Habs News: NHL, Montreal Canadiens, Christian Dvorak, Juraj Slafkovsky, Joel Armia, Jonathan Drouin, Laval Rocket, Trois-Rivieres Lions
ROCKET SPORTS MEDIA | LAVAL, QC. — The Montreal Canadiens continued their four-game road trip on Saturday in St. Louis against the Blues. St. Louis had 3-1 lead midway through the second period, when Montreal answered back with the next five goals. The Blues added a goal early in the third period but it was not sufficient as the Habs went on to 7-4 victory.
“When you’re losing 3-1, the next shifts are important. We scored one pretty quick and got ourselves back in the game, and we took advantage of the special units. We were losing 3-1 with 10 minutes remaining in the second and we got out of there leading 4-3. Big group plays and individual efforts that allowed us to get those goals. The third period was funny cause we scored, they scored, it was back and forth. It was a little stressful but I like the guys mentality. We don’t give up and we work hard,” coach Martin St. Louis said.
Christian Dvorak scored all three of Montreal’s third period goals to register his first career hat trick. Dvorak became the first Canadiens player since Max Pacioretty on November 19th 2013 to score at least three goals in one period.
Slafkovsky Returns
On Saturday, Juraj Slafkovsky returned to the lineup after missing the last three games with an upper body injury. The 18-year old impressed his coach in the 10:03 of ice time, including being used on the power play and scoring with the man advantage.
“I thought it was [Slafkovsky]’s best game. Not because he scored, not because he plays on the power play, but if you looked at every shift he got, I feel like he got on base. He had his home run ball on that power play, he took advantage of it, and he scored,” St. Louis said.
“He played very strong physically. Like I said, it’s a process with Slaf at 18. He’s got a nice skill package, but he’s got to figure out what kind of player he’s going to be in this league, what style he’s going to have to play, and he’s going through that right now, and (Saturday) we saw what we know we have in a big boy for an 18-year-old, and he played like a big boy,” added the coach.
Saturday was Slafkovsky’s first appearance on the power-play unit this season. At the beginning of the season, St. Louis spoke about his intentions of letting the Slovak get comfortable on even strength before giving him time on the power-play.
Slafkovsky was happy when he was told that he’d be playing on the power-play. He texted his friends and family so they can watch. His fans back home saw him score with the man advantage.
Veterans Sit
In addition to Slafkosky, Joel Armia was cleared to return to play on Saturday. The forward was sidelined with an upper body injury suffered on October 4th. Michael Pezzetta also made his debut after being scratched since the beginning of the season.
#Habs Joel Armia left the bench during 3rd period. Appears to have been injured on this play. @AllHabs @RocketSports #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/ynqas0xi6h
— Chris G (@ChrisHabs360) October 5, 2022
St. Louis decided to sit Jonathan Drouin, Evgenii Dadonov and Rem Pitlick to make room for the three forwards. It was the second time that Drouin has been a healthy scratch. He’s been held off the scoresheet the last three matches, but the coach said that it’s just a matter of circumstances.
“The first time he wasn’t quite ready yet. He missed some time in training camp and Jo (Drouin) has had a real good attitude, he’s been working. It’s really circumstances. We’re 15 forwards. That’s going happen. Guys have to play. We just can’t have guys sitting for 15-20 games. We have to manage that and I’m trying to do my best.”
Dadonov and Pitlick have yet to register a point this season in eight and five games respectively.
Rocket Split Weekend
The Laval Rocket faced the Rochester Americans in back-to-back games over the weekend at Place Bell. On Friday, Laval’s offence exploded as they routed Rochester 8-1 to snap a three-game losing streak.
“It was 2-3 games that we had chances but we had trouble to score, so it felt good,” coach Jean-Francois Houle said about the team’s offence.
Forward Xavier Simoneau was named the first star of the game after completing a Gordie Howe hat trick. “The type of play I’m playing, I’m going to fight sometimes. It’s the first time and probably going to be the last time too, so it’s funny,” said the Canadiens 2021 sixth round draft pick. His goal was his first scored as a pro.
On Saturday, Anthony Richard opened the scoring with his fourth of the season, before Rochester bounced back with five unanswered goals in the final 50 minutes to win 5-1. It was Laval’s fourth loss in the last five games.
The Rocket continue their six-game homestand on Wednesday when the Toronto Marlies visit Place Bell.
Lions Swept
The Trois-Rivieres Lions hosted the Newfoundland Growlers twice over the weekend. On Friday, the Lions had a 3-2 lead through 20 minutes before the Growlers scored four unanswered goals in the final two periods, on their way to 6-3 victory.
“There are several players who are struggling and we’re not getting any saves. It was difficult in several aspects of this game. We will see on Saturday what the guys have in them. I could bring all the coaches I’ve had in the NHL to draw plays on the board, but it’s the players who get on the ice,” said a visibly upset coach Eric Belanger.
#ECHL announces that #Lions3R forward Nicolas Lariviere has been suspended for one game and fined an undisclosed amount for this hit on Friday.
He will miss today's game. #Lions3R pic.twitter.com/CFbzvlqxPF
— Chris G (@ChrisHabs360) October 29, 2022
On Saturday, general manager Marc-Andre Bergeron was behind the bench as Belanger tested positive for Covid. The game was tied 1-1 through 40 minutes before Newfoundland took the lead one minute into the third period and never looked back on their way to 3-1 victory.
Riley McKay made his #Lions3R debut yesterday, and scored TR's only goal in 3-1 loss against the #Growlers.
He was acquired from the Rockford Icehogs earlier this week. #ECHL pic.twitter.com/2R6VPiurSn
— Chris G (@ChrisHabs360) October 30, 2022
“I think this game could have turned on our side unlike the one on Friday. We played with a lot more emotion. We blocked shots. I liked the overall performance of the team,” Bergeron said.
Trois-Rivieres is currently on a four-game losing streak as they continue their five-game homestand on Friday when the Adirondack Thunder visit Colisee Videotron.
(Quotes courtesy of Le Nouvelliste)
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