By J.D. Lagrange, Senior Writer, All Habs Hockey Magazine
When Dale Weise surprised Senators’ goaltender Craig Anderson with a wrist shot on the short side at 8:47 of the first overtime, giving the Montreal Canadiens a commanding 3-0 lead in this series, it knocked the wind right out of not only the sellout crowd, but wiped the smiles off the Senators’ players faces who felt pretty good about their performance up until then.
PENTICTON, BC. – As a matter of fact, it’s Weise’s first goal late in the third period that silenced the crowd in Ottawa. His overtime goal finished them off. The Senators played an almost perfect first period against their counterparts, out-hitting them, out-shooting them, out-chancing them and out-scoring them 1-0 on a goal by Clarke McArthur. As a matter of fact, the Senators scored the first goal for the third time in as many games in this series. Team captain Erik Karlsson was all smiles after delivering a few hits and assisting on the first goal, and the CBC crew made sure that everyone noticed how well he and his teammates were playing.
But as Max Pacioretty pointed out after the game, the Canadiens knew that they’d have to weather the storm in the first period, that the Sens would come out with everything they had in hope to win this key game. But it was very unlikely that they could sustain such a tempo for 60 minutes and Pacioretty and his teammates started taking the game over in the second period, outshooting Dave Cameron’s team by a 19-6 margin. Anderson did very well and also had some luck on his side, keeping his team ahead but we could feel the momentum changing.
MISSED OPPORTUNITIES
The Senators have to be demoralized in this series. They scored three goals against the best goaltender in the league in the first game, yet they found themselves at the losing end. They managed to take the Canadiens to overtime in game two but lost that game as well. They’ve played their best period of the series in game three, but they could only put one puck behind Carey Price, and ended up losing that game as well, wasting a solid effort by Anderson, who stopped 47 pucks in that game.
The Senators simply cannot contain, over an entire game, the speed and constant pressure of the Montreal Canadiens. Not known for their offensive output, the Habs average slightly over 43 shots per game in the first three games. Further, the Canadiens’ defense is taking care of business in their own end, tying up opponents and letting star goaltender Price make the first save. The Sens have fired 32 shots per game so far on Price, who while playing his solid game, has yet to have to truly steal a game in this series. The Canadiens appear in total control and in full confidence, strong from last year’s playoffs’ experience it seems.
WHAT’S NEXT
Nathan Beaulieu was hit hard by Erik Karlsson and the main point of contact appears to have been the head. Beaulieu did not play in the third period and in overtime and it would not be surprising to see him out for game four, scheduled for Wednesday in Ottawa.
While head coach Michel Therrien seems to like what he sees with Tom Gilbert, I certainly don’t share his point of view and if I were him, I would make two changes at the blueline for the next game. I would re-insert Sergei Gonchar to replace Beaulieu and Gilbert would sit in favour of Greg Pateryn, a bigger and more physical force against an Ottawa team who seem to want to play that way. Gonchar is well rested and has tons of playoffs’ experience and I’d play the two together on the third pairing.
While he has not played badly, I would like to see Brian Flynn sit a game in favour of getting some more punch on the third line. While the first two lines should remain intact, Dale Weise should move to the fourth line with Torrey Mitchell and Brandon Prust, while P-A Parenteau would provide some offense for Lars Eller’s line, while keeping youngster Jacob De la Rose on the left. This would make for four very balance lines, all of which who could produce some good speed, forecheck and with some good offensive potential.
Pacioretty – Desharnais – Smith-Pelly
Galchenyuk – Plekanec – Gallagher
De la Rose – Eller – Parenteau
Prust – Mitchell – Weise
Markov – Subban
Emelin – Petry
Gonchar – Pateryn
Price
Being up 3-0 in the series is a good time to allow some other players to get some important playing time and while the fourth game is always the toughest one to win, keeping players in game shape and rested during the playoffs is also key, especially when you are hoping for a long playoffs’ run.
BERGEVIN’S DEADLINE ADDITIONS
Habs’ GM Marc Bergevin made four acquisitions at the trade deadline this year and many fans questioned the significance of those moves, as they felt (somewhat rightfully so) that he did not address one of the team’s biggest needs: scoring on the Top 6. The fact of the matter is that the price to pay for such player at the trade deadline was outrageous and Bergevin was right once again to stick to his guns. He did however add a lot of depth to his roster and that, so far, has been paying dividends.
When he traded Jiri Sekac to Anaheim for Devante Smith-Pelly, Bergevin took some heat from a lot of fans, especially that DSP appeared to be a step behind on a team that is based on speed. Smith-Pelly admitted that his new team was preaching a much higher tempo game and that he would need to get in shape for that style, but since the playoffs have begun, he has been promoted on the top line with Max Pacioretty and David Desharnais. His physical style seems to complement his linemates and he is hard to move in front of the net.
Bergevin wanted a right-handed defenseman to play quality minutes behind P.K. Subban and he got that in Jeff Petry, who has been a very pleasant surprise since joining the team. He is certainly not as flashy as Subban, doesn’t put up points the way Subban does, but he is composed, skates very well and makes good passes and takes good decisions with the puck. He and Alexei Emelin form a very solid second pairing since the trade with the Oilers.
The Canadiens’ GM also wanted a right-handed centre to take face-offs in his zone and he got that in local product Torrey Mitchell. He’s not known for his offense, nor is he known for his size, but his never-quit attitude is what makes Mitchell very tough to play against. Along with former Sabres’ teammate and other deadline acquisition Brian Flynn, Mitchell leads the Canadiens with three points in as many games in these playoffs, assisting on Dale Weise’s overtime winner in game three.
Let’s not forget that the team also has Manny Malhotra, P-A Parenteau, Sergei Gonchar, Greg Pateryn and Mike Weaver waiting to be inserted in the line-up if or when needed. In all cases, we are talking about NHL quality depth here and it will certainly come handy at one point or another in these playoffs.
GO HABS GO!