Jesperi Kotkaniemi OT Winner Sends Habs to Game 7 against Toronto

 

[Box Score]

There's something I really like about Montreal Canadiens center Jesperi Kotkaniemi. On this Saturday night Hockey Night in Montreal, he sent a tremendous hockey game to a game seven with a game-winning overtime wrist shot that gave Montreal an unlikely 3-2 win over the -190 Maple Leafs in a game that oddsmakers thought they should have won handily. 

It was his 7th career Stanley Cup Playoffs goal. While he hasn't recorded an assist, there's something to be said for his prowess to find the net in these crucial playoff games in 15 career games and not yet 21 years of age. 

Also in this game that I watched on NBC Sports, Tyler Toffoli and Corey Perry scored for the Habs. Surely they lose game 7 right? 

The Canadiens are nothing if not pesky, and now the Maple Leafs look to avoid a game seven choke with seemingly all the pressure on them against a team playing with house money. It will be a Monday night thriller on Memorial Day. 

Canadiens Lose To Oilers 4-2, Jesperi Kotkaniemi Scores Goal 6

[Event Summary]

In what was likely a frigid Thursday night up in Montreal, the Canadiens lost 4-2.

Before they fell behind, Jesperi Kotkaniemi put them up 2-0 with this beautiful goal. It was his sixth of the season, and fourth since his return from injury.



Phillip Danault netted his 11th of the season for the first scoring of the game.

Connor McDavid netted an assist for his 70th point of the season already. Montreal entered this game as -130 favorites somehow, and still left as losers and are without a win in seven straight contests.

Thanksgiving Night 2019: Canadiens Lose To Devils 6-4

[Event Summary]

[NHL.com]

[Habs Inside Out]

Finally, Jesperi Kotkaniemi is going again. Indeed, he scored his third goal of the season at Centre Bell in Montreal on Thanksgiving night. Here's a look, and man was I happy to see this. 

It would end up Kotkaniemi's only shot - he also added an assist(!) - in a nice 13:42 of ice time. It's a start on a little streak for the kid, who hopefully ends up the cornerstone in a few years.

The Habs are a mess right now. Coming off an 8-1 loss to the Bruins, this loss marks their sixth straight of the year. After a promising start, they're now a very mediocre 11-9-5.

It's nice to see Kotkaniemi outshine Jack Hughes on home ice.

Kotkaniemi Card Illustration

New Kotkaniemi O-Pee-Chee Card Purchase

I bought this bad boy on eBay yesterday, it's my second hockey card.

I will add more to this post later. Today is my first color commentator game for the local Columbus Mavericks.

Played this game this morning on NHL 20:

Jesperi Kotkaniemi 1st NHL Goal (Rooftop Finish)

It was at the Centre Bell, just as it should have been. Jesperi Kotkaniemi had two goals on November 1st, 2018 against the Washington Capitals in a 6-4 Montreal Canadiens win.

It was the 12th game of his young career. A few games later on my birthday, he added his third.

Here are all 11 goals from his rookie year.


I can't wait to start racking these up for him in 2019-2020 while he continues on his great career for the Habs.

Here is his first goal of his second season:


Here is his second goal of his sophomore stint:



Finally, I can't wait to see this guy live when they come to Columbus on November 19th. Here's some analysis from a year ago on the KK Kid.

Bought First Hockey Auto RC - Jesperi Kotkaniemi

I bought my first card:

Picked this off eBay for $70 + shipping. Plan on getting it slabbed by PSA.

Montreal Canadiens Jesperi Kotkaniemi Imports Dragon Figure

Imports Dragon has pulled out all the stops for their local star, 19-year old Jesperi Kotkaniemi. The star Centre is one of just three players in the NHL who was born in 2000. Now, he has one of the most coveted figures in the history of the line. You cannot order this figure in the United States. Furthermore, the only way to get it is to go to the Bell Centre in Montreal; or your local Jean Coutu if you're in Montreal directly.

I've had several Montreal natives searching for me to get this figure and they're not easy to come by.



I spent the day learning about 'KK', here's Kotkaniemi's full scouting report here.

Finally, when I find a way to land this figure I will definitely report back. It's cool to have a great young player in a city like Montreal. That's one of my hockey bucket lists, to see this team play in Montreal; and I've felt that way since reading The Game by Ken Dryden.

Moreover, the Canadiens got their first win tonight; beating up the St. Louis Blues 6-3 in regulation in Montreal. It was a nice upset, and I picked off the Canadiens for a nice bet here. It all feels pretty fateful, with the figure being released.

The kid only saw 11:31 of ice time tonight (Game Summary), but it's nice to have him getting experience with a group like Jonathan Drouin, Shea Weber, Brendan Gallagher, Max Domi, and Tatar.

Coming off a 44-30-8 season, it's going to be interesting to see this team take shape and become one of the top teams in the NHL again. I can't wait to get ahold of this figure.