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Canadiens vs. Senators Top Six Minutes: Mikhail Sergachev makes his debut

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:

  • I can’t stand the Ottawa Senators at any point in the season, including the off-season.
  • At least the game is in Montreal… even after everything that happened last year, and even though it’s an exhibition game, the atmosphere in the Bell Centre is always better than any night at the Canadian Tire Centre.
  • Positives to focus on: Mikhail Sergachev’s first game; Max Pacioretty is back; Canada’s going to win the World Cup tonight, and it will be the second major senior hockey trophy awarded in Toronto to not go to the Maple Leafs since 1967 (with the other one being Canada’s 2004 World Cup win)./

First Period

  • I’ve missed seeing Michel Therrien behind the bench. He’s got this invincible aura I can’t quite put my finger on…
  • The Senators strike first. Less than two minutes in off a faceoff loss by Artturi Lehkonen, the Senators take the lead 1-0 after moving the puck to the point and finding
  • The Habs strike right back. Forty seconds later, Mike McCarron carries the puck into the Ottawa zone, keeps going straight while defending the puck to beat the defense, and wraps it around Driedger to tie the game 1-1.
  • Mark Borowiecki takes a penalty trying to manhandle Charles Hudon. It’ll be a Habs powerplay, which this year could be a good thing.
  • The Habs almost score three times on the ensuing powerplay and this seems to bother Matt Bartkowski who takes his frustration out on Alex Galchenyuk. This leads to a one minute five on three penalty where the Habs moved the puck around nicely but couldn’t get any really good looks for shots.
  • Then Barberio gets a penalty for playing with a broken stick.  The Sens score on the powerplay to go up 2-1 on a very nice goal, although it looked like Condon lost track of the puck too:/

  • So many penalties… Six minors within the first ten minutes…
  • The Habs keep getting chances off turnovers, but look rusty on execution and keep missing them. /

It’s like this:

  • Mikhail Sergachev has looked solid and never out of place so far, and got some time killing penalties at the end of the period./

Second Period

  • Daniel Carr almost makes it 2-2 but can’t pull the trigger with Driedger sprawling in front of him.
  • Aw crap, Pageau is playing tonight. How long until he scores?
  • More penalties. Four minutes to Mike McCarron, and two Sentaors each given minors. Moments later, a hooking penalty on Mike Hoffman drawn by Mikhail Sergachev gives the Habs a powerplay.
  • SERGACHEV! He doesn’t score the goal, but takes the shot that ends up deflected by Brendan Gallagher to tie the game 2-2. The shot had purpose and was taken without any hesitation, which may have given Gallagher an extra chance to get to it before anyone else.
  • Condon is not playing well tonight. Three goals on five shots after giving up his third seven minutes into the second period to Mike Hoffman.
  • TIE GAME. Less than two minutes later, Sven Andrighetto kept possession of the puck from behind the Senators’ goal line and back to the point where he fed Joel Hanley a pass for the one-timer which left a rebound for Zach Redmond to pot off of Driedger to make it 3-3.
  • Chris Driedger’s night is done. Matthew O’Connor replaces him in the net.
  • From what I’m seeing on Twitter, this game is more exciting than the Canada vs. Europe, so I’m glad I’m not missing anything.
  • Games to keep an eye on tonight: Habs/Sens, Canada/Europe, Orioles/Jays.
  • Artturi Lehkonen hits the crossbar. Lots of young guys looking good in this game tonight.
  • Sens take another penalty, Bartkowski again…
  • Habs take another penalty, Pateryn this time…
  • This must be driving the coaches crazy.
  • Soo… apparently the Jays are losing, and so is Team Canada. /

Third Period

  • I have the World Cup on in the background. It’s making it very hard to focus.
  • No goalie change for the Habs with Mike Condon still manning the net.
  • Zach Redmond gets mobbed behind the Senators net after making a clean hit. This is the Ottawa Senators I know.
  • Ouch… Mark Borowiecki:/

  • The Habs end up with a powerplay on that, but don’t convert. There have been 14 minor penalties in this game with seven minutes left to go.
  • Uh, so Greg Pateryn ends up getting an interference penalty on the ensuing powerplay, make that 15 minor penalties.
  • Condon looks a lot better in the third period.
  • Nathan Beaulieu is also playing an amazing game tonight. I don’t think he wants to be traded.
  • Well, this one will need overtime./

Overtime

  • Pageau hasn’t scored yet…
  • Hoffman gets the winner on a giveaway by Alex Galchenyuk. Game over. Sens win 4-3./

Habs play of the game

Michael McCarron uses his massive frame to drive to the net and score:

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