After three inglorious defeats, the Canadiens were in front of their fans tonight to welcome the Islanders… and their coach, a certain Patrick Roy.
Needless to say, it spiced up a Thursday night game.
For the occasion, Lucas Condotta(recalled last night) played his first NHL game of the season. He took the place of Joshua Roy, who was sent back to Laval yesterday.
Tonight’s lineup
Tonight’s lineup#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/4KZMg6bUAa
– Montreal Canadiens (@CanadiensMTL) January 26, 2024
For the Islanders, Matt Martin was unavailable due to illness.
Here’s the lineup Patrick Roy sent into the fray, with Semyon Varlamov in net.
#Isles in warmups (Martin out w/illness)
Lee-Horvat-Barzal
Engvall-Nelson-Palmieri
Holmstrom-Pageau-Gauthier
Fasching-MacLean-Clutterbuck
Romanov-Dobson
Pelech-Aho
Bolduc-Mayfield
Varlamov
Sorokin– Andrew Gross (@AGrossNewsday) January 25, 2024
It was expected that Patrick Roy would get a nice tribute from the Montreal crowd… and the Tricolore found the best way to do it: Roy was honored on the giant screen during the Canadian national anthem.
The Islanders’ coach tried to stay focused, but his emotion was palpable – and rightly so.
All love for No. 33 in Montreal. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/GAWI2m9CAh
– Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) January 26, 2024
But after that, it was time to play hockey, and the Habs understood that. The club took advantage of Samuel Montembeault’s huge saves early in the game to get some gas, and got off to a hot start.
It started with a Nick Suzuki goal on the power play. Nice passing play on the sequence.
That passing game 👌
Suzy on the power play! #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/nsPUE6VVAz
– Montreal Canadiens (@CanadiensMTL) January 26, 2024
Then Cole Caufield brought the crowd to its feet with a beautiful play that led to a goal.
Eight straight games with a point for Ti-Cole, now.
Don’t let Cole sneak in front of the net…
Hey Alexa, play “Filthy” by Cole Caufield#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/Ocw4VIDn7e
– Montreal Canadiens (@CanadiensMTL) January 26, 2024
And finally, Sean Monahan tripled his team’s lead with his second power-play goal (in two attempts).
Patrick Roy called a timeout afterwards to try to change the pace of the game.
We’re trying to provide 😅
give us a sec#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/RXmm2l8EDN
– Montreal Canadiens (@CanadiensMTL) January 26, 2024
(OBOXADSQ || []).push({“cmd”: “addBanner”});
We were then treated to some friendly breaststroke at the end of the period, and Juraj Slafkovský was particularly involved.
I don’t know what the Islanders said to him, but he clearly didn’t take it… and we got a good look at his “mean” side.
“What are you going to do? What are you going to do?” – Slafkovsky at the end of this clip. pic.twitter.com/AlvQaBeOBg
– Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) January 26, 2024
After 20 minutes, it was 3-0 to the Habs.
In the second period, the Tricolore’s play was much more disjointed. The club shot itself in the foot on more than one occasion, finding itself in a 3-on-5 situation.
And as fate would have it, Bo Horvat put his side on the scoreboard.
Horvat on the power play pulls us within 2. pic.twitter.com/lJQRojPPTH
– New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) January 26, 2024
(OBOXADSQ || []).push({“cmd”: “addBanner”});
After 40 minutes, the score was 3-1 in favor of the Habs.
As the two sides played out a fairly uneventful third period, a rather bitchy hit to the head by Brendan Gallagher on Adam Pelech resulted in the #11 being ejected from the game.
Brendan Gallagher received a 5-minute major and a game misconduct for this elbow to Adam Pelech. pic.twitter.com/TlAgNQZ24i
– Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) January 26, 2024
At the same time, it gave the Islanders a five-minute power play…
And once again, what had to happen happened: the visitors scored two goals to tie the game.
BARZAL!!!!! pic.twitter.com/UhVw99TEMV
– New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) January 26, 2024
Power play goal for New York!
Scored by Kyle Palmieri with 03:32 remaining in the 3rd period.
Assisted by Noah Dobson and Bo Horvat.
Montreal: 3
New York: 3#NYIvsMTL #GoHabsGo #Isles pic.twitter.com/vZpEFRSsMr– NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) January 26, 2024
However, the Habs managed to get away with “only” two goals allowed, so that the score was 3-3 late in the third period.
And Sean Monahan, who had an outstanding game, scored the winning goal on a fine pass from Josh Anderson.
Perfect timing 🙂
so clutch#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/GgGAg5jcMd
– Montreal Canadiens (@CanadiensMTL) January 26, 2024
Samuel Montembeault stood tall in front of his net late in the game to fend off countless opposing shots and secure victory for his side.
Gallagher owes Montembeault a debt of gratitude.
Final score: 4-3 Montreal
The Canadiens return to action on Saturday night, when they take on the Penguins in Pittsburgh. This will be the club’s last game before the All-Star break on February 6.
Extension
– Great Patrick.
Patrick Roy, never a dull moment. pic.twitter.com/Ey42j94UYr
– Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) January 26, 2024
– Still.
#FunFact: with his goal tonight, #Habs Cole Caufield became the 4th #GoHabsGo player since 1990-91 to record an 8-game point streak at age 23 or younger joining Max Domi (in 2018-19), John LeClair (1992-93) and Gilbert Dionne (in 1993-94).
– Priyanta Emrith (@HabsInHighHeels) January 26, 2024
– Arber Xhekaj didn’t have a great game, taking two stupid penalties. We’ll see if that costs him his spot in the lineup next game, but I expect Jordan Harris to be back to replace him.
– Samuel Montembeault had a spectacular game (which must have been good for him, having underperformed against the Bruins in his last start), and he wasn’t even named one of the game’s three stars. Strange.
Sam Montembeault makes 44 saves on Patrick Roy night at the Bell Centre.
– Eric Engels (@EricEngels) January 26, 2024