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Montreal Canadiens in Other News: Missed Calls, Even Series, AHL Departures

By Scott Cowan

Jun 20, 2021; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; referee Chris Lee (28) exchanges words with Montreal Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher (11) in game four of the 2021 Stanley Cup Semifinals against the Vegas Golden Knights at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 20, 2021; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; referee Chris Lee (28) exchanges words with Montreal Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher (11) in game four of the 2021 Stanley Cup Semifinals against the Vegas Golden Knights at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports /
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Canadiens Pull Ahead, Vegas Answers Right Back

I’ll be honest, the Canadiens 3-2 OT win over the Golden Knights on Friday was probably the most invested I’ve been into a hockey game in quite some time. In almost every sense of the word, Montreal should not have won Game 3, yet they did. The Habs were outshot 17-0 to start the first period, getting their first shot on goal with less than nine minutes left in the frame.

Vegas goalie Marc-Andre Fleury was tested very little, if any by the Canadiens offence, whilst the Knights repeatedly peppered Price with chance after chance. Yet, in a continuing call-back to his Hart Trophy winning form of the past, Price held his ground, and held it well. In spite of a Eric Staal giveaway giving Vegas a 1-0 lead in the second, Montreal refused to back down. Cole ‘the goal’ Caufield broke free off the rush not soon after, going top shelf on a breakaway off a great feed from Nick Suzuki.

While Vegas would draw back into the lead once more off a quick wrister from Alex Pietrangelo through traffic, Fleury did the charitable thing late in the third and reciprocated Staal’s gift. Just as most play-by-play announcers and commentators were wondering when Montreal was going to pull for the extra skater, a dump in by Ben Chiarot led to a flubbed play by Fleury behind the net, and a wide open cage for Josh Anderson, who potted his first goal since Game 1 of Montreal’s first round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Going into overtime, Montreal maintained their perfect OT record after Anderson knocked down an aerial pass from Jesperi Kotkaniemi, before potting a great Paul Byron feed for his 20th overall goal this season. Yet, just as quickly as Habs fans filled the streets cheering a 2-1 series lead, Vegas answered right back to even the score on Sunday for Game 4.

In spite of yet another clutch play from Byron on a great breakaway marker, giving the Habs a 1-0 lead, a Brayden McNabb equalizer in the third followed by a Nicolas Roy OT winner, sealed the deal for Vegas. For as good as the Habs have been as of late, many were quick to forget that the Knights are still one of the NHL’s best teams for a reason, and with “backup” Robin Lehner answering the call as he did in Game 3, I think it’s safe to say this series is far from over.

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