Much more than the “bonus” point that allowed him to inflate his harvest to five during the four-game trip he completed Thursday night in Winnipeg, it is the fact that the Canadiens managed to push this overtime game which is impressive.
Martin St-Louis’ Canadian has proven once again that he won’t easily let himself out of games. Even those that look difficult. And who become.
The final score gives the impression that the game was close. The fact that it was decided in extra time gives even more weight to this claim which is not completely false… but not completely true either.
The Jets have framed 14 shots more than the Canadian. They also had double the very good scoring chances.
Moreover, they fired 67 shots in the direction of the net very well defended by Samuel Montembeault.
Conversely, the Canadian only shot 38 times in the direction of Connor Hellebuyck’s net.
To shoot 29 times more than your opponent, you must have the puck more often than the opponent. And if you don’t have the puck more often than the opponent, you must be much more effective with the puck than your opponent was.
What the Jets have been.
Despite having more and better control of the puck, the Jets found a way to distribute 35 hits. It’s 12 more than the Canadian while normally the club that controls more and better the puck is hit more often than it hits.
Despite all that, the Canadian hung on. He stayed in the game. And even though Samuel Montembeault had to make more big saves than his rival at the other end of the ice, Connor Hellebuyck had to stand up a few times to deprive the Habs of goals that could have propelled them to victory.
The Canadian did more than lose in Winnipeg on Thursday. He won a point that testifies to the strength of character of players who play as their head coach played in his prime: by refusing to give up.
By playing like this, the Canadian will make sure to lose honorably when he loses.
In other good news, Joel Edmundson’s back held up over the 27 appearances he made in his first game of the season. It will now be interesting to see if the veteran defenseman’s back held up during the flight to Montreal following the game in Winnipeg.
Because the Canadian needs Edmundson.
Push veterans, not drag them
In fact, with the exception of David Savard who has done a colossal job since the start of the season when he assumes the role of godfather to Kaiden Guhle, the role of anchor point for one of the least experienced defenses in the NHL. , the Canadiens need more input from other veterans.
Because beyond the strength of character noted during the match against the Jets, during the first three of the trip, during the majority of the 11 games played since the start of the season, it is clear that the young people need help.
More on offense than on the blue line.
Youngsters should push behind the backs of their veteran teammates. They shouldn’t have to drag them around like they did on Thursday in Winnipeg, as has happened too many times so far this season.
Nick Suzuki (6 goals, 13 points in 11 games) had a goal and an assist on Thursday. Cole Caufield (7 goals, 12 points in 11 games) added two assists to his tally.
Used to the right of Joel Edmundson, Arber Xhekaj “protected” the veteran on his return to the game by distributing ten checks. Ten hits is huge. It becomes gargantuan when you realize that the rookie defenseman has distributed almost half (10 of 23) of the shoulder shots credited to Habs players by minor officials.
Back to Suzuki and Caufield:
The captain and his main accomplice lead the team with three two-point games. They had three points in a game once each.
Behind them, the veterans are more discreet. Very discreet. Too discreet.
Yes Christian Dvorak got a hat trick in St.Louis. But it is the exception that proves the rule.
In Winnipeg, Thursday, Suzuki (5), Caufield (4) and Kirby Dach (1) who seems to have found a niche on the right of the dynamic duo framed 10 of the 22 shots of the Canadian.
They got 12 of 38 shots fired by the Habs.
The veterans?
Jonathan Drouin had three shots. Including a very good one during a massive attack in the third period. The kind of shot obtained on a very good chance that the veteran must find a way to turn into a goal.
Drouin didn’t find the back of the net on Thursday. He is still looking for a first goal this season. And he’s only got two assists. It’s not enough.
That said, Drouin had an interesting first period in Winnipeg. We’ve seen it in action and more often for good than bad reasons. He faded a bit thereafter, until his golden opportunity in the third period. But if this is the beginning of a beginning for Drouin, it will be good news for the Canadian and the young people who need help.
Jonathan Drouin, like Josh Anderson, like Mike Hoffman, like Evgeni Dadonov, like Brendan Gallagher, like any veteran who can understand how this opportunity could smile on him and pay him big should do everything to get the chance to play on the right by Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield.
Those who had this chance wasted it, or failed to take advantage of it enough to convince Martin St-Louis to keep them in this role of choice.
Sean Monahan didn’t do badly. It’s true. He too is the exception that confirms the rule.
But St. Louis needs Monahan too much in the other lines to keep him in the first. Hence the quest for a miracle solution.
In my eyes, Josh Anderson should be the logical choice to complement Suzuki and Caufield. He’s fat. He is fast. It brews in the corners. He has a good shot. But despite all these qualities, Anderson has not been able to win since the start of the season. You see sparks here and there. Sparks that suggest they could ignite the powder. But we’re still waiting for the explosion.
How much longer do we have to wait for it?
