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Hockey Hainsight
If the Habs played the whole game as they played in the first period, they would have won and they would have won dominantly last night. 20 minutes into the game, the Lightning had only managed to put four shots on Cayden Primeau’s net and were scoreless while the Canadiens were up 2-0.
For once, the goals didn’t come from the first line but for Joel Armia and Jake Evans. Whether you like him or not, you’ve got to admit Joel Armia has straightened his act since being waived at the start of the season. Slowly but surely, he has gathered 11 goals, making him the fourth goal scorer on the team, behind the members of the first line. In the past, he has had some good stretches, but he always went back to a near-dormant state. If he can keep this level of play, Hughes might be able to move him next year at the trade deadline, I don’t think anyone would bite this season since he’s got another year left on his contract which comes with a $3.4 M cap hit. On Jake Evans’ goal, Brendan Gallagher got his ninth assist of the season, the 202nd of his career, catching up to Mark Recchi in the all-time assists leaders ranking at 42.
In between the two goals, Arber Xhekaj dropped the gloves with Erik Cernak who snuck a punch at the Canadiens’ defenseman’s face while the refs were trying to intervene, which unleashed the Kraken so to speak and Xhekaj obliterated him. If Cernak wanted to wake up his teammates after the Lightning conceded a quick goal less than two minutes in, he failed miserably.
Unfortunately for the Habs, and for Martin St-Louis, the second frame belonged to Tampa. The Lightning tested Cayden Primeau 13th times in this frame alone and they managed to beat him twice to level the score. The damage could have been worse though, at one stage, Jesse Ylonen looked like a headless chicken in defense, having no clue who he was made to cover, and to make matters worse, he even collided with two of his teammates on the play. Just a prime example of a player who, with over 100 NHL games of experience, should know better.
With a 2-2 score after forty minutes, the Canadiens woke up in the third and even got the lead back thanks to a Josh Anderson deflection of a Caufield shot to make it 3-2, but they were unable to protect the lead. Xhekaj also got an assist on the play giving him an assist, a fight five hits, and four shots on the night. The gritty defenseman also unleashed a rocket that made Bishop’s mask come off his head, even though the puck was deflected. This hard shot might give him an edge when the decision time on his blueline personnel comes for Kent Hughes.
It was Tyler Motte who tied the game as he flew on a breakaway shorthanded, thanks to a rare Nick Suzuki turnover. Neither team was able to break the deadlock before the end of the game or the five-minute overtime period. In all fairness, the Lightning should have been able to put the game away when they got a power play in overtime, but the Canadiens had a surprisingly efficient kill.
Finally, it was Victor Hedman in the 6th round of the shootout who gave Tampa the extra point while they could have won the match if only the were able to provide a consistent effort.
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
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