Habs First Big Test: Failed

The Habs failed at what many were calling their biggest test of the season to date. That's because they were playing the Boston Bruins who have been sitting at the top of the Eastern conference this season. The Habs could have moved into a tie for first place in the Eastern Conference with Pittsburgh had they won tonight. But they lost. So, they are instead sitting in 6th place in what is still a very close Eastern Conference race.  Boston moves back into first place.

The Habs started off the first period dominating. They had many good scoring chances including a partial breakaway by Plekanec.  He put on a wonderful move and nearly found the back of the net, but soon after Bourque got a bad penalty crashing into Boston's goalie.

Before Bourque's penalty was complete, Prust was able to draw a penalty against Boston's Tyler Seguin.  Prust got a breakaway during the penalty kill, put on a rather unglamorous move and then got smashed into Boston's netminder by Seguin. In fact, Prust was at least a little lucky that he didn't end up with the penalty to give Boston a 5 on 3 powerplay. The referee could have also easily penalized both players, giving them offsetting minor penalties.

Boston had another powerplay in the first after PK Subban got two minutes for hooking. At the end of the first, the game was scoreless.

To start the second period Boston gets a penalty, but Montreal cannot capitalize. Next, the Habs get a penalty. Plekanec was on a breakaway, which affected Montreal's line change, and there were 6 men on the ice.  In the end Plekanec didn't even get a shot away on his breakaway. Not because of the penalty, that came after, he just seemed to forget the puck. Focus Plekanec!

Plekanec goes on a breakaway but loses control of the puck. Photo: Richard Wolowicz.  Source: habseyesontheprize.com 

Luckily, Boston did not capitalize on the penalty. Soon after it was the Habs chance on the man advantage after Lucic gets called for hi-sticking. This time they pulled through with a bullet from the point. PK Subban's monster shot bounced off a Boston stick and made its way into the net. One to zero for the Habs.

Lucic gets another penalty, for slashing this time. Apparently, he did not learn his lesson after Subban's goal on the last powerplay. The Habs couldn't score on the man advantage and go into the 2nd intermission up 1-0.

Less than 10 seconds in to third period, Seguin ties the game up, 1-1. Then, two minutes later Krejci scores a rebound goal, 2-1 for Boston. And, that's how the night ended for the Habs.

There were a few good chances at the end of the game, but it was too little, and too late.

Okay, my title saying that the Habs failed is a little harsh. They actually played very well and could have won the game tonight. In particular, they really dominated the first period outshooting Boston 11-4. But, they didn't keep up the heat as the final shot count was 23-21 in favor of Boston.

The Habs really needed better discipline from PK Subban. He spent 4 minutes in the penalty box tonight, including the last two minutes of the game, ruining any chance of a comeback.

Pacioretty, who underwent surgery just over a week ago, was playing in his second since the procedure. In a pregame interview, Paciorety said, "I didn't want Boston to be my first game. It's nice going into tonight with a game under my belt." He played 16 minutes on Sunday against the Senators and 18 minutes tonight. He looks like he has recovered very well and rather quickly. We should consider giving him the nickname Wolverine.

In the pre-game ceremony Galchenyuk was awarded the Molson Cup for January. Good for the young forward and bad for Carey Price who almost always wins it.

Montreal visits the Sabres Thursday at 7 PM (ET) and they host the Leafs Saturday February 9, at 7 PM (ET).