HabsWorld.net --
First it was the top team in the league. Now, the defending Stanley Cup
champions have been ousted by the Montreal Canadiens as the Habs beat the Pens
5-2 in Game 7. The game couldn’t have gotten off to a better start as
Brian Gionta scored just 32 seconds in to give Montreal the lead. Dominic
Moore added his 2nd straight Game 7 goal later in the period to give the Habs a
2-0 lead heading into the 2nd where the offensive explosion continued.
Mike Cammalleri gave Montreal a 3-0 lead on a great passing play just 3
minutes into the 2nd. 2 minutes later, with Andrei Kostitsyn in the box
for roughing, Travis Moen sped down the wing scoring a shorthanded goal, chasing
Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury in the process. Pittsburgh didn’t go
down without a fight though as Chris Kunitz and Jordan Staal scored to cut the
lead in half heading into the 3rd.
Although the Pens started the 3rd on the powerplay (and had 2 more in the 3rd
as well), they were unable to beat Jaroslav Halak any more. Brian Gionta
sealed the deal midway through the stanza with his 2nd of the night on the
powerplay. The Habs now move on to the 3rd round to face either the Flyers
or the Bruins; the series will start on the road no matter what.
HW 3 Stars of the Night:
1) Brian Gionta: With Pittsburgh stepping up their coverage on
Cammalleri, his line needed to step up. Although both of his goals were on
the PP, he was solid 5 on 5 and once again, fired the puck more than anyone else
on the team.
Statline: 2 goals, -1 rating, 6 shots (team high), 2 takeaways, 1/1
faceoffs, 21:56 TOI (forward high)
2) Jaroslav Halak: He wasn’t under siege the whole game like he was in
Game 1 but as the game progressed, he really needed to step up and suffice it to
say, he did. He didn’t falter after allowing the two quick ones in the 2nd
which greatly helped the Habs regain their composure for the 3rd.
Statline: 2 GA, 37 SVS, 2.00 GAA, .949 SV%
3) Travis Moen: He’s had a quiet playoff but tonight he stepped up his
game big time. His shorthanded goal was huge and killed the Pens’ momentum
gained earlier on that PP; they never recovered from that one.
Statline: 1 goal, even rating, 1 shot, 3 hits (team high), 2 blocks,
13:22 TOI
HM) P.K. Subban: Talk about poise, this kid has it after not even a
dozen career NHL games. He moved the puck well, made the right decisions,
and sacrificed his body; what more can you ask of this kid?
Statline: 1 assist, +1 rating, 2 shots, 5 blocks (tied team high),
23:01 TOI
Stat of the Night: It was a curious decision to not dress Ryan O’Byrne
and go with 7 D and the way that Jacques Martin rolled his 4th line tonight (Pouliot
– Metropolit – Darche), it’s even more confusing. Of those 3, Pouliot
played the most at a whopping 2:48. Fortunately, the decision can be
overlooked now…