Habs News: NHL, Montreal Canadiens, Martin St.Louis, Nick Suzuki, Brendan Gallagher, Shea Weber, Laval Rocket, Trois-Rivieres Lions
ROCKET SPORTS MEDIA | LAVAL, QC. — The Canadiens continued with their five-game Canadian road trip on Saturday with a 5-2 victory against the Oilers. “I loved our focus. I felt like we played a really strong game with all the emotions, the ups and downs. We stayed the course,” Martin St. Louis said post game.
The game featured three coaches challenges, and all went against the Canadiens. Two of the challenges were on missed offside calls, and the video review got those decisions right. St. Louis challenged one of the Oilers goals for goalie interference, and the ruling on the ice was confirmed as the situation room deemed that Kale Clague caused Zack Hyman to interfere with Samuel Montembeault.
#Oilers tying goal vs #Habs. The goal was reviewed and it was deemed as good goal. @AllHabs @RocketSports #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/pHTUQzMnTc
— Chris G (@ChrisHabs360) March 6, 2022
The Canadiens have won seven of the 11 games since St. Louis replace Dominique Ducharme behind the bench. In comparison, it took Montreal 31 games to record seven wins since the start of the season.
Suzuki Elevating Game
On Saturday, Nick Suzuki scored the game winning goal, and added two assists. He recorded three points for a second consecutive game and for the seventh time in his career.
“As good as he is, I think [Martin St. Louis] came in and he’s understood that there’s areas where he can make him better. We’re seeing him grow and grow into the player he is. He’s such a smart player, and he has such a strong work ethic that he’s only going to continue to improve,” Brendan Gallagher said about his teammate.
In his last five games, Suzuki has registered four goals and six assists. “He’s just a very smart player, plays a 200-foot game, plays with place but he plays at the right pace. He knows when it’s time to go full speed and when to slow down. He’s very well aware, not just where the other team is on the ice, but where his guys are,” the coach said.
Suzuki’s linemate, Cole Caufield has also been on a roll since the coaching change. Caufield is the team’s leading scorer with 13 points in 11 games since the arrival of a new bench boss.
Gallagher Ends Drought
On Saturday, Brendan Gallagher ended his 19-game scoring drought with a power play goal in the final minute of play. The forward was in his office at the front of the net to score his first goal since Nov. 20th.
“I’m very happy for Gally. I look at his overall work since I got here, and he deserves to get rewarded,” St. Louis said post game.
When Gallagher scored his last goal, Marc Bergevin was still the team’s general manager. “We got a good group of teammates here, and [St. Louis] has been really good since he’s been here to keep me sane,” the forward praised his coach. “It’s tough to deal with mentally. I’m very thankful with the way he’s been working with me, sticking with me.”
Gallagher received a questionable penalty in Edmonton, when he was handed a minor penalty for knocking a player’s stick out of his hands. The call was controversial because the stick was that of a player sitting on the bench.
Brendan Gallagher doesn't appreciate you putting your stick over the bench pic.twitter.com/jQLAceIel8
— Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett) March 6, 2022
“I’m standing there on the power play break out, obviously he’s putting his stick in the way of where I’m supposed to be to get the puck, so I just flung it out of the air. I guess I flung it a little hard, but I don’t think he’s allowed to have in on the ice either. I’d like a ruling on that one. I’ve gotten quite a few penalties, I’ve never gotten one just like that.”
Power Play Streak
On Saturday, the Canadiens won the special teams battle by scoring twice on the power play, and once on the penalty kill. The Oilers were blanked during their four opportunities with the man advantage. Montreal’s power play generated a goal for the third consecutive game.
“I think our power play is starting to have an identity. It’s something that’s hard to explain, but as a player and a coach, you see it and notice it,” St. Louis said after the game.
The Canadiens have been changing their looks on the power play. In Thursday’s game, we saw Montreal use five forwards during a two-man advantage. The biggest change has been the limited use of Jeff Petry on the power play. When asked about it, the coach said that he’s managing the defenceman’s ice time.
Injury Updates
The Canadiens provided several injury updates following Saturday’s games. Firstly, Christian Dvorak, Paul Byron, Jonathan Drouin, and Jake Allen will join the team in Vancouver and practice with no contact jerseys. None of them have received the green light to resume play.
Secondly, Jake Evans is day-to-day with an upper body injury suffered in Calgary on Thursday. Thirdly, Carey Price resumed skating on Friday, and then again on Saturday. Lastly, Joel Edmundson travelled with the team to western Canada and has been practising with a no contact jersey.
Edmundson à l’entraînement hier avec Richardson. 2 hommes baraqués comme moi qui se chicanent pour un bâton… ou tester Edmundson qui se rapproche. pic.twitter.com/P6i9wTpjJS
— Marc-André Perreault (@MA_PerreaultTVA) March 6, 2022
Weber on the Move?
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported during Hockey Night in Canada that teams looking for either long-term injury room or want to get to the cap floor may be interested in acquiring Shea Weber‘s contract from the Canadiens.
The Canadiens current captain has not played since the team’s loss in last season’s Stanley Cup final, and will likely never play again. Acquiring Weber’s contract would allow a team that’s tight against the cap, to exceed it. At the other end of the spectrum, Weber’s contract has a total of $6-million to be paid for the final four years. For teams on a tight budget, paying the balance of Weber’s contract that counts for $7.8-million against the cap is a win.
Kent Hughes previously confirmed that the team will have a new captain next season. Earlier in the season, Marc Bergevin hinted of a plan that would keep Weber in the organization in some fashion. There has been no word if the new administration has any plans for the team’s captain since 2018.
Rocket Split Series
The Abbotsford Canucks visited Place Bell on the weekend for a pair of games this weekend. On Friday, the Canucks scored four unanswered goals after allowing the first goal, and handed the Rocket a 4-2 loss.
“I thought they played good, I thought they skated well. I thought we were a little late defending in the second period. We weren’t close to contact, and they got good offensive zone time in the second period. In the third period, we had the offensive zone time, and we couldn’t find that important goal,” Jean-Francois Houle said postgame.
Laval bounced back on Saturday, and blanked Abbotsford 3-0 at Place Bell. The Rocket played a strong limiting the Canucks to 15 shots on goal. “We didn’t give them a lot of opportunities, we were hard on the forecheck, we created turnovers, and that was a big part of the game,” Jean-Sebastien Dea said.
Two Canadiens prospects got injured last week. Firstly, defenceman Josh Brook was shut down on Wednesday as there was swelling on his knee that was operated in the offseason. Secondly, defenceman Gianni Fairbrother was injured in the first period of Friday’s game following a collision. No timeframe provided for either players.
The Rocket host the Springfield Thunderbirds on Monday before headed to Lehigh Valley and Wilkes-Barre for a weekend road trip.
Lions Slumping
The Trois-Rivieres Lions hosted the Indy Fuel for the first time in franchise history. On Friday, the Fuel blanked the Lions 5-0 at the Colisee Videotron.
“Their depth made the difference. Our power play has been pitiful. It’s been like this for a few games. We’re not getting the pucks back and there’s no second effort. There is nothing happening. We have a game plan, but it is not executed. That’s what pisses me off. […] It will change when the players decide to execute,” Eric Belanger said postgame.
On Saturday, Indy broke a 3-3 tie at the 6:19 mark of the third period, and Trois-Rivieres was not able to get that goal back.
“The commitment level was better. We had chances to score, but the goalie on the other side was good. We allowed the first goal again. It takes us saves in key moments, but we have trouble getting them. Fatigue errors made the difference, especially defensively. We usually know what to do,” Belanger said.
Trois-Rivieres is currently on a four-game losing streak, and only one win in their last eight games. The schedule doesn’t get easy for the Lions as they head to Newfoundland for a four-game series against the Growlers starting on Wednesday. Trois-Rivieres has lost six of the nine games played against Newfoundland this season.
(Quotes courtesy of Le Nouvelliste)
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