Hidden Game: Canadiens got Colin White, but Penguins got the win

Pittsburgh 4, Montreal 1. The Canadiens now have a 1-10 record in the second half of back-to-back games.

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Can you smell the Stanley Cup after the Canadiens claimed centre Colin White off waivers from Pittsburgh on Thursday? No, neither can we.

White, who participated in the Penguins’ optional morning skate before the deal was announced, had no points in 11 games, while averaging 9:57 of ice time, since being recalled from AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton last month, where he had five goals and 10 points in 21 games. In White, 27, Montreal has acquired another forward who can’t score. With any luck, he’ll at least prove to be defensively responsible.

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A former first-round draft choice by Ottawa in 2015, White had eight goals and 15 points with Florida last season. In 304 career games over eight seasons, he has 44 goals and 113 points. Coincidentally, Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes was his former agent.

With the addition of White, the Canadiens placed Brandon Gignac on waivers for the purpose of a loan to the AHL Laval Rocket. Gignac is the Rocket’s best player. This move indicates management is serious about the Rocket qualifying for the playoffs — especially since the Canadiens won’t.

News you need (Part I): The Canadiens now have a 1-10 record in the second half of back-to-back games. This is a young team that shouldn’t be affected by contests on consecutive nights. Montreal also is on a four-game losing streak heading into Saturday afternoon’s game at New Jersey. But don’t lose hope. Arizona comes to the Bell Centre next Tuesday.

News you need (Part II): The Canadiens also lost four straight between Nov. 12 and Nov. 18. Montreal also has lost six of its last seven and is 3-9-1 over a 13-game span. The Canadiens have allowed at least three goals in 11 of those 13 games. Can anyone stop the bleeding? Is there a doctor in the house?

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This is for all the old guys: The Penguins, with an average age of 30.4, are the NHL’s oldest team. The franchise now is a distant memory of the juggernaut that captured consecutive Stanley Cups in 2016 and ’17. On the other hand Sidney Crosby, at age 36, remains productive. He has a team-leading 31 goals and 56 points in 54 games. That’s more goals and points than any Montreal player. The Canadiens’ average age, in case you were wondering, is 26.3.

Strange, but true (Part I): The Penguins now have a goal differential of plus-14. They’re the only NHL team with a plus goal differential below the playoff line.

Strange, but true (Part II): No penalties were assessed in the first period.

Strange, but true (Part III): Mike Matheson opened the scoring at 9:05. It was the 38th goal scored by a Canadiens defenceman, second behind Colorado. The last three Montreal goals have all been scored by defencemen. And this is why teams miss the playoffs.

Strange, but true (Part IV): Four of the opening five minors assessed in this game were for tripping.

Strange, but true (Part V): In 11 of the last 14 games, the Penguins have allowed three goals or fewer. But because the team generally lacks offence, it has a 3-4-1 record since the all-star break.

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Quick start: The Canadiens, a notoriously slow-starting team, began the game with five shots before three minutes had elapsed.

Turnover of the night: Pittsburgh defenceman Kris Letang lost the puck to Matheson on the Canadiens’ only goal.

He’s forgiven: Letang tied the score barely more than two minutes later. It was his eighth goal against Montreal in 44 career games. He scored his ninth into an empty net late in the third period.

At least he had one good shift: In the game’s 16th minute, White lowered his shoulder and drove to the net, creating a scoring opportunity. Tanner Pearson then failed to convert the rebound. White had 11:11 of ice time, one shot, one hit and was a plus-1.

Does he talk to his posts?: Cayden Primeau got his first start in net since shutting out Anaheim on Feb. 13. And he was undoubtedly pleased when Erik Karlsson hit the post in the opening period’s final minute. And again seven minutes into the middle frame, when Valtteri Puustinen did likewise.

Pass of the night: Juraj Slafkovsky to Cole Caufield in the second period, while the Canadiens were on the power play. Caufield had what appeared to be a half-open net, yet goalie Tristan Jarry slid over and made a great blocker save.

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Struggling no more: The Penguins had converted only four of 25 manpower advantages this month. Six seconds following Brendan Gallagher‘s holding penalty, Pittsburgh scored, a deflection by Bryan Rust.

WTF: 21 seconds later, Drew O’Connor made it 3-1.

Is the ice tilted?: Through 13 minutes of the final period, the Canadiens held a 10-1 shots advantage. But none of the shots resulted in scores.

Stat of the night: Caufield and rookie Joshua Roy both were credited with five shots.

It’s a crowded leaderboard: Caufield, Slafkovsky, Matheson, Nick Suzuki and Joel Armia all were minus-2.

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They said it: “It’s been a crazy day,” White told RDS during the pre-game warmup. “It’s an exciting day. Any time you get to play it’s fun. I’m a two-way player. Play good on the defensive end and hopefully get some chances off that.

“It’s pretty exciting any time this happens,” White told reporters in Pittsburgh post-game. “Today I was just rolling with the punches and having fun with it. Skated this morning. Went home. It was a normal day. Then I got a call around 2:15. It has kind of been a whirlwind since then.”

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