(Brossard) In recent seasons, Montreal Canadiens players often said before a trip that it would be beneficial to spend time with teammates in order to regain good sensations on the ice.
Posted at 10:40 a.m.
Updated at 1:29 p.m.
Alexis Bélanger-Champagne
The Canadian Press
This fall, it is at home that the players of the Montreal hockey club are having their best moments. The Habs have a home record of 8-6-2, compared to 3-8-1 on opposing ice.
“It feels good to win a little more at home,” admitted defender Kaiden Guhle on Wednesday. We suffered some bitter setbacks at the start of the season, 8-2 or 6-2. It’s good to win in front of our fans.
“They pay top dollar and take the evening off to come see us. We owe it to them to give them a good effort. We are not always going to win, but we have to give this effort,” he added.
In the midst of its longest home stay of the campaign, the Habs have won three of their last four games.
Goalie Samuel Montembeault conceded only seven goals in these four games and maintained an efficiency rate of .944.
It may just be a coincidence, but this streak for Montembeault also began after he learned he will represent Canada at the 4 Nations Showdown in February.
“It’s certain that it may have given him confidence,” said defenseman David Savard. I don’t know if he was really nervous before the announcement. But it’s like a nice pat on the back to receive this vote of confidence from Hockey Canada. »
Overall, the team also seems to play better in front of Montembeault. She is less often stuck in her territory during long sequences and manages to avoid those moments where everything collapses.
“We talked a lot about the rhythm in matches, the importance when we play at home to quickly establish the rhythm and keep it,” noted forward Alex Newhook. And if we lose it, then we must regain it quickly. »
The Canadiens will complete their five-game homestand on Thursday, when they host the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Bell Centre. Montembeault will once again be the starting goalie for the Habs.
After a difficult start to the season, the Penguins have won five of their last seven games. The venerable Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are the top two scorers for the Pennsylvania team once again this season, with 27 and 25 points respectively in 30 games each.
“It’s always special to face them,” Guhle admitted. It’s less impressive than the first few times, because you’re often facing stars on the circuit. But it will never be something trivial.
“They are among the best of all time and you have to know when they are on the ice,” he added. You have to make good decisions with the puck, even if it means changing your game a little when they are on the ice. »
Including this game against the Penguins, the Canadian will play five of his six games between now and the Christmas break against teams who are ahead of him by three points or less in the Eastern Conference standings.
He therefore has an opportunity to move up the rankings and insert himself “in the mix” before his holiday trip.
“The ranking is very tight this season,” said Savard. Several teams did not have the expected start to the season. We take it one game at a time. We want to get the two points every night, if we are able to. If we continue to play the same way as recently, then we will have regular chances to win. »
Two absent from training
Defender Mike Matheson and forward Patrik Laine did not participate in the Canadian’s training on Wednesday, instead taking advantage of a day of treatments.
Both players finished Monday’s game against the Anaheim Ducks. The Canadian won 3-2 in a shootout.
Matheson has missed several practices in recent weeks. He was sidelined for two games late in November with a lower-body injury.
For his part, Laine has played four games since recovering from a sprained left knee. He had three goals and an assist.
For his part, forward Jake Evans was at his post when he returned to the ice on Wednesday morning at the CN Sports Complex. He appeared to injure his left shoulder in the third period against the Ducks. Despite everything, he made an appearance on the ice in overtime.
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