When you’re an American League player and the coach calls you into his office after a game, there are two possibilities: either he tells you that the big club has called you up, or he’s not entirely satisfied with your job.
Since all of the Habs’ forwards were apparently healthy (we knew Josh Anderson would be evaluated daily for a lower-body injury just before morning practice) and a few of his teammates had already received call-ups, Joshua Roy was worried for a few moments when Jean-François Houle called him to a meeting.
Photo Agence QMI, JOEL LEMAY
“I didn’t really know why. I was wondering: ‘did I do something wrong?’” he said, smirking, at the end of the morning training.
No, the Beauceron had done nothing wrong. On the contrary.
“I heard he played a good game yesterday [vendredi]», even mentioned Martin St-Louis.
Indeed, it is a greatly deserved reminder for those who are playing their first professional season. Currently, he ranks second in scoring for the Laval Rocket with 30 points in 34 games. He is the team’s top scorer, with 12 goals. Not to mention that he is going through an excellent streak, with 7 points in his last 6 games.
Blacking the scoresheet is nothing new for this fifth-round pick in the 2021 draft. In his last two seasons in the QMJHL, he collected 119 and 99 points. If he got this call-up, it’s because of the evolution in the rest of his game.
“From what I hear, he has improved his defensive game,” said Rafaël Harvey-Pinard. He is complete, he can play on both ends of the ice. He has above-average offensive instincts.”
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A smart player
For his NHL debut, Roy will find himself to the left of Sean Monahan and Joel Armia.
“Josh is going to play with two veterans. He should be comfortable. It’s a trio with intelligence and gravity. It’s a good chair for him,” argued St-Louis.
“I’m really nervous. A Saturday evening in Montreal, it’s going to be truly incredible, said Roy, for whom around thirty parents and friends will come to the Bell Center. It’s something to jump on NHL ice for a regular season game. I will try to approach it like a normal match.
This is what the Canadian head coach made sure to remind him by peppering him with a bit of chatter in the final moments of training.
“I always say the same thing to young players. Don’t try to be perfect and please me. Play the game and we will correct the mistakes,” he explained.
Besides, St-Louis didn’t seem too worried about his new foal.
“The jump from junior to the American League is smaller than that from the American League to the NHL. Usually, intelligent players fit into the NHL more easily, he said. “That’s what I kind of expect from him, because he’s an intelligent player.”
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Montembeault against the Oilers
Furthermore, the Canadian will present a somewhat different face from his last outings. Johnathan Kovacevic will return to the lineup after three games on the bridge. Justin Barron will give him his place.
Samuel Montembeault will start a second consecutive game. The task will not be easy, since the Oilers come to Montreal with a streak of nine consecutive victories.
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