Yet the Blackhawks show no signs of letting up.
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Chicago (31-13-4) will try to match a franchise record with their 11th straight victory and sweep the season series against Montreal. Chicago is a very good team and when matched up against a side that is playing very average it is easy to lean their way and that is exactly what we will be doing in this one.
“I don’t think we’re far from finding solutions”, said Therrien. “We’re just working hard, and things are going our way”. The Blackhawks went on to win the Stanley Cup title that season, marking the second of three championships in a six-season span.
Tomas Plekanec scored to give Montreal a 3-2 lead in the third period but, less than a minute later, the Blues tied the game when they took advantage of miscommunication between goaltender Mike Condon and defenceman Mike Barberio and that allowed Ty Rattie to score the tying goal. “Every night, somebody else could score”. Montreal (23-19-4) dropped to 4-15-1 in its past 20 contests.
The Montreal coach said the Blackhawks have a collection of skilled players in close quarters.
The Montreal Canadiens are in a death spiral, and no matter how well they play, they don’t appear capable of recovering. “They have a really tough job”. Neuvirth stopped 29 shots before the shootout. He assisted on Panik’s goal…. The play snapped an 18-game scoring drought for Eller, who celebrated his first goal since December 3. Jonathan Toews and Ryan Garbutt scored in the first period.
Lots of smiles for the Chicago Blackhawks these days.
Sidney Crosby scored two goals and Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 22 shots for his third shutout of the season as Pittsburgh beat visiting Carolina. Florida is 0-2-1 since ending a 12-game winning streak. Marian Hossa, who was originally credited with the Blackhawks’ second goal, recorded two assists.
Pacioretty said he and his teammates lost too many puck battles during the game.
“The information didn’t arrive on time for us to make a decision”, said Therrien in French.
On Toews’ second goal, the Canadiens thought Chicago had iced the puck, but there was no call.
“In 2013, we had an unbelievable stretch, but right now, definitely it’s another one”, Hossa said. “But not at all satisfied”.
The tenor of the game was set when Islander Mikhail Grabovski boarded Vancouver captain Henrik Sedin late in the first period, drawing a game misconduct. Chicago reassigned slumping forward Bryan Bickell to Rockford of the American Hockey League.
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After coming up short in a game they dominated Saturday in St. Louis, the Canadiens were blown out by the Chicago Blackhawks 5-2 Sunday in the Windy City. Canadiens G Carey Price missed his 23rd consecutive game because of a lower-body injury…. Rob Scuderi will be a healthy scratch.
