The Panthers march out of Montreal with a two-game win streak, but it took 65 minutes plus six rounds in the dreaded shootout.
The first period wouldn’t see anything appear on the bottom line, as the Canadiens outshot the Panthers 11-to-6. Ex-Panther Tom Gilbert blocked three shots in just over six minutes through the frame.
The second period would prove more eventful by far. Montreal took the lead at the 2:31 mark when Brendan Gallagher poked a Max Pacioretty rebound between Roberto Luongo’s pads for his 14th marker of the season. David Desharnais earned an assist. Just past the halfway mark, Gallagher scored for the second time after collecting the puck off a clumsy Erik Gudbranson and again beating Luongo. PK Subban earned an assist on the play.
The Panthers got back into it just over a minute later, when Tomas Fleischmann gathered his own rebound (off a blocked shot) from about 16-feet out and beat Carey Price stickside for just his seventh goal of the season. Jonathan Huberdeau collected the only assist on the play.
About three minutes into the final frame, Jarred Tinordi got into a pretty good tilt with Alex Petrovic. Tinordi was getting the better of it at first, but Petrovic ended up taking the last shot. Two minutes later, the Panthers built on the momentum from the fight with Steven Kampfer’s first NHL goal since March 24th, 2012 on a redirect of a Fleischmann shot attempt. Scottie Upshall was also awarded an assist on the play, which knotted the score at two. That’s where the score was at the end of regulation and overtime.
The shootout would see Max Pacioretty score in the second round, and Nick Bjugstad keep the Panthers alive with a marker in the third. Neither team would put another one between the pipes until Dave Bolland (the very guy I called out, saying “Don’t play this guy in the shootout,”) finished the Habs off with a goal right between Price’s wickets.
A few comments from tonight’s gamethread:
LAUSMAN started the night out with a little positive thinking:
We’ve got to use our Size and our 4th line has to be banging tonight…..This is not a big team like the Cats………play ‘em hard…put a lot of shots on net and let’s come outta’ here with 2 big ones ! – LAUSMAN
Culligan_Man428 showed the meaning of dedication:
I’ve called in sick to work tomorrow for this game. LETS GO CATS! Give me a good reason to drink tonight!… Not a bad one… – Culligan_Man428
dcfish paid respect where due to Carey Price:
No Emelin, no Galchenyuk, Subban is at less than 100%. Only one big bad goalie standing between the Cats and win. – dcfish
I thought of a cool nickname for Steven Kampfer (for you Cracker fans out there):
Kampfer van Beethoven – Kevin Kraczkowski
Kinney4 making note of Potvin’s affinity to adopt local dialects:
What i love about playing the Habs in Montreal is that you can bet Potvin won’t resist the urge to lay a heavy French accent at least 3 times per game. – kinney4
…and kinney4 and maple talked about the new designer drug:
I’m high on Kampfer right now. Fast, offensively sound and mistake-free as far as I see it. – kinney4
“High on Kampfer” sounds like it should be illegal. 😉 – maple
Nice chase by Kopy, although he looked like a someone new to the ice skating – Mircseszku
Been a beast in two-way game almost all season – Donny Rivette
WAtching my favorite team play should be more fun and less stress. – The real CatscratchFever
Really starting to miss Mitchell.
This has been Gudbranson’s worst game this season. He was beasting it before tonight. Oh well, every player has a day off.
Donny again, after the Petrovic tilt against Tinordi
GOOD FOR PETRO!
Finally someone standing up.
Of course he’ll be suspended for remainder of season… – Donny Rivette
Dare I say it…..but if we win is this going to be the win that gets everyone to buy in like in 2011-2012? – davidknight1304