Yesterday, during the training of the Canadian, we were able to see that Juraj Slafkovsky was going to have his chance on a more offensive trio, he who had trained with Sean Monahan and Josh Anderson.
And clearly, in the Canadiens’ 2-1 win last nightit did not disappoint.
Obviously, the first thing that caught the eye was the fact that he scored in the first 13 seconds of the game. This obviously gave his line a boost of confidence.
Martin St-Louis’ message (start the games well) has finally been heard.
You will tell me that Jakob Markstrom, who came out of his net in one of the worst decisions a goalkeeper has made in a long time, has greatly helped Slaf’s cause… and it’s true.
Clearly, the Flames goaltender is not confident right now.
Jacob Markstrom isn’t happy with how he’s been playing lately. pic.twitter.com/1QnpbnI8XT
— Tim and Friends (@timandfriends) December 2, 2022
But the fact remains that this is not all there is to remember from the match of Slaf. Throughout the game, he was in his place and he made the right decision with the puck.
He didn’t seem overwhelmed, on the contrary. In fact, he played like a guy who deserves another audition… especially with the Canadiens injured on offense at the moment.
What will CH do if Brendan Gallagher can return to action tomorrow?
It’s almost like it’s easier to create things offensively with Sean Monahan and Josh Anderson (who was involved yesterday) than with Jake Evans and Michael Pezzetta, two guys with more limited talent.
So here it is on a pace of 18 goals and we can well and truly expect to see him obtain greater responsibilities for the future if he continues to play in this way.
Can we forget the World Junior Championship?
And all of that is the Sean Monahan effect. His wingers played well because they are good players, but especially because the center player guided the game well when he returned to Calgary.
We are talking lots of Monahan for a few days (whether because of his performance, his health, his future or his return to Calgary), but he deserves attention.
Why? Because despite the emotions of coming home and having to wear a boot to get around, he still got two assists…in a 2-1 win.
He had money on the table and if his bank account is less stocked this morning, one can clearly think that he is the architect of his own misfortune for this purpose. And he must be happy about it.
How it started vs. How it’s going #Habs Sean Monahan with 2 assists, +1 and 19:45 TOI in his first game back in Calgary facing his former team. pic.twitter.com/8oj4HjPTjd
— Priyanta Emrith (@HabsInHighHeels) December 2, 2022
Obviously, the holding of this trio largely explains why the CH was able to win the first duel of its trip, even if Chris Wideman played on the attack. Rem Pitlick did not arrive in time to play.
But what are the other factors of victory?
1. Jake Allen was amazing yesterday. In the win, he made no less than 45 saves which is obviously way beyond expectations for a guy who had had a very ordinary month of Novemberlet’s say.
He clearly inspired his teammates.
“He silences his detractors! –Gaston Therrien pic.twitter.com/74NR9RKXVY
— The Antechamber (@Antechamber) December 2, 2022
To see Martin St-Louis give him a vote of confidence (by making him play and reminding him that he is the team’s #1 goalie) has undoubtedly helped the goaltender to deliver performances worthy of what he is able to provide.
If he can continue like this and Samuel Montembeault can continue to play as he does, it will greatly help the club.
2. In fact, it seems to have inspired his teammates to “take care of the team” by blocking shots. 23 shots were blocked, 17 of them by the club’s defenders.
Only Mike Matheson and Chris Wideman, who was playing on offense, did not block shots at the blue line.
Arber Xhekaj and Jordan Harris, who played on the third pair, have one each, but Joel Edmundson (4), Kaiden Guhle (4) and David Savard (7) offered their bodies to the team last night.
Let’s hope that Guhle is correct…
#Habs Martin St-Louis on Kaiden Guhle’s late-game shot-block: « seeing guys taking care of the team is contagious. When Guhles seeing Savvy blocking all these shots, Eddy… but in general, we have a mentality of taking care of the team & our young guys are willing to do that too »
— Priyanta Emrith (@HabsInHighHeels) December 2, 2022
It is certain that to see Monahan arrive in a boot and to see Savard block seven shots during the match, it creates a culture in the team and it forces the young people to surpass themselves.
And yesterday, that’s what Guhle did.
3. If you haven’t seen the game, I swear it’s not a joke: the Montreal Canadiens power play has unlocked. I know, it’s hard to believe.
The second goal of the game was prepared by Nick Suzuki, who set the table very well for Cole Caufield.
The two stars had had a quieter game, but they still found a way to make themselves useful and contribute to the victory by scoring the winning goal.
Besides, how did Cole Caufield (again) manage to stand out like this?
As usual. ????
The uje.#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/slY27PM2u9
— Montreal Canadiens (@CanadiensMTL) December 2, 2022
In our DLC team chat, jokes surfaced about buying yourself a 6/49 after seeing a power play goal. It’s not crazy at this point.
Note that the Flames were 0-for-4 with one more man.
4. Everything was not perfect since the CH only shot 19 times on the opposing goalkeeper. 18 times, in fact, if we consider that Slaf scored when the opposing goalkeeper had gone to see elsewhere if he was there.
Results? The CH blocked shots, took penalties and tried to survive. That said, as everything else was very well executed, we must salute the effort of the guys, who deserved the W.
Prolongation
Today, the Canadiens players will be entitled to a day off. Nobody will talk to the media and there will be no training either.
The guys will be able to enjoy the charms… of Edmonton.
Huge jealousy towards colleagues on the road. Free day off in… Edmonton.
Ah yes, it announces -25. pic.twitter.com/JMMn6wVedz
— Simon-O. Lorange (@SO_Lorange) December 2, 2022
We will therefore have to wait until tomorrow to see if Johnathan Kovacevic and Samuel Montembeault will have their chance for the CH against the Oilers, Saturday evening at 7 p.m. I have a feeling they will play.
And offensively, will Rem Pitlick play? It will depend on the state of health of Brendan Gallagher, Sean Monahan and Mike Hoffman, who remained in Montreal. I have a feeling that Pitlick will play tomorrow, me.