Martin St-Louis warned everyone before the start of the season: We would have to be patient with Kirby Dach after the center player missed virtually a season of activities. On Monday night, we better understood why the Montreal Canadiens head coach had tempered expectations.

The roof trio had a hard evening at work. He was also on the ice for the Pittsburgh Penguins’ third-period winning goal in their 6-3 loss at the Bell Center.

Although the Canadiens managed to get back into the game in the second period, overall the Canadiens suffered from a terrible start to the game.

“We weren’t ready,” Newhook admitted. Being 2-0 down at the start of the game and taking so long to get the first shot is below our standards.”

Dach and Alex Newhook finished the night without throwing a single shot. Joel Armia only got one.

“It was a game where we touched the puck a lot in the neutral zone but couldn’t enter the opponent’s territory in a controlled manner,” Newhook noted. Such a game for us. I still believe we are not far from finding the solution.”

I’m not worried about roof

It was perhaps ambitious to expect Dach to start the season strong after being limited to two games in the 2023-24 season due to a torn medial and anterior cruciate ligament.

“I think things are just getting started again for Dach Game formSt-Louis analyzed. You can train and camp all summer long. But it’s difficult to recreate the regular-season environment of three games a week and practices.

The CH pilot remained optimistic: We will soon see Dach again, who impressed the Montreal fans with his presence in possession of the puck.

“When he gets back in rhythm St-Louis predicted that after one season he would feel even more comfortable on the ice. But I see him physically very committed. It will come with Dacher, I’m not worried.”

A Major League shot

Young Emil Heineman picked up points by scoring his second goal of the season with a devastating wrist shot.

In other words, a major league shot.

Anyone who watches Heineman at work in training is impressed by the speed of his throw. However, it is the way he hides it that St-Louis appreciates.

“He has a litter that is very “hidden,” he imagined. He draws very quickly. I don’t think the goalkeepers know him anymore because he often hides his shot. I also like his rhythm on the forecheck. It’s very disturbing. He’s quick to get pucks back and keeps the pucks alive for us.”

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