Canadians vs. the Capitals: Return empty-handed

Posted On: October 16, 2022

WASHINGTON | As a Stanley Cup winner in 2018, the Capitals are by no means a rebuilding team. They still have a lust for wins, especially with veterans who aren’t getting any younger.

• Also read: Anthony Mantha dreams of health but also a 30-goal season

• Also read: “It was heartwarming” – Jonathan Drouin

• Also read: Drouin touched by audience reaction at the start

In the morning, Peter Laviolette launched his message.

“It’s unacceptable to start the season with two defeats, we have to give our game a sense of urgency.”

Without saying he had fire in his eyes, like Maurice Richard, Laviolette bit his lip a little while talking about the importance of this game against the Canadiens.

Three quick goals

The Capitals made their head coach’s heart beat faster with their first win of the year. Against a rebuilding team, the Caps won 3-1 on Saturday at Capitol One Arena.

The CH didn’t deliver a horrible game. At the beginning of the second third, the guests led 1-0, but the Capitals got the knockout. to a very fragile young group with three goals in just over six minutes in the second. Conor Sheary, Anthony Mantha and TJ Oshie again beat Samuel Montembeault, who made his first start of the year.

“I felt good, even if I was a little nervous,” said Montembeault. I hadn’t played for almost ten days. I liked my game except for the second goal. I can’t give away a goal with a shot that goes through me. »

A chance for Drouin

Jonathan Drouin has returned to training for this visit to Alexander Ovechkin’s country. He replaced Rem Pitlick on the left wing of the fourth skating line with Jake Evans and Mike Hoffman. Number 27 had an honest game in his debut.

“I didn’t have much rhythm during the preparation calendar, but I took advantage of a good week of training,” emphasized Drouin. I spent time with Martin and the other coaches and felt better tonight. »

After a win in the opening game against the Maple Leafs, the Habs lost their next two games to opposing rinks. We predicted a difficult season. We already have a taste.

What we noticed…

HEALTHY

Kaiden Guhle was a dubious case for this visit to Washington. Corey Schueneman had been released from the reservists’ morning training session in the morning to strengthen himself for the evening. But Schueneman never had to play. Guhle retained his seat to David Savard’s left. He gave up six hits, struggled with Anthony Mantha late in the game but finished the game with a -2 record.

IMPORTANT PROTOCOLS

“He’s 18 years old, he must have energy. This is how Martin St-Louis reacted when asked if he had considered resting Juraj Slafkovsky for a second game in as many nights. Slafkovsky hit the post in the first half and nearly scored his first NHL goal. The Slovakian was used for less than ten minutes against the wings, the Slovakian exceeded the 12-minute mark against the caps. “There isn’t a minute in this league that isn’t important,” St-Louis recalled. Every game has a meaning for the outcome. Whether you play 5, 10 or 20, every minute counts. »

FIRST POINT

Nick Suzuki stunned defenseman Nick Jensen with a quick deception from behind the net before slipping the puck through Darcy Kuemper’s pads. It was Suzuki’s first goal of the season. But for Arber Xhekaj, it was his first NHL point. So in his third game, the tall defender will have received an assist.

ALWAYS AT ZERO

Alexander Ovechkin had an assist, but he has yet to score his first goal of the season. He had scored in the first period but St-Louis won his challenge because of an offside position. And at the end of the game he hit the post into the empty net.

Harris and Kovacevic

Jordan Harris and Johnathan Kovacevic aren’t doing anything spectacular, but they’re a reliable duo With Joel Edmundson and Mike Matheson absent, St. Louis will be pleased with the performance of the two young defenders

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hyphen

Kirby Dach has offensive potential but still remains reserved. The former Blackhawks didn’t have a great game in Washington He created few chances alongside Sean Monahan and Evgenii Dadonov

First period

No goal

Penalties: Orlov (Wsh) 11:05

second period

1-MON: Nick Suzuki (1) (Xhekaj, Caufield) 2:01
2-WSH: Conor Sheary (2) (Jensen, van Riemsdyk)9:02
3-WSH: Anthony Mantha (2) (Kuznetsov, Oshie)11:43
4-WSH: TJ Oshie (1) (Ovechkin, Strome)AN-15:20

Penalties: Sheary (Wsh) 6:46 Hoffman (Mon) 14:06 Xhekaj (Mon) 16:03

third period

No goal

Penalties: Kuznetsov (Wsh) 9:56 Mantha (Wsh) (shift) 16:57 Guhle (Mon) (shift) 16:57 Gallagher (Mon) (double min) 20:00 Dowd (Wsh) 20:00

Shoot the net

MONTREAL 8-5-9-22 WASHINGTON 12-14-3-29

Guardian:

MON: Samuel Montembeault (P, 0-1-0), WSH: Darcy Kuemper (G, 1-1-0)

Numerical advantages:

MON: 0 in 3, WSH: 1 in 2

Referee:

Ghislain Hebert, Mitch Dunning