Limiting the Columbus Blue Jackets to one goal is one thing. Trying to contain the Oilers attack, with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl leading the way, is a different story. The hybrid system is better to be well established.
However, this is what Martin St-Louis’ troops managed to do by winning 3-0 against the Stanley Cup finalists. Yes, the Oilers captain and his faithful German accomplice whirled around Montreal territory. Except that most of the time, they had to make do with the periphery.
Even with a numerical superiority, which constitutes its bread and butter, the Alberta team very rarely approached Samuel Montembeault, author of a 30-save shutout. The Habs played with fire by offering the Oilers three opportunities to deploy their massive attack, but their diamond never cracked.
Rather, it was the Canadian who stormed the opposing net. Yes, he often lacked precision (33 of his shots were blocked or missed the target), but he placed a lot of traffic near Calvin Pickard.
Photo Martin Chevalier
Sustained involvement
This is how Brendan Gallagher opened the scoring, by deflecting a shot from Mike Matheson, in the last minute of the second period. Already an eighth goal for the little warrior who was said to be on a slope as downward as the Camilien-Houde route.
Moreover, Gallagher almost did it again about fifteen seconds later, posted in approximately the same place.
If the Habs were able to spend several minutes in offensive territory, they owe it to the physical involvement of their attackers and the pressure applied to the Oilers defenders.
On Gallagher’s goal, Juarsj Slafkovsky and Nick Suzuki did a great job behind Pickard’s net. Once again finding himself at the center of Cole Caufield and Alex Newhook, Jake Evans continued to give arguments to his agent in the negotiation of his next contract.
Honorable mention to Emil Heineman, who finished the game with five hits.
They are slaughtered by Guhle
Montembeault’s teammates did an excellent job keeping the Oilers forwards away from him. They also made sure to block their share of shots. A sacrifice that is not without risk.
Talk to Kaiden Guhle, for whom we feared the worst in the middle of the first period when he blocked Evan Bouchard’s shot. The Canadian defender quickly retired to the locker room with what appeared to be a fracture or serious contusion to his right wrist.
It appears there was more fear of harm as he was back at his post to start the second period. So much the better because it was he who doubled Montreal’s lead in the sixth minute of the third period.
A first this season
A goal that encouraged the visitors to open up the game and apply more pressure. The men from St. Louis did not fall for this. They continued to demonstrate discipline in avoiding unnecessary risks.
They knew how to manage the dial.
No, this is not a match that will go down in history. Those who went to the Bell Center to attend a McDavid show probably went home disappointed. But the Canadian won. That’s pretty much the main thing.
With a second victory in a row, he equaled his longest winning streak of the season. And three wins in four games, that had not yet been seen.
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