Despite injuries ‘we’re still winning’
The Canadiens’ holiday road trip has been a success, but the team is paying a price.
The Canadiens posted a 4-3 overtime win over the Dallas Stars but they finished with two of their top six forwards in the clinic receiving medical attention.
Paul Byron, who has been having a career season, left the game in the first period with what appeared to be a concussion while Brendan Gallagher went to the dressing room after getting in the way of a shot by teammate Shea Weber. When the Canadiens go to Toronto Thursday, Gallagher will go home to Montreal.
It was the fifth consecutive overtime game for the Canadiens and they have won three of them to boost their record on this trip to 3-1-2. The Canadiens have opened a 10-point lead atop the Atlantic Division.
For the second consecutive night, Max Pacioretty notched the overtime winner. It was his second goal of the night, his 18th of the season and his sixth gamewinner.
Pacioretty said he felt proud of the Canadiens even though they gave up a late third-period goal to prolong the outcome.
“To see guys go and we’ve had guys go down of late but everyone went out there (in the overtime) quick,” said Pacioretty. “We knew we had to take care of the puck and take short shifts. Even though we gave up that late goal, nobody was cheating. Everybody was doing the right thing and that says a lot about our team. We got rewarded with the two points, but I was really proud of the way we played after losing those two guys.”
It would be an understatement to say Montreal came out quick in the overtime. Pacioretty needed only 19 seconds to produce the winner.
“I remember standing in this very stall last season and I was in a tough situation, but it feels a lot different this season,” said Pacioretty. “I think of those last 10, 12 minutes and even though we gave up the goal, we’ve bought into the system and we were going for two points. We’ve had a lot of guys go down but we’re still winning.”
The Canadiens took control with two power-play goals early in the third period.
Goaltender Al Montoya made 39 saves for the win and he said the night was unbelievable.
“It was a tough night for us (after playing in Nashville Tuesday) and they had a few days off but we know what kind of team we have. It doesn’t matter who’s in the line, we play with speed and we have the same mentality that we can compete every single night.”
Montoya looked as if he were fighting the puck early in the game and he was flopping around like a rag doll.
“For whatever reason, those nights happen,” said Montoya. “But I felt I was at my best in the third period. When your team gives you a chance, scoring a couple of quick goals, all you want to do is make that next save.”
Nathan Beaulieu had a big night as he played 24:08. He opened the scoring in the first period and he and Shea Weber picked up assists on the two power-play goals.