Montreal Canadiens Maintain Clean Sheet; Beat Washington Capitals in OT

For the second straight game, the Montreal Canadiens came away with a clean sheet, but it took some magic at 3:08 of the overtime period from Tomas Plekanec and Max Pacioretty to beat the Washington Capitals 1-0.

For the better of two periods, the Capitals were the better of the teams, getting multiple scoring opportunities at even-strength and five power play chances. However, the Canadiens’ 5th ranked penalty killing unit shut the door on Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals’ high-powered offense.

The game changed in the third period, when a subtle change by Canadiens’ bench boss Michel Therrien reversed his team’s fortunes. Christian Thomas, who started the game on the Habs’ fourth line, was bumped to a line with Jiri Sekac and Lars Eller and gave the Capitals fits in their own zone. While Washington’s third line of Joel Ward, Brooks Leich and Eric Fehr is thought to be the best in the National Hockey League, it was their Canadiens’ counterpart that took control late in the game.

At The Top of His Crease…And Game

Carey Price has been virtually unbeatable in his last three starts, which includes a shutout streak now at 152:08, a 0.66 goals against average and a .980 save percentage. Sure, many will say that Price was helped by his goal posts on multiple occasions during the streak, but like the old saying goes, “You have to be lucky to be good, and good to be lucky. Given his current play, I wonder if Coach Therrien might leaving Price between the pipes for tomorrow’s Super Bowl Sunday match-up against the lowly Arizona Coyotes

Plekanec Has a Mean Streak?

After been wallpapered on a late hit in open-ice by Washington’s Tom Wilson, it was nice to see Habs’ “Mr. Reliable” Tomas Plekanec take exception to the hit by delivering a beautiful hip check to Wilson after he touched the puck to get a whistle. Not known for that sort of play, seeing a player defend himself, instead of someone else coming in to settle the score, is the way the game should be played.

Markov Rejuvinated

Canadiens’ veteran defenseman Andrei Markov seems to have shaken off his sub-par play over the All-Star break. Not only has he been stellar in his own zone since then, but he also has five points in his last 5 games. Markov saved a goal early in the first period of today’s game, knocking a puck away from Capitals’ forward Jay Beagle, who had a gaping open net to shoot at.

Sekac A Quick Study

Early on in the season, questions arose about the defensive play of Canadiens’ rookie Jiri Sekac. While in was true that he needed to work on his skills in his own zone, it’s become apparent that the lessons of the Habs’ coaching staff are getting through. Sekac is often deep in his own zone, separating the opposition from the puck and clearing his own zone with relative ease. Who’s to say that offensive skills aren’t a strength in your end of the rink?

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Look Ahead

It’s a quick 24 hour turn-around for the Canadiens, as they face the Coyotes at 1 P.M. tomorrow afternoon. Not only will they have the opportunity to extend their winning streak to six games, but it will give General Manager Marc Bergevin and his scouting staff a second chance this week to take a look at Coyotes’ forward Antoine Vermette and defenseman Keith Yandle, both of whom are expected to be moved by the NHL Trade Deadline.