Canadiens Lineup

Jonathan Drouin – Sean Monahan – Josh Anderson

Juraj Slafkovsky – Kirby Dach –  Mike Hoffman

Evgenii Dadonov – Christian Dvorak – Brendan Gallagher,

Xavier Simoneau – Brandon Gignac – Alex Belzile

Mike Matheson – Otto Leskinen

Arber Xhekaj – Justin Barron

Corey Schueneman – Madison Bowey

Jake Allen – Kevin Poulin

Sam Montembeault, Nick Suzuki, Mattias Norlinder, David Savard, Cole Caufield, Emil Heineman, Owen Beck, Rem Pitlick, Jake Evans, Joel Armia, Jesse Ylonen, Filip Mesar, Michael Pezzetta, Anthony Richard, Mitchell Stephens, Rafael Harvey-Pinard, Cayden Primeau, Kaiden Guhle, Chris Wideman, Jordan Harris

Carey Price (knee), Paul Byron (hip), Joel Edmundson (back), Logan Mailloux (shoulder) 

Game Report

If Kent Hughes’ objective was to wake up his sleepy Slovak, then mission accomplished! Juraj Slafkovsky had been disappointing in his two previous games in the pre-season, not necessarily for his lack of offensive production, but because of a lazy effort. Tonight, however, the 18-year-old looked far more engaged.

Slafkovsky didn’t score in this game but that milestone is getting closer. Despite the flashes of energy in his game, it is becoming rather obvious that the first overall pick would be better served by starting the season in Laval.

Aside from Slafkovsky and the Canadiens fourth line, Marty St. Louis dressed an NHL lineup up front. But the Maple Leafs led comfortably throughout the game. Montreal forwards were not able to generate many quality scoring opportunities at even strength.

It was the first pre-season game for both Josh Anderson and Sean Monahan. Understandably both players showed signs of a lengthy layoff.

On the back end, Otto Leskinen was the best of the bunch. It was a struggle for the other five defencemen, especially everyone’s new favorite Hab, Arber Xhekaj. 

Missing are any significant signs of chemistry among the trios and defence pairings. It’s getting late to establish some consistency in the lineup as the Canadiens play their final three games of the pre-season schedule.

In his post-game media availability, St. Louis explained that given the style they want to play, it’s important to know one’s linemates. “It’s hard to be in sync if you’re not sure what the guy is going to do with the puck.”

Exactly! So why has the coach who is responsible for preparing the game lineups done nothing to develop cohesive team play?

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