Call of the Wilde: Pateryn impresses as Habs blank Canes

Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price (31) makes the save on Carolina Hurricanes right wing Patrick Dwyer (39)during first period National Hockey League action Thursday, March 19, 2015 in Montreal. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

Wilde Horses

- The arrival of Greg Pateryn as a steady regular is something I did not see coming. Jarred Tinordi. Yes. Greg Pateryn no. Hard to know why Pateryn has the game to advance a level while Tinordi remains in Hamilton. Foot speed and confidence are the answers but why wasn't this truth obvious before. I don't have the answer. I guess if Bergevin did he would have made a trade when Tinordi's value was high. I think it is many ways unknowable but we all sure see the difference between Pateryn and Tinordi at this NHL level. Perhaps Jarred can still get here. Pateryn is here and he looks like given the right circumstance he should not play another day in the AHL.

- Plekanec and Pacioretty so far look like a great pair. Plekanec did the work on the Gallagher rebound. There's a lot to like in that line. Certainly a defensively responsible line is expected with Plekanec always being a good 2 way centre and Pacioretty leading the league in the much maligned plus minus category. Easy to imagine how much Therrien would want to throw out this line late with a one goal lead - more so than he would be inclined with Desharnais at centre.

- Lars Eller by far the best hockey since the playoffs last year. The puck sense that everyone laments I just don't have an issue with. Every player makes bad decisions. That one to me has been a self fulfilling narrative when you start to look for something often you will find it.

- One thing David Desharnais does not get enough credit for is his malleability. Desharnais plays well on the wing. He plays well with different wingers. The club is gonna be a lot better off when everyone stops thinking they have to coddle him by giving him Max to play with. This guy can run on his own and produce. Max wasn't on the ice when he took the sweet pass from Gilbert.

- Dale Weise has 28 points. Take that John Tortorella wherever you are.

- Brandon Prust is playing his best hockey in a while. Great jump. Can't explain why but he's around the puck and winning the puck. Prust blocks a shot with 10 seconds left. Gotta love that.

- Gilbert takes one in the face trying to preserve a shutout with 22 seconds left. Gotta love that.

- Max Pacioretty. 35.

- Carey Price. Out of words. Wordless. Without words.

Wilde Goats

- Nah.

Wilde Cards

- Not a goat or a hero but merely an observance: Alex Galchenyuk when he wins a puck battle in the corner glides after. He needs to win the battle and then leave his opposite in the dust with 2-3 quick strides and then find an outlet. He is so close to doing the entire play right but he fails to seize the win when he's almost got it done.