“Well, at least we don’t root for the New York Rangers,” I thought as the Blueshirts lost their third straight and took the swiftest of exits from the hub in Toronto to join the Alexis Lafrnière sweepstakes.
After winning the first game and losing the second, Montreal returned to home ice, which these days looks an awful lot like away ice, to host the Pittsburgh Penguins for the crucial third game of this best-of-five play-in series.
There was one change for each team compared to their previous lineup. Jake Evans replaced Jordan Weal in that hybrid center-winger-ish role on the fourth line, while Mike Sullivan replaced Jared McCann with Sam Lafferty.