Two days after getting singled out by coach Michel Therrien for a critical mistake in a loss to the Colorado Avalanche, P.K. Subban responded for his Montreal Canadiens on Friday.
Subban finished with two assists and the Habs snapped a tumultuous three-game losing streak with a 3-2 shootout win over the visiting Philadelphia Flyers. Paul Byron scored the winner in the skills competition in the fifth round.
What occurred Wednesday -- the Subban giveaway leading to Colorado’s winning goal a few seconds later and Therrien’s comments afterward -- spawned two days worth of fodder that even included Subban’s name being mentioned in trade speculation.
Meanwhile, Therrien, who is on the hot seat in Montreal as this season has collapsed since the injury to Carey Price, was left to do some damage control, saying he has a good relationship with Subban.
As for the criticism of Subban, well, there’s this:
Possibly the best quote from P.K. Subban in 6 years, right here: pic.twitter.com/0Qi3NzNTP1
— Eric Engels (@EricEngels) February 20, 2016
Perhaps Friday’s victory provides a brief cooling period, as far as this situation goes, in Montreal.
#canadiens Max Pacioretty: "PK was probably the best player on the ice tonight." #tvasports
— Renaud Lavoie (@renlavoietva) February 20, 2016
Subban wasn’t just involved in the Montreal scoring. He also caught Claude Giroux with a hit in front of the Habs’ net late in the third period. There was no call.
Flyers blue liner Shayne Gostisbehere recorded an assist in the third period to extend his record point streak for a rookie defenseman to 14 games.
The Flyers still get the single point, but they’re still five points back of the Tampa Bay Lightning for the final Wild Card spot in the East.
Also sitting in front of Philadelphia is Carolina -- victorious versus San Jose on Friday -- and New Jersey -- losers to the New York Islanders.