Canadiens @ Maple Leafs Top Six Minutes: That’s one!

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

• We’re in the playoffs, baby!
• Against the Leafs.
• This is gonna be ah-some.
• Playoff Prediction — Anderson is the first Hab to score.

First period

• It’s go time!
• Seeing Gally back in the lineup makes me happy.
• Anderson’s already throwing the body around. He wasn’t kidding when he said he was ready for this series.
• The speed in the first minute of this game is making me excited and anxious at the same time. #BeerMe
• Anderson is so close to opening the scoring! Soooo close.
• Gally’s bleeding already. But, hey, at least it’s not his hand.
• We’re halfway through. No penalties and the Habs have dished out 15 hits.
• Oh no. Tavares is hurt. A plain old hit by Chiarot knocks him to the ice and a speeding Perry can’t get out of the way fast enough and crashes into Tavares’ head.
• Out comes the medical team and stretcher. Even the Canadiens medical team is on the ice helping out.
• Tavares gives the thumbs up while being wheeled out. And we collectively let out the breath we’ve been holding for the past few minutes.
• Give me a freakin break, Foligno! Making Perry fight for what was obviously a freak accident?!
• Anderson opens the scoring!!
• Perry’s gone to the dressing room. Foligno...

Second period

• Perry’s back on the bench. Phew.
• Holl gets called for delay of game and off we go to the man advantage.
• Marner goes for a shorty but Anderson’s speedy back check puts a stop to it. Because as we’ve know, the ‘A’ in Anderson stands for awesome.
• But Nylander swoops in shortly after to tie it up.
• Chiarot heads to the box to give the Leafs a better chance to take the lead. Matthews’ grin is making me physically nauseous.
• This period is way more scattered than the first. Let’s get a bit of focus back boys. We’re just tied. No need to panic.
• Although, getting a stick on the puck might help.
• Toffoli with the best chance of the period. Unfortunately, Campbell makes a good save to keep it even.
• Armia misses the net and Simmonds slashes at Perry just because.
• Finally, this period is over.

Third period

• Anderson picks up a rebound and almost takes the lead but is stopped by Campbell Rielly.
• Leafs with another delay of game penalty. What are you so afraid of?
• Not our power play, obviously.
• Anderson (yes, again) with another great chance, and a slick move to boot. But still no goal.
• Anderson and Price are the only ones who seem to have remembered they’re in Game 1 of the playoffs.
• Seriously, another delay of game, Toronto. You’ve played hockey before, right?
• I feel like the Leafs are taking all of these delay of game penalties just to poke fun at the Habs power play.
• Price with a big blocker save on Marner to keep it even!
• Byron goes in for a shorty, gets tripped... and takes the lead!
• Turns out our PK is better than our PP but off to the PP we go again. Surprisingly, not for delay of game this time.
• There are three minutes left and Danault takes a tripping penalty. Please just hang in there. I beg you.
• Thank you, Carey Price.

EOTP 3 Stars

3) First and foremost, we’ll hope for the best for Toronto’s captain

2) Playoff Powerhorse is a lot of fun

1) What a way to finish it off