First period
- It’s the kind of start you’d like to see from the Canadiens versus a team they they’re clearly better than. The puck is constantly flowing toward Chicago’s net.
- The fourth line is also getting some minutes in early. Probably up to about half of what they had in all of last night’s game already.
- The Habs do need a bit of a killer instinct to punch in a goal here.
- Two shots from about five minutes of zone time. A lot of misses.
- Now up to three despite persistent zone time. You don’t need a perfect shot, guys.
- Two shots on the same shift is better.
- Connor Murphy whacked Sean Monahan in the face with his stick, so this constant pressure will be tested by a Habs power play.
- Montreal skated completely uncontested into the offensive zone on each attempt for 10 minutes. As soon as they get on a power play? Drop-passes.
- The best chance was Colin Blackwell short-handed breakaway that Cayden Primeau got just enough of to deflect it over the net.
- A few poor plays from Justin Barron on the power play.
- Jake Evans nearly opened the scoring with a quick steal and shot at the side of the net.
- Suddenly Chicago has taken over this game and evened up the shots.
- The sixth shot was a sprawling glove save from Primeau. The seventh was a stop by Jayden Struble backing up his prostrate goalie on the goal line.
- The eighth shot is a goal for Ryan Donato. A shocking 1-0 scoreline given how this game began.
- It was another rough play from Barron that created that chance. He’s become the weakest link on this team, as hard as that is to say about a Good Nova Scotia Boy.
- Just an inexcusable end to that period. This isn’t a game Martin St-Louis should have had to use one his first-intermission speeches in.
Second period
- Given how the Habs have played in the second period recently, I’m expecting about 20 shots in this frame.
- A goalie interference penalty to Joel Armia wasn’t the ideal start. Armia was outside the crease when the contact was made. I don’t think that’s a good call. It wouldn’t have overturned a goal if that was the issue.
- Armia is out with no real danger faced during his two-minute sentence.
- 2-0 Chicago. Barron spins to the ice on a pivot and is in no position to defend.
- Clutchell Stephens gets a critical goal for Montreal soon after their fell behind by two. A nice tip at the side of the net.
- Struble might just get this game turned around with his physical play. I’m not one to put a lot of stock in changing momentum with a fight, but he took on two players after a sequence of pressure from Chicago, and that has to have had an effect on his teammates. He didn’t want to fight, even picked up his stick with a man challenging him, but obliged MacKenzie Entwistle in some fisticuffs.
- It results in a power play, so the momentum shift may be delayed for a couple of minutes.
- The power play comes to a merciful end, and Josh Anderson makes it 2-2 with the game back at five-at-five. Four goals in four games.
- Montreal is now in the lead. It’s another goal for Juraj Slafkovský. A nice setup from Jesse Ylönen who got a shift on the top line with Cole Caufield missing from the bench.
- Perhaps fearing the loss of his spot, Caufield is back on the ice the next shift. I do wonder if he was cut by the skate during the Struble sequence. You can see him get contacted in the video above.
- So the Canadiens actually only had 10 shots, but three goals are much more important.
- A quick goal in the third period might just put this one to bed.
Third period
- The Canadiens are focused on defence to start the third. Not survival defence, but solid, secure neutral-zone play.
- There isn’t a lot going on either way, and that’s not a bad thing.
- Now Montreal has opted for a bit more offensive play. Or maybe that’s just because that’s the only way the top line knows how to play now.
- If Evans were two inches taller, he would have just made this a two-goal game on a wraparound.
- The only chances Chicago is getting are one-on-twos at the end of shifts. Solid hockey here.
- There’s the fourth goal. A forecheck from Caufield brings the Blackhawks to a halt behind their net, Slafkovský gets a shot, and Suzuki cleans up the rebound.
- Evans put a fifth goal in the net second later. Former Canadiens assistant coach Luke Richardson challenges for offside. They overturn the goal, but I saw no evidence to support that call.
- Armia does well to take 15 seconds off the clock deep in the Chicago end with the goalie out.
- David Savard sends a 17-hopper the length of the ice for the 5-2 goal, and that’s going to seal this one, 5-2.
- That the first win in the second half of a back-to-back. A 2-0-1 road trip. Another road win for Primeau.
EOTP 3 Stars
3) He was a Hopeless Wanderer stepping into that altercation
2) Really looking forward to the next Leafs game
1) Enjoy your holiday, and we’ll be back for the next game on Boxing Day when the World Juniors begins.
