Ann 2Game 71 Review: Senators' Big Three Sink Canadiens In 5-4 Win (Video Included)
March 28th 2009 05:54
Habs-killers Alfredsson and Spezza celebrating a goal
The Canadiens were the first one to break the ice as Guillaume Latendresse – playing his second game back from a shoulder injury that put him on the sideline for a month - scored the first goal of the game just two minutes into the first period. However, less than one minute later, Nick Foligno equalized with his 15th goal of the season on the powerplay. Later on, Jason Spezza scored twice (once on the powerplay) in the span of one minute to put the score at 3-1 for the Senators.
Alex Tanguay reduced the gap less than one minute into the second period, but once again, Price crushed his team's momentum by letting in a softie scored by Jarkko Ruutu on a badly-angled shot. The goal signaled the end of Price's night as he was relieved by Halak. Why Gainey didn't put Halak at the start of the second period after Price's subpar performance in the first is beyond me.
As the game wore on, the Canadiens reunited with their lazy, disinterested side that's been prevalent in their play for most of the season. Thankfully, Lapierre's line – consisting of Latendresse and Tom Kostopoulos – had came to play. Latendresse scored his second of the game halfway through the second period to make it 4-3. Four minutes later, Alfredsson recovered the Sens' two-goal lead by scoring his 23rd of the season. Finally, Hamrlik scored the Habs' fourth at the end of the period and it looked like the Habs could build on this goal to get momentum heading into the third period.
Unfortunately, with only one line that showed up that night, the Canadiens could muster only seven shots on rookie Brian Elliott. Alfredsson's goal stood as the winner as the Canadiens lost a game they could easily have one. Yes, Carey Price didn't have a strong game, but that isn't a excuse for why the forwards were so uninvolved in the game. Andrei Kostitsyn was probably the worst of the bunch as registered no shots on goal. I don't think he even tried shooting during the game. He simply wasn't there. With Kovalev going hot and cold at a moment's notice, the Habs should have a sniper they can rely on and right now Kostitsyn, as the leading goalscorer among forwards, isn't delivering.
My 3 Stars:
3. Guillaume Latendresse
2. Daniel Alfredsson
1. Jason Spezza
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