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Scorching Suzuki-Slafkovsky combo leads offence, whereas goalie Cayden Primeau data 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. Take into account 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 towards his former staff. Lindstrom nonetheless is searching for his first level following six video games along with his new staff.
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How dangerous are the Geese?: The guests have been held to 3 pictures 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 pictures.
This recreation actually isn’t that sophisticated: The Canadiens now have a 20-6-4 document when scoring at the least three objectives.
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 acquired 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, towards 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 profitable purpose of his profession.
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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 pieces else, entered this recreation with an NHL-leading 276 whole penalties. Not surprisingly, it took the guests solely 18 seconds so as to add to that whole, when Mason McTavish was assessed a holding minor. Anaheim took 9 penalties in whole towards Montreal.
He’s just like the Energizer bunny: Bear in mind, captain Nick Suzuki was the Canadiens’ solely consultant on the latest All-Star Sport. And he by no means will get injured, having not missed a single recreation throughout his three seasons with Montreal. With two objectives and an help towards Anaheim, he’s now on an eight-game factors streak, with seven objectives and 7 assists.
Greatest 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 towards Vegas. We’re attempting to determine how Gudas entered this recreation at plus-16 when fellow defenceman Cam Fowler is now at minus-30. Jackson LaCombe, one other blue-liner, is sizzling 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 influence, actually, with restricted ice time. Within the recreation’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 night time: Evans to Tanner Pearson and again to Evans on the Canadiens’ opening purpose.
Move of the night time (Half I): Juraj Slafkovsky to Suzuki, who simply redirected the puck previous Lukas Dostal, for Montreal’s second purpose. We’d have even been capable of rating, particularly after Vaakanainen, who ought to have been back-checking, principally gave up on the play.
Move of the night time (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 youngster in Canadiens historical past, sharing the honour with the late Doug Wickenheiser, a former first general draft selection, who achieved this throughout the 1980-81 season.
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That will need to have harm: Suzuki, on prime of all the pieces else, blocked a Frank Vatrano shot early within the third interval and limped his option to the bench.
Unusual, however true (Half II): Cole Caufield produced eight pictures, and no objectives, by two durations, however got here shut on quite a few events. By some means, he did not register a shot over the ultimate interval, however nonetheless led all Canadiens gamers.
Why can’t we be pals?: There have been three separate fights within the recreation, together with two late within the third interval. Do these guys not notice Wednesday is Valentine’s Day?
They mentioned it: “The blokes performed so properly tonight; the pictures mirrored that,” Primeau mentioned. “I want I might take credit score. To have the ability to get the primary (shutout) feels good. I attempted not to consider the space between the final recreation. It simply feels good to get rewarded.”
“It’s onerous to place into perspective, as a result of it simply occurred,” Gignac mentioned. “I’ve to consider that. It means a lot. I’ve been working onerous for that. I’m simply actually glad it occurred tonight.”
“If you put the onerous work in it has to return sooner or later,” mentioned Slafkovsky, whose father was in attendance. “It’s slowly getting higher. I simply must hold working. I nonetheless really feel like I can develop my recreation.”
hzurkowsky@postmedia.com
twitter.com/HerbZurkowsky1
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