The Streak Is Gone

As the Montreal Canadiens were coming off a 5 game win streak and leading all Eastern Conference teams with the most points, they would get to add onto that streak with a win at home ice against the New York Islanders last night. The Islanders have only won 3 of their previous 10 games.

• First Period
• With 30 seconds into the game Price would have to make a big save on John Tavares who was right in front of the net. With only 20 seconds after Price's big save, Travis Moen would roof one past Evgeni Nabokov making it 1-0 Canadiens. 10 minutes later, the Canadiens would go on the powerplay where Max Pacioretty would slap one into the net from a pass from Desharnais. The Canadiens would really dominate the first period as they had most of the opportunities.
• Montreal: 14 Shots On Goal
• NY Islanders: 3Shots On Goal
• Second Period
• The Islanders would start the second period on the powerplay, Matt Moulson would tip in the point shot from Mark Streit cutting the lead down to 1. With 11 minutes to go in the second, Pacioretty would score again as he receives a pass from Desharnais from behind the net. The Islanders on the powerplay once again, would score making it 3-2 Canadiens heading into the third. 
• Montreal: 14 Shots On Goal
• NY Islanders: 12 Shots On Goal
• Third Period
• Midway through the third, Frans Neilson on the rush would snap one past Carey Price tying this game. After that goal, both teams would try and convert chances to goals, but it would remain a tie game. This game needed overtime!
• Montreal: 4 Shots On Goal
• NY Islanders: 8 Shots On Goal
• Overtime
• The Canadiens would get the most of the chances for the first 3 minutes, but it would be the Islanders who would capitalize. Thomas Hickey was left unmarked, as he just wrists one into the open net, Carey Price had no chance at all. The Islanders would win 4-3, the Canadiens do pick up a point in there effort.
• Montreal: 1 Shots On Goal
• NY Islanders: 2 Shots On Goal

With a loss last night, the Canadiens break their winning streak and are now tied with the New Jersey Devils at first place. The Canadiens will look to bounce back from their loss on Saturday night as they face the New York Rangers at the Bell Centre. The Rangers have won 8 of their 16 games played this season. 

Falling Short

The Montreal Canadiens took on the Buffalo Sabres last night at the First Niagara Center. The Sabres who had not won a game in their previous 3 matches, would look to break their losing streak against the Canadiens who completely dominated them in a 6-1 victory on February 2nd.

• First Period
• To kick of the first period, Alexei Emelin takes away the puck from Tomas Vanek and leads the rush into the Sabres area. Passing it to Tomas Plekanec who would wrist one top shelf on Ryan Miller. With only 15 seconds after the goal scored by the Canadiens, Steve Ott would put one past the legs of Petr Budaj, the backup goalie for the Habs. The period would end in a 1-1 tie game.
• Montreal: 13 Shots On Goal
• Buffalo: 10 Shots On Goal
• Second Period
• Midway through the second period, the rookie Brendan Gallagher would receive a pass from Brandon Prust in the middle of the Sabres territory and wrists one over the glove of Ryan Miller giving the the Habs the 2-1 lead. With only 50 seconds gone since Gallagher's goal, Tyler Ennis was left unmarked and recieved some open ice towards the Habs net, he would snipe one through the legs of Budaj. The Habs on the power play with only 1:30 left to go in the second, PK Subban would slap one past Miller marking his second goal of the season. The Habs would lead 3-2 at the end of the second.
• Montreal: 12 Shots On Goal
• Buffalo: 18 Shots On Goal
• Third Period
• With only 45 seconds into the third, Tomas Plekanec would wrist his second of the night, giving the Canadiens a comforting 4-2 lead. Ryan White, who has been known to take bad penalties for the Habs, takes a 4 minute double minor penalty for fighting. The Sabres would convert on the power play bringing the game at 4-3. With only a minute left, the Sabres pull their goalie, clock ticking down with only 5 seconds remaining, the Sabres push for one more chance. An unbelievable effort results in a goal with only 2 seconds left to play. The Habs were left in shock as no one took advantage of the loose puck in the crease, Vanek saw it and poke checked it between the legs of Budaj. This game needed overtime!
• Montreal: 5 Shots On Goal
• Buffalo: 10 Shots On Goal
• Overtime
• A 4 on 4 overtime brought a couple of chances for both teams, but none could convert. The fans would get to see a shootout! 
• Montreal: 2 Shots On Goal
• Buffalo: 2 Shots On Goal
• Shootout
• Tomas Vanek (BUF) - Goal
• Alex Galchenyuk (MTL) - Goal
• Tyler Ennis (BUF) - Stop
• Rene Bourque (MTL) - Stop
• Jason Pominville (BUF) - Goal
• Brian Gionta (MTL) - Stop

As the Canadiens fall short in a 5-4 shootout loss against the Sabres, they do pick up a point, although 2 points would have been better. The Canadiens will face off against the Toronto Maple Leafs Saturday night at the Bell Centre, the teams that opened the hockey season will put on another exciting show tomorrow night!