This is Jeff Petry’s rematch, and the reaction will likely be mixed when he returns. We also have new lines to watch, and Sean Monahan with Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki should be interesting.
1st period
- Garry Galley twice in three days is too much Garry Galley.
- There are boos for Petry, but he had to know those were coming.
- The match started badly as Danton Heinen beat Samuel Montembeault from a sharp angle.
- But he hit the crossbar and then the post, so we’ll keep going.
- Chris Wideman has a chance and then Josh Anderson makes a powerful move towards the net with another, but those don’t turn into goals.
- A lesser man would probably have fallen to the ice with the contact made by Anderson, but the Powerhorse just wanted a goal.
- More sustained pressure from Montreal, getting zone time every shift now. This time it’s a strong change from Cole Caufield all over the ice. A good offense really is the best defense.
- Petry receives her video tribute and a cool ovation – quickly followed by more boos.
- Sidney Crosby throws what starts a promising Penguins rush, but Kaiden Guhle’s stick quickly ends it, and it’s another great chance for Caufield at the other end. Will he play back-to-back multi-goal games at home this season?
- Nice play from Arber Xhekaj to win the draw down the half wall then watch the ice for a chance to score. Last season, it would have just been fired at Casey DeSmith’s crest by a Canadiens defenseman.
- A truly impressive start for Montreal. Now they need a goal to show it.
- Dadonov nearly hits into his own rebound on another net rush.
- Caufield is a possessed man in this era, winning pucks down the boards and tossing them in front. He must have read Jura Slafkokvský’s recognition report and decided to try this style.
- Or he wants to entice Crosby to join his line in a year or two…
- Superb save from Montembeault on Pittsburgh’s first real chance since the double doink.
- Caufield can get 10 shots in this game.
2nd period
- The last time Caufield looked this good, he scored 30 seconds after the first intermission. Will he do it again?
- The first chance goes to Brendan Gallagher, who hits the post and sees the puck kicked out by an unconscious DeSmith.
- A lazy pass across the ice is kicked in the butt by the release of Evgeni Malkin, and Montembeault is beaten on the other side after sliding too far.
- Now the Penguins power play that is running at 40% gets to work trying to double the lead.
- The Canadians are playing on the sidelines so far. Good plays from Kaiden Guhle and Jordan Harris to keep the opponent at bay.
- Now Malkin scores again as we get back to five against five. Too many unchecked penguins at the top of the fold.
- A good change from Kirby Dach, Jonathan Drouin and Anderson almost put Montreal on the board. There have been a lot of “almost” these last three games.
- Gallagher gets robbed by DeSmith’s glove. They will score at some point.
- Penguins power play / Montreal penalty kick back to work
- Harris narrowly misses Suzuki for shorthanded breakaway chance
- Now Suzuki is pulling a penalty just as theirs is coming to an end, as he forces Petry to pull him down after a toe drag.
- We’ll finish this thought after this 18-minute break.
3rd period
- It wasn’t on the power play, but the Canadians got their first goal, thanks in large part to Kaiden Guhle. The rookie’s excellent breakout lead directly to Suzuki’s first chance, then the captain skated to the other side of the net to put it in.
- Arber Xhekaj heads to the box for a high stick.
- Still excellent disadvantages of the Habs. First a chance for Jake Evans, then Sean Monahan. Massive improvement over what it looked like last year. All it took was a few defensemen who had never played in the NHL before.
- On a third shorthanded rush, Petry is forced to take another penalty.
- Maybe Montreal should play the entire 60 minutes against a man?
- Ryan Poehling tries a shorthanded chance, sharing the D, but Montembeault is there.
- The Habs just aren’t as good with more than four players on the ice. Bobbles from Drouin and Hoffman end the power play.
- Josh Anderson is close to tying it with less than three minutes to go, but DeSmith saves him with his toe.
- A time out to take a look at the best offensive players on the ice with a face-off in the O zone.
- And it works! Caufield gets his goal on a perfect cross pass from Drouin.
- And that’s another point for Guhle. He should probably be the first star of tonight’s game.
- The Habs can’t stop looking for the winner and come close a few times, but can’t find one.
Over time
- Canadians get a well deserved point for their effort
- Now we see Guhle three-on-three there for the first shift.
- I think he skated two full lengths of the rink there, making several critical plays.
- The Habs on the power play as Petry gets a penalty hat trick on his return.
- Caufield gets a perfect pass but hits the left elbow.
- And Kirby Dach wins! What an overtime performance from Montreal.
- Undefeated at home. Then they will host the Coyotes on Thursday.
EOTP 3 stars
3) It’s always nice to have an expert opinion
2) Superb location
1) Take out the clone machine.
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