Marc Dumont
There aren’t many things that drive Montreal Canadiens fans crazier than losing a game to the Toronto Maple Leafs because of a power play that hasn’t been good since early in the Obama presidency. The Habs had their chances to get back into the game after a terrific start and an exemplary second period by goaltender Jake Allen. But in the end their foibles on an extended 5-on-3 man advantage in the third period was the difference in a 2-1 loss to the Leafs. Here are your player ratings:
Goaltender
Jake Allen – 8/10
Screened into oblivion on Engvall’s opener. After a relatively quiet first period, he earned his money in the second. Huge stops on Nylander (don’t know how that first tip in front didn’t squeak through him and into the net). Somehow kept several Bunting whacks in tight out. Point-blank slot shot saves on Marner and Kase. Deserved a better fate for his work.
Defencemen
Jeff Petry – 6/10
Why was he trying to blast one-timers from the point on a 5-on-3? Part of a horrendous power play that cost the Canadiens the game. Led the Habs in ice-time with a whopping 26:54 (6:34 more than any other defenceman). Passing was solid early but ended the night leading the team in giveaways with five. Didn’t join the rush enough. Can’t have many “meh” games without Weber or Edmundson in the lineup.
Brett Kulak – 6/10
Started brightly with a set play to him that somehow nearly came off within the first minute of the game. Great gap and stick at the blueline created the turnover that led to Drouin’s opener. But showed his limitations in the second and third in his own zone. Got nutmegged by Tavares close to the blueline that led to a glorious Marner chance. Gave Nylander way too much space due to his positioning on the game-winner. Miscommunication between he and Suzuki after a strange line change.
David Savard – 6/10
Led the team in blocked shots with five. Could have opened his Habs account on a 2-on-1 with Evans but fired a slot shot wide. Could have done a better job to move the screen out of Allen’s line of sight on Engvall’s goal. To put it bluntly, didn’t like his game when paired with Chiarot. Couldn’t cope with the speed of the Leafs in their own zone. Bit better when paired with Romanov in the second. Didn’t notice him a ton out there down the stretch which I suppose was a good thing.
Ben Chiarot – 6/10
A mixed bag from the man wearing the ‘A’ for the first time. The good? A forearm shiver to Dermott that was the noticeable thing the Leafs defenceman did last night. The bad? He and Savard getting in each other’s way that forced him to take a hooking penalty on Tavares. Good on the penalty kill but bit on Engvall’s fake shot just before he fired in the equalizer. Looked more natural with Wideman to his right in the second. A bouncing puck cost him a glorious chance in the third.
Alexander Romanov – 5/10
Difficult start to the season for the young Russian. Call it interference or call it a cross check to Bunting’s chops. Either way, a silly penalty that led to Engvall’s equalizer. Did not look confident whatsoever. Only one hit which is just not typical panda material. Had his pocket picked in his own zone several times. Passing was sketchy at best. Soft tipped poke check in the neutral zone in the second led to a 2-on-1. Better in the third. Played his best next to Savard.
Chris Wideman – 5/10
Simplified things on a second wave of the power play that was far more impressive than the first wave. Has obvious limitations in his own end that were exploited at times by the Leafs. Like Romanov with Savard, had a clearer role when paired with Chiarot. Got caught between two minds more than once in all three zones. A nervy return to the NHL. Least used Canadiens defenceman.
Forwards
Nick Suzuki – 6/10
The man armed with the new eight year contract has had much better games. His line wasn’t able to generate anything in terms of sustained offensive zone time. Ran what was a, to put it kindly, anemic first wave of the power play that cost his team the game. Had a couple of moments that got fans out of their seats but came to nothing in the end. Tied for the team lead in shots on goal. Led all forwards in ice time.
Cole Caufield – 6/10
Just has a knack for finding the puck in stride. Terrific move to split the Leafs defence in the first but his backhand was stopped by Campbell. Like his linemates, way too much one-and-done in the offensive zone. Where he needs to shine is on the power play. Too nice on the man advantage. Passed up multiple looks for a shot to try and get the puck to a teammate. Shrank into the periphery of the game after the putrid 5-on-3.
Tyler Toffoli – 5/10
Anonymous. Far too casual in every facet of the game. Didn’t work hard enough to recover pucks on the power play. Hardly noticeable for long stretches. Like Suzuki and Caufield, could not get control of the puck in the offensive zone. Box score says he took three shots but hard to remember if any of them were all that threatening.
Christian Dvorak – 7/10
KK who? Solid debut for the new number two down the middle. Positioning was excellent. Always above the puck to allow Drouin and Anderson to express themselves offensively. The entire line was dominant in the first period. Started like a machine in the faceoff dot and ended at 54%. Faded from the game offensively in the second and third. Bobbled what should have been a tap in on the power play off a great pass from Gallagher. Impressive.
Jonathan Drouin – 8/10
If you didn’t smile for him after scoring the first goal of the Habs season after all he went through last year than you don’t have a heart, tin man. He and Anderson were cooking with gas in the first period and he finished off their odd man rush to get the Canadiens on the board. Ran a much better looking second wave of the power play. Effort level defensively was good as he consistently back checked through the neutral zone. Somehow led the team with five hits. Welcome back.
Josh Anderson – 8/10
What a beast. Was unplayable in the first period. Did whatever he wanted to do out there. Froze both Holl and Campbell then slid the puck over to Drouin for his opener. On one occasion he knocked down the puck at his own blueline, bullied his way through the neutral zone then dropped his shoulder on his off-wing and bulldozed his way to the front of the net before Reilly poked it away. Really did deserve a goal for his work. You can only hope to contain him. Instant chemistry with his linemates.
Jake Evans – 6/10
Great pass to Savard on a 2-on-1 probably should have opened the scoring but the defenceman fired it over the net. You saw some of the underrated playmaking ability that was apparent in pre-season in the first. But faded badly from an offensive standpoint the rest of the way. Worked hard and was good on the forecheck but left you wanting more. Torched in the faceoff dot at just 25%.
Brendan Gallagher – 6/10
Had some nightmares last night. Had the equalizer destined for the net on the power play but Holl’s outstretched leg denied a certain goal. He and his linemates struggled to pick up the puck on the forecheck which really should be their bread and butter. Had the last great chance of the game off of a cheeky pass from Armia in the slot but fired it wide. Not sure what he’s doing on the first wave of the power play.
Joel Armia – 6/10
Terrific cross-seam pass to Gallagher that really should have tied the game if not for some timely shot-blocking by Holl. Lukewarm game from him at even strength as he wasn’t the dominant self he can be along the boards and in one-on-one battles. Would like to see him get a shot on the first wave of the man advantage purely as a screen and for his puck retrieval skills. For whatever reason, have a feeling he’ll have a big night tonight against Buffalo.
Cedric Paquette – 5/10
The Gaspe native made his debut with the team last night but didn’t really have much of an impact on it. Made a crucial interception on the penalty kill in the first period. But other than that struggled to find a foothold in the game. Least used player on the Canadiens.
Mathieu Perreault – 4/10
Looked like he really struggled with the pace of the game last night. Worked hard but couldn’t get there. Often bullied in battles along the boards. Not good enough.
Artturi Lehkonen – 5/10
8:43 might be the least amount of ice time he’s received in quite a long time. His entire line tried to get in on the forecheck but to very little effect. Did his job on the penalty kill but didn’t make much of an impact elsewhere.
Coach
Dominique Ducharme – 6/10
Bit of a weird one from the bench boss. Recognized his defensive pairings weren’t working so tried to change them up in the second. Looked better at times but then switched them back again. Suspect that was because Romanov and Wideman continued to struggle. The first wave of the power play was an abomination and he referenced it postgame; too slow, no urgency etc. Clearly had his players ready to go to start the game but they lost control in the second period.
