10 Thoughts: Another Comeback as Habs Beat Panthers
After a disappointing result on Sunday, the Habs returned to Florida ice, this time in Sunrise, to take on the two-time defending champions on Tuesday as they hoped to repeat the overall effort displayed against the Lightning.
The Panthers came in 7-3 in their last 10 games, so the Canadiens were definitely going to face a challenge, but Montreal had Florida’s number last season, so would that dominance continue this season? Samuel Montembeault was also back in net for the first time in three weeks, so even beyond the opponent, this game had an aura of importance before puck even dropped.
The first two periods saw no goals despite intense defensive efforts from both teams and a plethora of power play chances. The dam broke open in the third as the Panthers got a 2-0 lead, only for the Habs to complete yet another third-period comeback. This time, they would be successful in gaining the third goal in overtime for an important win in the standings by a 3-2 score.
Habs Lineup
Cole Caufield — Nick Suzuki — Alexandre Texier
Juraj Slafkovsky — Oliver Kapanen — Ivan Demidov
Zachary Bolduc – Phillip Danault – Josh Anderson
Samuel Blais – Joe Veleno — Brendan Gallagher
Mike Matheson – Noah Dobson
Lane Hutson — Alexandre Carrier
Arber Xhekaj – Adam Engstrom
Samuel Montembeault
10 Thoughts
1) Despite the low scoring, this was an entertaining game where the Habs showed maturity and patience for 50 minutes. That they stuck to it long enough to be rewarded in the end is a nice reward as the team likely felt like they deserved better against Tampa Bay and would have likely felt the same way again in this game.
2) The first was an impeccable road period by the visitors as both teams really focused on their defensive posture, showing respect to the opposition’s transition attack. Overall, while the shots finished 9-7 for Florida, it was the Canadiens that created the more interesting scoring chances. Montreal missed on a power play opportunity after Bolduc was caught with a high stick five minutes into the period.
3) Montembeault’s first period was rather quiet, but it was quiet in large part because he controlled his rebounds. There was one questionable rebound control on the one time the Panthers decided to shoot from far. The rebound sent Carrier into chaos and while the Canadiens did not allow a goal, it was likely Florida’s best shift of the period.
4) The second period was a tale of two sequences as the Habs completely dominated the first half. A strong forecheck by Demidov led to a power play (a soft call on Aaron Ekblad) that was dangerous without converting once again. The top two lines for Montreal really appeared to be quite dangerous as they were coming in waves and Florida looked like they had no answer. Caufield, in particular, was robbed by Daniil Tarasov on a play that appeared to be an empty net. The third and fourth lines also had some moments, but they weren’t as pronounced as the top six.
5) The Panthers decided to turn up the physicality as the second half of the game got underway. This didn’t seem to bother the Habs too much, so the Panthers started flopping like soccer players. First, it was Anton Lundell who appeared to be taken down by one of the world’s “Strongest Men” as Hutson was called for a cross-check. Immediately after the first Florida power play, Suzuki was called for hooking. The play by Suzuki was so bad that almost everyone thought it was Caufield who was getting called, and the call would have been ultra soft even against Caufield. Montembeault stood tall throughout and the second period ended scoreless with a 10-8 shot advantage for the Canadiens. Both teams were at 17 shots after two periods, but it’s the Habs who felt like they deserved better after 40 minutes.
6) The third period was also a tale of two sequences. In the first half of the period, the Habs’ youth showed its ugly face a little bit. They lacked the patience to let the game come to them, and Florida made them pay. Engstrom was guilty of trying to do too much and took an interference call. The Habs got away with that one. Then Bolduc tried to force a play and the Panthers got extended zone time. Then Slafkovsky tried the same as Bolduc and ended up with a tripping penalty. On this third occasion, the Panthers made them pay as Brad Marchand motored around the Montreal zone before putting one home from the slot. Moments later, Sam Reinhart shot from a rather terrible angle to sneak one by Montembeault for a 2-0 lead. It was an awesome shot, but not the greatest goal to allow.
7) For the second game in a row, the Habs simply would not die. 30 seconds after the Reinhart tally, Caufield mimicked Marchand’s power play marker as he skated around the offensive zone, got a pick from Hutson, and then deked two Panthers before burying a goal five-hole on Tarasov. It was a highlight-reel goal that’s a late candidate to be on many plays of the year clips in the upcoming days.
8) Honestly, Montreal’s efforts to tie the game did not appear fruitful as the Panthers were defending rather well. With 1:22 to play, a dump-in was mishandled by Tarasov. As the netminder stood there unsure of his next move, Demidov surprised him on an aggressive forecheck. He stole the puck and found Suzuki in the slot. Tarasov was back in his net with a bit of time to get ready, but this didn’t matter as Suzuki’s shot was perfect over Tarasov’s shoulder and the Habs had succeeded in once again sending the game to overtime.
9) The Panthers started overtime by controlling the puck for a minute, something the Habs have done to opponents in recent overtime games. Once the Habs got the puck, Matheson was mauled by Marchand in what can only be described as a bone-headed play by Marchand. The Habs’ four-man unit was guilty of over-passing, but they looked so dangerous, and the play ultimately ended with a Suzuki shot off the crossbar. The second unit saw Dobson and Hutson play a great blue line until Hutson found Suzuki with an incredible pass that allowed Suzuki a tap-in to win the game.
10) Montembeault is not getting a star in this game and it’s mostly due to the second goal allowed that really could have cost the game. Many will point to an excellent shot by Reinhart and that’s not wrong, but from that angle, I just don’t buy Montembeault being down already. It’s what he avoided doing throughout this game prior to that play. Having said that, he remained composed, made important saves afterwards, and gave the Habs a chance to come back and win the game. He even made a few important saves in overtime. That speaks nothing of his game in the first two periods where he was excellent in allowing the Habs to kill some penalties that could have swung the game. An awesome and key start for Montembeault. Let’s hope he can ride this momentum.
HabsWorld Habs 3 Stars
1st Star – Nick Suzuki
While writing this, I have no idea of Suzuki’s Olympic fate. But he was energized from the start of this game. He was the most dangerous Hab through the first 40 so it’s only fitting that he scored the last two goals to get the Habs the win. That doesn’t even consider his crossbar shot moments before the winner which also could have ended the game. It’s been a while since the team’s captain put the team on his shoulders and won one, but he was without a doubt the team’s leader on this night.
Stats: 2 goals, +1, 7 shots, 1 hit, 22:33 T.O.I.
2nd Star – Noah Dobson
Dobson was defensively sound as per usual, but what he’s done recently is also add the part where he’s dangerous offensively throughout the game. Tonight was no exception on that front as he was creating in the offensive zone à la Hutson all night long. Hutson stepped up in the third, but Dobson did it all night. That it was Dobson (and Hutson) that made the plays on the blue line that led to Suzuki’s winner seems like karma rewarding the best players in this game.
Stats: 2 assists, +2, 4 shots, 5 blocks, 1 hit, 24:32 T.O.I.
3rd Star – Cole Caufield
Caufield has been a bit snake-bitten lately so I’m guessing that he goes on a bit of a tear here to finish the road trip. That he got on the mark with such an incredibly skilled and beautiful highlight reel goal is a testament to his skill. A late addition to the plays of the year on that goal.
Stats: 1 goal, 1 assist, +1, 5 shots, 20:20 T.O.I.