Hidden Game: Canadiens don’t impress barely beating a bad Panthers team
This edition of the Hidden Game is dedicated to the Detroit Red Wings.
Say what?
The Canadiens qualified for the playoffs on Sunday afternoon — before — when Detroit lost to at home to Minnesota.
And Montreal hasn’t been the same team since.
We’re not going to suggest the Canadiens have nothing to play for, since seedings are still to be determined in both the Eastern Conference and Atlantic Division. But the Canadiens have lacked a sense of urgency during their last two games and, with the pressure of making the playoffs removed, they’ve not been the same team.
Montreal didn’t qualify for post-season play through the back door. Not in the least. But we’ve never been a fan of teams making the playoffs by virtue of another team’s loss. And now you see why.
Our cheap shot of the night: Bell Centre spectators paid hundreds of dollars to watch the AHL Charlotte Checkers — a team disguised as the Florida Panthers — give the Canadiens all they could handle Tuesday night. Florida is missing half of its roster through injuries, and already has been eliminated from the playoffs. Yet the visitors came within 21 seconds of handing Montreal its second consecutive defeat following an eight-game winning streak. If you find that criticism harsh, so be it.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch: As the entire city is well aware, Cole Caufield remains stuck on 49 goals with four games remaining. Will a sense of apoplexy reign over Montreal hockey fans should Caufield fail to score Thursday night at home against Tampa Bay? Rhetorical question.
Caufield played a shade over 19 minutes against Florida. He was credited with two shots — and a plethora of near misses. He also drew an assist on Ivan Demidov’s power-play goal early in the second period.
You know how to take the reservation. You don’t know how to hold the reservation: For the second time in three games, Caufield scored in the shootout. Helped the Canadiens’ cause, but not so much his own. Only fans of Seinfeld will understand our lame sense of humour on this one.
It’s going to be a photo finish: We’ve never seen a season like this. Tampa Bay, Buffalo and the Canadiens all have 102 points in the Atlantic Division. All three teams have played 78 games. But the Lightning’s first, based on 48 wins. The Sabres (47 wins) are second, while the Canadiens (46) are third. We can only hope next month’s Kentucky Derby is this close and dramatic.
News you need: Following four games as a healthy scratch, rookie Canadiens defenceman Adam Engstrom dressed for the first time since his recent recall from AHL Laval — after Kaiden Guhle received what the team called a maintenance day. Engstrom produced his first NHL point, assisting on Phillip Danault’s third-period goal.
Has the game started yet: Arber Xhekaj had the Canadiens’ first shot — almost five minutes into the game. Halfway through the period Montreal was being outshot 7-1. The Canadiens didn’t register their second shot until the 16th minute.
The guy’s cursed: The frequently injured Kirby Dach, who returned after missing 11 games with an upper-body injury, went to the dressing room late in the opening period, clutching his right eye that was bleeding. Dach took the toe of Xhekaj’s stick over the eye. The Canadiens’ defenceman was attempting to check Tomas Nosek on the play, only to accidentally strike Dach with his stick. While Dach received stitches over the eye, he returned for the second period. He has been limited to 33 games this season.
Pass of the night (Part I): Caufield’s cross-ice gem to Demidov must have travelled 80 feet on the Canadiens’ first goal, scored on the power play.
Great moments in officiating (Part I): Not long after, Caufield dropped the puck to Mike Matheson. Although the puck clearly crossed over the blue line, offside wasn’t called on the play. Had a goal ensued, surely it would have been disallowed. That’s how it’s done in Gary Bettman’s league.
How not to play defence: Xhekaj, renowned for playing a physical game and taking the body, attempted a stick check on Cole Reinhardt in the second period. It resulted in Florida’s second goal. For the record, Jayden Struble didn’t look good on the play, either.
Great moments in officiating (Part II): Demidov checked Seth Jones into the end boards. The latter lost his balance, his skates going into the boards. Demidov was penalized for interference.
News you need (Part II): The Canadiens have killed off their last 12 short-handed situations over a five-game stretch.
Good things happen when you go to the net: Josh Anderson didn’t get an assist on the play, but Danault’s goal was only made possible after the Montreal winger drove to the net.
Momentum … schmomentum: Only 1:27 later, Eetu Luostarinen scored the go-ahead goal.
And it would have held up, except for …: Lane Hutson’s brilliant solo effort in the final minute of regulation time.
Pass of the night (Part II): Hutson’s drop-pass to Nick Suzuki, who had an open net after goaltender Daniil Tarasov was caught out of position.
Strange, but true: Florida now has allowed 104 third-period goals.
Guess he got the memo: Head coach Martin St. Louis didn’t select Suzuki in the shootout. The Canadiens’ captain has missed his last 17 attempts.
Sieve of the night: Tarasov was beaten by Caufield and Alexandre Texier on the only two shootout attempts he faced.
Quick stats: Juraj Slafkovsky had five shots. Demidov and Matheson each had four. Matheson also blocked three shots. Noah Dobson had five hits while playing 25:52. Texier had four hits. Zachary Bolduc was guilty of three giveaways. Xhekaj, limited to 11:36, had a goal differential of minus-2 and holds the early clubhouse lead. Hutson played 25:44. Jakub Dobes’s save percentage was .909. The Canadiens won 56.9 per cent of their faceoffs but were outhit 29-26.
They said it: “It’s great coming out of the game with two points, but we weren’t very good,” Suzuki said. “To win that was big for the standings, but we’ve got to be a lot better. I was pretty brutal all night until the easiest goal of my career.”
“I knew there wasn’t a ton of time on the clock,” Hutson said. “I got lucky in space, had some speed and took it to the net. Suzuki went to the right spot to finish it off.”
“It was more frustrating to stop playing and get stitches,” Dach said. “I wasn’t overly worried. It’s part of the game and happens to a lot of guys. I just wanted to get stitched up quick and get back out there. I was just hoping it was a little cut. Put a cloth on it and keep playing. With the amount of time I’ve missed, I don’t want to miss any more.”
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