Habs News: Montreal, Canadiens, NHL, Juraj Slafkovsky, Justin Barron, Owen Beck, Emil Heineman, Filip Mesar, Joe Vrbetic, Lucas Condotta, Buffalo Sabres, Rookies, Prospects

Emil Heineman, Montreal Canadiens (photo by Canadiens.com)

ROCKET SPORTS MEDIA | MONTREAL, QC. — This is your one-stop destination for your Canadiens news capsule. Here are your Habs Headlines!

NEXT GAME: MTL @ NJD (Rookie Tournament)

The Montreal Canadiens rookies will play the second of a three-game schedule on Friday as they take on the New Jersey Devils. The Canadiens are one of six teams participating in the Prospects Challenge hosted by the Sabres at the Harborcenter Rink in Buffalo.

Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET. on Friday September 16th at the LECOM Harborcenter.

All games are livestreamed on the Canadiens website and social media platforms.

Be sure to bookmark AllHabs.net and visit often.

Habs Open Tourney

The Canadiens rookies opened the Prospects Challenge on Thursday night with a 4-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres. Emil Heineman, Filip Mesar and Owen Beck were the goal scorers for Montreal.

Joe Vrbetic got the start for the Canadiens. Vrbetic played all three periods giving up four goals. The goaltender signed by the Laval Rocket for the upcoming season seemed slightly unprepared for the quick pace of the game.

The line of Beck, Heineman and Lucas Condotta were particularly noticeable all game long. Heineman fired a rocket – consistent with his scouting report – for Montreal’s opening goal. Condotta even picked up a fighting major for taking on Zach Berzolla after Sabres defenceman took a run at Juraj Slafkovsky.

Understandably all eyes were on Slafkovsky throughout the contest. It was the young Slovak who set up Mesar’s goal by being first on the puck and dishing a beautiful pass to his friend and fellow countryman.

Slafkovsky wasn’t pleased with his game saying, “I was maybe trying too hard and I made mistakes, too many turnovers.” But he continued, “It’s the first game and I have to get ready for another game tomorrow.”

Justin Barron was named the captain with Jan Mysak and Lucas Condotta as alternates.

Forward Lines / Defence Pairs / Goalies

On Thursday, the Canadiens rookies played game one of the Prospects Challenge in Buffalo.

Santino Centorame, Pierrick Dube, Gianni Fairbrother, Kaiden Guhle, John Parker-Jones and Antoine Coulombe were scratches.

These were the forward lines, defence pairings and goaltenders for the Canadiens 4-3 loss on Thursday:

Juraj Slafkovsky – Riley Kidney – Filip Mesar
Emil Heineman – Owen Beck – Lucas Condotta (A)
Xavier Simoneau – Jan Mysak (A) – Cedrick Guindon
Jared Davidson – Brett Stapley – Ryan Francis

Mattias Norlinder – Justin Barron (C)
William Trudeau – Jordan Harris
Arber Xhekaj – Miguel Tourigny

Joe Vrbetic – Riley Mercer

Medical Report

Logan Mailloux (shoulder) and Joshua Roy (hand) are injured. Roy did not make the trip to Buffalo for the Prospect Challenge tournament.

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