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 thoughts:
- Tonight’s Bruins and Habs clash will be their first since Phil Danault took a puck to the head from a Zdeno Chara slap shot.
- Claude Julien coaching back in Boston, he leads the Bruins franchise in wins with 419.
- 60 years ago tomorrow, Willie O’Ree broke the colour barrier by becoming the league’s first Black hockey player, suiting up for the Boston Bruins. The team he played against that night? The Montreal Canadiens. Don’t know if the NHL schedule was set purposefully that way, but pretty cool. Bruins paid tribute to him before puck drop.
- Take advantage of hearing Rene Rancourt belt out the anthem tonight, because he’ll be retiring at season’s end. He got a standing ovation before singing the anthem and he ended with four, count ’em, four fist pumps.
- In the latest episode of the Jonathan Drouin wing/centre saga, he’s at wing tonight. Jacob De La Rose will centre the Drouin and Galchenyuk partnership./
First period
- So as I remember that the Canadiens will need an outstanding effort to beat the Bruins, who haven’t lost in regulation for a long time, Jakub Jerabek scores his first National Hockey League goal 31 seconds in. The goal was initially credited to Max Pacioretty, who I initially thought deflected that puck in. In any case, go to the net, kids. Good things will happen.
- Remember when the Boston Bruins took so long to give David Pastrnak a contract?
- The closest defenseman to Pastrnak on the game-tying goal was Jeff Petry, who was behind the net with his stick stuck in the glass. It happens, but he completely bailed on the play. By my count, three defenseman were around the puck before the pass to Pastrnak.
- Fans pay tribute to former head coach Claude Julien, whom I have to admit did a heck of a job with the Bruins.
- Seems we’re still undecided about whether Jerabek or Pacioretty scored the Habs opening goal.
- Habs had a good start, but the Bruins have dominated the back half of this opening period. Considering the amount of chances Boston’s had in the last 10 minutes, it could’ve easily been 3-1 after 20 minutes./
Second period
- Puck goes off Jonathan Drouin’s skate and in, 2-1 Boston. That’s not helping his confidence.
- I’m not the only person thinking about Brendan Gallagher’s foot after he blocked that shot, right?
- Have we reached “running like a chicken with the head cut off” territory for Montreal? Boston’s handled a ton of possession and a great deal of shots to this point in the game.
- Drouin with the puck on his stick is so fun to watch. Ends up drawing a penalty as he crashes into Tuukka Rask. His best play of the night so far. 5-on-3 coming up.
- I think the Canadiens got one or two shots on that 5-on-3? Playing at 5-on-4 didn’t look that much better, save for the Pacioretty shot on Rask.
- Victor Mete took that puck right off his visor. Yikes.
- Drouin started the game at wing, but he’s since seen time at centre. Per Natural Stat Trick, he’s 0-for-3 on face offs to as I write this.
- Bruins have more shots and scoring chances, but through 40 minutes, both teams have two high danger chances each (at 5-on-5). Bruins are letting the Canadiens hang around, so the bleu-blanc-rouge still have a chance to tie the game in the third./
Third period
- Habs take a penalty almost three minutes in. Least the Bruins only got one shot the first time. What happens the second time?
- Carey Price just gloved a shot in the air like it was NOTHING. I mean, he’s made such a habit of it for a long time, but it’s still fun every time it happens.
- Torey Krug had the puck in his wheelhouse and couldn’t bury it. Fortunately, Brad Marchand was on the ice and he finished it, all alone in the crease.
- Jeff Petry really wants this night to end. So do I, if I’m being honest. Game’s been a bit of a snore and the Canadiens haven’t really shown they’ve got what it takes to come back.
- Another Byron Froese penalty kills what little momentum the Canadiens were trying to build.
- God, this Marchand-Bergeron-Pastrnak line (two goals, three assists to this point in the game) is so dominant.
- Carey Price was beat by David Backes but thank the Lord for Price’s posts.
- Carey Price was beat by David Krejci but thank the Lord for Price’s posts./
There have to be consequences after this Montreal loss. This is really sad.
— Bucci Mane (@Buccigross) January 18, 2018
- It’s looking like the Canadiens will go through a 16th game of the year where they’ve scored one goal or less.
- David Krejci puts the game out of its misery with the empty-netter. It’s now 4-1.
- Not going to lie, it’s been hard getting into this game for the last 5-10 minutes, Habs are completely out of this game./
Highlight of the night
Or it’s Jakub Jerabek’s first NHL goal, either way the #Habs are winning. https://t.co/zy6F3HLPR2
— Scott Matla (@scottmatla) January 18, 2018
EOTP 3 Stars
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