A Winning Habit
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Montreal Canadiens: Another 30-goal Brendan Gallagher season is in reach

By Omar L

MONTREAL, QC - FEBRUARY 21: Brendan Gallagher #11 of the Montreal Canadiens celebrates after scoring his second goal of the night against the Philadelphia Flyers in the NHL game at the Bell Centre on February 21, 2019 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Francois Lacasse/NHLI via Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC - FEBRUARY 21: Brendan Gallagher #11 of the Montreal Canadiens celebrates after scoring his second goal of the night against the Philadelphia Flyers in the NHL game at the Bell Centre on February 21, 2019 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Francois Lacasse/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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Montreal Canadiens
MONTREAL, QC – FEBRUARY 21: Brendan Gallagher Montreal Canadiens (Photo by Francois Lacasse/NHLI via Getty Images) /

The Montreal Canadiens didn’t lay up getting chance after chance that Eric Engels recognized as being a play the team focused on at practice.

He wasn’t kidding though give the team’s second goal of the game. The Paul Byron effect was, well, in effect. He and Jesperi Kotkaniemi entered the zone with speed (sound familiar) where Byron sent the puck over to the right circle. Down on one knee, Kotkaniemi made no mistake beating Hart up high for his 11th goal of the season.

It’s taken some time, but the 18-year-old is slowly climbing up the rookie goal-scoring standings as he’s in a four-way tie for fourth. Kotkaniemi likely doesn’t catch Elias Petterson, but it’s good to see his production match his defensive play and offensive instincts.

Gallagher wasn’t done in the first period getting his second of the game at the halfway mark. This is a prime example of one of those ‘the goaltender would like that one back’ goals. Gallagher looked to be finding Phillip Danault for a random deflection, but the puck instead snuck in from the left side of Hart and into the net. Habs are up 3-0, Gallagher scores his 25th, and Elliott enters the game.

Then the focus fell further on the Edmonton native. Gallagher has had several two-goal games over his career but never a hat-trick. The broadcast mentioned that he hadn’t scored three in a game since his days in junior playing for the Vancouver Giants. But seeing how well the team was performing, especially Gallagher, it seemed like the night to hit that milestone.

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