From the attack to the ton. power play goals. An exciting spectacle for fans. Weaknesses in defense… but a victory all the same.
It’s probably not what they had in mind when they started the game, but the Canadiens’ players paid tribute to PK Subban in their own way by playing a match that reflected the seven years or so that past the defender in Montreal. Without being perfect, but with passion and relentlessness, and above all with a celebration at the end of the curtain, after a 4-3 triumph over the Nashville Predators.
This gain, we understand, was good for everyone. Because it doesn’t happen often, of course. But even more because of “the way” in which it was acquired, as head coach Martin St-Louis pointed out after the game.
It started, this time, at the right time. We take the trouble to specify it, because it is anything but common, especially at home. “I don’t even know when was the last time we scored a goal in the first period at the Bell Centre,” said goaltender Samuel Montembeault. We didn’t flinch at the time, but the verification of the facts is striking: it hadn’t happened since November 22.
“I liked our energy from the start,” said Cole Caufield. We will be embarrassed before concluding that it was Subban’s presence in the building that inspired the CH players – none of the players in uniform on Thursday had played with him. But we have to believe that his message, delivered before the meeting, resonated. “These people are going to love you if you leave everything you have on the rink,” he said into the microphone.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Tanner Jeannot and Arber Xhekaj
Although the Predators scored the first goal, the Habs had their best offensive run of the season. The specialized site Natural Stat Trick calculated that at five against five, the Canadian had generated 2.03 expected goals, a high after 126 periods (42 games). In reality, the Flannelette had reached that total barely one in three times for an entire game.
The Preds had played the day before, and we did not want to give them time to catch their breath, said Montembeault. “It made the difference quickly. »
some rays
Add to that two power-play goals, a first at home this season, and a perfect shorthanded squad on three occasions, and it looks like a pretty good job.
Defensively, it wasn’t a masterpiece, but let’s move on this time; we will have plenty of chance to talk about it again.
Casually, even if the Habs are still not the Detroit Red Wings of 1995-1996 – or the Boston Bruins of 2022-2023, to choose from – some rays of sunshine are filtering after very dark weeks.
Jake Evans, consistent in his intensity, had a fourth point in four games. “He may be in a better chair than at the start of the season, and he deserves it. He takes the chance that comes his way,” St-Louis said of him.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Jake Evans
Jonathan Drouin had three assists. Not only does that make him 6 points in 7 games, but he is fourth in the club for power play points this season (6).
Jordan Harris, even if he does not blacken the score sheet, had a very strong game. Opposed to some of the best opposing elements, he found himself on the ice for no less than 32 shot attempts from his club five against five, a record for CH. All situations combined, he played more than 21 minutes, even though his coach had opted for a formation with seven defenders.
Samuel Montembeault was finally rewarded after a good performance. His last win, he noted, was on Dec. 19 in Arizona. Its efficiency rate has also risen above the symbolic bar of .900.
Summit for Slafkovsky
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Juraj Slafkovsky
The one whose achievements most deserve recognition is probably Juraj Slafkovsky. His ice time of more than 16 minutes became a personal best, but it was above all for his commitment that he caught the eye. During an anthology presence, in the second period, he blocked two shots and defended his area as if his life depended on it.
“It’s part of the game,” he said. It’s nothing special, I’m ready to do anything to help the team win. I didn’t know he would aim for my foot, though. But I have big feet, they are hard to miss! »
Above all, he said he was satisfied that his intensity was able to give energy to his teammates. Energy already fueled by supporters particularly in voice, moreover.
“It was good to see the crowd cheering us on so loudly,” said the big winger. [Le Centre Bell] is a great place to play hockey. If you give it your all on the ice, [les partisans] will love you forever. »
A journalist pointed out to him that he had memorized PK Subban’s sentence well. “I’m a brilliant guy, you know,” he replied with a laugh.
That’s a funny conclusion. But it was probably the evening for that, so we take it as it is.
Up: Justin Barron
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Justin Barron
When he returned to the game, and in a supporting role, the young man defended himself very well and was able to show his ability to generate attack. Three of his four shot attempts hit the target.
Down: Kirby Dach
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Kirby Dash
He received a 15e Minor penalty in the first period. This places him, by far, first among the team’s attackers, and 10e echelon among forwards across the NHL. It’s too much, especially for a player who forces the opponent to be punished in return much less often.
The number of the match: 25
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Cole Caufield
Cole Caufield scored his 24e and 25e campaign goals. The plateau of 30 now seems a formality for him, which the Habs have not seen since the 2018-2019 season. Note also that he has not obtained an assist in the last 22 games, since November 23.
They said
You see [que Juraj Slafkovsky] starts to be more [à l’aise] in situations that are not necessarily offensive, to play without the puck. Blocking shots and playing well defensively is part of the game. I’m glad he takes it seriously.
Martin St Louis
I liked that. Would I do it all the time? I do not know. It’s not hard to manage. Today it paid off.
Martin St-Louis, on the formation with 11 attackers and 7 defenders
I’m happy with the victory, but much happier with the way we won. The penalty kill and the power play were solid, we were good at five against five, the first period was incredible, when it was a problem for us… I’m happy for the guys.
Martin St Louis
26e is even more important.
Cole Caufield, who reached 25 goals
I didn’t understand all this [que P.K. Subban] was saying on the microphone, but I especially liked when Carey Price arrived. When they did their three taps, it reminded me of when I used to watch their games.
Samuel Montembeault
They are good players, I hope the points will come soon for us.
Juraj Slafkovsky on his linemates Christian Dvorak and Josh Anderson
We did not go out as we would have liked. We were in the game all night, but we made too many mistakes and we got too many penalties.
Nino Niederreiter, Predators
I experienced a lot of emotions, it was my first game in the NHL. It’s great. We lost, but I’ll remember it all my life.
Goalkeeper Yaroslav Askarov
Both teams had to be ready. They were ready, we weren’t.
Predators head coach John Hynes on the effect of the ceremony
In details
Communication issues
That’s a bit that we expect Yaroslav Askarov. When a goalkeeper is drafted at 11e rank, as it was in 2020, it is a sign that the potential is enormous. What have we seen? A highly athletic, flexible goalkeeper, who notably wowed the gallery on a shot from Jordan Harris, extending the pad to make the save. He was beaten twice by Cole Caufield, but here the blame lies more with his defensive unit, who were unable to block passing lines to the dangerous shot-stopper. Ditto for the goal of Kirby Dach, completely forgotten after a turnaround. That said, it was Askarov himself who made this turnaround. It was one of his many attempts to play with the puck, and let’s just say that from above, his decision-making looked questionable at times. “In the American League, I have good communication with my defensemen. This evening, it was a little more complicated, ”he said in a press briefing sometimes in English, sometimes in Russian. We take this opportunity to thank his teammate Yakov Trenin, who, like Jean Bisping, did a solid job as an interpreter.
Ylönen on the right foot
Jesse Ylönen didn’t have a perfect night, but he showed some interesting aspects of his game nonetheless. His patience in setting up Kirby Dach’s goal, for example, will surely help him forget about the Predators’ first goal, on which he was unable to neutralize Nino Niederreiter. His play on this goal, however, reminded us that Ylönen does not hesitate to work in the back of defensive territory. In this sense, his game is the opposite of that of Mike Hoffman, left out for this match. The Finn, however, only played 8 min 21 s and was entitled to only three appearances in the third period. It remains to be seen whether he will be entitled to a more substantial audition than Anthony Richard.
The bar is open
Martin St-Louis can console himself: he is not the only coach to sometimes tear his hair out over his team’s defensive play. His Predators counterpart John Hynes was in a foul mood after the game, especially given a first period in which the men in yellow and white allowed 19 shots and 10 high-quality scoring chances, according to Natural. StatTrick. “We were getting beaten all over the rink,” Hynes said. We can understand his impatience. His team may have allowed just 13 goals in six games, but they allowed 35 or more shots for the fourth time in five games, a streak that includes a 67(!) Hurricanes shot game. If the rumors of the exchange of the excellent defender Mattias Ekholm were to materialize, it will not improve.