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Canadiens vs. Senators Top Six Minutes: The General leads his troops to victory

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

  • Sens again. Is the NHL trying to force a rivalry on us here? Will they have to start playing NBC Wednesday nights? Is this even a rivalry?
  • Yes. For the sake of tonight’s game, this is a one-night intense rivalry.
  • No Methot, which sucks for Ottawa, but is good for us. Wish it wasn’t under such circumstances as his having had a finger forever changed by Sidney Crosby.
  • Skate around, anthem done, it’s game time!/

First Period

  • Price frustrating Borowiecki early, that’s good!
  • Galchenyuk took a stick to the face, and there was no penalty. That’s stupid, but at least he isn’t hurt.
  • Andrew Shaw and Alex Burrows tussling: “I’m more hated!”; “No, I’m more hated!”
  • Shaw thought that Galchenyuk was hurt on a dirty play, most likely why he went after Burrows.
  • Maybe it’s the intense rivalry.
  • Oh yay, a power play! We have a guy with eleven PPGs this year, and he’s on the ice. Promising…
  • Did I say eleven? Because I meant twelve! Shea Weber loads up a cannon and launches a puck past everything but the twine. 1-0 Habs!
  • Weber’s shot was 101 MPH, that’s just ridiculous. That’s a $1,200 traffic offence if it’s a car. Don’t ask how I know.
  • So… the Canadiens can’t get the puck out of their zone anymore. However, Carey Price.
  • Anderson was stone cold and had Pacioretty 100% on that break.
  • Price. Weber. 1-0 after 20 minutes. Woo!/

Second Period

  • Ottawa crushed the Habs on possession through the entire period (29-12 shot attempts), even before Weber’s goal, but Montreal snuck away with a lead. Here’s hoping for a better period but similar results.
  • Markov with the up close blast. Skated to the edge of the circle and cranked a massive slapshot. 2-0 Montreal!
  • The Byron train is speeding away, this is going to be great.
  • OK so no goal, but a penalty drawn, I’ll allow it.
  • Weber sometimes doesn’t score. Hunh…. today I learned.
  • Markov, however, is the General, and he wanted more than one tonight. Huge slapper from the blue line for his second goal, third point of the night. 3-0.
  • Gallagher gets a chance up close – and a free whack on Anderson, but no cigar.
  • Wow, we’re not even at the halfway point yet.
  • SCRAMBLE! Puck is down somewhere near Price, bodies are flying sticks are swinging, Carey is stretching his toes, but the one thing that doesn’t happen is a Senators goal.
  • Ooh, four-on-four hockey…
  • It might not stay this way, but for now, the Canadiens are closing the Corsi gap with some score-effects defying pressure.
  • D’oh! Nice passing by the Sens cuts the lead to 3-1, the goal goes to Jean-Gabriel Pageau, who one-timed it past Price.
  • Burrows to the box to feel shame, Montreal has a great opportunity to take control back.
  • Power play will have to be finished in the third, it’s 3-1 after forty minutes at the Bell Centre./

Third Period

  • I know it’s a hot topic and everything, but part of me wishes they wouldn’t keep showing Methot’s severed finger on television. On the internet, I choose to watch it. On TV, anyone can walk by while they are (were) eating.
  • Montreal’s PP couldn’t score, and to make matters worse, Plekanec trips Karlsson to send Ottawa to the man advantage.
  • Plekanec shows some hand-eye coordination, tipping a Shea Weber shot, but Craig Anderson was up to the task. Both teams trying to add goals at this point.
  • Big Mac to the box, this is his second visit tonight.
  • Max Pacioretty with a savvy block at the blue line, then a takeaway in the neutral zone. His penalty killing is fun to watch.
  • Good lord. Carey Price just keeps doing the impossible. We take him for granted, but the man is unbelievably good at playing hockey.
  • L’Arttiste looking like he wants to get in on some G’s to go with his apple.
  • Gallagher is down, hurt. Plekanec is tossing a few knuckles. Fredrik Claesson with a dangerous hit on Gally near the boards, but everyone skates away uninjured, which is what counts. That, and a Habs’ power play.
  • Under five minutes left, it’s Carey Price time.
  • That’s it, folks, Habs back in the win column, beating a playoff-bound team. 3-1 final./

EOTP 3 Stars

Third star: Give it to the hot hand, they say

Second star: Hey, we can laugh about this now. And always at the Leafs

First star: Jack Adams-level strategizing right there

Habs Highlight of the Night

Erik Karlsson sets up Andrei Markov perfectly for his second of the night

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