from George Richards of Florida Hockey Now,
When Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky gave up three goals on the first three shots he faced, he knew after that “you cannot come up with a good game.’’
Things turned out pretty well for the Panthers — and Bobrovsky — in a game coach Paul Maurice compared to the ‘Twilight Zone.’
“I have never seen anything like that. In 25 years, never seen that many goals,’’ Maurice said following Florida’s wild ride in a 9-5 win against the Canadiens.
“There were more goals than chances to score and that is a rarity. All I can say is it affected the game for both teams and I do not think anything on video is useful to the game of hockey.
“It was almost Twilight Zone: Every puck went in. I don’t know what the shots were — maybe 15 — and there were nine goals. There were more goals than scoring chances. The positive is we scored nine. Those games are the most difficult ones to win, the ones you’re supposed to win. They played the same game (Tuesday) and beat Pittsburgh.”
Highlights are below.
from TSN,
Head coach Martin St. Louis was distraught with his team's effort in the 9-4 defeat, which saw starter Sam Montembeault pulled in the first, only to return to the game to replace Jake Allen in the second period.
"Defensively we, like, forgot everything," St. Louis said. "Offensively, we had three goals after three shots, but you have to know how to defend. I know we know how to defend, but tonight we forgot everything.
"I don't know if it was a lack of effort. I'd say we weren't very smart on the ice defensively."
Montembeault allowed three goals on the first six shots of the game. Allen entered in relief, allowing six goals on 18 shot before he was pulled. Montembeault closed out the game with 18 straight saves after returning to the crease.
"I can't imagine mentally what he was going through," Canadiens forward Rem Pitlick said of Montembeault. "You're kind of off, goals go in, you're off the ice. And then as a goalie, you want to get your touches, I'm sure, and you're cold and you have to be flexible, all those different things.
"So, for him to kind of like bear that mentally and come back and play well and play strong, good for him. And I think that's a good sign of character."
read on for more on the game...
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