About Last Night: Habs punch Golden Ticket to Stanley Cup Final - Montreal Gazette

Jumat, 25 Juni 2021

About Last Night: Habs punch Golden Ticket to Stanley Cup Final - Montreal Gazette

Artturi Lehkonen scored the series winner in overtime. Shea Weber and Cole Caufield scored the other two goals for Montreal.

Author of the article:

Erik Leijon • Special to Montreal Gazette

Publishing date:

Jun 25, 2021 • 1 hour ago • 4 minute read • 10 Comments

Montreal Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin and assistant coach Luke Richardson congratulate goaltender Carey Price (31) after the Canadiens defeated the Vegas Knights to advance to the Stanley Cup final during NHL semi final game 6 in Montreal on Thursday, June 24, 2021. Photo by Allen McInnis /Montreal Gazette

If for some reason you fell asleep early and didn’t hear thousands of fireworks being set off in your general vicinity, here’s what you missed: The Montreal Canadiens are headed to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in 28 years. They sealed the deal with a 3-2 overtime win against the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday night at the Bell Centre to take the best-of-seven third-round series in six games. As for Vegas, good Knight and good luck.

Let’s get straight to the magic moment. Just over a minute the extra frame, Carey Price stopped a puck with his noggin, allowing the Habs to move the puck up the ice. Brendan Gallagher distributed to a speeding Phillip Danault, who entered the zone and fed the puck to Artturi Lehkonen on his left. Lehkonen one-timed it home past Robin Lehner for the series clincher.

Game recognize game in the handshake line between the two talented netminders.

The superstitions surrounding these elimination dates continued. First it was general manager Marc Bergevin in red like Tiger Woods on Sunday:

Then it’s Danault having a post-game slice:

The game started with another switch in goal for the Vegas Golden Knights: Game 5 starter Marc-André Fleury out, Game 4 starter Lehner in. Montreal got an early power play, but couldn’t capitalize. Both teams looked tentative, afraid to commit an unforgivable sin, when captain Shea Weber opened scoring on their second power play of the period. He was in the perfect spot to receive a failed Alec Martinez clear where his stick broke on the play. Weber’s big blast made it 1-0. It was only the second goal by a Habs defenceman in these playoffs (Erik Gustafsson has the other).

Less than a minute later, Vegas responded when Reilly Smith won his battle along the boards and got the puck to open blue-liner Shea Theodore. Smith then went to the net to redirect Theodore’s shot, making contact with Price after the puck crossed the goal line. The period ended 1-1.

In the second period, the Canadiens killed their 29th and 30th consecutive penalties of these playoffs, the equivalent of an entire game. After suggesting his scouting reports had him ready for Cole Caufield’s shooting patterns, Lehner found himself needing to put his studies into practice. Caufield took a stretch pass from Joel Edmundson, then flipped the puck away from Brayden McNabb before beating Lehner top shelf. Lehner tried a pokecheck, but guessed wrong. It was Caufield’s fourth goal of the series.

The Golden Knights pressed for the equalizer. Martinez fed William Karlsson with a centring pass in the slot, but Price slid over to make the save. The second period ended with Vegas up 22-21 in shots, but down a goal.

The Golden Knights tied the game 1:08 into the third period. Price made the initial glove save off an Alex Pietrangelo point shot, but batted the puck down, allowing Martinez to jump on the loose puck in front. Martinez jammed the puck through Price’s legs and with the ice still fresh from the intermission, it was tied 2-2.

Chances were few and far between for both teams as play tightened. Danault nearly feasted on a Theodore turnover up the middle, but Lehner came to the rescue. At the other end, Tomas Nosek muscled his way to a wraparound scoring chance that hit Price and bounced in the air. Lehner also got even with Caufield, this time making the pad stop from a five-hole shot attempt.

For a third straight game at the Bell Centre, the Habs and Golden Knights were tied after regulation time. Vegas had the shot advantage 37-31 after three periods. In the opening minute, the Golden Knights dominated. In desperation, Jesperi Kotkaniemi dumped the puck for an icing, but it grazed Lehner’s pad before going behind the Vegas net. The officials still called it an icing, forcing a tired Habs line to remain out for a defensive zone faceoff. Vegas cleared the puck accidentally but came back in, with Pacioretty nearly the hero after being left all alone in front of Price, but the goalie made the save. Then out of nowhere came the rush down the ice from the Danault line, with Lehkonen the hero. Nothing left but the handshake line and group photo:

Now the Canadiens must wait for the winner of Game 7 between the New York Islanders and Tampa Bay Lightning, with the Stanley Cup Final beginning Monday. For the first time in club history, the Canadiens are the recipients of the Clarence S. Campbell Bowl, awarded to the league’s Western Conference champion. The Forum Ghosts displayed their sense of humour with that one.

Let’s get to Liveblog commenters reactions. They’ve been working hard all season, too:

3. “Have a good night all, hopefully the adrenaline will wear off so we can get some sleep. See you next week.” -Kelly Morgan

2. “Man, I had to watch this game on tape delay because I couldn’t take it – but I found out anyways because every time Montreal scored I heard yells all around my neighborhood here in Verdun! TOTALLY AWESOME!!!!” -Brian Bailey

1. “The improbable just became possible, our montreal canadiens are playing for the Stanley Cup.” -Ryan Katz

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2021-06-25 11:02:00Z
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Jumat, 25 Juni 2021