Ann 2Game 1 Review: Canadiens Steal 4-3 Win Against Leafs
October 2nd 2009 20:43
Canadiens win first game on the road
After a seemingly endless summer, NHL hockey is finally back. In the case of the Montreal Canadiens, the new season is an opportunity to wipe the slate clean with a new coach, new team, new approach. But Montreal weren't the only team to change direction during the summer. Down the 401, the Toronto Maple Leafs also went through some changes, getting bigger and tougher on the back-end by signing ex-Canadien Mike Komisarek and ex-Duck Fran็ois Beauchemin.
According to Komisarek, the Leafs want to be a tough team to play against this coming season. Now, that's all fine and dandy but for a team like the Leafs who finished dead last last season in the Goals Against category, they can only push the intimidation card so far before they end up in the penalty box. That's what happened as Komisarek, in his eagerness to eliminate anything moving in a red shirt, took five penalties with the Canadiens scoring on two of those penalties.
Not only did Komisarek's indiscipline tremendously helped the Habs' game, it also broke down his team's momentum at key moments in the game. Case in point: before his first penalty (a four-minute double minor for high-sticking), the Leafs had complete control of the game, peppering Carey Price with shots from every possible angle. In those opening ten minutes, the Canadiens looked like a deer in front of headlights. Overwhelmed, they had a lot of trouble getting out of their zone a task made even more difficult by the fact that players are still getting to know each other while also learning a new system. Jacques Martin even had to juggle his lines early on because the team was clearly not working. And then came Komisarek's penalty.
On the powerplay, it took the Canadiens only five seconds to open the score as Cammalleri outhustled Beauchemin to the puck and fed Brian Gionta for a great opportunity up close. And just like that, the Habs were up 1-0. Fortunately for the Leafs, three minutes later Hal Gill committed his first gaffe of the season when Niklas Hagman forced him into a turnover which led to Ponikarovsky tying the game at 1.
The Habs regained the lead early in the second period when new signing Travis Moen completed Glen Metropolit's work behind the net. Midway through the period, it was the Leafs' turn to go on the powerplay and Matt Stajan grabbed the equalizer during a 5-on-3 by redirecting Kaberle's shot-pass from the point.
Spurred on by their equalizer, the Leafs took the lead for the first time halfway through the third period when Matt Stajan scored his second of the game on the powerplay. This goal will have repercussions on the Canadiens' season since All-Star defenseman Andrei Markov was injured on the play and limped off to the dressing never to be seen again.
After their third goal, the Leafs looked like they were on their way to victory when Komisarek picked up a two-minute penalty for elbowing. Without Markov at the point and Gomez off to get first-aid, it was an unorthodox set of skaters that Jacques Martin sent on the ice for the powerplay as fourth-line center Metropolit took Gomez's spot and Josh Gorges and Paul Mara took the point. The result was an unlikely equalizer as Metropolit deflected Gorges' shot past Toskala.
As both teams prepared for overtime, I was satisfied with the point. To me, the Leafs deserved the win but the Habs were resilient enough to grab a point after three periods of play. So you cannot imagine the joy I felt when Gorges of all people grabbed the winner just five minutes into overtime.
So, Jacques Martin has his first win as Canadiens head coach. The Habs still need some work. As a matter of fact, they need a lot of work but the new acquisitions showed great promise while Carey Price was solid in net. They can only go up from here on out.
My 3 Stars:
3. Josh Gorges
2. Matt Stajan
1. Carey Price
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