Scorching Suzuki-Slafkovsky combo leads offence, whereas goalie Cayden Primeau data first NHL shutout and Brandon Gignac his first NHL objective.
Article content material
It is a story of two groups — the Canadiens and Anaheim Geese — rebuilding.
And whereas the method is tedious and painful at instances, issues appear to be progressing higher in Montreal than in southern California, the place the Geese are merely brutal. Think about this: Anaheim is so horrible, it claimed defenceman Gustav Lindstrom off waivers from the Canadiens, the place he barely performed. And he was a wholesome scratch on Tuesday towards his former workforce. Lindstrom nonetheless is searching for his first level following six video games along with his new workforce.
Commercial 2
Article content material
Article content material
How unhealthy are the Geese?: The guests had been held to a few photographs within the second interval and had been being outshot 30-9 after 40 minutes. That included an 18-3 Canadiens benefit within the center body. Anaheim improved within the third, with 4 photographs.
This sport actually isn’t that sophisticated: The Canadiens now have a 20-6-4 document when scoring at the very least three objectives.
Lacking in motion now not (Half I): We had been questioning when Cayden Primeau, who seems to be the third goaltender in Montreal’s three-man rotation, was going to play once more. He acquired his first begin since Jan. 18 at Ottawa, and hadn’t performed since Jan. 20, at Boston, when he changed starter Samuel Montembeault for the ultimate 10:47 of a 9-4 drubbing. And who would have anticipated his first NHL shutout can be the primary a Montreal goalie has recorded this season? It was the primary since Feb. 14, 2023, by Jake Allen, towards Chicago.
Lacking in motion now not (Half II): We understand Jake Evans is on the Canadiens for his defensive abilities, however when he opened the scoring early within the second interval, that was his first objective in 25 video games. It additionally was the primary profitable objective of his profession.
Highway to the Cup
Article content material
Commercial 3
Article content material
Nonetheless lacking in motion: It’s 33 video games and counting since Jesse Ylönen final scored.
Unusual however true (Half I): The Geese, on high of every part else, entered this sport with an NHL-leading 276 complete penalties. Not surprisingly, it took the guests solely 18 seconds so as to add to that complete, when Mason McTavish was assessed a holding minor. Anaheim took 9 penalties in complete towards Montreal.
He’s just like the Energizer bunny: Keep in mind, captain Nick Suzuki was the Canadiens’ solely consultant on the latest All-Star Sport. And he by no means will get injured, having not missed a single sport throughout his three seasons with Montreal. With two objectives and an help towards Anaheim, he’s now on an eight-game factors streak, with seven objectives and 7 assists.
Finest beard within the NHL: We’re giving that honour to Geese defenceman Radko Gudas, signed to a three-year, US$12-million contract final July 1, not lengthy after serving to the Florida Panthers attain the Stanley Cup last towards Vegas. We’re making an attempt to determine how Gudas entered this sport at plus-16 when fellow defenceman Cam Fowler is now at minus-30. Jackson LaCombe, one other blue-liner, is scorching on his path, at minus-25.
Commercial 4
Article content material
Two for the value of 1: Michael Pezzetta, our favorite Canadiens participant, continues to make an impression, actually, with restricted ice time. Within the sport’s thirteenth minute, he hit defenceman Urho Vaakanainen after which, seconds later, ahead Max Jones. Pezzetta performed a fraction beneath 11 minutes, but had a team-leading 5 hits. He additionally retrieved the puck on the primary NHL objective of Brandon Gignac‘s profession at age 26.
Passes of the night time: Evans to Tanner Pearson and again to Evans on the Canadiens’ opening objective.
Go of the night time (Half I): Juraj Slafkovsky to Suzuki, who simply redirected the puck previous Lukas Dostal, for Montreal’s second objective. We’d have even been in a position to rating, particularly after Vaakanainen, who ought to have been back-checking, principally gave up on the play.
Go of the night time (Half II): Slafkovsky to Suzuki for the Canadiens’ third objective, and first of two on the power-play.
Information you want: Slafkovsky now has factors in six consecutive video games. That ties him for the longest factors streak by a teen in Canadiens historical past, sharing the honour with the late Doug Wickenheiser, a former first general draft alternative, who completed this in the course of the 1980-81 season.
Commercial 5
Article content material
That will need to have damage: Suzuki, on high of every part else, blocked a Frank Vatrano shot early within the third interval and limped his strategy to the bench.
Unusual, however true (Half II): Cole Caufield produced eight photographs, and no objectives, via two durations, however got here shut on quite a few events. One way or the other, he didn’t register a shot over the ultimate interval, however nonetheless led all Canadiens gamers.
Why can’t we be buddies?: There have been three separate fights within the sport, together with two late within the third interval. Do these guys not understand Wednesday is Valentine’s Day?
They mentioned it: “The fellows performed so effectively tonight; the photographs mirrored that,” Primeau mentioned. “I want I may take credit score. To have the ability to get the primary (shutout) feels good. I attempted not to consider the gap between the final sport. It simply feels good to get rewarded.”
“It’s laborious to place into perspective, as a result of it simply occurred,” Gignac mentioned. “I’ve to consider that. It means a lot. I’ve been working laborious for that. I’m simply actually glad it occurred tonight.”
“If you put the laborious work in it has to come back at some point,” mentioned Slafkovsky, whose father was in attendance. “It’s slowly getting higher. I simply have to preserve working. I nonetheless really feel like I can develop my sport.”
Advisable from Editorial
Commercial 6
Article content material
Article content material