Canadiens vs Sabres Top Six Minutes: An Ugly Win, But A Win!

We got the lineup we wanted. We got both Beaulieu and Tinordi to play, we got Michael Bournival AND Jiri Sekac in the forward mix, and we got Lars Eller with quality linemates. What could possibly go wrong?

• Michel Therrien looked like he was pulling some secretive line-up subterfuge when he called the refs over to discuss the Sabres starting line-up after an icing. I thought he was pulling some clever baseball manager type trick but looks like he was just buying his team some time without using a time out.
• Gotta love how the Habs know the rulebook and exploit use it for their benefit
• Prust vs Deslauriers: an instant classic
• It wasn’t pretty, but Prust handedly and soundly defeated Nicholas Deslauriers. Deslauriers got fed.
• Habs lose Bournival to a separated shoulder for the game and definitely longer. Why can’t we have nice things?

2nd period

• Eller had a nice chance early in the second. At some point this season, he is going to put it together and have a nice hot streak. Well I keep telling myself that.
• “Right in the old bread basket” – my favourite operation piece
• Subban and Markov are playing a ton of minutes (not the 28 minutes that Arpon Basu recommended) so I’m getting my NBA Jam like situation, but it seems to have no effect
• Garry Galley talking about Buffalo’s guys (Rasmus Ristolainen I think, but maybe I was sleeping): “big guy but he can skate” and I think Garry it’s not that much of a revelation, but then I remember Doulas Murray and Hal Gill. This round’s yours Galley.
• Gallagher cannot buy a goal this is killing me. He’s playing a decent game and doing everything, but scoring.
• Lasik MD commercial featuring Jonathan Bernier, ok ok fair enough, he’s a star so to speak and Francis Bouillon – what the what? This is like when you get Montreal 2015 calendars that feature Raphael Diaz and Thomas Vanek.
• Pang vs Friedman – How’d you feel about that? Pang doesn’t think the Canadiens D could hold up over a 7 game series, he also doesn’t think they’re a playoff team so I guess it doesn’t matter.
• Audience (and myself) agreed with Friedman that the Habs are a playoff team. Everyone is trying to blank out this game (and the two preceding games).

3rd period

• Sabres suck in the third according to the broadcast so that means they’re going to play like Gods.

• P.A. Parenteau breaks the goose eggs and breaks it quickly – right off the face-off and 19 seconds into the third period.
• Montreal finally gets the first goal of the game, but gets it in the third period – but at least they got it
• Andrei Markov moves past Doug Harvey with his 5th assist of the season. Nice!
• The Habs lead in the 3rd was the first time they’ve held a lead in a game since October 25 against the Rangers. They never led against Detroit (October 21st).
• Tyler Myers certainly picked a good time to start playing like a guy who wants to be around when McDavid arrives next year.
• I’m not convinced that Sekac hit was the worst thing in the world. 2 minutes? Sure. An ejection? C’maaaaan
• Of course this is going to overtime

2. I hate this realization after a win:

1. Love this EOTP poster and this great prediction:

Parenteau!