WASHINGTON | Another match, another snooze. For the fifth time already this season, the Habs have conceded at least six goals in the same match.
An affront that he experienced eight times during the entire last campaign. A season that should have been worse than the one Montrealers started 11 games ago.
In this 6-3 win for the Capitals, Alex Ovechkin was one of the Habs’ main tormentors with a goal and two assists. Cayden Primeau became the 176th victim of his career. This is two less than Jaromir Jagr’s 178 and one behind Patrick Marleau.
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The Canadian does not only need to be repaired as Martin St-Louis mentioned a little over a week ago. His game needs to be patched up.
Retching
Throughout the evening, the Canadian made more questionable decisions in the offensive zone and disjointed passing plays. In fact, Christian Dvorak made the most accurate pass of the game. A relay on the palette of… Jakub Vrana, posted alone in the enclave, a few feet from Cayden Primeau.
Considering that this is an anecdotal play on another difficult evening for the Canadian, we can’t really hold it against him.
It was especially the third period that sank the visitors. As has happened too often since the start of the season, the channel has arrived. Two goals from the Capitals scored in a 36-second interval meant the end of the broadcasts and the start of Martin St-Louis’ retching.
“We didn’t play the same way in the third period. You have to be able to bounce back when the situation requires it. I hope it doesn’t carry over to the next match,” said Brendan Gallagher.
Rare good times
In fact, the Habs’ rare moments of celebration came midway through the second period, during the 39 seconds in which they scored two goals.
Cole Caufield took advantage of these few seconds of happiness to allow the massive attack to score a goal in a ninth game. In doing so, the sniper became the fastest Canadian player to reach the 10-goal mark since Brian Savage in 1999.
Also in the thin column of good moments from this evening to forget: the two assists from Lane Hutson. Two passes collected after Tom Wilson tried to play in his head by finishing a check after the whistle. The diminutive defender thus demonstrated that he would not allow himself to be intimidated.
This same Wilson served a well-felt check to Kaiden Guhle, with a little more than three minutes remaining in the game. A gesture that Josh Anderson did not appreciate.
Without asking any questions, the Canadian forward rushed at Wilson. If some doubted the involvement of the big number 17, they can change their minds.
“I know Andy is going to respond that way. I take my hat off to him,” declared the Canadian head coach.
For the rest, the Canadian will need a good seamstress. And maybe a cleaning lady.
A mixed audition
Furthermore, we were all curious to see how Emil Heineman would do on the first line. This was not necessarily a guarantee of success.
Even if Suzuki scored, the shot attempts were clearly to the advantage of the locals (17 against 6) in a five-on-five situation with the captain’s unit on the ice.
That said, it was a reflection of the entire team’s evening at work. However, Juraj Slafkovsky returned to his position on the top line midway through the third period.
