Halak steals another for Habs
Written by on February 4th, 2010 in Latest News.
Montreal goalie Jaroslav Halak makes a save as teammate Jaroslav Spacek and Boston forward David Krejci battle in front. (Charles Krupa/Associated Press)
Montreal Canadiens goalie Jaroslav Halak was again the overwhelming reason for his team’s success on Thursday night, making 45 saves and stopping all three attempts in a 3-2 shootout victory in Boston.
Brian Gionta again demonstrated his shootout prowess, roofing a backhand shot over Tuukka Rask for the only shootout goal in six attempts by the teams. Gionta has scored on both shootout attempts this season, helping beat Toronto earlier.
The Canadiens were dominated for most of the first two periods but only trailed by a pair, thanks to their star Slovakian netminder. With just under three minutes remaining in the middle period, Glen Metropolit and Roman Hamrlik scored 39 seconds apart to place Montreal on even terms.
The teams traded a number of fantastic chances in the third without the desired effect and headed past regulation for the sixth time in the last 10 meetings.
Montreal (27-25-6) has now won all three games against their Northeast rivals this season after getting dominated by them last season.
The Canadiens will play two weekend matinee games, both to be shown on CBC and CBCSports.ca. Pittsburgh visits on Saturday at 2 p.m. ET, followed by Boston the next day at 3 p.m. ET.
The Habs are 2-0-1 in their last three and jumped over Philadelphia into sixth place in the Eastern Conference.
Halak stopped 45 shots against Vancouver on Tuesday in a 3-2 home victory. He has faced an average of 34.5 shots in his 26 starts for Montreal this season.
Mark Recchi and Blake Wheeler were the only Bruins to solve him, with Rask finishing with 23 saves.
Boston, the Eastern Conference champs last season, have now lost nine in a row (0-7-2). It is the longest franchise losing streak since the 1924-25 season, when the Bruins lost 11 straight.
Boston’s last home win came on Jan. 1, a game played at Fenway Park.
The Bruins haven’t won at TD Banknorth Garden since Dec. 30, which was also Rask’s last victory. The Finnish rookie has now lost his last five starts.
Boston (23-23-9) peppered Halak early on.
Former Canadien Michael Ryder, rumoured to be on the trading block, split the Montreal defence early in the first to get a strong chance on Halak. At the other end, Mathieu Darche tested Rask.
The Bruins flurried in the second half of the period but always seemed just one play small of scoring. Blake Wheeler couldn’t corral a huge rebound of a point shot, while Halak just got a piece of a Patrice Bergeron deflection.
Boston finally scored on their third power play of the period, with Andrei Markov summoned to the box for the dreaded “puck over the glass” delay of game call.
Much-maligned defenceman Dennis Wideman — who’s had difficulty placing his point shots on target — found the mark with a blast that veteran Recchi tipped past Halak.
It was Recchi’s 556th career NHL goal, tied for 23rd overall with Mike Modano of the Dallas Stars and former Bruins fantastic Johnny Bucyk.
The Canadiens got their own power play late, but while they couldn’t connect, they finished the period with a hint of momentum, with Scott Gomez sending a shot just wide.
Boston outshot Montreal 15-5 in the period.
The Bruins went up by a pair early in the second as Krejci drew three Montreal players to the right side before firing his shot on net, leaving Wheeler uncontested for the rebound goal.
Halak denied Wheeler and Ryder on scoring chances and later denied Wheeler again after a nice set-up from Bergeron.
Boston defender Matt Hunwick took a hooking penalty late in the frame that gave the visitors life. Metropolit again burned his ancient team, starting the play and then potting the rebound after Gomez had two whacks at the puck.
Metropolit has four points in three games against Boston this season.
Hamrlik scored just 39 seconds later on a wrist shot from the point that got through traffic.
Halak nearly got caught out of his net early in the third but Sturm couldn’t take advantage.
The teams traded power-play chances, but it was Stum while small handed with the best chance for either team.
Rask earned his keep by robbing Benoit Pouliot with about seven minutes left
Montreal forward Maxim Lapierre went off for boarding with just under four minutes left. Boston fired three shots on the power play, none of which hit the net.
The Bruins were on target time and again in overtime, with Hamrlik in the box for a leg trip, but Halak was in a zone. At the other end, Markov had a glorious small-handed chance that Rask foiled.
Tomas Plekanec skated in alone in the dying seconds of overtime, but a Boston defender prevented him from getting both hands on the stick for his shot.
Halak’s most impressive shootout save came when we he did the splits to make a right pad save on Krejci.
