers before Eric Cole tied the game on the powerplay just over a minute later. That was Coles career high, 31st goal of the season. Then late in the second, LeBlanc had a breakaway and he scored to make it 2-1 Habs lead.

            13 minutes into the third, Samuelsson tied the game with a goal from the point. So this game would go to a shootout. Wolski would score the loan goal in the shootout as the Panthers win 3-2 and are now 5 points ahead of the Capitals."Let's not kid ourselves, I think we're a doing that right now on both sides of the ledger," Dineen said. "Everybody's looking at what's happening around the league."That was a nice win for us. And I give Buffalo credit. That's a team that was counted out three weeks ago and it's amazing the difference."

Shootout
David Desharnais MTL Miss
Wojtek Wolski FLA Goal
Tomas Plekanec MTL Save
Mikael Samuelsson FLA Save
Louis Leblanc MTL Miss

Written By Andrew Di Pardo

Race for the first pick in the 2012 NHL Draft:

1. Blue Jackets 48%
2. Oilers 18%
3. Canadiens 14%

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Ryan White fights Matt Martin. March 17th 2012

New-York Islanders @ Montreal Canadiens - Shootouts highlights. March 17...

New York Islanders Vs Montreal Canadiens - 03/17/2012

HABS FALL TO THE ISLANDERS IN A SHOOTOUT






















GOAL SCORERS

NYI:   M. Streit (PPG, 02:00 - 2nd) , F. Nielsen (16:05 - 2nd) , J. Bailey (00:00 - SO)
MTL:   A. Palushaj (02:53 - 1st) , L. Leblanc (03:38 - 3rd)
GOALIES

NYI: A. Montoya (W)
 MTL: P. Budaj (L)





                 Last night in Montreal, it was the battle of the basement teams in the Eastern Conference. Who would win, the Habs or the Islanders? Just 3 minutes in, Palushaj centred the puck and it went off the pad of Montoya and in to make it 1-0 Montreal. That was Palushaj's first NHL goal. 2 minutes into the second, former Hab Mark Steit rushed the puck from the Islanders zone and past 4 Habs players and he scored. That was a powerplay goal. But before the puck went in, Streit knocked Budaj down, no call and the goal would stand. Late in the second, Nielsen would score to give the Islanders the lead.

            4 minutes into the second. Budaj played the puck to Subban, he took the puck into the Islanders zone and centred the puck to LeBlanc and he scored to tie the game at 2-2. Thats LeBlancs 4th of the season. This game would go to a shootout. Desharnais scored for the Habs to give them the lead. Nielsen would tie it. Then in the 4th round, Bourque would score. But Moulson would tie the game. Then in the 6th round, Markov came in and slapped a shot off the glove of Montoya.  So Bailey had a chance to win it and he did. 3-2 Islanders was the final."I thought we did some really good things out there today," Canadiens defenseman P.K. Subban said. "On the penalty kill, I thought we did great on limiting their top players' opportunities."

Written By Andrew Di Pardo

Shootout
David Desharnais MTL Goal
Frans Nielsen NYI Goal
Tomas Plekanec MTL Miss
John Tavares NYI Miss
Max Pacioretty MTL Save
PA Parenteau NYI Save
Rene Bourque MTL Goal
Matt Moulson NYI Goal
Lars Eller MTL Save
Kyle Okposo NYI Save
Andrei Markov MTL Save
Josh Bailey NYI Goal

HNIC - Coach's Corner - Mar 17th 2012 (HD)

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Montreal Canadiens Vs Ottawa Senators - 03/12/2012

HABS WIN 3-2 IN A SHOOTOUT AGAINST THE SENS





















GOAL SCORERS

OTT:   C. Greening (14:11 - 1st) , E. Karlsson (11:01 - 3rd)
MTL:   E. Cole (13:45 - 1st) , D. Desharnais (00:24 - 3rd) , D. Desharnais (00:00 - SO)
GOALIES

OTT: B. Bishop (L)
 MTL: C. Price (W)





          Last night in Montreal, the Habs began a home and home series against the Senators. The Habs got on the board first with a rush down the right wing by Eric Cole, as he fired a shot and it was stopped but he got his own rebound. After the goal, Cole skated by the ref and gave him a high five. 30 seconds later, Greening would score to tie the game at 1-1. Then 24 seconds into the third, Subbans point shot was tipped in by Desharnais to give the Habs a 2-1 lead. Karlesson would later tie the game. This game would go to a shootout. Pacioretty was up first and he was stopped by Ben "The BIG Man" Bishop. Michalek was up next and Price dove to poke the puck away. So Desharnais was next to give the Habs the lead, and he did with a backhand goal. Next for the Sens was Spezza and he was stopped.

       So Markov had a chance to win it in his first home game since 2010, but he was stopped. Then it was up to Alfredsson to score and he was a perfect 5 for 5. But Price got the better of him,as he made the save and the Habs win 3-2. "That was hilarious," Price said about Eric Coles high five. "I didn't laugh for long because they scored right after, but I think the ref was laughing, too."

Written By Andrew Di Pardo

Shootout
Max Pacioretty MTL Save
Milan Michalek OTT Save
David Desharnais MTL Goal
Jason Spezza OTT Save
Andrei Markov MTL Save
Daniel Alfredsson OTT Save

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

NHL- Montreal @ Buffalo (Mar. 12.12) Opening (National Anthens & Player ...

Montreal Canadiens at Buffalo Sabres - 03/12/2012

HABS TIE THE GAME WITH 4.6 SECONDS TO GO, BUT THEY FALL IN OVERTIME

Eric Cole's 26th of the season (Photo by Andrew Di Pardo)





















GOAL SCORERS

MTL:   E. Cole (04:32 - 1st) , D. Desharnais (19:55 - 3rd)
BUF:   T. Ennis (11:08 - 2nd) , T. Ennis (01:50 - 3rd) , T. Myers (02:01 - OT)
GOALIES

MTL: P. Budaj (L)
 BUF: R. Miller (W)






                Last night in Buffalo, the the Habs ended their road trip with a game against the Sabres. 5 minutes in, Desharnais brought the puck in over the Buffalo line, he faked a shot and dropped the puck back for Eric Cole and he wired a shot past Miller to make it 1-0 Montreal. 11 minutes into the second, Tyler Ennis brought the puck in over the Montreal line, he deked past Markov and then backhanded the puck into the back of the net to tie the game. 1:50 into the third, Ennis centred the puck and it went off the stick of Emelin and past Budaj to give Buffalo the lead. Then with under 10 seconds to play, Plekanecs shot from in front was stopped, Desharnais through the puck back to Subban and his shot was blocked. Desharnais cut to the front of the net and received a pass from Eric Cole and put the puck by Miller to tie the game with 4.6 seconds to go!

              In overtime, just 2 minutes in, Roy centred the puck to Myers and he fired a shot past Budaj to win the game for the Sabres 3-2 is the final. In the loss, Peter Budaj made 33 saves on 36 shots and at times was keeping the Habs in the game.After the game, Randy Cunneyworth talked about if he thought that this loss was a step backwards after a 4-1 win in Vancouver on Saturday night."I don't look at it as a step backward," Cunneyworth said. "I was happy with the effort. I think under the circumstances, the guys gave everything they had."

                 As for the winning goaltender, Miller made 23 saves. "I think it shows we've got good character," Ennis said. "It can be deflating when you let in a goal with a few seconds left. And we bounce back and score right away in overtime." With the win, the Sabres are now 2 points back of the 8th and final Playoff spot which is being held by the Capitals.

Written By Andrew Di Pardo

Sunday, March 11, 2012

HD - Canucks vs. Canadiens 3/10/2012

HABS SURPRISE THE CANUCKS WITH A 4-1 WIN






















GOAL SCORERS

MTL:   B. Geoffrion (18:43 - 2nd) , E. Cole (00:13 - 3rd) , P. Subban (PPG, 05:20 - 3rd) , E. Cole (11:02 - 3rd)
VAN:   R. Kesler (11:58 - 2nd)
GOALIES

MTL: C. Price (W)
 VAN: R. Luongo (L)





               Last night in Vancouver, the Habs took on the Canucks with a familiar face returning to the Habs line-up. That player was Andrei Markov who was making his Season debut for the Habs. 12 minutes into the second, Ryan Kesler came up the right wing and fired a wrist shot past Price on the blocker side to make it 1-0 Canucks. The Habs would respond late in the second. LeBlanc centred the puck right to Blake Geoffrion and he scored his first as a Montreal Canadien to tie the game.

           Blake is the 4th generation Geoffrion playing in the NHL. First it was his great grandfather, Howie Morenz (Number 7), then it was his grandfather, Bernie "Boom Boom" Geoffrion (Number 5) and then his father, Dan Geoffrion (Number 20). All of those players played for the Montreal Canadiens and now Blake (number 57) has his shot with the Habs and he gets a goal. 12 seconds into the third, Cole's backhand from the right wing beat Luongo to give the Habs a 2-1 lead. 5 minutes later with the Habs on a powerplay, Plekanec played it to Markov at the point and he played it to Subban and he one-timed a shot past Luongo to extend the Habs lead. Cole would add another goal as the Habs win 4-1.

          "So how does it feel to be back playing in the NHL?,"a reported asked Markov. He replied: "It was awesome," said Markov,who hadn't played since November 2010. "The first few shifts I had to adjust to the speed, but after that I felt good. My job is just to play the game. I don't know how many minutes I'm going to play next game. I'm just happy to be there." So onto Blake Geoffrion now. He just scored a historic goal on the Canadiens and he was asked about how it felt."It's a great feeling because one, it's been a while since I've socred in the NHL, and two, for obvious reasons with my family history to get that goal and help the team to win, Geoffrion said."   The Habs next game will be Monday night in Buffalo against the Sabres.

Written By Andrew Di Pardo

Important Game facts:
  1. (MTL) Carey Price makes 32 saves
  2. (VAN) Roberto Luongo made 31 saves.
  3.  (MTL) Blake Geoffrion scores his first of the season.
  4.  1 for 3 on the powerplay (MTL)
  5.   0 for 2 on the Powerplay (VAN)
  6.  Eric Cole registers 2 goals (MTL)
  7.  Subban scores his 7th of the Season (MTL)

HNIC - Coach's Corner - Mar 10th 2012 (HD)

Friday, March 9, 2012

Montreal Canadiens Vs Edmonton Oilers - 03/08/2012

HABS WIN 5-3 AGAINST THE OILERS






















GOAL SCORERS

MTL:   P. Subban (PPG, 19:43 - 1st) , M. Pacioretty (02:02 - 2nd) , T. Kaberle (PPG, 03:00 - 3rd) , L. Eller (05:07 - 3rd) , M. Pacioretty (EN, 19:43 - 3rd)
EDM:   S. Horcoff (PPG, 12:06 - 1st) , L. Omark (06:42 - 2nd) , T. Hall (13:12 - 3rd)
GOALIES

MTL: P. Budaj (W)
 EDM: N. Khabibulin (L)






                      Last night in Edmonton, the 28th placed Habs took on the 29th place Edmonton Oilers. Horcoff opened the scoring for the Oilers. Then P.K Subban scored on the powerplay to tie the game. Then early in the second, Pacioretty scored to give the Habs a lead. Just 4 minutes later Omark scored to tie the game. 3 minutes into the second, Bourques shot was deflected and it went right to Kaberle and he scored thats a powerplay goal. 2 minutes later, Eller centred the puck from the behind the net and it went off the back of Khabibulins pad and into the net to make it 4-2. Hall would later cut the lead in half before Max Pacioretty tallied and empty net goal as the Habs win 5-3."You play to win," Subban said. "As far as the players in the dressing room go, you want to win every game and you want to compete. It's your job to go out there and try to win every game, and that's what we did."

             On the day on March 8th 2011, Chara sent Pacioretty into the turn buckle at the Bell Centre. He was out for the rest of the season with a neck injury. "That's a heck of a thing to come back from," Cunneyworth said. "The dedication and the work he has had to do is something. He came back bigger and stronger. That line as a group has done a lot of good work all year." Pacioretty's had a comeback year with 30 goals and 24 assists."I'm happy that I could help him get to 30 goals," Subban said. "I don't know if that means I get dinner or something like that. For a guy that has already gone through so much in his career with the neck injury, it's inspirational to see what he has done for our hockey club this year."

Written By Andrew Di Pardo

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

NHL 11-12: Montreal Canadiens @ Calgary Flames - 06.03.2012

FLAMES WIN 5-4 AND ARE NOW 2 POINTS OUT OF 8th



















GOAL SCORERS

MTL:   T. Plekanec (PPG, 19:56 - 1st) , M. Pacioretty (09:28 - 2nd) , L. Eller (08:57 - 3rd) , M. Pacioretty (12:06 - 3rd)
CGY:   D. Moss (10:06 - 1st) , J. Iginla (12:21 - 1st) , M. Giordano (13:44 - 2nd) , J. Iginla (18:42 - 2nd) , C. Glencross (07:16 - 3rd)
GOALIES

MTL: C. Price (L)
 CGY: M. Kiprusoff (W)





            Last night in Calgary, the Flames were 4 points back of 8th going into the game against the Montreal Canadiens, but the tide would soon change for the Flames as they beat Rene Bourque (who made his return to Calgary) and the Habs 5-4. The Flames opened the scoring at 10:04 of the first, when Moss fired a shot past Price from the point. 2 minutes later, Iginla extended the lead to 2-0. But the Habs put up a fight. Late in the first, Plekanec scored on the powerplay to cut the lead to 1.  9 minutes into the second, Pacioretty fired a weak shot to the net (from the left wing) and it beat Kiprusoff to tie the game. Giordano and Iginla would score to give the Flames a 2 goal lead. 7 minutes into the third, Price gave the puck away right to Glencross and he scored to make it 5-2.

            But the Habs gave it their all. Just 2 minutes later, Eller was down on one knee in the slot and he fired the shot into the back of the net to give the Habs some hope. 3 minutes later, Pacioretty sent the puck to the net and it went off the stick of the goaltender and in to cut the lead to 5-4. That's as close as the Habs would get as their long season continues as they lose yet again. "We play hard in spurts and then we make mental errors that always cost us the game," Price said. "That's just the way it's been going this year."

         So I'm sorry to say Habs fans, but the Habs will not make the playoffs this season. We've know this for a while, but I'm saying it now because if the Habs continue to lose it may be good for them. The more they lose, the higher draft pick they will get. As it looks right now they may get a pick in the top 3.Onto the Flames now, this win will put them 2 points out of a playoff spot."We've been going through a tough stretch and sometimes when it goes like that, you just need to get that one to get over that hump," said Iginla. 10. "It's not pretty, but it's still a very important win for us and breaks a bad streak at home and something to build on."

Written By Andrew Di Pardo

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

NHL 11-12: Buffalo Sabres @ Winnipeg Jets - 05.03.2012

Playoff Race: JETS BEAT THE SABRES 3-1






















GOAL SCORERS

BUF:   C. Tropp (19:25 - 2nd)
WPG:   A. Ladd (13:45 - 1st) , B. Wheeler (08:02 - 3rd) , C. Thorburn (10:54 - 3rd)
GOALIES

BUF: R. Miller (L)
 WPG: O. Pavelec (W)





           Last night in Winnipeg, the Jets took on the Buffalo Sabres. Going into last nights game the Sabres were only 2 points back of the Jets for 8th in the Eastern Conference. So it's needless to say that this was a big game. The Jets dominated the game early. But it took them to the final 6 minutes of the first to get a goal. Little fired a shot and he was stopped but Andrew Ladd was there to put home the rebound to make it 1-0 Jets. Then with under a minute to go in the first, Tropp scored for Buffalo to tie the game. Lets jump to the third. 8 minutes into the final frame, Brian Little found Wheeler and he had a breakaway and scored to give the Jets a 2-1 lead. 3 minutes later, Thorburn brought the puck up the right wing and fired a shot past Miller to make it 3-1 and that was the final as the Jets move 4 points ahead of the Sabres (who now sit in 11th in the East).

                In the win, Pavelec made 23 saves. In the loss, Miller made 28 saves."The scouting report has been that Miller is unbeatable," said Wheeler. "But if you're going to beat him, you have to go over the shoulder. You always feel fortunate scoring on a goalie like him, he's probably the best in the league right now. You have to take a little bit of luck out of that but we feel good it went our way tonight."

 Written By Andrew Di Pardo

Saturday, March 3, 2012

HNIC - Coach's Corner - Mar 3rd 2012 (HD)

Maple Leafs @ Canadiens 2012, March 3

LEAFS WIN 3-1 AGAINST THE HABS IN CARLYLES COACHING DEBUT





















GOAL SCORERS

TOR:   M. Frattin (06:30 - 2nd) , M. Grabovski (11:45 - 3rd) , M. Grabovski (PPG, 19:07 - 3rd)
MTL:   E. Cole (07:16 - 1st)
GOALIES

TOR: J. Gustavsson (W)
 MTL: C. Price (L)





               Friday night in Montreal, 2 days after the Leafs 5-4 loss to the Blackhawks, Brian Burke announced that he had fired Ron Wilson and replaced him with former Stanley cup champion Randy Carlyle. The following day, the Leafs GM had a press conference to go into detail about this coaching change.
"It was time," said Burke. "Every coach has a shelf life.I've never had a team fall off a cliff like this in my life. I've seen dips, slumps, rough patches, but this is akin to an 18-wheeler going off a cliff. I don't know what happened. I'm bewildered by it. It's like someone hit me with a two-by-four. I've never had this before where a team just plain, flat out goes into a free fall." Carlyle gave his thoughts on joining the Leafs.
"I sense the club is very tense," Carlyle said ."The confidence level is at a low. My responsibility as head coach is to pick these guys up. To get them feeling better about themselves."

           So now onto the game between the 15th place Canadiens and the 13th place Maple Leafs. 8 minutes into the game, Paciorettys shot was deflected to Desharnais at the side of the net and he centred it to Cole and he scored to make it 1-0 Montreal. 7 minutes into the second, the Leafs won the draw in the offensive zone right to Fratton and he fired a shot past Price to tie the game at 1-1. 12 minutes into the second, MacArthur dropped the puck for Grabovski in the slot and he fired a shot over the glove of Price to give the Leafs a 2-1 lead. Grabovski would add a late goal as the Leafs beat the Habs 3-1 in Randy Carlyles coaching debut. "It's obviously a nice way to start," Carlyle said. "I thought our team put out an effort. It's impressive when you can go into the other team's building and hold them to under 25 shots and score two big goals in the third to eke out a win."

               "I asked them to skate and not worry about anything but what our focus was, which was to win the game. We stayed with our game plan. We played hard, we got some breaks and our key guys scored some goals." In the loss, it was another solid game for Carey Price as he made 39 saves."It was one of those games that could have gone either way," Montreal defenseman Josh Gorges said. "Unfortunately, we made a mistake on their second goal. We left a defenseman (Yannick Weber) out to dry and the next thing, it's in the back of your net." Gustavsson made 21 saves in a 3-1 Leafs win that will now put them back in the playoff hunt as they only sit 3 points back of the Jets in 13th in the East. As for the Habs (15th), they sit 10 points back of Winnipeg for 8th with only 16 games to go. So unless the Habs can win (an unlikely amount of) 13 games, they will not make the Playoffs.

Written By Andrew Di Pardo

Friday, March 2, 2012

Stephane Veilleux vs Ryan White March 1st 2012 Round 2

Stephane Veilleux vs Ryan White March 1st 2012 Round 1

Wild @ Canadiens

CANADIENS BLOW A 4-1 LEAD BUT RECOVER IN THE SHOOTOUT





















GOAL SCORERS

MIN:   M. Kassian (15:27 - 1st) , M. Kassian (16:07 - 3rd) , D. Heatley (18:17 - 3rd) , D. Setoguchi (19:50 - 3rd)
MTL:   P. Subban (PPG, 02:33 - 1st) , L. Eller (PPG, 04:28 - 1st) , M. Pacioretty (PPG, 11:59 - 2nd) , D. Desharnais (08:50 - 3rd) , D. Desharnais (00:00 - SO)
GOALIES

MIN: J. Harding (L) , N. Backstrom
 MTL: C. Price (W)





           Last night in Montreal, Blake Geoffrion  (Grandson of Boom Boom Geoffrion & Great Grandson of Howie Morenz) made his home debut for the Montreal Canadiens. He wore number 57 in honor of his grandfather who wore number 5 and his great grandfather who wore number 7. Just 30 seconds in, Ryan White dropped the gloves with Vellieux. The fight ended in a draw.  2 minutes after that, with the Habs on a 5 on 3, Subbans one-timer beat Backstrom to make it 1-0 Habs lead. On the next play, Coles shot was stopped by Backstrom, but he was hurt on the play and he had to leave the game. So Harding came in to replace him. Then at the 4 minute mark of the first,  the Habs were on another powerplay and Campoli played the puck to Gomez and he centred it for Eller and he scored to make it 2-0 Montreal.

            Late in the first, Kassian would score to cut the lead to 1. Towards the end of the first, a scrum broke out after Veilleux slashed Carey Price, so Ryan White took exception and dropped the gloves and started to throw punches even though Veilleux didn't want to fight. So White received a 5 minute penalty and a 10 minute misconduct. After a very physical first period, the Habs had a 2-1 lead. 12 minutes into the second, the Habs were on another powerplay, and Pacioetty fired home a shot from the top of the right circle to Make it 3-1.This was the first time this season that  Montreal had 3 goals on the powerplay in a single game. 8 minutes into the third, Desharnais had a breakaway and scored to make it 4-1.

         Then with under 4 minutes to go, Kassian scored for the wild to cut the lead to 2.  Heatley would score to cut the lead to 1. Then Setoguchi would score with 10 seconds to go to tie the game. This game would go to a shootout.  Desharnais would score the loan goal for the Habs in the shootout as both Bourque and Pacioretty missed. For the Wild both Cullen and Heatley missed. So it was all up to Setoguchi to keep the game going and he fell on the breakaway and Montreal wins! They snap their 5 game losing streak!"That was a strange one," Montreal coach Randy Cunneyworth said. "It wasn't textbook but those things happen. I'm just glad for the W."

Shootout
Max Pacioretty MTL Save
Matt Cullen MIN Save
David Desharnais MTL Goal
Dany Heatley MIN Save
Rene Bourque MTL Save
Devin Setoguchi MIN Miss


Written By Andrew Di Pardo