Canadian 5 – Capitals 2 | When the shooter meets the ambassador

(Washington) It is never very complicated for the media on site to talk to the hero of a victory. The players know it anyway, especially after a two-goal game.

(Re)read our live coverage of the match

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Nick Suzuki appeared in front of the cameras, buoyed by his three-point performance, in the Canadian’s 5-2 victory against the Washington Capitals on Tuesday.

But Juraj Slafkovsky, the author of the other double, was kept waiting, so much so that we had to leave the locker room for Martin St-Louis’ press briefing without having spoken to the young leader.

We finally found out why Slafkovsky was slow to emerge from the locker room: on this visit to the American capital, he was expected by the Slovakian ambassador to the United States. Let us also hope that the good Radovan Javorčík will frame this article, his first mention in the sports tabloid of The Press.

19-year-olds meeting their ambassador doesn’t happen often. But Slafkovsky holds a special status in his country. At 17, he wore the colors of Slovakia at the Olympic Games. At 18, he became the first representative of his country claimed first place in the draft. Slovak journalists arrive in Montreal from time to time to get news. The rebirth of Slovak hockey is partly due to him.

But all this obviously does not seem to move the older teenager, who welcomed the ambassador’s visit with his usual candor. “It was pretty good. They are not very serious, they are also fans,” he said of the embassy staff who came to see him.

“They liked the game, we took pictures and I signed a few jerseys. It’s good to see that they care about this too! »

A colleague then asked him if an invitation to the restaurant awaited him the next time he was here. ” I hope so. Otherwise, Martin Fehervary [des Capitals] will invite me. I have two options! »

More than the ambassador’s visit, however, the most significant development for the Habs are the two goals that their young prospect scored. “Two elite shots,” judged Jake Evans, author of the decisive pass on the first of the two nets.

With this double, Slafkovsky now has seven points, including five goals, in his last eight games. But above all, he shot 19 times on net during this streak. His average of 2,375 shots per game is double what he posted before this streak since his arrival in the NHL (1.2 per game).

“I remember that, when I was younger, I had a tendency to always want to pass the puck to others,” recalled his center, Nick Suzuki. When you have the chance to shoot, you have to take advantage of it. We try to place him in a favorable situation so that he can shoot. »

The importance of leadership

This victory was far from perfect. The Montrealers were saved in part by a Samuel Montembeault in great form, bombarded with only 34 shots in the last 40 minutes, even if he limited the returns he allowed to a minimum.

The Habs center line also generated some mockery on the internets, but among the Capitals, behind Dylan Strome, it was not much better with veteran Nic Dowd, young Connor McMichael and American League player Michael Sgarbossa. Let’s say that the spectators on site at Capital One Arena could not expect a replay of the 1987 Canada Cup final.

An imperfect victory, therefore, at the end of which Slafkovsky was not entirely satisfied, even if he and Suzuki totaled four goals. “We didn’t play our best game, at least I did,” he said.

A comment that was in line with what Suzuki told us a few minutes earlier. “He was frustrated in the first half of the match,” said the captain.

Why is that ? “It was disjointed on both sides. I told him: “It’s our first match in 10 days. Relax! It’ll be OK. Everyone feels like that.” He has very high expectations, which I like, so I just try not to be as negative as him. »

The anecdote is interesting, in this first match without Sean Monahan, who exercised a certain leadership in his own way. With Monahan gone, the club’s few veterans will have to do more to support the younger ones. Suzuki is relatively young, but his title as captain puts him in the category of those who will have to assume a bigger role.

Which brings us to David Savard, another of the actors in this victory. He didn’t score a goal, but saved one by throwing himself in front of a Max Pacioretty shot. “Serge Savard!” No, David Savard! “, joked Capitals television analyst Craig Laughlin. “Someone told me that he saw David Sauveur pass by, I found that funny. I’m going to owe him dinner,” added Montembeault.

Savard’s name is starting to come up left and right in discussions surrounding the trade deadline. Who knows what Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton are planning? But in the meantime, Savard’s importance in the equation only increases. See what Evans had to say about Savard, with the loss of Monahan.

“It’s good to have guys who have experience. He helps the young defenders a lot, but he is good for everyone. And off the ice, he’s just one of the funniest, most positive guys. In a team like ours, which experiences ups and downs, it helps to stabilize us. »

Something to think about between now and March 8.

Rising

Cole Caufield

Engaged all evening, he extended his series of matches with at least one point to 10 (6-7-13). His assist on Suzuki’s first goal was fully deserved, as he caused the crucial turnover in the neutral zone.

Falling

Tanner Pearson

Invisible except for his two penalties, including one in the offensive zone. If he wants to play in the playoffs, he doesn’t help his general manager that much.

The number of the match

2 min 47 sec

This is the length of Mike Matheson’s presence in the second period. Rafael Harvey-Pinard and Kaiden Guhle were stuck for 2 min 43 s. A sequence spent entirely in the Canadian zone, like the period in general.