The Canadian | Strangely crucial match in San Jose

The Canadian | Strangely crucial match in San Jose


(San Jose, California) We would not have predicted, in October, that the Canadian would play such a crucial match in San Jose in early February. Here we are.


Five consecutive defeats have seen Montrealers retreat seriously in the ranking in recent days.

Two weeks ago, thanks to a victory against the Lightning of Tampa Bay, the Habs approached a single point in the third row in the Atlantic division. This Tuesday, in the greyness of northern California, here he is in 13e Place in the eastern association, late six points on the two teams with the last pass for the playoffs.

The most recent predictions of the Athletic site give 3 % of the Canadiens to participate in the series. A little over a week ago, they were 15 %. Our colleague Mathias Brunet also estimated in his post this morning that the objective was now “unrealistic”.

What is certain is that after having screwed up an advance of two goals and lost the match last Sunday in Anaheim, the players of CH know how nervous the duel will be nerve.

Can we estimate that victory is imperative? “We don’t use these words between us,” said Brendan Gallagher smiling on Tuesday morning.

“But our sense of urgency will have to be raised,” he added. We know the importance of this match. We look at the ranking, we cannot afford to slide. These points are important, so we have to find a way to raise victories and find the feeling that animated us a few weeks ago. Things can shoot tonight. »»

PHOTO NICK WASS, ARCHIVES ASSOCIATED PRESS

Cole Caufield

Cole Caufield abounded in the same direction. “We have the opportunity to jump forward and take it very seriously,” he said.

No question, however, of betting on the weakness of the opponent of the moment. The Sharks, in fact, languish in the last rank in the general classification of the NHL. Their infirmary overflows, and their best pointer, Mikael Granlund, has just been exchanged. We suspect that the last weeks of the season will be difficult in San Jose.

Despite their setbacks, the Sharks “bring a lot of energy and tempo”, recalled Caufield. “We’re going to be ready for that,” he said.

Martin St-Louis recognized that “sometimes it is difficult not to look against who you play”. His men will therefore have to avoid this trap.

PHOTO DAVID ZALUBOWSKI, ARCHIVES ASSOCIATED PRESS

Martin St-Louis

We focus on us, he summed up. We want to play in our way for 60 minutes and be ready for all eventualities.

Martin St-Louis, Canadian head coach

According to the head coach, it is “very possible” that the trios observed in training the day before will be deployed on Tuesday evening. It would therefore mean that Patrik Laine would be separated from Kirby Dach for the first time since his return to the game at the beginning of December. He would probably join Jake Evans and Joel Armia, while Josh Anderson would take his place to the right of Dach and Alex Newhook.

According to this logic, Christian Dvorak would be flanked by Brendan Gallagher and Michael Pezzetta. The first trio, that of Caufield, Nick Suzuki and Juraj Slafkovsky, should remain intact.

Wool has things to be forgiven following a very ugly performance on Sunday in Anaheim, which had earned him to spend almost the entire third period on the bench. In front of journalists on Monday, he said he was ready to “raise his sleeves”. This is what he will have the opportunity to do by evolving with two players with a resolutely more defensive profile.

On the side of the Sharks, the head coach Ryan Warsofsky did not want to confirm the presence of Tyler Toffoli in the formation, but the former CH patinated on the first trio in the morning. Ty dellandrea striker, whose return is expected, will not participate in the meeting. Goalkeeper Alexandar Georgiev will defend the local net and face Samuel Montembault, from the Habs.

The meeting will start at 10:30 p.m. Quebec time.



Related Articles