Wilde Horses

- McCarron with a tremendous shift late first period. Again it is all about puck battles for McCarron. If he can eat shifts and minutes, he will find a regular role on the Habs. He provides the team with a different footprint than so many forwards and that size will win him a spot, if he wins the puck in the offensive zone. What was particularly noticeable, more than the actual puck-battling, was who he did it against. It was Ryan Kesler who is one of the best two-way forwards in all of hockey. That is impressive. Good can come out of injuries and the good in the last two weeks is McCarron showing skills at the NHL level that may not be so vital at the AHL level. Zone time isn't enough against some AHLer, but it sure is impressive against Kesler's line. One thing though, and I hate being critical here because he's been so good, but when the Habs have attacking zone pressure, he has to park and stay, not do fly-bys. Get in front of the net and be big; screen, deflect, and generally piss people off.

- Paul Byron with his 11th goal of the season. That equals the best number in his career. The season isn't even half done. Byron told me last week that for him getting the security of the three-year contract took so much pressure away, he could settle his family in Montreal, and not worry about the future for the first time as a pro and just play hockey. It looked to detractors of Bergevin like a worrisome signing with a full 3-year commitment to a waiver pick up but what an excellent decision for everyone, including Habs fans who, even if he isn't scoring, get to enjoy the tremendous show that is his speed.

- Still no issue with Gallagher. I know people are staring at that goal drought but that happens to most players now in this low-scoring league. First period he is all around the net and runs over Bernier; he is such a buzz saw. Second period in front of the net with an excellent deflection that just misses. Great work rate as always. Dancing around the offensive zone. Surely it has to come soon for him. In the 2nd period as well, the Ducks basically lost their emotional maturity and focus to win a game because of Gallagher. They just kept parading to penalty box trying to get even for something -- I guess he disrespected the Ducks. Who knows? It was weird. The Ducks lost their focus in the second and it just seemed it was all on the back of being angry with Gallagher.

- The pairing of Petry and Beaulieu looked very good together. Beaulieu had a stellar night. He was wheeling and dealing. Had a bit of a PK Subban night in a way. He was trying to create and a forward always had his back or in this case the point. A confident Beaulieu is an excellent Beaulieu.

- Until the Habs minor league system learns how to teach players to have a complete two-way game developing and winning at the same time, I recommend all top prospects go to the Swedish Elite League. Artturi Lehkonen is so refined for a first year NHLer, it is impressive. Both sides of the puck: smart play after smart play. Coach uses him with a one-goal lead with a minute left in Washington: he gets a bit of power play time and wins a puck battle, pushes it forward to Byron who sets up Plekanec. Lehkonen told me Monday that in his first year he got only defensive minutes in a defensive-structured league. Second year he got some offensive time. Two years and the Habs got a complete player. A player drafted in the second round seemingly quite a lot better than most second rounders trying to develop on the Rock. Maybe it is a coincidence. Maybe not. But this kid is ready for this. Third period he ended up being the only forechecker and he angled off the Ducks players so perfectly he forced a face off. One on three and he forced the goalie to freeze the puck the Ducks were so hamstrung. Thanks Sweden for the development of the Finn to shine in Canada.

- Best game of the year for Plekanec. Not just the goal but more jump than we have seen. Seemed to be in the offensive zone most of the evening.

- When you have injuries like Galchenyuk, Shaw, Desharnais, Markov, and the Ducks have only 14 shot attempts after two periods, that's the system. When Terry, Carr, and McCarron are dominating Ryan Kesler's line there is something more going on then the talent of those three players. Sure the Ducks were tired, go there, but that is worth only so much. These Ducks were just rolled over. Therrien and the staff are getting so much out of these players. Fourteen available points since Galchenyuk went down, ten attained.

Wilde Goats

- First goal against the Habs was a collection of the smallest breakdowns. Mitchell and Kesler were even on the draw but then no one could get control of the puck. An attempt by Weber ended up on the stick of Cogliano from a perfect spot and it was 1-0 Ducks. Puck luck certainly not on the Habs side there considering the all important first against them didn't really have any glaring error to it.

- The power play without Galchenyuk is without power. Zone entry is difficult without him but one player who brings the puck in to win the zone well is Nathan Beaulieu. He backs up the opposition defence well. So many errant passes and blind passes when the Habs did win the zone though. That is confidence or in this case a lack of it. The puck becomes a hot potato of not wanting to be the player who messes it up so in the end they all do.

- Radulov had zero going on. Seriously, he couldn't do the basics for some reason.

Wilde Cards

- The kind of game you miss Andrew Shaw. He plays well when the opposition is trying to set the tone with a little sandpaper. Shaw dishes it out quite well and makes sure the opposition is alert.