Ann 2Game 67 Review: Koivu Leads Canadiens To 4-3 OT Win Over Oilers (Video Included)
March 19th 2009 02:48
Koivu celebrating his second goal of the night
I missed most of the game since I had a midterm exam that day. I only managed to catch the last three minutes of regulation, and the overtime period (and the game's highlights later on).
From what I saw, the Canadiens were lucky to get the two points. They grabbed the lead halfway through the first period via Alex Tanguay, but then they had a dismal second period in which they were outshot 17-2 (at home, no less!). Luckily, one of their two shots went in to make the score 2-2 before Sam Gagner made it 3-2 at the end of the period. Koivu made it 3-3 with five minutes left to go, and the Habs were rewarded a powerplay in overtime when a Oiler voluntarily broke Markov's stick. The Canadiens then got the winning-goal with their first and only shot in overtime – a blast from the point by Schneider lightly deflected by Koivu.
The main difference between this game and all the previous ones coached by Carbo was that the fourth line was nowhere to be seen in the final minutes of the game. Gainey went with Koivu and Plekanec's line all the way, putting on Lapierre's (with Metropolit in Kostopoulos' place) line only to give a breather to the other two. He also didn't use Plekanec on the penalty-kill, opting for Lapierre/Higgins and Metropolit/Dandenault instead. I personally would prefer to see Plekanec on the ice when playing shorthanded especially at the end of the kill because a guy with his speed is perfect for grabbing shorthanded goals as he has shown throughout the season.
Other than that, the Canadiens' bench was a bit crowded that night with Bulldogs' coach Don Lever coming in to assist Gainey, Muller and Jarvis in the third period. Although Lever has made a spectacular with the Canadiens' prospects down in the farm, the language issue (he only speaks English which is inacceptable in Montreal's bilingual environment) makes him an outsider for the head coach job.
My 3 Stars (going by the scoresheet):
3. Alex Tanguay
2. Sheldon Souray
1. Saku Koivu
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