Limiting Montreal power plays remains priority for Penguins

TORONTO — The Penguins have been adamant that they liked a lot of things about Game 1 in their qualifying-round series against Montreal, with the final score -- 3-2, in the Canadiens' favor -- being the most conspicuous exception.

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One thing they clearly did well was to limit the number of power plays Montreal had, giving the Canadiens just two chances with the extra man. (That total does not include the penalty shot Jonathan Drouin was awarded in overtime.)

Of the 20 teams that played on the first two days of this postseason, Columbus, which was assessed a single minor during its 2-0 victory against Toronto Sunday, is the only one to be assessed fewer penalty minutes than the Penguins. (The New York Islanders also were shorthanded for just four minutes during a 2-1 victory over Florida Saturday.)

Staying out of the box figures to be a priority again when the Penguins and Canadiens meet in Game 2 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto sometime after 8 o'clock tonight.

"There seems to be a fair amount of penalties being called throughout the course of the playoffs to this point," Mike Sullivan said today. "So I thought our team did a pretty good job in Game 1 of being responsible with their sticks. It's something that we always talk about with our team, our stick discipline."

Tomas Tatar, who led Montreal with eight power-play goals during the regular season, did not record a shot on Matt Murray -- who will get the start in Game 2 -- Saturday, but linemates Brendan Gallagher and Phillip Danault did.

Often.

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Gallagher threw a team-leading nine at Murray and Danault, who is Montreal's best defensive forward, was second with five.

Both assisted on Jeff Petry's overtime game-winner, but that was the only time either showed up on the scoresheet.

Damage control against those two, and Tatar, remains high on the Penguins’ defensive to-do list.

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