It was 30-12 shots on goal favouring the Habs after two periods. It was just the Islanders but it does feel like the Habs are figuring some things out.
Two big additions to the club made a huge difference. Jacques Martin said he felt the return of Glen Metropolit would stabilize two lines. When he said it I thought it was crazy. How can one guy stabilize two lines, but that is what happened. Metropolit also made a huge difference on the power play.
The Bergeron effect
As did the other recent addition to the team, Marc Andre Bergeron, who let a ripping shot go for a goal, and had an assist too. The power play scored twice and Bergeron's two points, along with Metropolit's two points, made a difference.
The power play was two for six. The last power play goal before that was in Vancouver. It is about the talent on the ice, isn't it? Put Bergeron at the point with a wicked shot, and dishing smart passes, and there is hope.
Team effort
It wasn't the 5-1 scoreline that was most impressive. It was that the ice was tilted the entire night. The Habs spent large amounts of time in the Isles zone. You know it is a good game when you can't think really of one player who was not good. Guys like Pacioretty and Chipchura had their best games of the year. Puck battles were won by guys who should win them more like Latendresse and D'Agostini. It was the kind of night where you actually believe there is a team in the making.
But ...
However, the Habs are still 4-5, and there's still some work to be done to declare the playoffs are a possibility.
We also have to figure out if we won just because it was the Islanders. Put the same type of ice-tilted result on the board against the Rangers and then we can really talk about all the good that seems to be on the verge of happening.
