That is it for the Montreal Canadiens.
That is the six-game street journey that may resolve their destiny for the season. The Canadiens must make a transfer up the standings in opposition to among the finest competitors within the league within the subsequent 10 days.
Recreation one of many journey was a loss in Columbus. Again-to-back video games in Florida begin the post-Christmas phase. The Panthers had been an enormous check and the Canadiens handed with an impressive efficiency in entrance of a first-time goalie, Jakub Dobes, 4-0.
Wilde Horses
The Canadiens made a giant change throughout the holidays. They lastly indicated that they’ve misplaced full confidence in Cayden Primeau, sending him to the minors the place one other group can choose up the 25-year-old, ending his time within the group.
Primeau’s finish in Montreal shouldn’t be anticipated, although contemplating there isn’t an enormous need for an .836 goaltender. The following part is he passes via the waiver wire untouched, then to Laval the place he’ll attempt to discover his sport once more.
For the massive membership, it’s time to be taught what six-foot-five-inch Jakub Dobes can do on the high stage.
Dobes was robust at Ohio State after which robust in Laval. In reality, it’s outstanding that the numbers at these two ranges for Primeau and Dobes in faculty and within the AHL are virtually an identical.
On the NHL stage, Primeau had some highs, but when he suffered lows, they obtained in his head. The group isn’t in search of .910 from Dobes, however they want .890 or they’ll must look exterior the group for an additional goalie earlier than Jacob Fowler arrives from Boston Faculty within the coming years.
One sport doesn’t a scouting report make on the NHL stage, however Dobes carried himself with plenty of confidence in his opener on the age of 23. Within the first interval, he attacked the shooters, and was engaged in battles for area in entrance of the online.
He obtained his first challenges shot-wise within the second interval when the Panthers lastly broke via a robust Canadiens defensive wall, and that’s when the tendencies began to be revealed. Straight away, it was apparent one large benefit was that Dobes can catch.
Catching doesn’t appear to be a giant factor, however it’s large as a result of Dobes can then maintain for a whistle. Primeau doesn’t catch and kill, and consequently, the nervousness continues to rise on the stress that the Canadiens are going through.
Many occasions, Dobes purposefully held for a whistle, permitting the Canadiens to regroup. This younger blue-line corps and hybrid system appear to interrupt down the longer the play continues. Dobes desired to make solely the primary save with little interest in a 3rd or fourth save as a result of he wasn’t controlling the rebounds. That helps everybody.
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Past the online, it was a terrific contest for the Canadiens. Kirby Dach had his finest day of the season. Alex Newhook had his finest day of the season. Newhook had two helpers on Dach’s two objectives. The primary was a move throughout the crease, and the second was liberating Dach on a breakaway.
It was an outstanding end from Dach on the one-on-one as he went to the backhand and was capable of raise it to the highest half of the online completely. Dach doubled his objective whole from two to 4. It’s not a lot but, however the goal is enchancment, and it’s coming.
Patrik Laine didn’t determine on the objectives, however he was instrumental of their development, particularly on the primary the place he gained the zone, and used his massive physique to cycle via the zone with possession earlier than feeding it to the purpose.
Late second interval, the Canadiens added a shorthanded marker as Jake Evans scored but once more. Evans with a objective in his fourth straight sport, which is kind of outstanding for a fourth-line participant. The Evans line with Emil Heineman and Joel Armia was excellent.
They may simply be the perfect fourth line within the league. In reality, if the measurement is objectives, then the road is the perfect with 23 objectives. The Hurricanes are subsequent with 18 objectives, then the Senators with 17 from their respective fourth strains.
The Nick Suzuki line additionally did nicely with a Aleksander Barkov matchup. Caufield rang one off the cross-bar within the second interval, and had a one-on-one have a look at Spencer Knight within the third that was snatched out of the air. Juraj Slafkovsky was robust as nicely heading to the online and inflicting havoc.
They had been shut out till late when Slafkovsky protected the puck brilliantly on the left facet, then waited for Caufield to blitz past the defender along with his pace. Caufield took the proper move and lifted it in for his 18th of the season. Caufield on tempo for 42 objectives on the season.
Wilde Goats
It was a 33-save shutout for Dobes in his first NHL sport over the defending Stanley Cup champions. Completely no goats on this win.
Wilde Playing cards
St. Petersburg SKA has put prospect Ivan Demidov again on the ice a good quantity for the reason that Canadiens administration go to to Russia and it has made a major distinction.
Demidov had been getting 5 minutes of ice in some video games and none in others for a month, however since GM Kent Hughes led a go to to Russia, within the 5 video games following Demidov has seven factors.
In his contest Friday, Demidov was on the primary line accumulating 18 minutes and amassing three factors. It’s wonderful what a distinction truly taking part in could make.
Immediately, regardless of a disappointing total 11-minute common this season, Demidov is, as soon as once more, having among the many best draft plus one seasons in Russian historical past. Demidov has 27 factors in 38 video games.
The usual of excellence within the KHL is ready by Matvei Michkov with 41 factors in 49 video games. It ought to be famous that Michkov averaged 17 minutes per sport with 4 minutes of energy play time. Demidov virtually by no means will get energy play minutes.
Demidov must get on a heater to move Michkov in points-per-game. Nonetheless, Demidov remains to be among the many best draft plus one seasons ever.
Another notables behind Michkov are Eeli Tolvanen who had 36 factors in 49 video games. Evgeny Kutznetsov has 32 factors in 44 video games, and Kirill Kaprizov has 27 factors in 53 video games. One can clearly see that wonderful KHL numbers have translated into robust NHL careers.
It’s additionally fascinating to incorporate earlier than the KHL, to the perfect numbers within the Russian Tremendous League. The gold normal is Alexander Ovechkin who had 26 factors in 37 video games. That is an identical to Demidov’s numbers on the 37-game mark. Evgeni Malkin had 32 factors in 52 video games in his draft plus one season.
It’s an fascinating train to take a look at all of those greats and see Demidov amongst them. In reality, if Demidov’s head coach would haven’t sabotaged his season, Roman Rotenberg could have had the honour to teach the best draft plus one season in Russian historical past.
Alas, a person should cease pondering provincially earlier than they’ve the chance to play an element in nationwide historical past.
Brian Wilde, a Montreal-based sports activities author, brings you Call of the Wilde on globalnews.ca after every Canadiens sport.
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