For a first Tuesday in three weeks at the Bell Centre, the Canadian played a good first period. That didn’t stop him from letting victory slip away.
• Also read: The Habs falter at the last moment
The Habs certainly overcame a one-goal deficit to take a 2-1 lead in the third period. However, he saw the Flames tie the game and win in overtime, which prompted Martin St-Louis to reconsider one of his recent statements.
“We didn’t throw up on ourselves tonight, but it hurts a little in the heart,” he said with a smirk.
“We got a point, but I think we should have had two,” said Jake Evans, through gritted teeth.
Emotions
The Canadian started the match well, collecting 15 shots in the first period.
“It was our best period, I would have liked us to be able to separate ourselves on the table. When you dominate first and you don’t go for goals, you shouldn’t be impatient. We forced plays and we weren’t able to create chances.”
The problem is that the Canadian then totaled eight shots in the rest of the game, five in the second period and three in the third.
“We have to find a way to keep our emotions high,” Evans said in defending the team’s cautious play after it took a 2-1 lead early in the third period.
“I don’t think we sat on our lead, we scored a third goal which was disallowed, but we still scored, which means we didn’t fall back too much defensively. »
Hungry
Martin St-Louis admitted that the third period was hard to digest, but he expects a positive reaction from his players, who will visit the New Jersey Devils on Thursday evening.
“I want the guys to come out of this game hungry. If I were in their shoes, I would want to play tomorrow.”
Brendan Gallagher, who scored his team’s first goal, believes that the elements were there to go home with the two points.
“When you’re leading in the third period and you’re playing at home, that’s the kind of situation where you should be able to put the game away.”
Effort
If we want to consider the positive of this meeting, it is that there was a constant and concerted effort, even if the final result does not reflect it. Martin St-Louis notably said that there had been no passengers in this meeting.
“The effort was there this evening,” confirmed Samuel Montembeault. We started the first period very well unlike some games we played here, he said, referring to the games against the Rangers and the Kraken.
Press briefing by Samuel Montembeault –
Brendan Gallagher also noted that he had seen a progression in terms of what the team wants to implement as a playing structure.
“We talk a lot about the process, I saw some elements in this match and there are still aspects we need to improve on. We are far enough along in the year to hold ourselves accountable and demand a certain standard.”
Brendan Gallagher press briefing –
