HALAK RETURNS TO MONTREAL AND GETS A 3-0 SHUTOUT

GOAL SCORERS

STL:   J. Arnott (09:51 - 2nd) , D. Backes (14:58 - 2nd) , C. Stewart (12:56 - 3rd)

GOALIES

STL: J. Halak (W)

 MTL: C. Price (L)

               Last night in Montreal, it was the past versus the present. The past being Jaroslav Halak (who took the Habs to the Eastern Final in 2010) and the present being Carey Price (who was chosen to be the Habs number 1 goalie in the summer of 2010; which resulted in the Halak trade). 3 minutes in, Plekanec had a shorthanded breakaway and he went from backhand to forehand and was stopped by Halak. On the next play, Cammlleri chipped the puck in and Plekanecs backhand from the right side was stopped by Halak. A few minutes later, D'Agostini got the puck in the slot and fired a shot on net and he was stopped by Carey Price. So the score was tied at nothing after one period of play.

              10 minutes into the second, Reaves shot was stopped, but Arnott would score on the rebound to make it 1-0 Blues. 3 minutes later, Coles shot from behind the net was denied by Halak. Eric Cole thought he tied the game. With 5 minutes to go in the second, Stewarts shot was stopped but Backes would score on the rebound to make it 2-0. 3 minutes into the third, Diazs point shot was stopped by Halak. 2 minutes later, Diazs shot was blocked, Halak went down and Darche had and empty net and Halak robbed him with a amazing glove save while lying on his back. "He robbed me but that's not the game right there," Darche said. "Trust me, I wish I would have scored because it makes it 2-1 and it's a PK goal, but he made a great save. Hats off to him."

             Stewart would add another goal to make it 3-0 and that would be it for Halak as he gets his 2nd shutout of the season by making 19 saves.In the win, Halak was the first star and got a standing ovation in what was another spectacular performance by Jaroslav Halak in Montreal."Usually when you play on the road you don't come out as a star, so they told me to stay there and come out," Halak said. "It felt great to come out and get the ovation from all the people." Some bad news for the Habs was not only that they lost but Gionta left the game in the third with an upperbody injury. He will be evaluated by doctors later today.

Written By Andrew Di Pardo