A Winning Habit
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Montreal Canadiens: Looking Back at Their Last Playoff Series Victory

By Ken MacMillan

OTTAWA, ON - APRIL 26: Milan Michalek #9 of the Ottawa Senators skates past Max Pacioretty #67 of the Montreal Canadiens as he celebrates a goal by teammate Brendan Gallagher #11 (not pictured) in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2015 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Canadian Tire Centre on April 26, 2015 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The Montreal Canadiens eliminated the Ottawa Senators by defeating them 2-0 and move to the next round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
OTTAWA, ON - APRIL 26: Milan Michalek #9 of the Ottawa Senators skates past Max Pacioretty #67 of the Montreal Canadiens as he celebrates a goal by teammate Brendan Gallagher #11 (not pictured) in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2015 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Canadian Tire Centre on April 26, 2015 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The Montreal Canadiens eliminated the Ottawa Senators by defeating them 2-0 and move to the next round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /
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MONTREAL, QC – APRIL 17: Alex Galchenyuk #27 of the Montreal Canadiens (Photo by Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC – APRIL 17: Alex Galchenyuk #27 of the Montreal Canadiens (Photo by Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images) /

Game 2

After all the media hoopla surrounding Melnyk and his diagnosis of Stone’s injury, Stone was just fine and ready to play in the second game of the series and Subban was not suspended indefinitely like the Sens owner would have liked.

PA Parenteau was ruled out with an upper body injury and Pacioretty was a game-time decision but did return to the lineup for the second game, as did Mark Stone.

Stone actually set up the first goal of the game, moving the puck up ice to Clarke MacArthur who fired a wrist shot past Price late in the first period. The Habs solved The Hamburglar early in the second when some quick puck movement on the power play opened Pacioretty up in the slot. He made no mistake wiring a wrist shot through Hammond.

The Habs took the lead late in the period when a line of Desharnais, Pacioretty and Devante Smith-Pelly won a board battle for the puck and got it to Subban at the point. Subban hammered a patented slap shot behind an unscreened Hammond and got the Bell Centre fans on their feet.

He was, of course, criticized by many for celebrating his goal. Funny how Subban is the only player to be widely scrutinized for celebrations.

Patrick Wiercioch tied it for the Senators on a late third period power play (Wiercioch was on the power play?). The goal was , of course, set up by the very injured Mark Stone. The Habs got a late power play but couldn’t convert on their many chances, which sent things to overtime.

Eric Gryba (remember, the guy that tried to kill Eller two years earlier) handed the puck over to Plekanec early in overtime. Plekanec got it to Gallagher down low who threw it on net. The rebound came out just past Galchenyuk but he spun around as he gathered it and fired back on goal. It eluded Hammond and gave the Habs a 2-0 series lead.

Man, I miss playoff hockey.

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