Canadiens Lineup

Tomas Tatar – Phillip Danault – Brendan Gallagher

Jonathan Drouin – Max Domi – Andrew Shaw

Paul Byron – Jesperi Kotkaniemi – Joel Armia 

Artturi Lehkonen – Nate Thompson – Dale Weise

Victor Mete – Shea Weber

 Jordie Benn – Jeff Petry

Brett Kulak – Christian Folin

Carey Price – Antti Niemi

Charles Hudon, Nicolas Deslauriers, Jordan Weal, Matthew Peca, Mike Reilly

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Game Report by Chris G

The game was being hyped as a playoff game between two teams that are in a battle for a wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference. Both teams were in the second game of a back-to-back and started their number one goalies.  

The Penguins best forwards played like they were in the post season as Sydney Crosby and Jake Guentzel each got four points and went +4, to lead their team to a 5-1 win over Montreal. 

The Canadiens were playing catchup for the entire game minus 21 seconds as the Penguins scored three goals on their first four shots. Those numbers don’t look good for Carey Price, but he made several key saves throughout the game. The only goal that I think he would like back is Guentzel’s first goal as he took a wrist shot off the face-off that beat Price between the pads. On that goal, Price needed to have his stick in position to make the save. 

It was already 3-0 at the 8:51 mark of the period. Montreal started playing at that point and took control, not allowing another shot for the rest of the frame. 

Montreal’s spark once again was Brendan Gallagher. It started in the first period when Gallagher went after Erik Gudbranson when he received a body check a few seconds after the whistle was blown for an offside call. In the second period, Gallagher tried to get Matt Murray off his game by initiating contact with the goalie.  

Gallagher was the only one for this team to put the puck passed Murray, a shot that should have been stopped. He extends his goal streak to a third consecutive game and scored his team’s first goal in the last two games.

On his 24th birthday, Max Domi was presented the Molson Cup for the month of February. He generated several scoring chances, taking six shots on goal, but did struggle at the face-off circle with a 25 percent success rate.

The power play went 0-for-3 for the night bringing it to 1-for-24 in their last 10 games. The second unit had the best chances with the extra attacker.

Shea Weber was hungry to score a goal, with 13 total shot attempts including a post. Weber was frustrated as six of his shots missed the net.      

Sunday is a travel day for the Habs as they head to Los Angeles to face the Kings on Tuesday night. 

Plus / Minus

▲  Brendan Gallagher, Max Domi, Shea Weber

▼  Jordie Benn, Philip Danault, Jesperi Kotkaniemi