Canadiens fortunate to return away with level in 3-2 shootout loss to Flyers

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Relating to fiery coach John Tortorella, gamers appear to both love taking part in for him or they hate it.

Martin St. Louis beloved having Tortorella as his coach for seven years with the Tampa Bay Lightning. That relationship began within the 2000-01 season after St. Louis signed with the Lightning as a free agent following two unproductive seasons with the Calgary Flames, scoring 4 objectives in 69 video games. They received the Stanley Cup collectively in 2004 with the Lightning when St. Louis additionally received the Hart Trophy as league MVP and the Artwork Ross Trophy because the NHL’s main scorer.

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On Wednesday evening, St. Louis and Tortorella coached towards one another in Philadelphia. Tortorella got here out on prime as his Flyers beat the Canadiens 3-2 in a shootout.

Owen Tippett and Morgan Frost scored for the Flyers in regulation time and Sean Couturier scored the one purpose within the shootout.

Sean Monahan and David Savard scored for the Canadiens. Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield and Jesse Ylönen all failed to attain within the shootout because the Canadiens noticed their document drop to 17-17-6. Solely eight of their wins have are available regulation time they usually have a 9-6 document in shootout/extra time video games.

Cayden Primeau stole some extent for the Canadiens, making 37 saves as his staff was outshot 39-19, together with 7-1 in extra time. Primeau’s document is now 4-4-1 with a 3.13 goals-against common and a .905 save share.

The Canadiens had been outshot 10-2 within the first interval, however had been main 2-1. Monahan scored his eleventh purpose of the season on a deflection of some extent shot by Justin Barron on the 1:29 mark and Savard gave the Canadiens a 2-0 lead when he scored his fourth purpose of the season on some extent shot at 11:28. Monahan is now tied for second on the Canadiens in objectives with Caufield, one behind Nick Suzuki.

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Tippett scored at 15:41 of the primary interval and Frost tied the rating at 8:30 of the second interval.

Primeau had some assist from his goalposts, beginning 30 seconds into the sport when Scott Laughton beat him excessive to the glove facet with a backhand, however hit the submit. It was certainly one of six posts the Flyers hit, together with one within the shootout by Travis Konecny.

“I really feel like that was personally my sloppiest sport off the beginning this yr,” Primeau informed reporters in Philadelphia after the sport. “However tried to battle again and simply give the blokes an opportunity to win.

“My mind was in it off the beginning, however my toes had been struggling a bit,” Primeau added. “I used to be caught behind on a few performs. Third interval I felt good.”

Requested if he thanked his goalposts after the sport, Primeau stated: “Undoubtedly. They hit a few posts, so goalie’s greatest good friend.”

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St. Louis stated the Canadiens didn’t have their “fastball” on this evening and didn’t play an excellent sport.

That’s very true and it will need to have been extra-disappointing for St. Louis coming towards his former coach.

“I felt like I grew up in Tampa and Torts helped me, formed me, I assume, and gave me alternatives,” St. Louis informed reporters in Philadelphia after the morning skate. “But in addition taught me plenty of issues about what it takes to play on this league and the way to achieve success and the work ethic. Away from the sport, he’s such an amazing human and so I lean on him nonetheless to today. He’s a man that I’m not afraid to select up the cellphone and name. I obtained plenty of respect how he does issues, how he goes about his enterprise. So I really feel very lucky that we crossed paths at a younger time in my profession the place I wanted a bit of assist to get going, kind of converse, when it comes to alternatives. I compelled him to present it to me.

“For me with Torts, we had an excellent relationship,” St. Louis added. “It wasn’t all the time easy, however we communicated very properly. Torts pushed me to the next place that I didn’t suppose I may get to. … You knew the place you stood with Torts. However he wasn’t afraid of getting arduous conversations with gamers and also you had been allowed to inform your reality, too. So I actually respect that.”

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That is Tortorella’s second season behind the Flyers’ bench. They completed seventh within the Metropolitan Division final season with a 31-38-13 document, however are in third place this season and in a playoff spot with a 21-14-6 document.

Tortorella informed reporters in Philadelphia after the morning skate that St. Louis is likely one of the biggest opponents he ever coached. He added that they continue to be superb buddies and nonetheless discuss rather a lot, throwing round teaching concepts. Tortorella additionally famous that as he will get older he finds it harder to educate towards his buddies, together with Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan.

“When the sport begins, it’s not Marty, it’s the Montreal Canadiens for me,” Tortorella stated about teaching towards St. Louis. “There’s all the time competitors — I believe that’s why we’re within the enterprise. You all the time need to beat the opposite staff, it’s not the one specific individual.”

However this win will need to have been a bit of extra-special for Tortorella.

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