NHL Scores: Blues finally right the ship against the hapless Canadiens
Montreal’s freefall continues.
Both teams are struggling mightily. The decline has been steeper for the Habs, who’ve fallen from first place in the NHL to barely hanging on to the Eastern Conference’s final playoff spot. But the Blues haven’t impressed either, and this was a prime opportunity for both clubs to take out their frustrations on a vulnerable squad.
And so they did! They traded goals, wrestling matches and face-punches for most of the second and third period. And considering the game went to overtime, you just knew one of these downtrodden teams would do something bad to blow the game.
The Canadiens didn’t disappoint!
Nice goal by Lehtera but how about that toe drag by Fabbri? #stlblues pic.twitter.com/0HbHCn0dyC
— Shnarped Hockey (@shnarpedhockey) January 17, 2016 An ugly win and an ugly loss. Sounds about right for both teams these days.
Scores
Bruins 3, Maple Leafs 2
Blue Jackets 2, Avalanche 1
Blues 4, Canadiens 3 (OT)
3 things we learned
1. Toronto's goaltenders can't catch a break
Both James Reimer and Jonathan Bernier have played excellent hockey lately only to lose anyway thanks to some awful defending. It was Bernier's turn on Saturday, turning aside 42 of the 45 shots he faced. Yet his teammates didn't help him on special teams (they went 0-for-5 on the power play) and flat out betrayed him on the game-winning goal against when Martin Marincin took a pass from him and just ... kind of ... let the Bruins take it. Your goalies don't deserve this, Toronto. They are good people.
2. Torey Krug can be an emergency goalie
3. All good things must come to an end
And that includes whatever amazing thing Braden Holtby happens to be doing. The Washington netminder was handed his first regulation loss in 23 starts on Saturday. It wasn't close, as the Sabres surprisingly routed the league's best team, 4-1. That must make Stars fans feel slightly better knowing the league's two top teams are both capable of losing to severely inferior teams in the same week.
Impact Moment
Let's ask Paul Stastny what he thought the impact moment was.
Stat of the Night
Is this bad?
Since December 1st the Habs are 5-14-1, with a -20 goal differential (30th), are shooting 5.7% (30th), getting an .891 save % (28th). Yikes.
— Dimitri Filipovic (@DimFilipovic) January 17, 2016 
