Top Six Minutes

Canadiens vs Flyers Top Six Minutes: Habs resurrect powerplay to win 5th straight game!

It wasn't easy, but your Montreal Canadiens opened the game with three consecutive powerplay goals on route to a 6-3 win over the Philadelphia Flyers.

By Matthew Macaskill Nov 15, 2014, 9:56pm EST

Habs looking for their fifth straight win, which would also give them sole possession of first place in the league. Not bad, eh?
Do yourself a favor and mosey over here to review the Canadiens' official stats history. Let's play "spot the current Habs" on the list.
What you find may surprise you. Especially in the goaltending categories.
Carey Price is 20 Ws away from passing Bill Durnan for 4th place for most career wins with Montreal.
After that? Dryden, Roy and Plante.

1st Period

Oh hey, a powerplay! Go-Go-Gadget Gonchar!
Pacioretty gets a shot off from the slot and...
PARENTEAU!!! 1-0 Habs.
Caught up on last week's episode of 24CH before the game. Loved the segment on Parenteau's long road to the NHL. Hard not to respect his story and work ethic.
Not unlike Desharnais' journey to the NHL.
Speaking of which... DAVEY!!!! 2-0 Habs with a second consecutive powerplay goal.
Timeout Philly.
Pacioretty and Markov have assists on both PP goals. Gonchar not picking up the points, but he's making Markov and the powerplay better.
So what about PK? Well, he'll be fresher for 5-on-5 play, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.
It took 18 games, but the Habs might finally hold a lead for the first time heading into the first intermission!
Still 10 minute left to play in the period though, so... anti-jinx?
How does Gallagher end up with a penalty after Grossman ties up two Canadiens behind his own net?
Malholtra shorthanded breakaway... save.
I'm so jealous of that fan who just took a selfie with Youppi!
Habs take a lead into the first intermission. Finally.
Since Sekac took Bourque's spot in the lineup, Habs are 4-0 and have outscored opponents 14-3 (or 16-3 including the first period of this game).

2nd Period

The Sabres are up 2-0 against the Maple Leafs heading into the second period, too.
This can't be the same Canadiens I've been watching all season on the powerplay. Can't be. Nope. I refuse to...
HOLY LASER BEAMS, SUBBAN!
3-0 Habs thanks to an unbelievable pass from Galchenyuk to set up PK's one-timer.
Three powerplays. Three goals. It's okay, you don't have to believe me.
Prust fights Rinaldo and hurts his elbow as he falls to the ice.
He probably shouldn't have bothered with the fight given the score, but both he and Rinaldo shared some wide grins in the box after the bout. No bad blood here.
Alright, who said shutout? 3-1.
Well that didn't last long. Plekanec makes it 4-1.
Not so fast: goalie interference? Holding penalty? Still 3-1. #BlameGallagher
Plekanec joins Gallagher in the box and Flyers have a 5-on-3.
Habs kill it off!
Montreal might be one of the best teams in the league exiting the penalty box.
Plek almost scores after being sprung for a partial breakaway.
Schenn scores again. Carey is pissed. 3-2 game. Ruh roh.

3rd Period

Gonchar rips an honest shot from the point. Parenteau tips it with a high stick.
*Jeopardy music*
GOOD GOAL! 4-2 Habs.
WHAT WAS THAT!? That dog pile will be featured in highlight reels the rest of the week for all of the wrong reasons. 4-3.
To the refs credit, the puck was always free. But you rarely see a scrum of that magnitude go uncalled.
I swear to hockey gods in their ice palaces, it's a universal hockey rule that hooking penalties always result in PP goals against the Habs.
Of course now the ref blows the play dead with a loose puck in Emery's crease. Gallagher and the Bell Center crowd are not amused.
Sekac has had a quiet evening. Ditto Eller. Hard to get going with all the penalties tonight.
DUTCH GRETZKY DALE WEISE!
5-3 Habs with 6 minutes to play. You can stop holding your breath now.
Gonchar now has 800 career points with his second assist of the game.
Weise picks up another goal as the puck redirects off of him into the net.
6-3 Habs and it's about as safe as ever to serenade the Flyers with Olé'.
Game. Over.