After two of probably the most spectacular moments of the season with back-to-back wins in Florida over the Panthers and Lightning, the problem was much more troublesome in Las Vegas.
The Golden Knights are the very best house workforce within the NHL, however they couldn’t present it in opposition to the Canadiens.
Montreal noticed Vegas two, however then roared again to attain the subsequent three in the most effective wins of the season. The Canadiens have received three straight enjoying a few of the finest groups within the league on the highway.
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The highest plus/minus centre in the whole league, Jack Eichel, grew to become one more centre that Nick Suzuki might deal with successfully.
The highest line is enjoying robust defensive hockey in opposition to a few of the finest on the earth this highway journey. Suzuki’s line confronted Aleksander Barkov on Saturday and fared effectively in opposition to Brayden Level on Sunday. These simply aren’t two of the highest scoring centres, in addition they are two centres on strains with the very best 200-foot video games.
On this one, the Suzuki line really out-chanced and outscored the Eichel line. Late within the second, the Canadiens scored as Juraj Slafkovsky received his puck battle, then he rapidly fed Suzuki who noticed Cole Caufield alone together with the online. It was purpose quantity 100 within the profession of Caufield. That’s 19 on the season for Caufield, setting a tempo of 42 on the season.
It is a first line that the rebuild can rely on as a powerful and completed product keyed by the play in the midst of Suzuki. He’s a vastly underrated participant.
One other gem that the membership has added this season is Emil Heineman. It isn’t simply that Heineman has proven an affinity across the internet, however he additionally performs an excellent 200-foot recreation. He nearly by no means prices the workforce whereas scoring 9 targets on the season.
His marker within the third interval tied the competition finishing a two-goal comeback. Heineman deflected a degree shot, then adroitly jumped on the rebound to flick it house. Heineman has the third highest purpose complete amongst rookies behind solely Matvei Michkov and Macklin Celebrini.
The outstanding comeback continued with the Canadiens taking the lead two minutes later. Josh Anderson blocked a shot then flipped it to centre the place Kirby Dach led a 2-on-1. Dach tried a go to Patrik Laine, nevertheless it went via Adin Hill. Dach has three targets on the highway journey.
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It was Hill in opposition to Samuel Montembeault on this one. One of many two will play for Canada within the 4 Nations, and one will sit and watch. It’s benefit Montembeault, because the saves within the final minute to protect the lead had been world-class.
The Canadiens refuse to stop lately. There’s perception. The highway to a playoff spot is 7-4 in every 11 recreation phase to conclude this season. After one 7-4 set, they’re already two wins and no losses within the subsequent 11 recreation set.
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After having some robust video games on defence, the second line was again to being the first challenge on the membership, permitting two targets within the opening 20 minutes in Vegas.
Early on, it was Dach with a giveaway that led to a 3-on-3 rush that didn’t look that harmful, however then Alex Newhook didn’t discover a man to cowl. Within the final 10 seconds of the opening body, it was Laine who misplaced the puck, then Dach was caught on the wall, and much too late on the again verify, permitting a second purpose.
It’s outstanding to see Suzuki tackle the very best centres in hockey, but discover a solution to keep even total. On the season, Suzuki is a shocking plus-one on the 12 months, whereas Dach is minus 22.
The differential for the whole membership in targets this season is minus 15. Suzuki’s line is even. Jake Evans line is barely a plus by two targets. Christian Dvorak’s line is barely damaging by two targets. Primarily, the whole deficit is the second line.
With the targets that the second line is now scoring, it was hoped that the Dach line might tighten it up on the defensive finish as effectively. Sadly, for the Canadiens, it stays a piece in progress.
Often the defensive legal responsibility is blamed on the centre, however Dach just isn’t precisely with identified defensive stalwarts Laine and Newhook. The simplest repair is that this line getting a powerful defensive centre. The targets are coming, however the differential is at all times the larger, and extra necessary, story.
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To increase Jake Evans or to not lengthen Jake Evans. That’s the preferred query on the minds of Canadiens followers within the final month. The sentiment is shifting to giving Evans a great contract to maintain him in Montreal on the age of 28.
Evans is an unrestricted free agent. His contract provide could possibly be so long as 4 years, however three years is extra doubtless. The annual wage could possibly be within the vary of three million {dollars}. It is perhaps much more. There are 32 groups, and it solely takes one determined workforce fooling around as a result of they should make a splash.
The plus aspect to the Canadiens signing Evans earlier than he listens to different groups on the primary of July is Montreal is aware of what they’ve in him. They know that Evans can carry out at the moment. For each the group and the participant, there may be stability figuring out he suits.
The down aspect is Evans might be handing over the very best season of his life, and a basic supervisor doesn’t need to pay for a participant’s previous. Kent Hughes needs to pay for his future. Additionally, does Hughes want Evans sooner or later?
Earlier than Hughes throws $12 million to $14 million at Evans, he has to make it possible for he wants the participant on the roster. In the mean time, this can be a tough proposition. If Hughes wants a second-line centre, then Dach turns into a 3rd line centre. That leaves prospects Owen Beck and Oliver Kapanen to combat for the fourth line function.
Evans is a fourth liner now. He’s, in truth, centring the very best fourth line in the entire NHL with 25 targets forward of Carolina with 18 targets. Nonetheless, the group doesn’t need to go away Beck and Kapanen within the minors for too lengthy. They’re near prepared.
If Dach can enhance his play and be a bona fide second-line centre subsequent season, then Evans could possibly be the third liner and Beck or Kapanen the forth liner. Oddly, Dach’s play, good or dangerous, impacts Evans standing with the membership.
Hughes additionally has the reminiscence of Rafael Harvey-Pinard on his thoughts when he considers learn how to assess this Evans season. It’s recent in his thoughts that he gave Harvey-Pinard a wholesome two-year contract primarily based on the strongest season of his profession.
Harvey-Pinard obtained 14 targets in 34 video games. It was unimaginable for him to duplicate that as a result of a capturing share of 24 is a pattern that doesn’t proceed.
Evans has comparable numbers. It’s the very best season of his profession with 10 targets in 36 video games, however that capturing share says that he can by no means duplicate this season. Evans has a career-best capturing share of 10, however this 12 months, he’s at 31 per cent.
At 28, Evans didn’t simply learn to snipe at 31 per cent. One of the best shooter in hockey annually doesn’t do 31 per cent. One of the best capturing share in a season within the historical past of the league is 33 by Charlie Simmer of the Los Angeles Kings.
What you see from Evans just isn’t what you get, so purchaser beware for Hughes contemplating he has already lived via Harvey-Pinard.
Fortunately, on the primary day of 2025, Hughes has time to evaluate this choice. He’ll firstly ponder his want of a second-line centre as a substitute of Dach. If he will get the proper reply on Dach, he could go for Evans. If he wants a greater Dach, Evans is surplus that he can’t afford to spend.
To be continued.
Brian Wilde, a Montreal-based sports activities author, brings you Call of the Wilde on globalnews.ca after every Canadiens recreation.
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