(Toronto) Filip Mesar admitted to playing with more confidence in his second preseason game and was one of the few Canadiens players to show his potential Wednesday night at Scotiabank Arena.
Posted at 9:52 p.m.
Updated at 10:28 p.m.
For a second game in a row, the members of the Montreal team did not give much to their supporters and the Habs lost 3-0 against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Mesar, whom the Canadian selected in the 26the rank of the last repechage, stood out thanks to his speed and his good sense of the game.
“I felt more comfortable than in my first game, admitted the 18-year-old Slovak, who had been quiet Monday against the New Jersey Devils. I am happy to live this experience. I have the opportunity to learn a lot in each game. I want to do the best for the team and me. I’m so young, I want to make the most of this experience. »
Mesar was employed on the left of Owen Beck and Mitchell Stephens after playing center against the Devils.
He particularly shone during a streak in the second period. He dodged Calle Jarnkrok’s check down the ramp, then mocked Denis Malgin’s drop, but his shot was blocked by Matt Murray.
“You see all the talent he has! And he’s right, we have about 70 players in camp and we try to teach everyone,” said head coach Martin St-Louis. We show them how we work, how we do things. Then it’s up to the players to absorb that and bring that to the rink. When it’s their turn to play here, they’ll know how to do things. »
For his part, the Swede Emil Heineman stood out by firing six shots during the meeting. He played with Jake Evans and Jesse Ylonen.
PHOTO NICK IWANYSHYN, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Emil Heineman (51) takes a shot in the first period of the game.
“He was one of our best forwards,” St-Louis said of Heineman. He used his speed and threw some good shots. »
For his part, Juraj Slafkovsky was relatively discreet to the left of Rem Pitlick and Joel Armia. Slafkovsky, the first pick in the last draft, was not supposed to participate in this match, but he ended up taking the place of Jonathan Drouin. He stayed home because he was sick.
On defense, things have sometimes been complicated for Jordan Harris, a southpaw employed on the right side.
“I think I’m doing pretty well,” Harris said. But there are things I want to improve.
“I think I’m still in transition, but things are progressing. I have the opportunity to work with the coaches, get their advice and review the video footage. It helps me a lot. »
In goal, Samuel Montembeault looked bad when he yielded on the Maple Leafs’ first shot on goal, coming from the stick of Nicholas Robertson. He was perfect against the next 14 shots.
“I was a little nervous. It’s been a long time since I’ve played, admitted Montembeault, who is fighting Cayden Primeau for the auxiliary position at Jake Allen. I gave the quick goal, but I replaced myself and it went well afterwards. »
Kevin Poulin took over with 8:50 left in the second period and stopped 12 shots. Malgin and Nick Abruzzese beat him when the Leafs were on the power play.
PHOTO NICK IWANYSHYN, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Canadian goalkeeper Kevin Poulin
For the Maple Leafs, Murray stopped 16 shots in the first two periods of play. Erik Kallgren made 11 saves in the final period.
Defenders Jordien Benn and Carl Dahlstrom left the game in the first period. Forwards Jarnkrok and Alexander Kerfoot made appearances as defensemen to avoid overusing the four remaining veterans.
The Canadiens will play a third preseason game on Thursday, when the Winnipeg Jets will be at the Bell Centre.
Earlier in the day, the Canadiens announced that they had ended goaltender Riley Mercer’s amateur tryout. St. Louis indicated after the game against the Maple Leafs that other players could be cut from camp soon.
Forward Josh Anderson skated for the first time at the Bell Sports Complex since the start of camp. He is recovering from an upper body injury. Forward Nick Suzuki (lower body) and defenseman Madison Bowey (lower body) drilled before their teammates.