Canadiens vs. Wild Top Six Minutes: There’s a first time for everything

For our new readers and members, the Top Six Minutes is a continuation of the discussion in the game thread. We try to keep it light and entertaining. Full recaps are up the morning after every game.

1st period:

• Nick Cousins is making his regular season debut, and hopefully at some point I will see #21 and ‘INS’ on the jersey and not have my mind go to Chris Higgins.
• It’s been a while since Montreal beat the Minnesota Wild. But at least it is more recent than when Higgins played for the Canadiens.
• Jesperi Kotkaniemi makes one of his first real appearances on the power play. You’ll never guess what happened next.
• Nothing.
• Bruce Boudreau told Marc Denis on RDS he wants to allow two goals or fewer a game, so buckle in, folks.
• Jordan Greenway playing for the Wild is fitting. Like when Zach Redmond played for Montreal.
• VICTOR METE! FINALLY! (Also Cousins got his first point as a Canadien but really... Mete)

• Turns out the key to a successful power play is by having a five-on-three. And Joel Armia.
• Poor Nick Suzuki. No one is going to talk about his first NHL goal...

2nd period:

• Nothing to kill the mood like a Canadiens power play
• I hurt for Joel Eriksson Ek. You don’t usually walk away from three Shea Weber shots.
• Seriously. How did he do that?
• TAKE ME HOME COUNTRY ROADS
• TO THE PLACE I BELONG
• Victor Mete almost got his second!

3rd period:

• Brendan Gallagher doesn’t much care what the score is.
• A bit of a push by Minnesota in the second, but Montreal has kept control in the start of the third.
• Oh good. Carey’s still awake.
• This game is just about on ice(ing)
• Gallagher doing Gallagher things.
• Is there anything better than a Bell Centre crowd having fun?
• Let’s check in on Minnesota reporters

• A fight. Nate Thompson is 35. Luke Kunin is 21. That has to be one of the wider gaps of fights in NHL history.
• Reminder that these teams play each other again on Sunday.
• For the third straight Wild-Canadiens game at the Bell Centre, it ends with a shutout. Only this time, Montreal is the one to get it. Carey Price’s first (it’s a theme) of the season.

EOTP 3 Stars

3) You all have to make this happen now.

2) Now that’s leadership

1) The nightmare is over