Tanner Pearson took a shot to the hand on Saturday night time. He might be out for the following 4 to six weeks. The return of David Savard, who mockingly additionally suffered a hand harm following a blocked shot, didn’t add as much as +1 within the lively column. It merely stored the depend at 0 (+Savard, -Pearson).
The scenario is turning into problematic for the Canadiens. They might have fired and retired gamers after two record-breaking harm seasons, however the reality stays that the identical story is repeating itself once more in 2023-24. And it doesn’t assist that the injured gamers are nearly all strikers.
We all know it: Carey Value and Chris Wideman received’t be taking part in all season. Let’s overlook about these two, in the event you don’t thoughts.
Proper now, the Habs have three wholesome goalies: Jake Allen, Samuel Montembeault and Cayden Primeau. That’s even an issue, some would say…
On the blue line, solely Jordan Harris is at the moment absent. Now we have “so much depth” that we will afford to go away Gustav Lindstrom within the stands, play Johnathan Kovacevic solely ten minutes a recreation and let Arber Xhekaj dangle round in Laval.
However up entrance, issues aren’t going effectively: Kirby Dach, Alex Newhook, Rafaël Harvey-Pinard and Tanner Pearson are all at the moment absent. They usually received’t be again in motion for the following few days…
Yesterday, the crew’s 4 trios appeared like this:
Caufield – Suzuki – Slafkovsky
Monahan – Evans – Anderson
Gallagher – Dvorak – Ylonen
Pezzetta – Stephens – Armia
Every trio is one rank too excessive. Let me clarify: Caufield, Suzuki and Slafkovsky play like a second trio, Evans shouldn’t be your second middle, Anderson has just one objective in 28 video games (in an empty web) and he’s the second proper winger proper now, and so forth.
However there’s nothing we will do: the Habs have been already missing in uncooked attacking expertise in September. No marvel issues aren’t going effectively when 4 forwards are sidelined…
Ideas from the weekend
The gray climate pushed me into just a few reflections and (sporting) observations on Saturday and Sunday. Listed here are just a few:
1. So long as Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton don’t resolve whether or not to commerce or waive one of many three goalkeepers, a three-man roster will stay the “best” choice in Montreal. However why?
What did Montembeault do with this chance (in opposition to a compact membership just like the Kings)? He let in 4 pucks. And he misplaced his web…
Then, Cayden Primeau was splendid on Saturday night time (practically 50 saves and solely two objectives allowed)… and Jake Allen, despite suffering his seventh consecutive setback, was glowing final night time (two objectives allowed).
As aoutcome, the three-way dance will proceed. I can’t see St-Louis giving a second consecutive begin to a goalie who hasn’t received since October this week…
It’s going to take some divine intervention from administration for us to lastly transfer on.
2. There have been a number of empty benches final night time on the Bell Centre, particularly on the Reds… and for the second time this season, the membership didn’t declare a sold-out crowd of 21,105. Formally, the NHL this morning spoke of a crowd of 20,864.
Most of the membership’s followers and companions hold saying that this isn’t a trigger for concern: it’s. There’s much less cash coming in within the first place with tickets that aren’t purchased per individual, fewer persons are spending as soon as they’re within the enviornment… briefly, the CH’s difficulties on the ice AND the present financial scenario will not be sparing (and won’t spare) the Membership de Hockey Canadien.
It’s price noting that the Habs bought out just about all their video games in 2022-23.
3. Cole Caufield has simply seven objectives in 28 video games this season, and he hasn’t discovered the again of the web in his final six video games. Some 130 players have done better than him so far this campaign.
Since Caufield doesn’t hit and isn’t very helpful defensively, he MUST produce extra. He’s paid (dearly) for it. It’s as much as him to get extra concerned and get his “chance” again.
4. If the Habs had scored one much less power-play objective (0 in 5) or allowed one much less penalty-killobjective, they’d have left the Bell Centre with a degree or two final night time. The membership needs to be higher than that on particular items.
5. The Habs have solely two video games this week: Wednesday in opposition to the Penguins and Saturday in opposition to the Islanders. Since each video games might be performed in Montreal, and the Rocket received’t hit the street till Thursday for Lehigh Valley, it’s secure to imagine that the membership received’t be calling up a thirteenth ahead within the subsequent few hours.
Besides that in the end, they could should… and Joshua Roy Emil Heineman is at the moment the #1 candidate for such a recall, for my part. Particularly if you wish to play the recalled participant.
With the harm to Tanner Pearson, we will anticipate Emil Heineman to be the following Canadien to be recalled. A bit of bodily power alongside the ramps received’t harm the crew. He’s NHL-ready, for my part.
– Anthony Marcotte (@anthonymarcotte) December 11, 2023
