Montreal Canadiens: Another 30-goal Brendan Gallagher season is in reach
By Omar L
The Montreal Canadiens had themselves a night at the Bell Centre beating the Philadelphia Flyers 5-1 with Brendan Gallagher scoring his first hat-trick.
The Montreal Canadiens established themselves early in the season as a high-scoring 5v5 team, and they showed the hockey world they haven’t lost that identity Thursday night. Everything that could’ve gone right for the Habs did, and unfortunately it was at the expense of the Philadelphia Flyers and Carter Hart.
The 20-year-old was pulled in his previous game against the Tampa Bay Lightning after allowing three goals on nine shots. Hart met a similar fate at the Bell Centre getting lit up for three goals on eight shots this time including a goal in the opening minute of the night. Brian Elliott did his best to stop the bleeding but couldn’t hold back the buzzing offence of the Habs allowing another two goals to an eventual 5-1 decision.
Poor night for the Flyers but a massive night for the Habs. It’s not only because they got another win bringing their season total to 73 creating more space between themselves and the Carolina Hurricanes (who also won their game bringing them to 70 points). The game was filled up to the brim with season and career milestones and Brendan Gallagher started it all.
That opening goal was Gallagher’s 24th of the season. Phillip Danault entering the zone with speed passed the puck over to Gallagher who fired a shot on Hart from the right circle to get the Habs fans on their feet early in the first period. Danault’s assist set a new career-high in points as that was his 41st of the year.