What a game last night. Mike Boone at HI/0 called it the most entertaining hockey game the Canadiens have played since “the Comeback” against the Rangers 3 seasons ago. Its hard to argue any different. Far from a textbook victory, the Habs blew a 5-2 3rd period lead and won the game with 8 seconds to go in overtime.

Against any other team in the league I would be writing about the monumental collapse in this space today. I can’t do that though. The Capitals really are something to behold. On Sunday I watched them fall behind 4-1 to the Penguins and tear down the defending champs in exactly the same way. Any other team in the league, and I would be talking about Price, and his penchant for allowing back breaking goals when the team needs a stop the most. I would say that if I didn’t watch the Capitals make MA Fleury (the Olympian) look equally as inept on Sunday afternoon. If the Capitals weren’t the best team in the NHL I would talk about how undisciplined penalties cost us a victory in regulation. You don’t like to see it, but the Capitals force teams to do stupid things. It’s what they do.

Instead of focusing on those things I want to focus on what went right. Specifically I want to talk about how the Habs from the first shift put on their hard hats and went to work to win the battles for loose pucks and turnovers that gave them the lead, and ultimately won them the game. You have a guy like Tom Pyatt who played like a man possessed next to the guy he was traded with (Gomez) to the Canadiens. Pyatt had 7 shots on the night – which resulted in his first goal in the NHL. More importantly he displayed the mix of grit and hands that are needed when playing with Gionta and Gomez.

The line of Plekanec, Sergei and Darche was fantastic last night. Plex potted two goals. Sergei ended the game with 3 assists. Darche was held off of the score sheet, but was a force all night long. Like Pyatt, Darche battled for loose pucks and allowed the skilled guys he was playing with more time with the puck in order to score.

Another man possessed last night was Glen Metropolit. This guy continues to add to his status as the greatest waiver pickup the Habs may have ever had. There is a reason he scored 63 points in 44 games in the Swiss league in 05-06. He has a nose for the net, and the determination and toughness (maybe thanks to growing up in Regent Park) to get there. His is honestly one of the most compelling stories in the NHL, and the effect he has on his teammates is incredible.

Top to bottom, the Habs have seemingly changed over the course of the past 5 games. Even in a loss to Boston, the team displayed all kinds of heart which is incredible considering the disastrous injuries that have plagued them since day 1 of the season. My final thought is this: After the Olympic break the Habs will get Cammy, Pouliot, and Andrei back – at which point the coaching staff will have some tough decisions to make. What would YOUR lines look like with a healthy roster? Who would you send back to the Hammer? Would you spread the scoring over 2 or 3 lines?

Gomez – Gionta – Pouliot
Plekanec – Cammy – Darche
Metro – Kostitsyn – Kostitsyn
Lapierre – Moen – Pyatt/MAB

JM would be able to roll 3 lines heading into the playoffs. Of course, MAB’s position could change depending on injuries on the back end.