The Montreal Canadiens played their first back-to-back of the season this week, winning the first in Buffalo, but dropping a 5-2 decision to the New Jersey Devils on home ice last night. Though they started the game well enough, there was a large black hole in the middle of the game that really took the wind out of their sails, precipitating a disappointing result.
But I don’t quite feel like talking about the negatives in the second half of a back-to-back. I’d instead like to talk about Mike Matheson’s super-human third period effort.
If Connor McDavid or Auston Matthews scored this goal, it would be played on a continuous loop by every sports channel, with entire podcasts dedicated to breaking it down. Since it was Matheson, and a last gasp for the Habs in a 5-2 loss, it isn’t likely to be one of those goals that lives on our screens for very long.
But it should be. It was an absurd individual effort, and one where he tried something new during a power play, of all times. He tried to put the team on his back late in the game, really pushing the pace and seeing what he could do to get his team back in it.
The goal was Matheson’s first of the season, and hopefully one that kick starts more productivity from him. The Habs haven’t had the best production coming from their blue line to start the season, and could use some more output, particularly now that one of their veteran blue liners in David Savard will be out for six to eight weeks.
Matheson is now the player all of his young teammates will be looking to, and they’ll need him to set a good example. More of his third period effort is exactly the kind of thing that could rub off positively on a young defensive corps.
Click the play button below to listen to your full Bottom Six Minutes, also available wherever you typically get your podcasts. We’ll be back with another episode following Thursday night’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
