On last night: The Canadiens lost 2-0; Fleury joins the club of 500 victories
The game featured two of the worst attacks in the NHL, and it shows. The 28th best offense in the league was blocked, while the 30th had two goals.
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Marc-André Fleury joined the exclusive company with a 2-0 shutout victory for his Chicago Blackhawks over the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Center on Thursday. A stone’s throw from her hometown of Sorel-Tracy, Fleury won her 500th career game. Only the other Quebec goalkeepers Patrick Roy and Martin Brodeur reached the mark.
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Thursday’s tilt brought together two of the worst attacks in the NHL, and it shows. The 28th best offense in the league was blocked, while the 30th had two goals.
Forward Jesse Ylönen made his season debut for Montreal, replacing injured Christian Dvorak. Several regulars remained absent, including Carey Price, Shea Weber, Joel Edmundson, Paul Byron, Brendan Gallagher, Josh Anderson, Jeff Petry and Sami Niku.
No goals in the first period, but former Canadiens and Hawk Andrew Shaw was at the Bell Center.
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In the first, Jake Allen almost spit out the first goal of the game, badly played the puck behind the net to Patrick Kane. Allen rushed back just in time to get a piece of Kane’s backhand.
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Early in the second, Ryan Poehling had a chance to score in a tight shot, crashing into Fleury’s back door. Artturi Lehkonen hit him with a cross pass, but Poehling pushed the puck far. The Hawks almost had their chance on a delayed penalty when Alex Debrincat had an open cage, but Allen came in to save the tackle.
The Habs killed the first penalty of the period, but with Kale Clague in the box, at 1:48 pm Hawks captain Jonathan Toews scored his first goal of the season, and the first since March 2020. Kane had some action. space on the right side before finding a Seth Jones squeeze at the top of the slot. Jones passed to Toews on the side of the net, who hit him home for the power play scorer. A big moment for Toews, who missed all of last season with illness.
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In the third, Cole Caufield jumped in his stride, but didn’t appear to pull off a net shot on goal. At 12:00 p.m. of the third, the Hawks scored an insurance goal when Alexander Romanov sent an ill-advised backhand pass to Henrik Borgstrom in net. Borgstrom turned and shot Allen, who was not expecting it. The Hawks led 2-0.
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Even with Allen on the bench, the Habs could not commit any offense. Fleury won his 500th career victory and 69th shutout, and the Bell Center crowd chanted the goalie’s name. It’s a remarkable milestone for a goalkeeper to achieve, and it must have been special for him to reach the plateau in his home province.
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Fleury’s victory brought little solace to Liveblog commentators, who saw the exhausted Canadians being kicked out at home. Besides the heartwarming moments for Toews and Fleury, it was a terribly boring hockey game. Commentators have been asked if they will trade Allen, given the Habs situation this season and his potential value. More inclined for the no than for the yes.
3. “The first Habs game my dad took me to was against the Hawks. I think I was about 6 years old and we were sitting at the top of the old Forum walkway. I remember fans booing John Ferguson for trying to hit Bobby Hull who had a broken jaw and was wearing a cage! -Bob Taylor
2. “Chiarot could be the Habs best offensive player. Do what you want with it. “-Dale Geldautomat
1. “We have the MOST CLASSIC fans in the whole League! “-Carin Latzel
