La First; A Rookie’s Warm Welcome
Those were Crosby’s words a couple of days ago when asked how he felt about Saturday night’s upcoming match up with the same Cinderella Habs that not only embarrassed his apathetic Penguins in game 7 of last season’s playoffs but also did it by winning the last ever game in the Melon arena. I guess he wasn’t kidding. More so, it seemed like a few of his teammates also heard him because from the time the puck dropped, this second game of the yet to grow any stubble season felt like a full blown grizzly beard rocking playoff game. The pace in the first, like track stars on Yayo, was speedy, intense and fierce. Enough to wake me right up from my mid afternoon couch nap in a hurry. Canada’s golden boy, Sid don’t call me Kid anymore, also took no time to back his words by laying a violent hit on none other than Montreal newest number one stunner, P.K. Subban. Which leads me to my next question: when did trial by fire playoff rookie sensation, P.K Subban, become enemy number one in Pittsburgh? Every time the kid (Subban that is) touched the puck, the Pittsburgh faithful made sure to fill their new igloo with the same boos that us MTL fans typically reserve for our own starting goalie. Not going to touch that one…yet. I’ll say this however, ‘Chill Out’ Price did look awake when he made that nice stop on don’t cross me Crosby during the Penguins first PP opportunity which kept things even and the game scoreless at that point. In any event, back to the Pittsburgh fans and their love affair with P.K for a second. These bunch of jokers also had the unprecedented audacity to boo with ridiculous vigor after the zealous zebras sent Pittsburgh’s newest petite Penguin, Comrie, to the box for 4 after cutting Sub the stud with a cheap high stick. Don’t worry P.K. you keep doing your thing and please never stop chirping Crosby. They’re all just playa haters.
Aside from the determined boos in the first for P.K, the only other highlight to report was the Habs first tally. Cammy, freshly back from a one game suspension, netted a beauty thanks to a fine-looking back door feed from Turtleplecks to open up the score. Nice to have you back Cams, could’ve used you against The Leafs though.
La Second; Price is still Awake
Early on in the second, after a penalty from what has to be one of the greatest defenseman of all time; O’Byrne (what a joke), Malkin evened things up on a 4 on 3 from a pretty pass from Mr. Crosby. Even though Malkin’s shot got pass him, to no fault of his own, Careless Price actually looked good. Conscious and alert, he was able to make a handful of key stops, including another one on Crosby, to keep the score still tied at 1 a piece after 40 minutes of play. As unbelievable as this may sound, Price actually did Halak’s job and kept us in this one. The boys in front of him took too many careless penalties and seemed to lose their jump in the 2nd. Still, that usually happens when you spend most of the period in the box than on the ice. But Carey, relax bud and don’t get spent. After all, we’re not going to win the Cup from 2 solid periods in game two of a premature season.
Notable mention: No love between the Maxims; Talbot vs. Lapierre. Once again, Lapierre demonstrated why he is a valuable member of the Habs’ squad by heroically refusing to drop his mitts after agreeing to fight against his long time friend and admirer, Talbot, and then grinning on his way back to the bench while Talbot was being escorted to the box. All class, Max, all class.
La Third; Last Minute Steal
After escaping unscathed from the 2nd, we picked it back up in the 3rd and to my surprise Carey continued this bizarre trend on stopping pucks. That is until Letestwho? squeezed the go ahead goal five-hole on Mr. Price at the halfway mark of the 3rd period. For a second, I grimaced and wondered how many more them flightless birds would get pass you, but you proved me wrong Carey. You kept your composure and kept the puck out of the net long enough for some last minute heroics from the boys ahead of you. Doesn’t it feel good the stop the puck? Now, remember that feeling and take it with you for the next 80 games. Please.
With less than 3 minutes left, Gorgeous Gorges took a shot on net and Cammy got his second by tipping it pass Fleury in order to tie it up. Clearly shook, the Sorel Flower then let a weak one trickle in through his five-hole 30 seconds later thanks to Gomez’s speedy effort. Hey Gommy, how much did that one cost us? Better keep ‘em coming, Scotty.
Game winner by Gomez; Habs take it 3-2.
Amazingly we stole one tonight. It’s okay, a win is a win. Now, let’s feed off that for the home opener.
Revelation of the night: Carey Price who stopped 36 of 38 shots.
Last thoughts: Nice little rivalry developing between these two teams and I’m looking forward to the next meeting. Lastly, Malkin – what do you have against Gionta? Real Russian balls to pick on one of the smallest guys in the league.
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