Canadiens Lineup

Tomas Tatar – Phillip Danault – Brendan Gallagher

Artturi Lehkonen – Nick Suzuki – Joel Armia

Paul Byron – Max Domi – Jordan Weal

Charles Hudon – Jake Evans – Dale Weise

Ben Chiarot – Shea Weber

Brett Kulak – Jeff Petry

Xavier Ouellet – Christian Folin

Charlie Lindgren – Carey Price

Jonathan Drouin, Karl Alzner

Victor Mete

Game Report

Twenty-four minutes into the game, the Canadiens were cruising with a 3-0 lead at home. Montreal had taken advantage of weak goaltending from Anton Forsberg making his second start of the season. Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour had seen enough yanking Forsberg, replacing him with Alex Nedeljkovic.

But given the fragile state of the Canadiens, no lead is safe these days, particularly with the Hurricanes fighting for a playoff spot.

Haydn Fleury, Cale’s brother, got the ball rolling midway through the second period. Montreal gave up a goal in the first two minutes of the third period, as has become commonplace. And the home faithful rolled their eyes, silently saying, ‘here we go again.’

Would the Habs lose yet another game despite leading after two periods? It sure was looking that way.

Justin Williams tied the game with less than two minutes to go sending the game into overtime. But Jeff Petry played the hero scoring the overtime winner.

But that’s not the whole story. In fact, I’ve missed the best part.

Charlie Lindgren made his first start in 25 days. Lindgren made numerous highlight-reel saves throughout the game. And with time expiring in the third period, Lindgren robbed sniper Andrei Svechnikov to carry his team into overtime. 

Despite the hand he has been dealt, Lindgren is positive and focused. Ask any of his teammates and they will tell you that there is no harder working player on the team and he does it all with a smile.

With Keith Kinkaid being loaded to the Charlotte Checker today, finally, on February 29th, the Canadiens’ goaltending depth chart is set as it should have been from the start of the season. That is Lindgren and Carey Price with the Canadiens. And Cayden Primeau and Michael McNiven in Laval. 

The Canadiens have a day off Sunday and will practice on Monday at 10:45 am. in Brossard. 

Plus / Minus

▲  Charlie Lindgren, Tomas Tatar, Brendan Gallagher, Phillip Danault, Ben Chiarot, Shea Weber

▼  Christian Folin, Brett Kulak, Joel Armia, Xavier Ouellet, Dale Weise, Charles Hudon