First period
- The game starts with some end-to-end action as the teams are aggressive with their rush attempts.
- Shots are 4-2 after 150 seconds.
- Juraj Slafkovský just about registers another primary assist, but Arber Xhekaj’s wrist shot clangs off the post.
- It’s good to see that Xhekaj is still taking wrist shots even now that he knows he can fire it at 107 miles per hour.
- Montreal has figured out how Calgary wants to play this game, and now they’re using their speed to take full control of the possession. It’s an interesting change of pace from the Bruins game two nights ago.
- Lanny McDonald gets a standing ovation during the first TV timeout, back in the building after bypass surgery.
- Calgary got a momentary boost from that moment, but it’s gone right back to full Habs domination.
- Primeau looks sharp so far on the few passes he has faced. He’s still not great with his glove hand, but at least he doesn’t just stick it up in the air and hope the puck hits it anymore.
- Nick Suzuki pirouettes around a pinching defenceman and leads a two-on-one up the ice. His shot misses the net, and that’s too bad, because it would have been one of the goals of the year.
- Despite the edge in play, Montreal is the first team into the penalty box as Kaiden Guhle is called for hooking on what just looked like a stick lift.
- The streak of perfect penalty kills comes to an end as Mikael Backlund tips the puck in. It’s the first power-play Montreal has allowed since they played the Panthers in Florida.
- Now Montreal gets a call go their way on a more obvious hook to the hands.
- It takes 90 seconds, but Montreal gets a one-time shot from Slafkovský that Dustin Wolf snares.
- A quick flurry from the second unit nearly gets the game tied, but it’s 1-0 at the intermission.
- The Habs had 15 shots in the period, and could have had 20 or more with a bit more intention in their offensive-zone presences. More of same should see them easily even things up.
Second period
- Montreal isn’t prepared for the start of the period (that’s a pattern) and Calgary quickly makes it 2-0. Mikael Bakclund just stood alone at the top of the crease and tapped the puck in for his second of the game.
- A pass comes across to Brendan Gallagher from Jake Evans, but Gallagher has his shoulder grabbed and twisted so he can’t get a good deflection.
- Joshua Roy is just a hound when the puck is one an opponent’s stick.
- Wolf gets his glove on Matheson’s shot, just enough to have it flutter off the post and away.
- The Flames rush the puck up the ice again, and add a third goal. I thought that one might have been challenged as Primeau was backed into, but Trevor Letowski decided against it.
- Montreal gets one of the goals back off the stick of Cole Caufield, who scores for the first time since February 15. A good setup of the two-on-one by Slafkovský, and a nice pass from Suzuki to set it up.
- Jayden Struble gets a holding penalty for pinning his man on the boards. Seems a bit harsh.
- Evans gets tripped while trying to clear the puck from the net-front, and that will send the game to four-on-four.
- Martin Pospisil goes after Suzuki for … some unknown reason. That a power play for Montreal, and potentially the last shift for a while for Calgary’s rookie.
- Caufield isn’t quite sure where he should be playing on the power play right now. wanting to get into his one-time spot but also needing to provide support for his teammates.
- The Habs don’t punish the Pospisil penalty, but they do get a goal soon after he’s released. Savard catches Wolf with his head turned the wrong way. That’s his sixth goal.
- Slafkovský just hit another post. That’s three for Montreal in the game.
Third period
- Looking to tie the game early in the third, Slafkovský heads to the post and gets a shot, then gets ridden into Wolf. Slafkovský is called for goaltender interference.
- Calgary scores six seconds into the power play to make it 4-2. The penalty kill form has slipped in this game and looks more like it did to start the season.
- Pospisil gets a breakaway (his coach obviously didn’t mind the penalty he took), but Primeau makes the save. In year’s past, Primeau would have just assumed a goal was coming and probably let that one in.
- Montreal is now cheating looking to create some transition rushes, and that means more zone time for the Flames.
- 5-2.
- The top line gets a few looks, but Wolf robs Suzuki with his right pad.
- Now those three hem the Flames into their zone for about 90 seconds.
- Kadri just accidentally steamrolled Pospisil. That’s karma doing its work.
- The game finishes 5-2. Now the Habs have a couple of days off before facing the Edmonton Oilers.
EOTP 3 Stars
3) A few years ago, he would have needed to be pulled from that game
2) Still lots of potential there
1) Hopefully the next news is good news
