The Rangers have been very good at anticipating the Habs’ breakout, making it very difficult for any line to generate speed through the neutral zone. As a result, the Canadiens looked to have fallen back into the old routine of choosing to dump and chase instead of carry the puck into the offensive zone. On a play when the Habs did make a controlled-zone entry into the Rangers’ zone, they ended up drawing a penalty and got a chance to put their powerplaykill to work. After over a minute of boondoggling with the puck, the Canadiens ended up taking a penalty to cut the man advantage short. It’s like the powerplay has become self-aware, and is killing itself before it has a chance to embarrass itself again.
By the midway point of the seond period, the Canadiens were trailing the Rangers 8-2 in period shot attempts, and 32-17 overall. The only Ranger with a negative Corsi number was Ryan McDonagh (-4) and the only Hab with a positive Corsi number was Tomas Plekanec (1). It was starting to become a lopsided game, but it was still 0-0. The Canadiens were able to generate some pressure from their relentless forecheck – which has been a major strengths so far this season. After keeping the Rangers hemmed behind their side of center-ice for a couple of shifts, Tomas Fleischmann would find the puck at the side of the Rangers’ net after a well-placed David Desharnais shot from the point didn’t get through, and bury one past Henrik Lundqvist to put the Habs up 1-0.
The Habs would take two penalties in a row with under 4 minutes remaining in the second period, giving the Rangers over a 1:30 of 5 on 3 time. Carey Price would make 5 saves on the 7 shot attempts thrown his way. Even after the penalty had ended, Carey Price would be forced to make a spectacular glove save, and in doing so kept his team in the lead, and moments later allowed for the Habs to draw a penalty and get a late powerplay, which will carry over into the third period.
Scoring Summary
Penalty Summary
Shots
Team Stats
