He may have only had to make 18 saves, but Marc-Andre Fleury’s 4th career playoff shutout certainly wasn’t easy. While the Canadiens were hard-pressed to get scoring chances, when they did get opportunities, they managed to create a couple high quality chances, but Fleury would not be beat, and for the first time in nearly 20 years, the Canadiens were shutout on home ice during the playoffs.
In a game that saw both teams turn in great defensive efforts, the pens weren’t able to beat Halak until a powerplay early in the 3rd period. Evgeny Malkin scored his 5th goal of the playoffs, and his 4th on the powerplay, scorching a one timer from his trademark spot at the top of the circle to the left of Halak. Pascal Dupuis chipped in an empty netter with just 15 seconds left to play.
Fleury, who has been decidedly streaky so far in these playoffs, was great in this one, doing a good job of cutting down his angles and making sure there weren’t any of the weak squeakers that have snuck past in these playoffs. Of course, Jaroslav Halak was at the other end putting on another impressive show, stopping 23 of the 24 shots he faced. He played exceptionally well in the 2nd period, in particular, as Montreal was outshot 13-3 and spent most of the period in their own end.
The Canadiens will have a chance to redeem themselves at home and even the series on Thursday night, and as much as the Penguins have dominated this series, the way that Halak has played in net and the solid defensive mindset that Montreal has adopted has left them with a great chance to at least make this series far more interesting than anyone would have imagined it would have been.
Jordan Staal missed another game after having surgery to repair a severed tendon on the top of his foot in Game 1. While it initially looked as if he would miss at least the rest of the series, there is now speculation that he may be able to play as soon as Game 4.
