PRE-SEASON Game 3: Montreal 4 Ottawa 3 SO (Scotiabank Place)
Written by Rick Stephens, AllHabs.net
MONTREAL, QC. — On March 5th of this year, Max Pacioretty scored twice against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Habs won the game 4-2 and Pacioretty was named first star at the St. Pete Times Forum. The young Canadiens power-forward was in a groove with 11 points in 14 games.
The two goals that night in Tampa were the last ones he would score in the season. The next game on the schedule was three nights later at the Bell Centre where the Canadiens hosted the Boston Bruins. As we know, Zdeno Chara ended Pacioretty’s season and threatened his career with a vicious hit into an arena stanchion.
Would Pacioretty ever play again, and if so could he possibly be the impact player he had become for the Canadiens last Spring? He has returned and his play in tonight’s game began to answer the latter question. Pacioretty had two goals against the Senators, scoring for the first time since March 5.
But the two goals tonight were only part of the story. He could have had more.
Pacioretty had nine shots on goal, hit two posts, and was dragged down (without a call) on a shothanded chance. For good measure he scored again in the shootout. Playing on a line with Scott Gomez and Brendan Gallagher, the trio accounted for 19 of the Canadiens’ 33 shots.
“It seemed like we were controlling the puck really well every time we had it. It just shows how good Gomer is because most of the time the puck was on his stick down there and we were just trying to create some space for him.” — Max Pacioretty
Gomez looked like a rejuvenated man adding a goal and an assist. He was effective feeding his wingers who took turns driving to the net. Gallagher continued his superb pre-season play not looking out of place at all with his more experienced linemates.
The Gomez line was the only one providing offense for Montreal on this night. The Canadiens attack sputtered for the first 30 minutes of the game producing a meagre nine shots on goal. The second line of Andreas Engqvist, Erik Cole and Andrei Kostitsyn was a mismatch from the get-go and never did gel.
Cole redeemed himself in the shootout scoring the winner for the Canadiens first points of the pre-season. Engqvist was a non-factor in what was an ill-suited role — he still has the inside track on the fourth line roster spot. Brock Trotter seems to have hurt his chances after a turnover at the Canadiens blueline that led to the third Senators goal — Trotter played less than 10 minutes in the game.
Yannick Weber had another strong game and tallied an assist despite being saddled with Alex Henry as his defensive partner. Henry proved last year and again this Fall that he can’t compete at the NHL level — the game is simply too fast to allow him to process and react. Jarred Tinordi had a solid game that included getting the better of Ottawa’s Zack Smith when they dropped the gloves in the third period.
Quietly, Alexei Yemelin played responsible defensive game looking particularly good when challenged one-on-one. Raphael Diaz logged big minutes but looks like he will need at least a half season in Hamilton to adjust to the North American game. Diaz was a defensive liability in his own end on most every shift.
Nathan Lawson didn’t allow a goal in his half-game of work and looks to be putting a stranglehold on the No. 1 goaltending spot in Hamilton. Lawson also sparked the offense with a long pass that sprung Pacioretty for his second goal of the game. Scotiabank Place is the site of Lawson’s only win in his NHL career, recorded last February again in a 4-3 shootout win when he was with the Islanders.
The two teams will square off again on Saturday night in Montreal as the Canadiens host the Senators at the Bell Centre.
All Habs game stars
1. Max Pacioretty
2. Brendan Gallagher
3. Scott Gomez
Scoring Summary from NHL.com
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