After a tough outing against Carolina, the Habs looked to get back on track Thursday against Nashville. They played a much better game but weren’t rewarded for their efforts, falling 5-2.
Martin St. Louis made a pair of lineup changes for this one. As expected, Jakub Dobes got the night off. However, instead of it being Samuel Montembeault’s game as planned, his injury is still being evaluated which meant that Jacob Fowler got the nod instead. Meanwhile, Jayden Struble was a healthy scratch, paving the way for Adam Engstrom to make his season debut while three forward lines were also tweaked. The team lined up as follows:
Caufield – Suzuki – Slafkovsky
Kreider – Newhook – Anderson
Bolduc – Danault – Texier
F. Xhekaj – Evans – Dach
Matheson – Carrier
Hutson – Dobson
A. Xhekaj – Engstrom
Game Points
– It looked like Montreal was getting off to a great start when Chris Kreider shook off William Trudeau’s coverage in front of the net on that line’s first shift of the game. Unfortunately, Kreider was clearly offside on the zone entry. Missed offsides were a theme of the opening period as several of Montreal’s better chances came off plays that would have been called back after review had they gone in.
– After a defensive performance that could best be described as shaky, there was clearly an emphasis on defensive details. The Predators – granted, not as good as the Hurricanes – were stymied early on; they didn’t get a shot on Fowler in the first seven minutes of the opening frame.
– Montreal got the first power play of the game when Ryan O’Reilly went off for tripping. The first unit already looks out of sorts. For whatever reason, they have no interest in setting Cole Caufield up as a shooter, a role he has had plenty of success in previously. Instead, the focus seems to be to force the puck to Juraj Slafkovsky in a high one-timer position. Yes, he can shoot a bit but that’s not the best use for him. As was the case on Tuesday, the second unit was more dangerous for their sole willingness to take what’s in front of them instead of forcing a set play.
– Lane Hutson had a tripping call of his own a little past the midway point, putting a struggling penalty kill to the test. But it was the Canadiens who had the best chances and didn’t give the Predators much to work with. Again, they’re not as talented as Carolina but this was a nice first kill. Overall, it was a nice first period for the Habs, aside from them not scoring.
– The dreaded second period got off to a strange start. Josh Anderson was called for playing the puck with a broken stick when he didn’t exactly play the puck with a broken stick. Soon after, Matthew Wood was called for tripping Jake Evans when his stick missed Evans’ skate by about six inches. This actually worked to Montreal’s benefit as off the ensuing draw, pressure from Noah Dobson forced Brady Skjei to fumble the puck. It went to the front of the net where Steven Stamkos gave it right to Nick Suzuki, who backhanded a shot past Juuse Saros to open the scoring.
– The Habs put on a possession clinic a few minutes before the midway point of the second. That allowed them to get multiple line changes, trapping some Predators for extended shifts. Eventually, they were rewarded for their efforts, as Anderson set up Alex Newhook in tight. His stick was hit as he shot, creating a change-up that fluttered past a fooled Saros to double the lead.
– But this is the second period, after all, and there is evidently somewhere in the unwritten rules that the Habs can’t have nice things in the second. With a little under five minutes left, Alex Kerfoot slipped Montreal’s coverage, allowing him to get to the front of the net to redirect an Adam Wilsby point shot past Fowler, who had no chance to stop it.
– And then it got worse. After Dobson was called for tripping (this one actually was a penalty), Anderson had a chance for a quick clear but held on a little longer to attempt a more controlled exit shot. It didn’t work, allowing the Preds to keep possession. Seconds later, it was in the net. It was a scrambled play that had Fowler swimming at the top of the crease with Arber Xhekaj behind him. Xhekaj did well to keep the puck out of the net but ultimately kicked it right to Matthew Wood, who buried his first of the season. The net was off its moorings at that point but that was thanks to Anderson cross-checking Steven Stamkos into it. After review, the goal stood and to make matters worse, Anderson was called for the cross-check, sending Nashville back to the power play. Xhekaj picked up a needless misconduct on the play as well.
– Anderson tried rather hard to make up for the mistake. He had a partial breakaway that drew a holding penalty on Nic Hague, though the power play was futile once again. One day, the top unit will learn that passing for the perfect play isn’t always the best strategy. Anderson then had a full-fledged breakaway that was stopped by Saros.
– Mike Matheson had a rough shift with around four minutes left. He struggled with the puck and eventually took a tripping penalty that came back to bite the Habs. Stamkos set up Roman Josi for a one-timer that was tipped in front by O’Reilly, making it another one Fowler had no chance at. Two goals scored on players being left alone in the slot for redirections should prove to be good video for Friday’s practice. That can’t happen.
– Fowler was yanked for an offensive zone draw. However, the Habs lost it, and Hutson couldn’t keep a clearing attempt in at the point. That paved the way for Adam Edstrom to pot an empty-netter. Fowler was yanked for an offensive zone draw. However, the Habs lost it, and Hutson couldn’t keep a clearing attempt in at the point. That paved the way for Adam Edstrom to pot an empty-netter. This wasn’t erroneously written twice; it actually happened twice in barely a minute. St. Louis’ insistence on pulling the goalie on offensive zone draws without possession has cost the Canadiens many goals over the last couple of years. He still hasn’t learned to hedge his bets by putting the goalie at the blueline like quite a few other teams do. Who knows if the Habs would have pulled off the late comeback again but that call ended their chance before they even had a chance.
HW Habs 3 Stars
1st Star: Josh Anderson – I know he had a big hand in Nashville’s second goal which turned the tide somewhat in favour of the Predators. But he was Montreal’s most noticeable player on the ice in this one. He looks like playoff Anderson to start the year. I’m not sure how long he can keep it up but this version is a good one to have.
Stats: 1 assist, +1 rating, 4 PIMS, 4 shots, 3 hits, 14:24 TOI
2nd Star: Alex Newhook – He scored the second goal of the game and made a good read to give him a shot at another on a back-door play with Zach Bolduc in the third. Newhook was also strong on the draw. Play like this will earn him a longer leash in the 2C spot.
Stats: 1 goal, -2 rating, 1 shot, 4 hits, 7/10 faceoffs, 17:02 TOI
3rd Star: Nick Suzuki – Not his best game overall but he opened up the scoring and set up a couple of other chances. Not every game is going to be great but he still found a way to contribute.
Stats: 1 goal, -1 rating, 1 shot, 1 block, 10/21 faceoffs, 21:01 TOI