A few hours before the start of the game between his troop and the Anaheim Ducks, Martin St-Louis was asked if a hard-fought formation like the one that was coming to the Bell Center might prove to be a trap.
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The question was worth asking since Thursday night’s visitors had the worst record in the league and were among the worst teams in terms of both offensive and defensive statistics.
What’s more, the Dallas Eakins troupe landed in Montreal following losing their last nine games on opposing rinks.
“Sometimes, yes, but I don’t have that feeling for tonight,” said the Canadian head coach.
In offering this response, St-Louis was not preaching out of overconfidence. Nor was it a lack of respect for his opponents. The Lavallois rather believed that his flock, following the emotional defeat the day before in Ottawa, were going to jump on the ice with the knife between their teeth.
This was far from the case. The Montrealers came out rather like a team that was playing a second game in as many nights, that is to say amorphous. Therefore, they had to play catch-up hockey starting in the second period.
A prelude to a 5-2 loss. It was only the second time this season that the Ducks enjoyed a victory in regulation time. What add insult to injury.
“I thought of you following the match, launched St-Louis to the colleague who had asked him the question. There was a big lack of execution and too many passengers. That’s not bad.”
One shot
The lack of vigor of the premises in the first period opened the door to two goals for the Ducks, in the space of 28 seconds, in the last moments of this engagement. Goals from Troy Terry and John Klingberg, whose streaks were started brilliantly by Trevor Zegras.
The Habs had a bit of a lifeline in the second period, but their inability to generate anything on the power play shattered their momentum somewhat.
After two periods, the specialists of the massive attack of the Canadian had directed only one shot on Lukas Dostal.
A double from Caufield
Cole Caufield finally rectified the situation in the fourth minute of the third period while Simon Benoit was in the dungeon.
The diminutive attacking Canadian hit the target once more a few moments later, creating the tie. Once once more, we can say that at least the Montrealers continued to fight.
However, as is often the case when things are going badly, the Habs were unlucky on the goal that would give the Ducks the victory. Jordan Harris accidentally tripped Jake Allen as Klingberg raced from the blue line. The Swede had no difficulty scoring his second goal of the evening.
►Adam Henrique and Frank Vatrano completed the scoring in an empty net
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Cole Caufield
He gave life to the Canadiens and gave hope to the fans by hitting the target twice in just over three minutes in the third period It was his fourth two-goal game of the season With 18 goals in 30 games, he is approaching a rhythm of 50 cruise for the season (49.2)
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Evgenii Dadonov
The Canadian needs the production of more than a single unit to wish to savor victories on a more regular basis In this sense, we are entitled to expect more from the second line Again, yesterday, Evgenii Dadonov was invisible Barely more than Mike Hoffman
First period
1-Ana: Troy Terry (12)
(Zegras, McTavish)AN-17:28
2-Ana: John Klingberg (2)
(Zegras, Henrique)17:56
Penalties: Megna (Ana) 14:21, Armia (Mon) 17:08, Kulikov (Ana) 18:45, Anderson (Mon) 18:45
Second period
No goal
Punishments: Terry (Ana) 11:05, Klingberg (Ana) 18:26
Third period
3-Mon: Cole Caufield (17)
(Dach, Drouin) AN-3:11
4-Mon: Cole Caufield (18)
(Kovacevic, Harris)6:37
5-Ana: John Klingberg (3)
(Vatrano, Strome)10:55
6-Ana: Adam Henrique (9)
(McTavish)FD-18:32
7-Ana: Frank Vatrano (5)
(Silfverberg)FD-19:51
Penalties: Benoit (Ana) 2:44, Hoffman (Mon) 11:13
Shoot to the net
Anaheim 10 – 5 – 17 – 32 Montreal 8 – 12 – 5 – 25
Guardians:
Ana: Lukas Dostal (G, 1-1-0) Mon: Jake Allen (P, 9-11-0)
Numerical advantages:
Ana: 1 in 2, Mon: 1 in 4
Referees:
François St-Laurent, Gord Dwyer
Linesmen:
Caleb Apperson, Bryan Pancich
ASSISTANCE:
21 105
What we noticed…
First in six games
By defeating Lukas Dostal, from his usual position, Cole Caufield put an end to a drought of 23 power plays without a goal for the Habs. We had to go back to Arber Xhekaj, in Edmonton, to witness the last goal of the Canadian’s massive attack.
Zegras amazes
During his last appearance at the Bell Centre, Trevor Zegras caught the eye by scoring a Michigan-style goal. Thursday, it was his qualities as a passer that he highlighted. On the Ducks’ first goal, he offered a precise relay to Troy Terry. On the second, he tied knots in Kaiden Guhle’s skates before moving on to John Klingberg.
Drouin promoted
Absent for 13 games, Jonathan Drouin was playing his second game in as many nights. At center for the first two periods, he replaced Juraj Slafkovsky on the left of the third line in the last 20 minutes. In the third period, a quick climb coupled with a superb fake at the expense of Nathan Beaulieu gave him a great opportunity to score.
love-hate relationship
When you’re unable to generate anything once morest one of the worst teams in the NHL in any stat category, the crowd may make their displeasure felt. That’s what happened on Thursday. On two occasions during the second period, the Canadian was treated to well-felt boos from his supporters. Cole Caufield’s first goal reignited their flame.
