Last season the Montreal Canadiens blasted out of the gate winning the first nine games of the season. They looked unstoppable until an injury to their franchise cornerstone goalie Carey Price sent their season into a tailspin and they were a no-show in the playoffs.
This year, the script seems very much the same, only now Price is healthy, making jaw-dropping saves, and if he stays on the ice and off the injury list, the Canadiens will not only qualify for the playoffs, but will be a strong favorite to capture their first Stanley Cup since 1993.
The Habs won their sixth straight game last night, beating Tampa Bay 3-1, and Les Habitants have yet to lose a game in regulation, sporting a gaudy 7-0-1 record thanks in large part to Price, who excelled again last night, making a highlight reel save in the third period that sparked a Montreal comeback. Down 1-0, Price flashed out his right leg to stop a shot by Ondrej Palat from close range, the puck glancing off the toe of Price's skate and wide of the net. If that puck goes in, the Habs likely suffer their first regulation loss of the year, but instead it led to three unanswered Montreal goals by Alex Galchenyuk, Max Pacioretty, and an empty netter to seal it by Torey Mitchell. For the Lightning it was just their first loss against an eastern conference team this year.
Dwyane Wade's first game with his new team gave fans in Chicago a little something extra to crow about one night before their beloved Cubs play their first World Series game at Wrigley Field in more than seventy years.
Wade scored 22 points in his Bulls debut last night, including a three-pointer with 26 seconds left that proved to be the game-winner in a 105-99 win over the Boston Celtics in Chicago. Wade is a Chicago native returning home after fans saw the team say goodbye to another hometown all-star in Derrick Rose, who was traded to the NY Knicks in the off-season. The Celtics also had to contend last night with their former teammate and all-star guard Rajon Rondo, who signed with the Bulls in the off-season after spending last year with the Sacramento Kings. Rondo dished out 9 assists but scored just 4 points on the night. Isaiah Thomas led the Celtics with 25 in the losing effort.
And yes, game three of the World Series takes place in the friendly confines tonight with Kyle Hendricks getting the ball for the Cubs against Josh Tomlin for the Cleveland Indians with the series tied at one game apiece. Hendricks will have more than just Chicagoans cheering him on tonight. He'll likely have folks in Hanover, New Hampshire on his side as well. The big righty nicknamed "The Professor" played his college ball at Dartmouth.
The Tennessee Titans have struggled to play well at at home for years, but that all changes when the Jacksonville Jaguars come to town. Since 2014 the Titans have a 1-17 record against the rest of the league, but are 3-0 against the Floridians and that didn't change last night in Tennessee's 36-22 win. Marcus Mariota threw for 270 yards against the Jacksonville defense, including two touchdowns and DeMarco Murray rushed for 123 yards and a score to even Tennessee's record at 4-4 on the season while the Jags drop to 2-5.
Locally, the University of Vermont womens' soccer team won its first game in the America East quarterfinal playoffs, beating Stony Brook on penalty kicks after a scoreless draw in regulation and overtime. The Catamounts found the back of the net in the shootout round on strikes by Meg James and Casey Garfinkel. Two Stony Brook misses and a save by UVM goalie Coco Speckmaier set things up for Caitie Green to clinch the victory. The Catamounts move on to face Hartford in the semi-final round. In a match-up earlier this season Hartford beat UVM 1-0 so the Catamounts will try to avenge that loss and stay alive in the tournament.
In mens' college hockey tonight UVM hosts Michigan, the first time the Catamounts have ever faced the Wolverines, who come in ranked nationally at number 11. But the Catamounts won't be able to play the four team captains against Michigan, who have been ineligible since a hazing incident before the season started forced them to sit out for five games. Their suspensions end Saturday in time for UVM's game against Northeastern.
