Senators 5 – Canadian 4 | The art of seizing your chance

“If you had a chance, an opportunity, to get your hands on anything you wanted, would you take it or let it slip through your fingers? »

It is the rapper Eminem – the American equivalent of KC LMNOP – who recites these words, in English of course, at the opening of his tube Lose Yourself. Obviously, within the Canadiens of 2022-2023, there are players in both categories.

Tuesday, Rafaël Harvey-Pinard decided that he would be part of the first category, of those who seize their chance. If the Habs held out until the 59th^e minute in this 5-4 loss at the hands of the Ottawa Senators, it is partly because the fiery number 49 seized his chance.

In the second period, seeing his team bogged down, Martin St-Louis rearranged his lines. Harvey-Pinard came out on top, promoted alongside veterans Nick Suzuki and Josh Anderson. The Quebecer was entitled to a dozen appearances with the two Ontarians; he scored during two of them.

The promotion in itself was a mark of confidence for Harvey-Pinard; what he did with it is to his credit.

“It’s a beautiful message. I repeat, but this is a great opportunity. It is in these situations that I have to perform and show that I can play with talented players, ”noted the author of the double, after the meeting. On the energy side, it gives a pat on the back so that I continue to play as I do at the moment. »

St-Louis is still getting to know him. On Tuesday, he only led it for the eighth time in the season. “He’s a guy you notice on the ice. Its details are excellent. From what I’ve seen, he has more attack in him,” summarized St-Louis.

Later in his press briefing, the head coach will add: “A chance to show off is not a given. You have to earn it, and he does. »

St-Louis didn’t name a name, but it’s hard not to think of Jesse Ylönen when listening to him. The Finnish winger also had the right to this audition, and it was the version of the trio from two weeks ago, the one where we still found Cole Caufield, even more gifted than Anderson for the offensive thing.

But Ylönen did not take his chance. After two games, he was demoted to the second unit, and his drop in the hierarchy continued brutally on Tuesday. He was limited to 10 minutes of play and transferred to the Laval Rocket after the game. It remains to be seen if this is a temporary measure during the break, but if veterans Jonathan Drouin and Joel Armia are ready to return in 10 days, Ylönen could remain stuck in Laval.

A different kind of luck

Arber Xhekaj also had to take chances. Never drafted, marginal player at 18, when he should have been selected, he worked hard to get noticed and land a contract with Montreal.

His game is certainly not without mistakes, but he’s done enough good things so far to convince his bosses to keep him in the NHL, even if it means skipping a trick from time to time.

Tuesday could have been one of those nights when we remember that he finished Saturday’s game with a minus 4. However, there were extenuating circumstances, which the coach explained to his player.

“We talked a bit. He reminded me that this number doesn’t matter if you play well. Sometimes you’re just unlucky, Xhekaj explained. In this game, I couldn’t do much on some goals. Mentally it was tough, but I never gave up. I had a good game, but on paper it didn’t show. »

At his pregame press briefing on Tuesday, St. Louis had defended Xhekaj, and he was consistent in the evening when he confronted the colossus and his partner, David Savard, with the line of dangerous Brady Tkachuk.

For the nearly 10 minutes that Xhekaj and Tkachuk were up against 5-on-5, it ended 1-1 on goals scored, and Xhekaj didn’t seem intimidated by the toughness of the Senators captain, who didn’t hesitated to use his shoulders.

Xhekaj was still not perfect. On the first goal of the match, he could have been more authoritative towards Claude Giroux in front of the net. On the winning goal, he was deported, which gave space to Tim Stützle at the entrance of the zone. But St-Louis intends to remain patient with the number 72.

“He has a presence on the ice. He’s not perfect, but he always brings something. I don’t hesitate to send him into these situations, against big guys. He’s a guy who brings his shovel and plays a role in our team. »

This is another way to seize your chance. To see the state of forces at the Canadiens, there will be tons of these opportunities. Those who take advantage of it will earn points towards next year.

Rising

Nick Suzuki

In slow motion for a few weeks, the captain of the Canadiens has rebounded with two assists and a strong evening at the face-offs (68%). The kind of performance he delivered last fall.

Falling

Christian Dvorak

A 19^e scoreless straight game. The shambles in the infirmary could have earned him more opportunities. If he does play well despite an injury, the break comes at the right time for him.

The number of the game

56.5%

This is the success rate of the Canadian shorthanded since January 16, since the return of the getaway of two games in New York. The team allowed 10 goals in 23 occasions. Again, the break comes in time.

In details

A first for Hoffman this season

With all the opportunities he has had this season on the power play, Mike Hoffman had to one day manage to score in these circumstances. Well, the big event finally took place on Tuesday night at the Bell Centre, during the second period, when the forward was finally able to score a goal with the advantage of a man. Overall, it was his ninth goal of the season, his first since January 17. “It’s not such a big relief to score on the power play for the first time this season, because I know I can do it,” Hoffman explained after the game in the Bell Center locker room. I know I’m able to find the back of the net in these circumstances and from this position on the ice as well. I thought it was only a matter of time before I scored my first goal this season on the power play, and it happened. »

Another defeat before the break

With this defeat, this other defeat, the Canadian takes the break for the Stars and the other break as well (that of the “bye week”), with four losses in a row, for a record of 0-3-1. For a team that aspires to big things, it wouldn’t be ideal, but for the Canadian, it’s a welcome break; near the dressing room at the end of the evening, we passed two players, Kaiden Guhle and Juraj Slafkovsky, with knee braces, and another, Brendan Gallagher, who was struggling with a protective boot attached to one foot. “The break comes at a good time, with the injuries we have at the moment, admitted coach Martin St-Louis. The National League is a league that is demanding, both mentally and physically. I know we didn’t get the results we wanted, but we are working and trying to find solutions. »

Two players leaving for Laval

At the Canadiens, we expect a few injuries to return to play when the club resumes training on February 9 for the next match, scheduled for February 11 at the Bell Centre. To make some room, the Canadian has therefore chosen to return two players to the Laval Rocket on Tuesday evening, namely forwards Jesse Ylönen and Alex Belzile, who will soon be skating on the ice of the American League. For now, therefore, defender Justin Barron remains with the Canadiens, and will therefore not be eligible to participate in the All-Star game of the American League during the weekend in Laval. Ylönen will have collected 2 assists in 10 games during his time with the Canadian, while Belzile stood out with 4 assists in 5 games. He also seemed rather disappointed when putting away his equipment at the end of the evening.

Richard Labbe, The Press