Utah 3, Montreal 2 (OT). “We’re getting closer. It sucks losing.”
Moore, 43, played for 10 NHL teams over 13 seasons, including 21 regular-season games for the Canadiens in 2010 following a February trade from Florida.
Back in those days the Canadiens made the playoffs, as hard as that might be to comprehend. Moore scored the series-winning goal as eighth-seeded Montreal eliminated Washington, who captured the President’s Trophy that season. He scored again in the seventh game against Pittsburgh before the Canadiens were eliminated by Philadelphia in the Eastern Conference final. Moore scored four goals and an assist in 19 playoff games.
But who cares about that?
Moore was a former teammate of Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis, the two engaging in some serious Ping-Pong battles following practice. Most, it seems, were won by Moore, who undoubtedly had a reach advantage over the diminutive St. Louis.
“We would play and I would win,” Moore recounted. “Marty would say ‘let’s play again’ and I’d win again. We’d play eight games. I’d be getting tired and he’d finally win one. And then he would quit. And then he would go tell everyone that he had won.”
This is what’s known in sports as going out on top. Meanwhile, back at the ranch …
Reprieve from the governor: For the second time this season, Canadiens defenceman Jayden Struble was scheduled to be a healthy scratch Tuesday night against Utah, replaced by Justin Barron. But then Mike Matheson was a late scratch with a lower-body injury and Struble got to play. Not only that but he scored Montreal’s opening goal, eight minutes into the second period — his second score in as many games.
It’s not how you start: Utah, the former Arizona Coyotes franchise, started its season with three wins and was 4-1-1 following six games. But since then the team has captured only six of 19 — including its 3-2 overtime win against Montreal — and has been shut out in five of those losses.
Our random thought of the night: Could the visiting franchise not have thought of something more inventive than the Utah Hockey Club? Seriously. It could have had fans suggest names with the winner receiving a pair of season tickets. Show some imagination.
News you need (Part I): Tuesday marked the 107th anniversary of the NHL’s birth, the league founded in Montreal. Somehow it seemed fitting the league’s newest franchise played the oldest on this night.
News you need (Part II): The Canadiens still have yet to win when allowing the first goal, their record now 0-9-3. And they were facing a team playing its third road game in four nights.
It’s a game of inches: Cole Caufield hit the post in the game’s fourth minute. And, while short-handed in the second period, it was Christian Dvorak’s turn.
Further proof shots are overrated: Utah didn’t register its first until the game’s sixth minute, by defenceman Ian Cole. The visitors ended the period with a 14-5 advantage.
Another $400 stick down the drain: Mikhail Sergachev scored the overtime winner but in the first period, while Utah was on the power play, his stick broke in half. Like a twig. An expensive one at that.
We’ve seen this movie before: Montreal didn’t register its first shot of the second period until almost eight minutes had elapsed.
Momentum, schmomentum: It took only 1:42 for Struble to tie the game, 1-1, after Dylan Guenther opened the scoring. Guenther, selected ninth overall by Arizona in 2021, was playing his 100th career game. He now has a team-leading 10 goals.
News you need (Part III): Of the four minutes’ power-play time the Canadiens enjoyed through two periods, rookie defenceman Lane Hutson was on the ice for all but 15 seconds.
Next time, decline the power play: Utah went 0-for-4 with the man advantage, while the Canadiens were 0-for-3.
Quick stats: Joel Armia, Jake Evans and Kirby Dach were all minus-2. Hutson logged 26:28 — three seconds more than Guhle.
They said it: “I don’t have much to say. They saw something. I saw something else and we didn’t agree on it,” Savard said of his misconduct.
“It’s unfortunate,” goalie Samuel Montembeault said. “Even in the third period we were up 2-1. We could have ended up with the win. Even in overtime we had possession a long time. They score with (27) seconds left. It’s unfortunate.”
“I thought our first period was OK,” Brendan Gallagher said. “I know we had five shots on net. It didn’t feel like we were getting outplayed. You definitely have to throw more pucks at the net. I thought it was a pretty even game.”
“We have a lead but don’t do what we need to do to keep it,” Struble said. “It’s another loss so it doesn’t feel good. It was one of those nights where it was hard to get pucks through. We’re getting closer. It sucks losing.”