First things first - yes, ugly play by Pageau in OT, but that happens sometimes towards the end of three on three when everyone is tired and the play gets even more scrambly than usual. Sometimes you'll be on the right end of a play like that, sometimes you'll be on the wrong end.
Put that aside, though, and there were lots of things to like last night. I thought Batherson played really well, skating well and generating offense all night. He's just snakebitten right now, but September is a good time for that. The offense will come for him, and when it does it will come in bunches.
Yes, Brannstrom had one bad play, but surrounding that was a very strong night for him. He comes as advertised - he moves the puck really well, and will be an advanced stat dream. He's not quite the offensive force that EK can be, but for a team that desperately needed to improve its overall skill and puck moving ability on the back end, he's a gem. He'll also keep getting better as the season wears on, at which time the offense will start to come.
And Duclair? Like everyone else, I keep waiting for the clock to strike midnight and for him to turn into a pumpkin, but for now it looks like a bunch of NHL teams might have given up on a bone fide top six forward. He wouldn't be the first guy who needed to get a few years into his twenties to finally figure it out.
Finally, how about Bobby Freaking Ryan? Put a letter on that guy for crying out loud. He's feisty, competing hard, and using his great hockey sense to generate a ton of offense. For those who were worried that he was going to completely fall off a cliff, fear not - he looks great so far.
Given the lineup we dressed vs. the lineup the Habs dressed, you have to be happy with the road game we played. Love our compete level - this is going to be an easy team to like. Can't wait for Wednesday night!