A Winning Habit
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Canadiens Win Game 2 In OT; Galchenyuk Plays Hero

By Nick Lariviere

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CANADIENS Win Game 2 In OT; Galchenyuk Plays Hero

Scratches:

Montreal Canadiens;  Mike Weaver, Sergei Gonchar, Manny Maholtra, Greg Pateryn, Joey MacDonald, P.A. Parenteau 

Ottawa Senators; Jared Cowen, Matt Puempel, Chris Neil, Zack Smith, Colin Greening

Final Score:

91. 3. 152. Final. 2

  • Score: Senators: 1 (MacArthur) Habs: 0
  • Shots: Sens 14, Habs 10
  • Clarke MacArthur‘s first of the playoffs was a perfectly placed wrister top corner on Carey Price to open the scoring with only 1:18 left on the clock.
  • It could have been 2-0 after the first period, but Carey Price stoned Mika Zibanejad midway through. Zibanejad walked in all alone and Price extended his pad to keep it a scoreless game at the time.
  • The period was pretty evenly matched, with both teams trading chances.

 Second Period:

  • Score: Senators: 1 (MacArthur) Habs: 2 (Pacioretty, Subban)
  • Shots: Senators: 3 Habs: 14
  • At 7:18 of the second period Max Pacioretty was left all alone in the slot by Milan Michalek. Pacioretty capitalized with a shot through Andrew Hammond‘s five hole to tie the game at 1.
  • At 16:30 of the second, PK Subban took a pass from Devante Smith-Pelly and timed his blast perfectly past Hammond to give the Habs a 2-1 lead.

3rd Period

  • Score: Senators: 2 (MacArthur, Wiercioch) Habs: 2 (Pacioretty, Subban)
  • Shots: Senators: 11 Habs: 13
  • At 13:25 of the third period Patrick Wiercioch tied the game for the Sens, off a bad play where Price skated behind the net to get the puck. Even though Price was barely back in his net, the puck was then intercepted by Mark Stone who  found Wiercioch for the goal.
  •  The Canadiens had a chance to win the game late in the third with a power play but failed to capitalize, going 1 for 6 on the night (the lone power-play goal was Pacioretty’s in the first).

Overtime:

  • Score: Senators: 2 (MacArthur, Wiercioch) Habs: 3 (Pacioretty, Subban, Galchenyuk)
  • Shots: Senators: 3 Habs: 5
  • The Canadiens started the overtime period on the power play. They were unable to capitalize until a few minutes later. At the 3:40 mark in overtime, Alex Galchenyuk, off a rebound from a Gallagher shot, sniped the puck past Hammond to win the game and give the Habs a 2-0 series lead.

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Overall Thoughts:

This game was much more tame than the first but  fun to watch nonetheless.  For the most part, it was back-and-forth game action, aside from the second period where the Habs controlled the game. That made the difference in Game 2.

Devante Smith-Pelly has really been playing well in this series so far. Dishing out another 6 hits last night, he is a physical presence. There were more hits in Game 2, with 93 total (Senators had 51, Habs 42), than in Game 1 (which had 86). However, the game never got out of hand. 

Brendan Gallagher‘s hit on Bobby Ryan was a good one for a small-statured player. As usual Gallagher played another great game. His work ethic set up Galchenyuk for the game winner. He led all players in the game in shots on goal, with a total of 9. Expect Gallagher to have another great showing in Game 3.  

Despite not having a shot on goal, Mark Stone was the Senators’ best offensive force, setting up his teammates on both of their goals. 

Goalies:

A. Carey Price had a  better night than in Game 1. His stop on Mika Zibanejad was a game saver. He made other key stops early on in the third to keep his Habs ahead. However late in the third he made one costly mistake that caused Wiercioch to tie the game and send it to overtime. Aside from that, he played an amazing game. The other goal was a perfect shot by MacArthur. He had 29 saves on 31 shots.. G. Montreal Canadiens. CAREY PRICE

A-. Andrew Hammond also had a very good game. He frustrated the Habs players, particularly Brendan Gallagher. He made 39 saves on 42 shots. Despite all this, the juicy rebound he left Alex Galchenyuk is the reason the Sens lost the game.. G. Ottawa Senators. ANDREW HAMMOND

Defense:

Montreal Canadiens. PK SUBBAN. A+. PK responded very well to the criticisms that have been following him since the end of Game 1. He was also very disciplined. He scored a key goal near the end of the second period to give his team a 2-1 lead. He was the first star and it was well deserved. He led all players in ice time with 28:39.. D

ERIK KARLSSON. C+. Erik Karlsson didn’t play the best of games. He wasn’t his usually spectacular offensive defenseman self.  He had a very sound game, playing 27:19 of ice time and getting an assist.  . D. Ottawa Senators

Forwards:

F. Montreal Canadiens. MAX PACIORETTY. A-. Max Pacioretty played a good game, his first one back from a concussion. He got right to it with his first goal of the playoffs on his first shot. He also played over 20 minutes. It took no time for Pacioretty to be his normal self, although he didn’t get his usual breakaway chance. 

MARK STONE. A-. Mark Stone, like Subban, didn’t allow the antics in between Games 1 and 2 get to him. He was the Senators’ top forward despite no shots on goal. This may have to do with his wrist not being at 100% last night. Instead of struggling, Stone used his hands to feed teammates for goals.. F. Ottawa Senators

Game 3 will be in Ottawa at 7pm  on Sunday. This should be another good one, as the Habs go to Ottawa with a 2-0 series lead.

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