This edition of the Hidden Game is dedicated to the late, great and immortal Red Fisher.
The dean of Montreal hockey writers, first for the Star and later The Gazette, died seven years ago on Sunday. Not only did Fisher cover the Canadiens impeccably for decades — his first night on the job was during the infamous Richard Riot, on March 17, 1955 — he taught us a thing or two about sports journalism; lessons that are ingrained and we follow to this day.
There are many nights spent at the Bell Centre when we wonder what Red would think. The game has become so commercialized, between the DJ, incoherent music that’s blared throughout games and spectators who seem more interested catching a glimpse of themselves on the scoreboard during stoppages in play.
As for the product on the ice … well … what might Red have thought, and written, Saturday night when the Canadiens allowed seven consecutive Toronto goals while squandering a 3-0 lead?
Show me the players? Followed by what in thunderation … and now back to our regularly-scheduled program.
Character-building win: Say what you will about the Saturday implosion against the Leafs. However, 24 hours later, the Canadiens four times overcame one-goal deficits before outlasting the New York Rangers 5-4 in overtime.
Strange, but true: The Rangers have an overall record of 64-12-3 when Alexis Lafrenière scores. He opened the scoring at 11:17 of the first period. It was his first goal since Jan. 7.
Long memories: It has been more than a decade since the Rangers’ Chris Kreider scuttled the Canadiens’ playoff hopes by injuring goaltender Carey Price, running into him during the first game of the 2014 Eastern Conference final. That was the beginning of the recurring knee issues Price dealt with, eventually leading to his career ending prematurely. Kreider was booed each time he touched the puck, but also scored his 15th goal this season, late in the second period, giving the visitors a 4-3 lead.
Not an ideal start: New York didn’t produce its first shot until the 10th minute.
On the other hand: The Rangers scored twice on their opening three shots, further proof shots on goal occasionally are over-rated.
Those Bell Centre boards are lively: Lafrenière’s goal resulted from a juicy rebound off the end boards.
Swing and a miss: Kaiden Guhle failed to control that rebound.
Giveaway (Part I): Arber Xhekaj on the Rangers’ second goal, scored by Will Cuylle, at 14:38 of the opening period.
Momentum … schmomentum (Part I): That goal came 46 seconds after Brendan Gallagher tied the score. It was Gallagher’s first goal since Dec. 29.
This stick will do: Late in the opening period, New York goalie Jonathan Quick and Juraj Slafkovsky both lost their sticks. So, Quick grabbed Slafkovsky’s. The Canadiens forward wasn’t amused.
The marvels of medicine: Things looked bleak for Josh Anderson, and his left knee, early in the second period following a collision with Arthur Kaliyev. He required assistance limping to the clinic, where he was met by a team physician. Somehow, Anderson returned within minutes.
Down goes Frazier: Xhekaj scored a unanimous decision against the Rangers’ Matt Rempe, a 6-foot-9, 255-pound freak of nature, in the second period. It was a heavyweight bout for the ages, Xhekaj raising his right arm in triumph as he skated to the penalty box — where he promptly applied an ice bag to his right hand.
Where potential goes no longer go to die: Yes, that was Christian Dvorak who produced the Canadiens’ second goal, slightly more than five minutes into the second period. It was his first goal since Dec. 29 and his fourth this season.
Giveaway (Part II): Will Borgen, who plays for the Rangers, set up Nick Suzuki, who doesn’t play for the Rangers, 15 minutes into the second period, tying the score 3-3.
News you need: With that goal, the Canadiens’ captain extended his home point streak to 11 games — the longest run by a Montreal player since Saku Koivu, also 11 games, during the 1996-97 campaign.
Speaking of streaks: Rookie defenceman Lane Hutson has points in eight consecutive games. He has one goal and 11 assists over that span.
Momentum … schmomentum (Part II): It took only 75 seconds following Suzuki’s goal for New York to regain the lead.
Hit of the night: Adam Fox levelled Suzuki in the third period.
Game never should have got to OT: Urho Vaakanainen came out of the penalty box and hit the post in the third period. Not long after, it was Filip Chytil’s turn to strike iron.
Best goal while crashing into the net: Slafkovsky tied the score at 12:52 of the third period while being checked by Vincent Trocheck. It was his second goal in three games.
Pass of the night: Guhle to Patrik Laine on the winning goal.
Next time, decline the penalty: The Canadiens went 0-for-3 on the power play.
Quick stats: Suzuki lead the Canadiens, with six shots — one more than Gallagher. Alex Newhook had four shots. Xhekaj had five hits. Alexandre Carrier was plus-3. Jakub Dobes’ save percentage was .852, but the rookie won his fifth consecutive game, his first at home.
They said it: “He (Guhle) made a great play obviously,” Laine said. “Even I couldn’t miss that. It was a pretty easy job just to lift it over the pad. He made a great play.”
“We just tried to stay patient, no matter whether we were up or down,” Slafkovsky said. “We got rewarded. We needed this win after what happened (Saturday). I’m very happy that we got it.”
“I was just trying to give them a chance to win,” said Dobes, who robbed Trochek and Artemi Panarin in overtime. “I can take some credit, but these guys played unbelievable. Everyone has eyes. It wasn’t the best game, but the guys battled. They always came back. I’m really proud of the team.”
“He’s the reason we won,” Suzuki said of Dobes. “He bailed us out.”