Stickless Budaj blocks shot
Desharnais scores long-awaited first goal
WASHINGTON After David Desharnais had scored his long-awaited first goal of the season, after his team had taken a three-goal lead that prompted Washington Capitals coach Adam Oates to call out his veterans and after Alex Ovechkin had scored twice to take the solo lead among NHL goal-scorers, there was still a lead for the Montreal Canadiens to preserve in the closing minutes.
And, for a few hectic seconds, Peter Budaj had to do it without his stick.
The Canadiens goaltender lost his stick in a crowd while the Capitals were pressing in the offensive zone. He started to reach down and pick it up, but everything was happening too fast.
Finally, he used his pads to stop a close-range shot from Martin Erat and smothered the puck with about three minutes remaining, and Montreal held on for a 3-2 win Friday night.
“You feel kind of naked without it,” Budaj said. “They had a couple of shots, but the guys, they knew that I had lost the stick and they were blocking shots, and then they had one from the corner there. I wanted to pick it up but then I was, like, I might as well not. I don’t want to be getting scored on while I’m looking at the stick. I’ve just got to focus on the puck.”
Budaj finished with 25 saves in place of usual starter Carey Price, and Travis Moen and Daniel Brière also scored for the Canadiens, who have won two straight thanks to a resurgence of Desharnais and linemate Max Pacioretty. Desharnais assisted on two of Pacioretty’s three goals in Tuesday’s 6-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild.
Desharnais finally scored when he perched in front of the net to redirect Josh Gorges’ drive, a goal that stood after a video review to determine whether it was scored with a high stick.