Juraj Slafkovsky held off scoresheet once more, however coach Martin St. Louis is seeing progress from 19-year-old who was No. 1 general draft choose.
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It has been seven video games now since Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis put Juraj Slafkovsky on the No. 1 line with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield and likewise put him on the primary power-play unit.
Slafkovsky, the No. 1 general choose on the 2022 NHL Draft, has just one help in these seven video games, however St. Louis likes what he’s seeing from the 19-year-old winger.
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Slafkovsky was held off the scoresheet Monday night time when the Canadiens beat the Jets 3-2 in extra time in Winnipeg.
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Josh Anderson and Christian Dvorak scored for the Canadiens in regulation time and Justin Barron scored the OT winner on an influence play. Dvorak’s purpose, which gave the Canadiens a 2-0 lead at 15:04 of the second interval, additionally got here on an influence play because the Canadiens went 2-for-3 with the person benefit.
Gabriel Vilardi and Cole Perfetti scored for the Jets.
The Jets outshot the Canadiens 32-26 with goalie Jake Allen making 30 saves for the win, enhancing his report to 4-6-2 with a 3.43 goals-against common and a .904 save proportion. It was Allen’s first win in his final eight begins (1-6-1), however the Canadiens have solely scored 16 targets in these eight video games.
The Canadiens improved their report to 14-13-4 — together with 7-4-2 on the highway — and they’re 3-1-1 of their final 5 video games, whereas the Jets fell to 18-10-2.
“I really feel like as a gaggle we’re locked in proper now,” St. Louis advised reporters in Winnipeg after the sport. “I actually do really feel that approach. It’s essentially the most organized that we’ve been since I’ve taken this job and it takes time to construct that in several elements of the sport. We’re capable of broaden on a few of the particulars contained in the completely different ideas, completely different elements of the sport that we need to deal with. So I feel we’re simply evolving as a workforce, however as a gaggle I really feel we’re actually locked in.”
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The Canadiens might be again in motion Thursday once they go to the Minnesota Wild (8 p.m., TSN2, RDS, TSN 690 Radio, 98.5 FM).
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Slafkovsky logged 20:06 of ice time towards the Jets with no photographs and three hits.
“I feel Juraj’s discovering some consistency,” St. Louis advised reporters after Monday’s morning skate. “From the start of the season, his particulars on either side of the puck, off the puck, have been very mature. It’s uncommon you see that with a 19-year-old.”
Slafkovsky has 2-6-8 totals this season and going again to final season he has two targets in his final 52 video games. There are greater than 370 gamers within the NHL with greater than two targets this season.
“I do know all people’s in all probability extra centered on the targets and assists that he would possibly get, however I feel his basis for an extended success for him begins with the main points that he has proper now in his sport and he’s taking part in with two offensive gamers and he’s complementing them rather well,” St. Louis stated about Slafkovsky. “There’s loads of nights the place you allow the sport and it’s like Slaf was so good tonight and also you may not see it within the targets and assists, however you understand in not too lengthy these nights when he’s so good they’re going to show into a few factors for him — two, three factors an evening. He’s attempting to do it not on the expense of not being detailed off the puck. I feel it’s uncommon that you simply see that from a 19-year-old.”
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One participant who has began scoring is Anderson, who has three targets within the final two video games, giving him 4 on the season. There at the moment are solely 5 Canadiens forwards who’ve extra targets than Anderson: Sean Monahan (9), Caufield (eight), Suzuki (eight), Alex Newhook (seven) and Brendan Gallagher (5).
Dvorak now has three targets this season after scoring in a second straight sport following a 17-game stretch with none targets. Barron’s purpose was his sixth and the twenty fourth by a Canadiens defenceman this season. It got here with Barron’s brother, Morgan, a centre with the Jets, on the opposing workforce and with their mother and father watching from the stands.
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One space the place Slafkovsky has impressed St. Louis is on the forecheck, which the coach stated has resulted in him serving to his linemates get pucks again of their possession. Suzuki has 1-5-6 totals within the final seven video games, whereas Caufield has 1-2-3 totals after they each picked up an help towards the Jets.
“It’s not one thing that’s enjoyable,” St. Louis stated about forechecking. “But it surely’s essential and you need to do these issues that aren’t enjoyable and you bought to do them such as you love them and perceive the way it’s a domino impact of what’s subsequent.
“Slaf has turned the nook, not simply now,” the coach added. “I really feel like this 12 months loads much less hesitation the place final 12 months I really feel there was hesitation as a result of he wished to please, he wished to do what he thinks he’s alleged to do.”
That might be rating targets.
St. Louis believes that’s going to come back.
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