by Amy Johnson, Video Producer and Sara, Video Editor, All Habs Hockey Magazine
MONTREAL, QC — Need to get caught up on Habs highlights? Want to relive the memorable moments of the past week?
Then All Habs Rewind is for you.
Every Sunday watch the most unforgettable goals, saves, hits by your Montreal Canadiens compiled by our video production team! Then tell us which one you liked most in the comments section below.
Week 13 was not exactly what Canadiens fans were expecting to see once their team clinched a playoff spot. Following a tough 5-1 loss to the Leafs on Saturday, the Habs began this week on home ice in a matchup against the Philadelphia Flyers. Despite power play goals by Max Pacioretty and Brendan Gallagher and an even-strength goal by Alex Galchenyuk, it wasn’t enough to keep the Flyers from scoring goals, including a hat trick by Scott Hartnell. Early in the first period, Ryan White was ejected from the game after a dangerous hit to the head of Philadelphia defenseman Kent Huskins. Huskins did not return to the game after being diagnosed with a concussion, and White was subsequently suspended for five games. The Habs didn’t do much to help out their goaltenders on this night, with Peter Budaj replacing Carey Price at the end of the second period. Final score was a miserable 7-3 in favor of Philadelphia. (Read the full game review – Flyers vs Canadiens Recap: Defenseless)
Reeling from back-to-back losses, the Habs traveled to Pittsburgh on Wednesday night to take on the Penguins, who were still without star players Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Carey Price was supposed to have the night off, but another ugly start found him replacing Peter Budaj early on, who looked shaky from the start. Another sloppy showing by the defense left the Habs struggling to keep pucks out of the net. The offense was clicking a little better, with goals scored by Brian Gionta, Alex Galchenyuk, Gabriel Dumont (his first NHL goal), and Andrei Markov, but it just wasn’t enough to surpass the Penguins who won the game 6-4. (Read the full game review – Canadiens vs Penguins: AccountabilityApplies from Top to Bottom)
The following night found the Canadiens back on home ice to face off against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Ben Bishop and Carey Price were in net for their respective teams and Price was stellar on this night. A handful of incredible saves gave the offense momentum. Alex Galchenyuk and Brian Gionta both scored in the second period but it was Gionta’s second goal of the night, a power play goal in the final minute of the game, that put the Habs ahead for the win.
The week wrapped up with the Habs final home game of the regular season when the Washington Capitals came to town on Saturday night. Unfortunately, the win from Thursday night did not seem to ignite the Habs as they fell back to careless and lazy defensive play. A bad turnover by P.K. Subban allowed Alex Ovechkin to put the Caps on the board early, followed by Carey Price being screened by his own teammates to give Troy Brouwer an opportunity to sneak the puck in the net. Brouwer would score again in the second period, and after Ovechkin scored again in the third to make it 5-0, Max Pacioretty finally put the Habs on the board. It was the only goal the Habs could muster, however, and the game ended with the Caps winning 5-1. (Read the full game review – Capitals vs Canadiens Recap: One Week to Right the Ship)
Tuesday night kicks off the final week of the regular season, with the Habs looking at a three-game road trip to round out the schedule and determine playoff positioning. The first stop? Newark, New Jersey for a matchup against the Devils.
All Habs Weekly Three Stars
Last week, the Montreal Canadiens played fourC games and earned just two points.
1st Star: Max Pacioretty
Pacioretty tallied two goals and and three assists for a five-point week.
2nd Stars: Alex Galchenyuk and Brian Gionta
Galchenyuk and Gionta each had three goals during the week.
3rd Stars: Lars Eller and Tomas Plekanec
Eller and Plekanec each had a three-assist week.
Who were your three stars of the week?