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.
First period
- For two teams who were rested coming into the game, they get off to a very slow start, and don’t get much going in the games opening minutes.
- A Habs power play is wiped out by a Habs penalty. Just imagine how much higher than fifth in the NHL they could be with the man advantage if they didn’t constantly shorten their own opportunities?
- It does open up some space for Paul Byron however, and he just misses recording another goal on another break.
- Alexei Emelin lays a clean hit on Ryan Dzingel, Dzingel doesn’t like it and hits him after the fact. The referee is not impressed and sends Dzingel the box. The other four Senators who go after Emelin for the hit escape without punishment./
Second period
- The Habs open with a power play, and Shea Weber’s not going to let them go scoreless with all these opportunities.
- Did you see the way the skaters all jumped out of the way of Weber’s shot, the seas parted in front of Craig Anderson, and all he saw was Weber’s stick coming down and then heard the goal horn.
- I guess I shouldn’t have mentioned Hoffman’s offensive struggles in the game preview…. He responds with a power-play goal of his own and ties the game up.
- I guess the joke’s on you, Hoffman. Or rather through him, as Alexander Radulov makes him look silly on a goal that that will be shown on highlight shows for the foreseeable future.
- Carey Price allows the 2-2 goal, but everyone on the ice gives him the benefit of the doubt and play continues. The men in Toronto are immune to such things, and make the goal count.
- Nathan Beaulieu was having a decent game, but a shot goes high and hits him in the throat, and he immediately heads for the dressing room. It was his last action of the night.
- Meanwhile, in Las Vegas…/
Oops…a little malfunction on the Las Vegas team introductory video. ‘We’re going to do better than this,” owner Bill Foley says.
— Helene Elliott (@helenenothelen) November 23, 2016
- They finally get it get it figured out, and now we know that Montreal will add a few dates with the Vegas Golden Knights next season./
The Vegas Golden Knights logo: pic.twitter.com/hmDEUt9cx8
— SportsCentre (@SportsCentre) November 23, 2016
- Montreal finished the period with a healthy edge in shots, 16-9 in the frame and 25-14 through 40 minutes./
Third period
- Nathan Beaulieu was seen leaving the arena in a ambulance. Thankfully it was just for precautionary reasons.
- So you can put your heart at ease and enjoy the perfect execution of the 1-3-1 power play to give the Habs a 3-2 lead. Markov sets up at the point, Weber and Galchenyuk occupy the half-wall to the left and right, respectively, and Markov decides which one has the best chance of getting a one-timer through. On this particular occasion he chooses Galchenyuk, and the centreman matches Weber for the team lead in goals with his eighth.
- You can’t enjoy it very long, however, because Ottawa comes back and ties the game up immediately on a goal by Markrofracture.
- Then you’re not enjoying things much at all when they come back and take a 4-3 lead two minutes later courtesy of Erik Karlsson.
- The Habs aren’t resonding well to the lead change, as they struggle to get up the ice as a unit, instead opting for individual rushes. Unfortunately, not every player has the puck-handling skills of Byron and Radulov, and the rushes go for not.
- Montreal’s outshooting the Sens once again, but it’s not resulting in goals. Radulov came the closest, but his quick backhand was snagged by Anderson, much to the chagrin of a net-charging Galchenyuk.
- Price has to skate to the bench for an extra attacker in a game the Habs have scored three goals. Not a common occurrence for the NHL’s best netminder.
- They get that successful power-play squad out on the 6-on-5, and get into the zone, but they struggle to get the puck off the wall, and the game comes to an end before they can get a dangerous chance./
