It’s nights like this that make us realize how exquisite it was watching the 4 Nations Face-Off, which was hockey at its finest.
A Thursday night encounter at the Bell Centre between the Canadiens and San Jose Sharks? Not so much.
The first period saw the visitors scoring twice on their first six shots, with both teams making one mistake after another. Then came a second period which, shall we state diplomatically, was non-descript.
When all was said and done, the Canadiens came from behind for a 4-3 overtime victory after Cole Caufield made a beautiful move to get around Macklin Celebrini and then beat Sharks goalie Alexandar Georgiev. It won’t be remembered as a classic.
The pre-game hype was overplayed: If you came here expecting a great confrontation between rookies Lane Hutson and Celebrini — the co-favourites for the Calder Trophy and former Boston University teammates — it failed to materialize. Neither player proved to be a pivotal factor on this night, although give defenceman Hutson, who had one assist, a slight edge over centre Celebrini, who was held without a point. Celebrini, who was a minus-2 in the game, was made to look like a rookie on Caufield’s winning goal.
When the Canadiens defeated the Sharks 4-3 on Feb. 4, Celebrini had a goal and assist, while Hutson had an assist.
The marvels of medicine: We’re not sure how Josh Anderson does it game after game, but the Canadiens power forward could play on our team today, tomorrow and forever. He nearly went face-first through the boards on Tuesday against Carolina, after being hit from behind by Jalen Chatfield, yet somehow made it back against the Sharks.
But in the second period, he fell awkwardly into the boards, lay on the ice, then hobbled to the bench where he sat, doubled-over, in obvious discomfort before making his way into the clinic. Nonetheless, Anderson returned for the third. Of course he did. The guy’s a warrior.
Money well spent: Sharks defenceman Marc-Edouard Vlasic is still playing — sort of — at age 37. The Montreal native dressed against the Canadiens for only his ninth game this season. He has spent the majority of the campaign as a healthy scratch but continues collecting paycheques from his eight-year, US$56-million contract. And now you know why general managers get fired.
Strange, but true (Part I): Sharks centre Nico Sturm, now in his eighth season at age 29, had never played a regular-season NHL game at Montreal before Thursday night. The German native, however, did make it to the venue as a teenager while playing in the World Junior Championship. Sturm scored San Jose’s second goal.
Strange, but true (Part II): Captain Nick Suzuki’s two first-period goals were the first of his career against the Sharks in nine games.
Strange, but true (Part III): Yes, the Sharks are on a seven-game losing streak, but five have been by only one goal, including three in overtime. Sometimes the margin between wins and losses is that thin.
On the other hand, this is why teams stink: San Jose has allowed a league-high 225 goals in 60 games, with only six road victories.
Great moments in NHL scheduling: The Sharks are in the midst of a seven-game road trip, following which they play eight straight at home. This makes us wonder: How many pairs of underwear are required on a trip that began Feb. 22 and doesn’t conclude until March 6? Socks? Most of these kids don’t wear them — even in winter.
Another slow start: The Canadiens didn’t register their first shot until the game’s fifth minute. If you had Christian Dvorak in the pool — highly unlikely — go cash your ticket.
Pass of the night: Caufield to Suzuki on Montreal’s opening goal. It was a two-on-one break and Caufield hesitated before dishing the puck off.
News you need (Part I): After the visitors opened the scoring on their fourth shot, at 3:56, they didn’t register another one until halfway through the period.
Hit of the night: Luke Kunin on Owen Beck in the game’s 16th minute. The rookie centre will learn to keep his head up.
Faceoff of the night: Suzuki beat Alexander Wennberg before tying the score, 2-2, in the final minute of the opening period.
Another rookie mistake: Early in the second period, Beck missed his check on Vlasic and went face-first into the end boards.
Rewarded for paying the price: Beck, who had a rough game, was taken into the boards by Klim Kostin but drew an assist — his first NHL point — on Alex Newhook’s tying goal in the third-period.
Game of inches: Former Canadien Tyler Toffoli, part of the 2021 magical run to the Stanley Cup final, hit the post early in the third period, denying the Sharks of the potential winning goal.
Next time, decline the penalty: Montreal went 0-for-2 with the man advantage but generated five shots. On one of the power plays two Sharks broke their sticks, yet the Canadiens still couldn’t score.
Quick stats: Joel Armia led the Canadiens with five shots. Juraj Slafkovsky had six hits — two more than Emil Heineman. Both David Savard and Alexandre Carrier blocked four shots. The Canadiens won 56.5 per cent of their faceoffs and enjoyed a 39-33 advantage in hits.
They said it: “We really needed those two points,” Suzuki said. “It wasn’t our best … but we found a way to win in OT. Cole made an amazing play.
“There aren’t a lot of guys in the league that would play through what (Anderson) is going through,” the captain added. “He’s one of the toughest guys that I’ve seen. He’s playing amazing at the same time. Great leadership from him. He’s showing his heart. He’s showing how much he wants it and how much he wants to try to help the team.
“I think we’re right there,” Suzuki concluded. “We have our moments where we show we can be a really top team in the league and moments where we kind of show our immaturity a little bit too much. We’re trying to find that balance.”
“Honestly, I was just trying to make the right play,” Caufield said about his filthy goal. “Sometimes it works out. It was a big goal for our team there. It keeps us alive, I think.”