Game 4: Canadiens 4, Penguins 3 (SO)

With less than $2M at the goalie position, the Canadiens bettered the vaunted Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3 in an entertaining game that required a shootout to decide.  Bring your Crosbys and your Malkins and your Kessels, we'll nullify them with our trademark anttiniemi, and a splash of tatar.

It was such an exciting game that even Bob Cole couldn't ruin it for me.  Now that there's a sunset clause, that we know he'll be put out to pasture at the end of the season, I can almost tolerate his unfocused warbling, his obfuscating nasality.  I just wonder if the string-pullers at Sportsnet putting him on Canadiens game is the best use of the sentimentality he is meant to evoke.  Shouldn't he be playing the heartstrings of Leafs fans who grew up on his foghorn call?  Because it leaves this blogger cold to hear him: "Domi..., ..., no shot!  Petry..., ..., no shot!"  Let Winnipeg fans 'enjoy' his final few outings, and Ottawa fans too.  We've had quite enough thank you.

Much was made, including in these pages, of the ineffectual faceoff work by the Canadiens against the Kings on Thursday, with their big centres Anze Kopitar and Jeff Carter dominating at the dot.  A few articles were written about Phillip Danault, recognizing that his 8% efficacy that night was unacceptable, that he'd spend some time in practice working on this aspect, that he'd improve.  Sure enough, tonight against the likes of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, formidable adversaries, he won 60% of his draws, and the Canadiens' much-maligned centres finished at 52% for the game.

We saw Jonathan Drouin, also bearing the brunt of criticism after a tepid outing versus the Kings, be explosive, decisive and productive with the puck.  He won a critical faceoff in overtime while the Canadiens were on a 4-on-3 advantage.  No muss no fuss, after Brendan Gallagher had been tossed, he took the faceoff and won it cleanly, gaining possession for the club and giving his team a chance to win.

Monsieur Drouin did what is expected of him.  He was dangerous in the offensive zone, set up a powerplay goal by Tomas Tatar, and cashed in his attempt on the shootout to help seal the win.  If he does those things every game or nearly so, we'll forgive him his more detached, cerebral approach to the game.  I don't mind if my Steve Shutt doesn't backcheck quite like Bob Gainey, as long as he pots 60 goals.

Tomas Tatar got his first two goals of the season, and it's not like we were anxious or anything, we're just glad he got on the board.  In the pre-season he was effective, he put up points, and it'll be nice if he can do so over 82 games, and somewhat make up the lost production of a Max Pacioretty.  The Red Wing Tatar was a very nice player any team would have wanted, let's see if the Canadiens Tatar (the one with the $500 000 held back by George McPhee) can become that kind of tradeable asset.

What's there to say about the defencemen?  Jeff Petry is effective and earning his dollars.  He'll look great as the second-pairing rightie behind Shea Weber in the lineup.  Mike Reilly continues to impress.  Victor Mete almost notched his first NHL goal.  No pressure Vic, I'm sure your second season is the charm.  And Jordie Benn, a player who I never liked for no particular reason, is forcing me to admit that he's playing decently.  I'm beginning to ascribe trade value to him, that's how well he's performing.

And speaking of trade value: Antti Niemi?  A few more games like these, a torn groin here and a shredded knee there around the league in various creases, and all of a sudden we have a third, nay, a second-rounder en puissance in the fold, a player we can auction off as the trade deadline approaches?  No?  I'll keep my Michael McCarron machinations to myself then...