A Winning Habit
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Montreal Canadiens: Three Standout Performances vs St. Louis Blues

By Ken MacMillan

MONTREAL, QC - OCTOBER 12: Tomas Tatar #90 of the Montreal Canadiens celebrates after scoring a goal against the St Louis Blues in the NHL game at the Bell Centre on October 12, 2019 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Francois Lacasse/NHLI via Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC - OCTOBER 12: Tomas Tatar #90 of the Montreal Canadiens celebrates after scoring a goal against the St Louis Blues in the NHL game at the Bell Centre on October 12, 2019 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Francois Lacasse/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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MONTREAL, QC – OCTOBER 12: Tomas Tatar #90 (Photo by Francois Lacasse/NHLI via Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC – OCTOBER 12: Tomas Tatar #90 (Photo by Francois Lacasse/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Third Star: Tomas Tatar

Tomas Tatar scored the Canadiens first goal of the season against the Carolina Hurricanes. He is back on a line with Brendan Gallagher and Phillip Danault, a line that was absolutely dominant last season. Their possession stats would suggest they were one of the best lines in all of hockey, so it was no surprise when this trio opened the scoring for the Habs.

In the second game of the season, Tatar had an assist, but he also took two unnecessary penalties for interference and holding. They were the type of lazy penalties you don’t like to see, especially from a player who is on your excellent shutdown line.

In the Habs third game against the Buffalo Sabres, Tatar made his way back to the penalty box twice. This time it proved costly for the Canadiens. Early in the first period, Tatar headed to the box for interference. Victor Olofsson scored to make it 1-0 Sabres while Tatar served his two minutes. Again, in the second period the same thing happened. Tatar went to the box to serve a slashing penalty and Jack Eichel sniped.

The Canadiens lost that game in overtime. Obviously, allowing two goals while Tatar was in the box didn’t help with that result. Tatar didn’t exactly bounce back in the next game against the Detroit Red Wings, his former team, but he did stay out of the box at least.

Last night he looked like himself again. He opened the scoring by pouncing on a loose puck in front of the Blue goal right after a face-off. Gallagher chipped it to the front of the net and Tatar swiftly beat his man from the face-off circle and got his stick on it first, beating Jordan Binnington to give the Habs a 1-0 lead.

Late in the second with the Habs trailing 3-2, Tatar got the puck behind the net and made a perfect pass out front to Phillip Danault. Danault’s one-timer tied the game before the third period began. Tatar’s two points and solid defensive game during his 18:18 time on the ice were a big reason the Habs found the win column.

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