Before the visit to Montreal, Jose Saros had played just five of his 307 NHL games against the Canadiens. The young Finnish goalkeeper must have known Brendan Gallagher mainly by reputation.
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Saros can now attest that Gallagher remains a reckless and combative winger. In this 2-1 loss to the Nashville Predators, Gallagher took a step back in time.
He delivered the type of performance that made him one of the villains of the NHL for several seasons. The No. 11 spent his evening in the Saros circle, always staying at the heart of the action with ten shots and 15 shot attempts. When he did not fire a bullet towards Number 74, he did not hesitate to rush towards him.
With 10 shots, Gallagher set a career-high. He had four nine-shot games, the last one dating back to March 23, 2019.
“Oh, I actually finished with ten shots,” Gallagher replied. I always make the same joke with Susie (Suzuki) that the puck has to end up dead every ten shots. I didn’t do it. But it was a fun match. »
Defender David Savard added: “Brendan never stopped.” This is why he had such a great career. He continues to play the same way despite minor injuries. He showed once again that he wants to win. We followed him in the second part of the match. We started to control the offensive zone and he was at the heart of that. »
Goal disallowed
At the end of the second half, Gallagher revived his teammates through a goal saved by Joel Armia. Jake Brink and Chris Schlenker, the match referees, did not have to procrastinate for long. They immediately pointed out that there was no target as Gallagher pushed Saros’ platform.
To borrow Martin St. Louis’s expression, Gallagher’s playing was not “Picasso,” but the message was still more important. He reminded his colleagues that this meeting is not over yet.
Shortly after this sequence, Jake Evans beat Saros with a precise backhand shot. CH can start to believe in him again. But in the end there was no coming back in the third period.
By hitting the goal late in the second, Evans put the brakes on a 26-game black streak. He scored CH’s first goal of the season in their opener against the Maple Leafs in Toronto.
Allen is not wrong
Jake Allen blocked 29 of the visitors’ 31 shots. Only Colton Sissons found a way to beat him by scoring both goals for his team.
Strictly in terms of statistics, Allen lost his seventh straight game (0-6-1). However, the New Brunswick goaltender has nothing to blame himself for. He had a good outing.
In the third period, he made two key saves on Cole Smith who managed to escape shorthanded after a scramble between Sean Monahan and Mike Matheson.
Allen has given up two or fewer goals in a start for the first time since October 23 (3-1 victory over the Sabers in Buffalo).
Savard returns
Savard recovered from a broken left hand, reclaiming his spot on the blue line against the Predators. He played just over 20 minutes for Matheson.
“I felt good,” he replied. When you get back together with Mike, your life becomes easier. I played with it often, so I could find my bearings more easily. »
After the game, CH confirmed that winger Tanner Pearson will be out for four to six weeks with an upper body injury. He blocked a JJ Peterka shot with his hand in the first period Saturday in Buffalo.
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