For the second time this season, the Canadiens played a game behind closed doors at the Bell Centre. Obviously, for the players, it was just horrible to come back from a seven-game stay in the United States, where the arenas are full, to play in front of “no fans” in Montreal.
It ended with a 5-4 loss in a game where CH fought back, still had chances and put on a good show, but didn’t pick up a point in the standings. This is, in a way, the perfect scenario: a good show and zero points in the standings.
That said, if there had been supporters on site, beautiful sequences of play would have been applauded. We can think of those of Jake Evans, who had a strong game by scoring two good goals for his team, but we especially think of Trevor Zegras, who scored a Michigan last night.
And this last allowed himself a joke at the press conference following the game.
The atmosphere was crazy tonight. The Canadian had just scored.
It was a big goal for them, so I wanted to make sure I put the energy out of the crowd. – Trevor Zegras
Zegras, who is not used to playing in front of empty stands, said he wanted to silence the crowd following a big goal from the Canadian a few seconds before. It must have felt like a practice.
But the worst part is that I think he’s wrong. I have the feeling that the Montreal fans are so in need of good plays that the goal would still have been a bit applauded.
One who did not particularly like the circumstances was Samuel Montembeault. The goalkeeper had not yet received a shot when Zegras surprised him behind the net at the start of the second period.
The Quebecer knows he will be at ESPN for the wrong reasons next week.
#Habs Montembeault on Zegras scoring the Michigan goal against him on the goalie’s first SOG on relief of Primeau: “I’ll be on TSN and ESPN for the next week and I’m not happy about that, but it was a great move… hats off to him.”
— John Lu (@JohnLuTSNMtl) January 28, 2022
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Montembeault had not yet received a shot because he relieved Cayden Primeau. For the third time in its last four games and for the fourth time in seven games, Primeau was unable to play 60 minutes.
Dominique Ducharme claimed to have removed his goalkeeper because of his level of confidence. It is clear that the team is not playing well in front of Primeau because the goalkeeper does not inspire confidence.
It must be sent to Laval. It presses.
After all, CH played well yesterday. He dominated in shots on goal (40-24). He lost by just one goal. Montembeault gave up two goals (including Michigan) only in 40 minutes. The club was not being dominated.
The Ducks have 4 goals on 11 shots
Clearly, the recipe was much better against Dallas, Vegas and Colorado when the #CH gave 50 shots per game.
— Luc Gelinas (@LucGelinasRDS) January 28, 2022
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But because Primeau only managed six saves on nine shots in the first, it hurt CH, who played catch-up hockey.
No, the fact that two of those goals were scored when the CH were shorthanded did not help the cause of the young goalkeeper. That said, it’s another tough outing on morale.
This caused a defeat which is tough on morale, but good on the standings.
Because yes, the CH is still last in the league at the moment.
If not, what do I remember from this match?
1. I mentioned this earlier, but Jake Evans was very good last night. He scored two great goals, he was involved in the game, had six shots on goal and he played for 19:58.
He was more than the player CH needed and he got his first two-goal game in the show.
The CH will need him in the coming seasons.
Hot take, this goal is more impressive than the Michigan. pic.twitter.com/hXxqBiM8s7
— Matt Drake (@DrakeMT) January 28, 2022
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2. Artturi Lehkonen had a lot of playing time with big players and he played a lot on the power play. It paid off as he scored a goal with an extra man.
Yes, the guy is clearly in the window. His value is good and he did nothing to bring it down yesterday – on the contrary.
Exchangeable or not? Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau speaks out 👇 https://t.co/XJqz5NtBaK
— TVA Sports (@TVASports) January 28, 2022
Lehkonen? On the POWERPLAY?
In this economy?— Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) January 28, 2022
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3. Laurent Dauphin took a penalty that hurt CH, but he redeemed himself by scoring on a penalty shot. He is therefore down to two goals and four assists in 13 games.
He is continuing, despite everything, to buy time upstairs.
4. At the end of the match, when the CH had an empty net, Mike Hoffman looked lost on the ice. He didn’t make good decisions and he didn’t help his team’s cause.
The CH did not need that.
It’s not his first two, but Mike Hoffman is coming off a pretty harrowing two minutes to wrap up the game.
– Marc Antoine Godin (@MAGodin) January 28, 2022
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The #Ducks resist the late game push of the #CH and won 5-4.
I hope you picked up on the monumental blunders of Mike Hoffman who did nothing to boost his team’s chances of leveling the odds at 6-5.— Francois Gagnon (@GagnonFrancois) January 28, 2022
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5. For the 16th time in 42 games, the Canadiens allowed at least five goals to their opponent. 16!
Chickens across America must be wingless.
– La Cage (@_LaCage) January 28, 2022
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6. To be classified in the category of good news: the CH seems to have success on the power play these days. In his last seven games, six of them have been the scene of a PP goal.
It’s different from the beginning of the year.
The Canadiens have scored six power play goals in their last seven games.
Prior to this stretch, they had scored 11 power play goals in their first 35 games.
— Arpon Basu (@ArponBasu) January 28, 2022
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7. Rem Pitlick, acquired on waivers earlier this month, did well. He made good decisions with the puck and he also had two assists during the duel against the Ducks.
There’s a lot of positives for a loss, though.
Rem Pitlick has made a number of smart decisions with the puck tonight.
— Arpon Basu (@ArponBasu) January 28, 2022
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8. Alexander Romanov isn’t perfect, but he’s allowed to make mistakes on the ice. Yesterday was a good example.
There are these young people who must learn in Laval, but Romanov must continue to have the right to good playing time in order to develop in the NHL. It seems to be better in his case.
On Alexander Romanov and managing a slumping yet promising young player when your season is lost, a story that could apply to several other Canadiens young players before this lost season ends: https://t.co/PqlzjkY1Vg
— Arpon Basu (@ArponBasu) January 28, 2022
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9. François Beauchemin was, due to COVID-19 hitting the Ducks coaching staff, behind the bench of an NHL team for the first time in his career.
It is now 1-0-0.
1-0 behind the bench for Coach @fbeauch23! #FlyTogether pic.twitter.com/WEc3xSd0SK
— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) January 28, 2022
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We were relatively far from the famous “difficult match following a trip” since, despite everything, the CH fought and managed to deliver an exciting end to the match… but they lost.
The next game is tomorrow against the Oilers.
A lot of
– Soccer: victory for Canada yesterday.
Big victory for Canada in hostile territory (greetings to Sans Pressure), in Honduras.
The USA and Mexico also won tonight.
Duel that promises Sunday in Hamilton, against the Americans! 3 p.m. pic.twitter.com/rylIk7kEpW— Raphael Doucet (@raphdoucet) January 28, 2022
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– Julie Petry continues to empty her heart.
Julie Petry hit out at Justin Trudeau and the media last night while supporting the Canadian Truckers Freedom Convoy. pic.twitter.com/MdK1jJf28Z
— DanceLesCoulisses (@DLCoulisses) January 28, 2022
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– Thomas Chabot is doing a good job in Ottawa. [TSN]
– The incredible journey of Kent Hughes. [Gazette]
– JT Miller, a name to watch in the market.
ICYMI, INSIDER TRADING: #TSNHockey Insiders discuss…
– Kane cleared by NHL; joining Oilers
– Why teams should bid for J.T. Miller sooner than later
– Latest on Coyotes / ASU Arena
– Preliminary contract talks for Letang/Malkin
– Ducks GM searchWATCH 🌍: https://t.co/Gecvr8nix8 pic.twitter.com/WKiLNaOgP7
— TSN Hockey (@TSNHockey) January 28, 2022
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