Wilde Horses
- Brendan Gallagher started a bit slowly this season but the goals are coming now. Three on the weekend, doing what he does best. Getting right where the goals get scored, taking the pain, a rag doll thrown around at times, but Gallagher never shies away from the front of the net. The deflection of the Subban shot was typical of how he rolls. You would barely know if Gallagher has a quality shot, he uses it so little. He wears you down. Ask everyone around the league who hates him.
- Subban wanted to get off the zero for goals and he finally did it with a rocket of a shot. It went right through Bernier. The set up on the fifth goal was superb too - a half shot pass to Gallagher for the easy tip. Subban and Markov were on for the Leafs three goals but we will let that slide.
- Max Pacioretty and Tomas Plekanec killing penalties is more dangerous at times than the power play they face. Pacioretty, with his seventh goal of the season; that's tied for the league lead with Benn. Could it be the year that 40 is finally achieved?
- The penalty kill. What a work of art this season. They've killed two long five-on-three chances this season. Their best killer is the goalie. But they work so hard to cut off the lanes and make sure that the only shots the opposition gets are the ones they feel Price can save.
- Carey Price is just so, so good. This was a game of goalie because the Habs did not have legs and the Leafs played hard. They out chanced and out shot the Habs but Price was just so superior to the other goalie that the game turned on their relative strengths in the second. Price is the world's best. There is not much more to add than that. I will though. Saw on Twitter some saying he had a bit of a tough night - 49 stops of 52 shots for a .942 save percentage. Really? Tough night? Twenty-nine other teams should be so lucky.
- Dale Weise with such a smart play to not get involved with Dion Phaneuf. The Habs were up and comfortable. The last thing you want is to give the Leafs a lift. Phaneuf was hoping to ignite his mates and he ended up looking foolish charging around, looking for a fight against a player who knows what's smart and said no.
- Jeff Petry is so smooth. Such a wonderful skater. He covers so much ground for Emelin.
Wilde Goats
Once again, until they lose, this category remains empty.
Wilde Cards
- Truth is the Habs should have lost this game. They got great goaltending while the other guys got soft goaltending. The Leafs were rested and ready for this one and the Habs had tired legs. They were second on the puck a lot and looked inefficient in their own zone. That's what fatigue does. Pacioretty said that back to back games are harder earlier in the year because you don't have good energy yet for it like late in the year. I thought it was the other way around but he's the NHLer. The Habs found a way. Good teams find a way even when they got little in the tank.
So that is nine straight to start the season. The record is 10. The tie of the record can be achieved in Vancouver on Tuesday night. They're leaving a day early on Sunday to BC. History could be made. Should be fun - like this entire season has been.
