Wilde Horses
- Alex Galchenyuk with one of his best, if not his best game of the season. Some superb passing, some slick moves, big time speed and energy, he did it all except actually hit the net. So many quality shots that basically threatened the glass but not the goalie.
- Torrey Mitchell with some good things on that line. He provided that line with its most spark in a while. He is not going to be outworked which is obviously a big improvement over the guy who was there before on the right side. Mitchell deserves another look on that line, if he can go tomorrow.
- Tomas Fleischmann was really on. Desharnais surprisingly quiet. Fleischmann rang the bar a couple times and didn't get any puck luck. Weise scores a goal as the line continues to provide some consistent offence.
- The second period shift that Beaulieu had where he danced around the forwards was the future for him. Takes a little confidence and the green light to be his best self. He also had a five-star chance in the first that he got up high nicely but so did Smith to make the stop. Love this kid's game. Still only 22 remember.
- Paul Byron has some wheels. Wow. They have to find a way to set him up for stretch passes. Devise strategies to let this guy go one-on-one. No one will keep up on an alley oop either.
- Brendan Gallagher with the work for 25 seconds, key to the Habs finally scoring. Gallagher doesn't quit. 3-0 all seems kind of drab in a long season and he's got the engine on high rev as usual.
Wilde Goats
- Poor Lars. His mistakes seem to have a magnifying glass attached to them in this city. A bad penalty putting his hand on the puck and closing it and of course there was no relief for Lars as the Coyotes scored for the big three-goal lead. Other than that, his line was good but that's gotta be a goat moment.
- Mike Condon has definitely begun to wear down. It just goes to show what Price does is so utterly amazing. To perform to that stunning level, game after game after game. Price is simply amazing and you see it most as a comparison - when you see Condon so good for a fifth of a year and then just mentally lose himself. Still strong goalie but certainly struggling to stay solid, square, upright, focused.
- DSP. Lift. The. Puck. Three feet in front. Free chance. Into the pads. Never fails to amaze me when I see that instinct that cannot be broken.
- The odd, mysteriously bad play by Petry these days. Everyone knows when you are in front of the net in trouble you don't slide it to the high slot. Habs defenceman under Therrien are especially good at throwing that in the corner, or as I always say there's no one 13 feet tall out there so you can always flip it, but not the slot. The Coyotes' O.E.L. line enjoyed that gift.
Wilde Cards
- For the fifth time in a row and sixth game in seven, the Habs gave up the first goal. And for the third straight time they gave up a 3-0 lead to start the game. Bizarre considering the club started the season not being scored on at all in the first period for nine straight games. Pretty safe to say when the average score line over 60 minutes is under five in the NHL, you better not start down three. Even one down only gives you a 30 per cent chance of winning.
- I am asking myself if Max Pacioretty's lack of foot speed now isn't a result of still healing from an injury but perhaps is a new and permanent lack of foot speed because the healing is done and that's what he's got. Right now, I'm just asking myself because he's simply not as quick on the rush. We just don't see those powerful strides taking a D man on wide. We need to wait and learn for ourselves because no one is gonna just offer that info up to us.
- Torrey Mitchell fell awkwardly and didn't return to the contest. So tomrrow night we may get to see if Therrien has completely given up on Semin. If he has, I think we are ready to see McCarron who is impressing in St. John's. Then again, perhaps Mitchell can go tomorrow already in Brooklyn. On verra.
