Rabu, 31 Maret 2021

About Last Night: Habs show no signs of rust in 4-0 win over Oilers - Montreal Gazette

Carey Price made 16 saves for his first shutout of the season.

Author of the article:

Erik Leijon  •  Special to Montreal Gazette
Montreal Canadiens centre Jesperi Kotkaniemi, right, (15) celebrates opening the scoring against the Edmonton Oilers with Montreal Canadiens left wing Paul Byron (41) and Montreal Canadiens left wing Artturi Lehkonen (62) during NHL action in Montreal on Tuesday, March 30, 2021.
Montreal Canadiens centre Jesperi Kotkaniemi, right, (15) celebrates opening the scoring against the Edmonton Oilers with Montreal Canadiens left wing Paul Byron (41) and Montreal Canadiens left wing Artturi Lehkonen (62) during NHL action in Montreal on Tuesday, March 30, 2021. Photo by Allen McInnis /Montreal Gazette

Following an unplanned 10-day staycation, the Montreal Canadiens looked fresh and rested in their thorough 4-0 shellacking of the Edmonton Oilers Tuesday night at the Bell Centre.

Centre Jesperi Kotkaniemi, one of two Habs to land on the league’s COVID Protocol Related Absences list on March 22, scored the game winner 18 seconds into the contest. Oilers coach Dave Tippett challenged the call on the ice, claiming Artturi Lehkonen and/or Paul Byron were offsides, but it wasn’t the case, sending the already trailing away team to the penalty kill. Things didn’t get much better for the Oilers in the remaining 59 minutes and 42 seconds. Some food for thought:

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Well, that explains it. The Habs, most notably the surging Phil Danault-Brendan Gallagher-Tomas Tatar line, were up to their usual 5v5 beast mode dominance, keeping the reigning Hart Trophy winner and the current Hart frontrunner not only off the scoresheet, but away from the goaltender altogether. Tuesday was only the second time all season Connor McDavid posted zero shots on net. Needless to say, Price didn’t have to stand on his head in order to record his first shutout of the season, but he did make a stop with the back of it. In all, Price made 17 saves.

The newly formed Kotkaniemi-Lehkonen-Byron line was buzzing in the first. The latter two were left undisturbed in front of Oilers goalie Mikko Koskinen, allowing Lehkonen to bang home an open rebound from a Joel Edmundson point shot to make it 2-0. Brendan Gallagher lunged at a loose puck in the crease to give the Canadiens a 3-0 advantage before the end of the first period.

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The typically calm Oilers captain McDavid showed a rare sign of frustration, landing in the penalty box near the end of the first by deliberately raising his arms and catching Kotkaniemi in the face. Earlier on, Habs fans even held their collective breath momentarily when Josh Anderson KO’d William Lagesson in a fight. The first period truly had everything to satisfy hungry Habs fans.

  1. Montreal Canadiens centre Jesperi Kotkaniemi, right, (15) celebrates opening the scoring against the Edmonton Oilers with Montreal Canadiens left wing Paul Byron (41) and Montreal Canadiens left wing Artturi Lehkonen (62) during NHL action in Montreal on Tuesday, March 30, 2021.

    Montreal Canadiens centre Jesperi Kotkaniemi, right, (15) celebrates opening the scoring against the Edmonton Oilers with Montreal Canadiens left wing Paul Byron (41) and Montreal Canadiens left wing Artturi Lehkonen (62) during NHL action in Montreal on Tuesday, March 30, 2021. Photo by Allen McInnis /Montreal Gazette

  2. Canadiens' Brendan Gallagher outhustled the Oilers defence to score his 13th goal of the season in the first period Tuesday night at the Bell Centre.

    Canadiens' Brendan Gallagher outhustled the Oilers defence to score his 13th goal of the season in the first period Tuesday night at the Bell Centre. Photo by Allen McInnis /Montreal Gazette

  3. Montreal Canadiens' goaltender Carey Price (31) looks back to see Montreal Canadiens defenseman Alexander Romanov (27) upend an Edmonton Oilers into his crease during NHL action in Montreal on Tuesday, March 30, 2021. A penalty was called on the play. (Allen McInnis / MONTREAL GAZETTE) ORG XMIT: 65951

    Montreal Canadiens' goaltender Carey Price (31) looks back to see Montreal Canadiens defenseman Alexander Romanov (27) upend an Edmonton Oilers into his crease during NHL action in Montreal on Tuesday, March 30, 2021. A penalty was called on the play. (Allen McInnis / MONTREAL GAZETTE) ORG XMIT: 65951 Photo by Allen McInnis /Montreal Gazette

  4. Montreal Canadiens centre Nick Suzuki (14) ties up Edmonton Oilers right wing Josh Archibald (15) during NHL action in Montreal on Tuesday, March 30, 2021. (Allen McInnis / MONTREAL GAZETTE) ORG XMIT: 65951

    Montreal Canadiens centre Nick Suzuki (14) ties up Edmonton Oilers right wing Josh Archibald (15) during NHL action in Montreal on Tuesday, March 30, 2021. (Allen McInnis / MONTREAL GAZETTE) ORG XMIT: 65951 Photo by Allen McInnis /Montreal Gazette

  5. Montreal Canadiens right winger Brendan Gallagher (11) smiles at Montreal Canadiens centre Phillip Danault (24) after scoring the third goal against Edmonton Oilers goaltender Mikko Koskinen (19) during NHL action in Montreal on Tuesday, March 30, 2021.

    Montreal Canadiens right winger Brendan Gallagher (11) smiles at Montreal Canadiens centre Phillip Danault (24) after scoring the third goal against Edmonton Oilers goaltender Mikko Koskinen (19) during NHL action in Montreal on Tuesday, March 30, 2021. Photo by Allen McInnis /Montreal Gazette

  6. Montreal Canadiens right wing Michael Frolik (67) during NHL action against the Edmonton Oilers in Montreal on Tuesday, March 30, 2021.

    Montreal Canadiens right wing Michael Frolik (67) during NHL action against the Edmonton Oilers in Montreal on Tuesday, March 30, 2021. Photo by Allen McInnis /Montreal Gazette

  7. Montreal Canadiens right wing Michael Frolik (67) during NHL action against the Edmonton Oilers in Montreal on Tuesday, March 30, 2021.

    Montreal Canadiens right wing Michael Frolik (67) during NHL action against the Edmonton Oilers in Montreal on Tuesday, March 30, 2021. Photo by Allen McInnis /Montreal Gazette

  8. Montreal Canadiens right winger Brendan Gallagher (11) crashes into Edmonton Oilers goaltender Mikko Koskinen (19) after taking a hit from Edmonton Oilers defenseman Adam Larsson (6) as Montreal Canadiens centre Jesperi Kotkaniemi (15) tries to recover the rebound during NHL action in Montreal on Tuesday, March 30, 2021.

    Montreal Canadiens right winger Brendan Gallagher (11) crashes into Edmonton Oilers goaltender Mikko Koskinen (19) after taking a hit from Edmonton Oilers defenseman Adam Larsson (6) as Montreal Canadiens centre Jesperi Kotkaniemi (15) tries to recover the rebound during NHL action in Montreal on Tuesday, March 30, 2021. Photo by Allen McInnis /Montreal Gazette

  9. Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse (25) knocks Montreal Canadiens left wing Artturi Lehkonen (62) to the ice and holds him down during NHL action in Montreal on Tuesday, March 30, 2021.

    Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse (25) knocks Montreal Canadiens left wing Artturi Lehkonen (62) to the ice and holds him down during NHL action in Montreal on Tuesday, March 30, 2021. Photo by Allen McInnis /Montreal Gazette

  10. Montreal Canadiens right wing Josh Anderson (17) dumps Edmonton Oilers centre Devin Shore (14) during NHL action in Montreal on Tuesday, March 30, 2021.

    Montreal Canadiens right wing Josh Anderson (17) dumps Edmonton Oilers centre Devin Shore (14) during NHL action in Montreal on Tuesday, March 30, 2021. Photo by Allen McInnis /Montreal Gazette

  11. Montreal Canadiens defenseman Brett Kulak (77) tries to stuff the puck past Edmonton Oilers goaltender Mikko Koskinen (19) during NHL action in Montreal on Tuesday, March 30, 2021.

    Montreal Canadiens defenseman Brett Kulak (77) tries to stuff the puck past Edmonton Oilers goaltender Mikko Koskinen (19) during NHL action in Montreal on Tuesday, March 30, 2021. Photo by Allen McInnis /Montreal Gazette

  12. Montreal Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin watches during NHL action against the Edmonton Oilers in Montreal on Tuesday, March 30, 2021.

    Montreal Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin watches during NHL action against the Edmonton Oilers in Montreal on Tuesday, March 30, 2021. Photo by Allen McInnis /Montreal Gazette

  13. Montreal Canadiens centre Jesperi Kotkaniemi (15) carries the puck over the blue line under pressure from Edmonton Oilers defensemen Darnell Nurse (25) and Tyson Barrie (22) during NHL action in Montreal on Tuesday, March 30, 2021.

    Montreal Canadiens centre Jesperi Kotkaniemi (15) carries the puck over the blue line under pressure from Edmonton Oilers defensemen Darnell Nurse (25) and Tyson Barrie (22) during NHL action in Montreal on Tuesday, March 30, 2021. Photo by Allen McInnis /Montreal Gazette

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In the second, the Oilers and McDavid thought they had Price beat, but an offsides coaching challenge by Habs interim head coach Dominique Ducharme proved a more astute call than Tippett’s earlier in the night, and the shutout was restored. Jesse Puljujarvi, who seemed a step behind all night, turned out to be ahead of the zone entry by a stride. The Danault line continued to press, with Tomas Tatar capping off a successful shift in the offensive zone by squeezing an accurate Danault feed through Koskinen to make it 4-0.

A late power-play push by Edmonton notwithstanding, the Canadiens played a letter-perfect third period with the lead, keeping the Oilers from making any headway in the offensive zone.

The Habs head to Ottawa Thursday for a game against the Senators and the two teams will play again on Saturday at the Bell Centre. Forward Tyler Toffoli remains day-to-day with a lower-body injury, Joel Armia remains on the COVID list and new arrival Eric Staal is in mandatory quarantine. At some point, the team may find itself flush with forward depth. It’s just as well, because with a stretch of 25 games in 43 nights, they may need all the warm bodies they can muster.

Meanwhile, all was well in the Liveblog comments section, the only controversy coming regarding shutout superstitions. Do you acknowledge it when a goalie is getting close, or is mum’s the word? While you reflect on the power of your words, here are your three stars from the comments:

3. “4 games, 6 points. Holding McDavid/Draisaitl to a combined: 2 assists (one on an empty netter), Minus 6. Well done so far” -Tea Bon

2. “This unscheduled bye week worked wonders for the team” -Ryan Katz

1. “Do you think Staal is watching this game and wondering how he got so lucky to get out of Buffalo?” -Bob Taylor

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2021-03-31 11:02:05Z
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