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Scorching Suzuki-Slafkovsky combo leads offence, whereas goalie Cayden Primeau information first NHL shutout and Brandon Gignac his first NHL purpose.
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This can be a story of two groups — the Canadiens and Anaheim Geese — rebuilding.
And whereas the method is tedious and painful at occasions, issues appear to be progressing higher in Montreal than in southern California, the place the Geese are merely brutal. Contemplate 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 in opposition to his former workforce. Lindstrom nonetheless is searching for his first level following six video games along with his new workforce.
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How dangerous are the Geese?: The guests have been held to 3 photographs within the second interval and have 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 difficult: The Canadiens now have a 20-6-4 document when scoring a minimum of three targets.
Lacking in motion now not (Half I): We have 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 obtained 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, in opposition to Chicago.
Lacking in motion now not (Half II): We notice 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 purpose in 25 video games. It additionally was the primary successful purpose of his profession.
Street to the Cup
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Nonetheless lacking in motion: It’s 33 video games and counting since Jesse Ylönen final scored.
Unusual however true (Half I): The Geese, on prime of all the things 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 in opposition to Montreal.
He’s just like the Energizer bunny: Bear in mind, captain Nick Suzuki was the Canadiens’ solely consultant on the current 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 targets and an help in opposition to Anaheim, he’s now on an eight-game factors streak, with seven targets 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 remaining in opposition to 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.
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Two for the worth of 1: Michael Pezzetta, our favorite Canadiens participant, continues to make an affect, 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 below 11 minutes, but had a team-leading 5 hits. He additionally retrieved the puck on the primary NHL purpose of Brandon Gignac‘s profession at age 26.
Passes of the evening: Evans to Tanner Pearson and again to Evans on the Canadiens’ opening purpose.
Cross of the evening (Half I): Juraj Slafkovsky to Suzuki, who simply redirected the puck previous Lukas Dostal, for Montreal’s second purpose. We’d have even been in a position to rating, particularly after Vaakanainen, who ought to have been back-checking, mainly gave up on the play.
Cross of the evening (Half II): Slafkovsky to Suzuki for the Canadiens’ third purpose, 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 achieved this through the 1980-81 season.
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That will need to have damage: Suzuki, on prime of all the things else, blocked a Frank Vatrano shot early within the third interval and limped his technique to the bench.
Unusual, however true (Half II): Cole Caufield produced eight photographs, and no targets, by way of two intervals, however got here shut on quite a few events. In some way, he didn’t register a shot over the ultimate interval, however nonetheless led all Canadiens gamers.
Why can’t we be associates?: There have been three separate fights within the sport, together with two late within the third interval. Do these guys not notice Wednesday is Valentine’s Day?
They stated it: “The fellows performed so nicely tonight; the photographs mirrored that,” Primeau stated. “I want I may take credit score. To have the ability to get the primary (shutout) feels good. I attempted not to consider the space 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 stated. “I’ve to consider that. It means a lot. I’ve been working laborious for that. I’m simply actually glad it occurred tonight.”
“Whenever you put the laborious work in it has to come back someday,” stated Slafkovsky, whose father was in attendance. “It’s slowly getting higher. I simply have to maintain working. I nonetheless really feel like I can develop my sport.”
hzurkowsky@postmedia.com
twitter.com/HerbZurkowsky1
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