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Habs Outplay Caps Can't Get a W, CH vs NJ Preview *Juulsen Update* |
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*Injury Update*
Juulsen out 6 weeks with a broken foot. Tough break for the kid. Was making an early impression on the team. Look forward to seeing him start in the AHL this year.
The Montreal Canadiens opened the preseason at the Bell Centre with a hard fought loss last night against the Washington Capitals, losing 4-2. The Canadiens iced a fairly veteran line up and it showed with the Habs finishing the night outshooting the Caps 43-22 and getting 9 power plays to the Caps 4. Unfortunately, the Canadiens couldn't convert more than twice on the man advantage but they did show some flashes of what's to come.
Jonathan Drouin has come as advertised on the PP. The pivot did score 9 G and 27 A with the man advantage last season while averaging just over 3 minutes per game on the PP. Drouin showed that he will be able to set up, distribute, and out think the opposition and that's only what he's giving in warm up hockey. I can't wait to see what happens when the games matter.
Carey Price played well after allowing a very soft PP goal to E Kuznetsov early in the first (Chill out Smillie). The second PP goal Washington scored at the midway point of the first was credited to J Vrana, but it was expertly tipped into the top shelf by the Habs own Brandon Davidson as he was trying to deflect away a pass. Not a good play by Davidson at all and you cannot fault Price for that one. Of note, Price was definitely playing with a care factor of "meh". Not that it matters but he doesn't allow that first goal if he's fighting hard. These were the only two goals Price allowed in his first taste of preseason action before giving the pipes to Charlie Lindgren
All the Habs rookie standouts, except for the injured Juulsen, connected on the Canadiens first PP goal early in the second. Jerabek and Mete tallied assists on Hudon's first preseason marker in what was a really solid play by the rookies. All three of these players are making an impression this camp, but Mete impresses the most due to his age and last level of play. For a 19 year old OHL player to come into camp and be put with Weber is a very telling sign, then you watch him play and come away thinking he may have the goods. We will see how the battle for D spots plays out this preseason. 2 down, 6 to go.
Almost exactly 10 minutes later Pacioretty scored another PP goal from a very sharp angle on Caps net minder Pheonix Copley to tie things up at the midway point of the game. It was a nice play set up by a shot fake by Drouin that ended up being a hard pass down to Hemsky waiting on the goal line who then lifted a pass over the defenders stick in the goal crease to an open Pacioretty on the side door. I have to admit, that one play made me rethink my stance on the Hemsky signing.
Despite thoroughly outplaying the Caps most of the night the Canadiens game was lost at the 14 minute mark of the third when former Has D Smith-Pelly scored an even strength goal. The Canadiens couldn't capitalize on the Caps being shorthanded for pretty much the remainder of the game and T Wilson put the nail in the Habs coffin with a late empty net goal.
There was much to actually like about this game. As I mentioned, Hudon, Mete, and Jerabek looked good out there. Mete was being called the new nhl style defenseman by the NBC crew and said to pay attention to him in the future. I can't argue with that, my glowing opinion of his was well known since I started writing for HB. I felt Jerabek showed a mostly consistent, effective game and Hudon just keeps getting on the scoresheets. At this point, an NHL spot is Hudon's to lose.
Guys who didn't Carpe all them Diems (Rick and Morty joke): Eisenschmid, Scherbak, Froese, Streit, and Davidson. It's only preseason, but they aren't helping their causes with the way they played last night. All these players actually needed to show up and they didn't. Going to be tough for them to rebuild their stock with management being that 25% of the preseason is over. The time for first impressions is long gone, the time for effort and responsible hockey is now.
Canadiens Host New Jersey Devils at the Bell Centre
The Canadiens will be icing the other half of camp tonight against Nico Hischier's Devil's at the Bell Centre with puck drop scheduled for 7 pm. The Canadiens have revealed the practice lines and if you can't get onto the Twitter link above the line up will look like this.
Galchenyuk - Danault - Gallagher
Byron - Audette - Scherbak
Carr - Mitchell - Waked
Martinsen - De La Rose - McCarron
Jerabek - Petry
Morrow - Lernout
Gelinas - Redmond
Fucale
McNiven
Clearly Scherbak, Carr, and Jerabek are being tested by the coaching staff and with Maxime Fortier being sent down today, I wouldn't be surprised to see one (or both) of Carr and Scherbak sent packing too. Both have to give 110% at this point to prove they belong. Very important game for these two.
Lernout and Morrow on the second pair is interesting. Both have shown they aren't completely lost at this level, but with Mete, Juulsen, and Jerabek making an impression the pressure is on to earn that 6-7-8 job. Actually, these D men are fortunate Juulsen is on the shelf or they may have already been too far behind this camp.
I'm really looking forward to seeing how McNiven handles some NHL level competition. After his multiple award winning OHL season (OHL Goaltender of the Year, CHL Goaltender of the Year, nominated for OHL Most Outstanding Player) this will be the first real look to see where the prospect is at developmentally. Not that he will be displacing Price anytime soon but the 20 year old is a elite piece to have in the system and could be a very enticing trade chip, should the opportunity arise. I want the Habs to get him in some preseason action.
I won't be able to watch this one tonight as I'll be busy but I'll try to get a look at it late tonight or at least check out some recapping videos. I also won't have anything up until possibly late tomorrow night (busy, busy) so keep the comment section going with thoughts, plays, and opinions for a couple days.
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Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
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