First period
- Two different lines come up with scoring chances within the opening 40 seconds. Fair to say the Canadiens are prepared for this one.
- Not the start Jayden Struble wanted in his first game in three weeks as he takes an early penalty. Arber Xhekaj is called for tripping on the same sequence, and both third-pairing defencemen head into the box together.
- The Blackhawks were probably guilty of making too many passes, but eventually they get a puck to the stick of Tyler Bertuzzi for the opening goal at five-on-three
- Xhekaj tries to swing momentum back in his team’s favour in a fight with Pat Maroon, and scores the takedown with a series of short rights.
The Sheriff gets a W over Maroon.
— Matt Drake (@drakemt.bsky.social) January 3, 2025 at 9:20 PM
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- It didn’t really refire the team as the Blackhawks continue to put shots on Samuel Montembeault.
- The referee has called another defenceman for a penalty. This one is Alexandre Carrier for cross-checking.
- So much for conserving energy for tomorrow.
- For this penalty kill, the Canadiens have two forwards on the ice, and Jake Evans and Joel Armia kill off about a minute with he puck in Chicago’s zone.
- It’s taken the Canadiens a while to ramp back up after the penalty calls, but they do get the game evened up, thanks to Chicago leaving the front of the net completely clear for Cole Caufield.
- That’s Caufield’s 20th, and third in four games.
- A pretty poor period by Montreal’s recent standards, and yet the game is still tied after 20 minutes. Avoid the penalties in the final 40 minutes, and they should win this one.
Second period
- Lane Hutson recognizes a turnover developing in the offensive zone and starts to backtrack. A couple of teammates are behind him providing support, but he shadows the puck-carrier like a heat-seeking missile, steals the puck, and relaunches the attack. Sometimes aggressiveness is the answer on defence.
- On the next shift, he dances his way to the slot with the puck, but decides to make a pass to Christian Dvorak at the side. In that case, he needed to be more assertive and just take the shot.
- A simple rule for any player looking for a goal: Never pass to Christian Dvorak.
- Chicago puts the puck in the net for a second time, but only after poking it from under Montembeault’s glove twice. The ref immediately waves it off.
- Caufield is shooting the puck from everywhere now. It’s good to see him confident again, but he’s also the top scoring threat with Laine out with the Patty flu.
- The Canadiens get into a pickle with three players behind the net unable to get their sticks on the puck, and that opens the top of the zone for an open shot. Wyatt Kaiser takes it, and gets a deflection from Nick Foligno to put the ‘Hawks on top.
- Josh Anderson flies down the wing and collects the puck. Blackhawks goaltender Arvid Soderblom makes a nice save to deny him.
- Montreal has begun to take over the game since the last goal. They need to convert that into a goal now.
- The Canadiens might his their elusive 30-plus shot total before this period ends. Again, they need to get a goal out of it.
- Montreal has completely forgotten any thought of playing defence, just wanting a goal. the Blackhawks have some some great chances off quick counters.
- Soderblom robs Suzuki at the end of the period with a delayed penalty on the way. There will be a chance tie the game up to start the third.
Third period
- Not the most inspiring power play to start, but they have been good at five-on-five, so they can get back to that now.
- Or they can give up a third goal to Chicago and fall into a two-goal hole.
- Suzuki fires a shot that dribbles through Soderblom, but it spills the side where it can be cleared.
- Montreal’s effort in the offensive zone leads to a penalty on Maroon. If there’s a comeback to be made, it will start on this power play.
- Two whacks at a loose puck in the crease, neither one goes in somehow.
- It turns out a little baseball is what is required to get the Canadiens back in this hockey game. Emil Heineman waits for a puck to drop to about three feet after it hits the end glass, and bats in a power-play goal, the 10th of the rookie’s season.
- The momentum is immediately halted by Kaiden Guhle riding piggyback on Taylor Hall. I didn’t know there was a rule against that.
- I did expect Montreal to have a lot more than five shots with under eight minutes to play in this period.
- The Blackhawks hit the post, but the Canadiens give up on the play thinking it was a goal, and moments later it is.
- Montembeault goes to the bench, but the Canadiens spend more time trying to defend their empty net than threatening Chicago’s at the game finishes 4-2.
- A real shame to leave those two points on the table, but Soderblom deserved at least one of them.
EOTP 3 Stars
3) Of course
2) He thinks Christian Dvorak is a better scoring option. An intervention is needed.
1) Never a disappointment
