The Canadian is made to play in red. That’s the message the hockey gods seem to send every time the Habs pull a blue jersey out of their closet.
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For the first of eight times this season, Martin St-Louis’ squad wore their retro powder blue uniform, inspired by the Expos of the 1970s and 1980s. The Devils, in search of a 10e consecutive win, had nothing to do with nostalgia for Youppi! and Metal!, his new imaginary friend.
Led by an evening of two goals and an assist from Jack Hughes, Lindy Ruff’s troops achieved their goal by winning by a score of 5 to 1. As a result, the surprising leaders of the Metropolitan division left the Center Bell after stopping the Canadiens’ winning streak at three.
Two goals scored in the space of 2 min 9s, (the first from Hughes and that of Dougie Hamilton) at the start of the second period, forced the Canadian to play catch-up hockey.
“Hands Full”
The Montrealers were lucky that Jake Allen was in good shape as the opponent came very close to reaching the 40 shot mark (the Devils stopped at 39) for the fifth time this season. Allen was therefore called upon to shine on a few occasions, including during a breakaway from Nico Hischier.
“It’s probably the toughest test we’ve had to go through this season,” Allen said on his return to the locker room. The Devils are playing very well. It’s a whole hockey team. We had our hands full. »
The Habs, we said, were not chemically designed to play in blue. In the first iteration of retro jerseys, in the 2020-2021 season, the Canadiens had maintained a 1-3-1 record, avoiding the sweep thanks to an overtime victory in the last game with this blue jersey. more regal.
A blue reminiscent of that of the very first campaign in the history of the Canadiens. A year of misery during which the team of Jack Laviolette and Newsy Lalonde finished last in the National Hockey Association with a record of 2-10-0.
Finally Dadonov
We don’t know if it’s the color of the jersey that suits him more, but Evgenii Dadonov may have played his best game since being acquired from the Vegas Golden Knights. At least that’s a win.
In his 12th match, the Russian striker finally managed to move the ropes.
Beyond this goal, we felt he was much more involved. Before reducing the gap to 2 to 1, he had missed a great opportunity, kneeling in the slot, during the first period.
He also made his presence felt by defeating Jesper Boqvist as he retired to the bench.
After the game, the Canadian announced that Jonathan Drouin would miss four to six weeks of activity due to an upper body injury suffered on November 5 against Vegas.
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Arber Xhekaj
Despite two minutes spent on the penalty bench, he was the most used defender by Martin St-Louis (19 mins 34s) The head coach of the Canadian sent the same on the playing surface during a numerical superiority and, in the end match, when he had withdrawn Jake Allen in favor of a sixth skater
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Cole Caufield
The young Canadiens prodigy was overshadowed by Jack Hughes, his former teammate and linemate of the American National Development Program Hughes ended the evening with three points, while Caufield was held in check He fired his only shot on goal with 50 seconds left in the game
First period
No goal
Penalties: Xhekaj (Mon) 5:20, Smith (NJ) 13:14
Second period
1-NJ: Jack Hughes (6)
(Hamilton, Bratt)AN-3:57
2-NJ: Dougie Hamilton (5)
(Without help)6:06
3-Mon: Evgenii Dadonov (1)
(Monahan, Savard)9:55
4-NJ: Jack Hughes (7)
(Mercer)15:29
Penalties: Dach (Mon) 2:30
Third period
5-NJ: Jesper Bratt (6)
(Hughes, Mercer)12:19
6-NJ: John Marino (2)
(Without help)FD-19:56
Penalties: Severson (NJ) 9:53
Shoot to the net
New Jersey 11 – 18 – 10 – 39 Montreal 15 – 5 – 6 – 26
Guardians:
NJ: Vitek Vanecek (G, 7-1-0) Mon: Jake Allen (P, 5-6-0)
Numerical advantages:
NJ: 1 in 2, Mon: 0 in 2
Referees:
Mitch Dunning, Peter MacDougall
Linesmen:
Steve Barton, Derek Nansen
ASSISTANCE:
20,753
What we noticed…
The job that fits
Solid since the start of the season, the young defenders of the Canadiens made a few mistakes that led to goals for the Devils. A turnaround from Kaiden Guhle led to one from Dougie Hamilton. A battle for the lost puck by Jordan Harris to Dawson Mercer paved the way for Jack Hughes’ second goal of the game. It’s the job that comes in.
Lemaire would not be proud
It was during his time behind the Devils bench during the 1990s that Jacques Lemaire popularized his famous trap. To see the Devils play, we can say that this culture has been lost. Moreover, it is Martin Brodeur, crossed between the second and the third period who raised this point. “I can tell you that Lemaire would not be happy. Even if the game turns on the right side, “launched the author of these lines, the one the Devils promoted to executive vice-president last Thursday.
Xhekaj in the dungeon
Taking punishment for giving tape to Jesper Boqvist, Arber Xhekaj received his 12e punishment of the season. He joined Tyler Myers of the Vancouver Canucks at the top of that column. His total of 35 minutes in the dungeon allows him to easily hold the pole among rookies. His closest pursuers only spent 19 minutes there.
The Slovak Brotherhood
Juraj Salfkovsky was back in action after serving his two-game suspension. At the end of the meeting, Tomas Tatar, his compatriot, and he shook hands and exchanged a few words.