Ann 2Game 8 Review: Canadiens Defeat Hurricanes 3-2 In Shootout
October 30th 2008 23:09
Well, the Montreal Canadiens couldn't break the Québécois goalie curse on Saturday when they faced Giguère, but they got through another goalie on Tuesday when they defeated the Carolina Hurricanes. Indeed, the Canes' Cam Ward had a 10-game winning streak at the Bell Centre, making it his favorite arena to play in.
Despite getting the two points, the Habs were far from being the better team on the ice. The Hurricanes were a lot faster, more intense, and focused on the task at hand. They won every one-on-one battles. They were always first on the puck, and protected Cam Ward by allowing only 25 shots. The Canadiens, on the other hand, were sluggish, lazy, and simply disinterested in the game as they missed countless empty nets throughout the match. Both of their goals were the result of individual efforts – the first was scored by Kovalev after he dispossessed an opposing player, and the second was scored by Tanguay on a penalty shot. At that point, the Habs had a 2-1 lead, but it was blown early in the third when Price allowed a soft goal which is a rare event in his case.
The last two minutes of regulation time and the prolongation were the most exciting moments of the game. Indeed, the Habs were down a man for the final two minutes of the game when Price cleared the puck in the stands, getting a delayed game penalty in the process. It was his second mistake of the night, and it looked like the Canadiens were simply going downhill. Fortunately for them, Price became his usual self during the penalty-kill with several good saves.
Overtime was dominated by the Habs who got a powerplay in that period. Although they kept the puck in the Canes' zone for what seemed like forever, they weren't able to score, bringing the game to a shootout. There it was up to the goaltenders to decide. Price had two stops out of three, as Carolina's last shooter missed the net, and Koivu brought the winner to the Habs after Ward had previously stoned Plekanec.
It was a disappointing game for Habs fans but after all is said and done, the two points are all that matter. Let's hope that they'll play better tonight against the Minnesota Wild who suffered their first loss of the season yesterday.
My 3 Stars:
3. Alex Kovalev
2. Cam Ward
1. Carey Price
I couldn't find the game's highlights video but check out the entire shootout below:
Despite getting the two points, the Habs were far from being the better team on the ice. The Hurricanes were a lot faster, more intense, and focused on the task at hand. They won every one-on-one battles. They were always first on the puck, and protected Cam Ward by allowing only 25 shots. The Canadiens, on the other hand, were sluggish, lazy, and simply disinterested in the game as they missed countless empty nets throughout the match. Both of their goals were the result of individual efforts – the first was scored by Kovalev after he dispossessed an opposing player, and the second was scored by Tanguay on a penalty shot. At that point, the Habs had a 2-1 lead, but it was blown early in the third when Price allowed a soft goal which is a rare event in his case.
The last two minutes of regulation time and the prolongation were the most exciting moments of the game. Indeed, the Habs were down a man for the final two minutes of the game when Price cleared the puck in the stands, getting a delayed game penalty in the process. It was his second mistake of the night, and it looked like the Canadiens were simply going downhill. Fortunately for them, Price became his usual self during the penalty-kill with several good saves.
Overtime was dominated by the Habs who got a powerplay in that period. Although they kept the puck in the Canes' zone for what seemed like forever, they weren't able to score, bringing the game to a shootout. There it was up to the goaltenders to decide. Price had two stops out of three, as Carolina's last shooter missed the net, and Koivu brought the winner to the Habs after Ward had previously stoned Plekanec.
It was a disappointing game for Habs fans but after all is said and done, the two points are all that matter. Let's hope that they'll play better tonight against the Minnesota Wild who suffered their first loss of the season yesterday.
My 3 Stars:
3. Alex Kovalev
2. Cam Ward
1. Carey Price
I couldn't find the game's highlights video but check out the entire shootout below:
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