FINAL | Round 1, Game 2 | Friday August 14, 2020

Series tied 1-1

Canadiens Lineup

Tomas Tatar – Nick Suzuki – Brendan Gallagher

Jonathan Drouin – Jesperi Kotkaniemi – Max Domi

Paul Byron – Phillip Danault – Artturi Lehkonen

Joel Armia – Jake Evans – Alex Belzile

Ben Chiarot – Shea Weber

Brett Kulak – Jeff Petry

Xavier Ouellet – Victor Mete

Carey Price – Charlie Lindgren

Ryan Poehling, Charles Hudon, Christian Folin, Noah Juulsen, Victor Olofsson, Cayden Primeau, Michael McNiven, Jordan Weal, Dale Weise

Ineligible

Alexander Romanov

Game Report

What an emotional few days for the Montreal Canadiens. The team woke up Thursday morning to learn that their head coach would no longer be behind the bench for the foreseeable future. And in stepped their emotional associate coach, Kirk Muller.

Muller is know for his enthusiasm, his unfailing optimism, and his effective communication, especially with younger players. Each man in the Canadiens lineup believes in Kirky as a leader.

With the game plan set for game two by the full Habs coaching staff, including Claude Julien, Muller opted for a last minute lineup change. He inserted Jake Evans for Dale Weise and bumped up Max Domi from the fourth line to play with Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Jonathan Drouin.

Without the additional defensive responsibilities and taking faceoffs at centre (two things he is not proficient at), and getting additional icetime, the 25-year-old played inspired hockey. Domi had three assists playing 14:40 on the wing today.

“It was a gut decision,” to make the lineup move said Muller in his post-game presser. Muller made all of the right decisions today, picking up his first NHL playoff win as a head coach. Habs dominated the Flyers in every aspect of the game.

Tomas Tatar also got on track scoring his first two goals since arriving in Toronto. Jesperi Kotkaniemi continues his breakout performance of the post-season scoring twice and leading the team with six hits. Kotkaniemi’s possession numbers were dominant for the first two periods.

Canadiens special teams were much improved today with the penalty-kill being perfect, including 1:38 of 3-vs-5. The previously anemic Habs power-play scored twice in six opportunities.

Not to be overlooked, Carey Price was outstanding once again making several enormous saves as the Flyers tried to claw their way back into the game. Price was also the best player on the Habs penalty-kill. Price now has seven career post-season shutouts putting him third on the Canadiens all-time list behind Ken Dryden and Jacques Plante.

At the other end of the ice, Flyers goaltender Carter Hart was lifted after giving up four goals on 26 shots. Brian Elliot allowed one goal on six shots in relief. The 22-year-old goaltender dodged a bullet not having to play in front of boo birds today at the Wells Fargo Center and then being welcomed to the Bell Centre by hostile Habs fans. 

The Habs and Flyers will play game three of the series on Sunday evening at 8:00 pm.  

Plus / Minus

▲  Carey Price, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Tomas Tatar, Artturi Lehkonen, Shea Weber,  Brendan Gallagher, Max Domi

▼  Alex Belzile, Xavier Ouellet, Jake Evans