Montreal Canadiens vs. New York Islanders

Musings and In-Game Scribbles

My English is as good as yours, I just write these in a stream-of-consciousness mode that I insist excuses me from small things like rules of grammar or general etiquette. Let’s call it conversational English, hopped up on beans. You know what kind of beans (no, Carl Mellesmoen, not the magic ones).

Montreal Canadiens (5-2-1) host New York Islanders (4-2-2)

Wednesday, October 27th, 2010
Game Nine (score posted following scribbles)

Missed it? Musings capture the game in writing. A written transcript typed during the game, posted and edited about thirty minutes afterward.  Based on the RDS French telecast of the Montreal Canadiens game, Musings take about 20 minutes to read. More detailed than an article, fresher than a looping highlight and good with morning coffee. Or late-night chocolate.  A unique way to re-experience the game.

click here to expand post

Well in advance, mug of water at hand, your unscheduled scribe is ready.  Missed the majority of last game to my chagrin.  Since the lockout, I’ve watched 79, 79, 81, 82 and 82 regular-season Montreal games.  All playoff games, as well.  There have been a few late arrivals and a few post-watched a la tape games, as well.  So.

Reading up prior to the game, I was reminded that Montreal has had four playoff series against tonight’s opponents.  Montreal defeated the New York Islanders in 76, 77 and 93, losing in six games in 84.  The New York Islanders are, of course (to hard-core fanatiques) one of the league’s lost dynasties.  The team won four straight Stanley Cups from 1980-83.  They are forgotten for many reasons but the largest is that they played in the “obscure market” of New York.  Only in hockey is New York City, La Belle Pomme, considered an obscure market.  But it is.  Its population is so large that even a cult following of the game can support the existence of a franchise (or three – NJ Devils and NY Rangers – a Parisian nod to both).

Islanders were spanked by Montreal 7-2 in the Canadiens’ last preseason game of 10-11 (this season).  Isles iced a team of younglings, going with the league-mandated minimum eight pros.  Thus the lopsided result.  Tonight will be different.

Quick shots of Andrei Kostitsyn and Mike Cammalleri in the dressing room.  This segment is likely not filmed live.

Pierre Houde and Benoit Brunet greet us and Pierre mentions Andrei Kostitsyn’s two goals in a recent game.

Instead of showing kids trundling with flags on ice, we are treated to Joel, Alain and that new guy on le passerelle.  The new guy has some similarity to Carbonneau.  Bouchard warns the viewers that the team can’t just rely on one line (Plekanec, Cammalleri, Kostitsyn) and that the other lines need to step up.  He says that Plekanec’ line is not like a light switch and he makes pull-chain gesture to bring home his point.  Et bien.

My sister calls right before the faceoff.  “How was I supposed to know?”  If you read the site, you’d know.  Then again.  Oy.

Price and Roloson.  He’s 41.  So is my graduating class.  HS.  Eric Furlatt and Francis Charron are the refs.

First Period

Master of Word Ceremonies Pierre Houde says that the Isles have a bizarre trio to start things.  Scott Gomez line for, uh, us.

Travis Moen is the winger.

Josh Gorges and Hal Gill on the rearguard.

Long puck.  Mark Eaton touches it behind the Isle end-line and the faceoff is to Price’s left.

Hab captain Brian Gionta’s slow start is highlighted in numbers.  Slow is in quotes.  Ok?

Entry.  Quick out.

Isles’ Frans Nielsen enters.  Puck is ticked away by Alexandre Picard.  Defensive partner PK Subban digs along the boards backhanded.  His work helps effect an exit.  Now Jaroslav Spacek’s stick is broken and in lovely pieces under the Montreal end-line.

Tomas Plekanec’ line is on with ninety seconds elapsed.  Roman Hamrlik joins Spacek on the blue line.

Two on one.  We’re doomed.  Price.  Extension.  Full extension.  Two gorgeous.  Yes.

Crowd’s enthusement (not a word) lasts a very short time.  What, Wednesday night critics?

Montreal’s Lars Eller, Maxim Lapierre and Tom Pyatt are on.  Crease swirling.  Lapierre moves to crush behind the net.  A helmet flies off.  Jeff Halpern line hops on for Red after the Islanders man up and move out.

Corner.  Darche chases.  Pouliot supports.  Puck is moved into the neutral zone.

Picard fires it cross-corner.

The chase results in an interference call against New York defenceman Jack Hillen.  Replay shows it is legit.

Power.  Still at the bottom.

Plekanec on the draw.  It dribbles backward.  An Isle captures.  Clears.  Subban retrieves.

Plekanec chases deep.  Cammalleri picks up.  To the point.  Across.  Hamrlik backhand shovels it.  In the booth.  Kostitsyn.  To Hamrlik on the other side.  Shot.  Out to the blue.  Subban.  Bing off the post.

Exited.

Re-entry.  Gomez’ people.  Spacek and Hamrlik remain on the blue.

Under the end line.  Gionta works hard.  So hard he draws a hook.  But it goes uncalled.

To the neutral zone.  Two-on-one entry.  Pouliot on the left side.  Slows.  Covered.  Finds Gionta streaking down the middle.  Nicely placed.  Over the net.  Tight stick?  Hope not.

Stoppage.

Isles win the faceoff.  Clear it.  Ten seconds in the penalty.

Just wait til Markov returns.  We’ll go top five. (Ed note:  Still at 30th at 6.2 percent.  League average typically hovers around twenty with deviations of one percent being significant)

Andrei Kostitsyn is hooked and barbed and it also goes uncalled.  Does his work at the top of the blue.  Loping left and hulking over the puck to protect and retain.  Stoppage.

Eller is the centre.  Outside the blue.  Cleanly won and to Gill direct.  Yeah, directly.  I like Gill direct.

Lapierre attempts a trap on the body.  Nope.  Gorges has to retrieve under the hash as a result.  Man leaning on him.  Gorges is unaffected.

Now New York’s Josh Bailey is in on the left.  Lofts a puck to the slot.  Very high.  Price reaches up nearly fully, um.  He’s standing tall, nearly.  Man.  Gloves it.  Holds it.  Some words have been ruined by trogs.

Commercial.

Subban’s post-shot is shown.  Brunet says “what a shot”.  Subban is averaging 24 minutes per game (amongst the top five for all defencemen in the league, it seems).  Houde asks Brunet if Subban will join Markov right away.  Brunet says he’s interested in seeing.  Pednault would have known.  Pednault knew a lot of the technical details.  Or so it seemed.

We resume.

Long Islander puck stays on the perimeter and Pouliot touches it for the whistle.  And returns to the bench.

To Roloson’s left.  He’s low with his stick way out in front of his pads.  Puts a glove, almost signaling, along his crossbar as he looks left and hugs right.  He has lots of old-goalie mannerisms.  Cigar, financial post, slippers.  Similar to those old quarterbacks are the goaleurs.

Stoppage.  Faceoff outside the Islander blue.  Plekanec wins it.  Blasted in.  Another interference.  This one is against Hamrlik.

Replay shows it is deeply legit.  Crosschecked a waiting, thin forward at the hash.  In his back.  As he awaited the puck up.

Moen and Plekanec are the first pairing.  Moen does the first good piece.  Second good piece sees Plekanec hurrying the puck up and in after an interception.  Together they kill the first forty seconds.

Isles set up.

Lots of wasted motion with the puck.  Let the puck do the moving.  Hey, it’s an opinion.

Canadiens intercept once.  Clear.  A second time.  And golf it down.  Twenty seconds as Gionta and Gomez pair up.  Isles enter.  Long shot.  Seen all the way.  Price stops play.

Faceoff to his left.

Isles win.  To the point.  Too hard.  Hops over a stick.  Penalty ends as Hillen crosses the blue line and lofts a puck to Price’s crest.

Plekanec line is on.  Kostitsyn spits onto the ice.

Price’s right.

Won.  Shot.  Price.  Ooh, ejects Houde.

Price is sharp.  And calm.  Look out.

Ten minutes in the first.

Halpern line.  Action moves to the boards.

Halpern comes back to assist Subban near the hash.

Plekanec is in on the right.  To Cammalleri.  Slot.  Puck is snarled.  Good coverage.

Commercial with bad acting.  In French.  Selling a TV.

Scott Gordon, the Islander bench boss, is shown.  Nodding and listening to a ref.  He effects a reasonable manner.

Deep.  Plekanec versus Zenon Konopka.  (Awww.)

Won by Montreal.  One good shot.  A second.  Isles clear.

Price’s mask resembles Dryden’s somehow now.  Triangular flesh gaps.  It’s a distance mirage.  Meantime, he makes one save, is turned by a naughty puck.  Gets his stick low.  Has friends and some luck.

Habs exit.  Gionta over the sticks in the middle.  That never works.  And it doesn’t.  I think he is a bit desperate.  Affected.  That makes Michel Bergeron right.

Roloson now makes two bright to brilliant saves.  The red on his mask is too Montreal-red.  I like that, though.

Eller to Roloson’s right.  Roloson has a large triangle patch of ice between his pads.  Somewhat 1982.

Lapierre is back.  Across Price’s path to Gorges.  Some hesitation to allows Darche and Subban on to the ice.  Darche high-steps to the corner.  They control on the point.  Finally Halpern is able to wheel, turn and shoot.  And it finds its way behind Roloson.  Off Darche’s stick and into the net.

Montreal 1, Islanders 0

Plekanec line follows.

Matt Moulson is on the ice for Isles.

Six minutes left in the first period.  Ole, ole chant begins.  Lasts about eight seconds.

Gionta takes a puck, leaning and torques one at Roloson.  Roloson shirks backward.  Off his glove and alive.  Crowd senses boars and tusk.  The blood is white.

Pyatt joins and takes up the feeling.  And the puck.  Around the Islander net.  To Lapierre under the circle.  Shot.  Hits something.  Isles turn and track.  They survive.

In the neutral zone.   Stays there for the sake of interceptions, line changes and swirling indifference mixed with desperate pathology.

Canadiens retake the initiative.  Blood feelings dissipate.  But Kostitsyns keeps the tooth glossy.  Shakes and takes.  Leans and cleans.  He is all work and stride.

Just under three minutes.

Islanders are out of their element.  Ref’s arm goes up.  Canadiens penalty.  Saves the mood.  Saves the Islanders.

Whistle.

Price is slid into.  A second Islander enters the crease pre-emptively.  I predict nothing much will happen.

Stop advertising bad beer.  You’re just showing your desperation.  We all know Ryckard’s is syrup.  Red syrup.  Cough syrup.  Next.

Anything that needs an ad is either piss-poor (yes, piss-poor, I’m from Northern Canada) or stripped of any distinction.  If marketing reps brewed beer it would taste like blended Budweiser, Coors Light and Ryckard’s with a little lemon juice and cheap soda water.

Habs score short-handed.

Wow.  Quelle passe says Brunet.

Off the boards.  Plekanec.  At our blue.  Accelerates.  Doesn’t get the coverage he deserves.  Leans a little left. Places it in the low slot.  Tink and in.

Montreal 2, New York Islanders 0

Who do you think has the most short-handed goals in Montreal history?  Carbonneau with 27.  Next?  Listen close: Gainey with 20.

Choquant.

We resume.  Gill and Gorges.  Gomez, Gionta and Moen.    Just under a minute.

Weight is on the point.  Pauses.  To the blue.  Shot.  Deflection.  Wisniewski’s shot.  Houde says there was no deflection.  Weight is an arrogant passer.  His puck hits a Gionta stick on the way across and is typical of his passing style.  Favre forcings.

Montreal 2, Islanders 1

Thirty seconds.  Plekanec line.

Cammalleri tries to pick up a purse.   Islander won’t let him.  It’s shot behind Price’s net.  Some sharing and a siren.

Shots on goal are in favour of Montreal 14-7.

First Intermission
Montreal 2, Islanders 1

Crete has a neon purple tie.  His hair is receding but coiffed nicely.

Francois says that Toronto is one of the nice surprises of the season.  Some Clarke MacArthur highlights.    Tampa is mentioned as a pleasant surprise, as well.  Mike Smith’s goaltending is noted by Francois.

Francois gives us much more of interest than Tremblay might.  Much more, better organized.  And stuff that’s interesting.

Now some Anders Lindback highlights.  Predators’ new goalie.  Emerging goalie, really.  They beat Tampa recently.  He is one of Francois’ west surprises.

Flames are on his list there.

Isles have a “No Habs No” campaign going on the face page of their website.  Last time Montreal was there, Montreal won 3-0 and there was a great party in the stands at the Isles’ expense, according to Francois.  The campaign aims to end all of that.  I support that type of campaign.  There should never be more visiting team fans in your rink.  Especially for a venerable franchise like the Isles.  Yes, I know they’ve done much in the last decade to unearn that label.

Dis-earn?  Mis-earn?

These commercials.  Just willfully polluting.  Entering my brain.  I’m not quick enough on my two-button mute solution.  The noise of nonsense.

Islanders’ No Habs No promotion is hilarious.  Three knuckleheads in Habs gear with the line through em.  “Show the Canadiens that is Islanders Country”.  Fair enough.  The guy on the far right is like that infomercial dude from ten years ago.  You know.  That smarmy, grease-hair, let’s pick up ladies guy.  Ah, you’d know.

Looks as if cars and beer are the only products this planet has for sale.  A car should last a lifetime.  Planned obsolescence is a crime.

And it’s a sign of intellectual laziness and ethical fraud.  All apologism ignored.

Very good first period, says Houde. Second goal was by Moen, by the way.  Backhand finish and a big maw of joy.

Second Period
Montreal 2, Islanders 1

Plekanec.  Konopka.  Plekanec wins it.  Some neutral zone dithering.  Entry on the left.  Cammalleri.  Kostitsyn can’t come up with the dumper along the boards.

Second entry.  Turnover on the left.  Gomez keeps it in.  To the slot.  Kostitsyn can’t get to the pass.  Big jaw.  No net.

Hamrlik and Gorges are on together.  Interrupted or delayed line change.  Moulson.  Takes it crossing the line.  Winds up.  Price sees all of it.  Chest.  Drops lightly into his glove.  Faceoff to his right.

Gomez takes the draw.  Loses it.

Doug Weight wears the C for Isles.  Former Oiler.  Rough customer.  Brutal competitor.  Can make plays.  Thirty-nine.  Years old.  Not a fan.

Stoppage.  Eller is on the ice.  Wins the faceoff against Tavares.  Another anointed granite-jaw.  NHL Flintstones.

Eller.  Takes the puck from Tavares.  Stands there.  Takes his time.  Three Islanders watch.  Roloson bails em out.  Faceoff to his left.

Halpern wins it.

Faceoff wins have stabilized in Montreal’s favour.

Pouliot.  Gill.  Both move out of their skating lanes and it results in a longer, slower possession and a decent shot.  But Roloson gives up few rebounds.  Retains this one for a faceoff.

Habs are in control of the disc within five seconds.

Kostitsyn enters on the right.  Eaton follows horizontally.  Dropped for a shot from Plekanec.  No.

Quick re-entry.  Isles are chasing.  Shots.  Passes.  Subban gets two possessions on the blue.  His last act is a rising puck down the right that goes out of play.

He leaves the ice for the dot faceoff outside the Isle blue.  Gomez line.

Comeau shoots long from outside the blue.  Easy.

Tavares goes to the net from Price’s left.  Both doors are closed.  Tavares hacks at it gracelessly.

Canadiens exit and the new lines are on.  But they are in chase mode in seconds.  Pyatt picks up a puck as the Canadiens kafuffle a bit.  Carries it through the neutral zone. Down the right.  Isles watch and chase.  Man, what a stationary team.  Stoppage in Isle ice.

Commercial.  Most food products in commercials are artificial. Easier to work with.  And to make appetizing in appearance.

Mm. Mm.  Good.  ZZ Top.  Track eight.  Eliminator.

Long shot from Isle defenceman Radek Martinek.  Misses the net but bounds dangerously to the slot.  Price is on knees.  Wild swings from New York.  No danger.  To the point.  Another shot.  More harmlessness.

Plekanec line.  Cammalleri over the blue.  To his left he sends the puck.

Defended.  But Plekanec is in again.  From Kostitsyn (from Plekanec) High slot.  Roller.  Snap-shot.  High corner.  No chance.  Not for Roloson.  Not for Tretiak.  Not for Hasek.

Montreal 3, Islanders 1

Mottau follows with an offwing shot from the under-circle but Price’s glove is the silencer.

Too much standing around.  Faceoff.  But a good find from the passer.

Moen.  To Gionta.  He was in the clear on the right and accelerating.  But the pass is too far.  You love it when the receiver glares at the quarterback?  No such thing here.

Moss glares.

Gionta gets a hard, long shot.  Again, he is looking for something.

Whistle.  An Islander is down.  And out.  Training staff.

Moen shoved Wisniewski into the boards.  Brunet defends Moen a bit.  But he adds that Moen should have taken a little off the shove.  Wisniewski is up.  Some guy with a thick handlebar moustache takes note.  Unfortunately, he’s an Islander player watching from the bench.  Wisniewski is wincing but back on the bench.  He wears the “A”.

Islander power.

Early dive to the stomach.  Halpern.  Cues it out.

Visitor Blake Comeau’s pass on entry is intercepted now.  Cleared.  Thirty seconds elapsed and still no Isle entry.

Now on the left.  Parenteau.  Back to the point for Weight.  Shot goes up and out immediately.  Parenteau leaves the ice.  Brunet lauds Parenteau’s early season production.  They interviewed him prior to the game.  Big bushy curls.  Where’s the hat trick, home-boy?

Under a minute.

Spacek clears.

Two on one.  Plekanec.  Lapierre.  Coverage is beaten.  Pass across.  Houde says the pass is too strong.

Plekanec reminds me of Carbonneau on the PK.

Moen and Konopka fight.  Moen is being punished for his shove.  Fight is a draw.

Konopka is six-feet, 209.  Fight goes a long time.  Both stay standing.  Plenty of cheering.  One-third bowl type.  Moen is six-two, 215.

Fights allow research.

Subban pairing.  Gomez.  In along the right.  To the slot.  Pouliot.  To the left wing.  Gionta.  Off-wing shot.  No.  Just a matter of time.  Houde notices.  Says there have been many.  Shots from Gionta.

Eight and a half.

Cammalleri.  Carries through his zone.  Up for Gionta.  Across for Plekanec.  Gionta trips over Cammalleri’s stick.  Mild booing.  Houde corrects.

Isles have another two-second presence.  Then a three-second possession.  Eaton’s loss of the puck on the blue leads to a near Cammalleri-Eller ribbon-shot.

Lines change.  It doesn’t matter.  Montreal controls all.

Shot.  Roloson sweeps away the rebound one-armed.

John Tavares.  Shot.  Price.  Calm.  Examines the puck as he hefts it.  Extends the glove to the linesman.

Gionta dumps some equipment.  Seemed like some upper body gear.  Small.  Old pro.  Lightening the load.  We’ll find out after the game.  Especially if he scores.

Six and a half.

Montreal enters offside and that ends Pyatt’s shift.  Eller and Lapierre, too.

Isles win the faceoff.  Halpern.

Josh Bailey.  Neilsen.  Deep.  Not long.  To the neutral zone.

Some puck possession sloppiness under the Montreal end line.  Now a penalty.  Delayed.  Against Islanders.

Gomez crosses over the line.  I wince.  He’s into a square of four islanders.  Backhands a pass to his left.  Just gets there.  A shot.   Through legs and sticks.  Now it goes to the point.  Touched by an Isle.  Whistle.

Another damned car commercial.

Damned.

Like this planet’s humans.

Bouchard says “it’s run and gun hockey” to assistant Perry Pearn.  Pearn says a few things about tempo with a strong old-time Canadian accent.  Coach’s accent.  Tuh-nyte.

Power.  Montreal.  To the blue.  Passed.  Back.  Lost.  Retrieval is three men to one and the Canadiens re-enter.  Cammalleri.  Right side.  To Subban.  Blast.  Misses.  It’s squibbing around in the slot.  Isles manage it.

Re-entry.

Another Islander blast-out.  This one from under their end-line.

Gomez and Gionta.  To the slot.  Roloson slides across.

Forty seconds.  Gomez.  Right side.  To the point.

Back to Gomez.  To Pouliot low on the side.

More passing.  Gorges is involved on the left.  Spacek on the right.  They lose it.  They nearly give up a rush.

Penalty ends as the puck is driven in on the left.  I consider a sigh but Saturday all sighs end.  Or is it Friday?  Markov.  Saturday.

Three minutes as the puck goes out of play.

Brunet also refers to Pearn as “Pearns”.  Carbonneau, too.

My nickname in Brossard was Roger.  Way easier to say.  Than my other one.  The entire road was Francophone.  Except one neighbour.  And us.

Two and a half.

Deep.  One man can’t take two.  This time.

Montreal is allowed to move it out on the re-entry.

Eller.

Neutral zone.  Islander Matt Martin’s carelessness this time.  New York loses most of the neutral zone skirmishes, it seems.

Roloson is there for them again.  Bryzgalov is the guy for Phoenix.  Certain number of old goalies in the league, just bailing for bad organizations.  What fun.  Try quarterback in Ottawa circa 1983.  Or defensive lineman for any Arizona Cardinal football team.

Waste.

Spacek is called for high-sticking.

Martin is mildly disturbed but maintains perspective; two goal lead, eh.

Just over a minute.

Halpern is on the first pairing.  Pyatt.

Islanders work it around.  Price is vigilant and in drop-eagle motion.  Feathers and slide.  It’s a puck collide delight.
But the Isles can’t even prove it.  No shots.  Siren goes.

Montreal led 9-8 on shots for a 23-15 advantage.

Second Intermission
Montreal 3, Islanders 1

Alain, Marc Denis and Joel Bouchard.  Marc is the guy that reminds me of Carbo.  It’s a manner of listening that they share.  A way of holding the chin up a bit and nodding.  Bouchard discusses Gionta’s work.  Compliments for an A game.  Hitting.  He’s in front of the net.  And so forth.  Bouchard defends Gionta.  And it’s fair.

The fans.  Those few or several.  Critical toxic.  Critical tough-love.  It’s constant.  And the TV guys feel the need to take the role of defender.  Print and radio are different.

Even Beliveau was criticized.

Il garde son sang-froid.  That’s Bouchard’s concluding statement in a volley of pro-Subban words.  Merited.  Let the kid create.  Let him enjoy.  Yes, there will be mistakes.

Six-second segments.  Ten-second segments.  I have to do the same.

Some highlights.  Crete asks if an NHL coach might not benefit from an NFL-style rule that allows a coaching challenge.  Bouchard says yes.  We see a goaltender interference that led to a winning goal yesterday.  Denis follows up with more of the same.  Sure.  Why not.

Allo, Tomas.  Ca va?

Allo, Andrei.  Ca va?

Allo, Michael.  Ca va?

I need full-service nachos and wings in this living room.

Third Period
Montreal 3, Islanders 1

Gionta makes a water signal.  He’s still got the C.  Asking for water.

Plekanec and Moen are the first kill pairing.  Just under forty seconds left.

To the point.  Wisniewski.  Long shot.  Deflects up.  And in.  Over Price’s right shoulder.

Wrister.

Off Tavares’ stick.  Nicely done.

Montreal 3, New York 2

The “yeah I deserved that” expression as he tapes the stick-butt on the bench.  Entitlement gorges greatness.  Doesn’t it.

Plekanec line.

Missed pass leads to Hamrlik and Spacek garbaging it out.

Up.  Diving.  Plekanec.  Cueball.  To Cammalleri.  Alone.  Off-wing.  High.  And out of play.  Crowd remembering Pittsburgh.  Game Six.  When does it coalesce?

Mid-zone faceoff.  Picard blasts it in.

Isles loft it out.  Montreal takes it.  In.  Out again.

Gionta takes a pass from the Montreal side boards.  Over the blue.  Shot.  Loud glass.

Action continues in Islander ice.  To the point.  Subban.  Shot.  Roloson.  Got it.  All of it.  Like Subban.

Faceoff to Roloson’s left is won by Islanders.

Houde tells us that Tavares has scored four of the last five islander goals.  Oh yeah.

World, world, world.

An Islander falls as Parenteau handles it on the left column.

It’s out again.  And again.  And again.

Gill and Gorges.  Gill neutralizes Bailey on the boards.  Has Halpern beside him.  Then Pouliot descends.

Montreal’s defensive coverage is a conscientious one.

Houde says that the Islanders have more conviction following their last goal.

Bouchard is at ice level.  Tell us that the Islanders are using a cherry-picking method and the Habs were discussing it along the bench.  Isles are leaving a guy high near centre ice for a quick transition game.  Legal, of course.  Just a risk.

Cammalleri and Kostitsyn combine for a good two sequences.

Subban advances twice.  Once to shoot.  Once to pass.

It continues.  Looks like a power-play.

Subban now neutralizes a Nino Niederreiter entry.  (Czech Republic.  Yes, that’s his real name)

Subban-Subban cheers ensue.

It’s an impressive play. Late in his shift he gives more than we expect.

Gomez.  Right side.

Offwing.  Gomez lances it.  Roloson falls over from the wrister.  It’s in his arm.  Under his right arm rather.  Looks behind him as he falls backward.  Feels good.  Takes some water.  Jaws with someone on-ice.

In the corner.   Pyatt.  Help him.  Eller is watching.  I shake my head.

Lapierre and Pyatt in the neutral zone.  Now.  Eller is taken out of the play.

Islanders emerge.

Bailey on the right side.  Across. Hillen manages a weak shot.  Eller digs it out.  Across for Lapierre.

Lines change.

Price files a puck behind his net.

Pouliot.  Up for Halpern on the left

Pouliot goes to the net.  Halpern finds him.  I don’t even see it.  Replay shows it might have gone off a body.  Pouliot was covered by Eaton.

Montreal 4, Islanders 2

Halpern stays on.

Halpern gets all the credit says Brunet.

Mouthguard out and waiting.  Halpern turns away from the circle and skates back to the bench area.  Stays on the ice as the announcement is made that the replay will be checked.

Brunet says there is, for him, no reason to check.  No doubt.

I felt that one before it went in.  The arena floor drops when that happens.

Goal is announced as good.

Crowd gives about half.

Halpern wins the draw.

Long puck.  Isles touch it.  Darche is there a second after.  Whistle.  Icing.

Brunet and Houde compliment GM Pierre Gauthier for the Halpern signing.

Veterans.

Pouliot is tripped on a breakaway.

Halpern grabs someone around the head after the play.

Pouliot slid into Roloson.

Crowd boos.

Pouliot’s long strides are slow but deceptive.  He got past the defender who was pistoning furiously.

Even though he was slashed hard, Pouliot managed to backhand it off the post on his knees.

Penalty shot.

Roloson does an equipment change.  Freezing the kicker?  Hah.  Gives a shooter more time to plan.  Try again.

Pouliot is low.  Crowd cheers.  Some are standing.

He takes it.

Shoots from fifteen.  To the pads.  Roloson flicks it away.

Wrister.

Brunet opines that the shot wasn’t a quality shot.  Says he could have produced a better shot.  Twelve and a half minutes.

Stoppage after some puck dithering.

Price is being treated under the eye.  Standing at the bench.  Something got in his eye?  He seems ok but.  Blinks the left eye a few times as some liquid is squirted into his eye.  He returns to his net.

Martin is non-plussed.  A true neutral this time.

We resume.

Gill takes a sideboard pass in his slot and sends it up for Cammalleri.

Puck is lost on the deep boards.

Islanders.  Slot pass from under the line.  Nobody can control.  Eventually Montreal takes over on the high bubble.

Montreal entry.  Offside.

Gionta is shown for several seconds.  Always hard to read his expression.  Was it the call?  Is it the shift?  The game?  His trajectory?  Tightened.  Deepened.  Buried.

Price retrieves behind his end line.  Dangerous pass.  Up.  Gotten.  By Red.  They extend and elaborate.  But lose on the deep boards to Roloson’s left.

Spacek sits down; nostrils rise and fall three times.

Pyatt.  Down the middle.  To Eller on his right.  Stick check ends that.  Swimming.

Halpern is flying.  One speed for Halpern.  One speed for the rest.  Veterans.

Parenteau is in on the right.  Gorges is on him.  No flags tonight.

Interference is called, though.  We will see after the needless break.

Question pour Joel.  Pacioretty has five in six.  Solution for Gomez-Gionta?  Bouchard says that we have to be patient.  Says give it twenty.  No sense to put unneeded pressure on the players up here at this point.  Offensive guys deal better when relaxed.  Defensive guys are the guys to get fired up.  To some degree.

Montreal is on the power-play.

Plekanec wave.  Kostitsyn shoots from the hash.  Voo-tow. But out.

Plekanec entry is rebuffed.

Second entry.  Cammalleri on the right side.  Down.  Brakes at the hash.  Long across.  Gomez.  Shot just deflected high by Roloson.  He was out of position and fooled.  Expected a slot pass from Gomez, seems.

Now Roloson freezes a puck after a mild middle shot from Spacek.  Gomez loses the faceoff.  Puck is sent down the boards.  Price fields.

Leaves it.

Twenty seconds.

Over the line.  Gomez.  To the right wing.  Now it’s on the opposite wing.

They work it quickly.

This is how you play in the third with a lead.  Not like last night’s joke from Ottawa and Phoenix.

Penalty expires.

Eller now dives to block a shot.  I am complimentary.  But a second later a shot goes high and eludes Price.  Deflection?

Wisniewski.

Montreal 4, Islanders 3

Just under seven.

Toute est a revoir dans ce match.  Says Houde.

I think not.  At least not on the process end.  Islanders are fundamentally weaker than Montreal.  And the Canadiens have played blue.  Collar.  Work.

Pyatt’s dump-in is blocked but Lapierre takes it in off the bounce.  Calm. Wrapper fails.  But I love the work.

Halpern, Pouliot and Darche.

Short presence.  All effort.

Whistle.  Pass with the hand.  Halpern was haranguing a retreating, puck-carrying Islander defender through the neutral zone.

Commercial.  Bouchard is made to look like a jerk on the Bell commercial.  They should have gone with a different take or concept.

Eller’s missed block allowed the clear shot.  He gets marks for the block attempt, nonetheless.

Just under five.

Gorges lunchpails along the right.  His offensive abilities are untapped.  No matter.  He’s paid to keep the opponent’s offensive sheet clear.  And he does so well enough to make me believe he will be an all-star down the road.  Just on blue work.

Print.  Collar.  Sky?  No.

Youppi, the traitor, is dancing.  Band-wagoner, then.

Long puck.  Whistle.  Price’s left.  Plekanec.  Loses it.  To Mottau.

Shot.  Wide.

Exit.  Plekanec.  Down the right.  Nearly finds Cammalleri.  What a near-perfect game from Plekanec.

Three and fifteen.

Montreal ice.  Hamrlik hacks at it.  Fatigue.

He looks hurt, too.

Houde notices and says that Hamrlik returns with some difficulty to the bench.  Time-out, asks Houde.  And yes.

Houde says it was a must-call.

No chalk-talk.  Just resting, water, masks up and leaning.  Hamrlik is puffing.  Small o for a mouth.

Islanders gather round the coach.  Organ takes us back thirty years.

Price returns to the net.

Faceoff to his right.

Plekanec.

Fights to win.  Dives, too.

Cammalleri at the end line.  Covered.  Looks.  Sends it to the crease.  Intercepted easily.

Other end.  Broken stick.  Gill and Gorges.  There is nothing here for young Islanders.

Wisniewski has to retrieve behind his net.

Two minutes.  In the corner to Price’s right.  Around the boards.  Picard collects it.  Lobs it out.

More Montreal wall and neutral juice.

Ninety seconds.

A win is a win.  Roloson leaves the net.  The little box-in-box visual.

In the neutral zone.  Plekanec line.  Kostitsyn, yes.  Islanders mess up a pass around the boards.  It bounces.  To Kostitsyn.  Turns and shoots.  Goff-wrister.  Et c’est un but.

Montreal 5, Islanders 3

Brunet exults.  Houde admonishes with a cautionary reminder of Friday’s rematch in Long Island.

Ole, ole chant.  No Habs No.

Under thirty.  Roloson is back in.

Darche, Gionta and Gomez.  A shot from Gionta.  Subban from the blue another shot.  Wide and loud.

Gomez for Darche in the slot.  Shot wide.  Siren.  Price’s glove meets Plekanec’.  Men in suits stand and smile awkward business smiles.

Hat to hat, they congratulate their goalie.

Final Score
Montreal 5
Islanders 3

HDS Stars: Tomas Plekanec, Carey Price, Hal Gill
RDS Stars: Tomas Plekanec, PK Subban, Carey Price

I wonder who chooses the road stars?

Plekanec gives a puck to a fan.  And a second.  Lobbed over the glass.  Spotlight follows him.  He crosses the rink to lob up a third.

Friday.  Friday.  Got it.  Islanders on the island.

They go to the most aggravating non-sport of them all instead of ante-chambre.  Yes, bowling, golf and darts are more ludicrous but to consider baseball among the so-called “big four” is like considering England a world power.

Hogwash.

I flip to the Chicago Blackhawk game.  They’re interviewing an assistant coach on the bench.  He’s forced to wear a headset.  Nonsense.  When are the coaches going to get a union?

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