In another series where they are considered heavy underdogs this postseason, the Montreal Canadiens are again showing that they’re here to stay and they won’t be an easy out for anyone they face. In Game 2 on Sunday, the Habs got 2 goals from sniper Mike Cammalleri and another stellar performance from Jaroslav Halak to pull even in their series with Pittsburgh before heading back to the Bell Centre.
The Penguins out shot the Canadiens 39-21 on the night, but were unable to solve Halak. Matt Cooke’s early goal in the first had everyone at Mellon Arena feeling pretty good, but that was the last they would have to cheer about, as Halak seemed to instantly regain the form he had in the closing games against Washington. The Penguins dominated play, especially in the last two periods, but over the last 40 minutes, Halak stopped all 30 shots Pittsburgh threw at him, while his teammates were able to eke out 2 goals on their last 9 shots.
Brian Gionta got the Habs on the board late in the first with a quick wristshot from the slot generated off a good forecheck from his linemates. Early in the 2nd, Cammalleri put the Habs up for good with an impressive goal that saw him kick a loose puck up in the air and bat it out of midair past Fleury. He put the finishing touches on the game with his 2nd goal of the game late in the 3rd, after Montreal had somehow survived basically two periods of play in their own end.
As has been the case with just about every game for the Canadiens these playoffs, Jaroslav Halak was the difference maker. He stopped flurry after flurry of shots from the Penguins, and perhaps the best part of his game is the fact that he seems to play better the more intense the situation gets. Montreal will have to pick up their game at home, though, if they want to continue to stay alive in this series.
