Canadiens vs. Panthers Top Six Minutes: Antti Niemi steals the show

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

• Look, I’m not saying I’m a homer, but listening to ‘away’ feeds might be the worst thing ever
• Niemi looking good so far
• Over five minutes in and the Habs have yet to get a SOG...so...it’s going to be one of those nights I guess
• Canadiens - for the life of them - cannot gain the zone
• Seven minutes in - finally a shot on goal
• Niemi with another wicked save - good thing he showed up tonight
• Domi and Matheson getting tangled up in front of Reimer and Domi ends up getting an extra 2-minutes for unsportsmanlike conduct, once again I find myself yelling at the refs
• Will Victor Mete ever score a goal in the NHL: my column
• Chaput with the giveaway and Hoffman scores, Panthers up 1-0 and I need a drink
• NIemi with another nice save, keeping them in the game so far
• At the end of 20, shots are 16-6 in favour of Florida and I am hoping that Montreal shows ups for the second period/

Second Period

• THANK YOU SHEA WEBER
• Oof Byron leaving his feet on that hit on Weegar - will he get a phone call for that one?
• Kotkaniemi gets called for tapping Pysyk on the back
• The one thing I tell all of my clients is that they have to be patient and consistent. Maybe I should do a workshop for NHL referees
• THANK YOU PHILLIP DANAULT (that was so pretty)
• Reimer had the puck secure and there was no whistle on the play, Lehkonen and Domi kept fighting and both managed to get the puck past Reimer seconds apart - Panthers obviously challenge (goaltender interference) and call on the ice is overturned
• Domi and Hawryluk having some words
• Habs still struggling to register SOG
• And immediately Domi scores - he is now just three goals shy of his all-time best season
• Habs up 3-1 heading into the final 20/

Third Period

• Niemi with ANOTHER amazing save - crowd starts cheering his name, rightfully so
• Kotkaniemi is secretly like 25 years old, right? He makes some incredibly smart plays for such a youngster
• Niemi with a string of saves - he’s already sitting at 46 saves - I can’t get over his play tonight
• Montreal called for too many men aka the worst penalty you can take
• Sweet lil’ baby Kotkaniemi with the drag and the goal oooooh baby
• Panthers pull Reimer
• Gallagher with the empty net goal but the real story tonight was Antti Niemi with 52 saves/

Highlight of the night:

Man mountain says, ‘Don’t touch my goalie’

Frank Vatrano: *Exists within three feet of a Habs goalie*

Shea Weber: pic.twitter.com/Mi08rhuThF

— Scott Matla (@scottmatla) January 16, 2019

EOTP 3 Stars

3) Poor Mete

2) Makes the clown thread look like puppies

1) Speaking of shudowns...