Canadiens @ Sabres

I can never tell if games against the sabres are actually exciting or if it's just the influence of Rick Jeanneret. Regardless whenever these two division teams meet it's always a good game. Both teams seem to always have a team with not too many stars and are fast-skating. Here we go!




First Period

The Habs are off to a good start when, a minute and a half in, Plekanec skated up the right wing and put it "where momma keeps the cookies" (top shelf).
The game has been end to end so far and i'll say it now and i'll most definitely say it again, Mark streit is one of the most undersung heroes in the NHL. Any guy who you can put on either the blueline or forward and he's effective is an absolute hidden gem. Midway through the period on a rush up the ice that looked to be broken up, Streit managed to steal the puck right off of Tomas Vanek's stick and scored a beauty. (Basically picture any goal scored when Sheldon Souray was defending.)

Buffalo didn't have a lot of shots on goal, but so far Carey Price is looking fantastic.


Second Period

Tomas Vanek made amends for his gaff in the first period with a powerplay goal five minutes into the period. Price couldn't be placed at fault as he made a fantastic stop on the initial shot by Vanek and did not have a lot of help from the Montreal defense. But the Canadiens would answer with their own powerplay goal when plekanec scored an almost identical goal to his goal in the first period, regaining the Canadiens 2 goal lead.

The game was relatively even until the end of the period when Streit drilled one in from the point on a powerplay. (Again, i must repeat... what an unsung hero.) His last goal came from in close to the net, and this one was from the blueline as a defensemen. However, it's not as though all is simple in the world. 4-1 is a dangerous lead... especially for the habs. I can't declare this one a win just yet.



Third Period

ok. so i won't lie. i did not see Andrei Kostitsyn's goal a few minutes into the period... i was still coming back from a second run to the liquor store.... so sorry, my bad. But... he scored, habs lead 5-1.

Sabres forward managed to get his team to within 3 but at that point, it wasn't looking promising. For once the Habs were showing no mercy and pressing despite their large margin of lead, because with 2:25 left in the game Sergei Kostitsyn put one in on a two-on-one rush to make it 6-2.

And 6-2 is how it would end... Montreal embarrassing the Sabres in front of their own crowd (although you could really say it was a half home game for Montreal judging by the amount of blue, white and red sweaters in crowd).

So far Price is showing that he's up for the challenge, letting in only 2 goals on 33 shots; and the team is showing that they're behind him, scoring 11 goals in 2 games.



little known fact of the day: Henri "The Pocket Rocket" Richard is a leap year baby (feb 29, 1936), making him 18-years-old today (i wish).