With the exception of the fate of Juraj Slafkovsky, this camp was all about the blue line for the Canadians. We knew there would be several young wolves fighting for the last two or three places.

In the middle of this camp, after four games, the structure of the CH defense brigade remains an unsolved mystery. But in the offices of Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes, the pieces have to move constantly.

With Kaiden Guhle starring after a 4-3 loss to the Winnipeg Jets at the Bell Center on Thursday, it was Justin Barron’s turn to take the torch.

Happy with Matheson

Barron gained points in that other Blue, White and Red loss. On a visit to the nation’s capital, the Canadians squandered a two-goal lead late in the game to lose to the Senators 4-5 in overtime.

In his third preseason game, Barron scored, had an assist and finished with a +3 record in 19:46 game time.

“I’m not happy with the ending, I don’t like losing but I was happy to be on the top scorer,” admitted the former Colorado Avalanche first-round pick. I increased my game offensively. I also feel good having Mike Matheson as a partner, he’s such a good defender. He runs like the wind. I’m lucky to have him.”

Martin St-Louis had good words for his young defender.

“I liked his game, he defended well and was involved in attack,” said the head coach. It will give him confidence. He knows he’s in a battle for position.

“Every player has their moments,” St-Louis continued. There’s always a guy that stands out. They have to keep playing well to make our job harder. This is a good problem for a team. Young people know there is a struggle.”

Jake Evans scored twice for the visitors, but Shane Pinto and Alex DeBrincat also had braces for the winners.

DeBrincat, who was acquired by the Blackhawks this summer, once again showed he’s a born goalscorer. He scored the winning goal in extra time.

WHAT NOTICED US…

A LIQUID SKATER

Mike Matheson has always had a reputation for being a quick defender with the ability to revive offense. The sample size remains small, but the former Panthers and Penguins has looked like a worthy defender of the first pair since this camp began. He still had a strong match with Justin Barron as his partner.

ROOKIE VS Veteran

Owen Beck received another audition at skating center Jonathan Drouin and Joel Armia. The second-round pick (33rd overall) in the 2022 draft hit the post while deflecting a pass from Drouin in the first. In the face-off circle, the center did not have the same contact. He won 7 of his 16 attempts (44%). Derick Brassard, 35, was invited to Camp des Sens and dominated the youngster (5 of 6).

AT HOME

Claude Giroux wanted to continue his career with the Senators. It’s like coming home for the former Gatineau Olympiques. In his first preseason game at the Canadian Tire Center, the Franco-Ontarian played on the right wing with Derick Brassard and Alex DeBrincat. Giroux had three assists, including two on goals by Shane Pinto.

COURAGE

Ridly Greig, a first-round pick (28th) by the Sens in 2020, picked up points for his bravery that game. In the first he blocked two powerful shots on the same sequence and in the second he started the same game again but this time he blocked a single strike. Armia, Matheson and Barron probably gave him some bruises.

SUMMARY

RENEWAL

00:59 – GOAL OTT 5-4 Alex DeBrincat completes the comeback by hitting the target on the power play, his second of the game

THIRD PERIOD

20:00 – end of period

19:06 – Rem Pitlick gets the hook out at the crucial moment, power play meaning

15:44 – Cole Reinhardt hits Rafael Harvey-Pinard from behind, Canadien’s power play

14:40 – GOAL OTT 4-4 Shane Pinto completes a brilliant exchange initiated by Derick Brassard and Claude Giroux, tying the attack at five

14:32 – Mike Matheson is kicked out for delaying the game

10:53 – GOAL OTT 4-3 Mathieu Joseph takes advantage of a turnover and reduces the score to a net just 20 seconds behind Justin Barron’s net

10:33 – TOR MTL 4-2 Justin Barron goes on the offensive and pulls without warning, the Bleu Blanc Rouge doubles their lead

00:00 – period start

SECOND PERIOD

20:00 – end of period

19:59 – Rafael Harvey-Pinard takes his stick too high in the face of Derick Brassard

15:54 – GOAL OTT 3-2 Prospect Shane Pinto outwitted Cayden Primeau’s vigilance with a sharp shot, while Claude Giroux and Jake Sanderson also blacked out the scorers’ list

15:48 – Kaiden Guhle makes Alex DeBrincat too much official liking, minor penalty

14:49 – TOR MTL 3-1 Rem Pitlick accepts a clever throw-in from Jesse Ylonen and doubles the lead with a strong one-timer

12:48 – Roby Jarventie is hunted, Habs outnumbered

07:41 – GOAL OTT 2-1 Alex DeBrincat scores his first goal in a Senators uniform since arriving in the federal capital

00:00 – period start

FIRST PERIOD

20:00 – end of period

19:01 – TOR MTL 2-0 Jake Evans scores his second goal of the game after a fine individual effort, Mike Matheson gets an assist

16:54 – TOR MTL 1-0 Jake Evans completes the transfer from Rem Pitlick wonderfully, the CH opens the scoring

12:09 – Both teams exchange scoring chances; Filip Mesar demonstrates his acceleration and game vision on the streak

02:47 – Mike Matheson holds off forward Tyler Motte, minor penalty

02:18 – Roby Jarventie hooks Jesse Ylonen towards the dungeon

00:00 – beginning of the game

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