Wilde Horses
- Carey Price is an absolute lion. He came through like an MVP when he needed to the most. Price becomes the first goalie to shut out the Senators in 88 games this season. The Sens were the only team who were not shut out this season before Price did it. The composure he creates is remarkable. When all others are losing their heads, he is keeping his form. When asked about the immense anxiety everyone was feeling, he says this is the fun that you dream about as a kid. He has won at every level: WJC gold, Calder Cup in AHL, Olympic Gold, and if he does not attain the Stanley Cup it will not be his fault. I truly believe he is the best technical goalie in history. Price will win the Vezina, likely the Hart too and no one will take exception. He is consensus best and in game 6 he goalied the Sens. They ran into a Carey wall. He's a lion. He's the best.
- Brendan Gallagher is the little engine that could. He just does not give up. He too is a very courageous player. Keeps trying. Keeps moving his feet. Never behaves poorly. Never hangs his head. He's a winner. He deserved a little puck luck and finally got it with the game winning goal.
- Lars Eller is made for the playoffs. This is the second straight playoffs that Eller is elevating his play by massive amounts. Next time he has a bad game or two in the regular season, just let it go. He is an amazing performer in the playoffs. At one point he dragged Karlsson around the ice trying to handle him. The sequence ended against one of the best D in the world with Eller ringing one off the bar. Eller was the best forward of the series for the Habs.
- Jeff Petry was the best defenseman of the series for the Habs. His composure for a player completely inexperienced at what the playoffs are like at the NHL level was extraordinary. As a pro Petry had only played post season once five years ago for Oklahoma City, yet here on this stage he is shining so brightly. Petry sees the ice so well, makes such good decisions and most of all - and this is what matters most - he wins pucks. Sign this guy if you can. What a player. And they didn't like him in Edmonton which says so much about environmental factors. You have to play with good to be great - that's Petry in Montreal.
- PK Subban stepped it up in this one. He understood the task at hand and it was not being fancy or scoring a second goal; PK understood he had to defend and he did so very well. Excellent decisions all night to protest and preserve. That's the job some nights. PK embraced it.
- Tom Gilbert promised that his defence would box out better so Carey could see pucks. This player has really improved second half under Therrien. There's probably not enough talk of that in Montreal.
- Max Pacioretty admitted that it is very difficult to come back after that injury - you know the injury that dare not speak its name. Pacioretty said that his mates picked him up. Max with his best game of the series. He is starting to get his confidence back that he won't be hurt again. This is not easy. No judgment from me on this at all. It is a fight. Max is taking part in it. On the ice at the end, Pacioretty got the clear that won the series and gave the Habs their only 2 goal lead the entire series with less than a second left. Pacioretty will get better from here. Bank it.
- Torrey Mitchell fighting like mad at the end of the game assigned to win face offs. He laid out. He did what he had to do. He lost a couple but he won a couple too and he tried like a mad man to win the day. Courageous effort by Mitchell.
- Tomas Plekanec asked to take a lot of defensive assignments and answered it with his usual lack of fan fare.
- P.A. Parenteau was a key member of that win. You have to have dangerous players on the ice. You have to see some fear in the opposition. Parenteau backed off the D and he almost counted.
- Loved what Brandon Prust brought. He almost scored on the Eller hook up but was thwarted. He was very committed defensively.
Wilde Goats
- This is a very hard section to fill out when the Habs win the series but they don't pay me to cowardly throw flowers when a couple players are not bringing their best game. Andrei Markov is struggling like I have never seen. Terrible plays. Terrible decisions. More than that, very slow skating. Getting beaten to pucks on the regular. Markov has to figure this out or it is going to hurt the Habs long run. Been the club's worst defenseman in the first round. That's a shock. I am stunned.
- The other is David Desharnais who suffers against size and the Sens are big. He just can't win pucks. He should do better in the next series as he matches up against a speed team instead of a size team. He better because he is a liability to the cause right now. I expect he will improve against Detroit or Tampa.
Wilde Cards
- The head coach was clearly using his experience in the final 5 minutes. Therrien always had two centres on in the defending zone. He clearly had a plan. Mitchell on the right. Plekanec on the left. Eller was the best on the night in the circle but he had a plan and he stuck to it. He didn't roll in those who could not cut it. Therrien stayed composed all series. He didn't become the focus. He kept his mouth shut. He didn't provide theatre. He protected his players. He helped the cause. He never hurt it. He got PAP in when he needed offence. He was a good coach. But about that power play.
- Next is Detroit or Tampa. I always thought the Wings was a win. I will stick with that. I thought the Lightning was a series loss but I have seen enough holes in Ben Bishop in his game and his demeanour to handle pressure to believe the Habs can beat Tampa in the next round too. Always said the Habs will go as far as their goalie will take them and right now that goalie looks like that is far.
