By PAT HICKEY, The Montreal Gazette
http://www.montrealgazette.com/sports/index.html
May 3, 2010 5:05 AM
Before each game, a group of Canadiens' players gather outside the dressing room and warm up with a soccer ball.
That exercise paid off for Michael Cammalleri yesterday when he scored the winning goal in the Canadiens' 3-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Cammalleri used his skate to lift a rebound into the air and then hit the puck in mid-air past a surprised Marc-André Fleury.
PITTSBURGH - MAY 2: Michael Cammalleri(notes) #13 of the Montreal Canadiens celebrates his third period goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2010 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 2, 2010 at Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Cammalleri had two goals to pace the Canadiens to a 3-1 win over the Penguins. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)"P.K. (Subban) had a nice point presence on the power play and made a nice shot on net," Cammalleri said. "At that point, me and (Brian Gionta) are like two dogs on a bone trying to get the net and find a rebound. The first rebound hit me, but the second one I was able to kick it to my stick. Those plays are more reactionary; there's not much time to think."
On his second goal, an insurance tally late in the third period, Cammalleri didn't give Fleury any time to think. He took a lead pass from Tomas Plekanec and blasted a 20-footer off the rush. He tucked the shot into the top corner on Fleury's glove side.
"I used the element of surprise," said Cammalleri, taking his inspiration from Sun Tzu's Chinese classic The Art of War.
Cammalleri, who is battling Joe Pavelski for the playoff scoring lead, said he's merely doing what he's expected to do.
"I've always said we have different responsibilities and creating offence is what me and some other guys are supposed to do and it's nice to see the puck go in," he said.
The Canadiens turned things around on special teams after giving up four power-play goals in Game 1. The Penguins were 0-for-3 yesterday.
"I think it's just a matter that we executed what we wanted to do," said Gionta, who scored the other Montreal goal but also led the team in shorthanded time with 3:29.
"The first game, we were a step behind in everything," Gionta added. "With the way they move the puck and the players they have, they're going to take advantage of that. I thought we did better of being aware and getting in those lanes. It wasn't as much making an adjustment as executing what we set out to do."
Gionta said the Canadiens were fresher than they were in Game 1 after taking a day off Saturday. And guys like Gionta needed to be well-rested because Martin used only three lines after the first period.
Gionta didn't put much relevance in the fact the Canadiens were outshot, 39-21.
"Obviously, we need to clean up some things but, at this time of year, it doesn't matter. You get wins, that's all you need to do. We gotta find ways to get more pucks to the net, challenge (Pittsburgh goaltender Marc-André) Fleury. We did a good job of that early on, but then we got away from it."
Andrei Markov was absent from the lineup and there are reports that he is finished for the season after suffering a knee injury when he was checked by Matt Cooke in Game 1.
The Canadiens received another scare when Marc-André Bergeron was shoved into the boards from behind by Craig Adams at 17:36 of the third period.
"I saw him coming and I tried to turn," said Bergeron, who received some attention from athletic therapist Graham Rynbend on the ice and returned to the bench under his own steam.
Adams received a major penalty for a hit from behind and a game misconduct, which means the NHL will review the play to see if supplemental discipline is needed.
First star: Jaroslav Halak was again the last line of defence as he made 38 saves.
Second star: Michael Cammalleri scored two goals and is the playoff leader with eight.
Third star: Josh Gorges played a team-high 24:13, blocked a couple of shots and was plus-2.
Key number: 4. The number of road games the Canadiens have won in six tries in this year's playoffs.
phickey@thegazette.canwest.com
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