Montreal 2 Washington 1 (Verizon Center)
“He who hesitates is lost.” ~ Proverb
From the opening faceoff, won by Scott Gomez, the Canadiens were on the attack heading to the Capitals’ net. It was as if they decided to use the CFL’s backfield in motion rules. Eight seconds into the game and Brian Gionta had a scoring chance.
A minute and a half in, the Habs had their first goal. Mike Cammalleri scored on a quick snap shot from 40 feet out. The Canadiens had exactly the start they were looking for and that nervous fans had been hoping to see.
Kirk Muller substituted Travis Moen for the struggling Benoit Pouliot on the line with Gionta and Gomez. It paid early dividends with Moen putting a backhand past Semyon Varlamov. Gionta made a brilliant play behind the net to chip the puck in front despite being well covered by Washington defenders.
The Capitals’ cockiness had been stripped away and the smallish Montreal forwards appeared to grow an inch. Cammalleri, Gomez, Gionta and Plekanec had all contributed to the first two goals.
It was an superbly executed game plan to that point. I thought to myself, ‘please don’t let these Canadiens sit on a two-goal lead.’ With almost 53 minutes left, they had to score again. They didn’t.
Can you say nerve-racking?
To defend the lead, Jacques Martin turned part of his bench into front row spectator seating. Benoit Pouliot, Sergei Kostitsyn, Glen Metropolit, Marc-Andre Bergeron and Roman Hamrlik spent the majority of their third period watching the game.
But to cause us even more heart palpitations, Martin was sure to put Hamrlik, on the power-play with less than two minutes left in the second period, and the Canadiens protecting a one goal lead. I suppose that Martin believes in the three strike rule.
Fortunately, there were no short-handed goals given up tonight, but neither were there successes with the man advantage. The Habs were 0-for-6 on the power-play, and didn’t even get a shot on goal on their first four opportunities. It was dreadful.
Despite the power-play being predictable, and lacking creativity, stubbornly Martin kept sending out the same group to play the point. Apparently that would be too much tinkering for one game.
Bergeron was brutal on the power-play point. He retrieved pucks casually and was slow to initiate the breakout. There was little urgency when attempting to keep the puck in the offensive zone.
Strangely, this has become a series for the road team. The visiting team has scored first in every game. Washington won both games in Montreal. The Canadiens won games one and five in Washington and would have won game two with some decent goaltending.
Tonight the Habs got very good goaltending. Jaroslav Halak came into the game with a record of 1-2, with a goals against average of 4.06 and a save percentage of .887.
In his last start he looked fatigued and rattled. Not tonight. It was an outstanding bounce-back game for Halak with 37 saves.
While there was missed calls on both sides, it seemed that the hockey gods were shining on the Canadiens. It’s hard to understand how the officials missed Bergeron’s crude tooth extraction on Eric Belanger. It was downright baffling that the Habs had to serve only one penalty when two were called on the same stoppage.
Hal Gill and Ryan O’Byrne were the two best Canadiens’ defensemen combining for eight blocked shots and five hits. Andrei Markov and Josh Gorges played well with both logging over 27 minutes.
Cammalleri, Gionta, Moen and Andrei Kostitsyn were standouts among the forwards.
It was a superb team effort by the Canadiens in a game that few expected them to win. But they should also realize that they dodged a bullet by not burying their chances to extend the lead, particularly on the power-play. Perhaps the obstinate coach turned tinkerer could make a few more adjustments for the next game.
The series returns to Montreal for game six on Monday night.
Rocket’s three stars
1. Brian Gionta
2. Jaroslav Halak
3. Alexander Semin
Special mention: Hal Gill, Ryan O’Byrne, Mike Cammalleri, Travis Moen
Player quotes from wire services were used in this report.
(photo credit: Getty)
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Also Travis Moen saved our playoff lives just by simply lifting Knuble's stick which allowed the puck to roll under it. Otherwise he would have tucked it right under Jaro and tied the game with 3 seconds left. BOW BEFORE THE AWESOMENESS OF TRAVIS MOEN! ;)
I heard part of the first one the radio. Murray Wilson was so angry with Bergeron that I wish those l'Antichambre/Attaque a 5 guys could see what he was seeing. MAB's like a squirrel running for his life on a busy street… And they almost did give up a shorthanded goal but it was snuffed out.
Why can't the Habs play like that for Carey? Ovechkin never had two almost point blank shots on Jaro. It makes me sick!
For the first time this year, I'm going to say that a large part of the win is due to Jacques Martin. He pushed all the right buttons, from shortening his bench, to having taken the correct read on the goaltenders. He deserves much credit for the game 5 win.
The Gionta/Gomez/Moen line caused problems all night, and most of the other forwards also showed desperation that was lacking in 90% of this year's games.
Still, despite the spirited, determined effort it took another tremendous performance from Halak to extend the series.
I'm still worried about the defense. How long will the team be able to stumble along with 4 defensemen? With MAB and Hamrlik playing as poorly as they are, Martin can't be seriously contemplating putting them out there for more than spot duty in game 6.
I have no idea what to expect from the Canadiens on Monday, but I'm sure they've caught the attention of the Capitals and their fans now!
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