The end of a campaign which we know will not last beyond mid-April could be the place for different experiments. For the Canadian, it seems that the time is more for consolidation.
On offense, Tanner Pearson will miss a sixth game in a row on Thursday night, and it’s certainly not because of the brilliance of Jesse Ylönen.
It is not said that the former Canucks will not play again for the season. But we can certainly take for granted that jersey number 70 will be available at the next training camp. When healthy, Pearson was a stalwart soldier throughout the season, but club management doesn’t have much more to learn about him.
It is a little more surprising to observe the same stability in defense. Johnathan Kovacevic, who will also be left out on Thursday, only played one of his club’s five matches, and that was because Kaiden Guhle was serving a suspension. He has also only been in uniform five times in the most recent 13 games.
In the same interval, Jayden Struble has played 10 times, and Jordan Harris, 12. The rotation between the three, without claiming that it is over, has decidedly slowed down.
Kovacevic, in fact, has been the least used defender in his camp since December 10 – 14:21, a full two minutes less than Struble, who precedes him on the list. This date marked the return to play of David Savard, who had been nursing a hand injury.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Johnathan Kovacevic has been the Canadian’s least used defender since December 10.
One would have thought that sending Justin Barron back to the minor leagues would help the cause of Kovacevic, also a right-hander. However, the strong return of Arber Xhekaj on the left flank forced the coaching staff to send Harris to the right. Obviously, we now prefer to use him on his inverted side than to send Kovacevic into the fray with regularity.
“There are players who have separated themselves a little” from the rest of the group, confirmed Martin St-Louis, Thursday morning, a few hours before the Canadian’s match against the Tampa Bay Lightning. In these circumstances, “it’s harder for Kovy to return.”
The head coach spoke of number 26 as an “exemplary teammate, good attitude and everything.” However, with regard to the “ game overall” and “the behavior of the other players”, “it’s more difficult to get him into training than it was”.
Without reinventing the wheel, the Struble-Harris duo has found its bearings in recent weeks. Much has been made of the consistency of the Xhekaj-Savard combination in recent weeks, but the Northeastern University alumni duo has also solidified their chemistry and had some good moments.
“For all duos, success depends on the connection between the two players,” said Kaiden Guhle. They have known each other for a long time, they get along well, and that helps them. They also communicate a lot. »
Guhle, a left-hander, has also been called upon to play on the right for several months. In his eyes, Harris is doing “a good job.” “He uses the center of work well, and that’s what you have to do when you play on the opposite side. He seems confident. I hope for his sake that it continues like this. »
We will understand, after reading the previous 500 words, that the Canadian’s formation against the Lightning will be identical to the one which defeated the Florida Panthers earlier this week. The only exception will be in front of the net, which will be defended by Cayden Primeau.