After a more difficult performance from Samuel Montembeault on Saturday, and a fifth victory in as many starts for Jakub Dobes on Sunday, he found himself calling into question the title of number one of the Quebec masked man.
So it doesn’t take much to stir up passions when we talk about goalkeepers in Montreal. Those who were already ready to move on to the next one will have to wait a bit. Because, Tuesday evening, it was he who was largely responsible for the 3-2 victory against the Tampa Lightning.
A gain in regulation time which allowed the Habs to climb into the playoff picture and find themselves just one point behind the same Lightning, holder of third place in the Atlantic division.
The scoreboard showed only one goal difference in favor of the locals. However, in terms of scoring chances, it was almost a one-sided game. Thanks to Jon Cooper’s troupe.
According to naturalstattrick, a site specializing in the subject, visitors obtained 18 high-risk scoring opportunities. The Canadian had to settle for three.
Moreover, Montembeault stopped 15 shots in the third period, before Jake Evans managed to score the winning goal, with just over two minutes left in the game.
Speaking of Evans, he added selling points to his agent in his negotiations with the Canadian. In addition to this goal, the Ontarian was a major defensive asset against the Lightning’s formidable mass attack, shut out on four occasions.
He was masterful in the faceoff circle (63%). Whether short of a man or at the end of the match, he won ultra-important duels.
Lance, Juraj!
-We would all like Juraj Slafkovsky to shoot more on net. This is one of the criticisms that have been made of him most often since he entered the NHL. The goal he scored on Tuesday should give him confidence in this sense.
The Slovak managed to place the puck in a mouse hole. A precision worthy of that of Patrik Laine and Cole Caufield. Even Andrei Vasilevskiy needed a few seconds to understand where the Canadian attacker had managed to outsmart him.
This goal gave energy to the Habs. For the next two minutes, he buzzed into enemy territory. Until Alex Newhook’s equalizing goal.
We understand better why coaches tear their hair out when their players receive a penalty in the offensive zone. That of Conor Geekie will have opened the door to Montrealers.
Hutson can play physical
Furthermore, we cannot blame Lane Hutson for being cold-hearted. Despite his frail shoulders, he imposed himself physically on two occasions, and not against garden gnomes.
Zemgus Girgensons, 6′ 3”, and Nick Paul, 6’4” and 230 pounds, found the diminutive fullback in their path. Obviously, neither of the two Lightning attackers found themselves with all four irons in the air. But Hutson didn’t shy away.
This ability to absorb heat adds to the offensive talent that we already knew he had. He proved it once again by being complicit in Slafkovsky’s goal. In doing so, he collected an assist in a ninth straight game. Which ties Shayne Gostisbehere’s mark for a rookie defenseman.
