So there’s possibly a new good luck trend at EOTP. Andrew Berkshire is visiting family, with no feed of the game and choppy internet, and yours truly took his step-daughter to a movie.
So what did the Montreal Canadiens do in our absence? They merely scored a 6-2 win over the Ottawa Senators, despite being outplayed my their opponents.
After an early Senators goal from Zack Smith, at 1:42, fans watching and the masses of Habs faithful on attendance at at Scotiabank Place were likely saying, “Here we go again.”
The Habs then managed three goals on five shots at Craig Anderson, who left in the second period after surrendering an early fourth marker.
Lars Eller led the offense with his second short-handed goal of the season at 5:08 of the first, firing a wrist shot past Anderson’s outstretched glove. Supporting tallies came from from Tomas Plekanec (12:39) and Mike Cammalleri (15:25).
Asssisting on all three Canadiens goals in the first period, Raphael Diaz. Who knew?
Cammalleri, under recent scrutiny as an underachiever, then chipped in on Louis Leblanc’s second goal of the season, that chased Anderson in favour of Alex Auld.
P.K. Subban who, like Eller, was benched in Thursday’s loss to the Winnipeg Jets, responded from his “embarrassment” with his second of the season at 5:53.
Jason Spezza, left unattended at the corner of the net, added the Sens second goal of the evening at 6:49.
The Habs then added insult to injury, by managing a power-play goal in the third period from Erik Cole.
The shot count that Carey Price faced alone (36), was one of several indicators of how the Sens dominated the evening. The Corsi and Fenwick numbers are further proof as to how this should have been a home team win. But as a former Habs coach once implied, the Canadiens relied on special teams and good goaltending on this night.
The Senators had shot totals of 16 and 13 through the first 40 minutes, making Price earn his First Star.
The Canadiens snap their five game losing streak, and gave Randy Cunneyworth his first NHL win as head coach. Some may think Cunneyworth’s benching of Subban and Eller was genius, but who’s kidding who? I’ll leave you guys to debate that.
The team now gets ready for their annual end-of-December Sunshine State tour, as they face the Lightning on Thursday.
Things come better in two’s: Seven Habs had two-point evenings.
A minor issue: The Senators didn’t help themselves out of their hole, taking three minor penalties in each of the last two periods, with two off-setting calls in the second period.
Three Stars: 1. Carey Price 2. Erik Cole 3. Raphael Diaz
Advanced Stats: Shift Charts / Head to Head / Corsi & Fenwick
The losing side at Silver Seven
