Top Six Minutes: Flames burn the Canadiens once again

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.

Pre-game

• So the pattern against Calgary this season seems to be win-lose-win-lose. In following that historic data, we’ve got this in the bag.
• Primeau is getting a go between the pipes tonight! Maybe some fresh blood is exactly what we need.

First period

• Hey, Perry’s wearing the ‘A’ with Byron out of the lineup.
• Anderson tries to step into Gally’s shoes skates and make his presence felt in front of Markstrom. You’re going to have to be a little more annoying than that, Josh, but it’s a good start.
• Chiarot gets flattened by Robinson and hits the ice. He is not impressed. Deep breath. Remember where fighting gets you, Ben.
• Lehkonen gets called for holding. Let’s see what penalty kill team shows up tonight.
• Chiarot and Tkachuk get into a shoving match after Primeau keeps it at zero.
• Habs don’t let up after killing the penalty and a beautiful zone entry by Tatar ends in Suzuki opening the scoring!
• Toffoli with a shot off the post. Oh, you just know he’s going to get one in next time.
• Primeau is in it to win it tonight.
• That is, until Gaudreau is given all kinds of room and goes top shelf to even the score with 30 seconds left.

Second period

• Anderson goes down by Markstrom’s net and a crowd piles on around him. He gets up with a smile on his face. You’re getting better at channeling Gally.
• Lehky rifles one on net and it goes off the post.
• Lucic scores off the faceoff to take the lead. Primeau didn’t even see that one coming.
• A nice cross-ice pass from Staal but Anderson goes wide of the net.
• Gaudreau notches his second of the night. That makes two goals in 3:17 this period. Good thing it’s the Habs turn to win tonight.
• We’re heading to our first power play. Time to start closing the gap. Please.
• Apparently saying “please” gets you nowhere these days.
• And here’s the Toffoli goal to pull the Habs back in!

Third period

• What is Suzuki doing? How can you be both good and bad in the same play?
• Romanov looks down for the count in Primeau’s crease after getting a skate to the head.
• Whew, he looks ok on the bench.
• After that nice save by Primeau, Ritchie takes away Primeau’s confidence and makes it 4-2.
• Time for a little four-on-four action as Romanov and Lindholm head to their respective boxes for roughing.
• Maybe the Habs totally forgot that Calgary is only six points behind them in the standings.
• Primeau heads to the bench with three minutes left. I feel this plan will backfire.
• Sometimes I hate being right.
• Make that four points behind.

EOTP 3 Stars

3) Just needs better things to look at

2) The new guys needed six, clearly

1) The new Habs sure do look a lot like the old Habs