McCarron’s first NHL goal spoils Backstrom’s shutout
More than half the fans at the Bell Centre on Sunday night missed the only bright spot for the Canadiens in their 4-1 loss to the Calgary Flames.
They were probably turning on their car radios when Mike McCarron deflected Nathan Beaulieu’s shot from the blue line to spoil Niklas Backstrom’s shutout bid. It was the first NHL goal for the 2013 first-round draft choice.
“It was exciting and I think everyone on the bench was excited for me,” said the 21-year-old McCarron. “It wasn’t the outcome we wanted, but it was my first NHL goal. I had a big smile on my face.”
The Canadiens’ management should have been smiling because of the way he scored the goal. The team has been looking for a net presence and the 6- foot-6,231-pound McCarron provides that.
“I’m just trying to play my game,” McCarron said. “I like to get to the net and play the same way Brendan Gallagher does.”
Beaulieu said he was aware McCarron was in front.
“He’s a big body and he has a good stick,” Beaulieu said. “We had an opportunity earlier in the game and I knew if I could get to the net, we had a chance.”
The plan this season was for McCarron to spend most, if not all, of his first pro season in St. John’s. But a string of injuries has provided him with an opportunity to establish his NHL credentials.
“I’m getting more and more confidence with every game,” said McCarron, who has been winning better than 50 per cent of his faceoffs and using his body to the full with 40 hits in 14 games. “When I came up for two games on the road earlier in the season, I was really nervous. I went back down and worked hard. When the injuries started, I wanted to be ready if I got the call.”
Goaltender Mike Condon didn’t have a chance on the first two Calgary goals, which were the result of tip-ins by players who were left unchallenged in front.
“They made some good plays,” said Condon, who rejected a suggestion the Canadiens have packed it in for the season. “I know I’ve been working extra hard.”
Coach Michel Therrien reflected on the effect injuries have had on his team. He noted Sunday marked Condon’s 48th game.
“This is the most he has played in his career,” Therrien said. “It’s a lot of work for him. We didn’t plan it, but that’s a reality.
“We’re missing a lot of players,” Therrien added. “Most of the players aren’t in the right chair. That’s one of the reasons it’s difficult.”
The Canadiens were coming off a disastrous performance Saturday night in Ottawa, where they were shut out 5-0. Andrew Hammond made 30 saves to run his career record against Montreal to 3-0.
But Hammond had to take a back seat to the Senators’ penalty-killing unit, which scored three short-handed goals. Ottawa leads the NHL with 15 shorties.
The words disappointing and embarrassing were tossed around after the loss. Captain Max Pacioretty, who wasn’t around after Sunday’s game, said the Canadiens let goaltender Ben Scrivens down Saturday and he could have said the same thing about the support given Condon on Sunday.
“It was a tough night,” Pacioretty said Saturday. “It’s the NHL. You’ve got to show up and play hard and it didn’t happen. We just gave them three goals, two breakaways and a 2-on-1.”
Scrivens kept the score close for two periods, but the Senators scored twice early in the third to put the game out of reach.