Montreal 2 New York Rangers 6 (Madison Square Gardens)
After 20 minutes, the Canadiens went to the dressing room with a 2-0 lead, having played one of their best road periods in recent memory. Sure, there was the road winning streak before Christmas, but those games were against the NHL’s bottom feeders. Tonight’s game was against a team that the Habs were competing with for a playoff spot.
The Canadiens controlled the first period with goals from Mike Cammalleri and a power-play marker from Brian Gionta. While the shot clock read nine for the Rangers, none were difficult saves for Jaroslav Halak who had an easy period. The Canadiens did a very good job in their own zone.
Perhaps it shouldn’t have been too much of a surprise. The Rangers had scored only one goal in their past three games. But all that changed. Somehow, during the intermission, New York rediscovered their scoring touch, and the Canadiens forgot all the good things they had been doing in the first period.
“It’s just one of those things where it wasn’t our night,” said Scott Gomez. “They beat us to everything in the second.”
The Canadiens were outshot 15-to-2 in the second period and allowed three New York goals. The backbreaker was a short-handed goal midway through the period.
On a 4-on-3 power-play, Tomas Plekanec cleanly won the faceoff back to the point. The puck went past Marc-Andre Bergeron and was picked up by Ryan Callahan who skated the length of the ice for a shot on Halak with Markov chasing him down. Bergeron didn’t bother to take the trailer, Brandon Dubinsky, who scored on the rebound.
So, the Rangers, a team who had only managed five goals in the previous five games combined, scored six unanswered goals in the final two periods tonight. And the Habs, who had a strong first period, collapsed.
“We played a strong very period and then we gave it away,” coach Jacques Martin said. “We had turnovers and a bad play selection. I think it’s a matter of us playing the type of hockey we are capable of.”
How does that happen? Some say that the Canadiens don’t have the talent. But, its then hard to explain why the team can play so well at times. Certainly, the passive system that the Habs use has to be one factor. They do not dictate the pace of the game, at least not for a full 60 minutes.
Also, this seems to be a team with fragile confidence. When things begin to go badly, there isn’t the leadership to turn momentum around. While coach Martin called a timeout in the second, it did nothing to rally his team.
And when the Rangers started to take liberties with Andrei Markov and Tomas Plekanec, it was Josh Gorges and Benoit Pouliot who stepped in to fight and protect their teammates. Georges Laraque played just over three minutes in the entire game. Laraque is not the deterrent that some would have you believe.
Jaroslav Halak didn’t play his best game and gave up a few soft goals but wasn’t at fault for the loss.
The Canadiens played a sloppy game against Dallas but won anyway. Against Ottawa and New York, their mistakes cost them. And instead of their power-play bailing them out, it has contributed to the problem with short-handed goals against in two consecutive games.
The Habs lost two games they needed to win. Its too early to know, but this weekend could prove very costly to the Canadiens’ playoff chances.
Rocket’s three stars
1. Ryan Callahan
2. Brandon Dubinsky
3. Marion Gaborik
Material from wire services was used in this report.
(photo credit: Getty)