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Minnesota 3, Montreal 0: A Game That Failed to Captivate.
Published Nov 15, 2024 • Last updated 2 hours ago • 4 minute read
Minnesota Wild left wing Matt Boldy celebrated a standout moment as he scored during the second period of Thursday’s NHL contest against the Montreal Canadiens at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. Photo by Matt Krohn /THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
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In this edition of the Hidden Game, we pay tribute to Alex Auld.
While many Canadiens fans might have forgotten the former goaltender, he holds a unique place in the team’s history. Unlike legendary figures such as Patrick Roy or Carey Price, or even Jake Allen and Jeff Hackett, Auld was the last Montreal goalie to secure a victory in Minnesota, back in March of 2011. It’s a remarkable statistic.
At 43, Auld’s career spanned eight teams in the NHL, including a short yet noteworthy stint with the Canadiens during the 2010-11 season where he played 16 games. In those appearances, he showcased a commendable record of 6 wins, 2 losses, and 2 overtime losses, coupled with a 2.64 goals-against average and a respectable .914 save percentage. Auld wrapped up his professional playing days in Austria with Red Bull Salzburg and has transitioned to a broadcasting role for Canucks games on a Vancouver radio station.
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And now, a return to regular programming.
Benjamin Moore would be proud: Thursday night’s matchup between the Canadiens and Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center was almost excruciatingly dull, likened to watching paint dry.
Only six shots were amassed in the first period, with an unimpressive two registered by the Canadiens—a lackluster performance coming solely from defencemen Kaiden Guhle and Lane Hutson. The overall energy of the game indicated a high demand for caffeine.
News you need (Part I): Mark your calendars for January 30. The Wild will visit the Bell Centre, and if you plan to attend, consider checking StubHub or Ticketmaster for seats. Alternatively, you might choose to curl up with a good book as it would likely prove more entertaining.
News you need (Part II): The Canadiens’ two shots in the first period equaled a team record for the fewest shots recorded in a period this season. A dismal repeat of this showing occurred last Saturday in Toronto.
News you need (Part III): Historical context is striking: the Canadiens have been held to just 12 total shots in games played on the road against the Ottawa Senators on two separate occasions—once on January 26, 2006, and again on December 27, 2002.
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Things could always be worse: Minnesota’s Kirill Kaprizov, renowned as the franchise’s top scorer, is on track for an impressive fourth consecutive 40-goal season and is projected to surpass 100 points for the second time in his career. Despite this, the Canadiens managed to restrict him to just an empty-net goal and an assist during the match. His season tally now stands at 10 goals and 30 points.
Next time, just stay home: Minnesota boasts an extraordinary record with 17 wins against the Canadiens in their last 18 matchups, including an unbeaten streak of eight games extending back to October 20, 2019. This winning streak is the longest the Wild has enjoyed against any opponent.
News you need (Part IV): Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson shined, allowing two or fewer goals in nine of twelve games this season. He celebrated his first shutout of the year, blocking 19 shots—the seventh of his career—during this commanding 3-0 win.
News you need (Part V): The Canadiens’ struggles offensively are well-documented, and this marked their first shutout of the current season. Remarkably, Montreal had previously been restricted to just one goal in four games prior to this match. Ironically, the Canadiens still managed to win one of those contests, a thrilling season opener against the Maple Leafs on October 9.
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With friends like this …: The game’s 13th minute brought misfortune when a shot from Brock Faber struck teammate Mats Zuccarello, forcing him to exit the contest. Additionally, forward Joel Eriksson Ek also left the game, diminishing Minnesota’s ranks to just 10 forwards. Despite this, they triumphed effortlessly.
Hit of the night: Arber Xhekaj delivered a hefty collision with Yakov Trenin behind the Canadiens’ net. Surprisingly, it was the substantially larger Xhekaj, weighing in at 240 pounds, who hit the ice first, besting Trenin’s 201 pounds.
It’ll come eventually: Hutson is yet to notch his first NHL goal. In the second period’s ninth minute, he attempted his signature solo move, circumventing Zach Bogosian, but was thwarted.
NHL officiating at its finest: Ryan Hartman’s hit on Juraj Slafkovsky in the 13th minute of the second period raised eyebrows when the goalie pinned Slafkovsky down without any resulting penalties.
This is why teams lose: Hutson’s shot in the second period marked the beginning of what would be an extended drought for Montreal, who did not register another shot until 1:49 remained, cementing their last-place standing in the NHL for shots per game.
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Next time, decline the penalty: The Canadiens’ power play unit failed to convert on all three opportunities throughout the game.
Dumb penalty: Jayden Struble incurred a double minor penalty during the third period against Jared Spurgeon, offering Minnesota a power-play chance resulting in their second goal.
Quick stats: Hutson led the Canadiens with a minus-2 rating. Struble recorded three shots, while defenceman Mike Matheson logged an impressive 28 minutes and 19 seconds on the ice.
They said it: “It’s unfortunate that we take a four-minute penalty when we had a numerical advantage,” Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis shared with the media after the game. “It felt like a developing three-on-two situation. These kinds of actions negate our efforts and essentially help the other team.”
“I think it was a good effort,” Matheson remarked. “Overall, we didn’t allow them many scoring chances. We had opportunities to capitalize but ultimately came up short.”
“I don’t think we created enough,” Slafkovsky reflected. “We failed to execute in crucial moments, and that cost us the game.”
hzurkowsky@postmedia.com
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What changes do the Canadiens need to implement to improve their offensive performance?
And put us in a tough spot. We have to be smarter moving forward.”
the Canadiens’ performance against the Minnesota Wild was bleak, with the team managing only a few shots and ultimately losing 3-0. The game was marked by a lack of offensive firepower, a failed power play, and a series of missed opportunities, particularly for younger players looking to make their mark. Fans have reason to wonder about the direction of the team as they continue to struggle to find the net and build momentum in a season that has been riddled with inconsistency.
Looking ahead, the Canadiens will need to regroup and come out stronger in their next match, particularly as they face the challenges presented by other teams in the league. It’s becoming increasingly clear that improvements are necessary if they hope to turn their season around and make a push for the playoffs.
As always, stay tuned for more updates and analyses as the season progresses.
