Montreal Won The Game. That’s The Best I Can Say

I would say, in trying to describe the Canadiens’ 6-5 shootout win over the Florida Panthers Sunday afternoon, as only a mediocre win. I could also say ugly, and lucky, and a sad excuse for a win, but I guess I’ll stick with mediocre.

And although we say a win is a win, is it really? Because there were so many things wrong with the Habs today, that it’s hard to get worked up when they squeak out a shootout thing.

Montreal came out snoring in this game and fell behind 2-0 by the time the first period had ended. But in the second, for whatever reason, (and I suppose there’s a reason) they woke up in the second, scored four quick goals, and took a 4-2 lead.

But it was the third period I have a big problem with. Beginning with Alex Kovalev. Someone has to sit this guy down, (and I’m sure he’s been told a hundred times in his career,) and convince him he’s not stickhandling around 14 peewees on a lake out there. He’s crafty, but not that crafty. In the NHL, rarely does anyone stickhandle through an entire team.

Kovalev tries to all the time. And in the third, while trying it on the power play, he once again lost the puck, this time to Radek Dvorak, who promptly skated in on a clear-cut breakaway to score.

Then the Habs, on Andrei Kostitsyn’s second goal of the game, went up 5-3 before Florida stormed back to tie it. And in the process, dominated the Habs and were the better team for the most part.

Of course, now that it’s over, the results show a Montreal win, as Andrei Markov potted the big one in the shootout. Just don’t tell anyone how bullshit lucky they were and didn’t really deserve to win. No one needs to know this.

Game Notes:

Robert Lang played well and contributed a goal and two assists.

Carey Price was on the shelf so once again, Jaroslav Halak was between the pipes. I’m not saying Halak played poorly, but he let in five goals. So what does that mean?

Coming Up:

A beauty of a stretch is coming up. Beginning Wednesday, Montreal visits the Rangers, and we know how important that game is. Then, on Thursday, it’s home to meet Toronto. On Saturday, the second place Washington Capitals are in town, and the following Tuesday, the Habs travel to Boston for a game I’ve been waiting for for awhile.