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:
- First thing’s first, rest in peace to Red Fisher. If you haven’t already, please read Michael Farber’s obituary on a Canadian sportswriting legend. The press horde in Montreal, and the Canadiens paid tribute to Fisher before tonight’s game.
- For the third time in eight days, the Canadiens and Bruins are facing off against each other. The Bruins won the other two times, in a shootout and a regulation loss./
On this Hockey Day in Canada, the Montreal Canadiens have the distinction of being the only Canadian NHL team whose game won’t be broadcast on CBC television. (Not even on City.)
— Steve Faguy (@fagstein) January 20, 2018
First period
- Puck drops. And away we go.
- Chippy start? Hits already being thrown in the first seconds of the game.
- Marchand, Bergeron, and Brendan Gallagher get into a minor mix-up. But yeah this game feels more like a Bruins-Canadiens rivalry matchup as opposed to what we saw earlier this week.
- Scoring chances have been few and far between so far. Certainly not high quality.
- Hits are even with eight minutes to go in the opening period. 10-10.
- David Backes and Charles Hudon get into it. Chippy, chippy, chippy.
- Charles Hudon, tripping penalty. Wyd?
- Boo all you want fans, Byron Froese got done in by a great defensive play by Matt Grzelcyk. Or maybe Froese shouldn’t have shown, and held, backhand as long as he did?
- So I’m really annoyed at how Charles Hudon’s name gets pronounced “Hew-don”./
Second period
- Paul Byron just got a stick to the puck on a two-on-one. Otherwise, the Bruins have been stingy defensively on those instances.
- Brendan Gallagher doesn’t like the offside call. A loooottttt of cuss words.
- Max Pacioretty is heating up. Seven goals in his last seven games. And he just scored on a pass from FIRST LINE CENTRE PAUL BYRON.
- To quote Bob Cole…”how did that get in?” David Pastrnak just tried a shot on a bad angle and it went right off Price’s back foot. Rare misstep by Price.
- So now that’s two goals that Carey Price would probably like to have back. Torey Krug didn’t have much of a window to shoot that as Price didn’t cover that top-left corner in time. Bruins have scored two unanswered since Pacioretty’s opener. The top-line of Marchand-Bergeron-Pastrnak has had a hand in both goals to this point (two points for each player).
- Having the 4th line on against the best line in hockey? Not a good plan. Icing really going against the Canadiens here./
Third period
- Even though he didn’t score, I didn’t know Logan Shaw had moves like that?
- That top line from Boston is at it again. Patrice Bergeron gets a goal pending review.
- Offside challenges stink, but good on Claude Julien using one here.
- They’re taking this goal back.
- This is one of those instances where Paul Byron shouldn’t have passed to Max Pacioretty. Was better off using his speed and going to goal.
- Boston eventually gets their third goal, coming from David Pastrnak, his second of the night. A 20-goal season for Pastrnak. That goal will kill the Canadiens’ chances at coming back in this game.
- Empty net goal from Riley Nash. Habs will lose 4-1 to the Bruins again.
- Losing to the Bruins isn’t fun. /
Highlight of the night
Top line center Paul Byron picks McAvoy’s pocket, dishes to Max Pacioretty who gives Montreal a 1-0 lead. pic.twitter.com/gv6QVvlljd
— Scott Matla (@scottmatla) January 21, 2018
EOTP 3 Stars
3. But have you seen Rasmus Dahlin play?
2. Man On Fire
- He’s really getting used to his new role.
