It was getting late early and the mighty Habitants from the province of Quebec had been wanting wobbly.
They had been down 4-1 to probably the most fearsome opponent within the recreation of hockey — Puck Luck. That they had surrendered a aim on one more shattered stick, a aim on the ever-popular bounced-off-the-official play and one other on an obvious deflection that obtained by rookie phenom Jacob Fowler.
Hey, them’s the breaks, proper? Generally, luck is the entire story of the sport, the logic of Corsi be damned.
However the Canadiens had a drive of their very own. Huge man. Reminds us quite a lot of Peter Mahovlich, proper all the way down to the quantity on his jersey. Juraj Slafkovsky, No. 1 draft decide, work in progress.
In Tampa late Sunday afternoon (or maybe it was early night)
Slafkovsky took command.
There’s no different option to describe it. He was a 6-foot-3, 225-pound drive and he was not going to be denied.
Early within the third interval, Slafkovsky appeared to have set the ball rolling when he arrange Ivan Demidov to chop the Tampa result in 3-1 — however Pontus Holmberg answered for the Lightning 34 seconds later and it appeared the Canadiens’ destiny was sealed.
However Slafkovsky was not going to surrender. On the 9:16 mark, he pulled the Canadiens inside 4-2 along with his twelfth aim of the season off an help from Oliver Kapanen.
Noah Dobson made it 4-3 to set the stage for an exciting end. The Canadiens swarmed the Tampa internet like indignant hornets, however it appeared it wasn’t going to be sufficient till, with 4 seconds left, Slafkovsky scored once more off a lovely feed from Demidov to make it 4-4.
That is the half the place we let you know that Cole Caufield then scored in extra time to provide the Canadiens the dazzling comeback victory — however it didn’t occur. Caufield did his greatest in a interval managed completely by the Habs, however failed to attain and the Canadiens misplaced within the shootout.
Which takes nothing from the comeback or from the person who drove the bus on this evening. Avoid wasting affection for repatriated Hab Phillip Danault, who gained the faceoff that led to the tying aim, however this was Slafkovsky’s evening, a key marker in his progress from extremely debated draft decide to NHL star.
The Canadiens are 38 video games into the season and the Child from Kosice has 13 objectives and 15 assists for 28 factors. Not dazzling numbers, maybe, however effectively on the best way to topping the 51 factors he had final 12 months.
It’s not a lot the numbers that impress — it’s the manner on the ice. Slafkovsky radiates confidence and he’s rising virtually recreation to recreation. He’s extra affected person, however he’s not afraid to pounce when the second is there. He isn’t passing up pictures. Most of all, he has that air of command.
It doesn’t damage that he’s enjoying with
Demidov, who could also be the very best ahead expertise the Canadiens have drafted since Man Lafleur,
or that he can join with dazzling Lane Hutson. However once I posed the query as to which is the Canadiens’ true No. 1 line, somebody responded: “No matter line Slafkovsky is on!”
I’ve all the time been a fan of the massive Slovak. Partly as a result of he jogs my memory of Mahovlich and partly as a result of his sunny, easygoing disposition suits so effectively with this crew and is such a distinction to Shane Wright, the man the Canadiens had been anticipated to draft.
Until you’re Mario Lemieux, it takes time for the massive guys. Mahovlich was 24 in his breakout 1970-71 season, when he scored 35 objectives and added 26 assists. Slafkovsky gained’t flip 22 till March.
One other black eye for Hockey Canada:
Within the wake of the junior hockey sexual assault scandal in London, Ont., that finally led to the acquittal of the gamers, Hockey Canada supposedly went to nice lengths to wash up the tradition.
Then Dale Hunter was appointed to teach Canada’s world junior crew. I imply, what did you anticipate? Hunter is a terrific hockey man. He’s additionally a constitution member of the previous boys’ membership that has run the game endlessly, all the time alongside strains that Don Cherry would approve.
The consequence was predictable. Canadian gamers making an attempt (and failing) to intimidate Czechs who occurred to skate over the road throughout warmups, then Group Canada skating off the ice with out shaking fingers after a recreation they
gained
.
C’mon. Don’t inform me the teaching employees wasn’t effectively conscious that handshakes are customary protocol after worldwide video games. Hockey Canada apologized for what it referred to as an “oversight,” however the oversight was giving Hunter the job within the first place. It’s disgusting, embarrassing and really a lot in line with what Hockey Canada has been since endlessly.
Hockey Canada CEO Katherine Henderson put her belief in one of many good previous boys and obtained burned. We’re betting she’s manner too good to let it occur twice.
Heroes:
Michael Hage, Ivan Demidov, Phillip Danault, Lane Hutson, Noah Dobson, Jacob Fowler &&&& final however not least, Juraj Slafkovsky.
Zeros:
Dale Hunter, Hockey Canada, shattered sticks, Wayne Gretzky, Bud Selig Jr., Claude Brochu, David Samson &&&& final however not least, Jeffrey Loria.
Now and endlessly.
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