The game started quite well with the Canadiens controlling the first couple of minutes until Robert Lang took a penalty that gave the Kings a 1-0 lead. As a aide note, the referees missed a cross check on Steve Begin seconds earlier and it wouldn’t be the last bad call of the game.
Midway through the period we finally saw Thomas Plekanec work hard AND be rewarded as he made a beautiful little move to steal the puck from the goaltender and push it in an empty net.
Then early in the second period, the Habs earned a 5 on 3 powerplay after Denis Gauthier viciously hit Gorges to the head. I can’t believe the medical staff cleared him to go back on the ice later as I am convinced it was a concussion. But what best way to avenge their teammate than by scoring early and often during that 5 minute major to Gauthier? Well, at least they scored early. On the very next faceoff Saku won the draw and let it behind to Andrei Kostitsyn who put it top corner to give a 2-1 lead to the home team. Kudos to Kovalev for making the right play here. It’s one thing I see a lot from player but they don’t get credit for it. Kovalev often does small little plays that aren’t seen on TV. Then when he makes a mistake on TV, we over analyze it. Kovalev is a huge risk/reward type of player. Sometimes it pays off, sometimes it doesn’t. But back to the play, he helped his team score on the powerplay. That would be the last good moment of that 5 minutes major.
Actually instead of hurting the Kings during that 5 minutes, it gave them hope. Only one goal and that was at 5 on 3 on a faceoff is something to build on. And they did. Not long after the end of that penalty the Kings tied the game when Breezer couldn’t clear the puck and Hammer left the player he was with go alone on the side of the net for an easy goal. Minutes after that Gorges gave the puck to Kyle Calder in his own zone and that lead to an easy goal from Jared Stoll. And instead of taking a comfortable lead, the Habs actually left the ice after the second period with a 3-2 deficit.
And the third period wasn’t better. Les Glorieux only had 2 shots on net after 15 minutes of play and 4 shots after 18 minutes. This is awful from a team trying to get the tying goal on their home ice especially considering they had two powerplays.
The Canadiens only shot two more times in the final two minutes of play. Thankfully, they made those shot count. Chris Higgins accepted a nice pass from Lapierre and through sheer hard work made his way to the net and wristed one in the net to finally tie the game. And during another powerplay Markov took a good shot from the point and it deflected into the net and/or pushed by Saku Koivu who was credited of the goal.
Now I am painting a rather grim picture here and it’s because the game really felt that way. The Habs should be beating the Kings easier than that but there are several bright spot also. For starters, it’s two more powerplay goals which brigs the team to a more respectable 21st place in the league than the 29th place they were not too long ago.
Some very good words for Max Pacioretty too. He dropped the gloves and was pretty effective tonight again. I wonder if Sergei was boiling inside watching Max having fun passing the puck back and forth with Koivu like he used to?
Carey Price was superb. He was even spectacular at times. Yes, he was shaky in the past couple of games but for someone coming off an injury, especially after missing quite some time, you have to expect some hiccup before the game speed is back. If anything, Price made the important saves when it was needed. Especially with less than 4 minutes to play and Frolov coming in on a breakaway.
Actually, you could say that from most players on that team tonight. They didn’t play a great game but when the chips were down, they answered the call. Markov who had a very difficult game kept his best for the end. Saku Koivu, Robert Lang, Christopher Higgins… all players that have to step up when it is needed. It didn’t happen often enough this year.
But tonight, they did. And we’ll take the two points.
Now don’t we have a revenge to get against Boston?