Ann 2Game 77 Review: Canadiens Steamroll Islanders 5-1 (Highlights Video Included)
April 9th 2009 00:58
After a near-perfect game against the Chicago Blackhawks last Tuesday, the Montreal Canadiens continued to pile on the goals against the lowly New York Islanders on Thursday with a dominant performance.
Once again, Montreal's powerplay took care of things with three goals in seven opportunities. Two of those goals were scored in the first period, giving the Habs a 2-0 at the first intermission. The visitors added two more goals early in the second period (via Tanguay at even-strength and Andrei Markov on the powerplay), and the game was over right there. With Mark Streit missing in action, the Islanders had basically no transition play and couldn't take advantage of the few penalties taken by the Canadiens. Jeff Tambellini made it 4-1 halfway through the second period, but that was more about saving face than anything else.
After Mike Komisarek scored Montreal's fifth goal in the first minute of the third period, Bob Gainey proceeded to shorten his bench to manage the likes of Saku Koivu and Alex Kovalev who tend to run out of gas by the end of the third period. As a matter of fact, each player on Koivu's line played fewer than 16 minutes, a good strategy when it comes to Saku's health but a bit more surprising in the case of Kovalev who usually plays 18 to 22 minutes. The move meant that the Islanders were spared of the TKK line for most of the final 20 minutes as Lapierre and Plekanec's line were sent more often into the fray. They even got some bonus minutes on the powerplay, giving the Islanders' penalty-kill some dignity.
In the end, the Islanders were simply outclassed. For once this season, the contest between the two teams ended exactly as it should: a top/middle-of-the-table team easily defeating a cellar-dwelling squad.
My 3 Stars:
3. Saku Koivu
2. Andrei Markov
1. Alex Kovalev
Once again, Montreal's powerplay took care of things with three goals in seven opportunities. Two of those goals were scored in the first period, giving the Habs a 2-0 at the first intermission. The visitors added two more goals early in the second period (via Tanguay at even-strength and Andrei Markov on the powerplay), and the game was over right there. With Mark Streit missing in action, the Islanders had basically no transition play and couldn't take advantage of the few penalties taken by the Canadiens. Jeff Tambellini made it 4-1 halfway through the second period, but that was more about saving face than anything else.
After Mike Komisarek scored Montreal's fifth goal in the first minute of the third period, Bob Gainey proceeded to shorten his bench to manage the likes of Saku Koivu and Alex Kovalev who tend to run out of gas by the end of the third period. As a matter of fact, each player on Koivu's line played fewer than 16 minutes, a good strategy when it comes to Saku's health but a bit more surprising in the case of Kovalev who usually plays 18 to 22 minutes. The move meant that the Islanders were spared of the TKK line for most of the final 20 minutes as Lapierre and Plekanec's line were sent more often into the fray. They even got some bonus minutes on the powerplay, giving the Islanders' penalty-kill some dignity.
In the end, the Islanders were simply outclassed. For once this season, the contest between the two teams ended exactly as it should: a top/middle-of-the-table team easily defeating a cellar-dwelling squad.
My 3 Stars:
3. Saku Koivu
2. Andrei Markov
1. Alex Kovalev
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