Canadiens Lose Close Game To Leafs + Kotkaniemi Forcing His Way In? (niemi)

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Canadiens Lose Close Game To Leafs + Kotkaniemi Forcing His Way In?

By Brandon Smillie

Sep 27, 2018 • 4:09 pm

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Kotkaniemi's First Real Test Against The Leafs

The Canadiens had their first, and likely only, real test of the preseason against a Toronto Maple Leafs team that had most of their NHL regulars in the line up. The Habs iced almost everyone you should expect on Day One of the regular season aside from Domi, who’s still serving his preseason ban, and Peca (recently revealed to have a minor groin injury).

It was a chance for Habs hopefuls Kotkaniemi, Chaput, and Agostino to leave some lasting impressions on the coaching staff after all the recent cuts have trimmed the training camp roster down to 33 players.

On paper, Montreal simply can’t compete with the Center grouping Toronto boasts with Tavares, Matthews, and Kadri but it’s a team game and the Habs are arguably better in goal and (with a healthy Weber) at minimum on par with the Leafs on Defense. So tonight should have been viewed as a big game for the Canadiens to see if they can take an earlier lead in this seasons bragging rights.

Unfortunately, the Canadiens had a pretty solid game lost in the opening minute of the 3rd by surrounding 2 (!) Short Handed goals to the Leafs at the 16 and 36 second marks in a display that made me remember the Habs of last season *shutter*. That gave the Leafs a 4-2 lead before Schlemko scored on said PP to make it close at 4-3. Marleau gave the Leafs insurance near the end of the 3rd and that was all she wrote.

Price finished with 21 saves to Andersen’s 33 and despite the loss I feel the Habs showed some good things to build on. The play of the young guns is definitely encouraging. Mete looks like he’s building off last year and Kotkaniemi has fans drooling at his potential.

However…

I’m of the opinion that Kotkaniemi is probably better served to grow and develop in the minors with a shot at the World Juniors this Christmas. I think that sets him up to come into next camp with Poehling and Suzuki which could potentially change the entire dynamic of the Canadiens moving forward. All players will be a bit more mature and developed and there should be less risk of their confidence breaking.

There’s a strong push amongst Habs fans for Kotkaniemi to start the season in MTL though and with his preseason opportunities it seems like that may be the case. One thing is for certain though, if Koko can’t make it into the lineup every game he will be sent down as the Canadiens won’t want their best prospect eating Nachos in the press box for every game. The will want him to develop and dominate.

Physically, he doesn’t appear very close to where he needs to be and if he is going to play Center he needs to win puck battles. We saw with Galchenyuk that soft play with some skill won’t work at all down the middle so the development of this prospect has to be done right.

Mentally, Kotkaniemi is already showing signs that he has the smarts and vision for the position. The more this is developed the better and perhaps we will all be incredibly grateful Timmins and Bergevin made a reach for the lanky Finn.

All in all, this was probably the only real test of the preseason as the last game against Ottawa could see some key players rested and give the reigns to the kids for one last shot at the spotlight. The Habs played well against a mostly NHL player laden team that some in sports have already penciled in to raise the Cup. If not for the worst bad habit of last season rearing its ugly head again in that opening minute of the 3rd it may have been a major confidence boost for this Habs team looking for redemption….

Hopefully they can carry on with the good and figure out how to get themselves prepared better for the start of the period and STOP ALLOWING TWO GOALS WITHIN A MINUTE OF EACH OTHER!

Go Habs Go!

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