The Montreal Canadiens of a week ago would probably have looked at Tampa Bay's two late scores 20 seconds apart that gave the Lightning a one-goal lead and given up completely. It's no secret that Montreal has been suffering through one of their worst losing stretches in a long time. Losing their backbone in goaltender Carey Price has exposed chinks in their armor, and they have been exploited essentially since the netminder went down with an injury at the end of last month.
NHL scores 2015: Canadiens show resiliency in first win since mid-December
The 4-3 shootout win breaks a six game slide for Montreal.
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
It’s been awhile since anyone has seen life from this Canadiens team, but Monday night they showed a spark the team has desperately needed since they started this skid. Now, a 4-3 shootout win has them back at the top of the Atlantic Division over the stagnant Panthers and Red Wings.
Minutes after the Lightning potted two weak goals past netminder Mike Condon in little more than 20 seconds, a bizarre series of events unfolded involving a waved off Canadiens goal and two separate stoppages to review that play.
The video does not show how exactly Dale Weise was able to tie the game 3-3, but his shot from right in front of goaltender Ben Bishop actually went in before the netminder kicked it back out. Play continued until a stoppage allowed the referees on the ice to take a second look. The official that made the no-goal call was on the wrong side of the ice, as Weise's shot clearly goes over the line before Bishop's pad sweeps it away. When the play was overturned, Tampa Bay decided to roll the dice and challenge for goaltender interference, which was unsuccessful and turned the tide for the Canadiens.
Weise goal...somehow everyone missed it. Play resets a few mins. pic.twitter.com/MZrGekPXSY
— Stephanie (@myregularface) December 29, 2015 From there, all Montreal had to do was endure the final five minutes before giving themselves a chance in overtime. When the extra period could not decide it, the Canadiens potted two goals in the shootout to win their first game since Dec. 12, snapping a six-game losing streak in the process. Montreal, in the midst of an eight game road trip that spans into the new year, still has tough tests ahead of it, specifically Tuesday against the Panthers, whose last few weeks are essentially the inverse of the Canadiens.
Even if the Canadiens lose to the rolling Panthers, there’s still time to build on this dramatic 4-3 shootout victory in time for facing rival Boston in the Winter Classic in a few days time. From there, if the team can hold on a few more weeks, they might just get back their best player with less rungs to climb back up than expected.
Scores
Montreal Canadiens 4, Tampa Bay Lightning 3 (SO)
3 things we learned
1. The New York Rangers are in trouble
We've known this for awhile, but New York seemingly cannot get better. After an exhilarating overtime win before the holiday break over the Ducks, the Rangers fell 5-3 to the Predators in a game that saw goaltender Henrik Lundqvist pulled for the third time in his last six stars. New York has lost eight straight on the road and will stay away from Madison Square Garden more often than not over the next few weeks. Lundqvist might not be the problem for the Rangers, but he sure isn't himself back there and hasn't done much to help stop the bleeding for New York.
#NYRangers have slumped badly over the past month. Their superstar goaltender also hasn't looked like his usual self pic.twitter.com/Kn66kjPs8j
— StatsCentre (@StatsCentre) December 29, 2015 2. Washington closed the gap to one point behind the league-leading Stars
Braden Holtby pitched just his second shutout this year for the Capitals as Washington won its eighth straight in a 2-0 victory over the Sabres. The Capitals and the Dallas Stars keep exchanging the top spot in the NHL at least once every few days. Dallas pulled ahead by virtue of their two extra games played before the holiday break but Washington has not backed down as the Capitals make their case for the best team in the Eastern Conference. With the way Holtby is playing and the rest of the team firing on all cylinders, the two teams are sure to continue their battle for the league's top spot.
3. Tyler Toffoli's goals, Anze Kopitar's assists lead Kings over Canucks
The Kings are halfway through their four-game road trip and, thanks to the goalscoring of two of their big names, are 2-0 coming into the final two games in Canada. Tyler Toffoli netted a hat trick while Anze Kopitar assisted on four of the Kings' five goals on the evening to finish off a flat Vancouver squad. Three of Kopitar's assists in the game were the primary helpers, including his key face-off victory to set up Brayden McNabb's slap shot bomb, a testament to how visible the center was all night for Los Angeles.
Impact Moment
Montreal could not have broken their six-game losing streak if not for Max Pacioretty's shootout goal on Bishop.
Stat of the Night
.@Holts170 (@washcaps) earned his NHL-leading 23rd win of 2015-16 (2 SO), incl. a 15-0-1 record in his last 17 GP. pic.twitter.com/9Ygu94qey4
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) December 29, 2015 Post To Post
- Speaking of Holtby, the Capitals netminder had a monster save in the final minute of their game to preserve the shutout over the Sabres.
- John Carlson’s Iron Man streak ended at 412 games for Washington, but Karl Alzner might just break the franchise record instead.
- Minnesota’s Charlie Coyle had the best goal of the evening after breaking a few ankles in the process.
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