The Canadian | Six questions after six periods

Life is short, but it’s long for the little ones, sang the late Dédé Fortin. A hockey season is also short, even if small parts, for example the Canadian’s second period on Thursday in Boston, can seem long.

And it is precisely because a season is short that Martin St-Louis began to juggle his personnel as he did during the defeat against the Bruins. Even though there are still forty-forty-first games of the schedule to play, the head coach will have to find solutions, especially with another meeting with division rivals on Saturday, the Ottawa Senators. Here are some questions to watch out for, starting Saturday or in the coming days.

1 – Slafkovsky: with Suzuki or Dach?

If St-Louis leaves the trio of Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki and Juraj Slafkovsky intact, it is purely in the hope that this old troop finds itself again. Because his statistics after two matches confirm what we see with our eyes: it doesn’t add up. When they are on the ice at 5 on 5, the Canadian only controls 18.75% of shot attempts and is outscored 11-1 in scoring chances*. The unit still hasn’t allowed a goal, but with numbers like that, the puck will eventually go where it shouldn’t go. The intrigue with Slafkovsky is that we know very little about what he can offer with centers other than Suzuki. From the moment his 2023-2024 season took off (in mid-December), he started all but two of his games alongside Suzuki. The two games without Suzuki he played with Sean Monahan, now in Columbus. This is a great opportunity to find out more, especially since Kirby Dach needs a spark.

Answer: with Dach.

2 – Anderson: bigger role or status quo?

This is the question that consequently arises from the first. Josh Anderson replaced Slafkovsky alongside Suzuki and Caufield in the third period on Thursday; the new assembly concluded the evening at -1, record attributable to the technical foul of Cayden Primeau on the last goal of the Bruins. Besides, Anderson is not off to a bad start. Note that he does well shorthanded. Let’s be clear: Josh Anderson is not a first-line player. But nothing stops him from spending a few matches there, until everyone gets back on their feet. After Joel Armia last year, he could be St. Louis’ recovery project this season.

Answer: Bigger role.

3 – Hutson: With Savard or Guhle?

Lane Hutson and Kaiden Guhle were CH’s best defenders in the first two games. Both minimized mistakes and for Hutson, it was done without stopping him from accomplishing what he got to the NHL to do: create offense. They formed a duo on Thursday in Boston and were hardly isolated from the tough competition; the two forwards Hutson has faced the most are Pavel Zacha and David Pastrnak. Furthermore, Hutson’s puck possession indicators with David Savard leave doubtful. It’s 0-0 in the goal column, but 23-8 (in favor of the opponents) on shot attempts. By pairing Guhle and Hutson, the CH could test Guhle in the role of the “veteran” who provides support for a young teammate. Such a configuration, however, would force St-Louis to pair Mike Matheson and Justin Barron. However, Matheson has not yet regained his momentum from last year. See you again in a few weeks?

Answer: with Savard.

4 – Xhekaj: in training or in the stands?

This question only arises if Jayden Struble is cured, which is unknown at the time of writing. Struble missed the first two games and the Habs had training off Friday. But with the camp he experienced, he deserves a position in the third duo. If we want to use him on the left, Arber Xhekaj is the man in excess. Justin Barron wasn’t much more convincing, but his performance at camp could earn him the benefit of the doubt. Xhekaj’s followers will argue that his presence in a potentially explosive match would be required, but the number 72 must demonstrate that he can play sheriff without falling into indiscipline.

Answer: in the stands (if Struble is healthy)

5 – Dvorak: in defensive zone or not?

Christian Dvorak did not have a transcendent camp, but the real surprise in this young season is on faceoffs, where he is struggling after two games, with a success rate of 40%. The sample is certainly very thin (15 faceoffs), but the Bruins’ first goal on Thursday was a direct result of their lost faceoff. Ditto for the goal ultimately refused in Boston a few minutes earlier. That said, Dvorak was a hit last year (57.8%), and has shown a success rate of 54.8% since his arrival in Montreal in 2021. He has accumulated equity. And by fulfilling this role, he allows Suzuki to take as many faceoffs as possible in the offensive zone.

Answer: in the defensive zone.

6 – Montembeault: in front of the net or on the bench?

Come on, it’s the weekend, we’re kidding.

Answer: in front of the net

*: All advanced stats come from Natural Stat Trick.