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N.Y. Islanders 3, Montreal 2. “We’re attempting to match groups’ desperation stage. Tonight we did not,” says Gallagher.
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It was a shocking transfer, approaching a Saturday morning again in January, when New York Islanders common supervisor Lou Lamoriello fired head coach Lane Lambert, changing him with former Canadiens goaltender Patrick Roy.
The Islanders had been 19-15-11 on the time, however had misplaced 4 straight and 6 of seven.
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Has the transfer paid dividends? Sure. The staff is 18-12-4 beneath Roy and has six consecutive victories. Has it been staggering? Will depend on your viewpoint.
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The Islanders have diminished their photographs towards by greater than 5 per recreation whereas their goals-against common has dropped to 2.97 from 3.36. However the energy play was at 22.9 per cent beneath Lambert. Heading into Thursday’s recreation, it was at 16.8 per cent. The penalty kill (73 per cent) is now at 69.2 — worst within the NHL.
Like something in life, time will inform.
Information you want (Half I): New York defenceman Noah Dobson performed solely three shifts earlier than leaving the sport with an undisclosed harm. How important was this? Overlook for a second it left the staff with solely 5 defencemen. Dobson has 10 objectives and 70 factors this season and have become the primary Islanders blueliner with a minimum of 70 factors since Denis Potvin (1983-84) achieved it for the seventh time in his illustrious profession.
How to not begin a recreation: The Canadiens didn’t register a shot till 8:28, when captain Nick Suzuki was denied on a breakaway.
Who wants photographs, anyhow: Defenceman Jordan Harris opened the scoring at 17:58 with a blast from the blue line. It was solely the Canadiens’ fourth shot. Harris now has three objectives this season. It was the primary time he had scored in 18 video games.
Highway to the Cup
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Information you want (Half II): Montreal defencemen now have 46 objectives this season. Colorado leads, with 62. The Canadiens are tied for fourth, with Edmonton.
Finest icing of the night time: Late within the opening interval, Canadiens goalie Samuel Montembeault despatched the puck down the ice. The cross was supposed for Tanner Pearson, within the midst of a line change. He didn’t see the disc. Nor did he contact it.
Finest save by a man not enjoying in web: Within the recreation’s 18th minute, Islanders defenceman Ryan Pulock, with out a stick, blocked a Suzuki shot.
Goalie’s finest pal: Within the fourth minute of the second interval, Bo Horvat from the slot beat Montembeault however couldn’t beat the crossbar. Horvat leads the Islanders in objectives, with 33. He doesn’t miss usually.
How to not backcheck: Pierre Engvall appeared like a determine skater on the Islanders’ opening objective, coming barely greater than 5 minutes into the second interval. He was allowed to freewheel from the aspect boards into the center, beating Montembeault excessive to the glove aspect.
We’ve seen this film earlier than: The Canadiens didn’t register their first shot of the interval till 10:43.
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You knew this was coming: When these groups final met on Jan. 25, Brendan Gallagher delivered successful to the pinnacle of defenceman Adam Pelech, was given a match penalty, recreation misconduct and was suspended 5 video games. It got here as no shock when Gallagher was hit from behind by Jean-Gabriel Pageau halfway by means of the second, touching off a combat. Pageau, with a two-inch top and negligible weight benefit, landed some proper palms however ended up on the ice, under his opponent. Give Pageau a cut up choice.
“I got here to the rink prepared for that,” Gallagher informed Montreal reporters post-game in Elmont, N.Y. “I don’t suppose both of us (combat) all that always. That’s why the combat was rather less entertaining. However I’ve a number of respect for him. It’s a part of the sport. You need to reply for that.”
Recreation of inches: Joel Armia hit the put up halfway by means of the interval.
Dumb penalty: Juraj Slafkovsky for holding on Pulock within the offensive zone within the thirteenth minute of the interval. This, you’ve possible observed, is a recurring theme. In any other case, Slafkovsky will delight Canadiens followers for years to come back.
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However: Slafkovsky, not identified for his shot-blocking prowess, blocked one by Pelech late within the interval.
Look, the man scored the final recreation: Josh Anderson, who has had little offensive luck this season, in some way squandered a three-on-one break early within the third interval, deciding to shoot as an alternative of passing.
Information you want (Half III): With an help on Cole Caufield’s go-ahead objective at 3:42 of the third, Mike Matheson turned solely the sixth Canadiens defenceman with 50 assists in a season.
Information you want (Half IV): Caufield has 5 objectives and 7 factors in his final six video games. Matheson has 9 factors over the identical span. Suzuki has seven factors within the final six.
Momentum, schmomentum: Lower than three minutes following Caufield’s objective, Casey Cizikas tied the sport.
Subsequent time, decline the penalty: The Islanders went 0-for-4 on the facility play.
Unusual, however true: For the second consecutive recreation, the Canadiens didn’t have an influence play.
He deserved a greater destiny: Montembeault, as traditional, saved Montreal within the recreation. He stopped 31 photographs for a .912 save proportion.
However: He didn’t look good on the successful objective, 77 seconds into time beyond regulation, Kyle Palmieri beating him from a decent angle to the brief aspect.
Information you want (Half V): The Canadiens at the moment are 17-11-13 in one-goal video games whereas the Islanders improved to 20-3-15.
Stats of the night time: Of the Canadiens’ 14 complete photographs, Caufield and Armia every had 4.
They mentioned it: “They had been higher than us,” Gallagher mentioned. “They’re enjoying good hockey proper now. We’re attempting to match groups’ desperation stage. Tonight we didn’t.”
hzurkowsky@postmedia.com
twitter.com/HerbZurkowsky1
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