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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 workforce is 18-12-4 below Roy and has six consecutive victories. Has it been staggering? Is determined by your viewpoint.
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The Islanders have diminished their pictures towards by greater than 5 per sport whereas their goals-against common has dropped to 2.97 from 3.36. However the energy play was at 22.9 per cent below Lambert. Heading into Thursday’s sport, 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 damage. How vital was this? Neglect for a second it left the workforce with solely 5 defencemen. Dobson has 10 targets and 70 factors this season and have become the primary Islanders blueliner with at the least 70 factors since Denis Potvin (1983-84) completed it for the seventh time in his illustrious profession.
How to not begin a sport: The Canadiens didn’t register a shot till 8:28, when captain Nick Suzuki was denied on a breakaway.
Who wants pictures, 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 targets 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 targets 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 move 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 taking part in in web: Within the sport’s 18th minute, Islanders defenceman Ryan Pulock, with out a stick, blocked a Suzuki shot.
Goalie’s greatest 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 targets, with 33. He doesn’t miss typically.
How to not backcheck: Pierre Engvall seemed like a determine skater on the Islanders’ opening aim, coming barely greater than 5 minutes into the second interval. He was allowed to freewheel from the facet boards into the center, beating Montembeault excessive to the glove facet.
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 a success to the pinnacle of defenceman Adam Pelech, was given a match penalty, sport 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 battle. Pageau, with a two-inch top and negligible weight benefit, landed some proper arms however ended up on the ice, under his opponent. Give Pageau a break 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 (battle) all that usually. That’s why the battle was rather less entertaining. However I’ve a variety of respect for him. It’s a part of the sport. It’s a must to reply for that.”
Sport 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 seemingly seen, is a recurring theme. In any other case, Slafkovsky will delight Canadiens followers for years to come back.
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Then again: Slafkovsky, not identified for his shot-blocking prowess, blocked one by Pelech late within the interval.
Look, the man scored the final sport: Josh Anderson, who has had little offensive luck this season, someway squandered a three-on-one break early within the third interval, deciding to shoot as a substitute of passing.
Information you want (Half III): With an help on Cole Caufield’s go-ahead aim 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 targets 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 aim, Casey Cizikas tied the sport.
Subsequent time, decline the penalty: The Islanders went 0-for-4 on the ability play.
Unusual, however true: For the second consecutive sport, the Canadiens didn’t have an influence play.
He deserved a greater destiny: Montembeault, as common, stored Montreal within the sport. He stopped 31 pictures for a .912 save share.
Then again: He didn’t look good on the profitable aim, 77 seconds into time beyond regulation, Kyle Palmieri beating him from a decent angle to the brief facet.
Information you want (Half V): The Canadiens are actually 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 whole pictures, Caufield and Armia every had 4.
They mentioned it: “They had been higher than us,” Gallagher mentioned. “They’re taking part in 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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