(Montreal) It is probably our colorful colleague Richard Labbé, star journalist for the largest French daily in America, who found the best word to predict what this season of the Canadian would look like: a laboratory.
Posted at 10:51 p.m.
Updated at 11:55 p.m.
The experiences are already numerous, sometimes for the better – see on this subject the two victories of the last week –, sometimes for the worse. Saturday night at the Bell Centre, the 5-2 loss to the Dallas Stars was not the worst. But it wasn’t either, not at all even, one of those matches that “could have gone either way”.
In the Texas camp, a well-honed, well-balanced machine, whose meticulous defensive game has been a trademark for a few years now. In the Montreal camp, this famous laboratory, where the alternatives in defense rub shoulders with the process of trial and error which continues its course in attack.
“It’s always like that, early in the season, warned Jonathan Drouin after the game. The combinations will change again. [Samedi] tonight, neither line was consistent the entire game. You have to give credit to the Stars, who played a good defensive game and didn’t give us a lot of space. »
It is indeed good war to remember that the Habs have only played six games. However, in attack, with such an experienced group of players, we seem strangely far from the objective.
The line on which Drouin played is a good example. The specialized site Natural Stat Trick calculates that at five against five, the unit made up of the Quebecer, Kirby Dach and Josh Anderson only controlled a quarter of the shot attempts and was crushed on the chances plan to score quality (one for, eight against).
It was generally painful, but never more so than on the fourth goal of the Stars, scored in the last seconds of the second period. Even though the two CH defenders were stuck in the corner of the rink, Drouin and Dach completely abandoned their cover in the upper zone. As a result, poor Anderson found himself alone against four Stars players. Esa Lindell’s goal followed in the second.
PHOTO FROM VIDEO, NHL. COM
On the visitors’ fourth goal, Josh Anderson of the Canadian found himself alone against four Stars players.
Head coach Martin St-Louis never openly criticizes his players after games. He was no exception to his habit, but nevertheless pointed out that his club had just reduced the deficit to 3-2 in the previous minutes. “At this point in the game, […] we should have done the job defensively. We didn’t do it,” he said.
In defense, inexperience weighs heavier on some nights than others. Kaiden Guhle, a model student since the opening of the calendar, found himself in trouble several times against the methodical attacks of the Stars. Jordan Harris was better, but some streaks made him look bad – including Joe Pavelski’s third goal. Arber Xhekaj stands out for his robust play, but defensively he too has a lot to eat. Johnathan Kovacevic was an effective offensive contributor in the American League; he’s not in the NHL.
Martin St-Louis called the Stars “a fast, fairly straightforward, fairly north-south team; a team of veterans.
“It’s pressure that a lot of our players aren’t used to. They will gain experience. It’s a game what we are going to learn. »
Featured Xhekaj
The famous laboratory will come, as we have said, with its painful moments, but we are already seeing the emergence of frankly refreshing elements. Arber Xhekaj is not perfect, of course, but he is certainly unique, at least in the organization of the Canadian.
At 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds, Stars defenseman Esa Lindell is no match for Nathan Gerbe. His attempt to check Xhekaj in the third period, however, resulted in the Finn who found himself all four irons in the air. The Bell Center crowd went wild.
The Ontarian was also rewarded with a goal, the first of his NHL career. The crowd went wild.
However, do not count on him to be moved all week.
“I stay pretty calm, and I think it’s in these moments that I’m at my best, launched the young man after the meeting. Of course I was happy with my first goal, but I’m pretty relaxed. »
Obviously, a love affair develops between the supporters and him.
“It’s really the fun, especially for a guy who has had a fairly long journey, said Jonathan Drouin. He is gaining confidence, and this goal will help him even more. »
To see him manhandling his opponents along the boards, if he also needs to actually gain confidence, he will be a feared player before long.
A real “hockey player”, according to Martin St-Louis. His teammates won’t complain. Neither do the supporters.
Rising
Arber Xhekaj
A goal — his first in the NHL — and an assist, in addition to seven hits. The young defender continues to make a good impression.
Falling
Kaiden Guhlé
His duet with David Savard struggled all night against the Stars’ first line. A legitimate reminder that Guhle doesn’t have two weeks of NHL experience yet.
The number of the game
66
Joe Pavelski hit the 66e game of more than one goal of his career. Since his NHL debut in 2006-07, only three players have had more: Alex Ovechkin (150), Steven Stamkos (86) and Sidney Crosby (82).