Game 2: Montreal 6 @ Carolina 5

The picture to your left is of a silver platter guy who I found thanks to the amazing search power of Google Images. The reason I posted this picture is because I want you to imagine this guy wearing a Montreal Canadiens uniform. That is the only way to understand what the Canadiens did in the second period of last night's Game 2 against the Carolina Hurricanes: they handed it to them on a silver platter.

After taking a commanding and insurmountable 3-0 lead at the hands of Martin Gerber in the first period on goals from Jan Bulis, Michael Ryder, and Radek Bonk, the Canadiens took 6 penalties in the second, including a high-sticking double-minor to Richard Zednik. While, as Mike Ribeiro pointed out, a team usually gets a boost from a goalie switch as the 'Canes did with Cam Ward, you have to wonder how the Canadiens managed to play seemingly perfect hockey in the first only to break down completely in the second. This game was a microcosm of their season - bipolar play to the max.

But despite letting their lead slip away in the second and again in the third period, the Habs partly redeemed themselves in overtime with smarter play and some dangerous scoring chances, especially a few by the reinvigorated Mike Ribeiro, who was playing with an extra fire and determination that we rarely see from him. Despite the Habs being outshot in overtime 16-7, Michael Ryder put it home in the second extra frame with what he described as the most important goal of his career so far.

The Hurricanes' situation isn't as dire as it was after Game 1; they played with a lot more desire and desperation and managed to find some cracks in Cristobal Huet's game, but they didn't have it in them to break the Cristo-wall completely. They still have to deal with the Habs' hot goaltending, Alex Kovalev, and the smart defensive strategy employed by Bob Gainey, Guy Carbonneau, and Doug Jarvis. And though the potential loss of Sheldon Souray may hurt the Canadiens, home-ice advantage in Montreal is like no other in the League.