After the most effective effort of the season for the Montreal Canadiens in beating the powerhouse Boston Bruins, Montreal was proper again on the Bell Centre taking up one other robust staff — the Vancouver Canucks.
The Canadiens appeared to have used up all their excessive power competing towards Boston, falling flat to a 5-2 loss.
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Was the glass half full or half empty for Juraj Slafkovsky towards the Canucks? If it was half full, it was spectacular that he streaked down the left aspect on a 2-on-1 to have a top quality probability. If it was half empty, it was disappointing that his cross rolled off his stick helplessly into the nook.
A optimistic particular person would take coronary heart that he bought one other two clear-cut seems to be within the second interval, together with a clear shot from the slot. Nevertheless, a unfavorable particular person would let you know that the shot hit Casey DeSmith in the midst of his crest.
One desires to be optimistic that Slafkovsky is now discovering himself implicated within the play extra, and profitable extra puck battles, although you will see somebody to notice that it isn’t really resulting in something. But.
There may be enchancment in Slafkovsky’s sport not too long ago. It’s true that the purpose complete stays at one and the help complete additionally at one, however he’s a greater participant on a line with Christian Dvorak and Cole Caufield.
In opposition to Vancouver, Slafkovsky was on the puck greater than some other sport he has performed for Montreal. He had a whopping seven photographs on purpose. He has averaged one shot on purpose per sport for the primary 53 video games of his profession. That is an excellent shot complete for any participant within the NHL. Seven is various photographs that might thrill Cole Caufield.
Additionally, Slafkovsky’s Corsi is respectable sufficient at over 50 per cent, which is center of the pack amongst forwards on the membership. It’s not a legal responsibility to the general stream of the sport that Head Coach Martin St. Louis is attempting to show.
The group desires Slafkovsky to discover ways to play with out the puck, and so they need him to discover ways to do this on the NHL stage the place the sport is quicker. In reality, if everybody takes themselves out of the emotional panorama of all of it, that is fairly an attention-grabbing hockey experiment.
The Canadiens try to show a participant to be taught with out the puck in hope that he understands all that entails, in order that in the future when he lastly touches the puck frequently that final half gained’t be international to him. On the decrease stage, he would have owned the puck always. In reality, it’s a hockey model of the age outdated query – what got here first…the hen or the egg?
Nobody ought to behave like they’re the neatest man within the room on this. There are two faculties of thought. For Slafkovsky, for Kent Hughes, for Nick Bobrov, they higher hope they’re favouring the suitable college. The fallacious college is the glass that was as soon as half full, bought mishandled and broke.
In opposition to Vancouver, your complete Canadiens group, little doubt, put some extra water within the glass. It was an evening that confirmed nice promise and progress for the primary draft choose that they’ve put a lot religion in.
Seven photographs. That’s the weighty backside line and the largest optimistic on this contest. A participant can’t rating with out photographs. Traditionally, a ahead scores as soon as each ten photographs. Absolutely, a Slafkovsky purpose is coming quickly. If he will get seven photographs per evening, it’d simply be that many objectives are coming.
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It was largely a flat evening. The Canadiens didn’t have the required hearth to compete with a staff that has shocked the league this season. Vancouver is enjoying an organized sport and your complete Montreal staff was less than it, although the Canadiens undoubtedly keep within the struggle. Montreal’s third interval was their greatest interval.
Defensively, it wasn’t as if the Canadiens had been making a large quantity of errors, however they actually paid for each they made. Offensively, there was simply not sufficient depth on the forecheck to frighten the Vancouver system which appeared very sound.
Mike Matheson scored an influence play purpose. Arber Xhekaj scored within the final minute. Sean Monahan continued to play intelligently. Christian Dvorak was surprisingly good once more. Jake Allen made some great saves once more to up his commerce inventory.
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What one should bear in mind concerning the American Hockey League every now and then is how a lot it’s a veteran league. One of the best gamers are sometimes journeymen who’re only a slight minimize under the NHL. They typically spend a while within the present, however are sadly missing by the smallest measure and stay salaried at one-tenth of their goals.
The main scorer within the AHL is Adam Gaudette. He’s a participant who had a Hobey Baker season as greatest collegian. He made a quick go of it for the Canucks, however in the end wasn’t a whole sufficient participant. Gaudette is now 27. If he had been to land efficiently within the NHL now, it might be a shock.
Additionally, close to the highest of the scoring race is former Canadiens winger Charles Hudon. He’s one other who labored his tail off to search out top-tier success however couldn’t land full-time. Hudon is 29.
Extra indicative of pending NHL success is a have a look at high scoring within the AHL mixed with a younger age. These are the gamers who’re nonetheless growing and who will extra possible discover a brief keep within the minors. For them, the AHL is a pit cease; not your complete race.
The highest younger participant is Logan Stankoven who sits fifth in league scoring on 15 factors. He’s 20 years of age. One other Dallas Stars hopeful is Mavrik Bourque. He’s 21. He additionally sits on 15 factors.
The subsequent high prospect discovering his method is Jiri Kulich. He’s solely 19. He possesses a depraved shot and is studying the right way to use it in Rochester.
Additionally shining is Joshua Roy of the Canadiens. He wrapped up an excellent junior profession in Sherbrooke and already is discovering his method within the AHL. Roy, at solely 20, has 14 factors in 11 video games. That’s an incredible clip in a defensive league. Final yr, not even all the top-ten in scoring had a point-per-game.
Roy scored as soon as in a straightforward win for the Laval Rocket on Sunday over the Manitoba Moose. He added an help as properly.
Roy discovering success so early in his AHL try bodes properly for his future. Taking part in in an grownup league towards mature bodily opponents is an efficient stepping stone to the NHL for high prospects.
Roy is a high prospect.
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