By taking a quick look at the training brought to the Bell Center by the visit from Ottawa, we could understand that some Senators were not going to come here to learn and offer scientific hockey like the Soviets in 1972.
So, with Mark Kastelic and Zack MacEwen trying to get noticed in every way possible, it was obvious that there was going to be some meanness like in the good old days.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Juraj Slafkovsky
Besides, that’s exactly what we had, and a few times too: a knee out here, a blow to the back there. Fortunately, there was nothing untoward, neither on one side nor the other, and the evening ended in relative calm, with a 4-3 victory for the Canadian, in this second match of the preparatory schedule.
Could Martin St-Louis have added a few pounds of muscle to his lineup, knowing that these Senators were going to arrive here with bad intentions? He thought about it a little.
“We have a schedule and we try to prepare, to give players chances,” the coach began by saying. It’s not like we get the details of their training two days in advance. The rest of us are already preparing, but when I saw their training, it’s certain that if I had had it much earlier, it would have been different.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Sean Monahan
“But even that, we want to play hockey. There were a lot of punishments and everything, but we stayed as a group, we stayed together, and it was okay. »
At one point, Kaiden Guhle, who wasn’t supposed to play but took Mike Matheson’s place, found himself lying on the ice, the victim of one of those foul calls that can happen when too many players try. to make a name for yourself at the same time. He finally got up.
We were there, the guys answered. It’s a proud, united group. There were a couple of situations where the guys didn’t back down, they stood together and for a coach, that’s fun to see. We would have been disappointed to lose guys in a preseason game, but that’s part of the game… We had no injuries and displayed a pack mentality.
Martin St-Louis, head coach of the Canadiens
No injuries, it’s already a victory within a victory, and what’s more, the Canadian was surprised to see some strong returns from players who had been absent for a long time for health reasons.
Thus, gentlemen Juraj Slafvovsky, Sean Monahan, and Cole Caufield all scored a goal, a first in a very long time for them.
Slafkovsky, among others, showed a very wide smile in the Bell Center locker room.
“I know I have to play physical and find myself around the net more often,” admitted the young forward. But it’s also only my second match in nine months! I’m still finding my bearings, and I feel better than last time, I feel like it’s coming back. »
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Jake Allen
Martin St-Louis also seemed satisfied with all that.
“I hope he continues to grow,” explained the coach about the young man. There will be ups and downs in his case, but I’m pretty sure he will continue to improve… there are expectations and he has to live with that, even if sometimes it’s unfair . But he knows how to use his attributes, he uses his speed, his strength, and he can shoot the puck. The last periods he has played are a good sign. »
It’s understood, it doesn’t count right now, and it won’t count before October 11 either, but if there’s one thing we should remember from this Wednesday evening at the Bell Center, it’s that three very important players for the coming season look like they are ready to perform up to expectations. For a club from which we expect nothing, that’s at least that.