MTL@PIT: Déjà vu

PITTSBURGH -- Six days after meeting the defending Stanley Cup champions for the first time this season, the Habs dropped another 5-3 decision to the Penguins on Wednesday.

But also like last Thursday in Montreal -- and despite the result -- the NHL's best continue to bring out the best of the Canadiens.
"The chances were there on both sides -- [Carey Price] made some big saves and their goalie made some big saves, too," acknowledged Brendan Gallagher, as the Habs once again entered a final frame against the Pens tied at three apiece. "They just came out in the third and were able to find a couple [of goals], while we weren't. It's not always easy, but these are the kind of games you have to find a way to win. It hasn't really happened much this year, so hopefully it's something we get better at."
The Canadiens' goalscorers in Pittsburgh were Jonathan Drouin, Nikita Scherbak, and Jacob de la Rose -- the former snapping a 166-minute Habs scoreless drought which dated back to March 15, also against the Penguins.

"It wasn't on our mind," stressed Gallagher, who earned an assist on de la Rose's second-period go-ahead goal, giving Montreal a brief 3-2 lead. "Obviously we got shut out in our last two games, but when we fell down 2-0 tonight, that was a big goal from Drouin. We came back with a little bit of momentum and were tied going into the third. We had 20 minutes to win the hockey game but just couldn't do it."
WELCOME BACK
On Wednesday, Price was back between the pipes at PPG Paints Arena, getting his first start since suffering a concussion in Philadelphia on Feb. 20.
And while the All-Star netminder may have waited over a month to make his return to action, he did not have to wait long at all to face his first real test -- a Derick Brassard penalty shot just 1:19 into regulation, the Pens' first shot of the evening.
Talk about a warm welcome.
"Well, I stopped it, so I was okay with that," shrugged off Price, who faced a total of 39 shots on the night -- making 34 saves -- but couldn't stave off official elimination from the playoffs.
Nevertheless, the 30-year-old was still impressed by the character his team showed while bouncing back from an early 2-0 hole with a trio of consecutive goals to set up a tight final 20 against a stacked Penguins squad.
"It was a pretty good team to go against, and I thought we played a pretty good game tonight," concluded Price, as the Habs now get set to face the Sabres in Buffalo on Friday. "I thought we played a solid game against a solid team."