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Montreal 3, New Jersey 0. St. Louis gave fourth line “an opportunity to show ourselves,” he says, with former teammate Jake Allen minding the Devils’ internet.
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We’ve a confession to make: The Hidden Recreation has by no means been large followers of exhibition matches in any sport, however realizes it’s a necessity so administration can decide which gamers comprise the crew.
Having stated that, the Canadiens by no means needs to be compelled to play two house contests on consecutive nights. And if we by no means see the New Jersey Devils once more — no less than except two factors are at stake — it’ll be too quickly.
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The Devils, one of many NHL’s most boring groups, arrived in Montreal on Tuesday night time with out Jesper Bratt, Nico Hischier, former Canadien Tomas Tatar, Dougie Hamilton and goaltender Jacob Markstrom, all of whom performed Sunday. And with New Jersey enjoying once more on Wednesday night time towards Washington, we perceive head coach Sheldon Keefe’s thought course of.
However, there was no want for Sominex after this tedious affair, gained 3-0 by Montreal. No one who witnessed this spectacle ought to have had problem falling asleep. We solely want, simply as soon as, the NHL performed working time.
Meals for thought (Half I): We surprise what Keefe, the previous coach of Toronto, should assume trying down his bench and never seeing Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander and John Tavares. Keefe most likely has gained confidence realizing he may truly win some playoff video games now, assuming the crew qualifies.
Unusual, however true (Half I): When New Jersey and the Canadiens final met, again on Feb. 24, the Devils gained 4-3 on house ice. Montreal’s goalie that night time? Jake Allen. The Devils’ beginning netminder on Tuesday? Allen.
Street to the Cup
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Information you want (Half I): Juraj Slafkovsky and teammate Filip Mesar have been enjoying towards Devils defenceman Simon Nemec. The three have been childhood mates in Slovakia and, in the course of the pregame warm-up, posed for a photograph.
Guessing this caught him without warning: When Allen was traded to the Devils final March for a conditional third-round draft selection in 2025, he might need believed his enjoying time would enhance. Then the Devils acquired Markstrom final June from Calgary, relinquishing a first-round 2025 draft selection together with defenceman Kevin Bahl.
It’s laborious to hit a shifting goal: Within the sport’s second minute, defenceman Logan Mailloux, the one Montreal participant to decorate for each video games this week, missed an tried verify on Nolan Foote in entrance of the Canadiens’ bench.
It was like watching paint dry: The Devils didn’t register their first shot till the sixth minute, whereas on the facility play. By means of 13 minutes, the groups had mixed for eight photographs.
Information you want (Half II): Pointe-Claire’s Ryan Jackson, an NHL linesman working this sport, is the son of former NHL referee Dave Jackson.
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Unusual, however true (Half II): Sure, that was Michael Pezzetta killing penalties.
Faceoff of the night time: Early within the second interval, Florian Xhekaj beat Xavier Mum or dad to the draw. The sequence ultimately led to the Canadiens’ opening aim.
Play Pezzetta: Sure, it was that famous sniper Pezzetta beating Allen with a shot to the glove facet from the left-wing circle at 2:42 of the second interval.
Subsequent time, decline the penalty (Half I): The Canadiens had a two-man benefit for a full two minutes within the second interval, however generated solely three photographs — two of which got here within the remaining 30 seconds.
He’s made it his pied-à-terre: After taking a double roughing minor within the center interval, New Jersey’s Kurtis MacDermid took a hooking minor eight minutes later.
Dumb penalty: Nathan Bastian slashed Canadiens defenceman Mike Matheson within the offensive zone in the identical interval, negating a Devils energy play.
Some type of trifecta: Canadiens prospect Owen Beck registered three photographs on internet, all from the slot, and was denied every time.
Subsequent time, decline the penalty (Half II): The Devils took one other double minor within the third interval, offering the Canadiens with one other two-man benefit for a full two minutes. The outcome? One shot. The Canadiens went 0-for-8 on the facility play. Possibly former assistant coach Alex Burrows wasn’t the issue?
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Meals for thought (Half II): What are the probabilities, following successive shutouts, the Canadiens gained’t enable a aim this season?
Fast stats: Pezzetta, who scored a second aim into an empty internet, produced 5 photographs, together with Mesar, and was on the ice for 4:12 whereas the Canadiens have been short-handed. He additionally was a plus-2 and was named the sport’s first star. However Nemec, at minus-3, is the early clubhouse chief. The Devils went 0-for-6 on the facility play.
They stated it: “He (head coach Martin St. Louis) was giving (the fourth line) an opportunity to show ourselves,” Pezzetta stated. “For me I used to be simply making an attempt to make the most of each alternative, whether or not it was within the final minute or some penalty-killing time. I used to be making an attempt to do the most effective I might and present him I can broaden my device field right here.”
“Clearly there’s a little bit little bit of disappointment to not rating these,” Beck stated. “To get three Grade-A (scoring probabilities) at this degree is tough to do. It’s one thing to construct off of. It’s like whenever you’re enjoying golf. You bomb a drive down the green, you then shank the chip and miss the inexperienced. That’s type of what it felt like tonight.”
hzurkowsky@postmedia.com
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