WASHINGTON | Stanley Cup winners in 2018, the Capitals are nothing like a rebuilding team. They still have a desire for victories, especially with veterans who are not getting any younger.
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In the morning, Peter Laviolette had launched his message.
“It’s unacceptable to open the season with two losses, we need to see a sense of urgency in our game.”
Without saying that he had fire in his eyes, like Maurice Richard, Laviolette bit his lip a little while talking about the importance of this match against the Canadiens.
Three quick goals
The Capitals made their head coach’s heart palpitations drop with their first win this year. Against a rebuilding team, the Caps won 3-1 on Saturday at Capitol One Arena.
The CH did not play an atrocious match. At the start of the second period, the visitors led 1-0. But the Capitals took the knockout. to a very fragile young group with three goals in just over six minutes in the second. Conor Sheary, Anthony Mantha and TJ Oshie in turn beat Samuel Montembeault, who was making his first start of the year.
“I felt good even if I was a little nervous,” said Montembeault. I hadn’t played for almost ten days. I liked my match except for the second goal. I can’t give away a goal on a shot that goes through me. »
A chance for Drouin
Jonathan Drouin has returned to training for this visit to the country of Alexander Ovechkin. He replaced Rem Pitlick on the left wing of the fourth line skating with Jake Evans and Mike Hoffman. Number 27 had an honest game on his debut.
“I didn’t have a lot of rhythm during the preparatory calendar, but I took advantage of a good week training, underlined Drouin. I spent time with Martin and the other coaches and felt better tonight. »
After a victory in the inaugural game against the Maple Leafs, the Habs lost their next two games on opposing rinks. We predicted a difficult season. We already have a taste.
What we noticed…
HEALTHY GUHLE
Kaiden Guhle was a dubious case for this visit to Washington. Corey Schueneman had been given time off from the reservists’ morning training in the morning to preserve his energies for the evening. But Schueneman never needed to play. Guhle kept his place on the left of David Savard. He gave up six hits, fought with Anthony Mantha late in the game, but finished the game with a -2 record.
IMPORTANT MINUTES
“He is 18 years old, he must have energy. That’s how Martin St-Louis reacted when asked if he had considered resting Juraj Slafkovsky due to a second game in as many nights. Slafkovsky hit the post in the first period, coming close to getting his first NHL goal. Used for less than ten minutes against the Wings, the Slovak exceeded the 12-minute mark against the Caps. “There isn’t a minute that isn’t important in this league,” recalled St-Louis. Each game has an importance in the result. Whether you play 5, 10 or 20, every minute counts. »
FIRST POINT
Nick Suzuki stunned defenseman Nick Jensen with a quick fake behind the net before slipping the puck through Darcy Kuemper’s pads. For Suzuki, it was a first goal this season. But for Arber Xhekaj, it was his first NHL point. In his third game, the big defender will therefore have obtained an assist.
ALWAYS AT ZERO
Alexander Ovechkin had an assist, but he still hasn’t scored his first goal of the season. He had hit the target in the first period, but St-Louis won his challenge for an offside. And at the end of the match, he hit the post in an empty net.
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Harris and Kovacevic
Jordan Harris and Johnathan Kovacevic don’t do anything spectacular, but they’re a reliable duo With the absences of Joel Edmundson and Mike Matheson, St. Louis will be happy with the play of the two young defenders
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Dash
Kirby Dach has offensive potential, but he still remains discreet In Washington, the former Blackhawks did not have a great game in his body He generated few chances to score in the company of Sean Monahan and Evgenii Dadonov
First period
No goal
Penalties: Orlov (Wsh) 11:05
Second period
1-MON: Nick Suzuki (1) (Xhekaj, Caufield)2:01
2-WSH: Conor Sheary (2) (Jensen, van Riemsdyk)9:02
3-WSH: Anthony Mantha (2) (Kuznetsov, Oshie)11:43
4-WSH: TJ Oshie (1) (Ovechkin, Strome)AN-15:20
Penalties: Sheary (Wsh) 6:46 Hoffman (Mon) 14:06 Xhekaj (Mon) 16:03
Third period
No goal
Penalties: Kuznetsov (Wsh) 9:56 Mantha (Wsh) (shift) 16:57 Guhle (Mon) (shift) 16:57 Gallagher (Mon) (double min) 20:00 Dowd (Wsh) 20:00
Shoot to the net
MONTREAL 8 – 5 – 9 – 22 WASHINGTON 12 – 14 – 3 – 29
Guardians:
MON: Samuel Montembeault (P, 0-1-0), WSH: Darcy Kuemper (G, 1-1-0)
Numerical advantages:
MON: 0 in 3, WSH: 1 in 2
Referees:
Ghislain Hébert, Mitch Dunning
Linesmen:
Steve Barton, CJ Murray
ASSISTANCE:
18,573
Darcy Kuemper
★
TJ Oshie
★★
Nick Suzuki
★★★