Game 6: Canadiens 3, Blues 2

I had just texted some coworkers to tell them I was going to be there right at 1900 hr, or maybe a couple minutes late, since the Canadiens were headed to overtime, when Brendan Gallagher scored with 9 seconds left to beat the Blues 3-2.  Boy, these young kids, I tells ya, ...

Pierre Houde and Marc Denis reminded us a few times that the Blues were a King-size team, with quite a few players over 6'3" on their roster, and that they would and did try to use the same strategy against our team of rugrats that L.A. did.  They leaned on the smaller Canadiens and tried to intimidate them, but their defensive play was either not as stifling as the Kings', or the Canadiens made some adjustments, and the difference in result is plain to see.

The Canadiens scored very late to win the game, but also very early to open the scoring, with Max Domi scoring in the first minute, his first goal as a Canadien.

Mike Reilly also scored his first goal as a Canadien, and picked up an assist, and with the way he plays we can expect a few more.  He jumps in the rush, he's not afraid to shoot the puck, so he can contribute, something which our blue line has not been able to do so far to any great degree.

Karl Alzner subbed in for Victor Mete, and finished +1 with one shot on goal and 1 hit.  On his first shift of the season, he pinched far into the Blues zone, and attacked the net with the puck, so maybe he gets the marching orders this season.  This may not be his strong suit, this new skating style, but with his smarts and experience maybe he can let his passing do the talking, he doesn't need to be Phil Housley back there.

Victor Mete was described variously as being a healthy scratch, for allowing two 5-on-5 goals the last game against the Penguins, or being unable to play due to a finger injury.  Probably a combination of both factors sent him to the press box, next to Stéphane Waite as shown on RDS' broadcast.

And Tomas Tatar, again, you're earning your stripes.  He was flashy during many otherwise impotent Canadiens powerplays, and his forecheck caused the turnover that ended up on Gally's stick to win the game. 

So, 9 points out of a possible 12 for the boys so far this season.  This is not the disaster I was expecting.  So far.