There are no easy games in this league and last night's against the Islanders proved that theory. Beating a team twice in a row is quite an accomplishment, especially when you use a different goalie for both games.
Alex Auld's first appearance after warming the bench for nine straight was highly impressive. In fact, he was the main reason the Canadiens managed their fourth straight win, and if Carey Price weren't on a hot steak of his own, Auld would be fully worthy of taking the net for tonight's game against the Panthers.
Auld was particularly sensational during a 30-minute sabbatical the Canadiens took between the beginning of the second period and the ten-minute mark of the third. From that point, the Canadiens turned it on and sealed the win with goals for Benoit Pouliot and Travis Moen.
Auld stopped 30 of 31 shots, and Jacques Martin had this to say of his #2, care of NHL.com:
"I always felt Alex was a good goaltender, I had him in Florida. He's capable, especially in that role, and he came in tonight and I think it showed that his teammates really appreciate the win."
It's peanut butter-Markov time
Don't know why I felt compelled to put it that way, but for as excited as everyone is about Markov's return, it couldn't possibly match what Markov himself is feeling. He has to be busting to bring jam to the Canadiens blue line.
The minutes will be spread thinner, most likely for Roman Hamrlik and Jaroslav Spacek. Stability will come to Gorges and Gill with the burden of pressure resting more on Markov and Subban as a pair.
And that damn powerplay, which got the Canadiens on the board to start last night's game will be dramatically better than it's been all season. Not to say they won't have hiccups with the man-advantage, but I suppose that's better than a bad case of indigestion.
That these Canadiens have 15 of 20 available points without Markov (without Gomez and Gionta) is absolutely shocking.
Three for three
The Canadiens entered this week facing double the workload they had the previous week. They took care of Phoenix, and both games against the Islanders, and to say Jacques Martin's plan was perfectly executed would be accurate. But the Canadiens still have one more challenge before calling this week a complete success, and with Carey Price rested and Andrei Markov ready to do the heavy lifting it's hard not to imagine tonight won't be a spectacular event at the Bell Centre.
