Wednesday, March 13th 2013

Game Recap: Lars Eller scores the shootout winner, Habs take their fourth straight.

OTTAWA SENATORS 13-8-6 32 POINTS 5th in the East	MONTREAL CANADIENS 18-5-4 40 POINTS 1st in the East
3	4

Top Scorers:

SENATORS		CANADIENS
	Daniel Alfredsson 1G Mika Zibanejad 1G Patrick Wiercioch 1G		P.K. Subban 1G 1A 2P Lars Elller 1G 7SOG Brendan Gallagher 1G

Scoring Summary:

Shots on Goal:

Goaltending:

SENATORS		CANADIENS
Robin Lehner LOSS	Record: 1-0-4 SA: 45 Sv%: .933	Carey Price WIN	Record: 14-4-3 SA : 32 Sv%: .906

Lineup Notes:

• Habs starting six: Tomas Plekanec, Michael Ryder, Brian Gionta, Josh Gorges, P.K. Subban, Carey Price
• Scratched: Brandon Prust (shoulder), Tomas Kaberle
• Eleven scouts representing eleven NHL teams were in the press box to watch the game.
• The puck was dropped by George St-Pierre for the ceremonial face-off.

What you need to know:

• Two teams that don’t quit punched and counter punched throughout the game.  It was a bit of a chess match through 40 minutes with the Habs dominating the third period.
• Lars Eller was the best player on the ice. He scored the opening goal and the shootout winner. Eller dominated at times forcing turnovers and creating offense. Along with Max Pacioretty, Eller led the Canadiens with seven shots on goal.
• Pacioretty and Brendan Gallagher had good jump, chemistry and drive to the net. Unfortunately center David Desharnais was a dud otherwise this line could have made a bigger impact.
• Ryan White had less than 10 minutes of icetime, had one shot, one hit and only managed 30 per cent in the faceoff circle.
• P.K. Subban and Andrei Markov each logged more than 30 minutes. Subban had a strong offensive game with a goal, an assist and five shots on goal. The story wasn’t so rosy on the defensive side with seven of numerous giveaways noted in the game summary.
• The Canadiens scored two power-play goals in five opportunities. Habs were dreadful on the penalty-kill giving up two goals in three shorthanded situations. The PK unit is now 18th in the league.
• Carey Price turned away Daniel Alfredsson and Kyle Turris in the shootout and now leads the NHL with 14 wins.
• Habs are 12-1-3 in their last 16 games.

Injury/Roster Report:

• No new injuries.
• Michael Ryder went to the dressing room after a hit by Ottawa’s Eric Gryba but was able to return a short time later.
• With only 6:59 of ice-time and a day off on Thursday, defenseman Greg Pateryn was re-assigned to the Hamilton Bulldogs.

NHL 3 Stars:
	Lars Eller P.K. Subban Brendan Gallagher

Coach Michel Therrien:

• “[Subban] played a solid game. He’s got a good shot and is using it at the right time. He’s getting better and better.”
• “I really liked [Eller’s] line. Lars Eller was phenomenal tonight. Lars skated well. He’s having fun.”
• “The reason why we put Dumont with Lars and Alex is because we didn’t want to touch the other lines.”

Lars Eller:

• “The beauty of this team is that we have so many lines that can go in and make the difference. Some line always seems to be hot and pots in three or four. It’s been like that for a lot of the season.”

Senators coach Paul MacLean:

• Kaspars Daugavins told the coach that he had another shootout move. MacLean said that Daugavins was slated to shoot fourth on his shootout list:  “I’m disappointed we didn’t get to see it.”

Sens goaltender Robin Lehner:

• On his performance in shootouts: “It sucks. They’re selling it average and I’m biting like it’s awesome.”

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