Habs News: NHL, Montreal Canadiens, Guy Lafleur, Brendan Gallagher, Samuel Montembeault, Cayden Primeau, Carolina Hurricanes, Cole Caufield, Laval Rocket, Trois-Rivieres Lions

ROCKET SPORTS MEDIA | LAVAL, QC. — The Canadiens began a three-game road trip on Saturday in Detroit with 3-2 overtime loss. Detroit had a one-goal lead in the third period when Artturi Lehkonen made a brilliant pass to Chris Wideman for the tying goal.

#Habs Artturi Lehkonen from his knees finds Chris Wideman for goal vs #RedWings

Assists: Lehkonen@AllHabs @RocketSports #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/zgZpaK1dOS

— Chris G (@ChrisHabs360) November 14, 2021

“I thought we played good tonight. Collectively we just fell asleep in the second for a little bit, and that’s what can happen in the NHL, if you don’t play a complete sixty. Other than that, I thought we played really great, and the team competed, especially in the end,” Poehling said.

On Sunday, the Canadiens had 2-1 lead through 40 minutes before the Bruins scored four unanswered goals in the third period to win 5-2. “In the third period, when you give them a fourth power play, it’s a team that makes you pay with their power play. We did a good job on the first three, we did a good job against their top line, but they took advantage of that power play,” Dominique Ducharme said.

Jake Allen Absent

Saturday’s game was highlighted by Jake Allen being pulled by the NHL’s concussion spotter following contact with Dylar Larkin. The incident took place as Jeff Petry turned the puck over in the offensive zone and chased Larkin until the defenceman pushed the forward straight into Allen. A costly decision by Petry as he attempted to correct his error. Allen was not available against the Bruins and listed as day-to-day.

This is not a play that #RedWings fans ever want to see, #RedWings captain Dylan Larkin getting pushed into #Canadiens goaltender Jake Allen. Hopefully both players are all right. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/Dm9GRYwW95

— Bally Sports Detroit (@BallySportsDET) November 14, 2021

“He had a step on me and I tried to push his top hand to try to get him fumble the puck. It was close to the net. Unfortunate that he went in that hard and Jake’s out right now,” Petry explained the sequence.

Inexperienced Tandem

Cayden Primeau was recalled from Laval on Saturday to replace Allen. Primeau travelled on Sunday morning, and arrived at the team hotel in Boston, approximately three-and-half hours before puck drop. The Canadiens goaltending tandem has played a combined 36 NHL career games. If the team is still hanging on to the slim chances of earning a playoff spot, the task has gotten even more difficult. 

Samuel Montembeault had a difficult start when he came to relief to Allen against the Red Wings, allowing two goals on the first two shots against. Montembeault would like to have both those goals back. He settled in and got more comfortable, stopping the next 22 shots before allowing the overtime goal.

On Sunday, Montembeault played his best game in a Canadiens uniform, making 36 saves. “I think I had a good game in the first two periods, it went really well. I was playing the puck well, and even if it was a back-to-back, I was feeling good,” evaluated Montembeault.

“He was solid,” Ducharme said. “He made solid saves to helps us keep the lead in the second.” Montembeault stopped 19 shots in the second period. 

“I thought he had a great game. He played awesome and he kept us in there, and made a lot of big saves that could have gone in. [The loss] is definitely not on him,” Michael Pezzetta said.

Primeau will also get an opportunity to start a match. “We’re going to need both our goalies. We will evaluate the situation daily, and see how Cayden reacts after a good start in the AHL,” Ducharme said.

Lafleur’s Choice

The Canadiens’ poor start has raised the question about leadership and the team’s decision to play out the season without a captain. There has been different views from observers whether it’s the right call.

In an interview with RDS, Canadiens legend Guy Lafleur feels that there needs to be a captain. “The captain is important in a team and I think the Canadiens should name one. He’s a spark plug in the locker room, he’s a guy you empower to talk inside the locker room, to speak to his teammates.”

“It’s the organization’s decision. We want that the 23 players in the lineup, yes there’s some younger players, take a piece of the leadership. With time, decisions will be taken,” Ducharme commented when asked about Lafleur’s comments.

Lafleur’s choice for captain is Brendan Gallagher. “I understand Shea Weber is injured, but an interim captain needs to be appointed. The guy that I see is Gallagher and I’ve been saying that from the start. It would be felt within the team.”

“Obviously, I have enormous respect for a man like Flower. We are talking about a legend of the organization. When you think of the Montreal Canadiens, it’s one of the first names that pop into people’s minds. It’s a good feeling to hear that from him,” Gallagher said.

The Canadiens forwards spoke about the team’s current leadership approach. “We are building our identity within the team and there are several good leaders in this dressing room. There are different leaders who get up at different times. We feel comfortable with our roles. I am touched by Guy’s opinion, it means a lot to me. I do know, however, that we will continue this season without a captain. We will need more than a single leader.”

Canes Act of Kindness

There has been an off-ice rivalry between the Canadiens and the Hurricanes that began on July 1st 2019, when Sebastian Aho received an offer sheet from Montreal. The rivalry was reignited this summer when Carolina tendered an offer sheet to Jesperi Kotkaniemi that was not matched by Montreal.

As part of World Kindness Day 2021, the Hurricanes made a donation to the Montreal Canadiens Children’s Foundation on Saturday. A nice gesture made by the rival organization.

We may be a Bunch of Jerks, but we still care about our communities.

In honor of #WorldKindnessDay, the #Canes have made a donation to the Montreal Canadiens Children's Foundation.

Details » https://t.co/U5ReeuzpAJ pic.twitter.com/lktLoGbNxp

— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) November 13, 2021

Rocket Split Weekend Matches

The Rocket played a pair of games on home ice over the weekend. On Friday, Laval came back three times from one-goal deficits, and ended up with a 5-4 overtime win against the Bridgeport Islanders.

“Our guys really competed, they came back three times, and we showed a lot of character tonight. Everyone played well, and found a way to contribute. I’m really happy with the team’s effort,” Jean-Francois Houle said.

On Saturday, Laval had 3-2 with 8:24 remaining in the third period before Utica tied the game. The Comets scored the winning goal with 1:43 remaining, on their way to 5-3 win at Place Bell.

“We were right there, we had the game in hand leading 3-2, and we crumbled at the end. Credit to them, they put pressure on us, but we got to find a way to come up with a win, or at least a point in a game like that,” said Houle disappointed.

The Rocket will face the Marlies in Toronto on Wednesday, and the Senators in Belleville on Saturday.

Caufield Scores

Cole Caufield scored his first goal of the season on Saturday with a shot from behind the red line that banked of the goalie before crossing the red line. “I shoot from anywhere, and it was time to get a bounce to go my way. It felt pretty good seeing it go in.”

“He’s a goal scorer. We knew it was coming. He’s had chances in the last games,” Laurent Dauphin said. “I noticed last year when he was with us that he shoots from everywhere, and always at the right spots.”

Caufield has collected a total of four points in his last four games with Laval. “My pace has been pretty high, I feel a lot more confident with the puck, I think my instincts are back, and I feel pretty good with or without the puck. I’m just going to keep battling, and do as I’m told, but I always want more, I’m going to keep being hungry.”

Lions Split Weekend Series

The Lions were in Maine on the weekend for a pair of games against the Mariners. Friday’s match featured a lot of offence. The teams combined for 15 goals, and 84 shots as Trois-Rivieres came on top with 8-7 overtime win.

“We came out strong, but it looks like after that we started taking some stupid penalties and we fell flat. It’s like we hit a wall and weren’t able to come back. It was going fast for us. Emotions and refereeing also affected us,” coach Eric Belanger said after the game.

Peter Abbandonato recorded a hat trick and added an assist in the Lions victory. Abbandonato signed a one-year two-way AHL contract with the Rocket in the offseason. In the loss, Lewis Zerter-Gossage scored five times and obtained one assist for the Mariners. 

On Sunday, the Mariners took a 3-0 lead before the Lions cut the lead to one goal with goals from Shawn St-Amant and Cedric Desrusseaux. Maine added a power play goal with 9:22 remaining in the third, and went on to win 4-2.

“It’s not all negative, but this loss frustrates me because it was within our reach. There are things about our game that bother me, that we need to improve. We keep repeating them. It bothers me,” Belanger said.

This week, the Lions will face the Railers three times. On Wednesday, Trois-Rivieres will be the hosts before heading to Worcester to complete the series on Friday, and Saturday.

(Quotes courtesy of Le Nouvelliste)

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By Chris G., Senior Writer
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