The most beautiful of beginnings

A full stadium. A frenzied crowd. An electric atmosphere. A close-knit team, determined to go all the way.

All the winning conditions were met for a magical evening at Stade Saputo on Sunday. And this first playoff match for CF Montreal, against Orlando City SC, delivered on its promises. the party raised. Solid. Players and spectators were one against the opponents, who multiplied the checks. Against Pedro Gallese, too, who dragged on on throw-ins. The Orlando goalkeeper was able to recite all the work of Jacques Prévert before receiving an official warning from referee Ismail Elfath, also targeted by boos of the crowd and the grievances of the Montreal players.

On the pitch, in the north, south, east and west stands, it was one for all, all for one. When, around the 40^e minute, with a clean score, the Impact players showed signs of frustration, the spectators followed them. At the 65^e minute, impatience gave way to frustration. Orlando’s tightly knit defense killed all of the Impact’s attacks. Kamal Miller laser? Blocked. Strike of Samuel Piette? Blocked. Free kick from Djordje Mihailovic just outside the box? Blocked ditto.

Then at the 68^e minute, Ismaël Koné found a hole in the mesh. He slipped between two players and redirected a pass from Mihailovic behind Gallese. Aim. A career first, at the Saputo stadium, for this young player who grew up on the grounds of the borough of Saint-Laurent, in the north of the island.

This goal from Koné lit up the stadium. Almost literally. Sections 114, 127, 132 disappeared under blue and white smoke. Laurent Duvernay-Tardif rang the bell as if it were a simple Christmas bell. Happy uproar. It was like being in Saint-Lambert, during a show by Rammstein, on the other side of the Seaway.

After ? It was a wild party, which culminated with another goal, that of Mihailovic on a penalty kick, in stoppage time. Final score: 2-0. Once their opponents returned to the locker room, the CF players went to dance with the Montreal Impact Collective, then sing sweet carolina ahead of Laurent Duvernay-Tardif and the 1642. Me, it’s another song that came to mind.

That of Stéphane Venne, sung by Emmanuelle, then by the Academicians.

And it’s not over, it’s just the beginning /

The real sun we haven’t seen yet /

And until today, we haven’t experienced anything /

The great ecstasy, we haven’t had it yet /

No it’s not over, it’s just the beginning /

But it’s the most beautiful of beginnings /

Han han han han han han haaaaaaaaaaan!

The Canadian needs reinforcements

The Canadian needs reinforcements in defense. And quick.

Not so much to win as to achieve the stated objective this season: to develop hopes. With the extended absences of Michael Matheson and Joel Edmundson, the Habs are providing quality playing time for Kaiden Guhle, Jordan Harris, Arber Xhekaj and Johnathan Kovasevic. It is very good. They still have to touch the puck.

The puck possession indicators are worrying. Especially for Guhle. Since the start of the season, the Alberta defenseman has spent more than two-thirds of the time at even strength defending his territory. Optimists will say he’s improving his game without the puck. Hmm. Yeah. The realists will have understood that this is not ideal.

Usually, when a young defenseman begins his career in the NHL, his head coach pampers him. The protected. How ? By sending him into the fray against the third or fourth line. Or, by offering him favorable face-offs.

Last season, 36 of the NHL’s 47 rookie defensemen had more or as many faceoffs in the offensive zone as they did defensively. This was the case, in particular, of Mattias Norlinder and Jordan Harris, with the Canadian. This fall, with four rookies on his roster, Martin St-Louis doesn’t have that luxury. He is forced to send his youngsters against the best attackers of other teams – even in their area. Of the NHL’s 13 rookie defensemen this season, Guhle and Kovacevic are the most likely to face off in their own territory.

Of course, it shows in the statistics. Take quality scoring opportunities from the Canadiens when these players are on the ice. Then subtract those of the opponents. You will get a relevant differential.

Yes, three games is a small sample. Except that these statistics are an extension of those of training camp, during which Guhle, Harris and Xhekaj were in negative territory.

Let it be clear: I’m not implying that the Canadiens’ rookie defensemen are playing badly. They have even been among the club’s best players since the start of the season. The challenge is the collective that surrounds them, and their workload in the absence of Matheson and Edmundson.

All would benefit from reinforcements.

The problem is, it’s easier to grow pumpkins in January than to trade now. To snatch a holder from an opponent, the Canadian will have to pay a premium worthy of a usurious loan. It won’t happen. Realistically, Kent Hughes will have to hope that a clean reservist ends up on waivers.

Sooner than later.