Mike Matheson’s absence was ultimately short-lived. The defender will return to the Canadiens’ lineup on Saturday night when the Tampa Bay Lightning visit.
According to the official version, Matheson missed the last four games due to a “lower body injury”. In his own words, it was “something in the lower body that just kept hurting,” he explained after Saturday’s morning workout.
His comeback is timely for CH, who went 1-3-0 in his absence. The only victory came in a shootout and the Montrealers were limited to seven goals in those four games.
In a team that has few gifted defenders offensively, Matheson indeed presents a different profile from his fellow defenders. The Montrealer had six points in nine games, but also posted a -4 differential.
“He generates a lot of offense,” said Jordan Harris, his partner for Saturday’s game. He leads the power play. He was really excellent in transition and to support the attack. I think he’s made about five breakaways this season! »
What is impressive is his ability to support the attack and come back quickly. Few guys do that. And he chooses his moment to support the attack. He doesn’t run like a headless hen. He is like a hunting animal, he uses his speed at the right time.
Johnathan Kovacevic
Matheson will also simplify the management of the numerical advantage, whose first unit consisted of five attackers, in recent games. Matheson is used in all situations and its average usage time is 24 min 25 s.
New threesomes
Chris Wideman will jump his turn in defense, with the return of Matheson. Wideman will be accompanied by Evgenii Dadonov on the catwalk.
Dadonov’s withdrawal is just one of many offensive changes. St-Louis will try a new experience with Kirby Dach, who will form a trio with Jonathan Drouin and Juraj Slafkovsky. Josh Anderson will replace Dach alongside the inseparable Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield.
St. Louis justified his decision by saying he wanted to “manage” the center position more, as he approaches a series of seven games on the road, where he will not have the last word in line changes.
“We wanted more depth on each line. Joe and Dacher [Drouin et Dach] can help each other on face-offs. I really liked Jo at center in the last two games. They are two offensive guys, and Slaf [Slafkovsky] brings gravity and north-south play. »
These various changes also ensure that Jake Evans returns to the fourth line. The extra minutes he gets since the injury to Sean Monahan did not allow him to finally break the ice. After 30 games, Evans still hasn’t scored. He has five assists.
Jake Allen will defend the Canadiens’ net. He will be opposed to Andrei Vasilevskiy.
Canadian formation in training
Offensive
- Caufield-Suzuki-Anderson
- Slafkovsky-Dach-Drouin
- Hoffman-Dvorak-Armia
- Pezzetta-Evans-Pitlick
Defense
- Matheson Harris
- Edmundson Guhle
- Xhekaj-Kovacevic