Ann 2Game 2 Review: Canadiens Steamroll Leafs 6-1 (Highlights Video Included)
October 12th 2008 18:43
The Toronto Maple Leafs were still feeling high from their surprising 3-2 victory over the Detroit Red Wings when the Montreal Canadiens yanked them back to reality with a convincing win at the Air Canada Centre.
In the first ten minutes, it looked like Toronto had picked up right where they left off in Detroit while Montreal were playing on their heels much like against Buffalo. It took two dangerous attacks from the Leafs for the Habs to wake up. First, Matt Stajan's deflection on defenseman Mike Van Ryn's shot hit the post, Halak hadn't seen anything on the play. Later on, the Canadiens goaltender stoned Jason Blake's shot as the Leafs were on a two-on-one. Then, at the 11th minute, Montreal's transition play got in gear after another missed opportunity by the Leafs. Saku Koivu entered the offensive zone on the right side, drop-passed the puck to Latendresse who saw defenseman Roman Hamrlik joining the rush on the left side. The young winger's diagonal pass was straight on Hamrlik's stick who first-timed the puck in-between Toskala's legs for the Habs' first goal. Two minutes later, Alex Kovalev scored his first of the season in an uncharacteristic fashion for him. Posted in front of Toskala, he patiently waited for Plekanec's pass from behind the net, then, despite having Frogren on his back, the Russian made a 180-degrees turn to push the puck under Toskala. At the first intermission, the Canadiens had a two-goal lead and the momentum.
The floodgates opened in the second period when Stajan was given a four-minute penalty after high-sticking defenseman Patrice Brisebois. The Habs' powerplay who had gone 0-for-5 against Buffalo scored twice on the powerplay. First, Sergei Kostitsyn beat Toskala by pushing the puck between the goalkeeper's legs after a shot rebound, then, newcomer Alex Tanguay added the Habs' fourth by swatting the puck in a wide open net during a panicked flurry in front of the goal. A couple of minutes later, Sergei Kostitsyn scored his second of the night on another powerplay – a beautiful shot from the right that left no chance to the netminder. It was 5-0 when Jason Blake denied Halak's shut-out with a powerful shot from the point. The goal wasn't even announced to the crowd yet when Latendresse scored his first after a nice pass from Koivu. At 6-1, the game was definitely over.
Neither team managed to score in the third period. Curtis Joseph – who relieved Toskala at the start of the third – denied both Sergei Kostitsyn and Kovalev on breakaways (Kovy's shot hit the post) while the Leafs, when they weren't stopped by Halak, found several posts on their way.
Lots of good things emerged from this match for the Canadiens. First, the powerplay has finally clicked. In fact, the third powerplay goal was a thing of beauty as the visitors' passing simply dizzied the Leafs' defense. A couple of practices will definitely tighten everything. I'm still not comfortable with Markov as the shooting point, but with Tanguay, Lang, Sergei Kostitsyn, and Koivu as the other players on the ice, someone has to shoot the puck. Secondly, three of the Habs goals were crashing-the-net types of goals, something that was sorely lacking in the playoffs last year. It's nice to see that they can still keep the highlight-reel goals while also getting their noses dirty every once in a while; the fact that Kovalev – the best player on the Canadiens in terms of stickhandling skills - was the most determined player to stand in front of the net will definitely serve as an incentive for the younger players.
My 3 Stars:
3. Guillaume Latendresse (1 goal, 2 assists)
2. Alex Tanguay (1 goal, 3 assists)
1. Sergei Kostistyn (2 goals, 1 assists)
In the first ten minutes, it looked like Toronto had picked up right where they left off in Detroit while Montreal were playing on their heels much like against Buffalo. It took two dangerous attacks from the Leafs for the Habs to wake up. First, Matt Stajan's deflection on defenseman Mike Van Ryn's shot hit the post, Halak hadn't seen anything on the play. Later on, the Canadiens goaltender stoned Jason Blake's shot as the Leafs were on a two-on-one. Then, at the 11th minute, Montreal's transition play got in gear after another missed opportunity by the Leafs. Saku Koivu entered the offensive zone on the right side, drop-passed the puck to Latendresse who saw defenseman Roman Hamrlik joining the rush on the left side. The young winger's diagonal pass was straight on Hamrlik's stick who first-timed the puck in-between Toskala's legs for the Habs' first goal. Two minutes later, Alex Kovalev scored his first of the season in an uncharacteristic fashion for him. Posted in front of Toskala, he patiently waited for Plekanec's pass from behind the net, then, despite having Frogren on his back, the Russian made a 180-degrees turn to push the puck under Toskala. At the first intermission, the Canadiens had a two-goal lead and the momentum.
The floodgates opened in the second period when Stajan was given a four-minute penalty after high-sticking defenseman Patrice Brisebois. The Habs' powerplay who had gone 0-for-5 against Buffalo scored twice on the powerplay. First, Sergei Kostitsyn beat Toskala by pushing the puck between the goalkeeper's legs after a shot rebound, then, newcomer Alex Tanguay added the Habs' fourth by swatting the puck in a wide open net during a panicked flurry in front of the goal. A couple of minutes later, Sergei Kostitsyn scored his second of the night on another powerplay – a beautiful shot from the right that left no chance to the netminder. It was 5-0 when Jason Blake denied Halak's shut-out with a powerful shot from the point. The goal wasn't even announced to the crowd yet when Latendresse scored his first after a nice pass from Koivu. At 6-1, the game was definitely over.
Neither team managed to score in the third period. Curtis Joseph – who relieved Toskala at the start of the third – denied both Sergei Kostitsyn and Kovalev on breakaways (Kovy's shot hit the post) while the Leafs, when they weren't stopped by Halak, found several posts on their way.
Lots of good things emerged from this match for the Canadiens. First, the powerplay has finally clicked. In fact, the third powerplay goal was a thing of beauty as the visitors' passing simply dizzied the Leafs' defense. A couple of practices will definitely tighten everything. I'm still not comfortable with Markov as the shooting point, but with Tanguay, Lang, Sergei Kostitsyn, and Koivu as the other players on the ice, someone has to shoot the puck. Secondly, three of the Habs goals were crashing-the-net types of goals, something that was sorely lacking in the playoffs last year. It's nice to see that they can still keep the highlight-reel goals while also getting their noses dirty every once in a while; the fact that Kovalev – the best player on the Canadiens in terms of stickhandling skills - was the most determined player to stand in front of the net will definitely serve as an incentive for the younger players.
My 3 Stars:
3. Guillaume Latendresse (1 goal, 2 assists)
2. Alex Tanguay (1 goal, 3 assists)
1. Sergei Kostistyn (2 goals, 1 assists)
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