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RECAP | Hurricanes – Canadiens: Lindgren Battles for Habs Win

Rick Stephens

Montreal Canadiens vs Carolina Hurricanes Game Recap: Habs Line-up, Score, Statistics, Highlights, Post-game Interviews, NHL Three-Stars

FINAL/OT | Game 67, Home Game 36 | Saturday February 29, 2020
Bell Centre, Montreal, QC

CANADIENS

Montreal

4-3

HURRICANES

Carolina
Charlie Lindgren (Photo by Jean-Yves Ahern / USA Today Sports)

Canadiens Lineup

Forward lines

Tomas Tatar – Phillip Danault – Brendan Gallagher

Artturi Lehkonen – Nick Suzuki – Joel Armia

Paul Byron – Max Domi – Jordan Weal

Charles Hudon – Jake Evans – Dale Weise

Defence pairings

Ben Chiarot – Shea Weber

Brett Kulak – Jeff Petry

Xavier Ouellet – Christian Folin

Goaltenders

Charlie Lindgren – Carey Price

Scratches

Jonathan Drouin, Karl Alzner

Injuries

Victor Mete

Game Report

Twenty-four minutes into the game, the Canadiens were cruising with a 3-0 lead at home. Montreal had taken advantage of weak goaltending from Anton Forsberg making his second start of the season. Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour had seen enough yanking Forsberg, replacing him with Alex Nedeljkovic.

But given the fragile state of the Canadiens, no lead is safe these days, particularly with the Hurricanes fighting for a playoff spot.

Haydn Fleury, Cale’s brother, got the ball rolling midway through the second period. Montreal gave up a goal in the first two minutes of the third period, as has become commonplace. And the home faithful rolled their eyes, silently saying, ‘here we go again.’

Would the Habs lose yet another game despite leading after two periods? It sure was looking that way.

Justin Williams tied the game with less than two minutes to go sending the game into overtime. But Jeff Petry played the hero scoring the overtime winner.

But that’s not the whole story. In fact, I’ve missed the best part.

Charlie Lindgren made his first start in 25 days. Lindgren made numerous highlight-reel saves throughout the game. And with time expiring in the third period, Lindgren robbed sniper Andrei Svechnikov to carry his team into overtime. 

Despite the hand he has been dealt, Lindgren is positive and focused. Ask any of his teammates and they will tell you that there is no harder working player on the team and he does it all with a smile.

With Keith Kinkaid being loaded to the Charlotte Checker today, finally, on February 29th, the Canadiens’ goaltending depth chart is set as it should have been from the start of the season. That is Lindgren and Carey Price with the Canadiens. And Cayden Primeau and Michael McNiven in Laval. 

The Canadiens have a day off Sunday and will practice on Monday at 10:45 am. in Brossard. 

Plus / Minus

▲  Charlie Lindgren, Tomas Tatar, Brendan Gallagher, Phillip Danault, Ben Chiarot, Shea Weber

▼  Christian Folin, Brett Kulak, Joel Armia, Xavier Ouellet, Dale Weise, Charles Hudon

The Numbers

 Game Statistics 
CANADIENS   HURRICANES
39 Shots 35
56 Face-off % 44
0-for-3 Power Play 0-for-2
6 Penalty Minutes 8
24 Hits 24
59 Corsi For 38
 Scoring Summary
 FINAL 1 2 3 OT SO T
 Canadiens (30-28-9) 1 2 0 1 – 4
 Hurricanes (35-24-5) 0 1 2 0 – 3
Scorers Goalies
  • MTL: Danault (13), Domi (17), Gallagher (21), Petry (10)
  • CAR: Fleury (4), Edmundson (6), Williams (3)
  • MTL: Lindgren (W) 2-3-0
  • CAR: Forsberg, Nedeljkovic (OTL) 0-1-1

Stars of the Game

 NHL Official Three Stars
  1. Jeff Petry  MTL
  2. Phillip Danault  MTL
  3. Justin Williams  CAR

Watch

 Video Highlights 

What Did They Say?

 Post-game Quotes
Claude Julien  
  • “The other team did a good job. The Hurricanes score a lot of goals with several players in front of the net. They have defensemen who have good shots. I thought Charlie (Lindgren) played well. He had a lot of traffic in front of the net, but he made some big saves, especially towards the end of regulation.”
  • “We’ll see (if Lindgren will get more starts.) I’m pretty sure you’re going to see him again. The goal is not to ride Pricer into the ground. The goal is, obviously, as you saw tonight give Charlie an opportunity to play here and if he plays well, why not? So absolutely.”
 Max Domi
  • “Super happy for [Charlie Lindgren]. He played unbelievable. Especially at the end … it’s freaking crazy some of those shots. It’s like they have eyes all those goals from the point, there’s not much he can do. Bad luck.”

  • “I think that save at the end basically won us the game. So huge win and he was the first star tonight, that’s for sure.”

  • “It’s a very tough job to play behind the best goalie in the world. (Lindgren’s) always got to be ready, no matter what. He practises hard. He’s super-positive. He’s always got a smile on his face and he’s a fun guy to be around. Great teammate and supports the boys no matter what. That’s all you can really ask and he does that in flying colours. He’s awesome. Great, great guy and we’re very lucky to have him.”

Brendan Gallagher

  • “[Charlie Lindgren] played unbelievable. A lot of big saves. He competes. One thing about Charlie, you know every single time he’s on the ice this guy competes. It’s rewarding for him to get the win.”

Charlie Lindgren

  • “That’s my bread and butter, battling. The one thing I’ll never do is stop competing. Every single puck I’m going to battle. That’s the way I’m wired. I battle to the end.”
  • “Practise hard, getting out there early with [Stephane Waite] and watching the best goaltender in the world (Carey Price.) Every day, I come to the rink, I expect to get better. I don’t take any days off.”
 

Quotes courtesy of NHL.com

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