First period
- Tomas Hertl should have set up Keegan Kolesar for the game’s opening goal, but the shot was missed. Las Vegas instead scores on their next foray into the offensive zone, when Herlt gets a better result off the stick of Zach Whitecloud.
- Montreal has looked ready for the fight otherwise. Just need to get that goal back.
- Lane Hutson dangles his way through the neutral zone and two teammates join him. He felt compelled to pass the puck, but should have finished his own play with the shot as well.
- As they do a lot now, the Canadiens have begun hemming their opponent in zone as they go on the attack. It’s not leading to many shots, however.
- Josh Anderson pushes the puck ahead so his man can pinch him along the wall. He recollects the puck and goes in on an individual rush, needing a good save from Adin Hill.
- For a defensive defenceman, Alexandre Carrier’s offensive instincts are really good. He very nearly scored with a rush to the net.
- The Las Vegas fans are trying to inspire their team to get out of the defensive zone. They’ve been in there a lot since making it 1-0.
- The Golden Knights get their first shot in about 10 minutes, and it’s 2-0. The forwards of the Dach line weren’t in their proper positions, and Noah Hanifin scored from much closer range than a defenceman should.
- It’s a tough scoreline from the first period given how Montreal played, but they do need to work for more dangerous chances in the second.
Second period
- You can tell the individual players are just a little bit off today, but the improved tactics are holding them together through it. There’s still a game to be joined if they can find their form.
- Montreal’s best chance of the first six minutes falls on the stick of Christian Dvorak, and that’s a shame.
- Dvorak takes a completely unnecessary penalty after losing the puck in a battle.
- Montreal might need this short-handed time to score its first goal.
- They spent to much adjusting to passes to launch any offence, but they survive a hard-working PK.
- Lane Hutson steals the puck in the neutral zone and gets hooked trying to break away. The refs don’t even up the calls on the infraction, however.
- Dach gets set up at the side of the net by Alex Newhook and shoots the puck back the way the puck came, but Hill made a difficult save.
- Cole Caufield helps Juraj Slafkovský pull a puck off of the boards to keep an offensive-zone presence going, and moments later he gets rewarded with one-time goal thanks to Suzuki’s awareness to find him in the same spot as Dach’s previous chance.
- That is the 100th goal of Caufield’s career. Impressive, especially when you consider the Ducharme and bum shoulder stretches.
- The top line stays out and comes close to scoring a second goal. Suddenly we have a hockey game.
- Montembeault is probably distracted as a Golden Knights forward does a cartwheel in front of him after catching a rut. The puck ends up in the net, but about a full second after the horn sounds. Everyone will just forget that happened, and focus on scoring one goal to tie this game up next period.
Third period
- Montreal starts well. The players want to complete this comeback.
- Really the only concerning moments are happening with Dach’s line in its own zone. This is how Suzuki and Caufield used to look, but the coaching staff has helped them figure things out. I guess Dach, Newhook, and Laine are next.
- Stretch passes won;’t get this done today. They’ll have to use another method to solve this trap.
- For some reason, Nate Pearson decides to tackle Suzuki after the whistle with Montreal on offence. There hasn’t been a whole lot of animosity in the game.
- Emil Heineman had to leave in the second period for repairs to his lip. Suddenly he feels no pain whatsoever after scoring his ninth goal of the season to tie this game at two apiece.
David Savard keeps the puck in, and Emil Heineman puts home the loose puck Habs and Golden Knights tied 2-2
— Scott Matla (@scottmatla.bsky.social) December 31, 2024 at 6:10 PM
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- The Golden Knights, clearly upset about losing there lead, extend themselves looking for a goal, and Josh Anderson makes two excellent plays. First he blocks a shot near the blue line and collects the rebound. In years past, he would have just settled for that and cleared the puck. This time he steadies himself, finds Dach with a pass, and then just has to watch his work get rewarded as Dach’s pass attempt become the go-ahead goal instead.
Oh my word Kirby Dach
— Scott Matla (@scottmatla.bsky.social) December 31, 2024 at 6:13 PM
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- This is a Vegas team that came in with a +30 goal differential in the third period. Well it’s +28 now.
- It’s good that Montreal can still score some goals even when their offensive superstar, Jake Evans isn’t on the board.
- I admire the Canadiens for continuing to push despite having a lead, but three minutes remaining is not the time for Slafkovský to be spinning and firing a blind pass to the slot from the corner.
- Hill has gone to the bench. Two minutes to play.
- Montreal ices the puck. Sixth-eight seconds to play.
- Montembeault makes an incredible save with 11 seconds to play and his team selling out for every pass and shot.
- The puck is cleared, and Montreal completes the comeback. They win 3-2.
- Six wins in seven games, a three-game regulation winning streak versus three great home teams. What a run. Playoffs are on the horizon for this team.
- Now they get to have a real New Year’s party in Vegas.
EOTP 3 Stars
3) If only being stronger than 90% of other NHLers was something he just knew rather than something he had to figure out partway through each season
2) It seems like just yesterday he was scoring his first overtime goals.
1) Versus the second-best team in the NHL? Zero chance. This is a new era.
