Top Six Minutes

Canadiens vs Panthers Top Six Minutes: Dustin imitates Carey

A brief but sarcastic take on Montreal's visit to Sunrise

By Robert Rice Mar 17, 2015, 10:20pm EDT

Pregame:

The last time the Habs scored three goals in a game, not involving an empty net it was during their 4-3 shootout loss to the Kings, that was on March 5th.
So what I'm saying is it would be nice if they could do it twice in a two-week window.
Tomas Plekanec needs 3 goals to get to 200 career markers, I will be talking about this a lot until it happens because he's awesome and deserves it.
2 of Montreal's three deadline day acquisitions are injured right now. Someone put some bubble wrap on Petry before it's too late.

1st Period:

As with all first periods, I will consider it a 'win' for Montreal if they come out of it tied. The key to happiness is low standards.
Right, Jagr's a Panther. That's just wrong. WRONG.
Aside from their 1st round picks, Florida is mostly a team of guys you think of as wearing a different jersey.
Desharnais down the middle between Galchenyuk and Gallagher isn't looking like much.
If the Habs could look threatening against a playoff bubble team, that would be nice.
Jason York for Sportsnet is correct that Bolland can slow the game down, but the way he does it, it isn't a positive.
Also, as for Bolland being a big part of the team.... he has 4 goals in 40 games. at 5M a year.
Great pass by Galchenyuk, but no dice.
PK, you just got manhandled by a senior citizen.
That was a very good bit of passing for 27-51-11, more please.
Brian Campbell is a defencemen who doesn't get enough credit really.
That was a nice three minutes of saying "please don't let anything bad happen", why must the team be this bad in their own zone?
Now we got to the least threatening road PP in the NHL. Ever.
Gallagher making friends right at the end there. Although he probably disagrees with them about the relationship he has with his mother.

Second Period:

Going by the Sportsnet commercials, if the music acts get any more dated for the Bell Centre, they'll soon feature the skeleton of Johnny Cash.

Habs return with 1:31 on the power play, although to get better offensive chances they might want to take some penalties.

Once again, the best scoring chance on a Habs PP was to the other team.

Another fine mess in their own end leads to a goal against. 1-0 Panthers.

Why is it no analyst will ever note it's a tough league to score in because they're calling 75% of the penalties they were 5 years ago?

Alexei Emelin scored a goal. This is not a drill. 1-1!

Manny, that's tripping. But hey, at least the Habs go to their special teams unit that can generate offence.

Told you! Prust to de la Rose and we have a lead for Montreal! 2-1!

I find myself liking DLR-Eller-DSP better than most 3rd lines we've had this season, but still find Smith-Pelly lacks the hands for even a limited offensive role.

And that's the lead disappearing... Great shot by Pirri but can the Habs outscore an opponent? We've only seen it twice this month.

"Like a modern-day Mark Messier" is either the biggest reach of analysis this year, or Pirri also randomly enters people's homes and tells them how to watch hockey.

PK Subban scores, because he's PK. 3-2 Montreal.

Good work by Eller on the goal, who's having some lovely regression to the mean since he went back to centre where he belongs.

Wow, great save by Tokarski.

Three goals in a period for the Habs, this calls for cake and ice cream!

Well I have neither, so I'll make some popcorn.

Third Period:

Insert joke about lower bowl attendance in the Panthers arena. That's about as much energy as it warrants.
The only technical proof the Habs have a defensive coach is that JJ Daigneault's name is on the payroll.
Shots are 5-0 for Florida with barely over 3 minutes played, that's not good.
Galchenyuk has had some really good chances tonight, but no luck.
Petry caught holding the stick, smart move to once again take MTL to their shorthanded unit to jump start their offence.
Shots are 15-2 for the Panthers right now in the 3rd period. In case you needed an excuse to get another beer, whiskey or 200-proof moonshine.
Parenteau gets sat so Weise can help protect the lead on the top line. If you discount that he's lousy defensively and less talented than Parenteau, it makes complete sense.
Insert one more sarcastic remark about how this penalty kill is likely to improve MTL's chances to generate some offence.
Behind the net camera can go away forever and no one would miss it.
Eller-DLR seems like a PK pair the Habs could use for many years to come.
Shots are 20-4 in the 3rd period. A round of applause for Mr. Tokarski everyone.
Well that is a penalty by Galchenyuk, that's what the refs would call a love tap if it was being done to Gallagher.
Winning your 3rd game of the month shouldn't have to be this hard. But they win.