Stu Cowan: Canadiens and fans have some fun at Skills Competition

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Arber Xhekaj wins hardest-shot occasion with 107.2-mph blast, whereas Alex Newhook is quickest skater and Cole Caufield is most correct shooter.

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Stu Cowan  •  Montreal Gazette

Revealed Feb 25, 2024  •  Final up to date 4 hours in the past  •  4 minute learn

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Sunday was a enjoyable day for the Canadiens as they held their annual Abilities Competitors at an almost-full Bell Centre.

The timing was good as a result of the gamers most likely wanted a dose of enjoyable after shedding their final 5 video games.

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“On the finish of the day, it’s for the followers and so they admire it, and we admire their help at this time,” defenceman Arber Xhekaj stated. “It undoubtedly cheers you up after slightly little bit of a droop that we’re in proper now.”

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Xhekaj gave the followers one thing to cheer about when he received the hardest-shot competitors with a 107.2-mph blast. The NHL file for hardest shot on the All-Star Abilities Competitors is 108.8 mph, set by former Boston Bruins captain Zdeno Chara in 2012. Former Canadiens captain Shea Weber received the NHL hardest-shot occasion 4 occasions with a private better of 108.5 mph. Martin Frk recorded a 109.2-mph blast to win the hardest-shot within the Abilities Competitors on the 2020 AHL All-Star Traditional

“I knew I might beat 100 (mph), however I didn’t know I used to be going to get that prime,” Xhekaj stated. “I went 105 (mph) earlier than. I believed that was the max I might get, however I suppose not.”

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Eight members of Montreal’s PWHL staff additionally took half in Sunday’s Abilities Competitors and Marie-Phillip Poulin registered an 84.6-mph shot. That’s very spectacular when you think about Johnathan Kovacevic hit 92.9 mph, Brendan Gallagher 93.1 mph, Michael Pezzetta 94.2 mph, Tanner Pearson 96.9 mph, Kaiden Guhle 97.9 mph and Mike Matheson 98.6 mph.

Alex Newhook received the fastest-skater competitors with a time of 13.372 seconds for a lap across the rink. Sarah Bujold was the quickest of the feminine gamers with a time of 14.247.

Not surprisingly, Cole Caufield received the capturing accuracy occasion, needing six pictures and 12.386 seconds to hit the 4 targets. Gallagher and Josh Anderson solely wanted 5 pictures every, however each took extra time than Caufield.

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With tickets beginning at solely $12, there have been quite a lot of households and children within the stands who most likely can’t afford to attend a Canadiens recreation and so they actually loved themselves. The Canadiens took down the glass on the aspect boards so followers might get near the gamers for images and autographs.

“I felt nearly dangerous for the one that was sitting within the entrance row as a result of individuals have been throughout them,” goalie Samuel Montembeault stated. “But it surely’s enjoyable to have that shut interplay with followers and it’s only a enjoyable day to have right here on the Bell Centre.”

Like I stated, the Canadiens might use a dose of enjoyable.

Saturday’s’s 4-3 loss to the Devils in New Jersey dropped the Canadiens’ file to 22-28-8 and so they fell into final place within the Atlantic Division, one level behind the Ottawa Senators, who maintain three video games in hand. The Canadiens additionally dropped to twenty seventh within the total NHL standings — two factors forward of the Arizona Coyotes — after ending twenty eighth final season.

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The Canadiens are literally two factors worse than they have been after 58 video games final season once they had a 25-29-4 file. This season, they’ve scored 163 targets and given up 209 for a minus-46 objective differential. After 58 video games final season, they’d scored 161 targets and given up 209 for a minus-48 differential.

By way of Saturday’s video games, there have been 183 gamers within the NHL with 30 factors or extra, however solely 4 of them have been on the Canadiens: Nick Suzuki (22-33-55), Caufield (19-27-46), Matheson (8-35-43) and Juraj Slafkovsky (12-18-30). By way of Saturday’s video games, there have been 72 gamers within the NHL with not less than 19 targets, however solely two Canadiens: Suzuki and Caufield.

There may be clearly nonetheless quite a lot of work to be performed on this rebuilding course of.

Three of the Canadiens’ final 4 losses have been by one objective.

“It’s draining proper now as a result of we’re not profitable video games, however I feel we’re taking part in nicely … nicely sufficient to be profitable these video games,” Xhekaj stated. “We’re simply type of capturing ourselves within the foot slightly bit. It’s slightly bit draining, however I feel as soon as we get out of this little droop we’ll be OK.”

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Since buying and selling Sean Monahan to the Winnipeg Jets for a first-round decide at this 12 months’s NHL Draft and a conditional third-round decide in 2027, the Canadiens have a 2-7-0 file.

“He introduced so much to the staff,” Xhekaj stated about Monahan. “He’s a superb participant, so he’s undoubtedly a tricky loss. However we don’t look again … we hold going ahead.”

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Loads of the gamers introduced their households with them on Sunday. One of many highlights of the day was the shootout competitors, which got here right down to a battle between Brysen Byron and Jacob Burrows. Brysen is the younger son of former Canadien Paul Byron, who’s now a participant improvement guide. Jacob is the son of assistant coach Alex Burrows.

Jacob edged out Brysen as his proud father held again tears watching from the bench. Byron was dealing with on-ice interviews all through the occasion and requested his son what occurred?

“I don’t know,” Brysen stated. “I feel my stick is damaged.”

It actually was a enjoyable day.

scowan@postmedia.com

twitter.com/StuCowan1

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