Marc Dumont
If the Montreal Canadiens score more than one goal but it gets ruled out for goaltender interference, did it really happen?
Or something like that.
The Montreal Canadiens can feel somewhat aggrieved after losing to the Carolina Hurricanes 4-1 in Jesperi Kotkaniemi’s return last night. There will be two talking points from last night’s contest that will twist the knife in the heart of Habs fans. The sight of Kotkaniemi celebrating his goal that essentially killed off the game for the Canes. And Habs forward Brendan Gallagher’s opening goal that was ruled out for goaltender interference in the first period. After making minimal contact with Carolina goalie Freddie Andersen, head coach Rod Brind’Amour’s challenge worked and the goal was denied.
By the book that the league updated this off-season, the call was correct. Gallagher did make incidental contact with Andersen while in the process of tipping in defenceman Chris Wideman’s point shot. But the NHL, their officials and the powers-that-be in Toronto have set a remarkably strict standard early in the season. Will they adhere to that same stringent level as the season goes on?
I have my doubts.
Here are your Montreal Canadiens player ratings.
Goaltender
Jake Allen – 8/10
Remarkably, has not had a bad game yet this year despite the team giving up the third most goals against in the entire league. Made to look silly by Svechnikov on his goal as he got him to bite early and then beat him from a tight angle high glove. But made up for it with huge saves in the second half of the third period as the Montreal Canadiens chased a two-goal deficit.
Defencemen
Jeff Petry – 6/10
Wasn’t egregiously bad in any way. But one of the veterans of which much was expected that hasn’t delivered yet. He has struggled to run the power-play. Seemingly always makes the wrong decision whether to shoot or pass. Doesn’t join the rush at all. Not sure what the problem is but he still isn’t right.
Brett Kulak – 6/10
Other than a blind back pass to the slot that nearly ended in a first Kotkaniemi goal, he was hardly noticeable. Which is really as good as it gets for a guy who is currently miscast on the top pairing. Is always at his best pushing the pace up the ice but at this point, not costing your team is as good as it gets.
Alexander Romanov – 6/10
Just give him someone to run over in the first five minutes of the game. Really difficult first half of the game. Big hit in the second period and his game turned around. Was a surprising offensive catalyst as the team pushed in the third period. Such a confidence player. In the right spot next to Savard.
David Savard – 5/10
Probably one of his better games so far although that isn’t saying much. Not beaten clean and didn’t surrender odd-man rushes like he did next to Chiarot. But everyone criticizing Romanov on Svechnikov’s goal should look at number 58. Went for a forearm shiver in the corner, beat to the front of the net. Romanov covers for him leaving Svechnikov wide open. Better though.
Ben Chiarot – 5/10
Unfortunate that he tweaked something just before Kotkaniemi’s goal. Took him completely out of position. Could have maybe helped Caufield deal with KK in front of the net. Led the team with four hits. Solid but unspectacular. Really hope he stick next to Wideman so he continues to play to his strengths. But caught in no man’s land on Aho’s opener. Better screen than anything else.
Chris Wideman – 6/10
The Canadiens most competent Canadiens defenceman on the power-play. Which is like saying the prettiest person at Mike Ricci’s family get together. In all seriousness did everything right on what should have been Gallagher’s opener. His specialty is just getting the puck through. His passing to get out of his zone was solid and decisive as well.
Forwards
Nick Suzuki – 6/10
Hopefully, that assist to Toffoli will spark his game. It didn’t really last night. Continues to look off in terms of either energy or desire. Playmaking is non-existent. Not really seeing the intangibles that made him so valuable last season and in the playoffs. Got slaughtered in the faceoff dot, winning only 30%.
Mike Hoffman – 6/10
Thought his legs and skating looked really good the first two periods. His shot nearly caused a Toffoli opener mid-way through the second period. But that was his only shot of the game. Made a bunch of unnecessarily flashy moves on the power-play that didn’t work. Started brightly but faded badly.
Brendan Gallagher – 7/10
Talk about a quality first intermission interview. Called out the NHL league office and surely will get fined. Then goes out there and uses that fury in the right way. As he always does. Deserved a goal after a third period Caufield shot fell to him with a wide open net but Andersen dove across to stop him. More like the old Gallagher.
Christian Dvorak – 7/10
Kind of crazy to say but where would the Montreal Canadiens be without DVO? Essentially their first line centre. 50 percent in the faceoff dot. Hit the post from a bad angle after a solid rush. One of the softest slashing calls I’ve ever seen saw him sitting in the box for Aho’s opener. Late backhand on a scramble in the crease somehow didn’t go in.
Josh Anderson – 8/10
Did everything but score. He and Jordan Staal got into it. That would have been a great scrap between two behemoths. First period breakaway stopped on the backhand by Andersen. Continued to drive hard to the Carolina net but like everyone else in the Montreal Canadiens organization, couldn’t finish. Looked much better on the power-play.
Jonathan Drouin – 7/10
He had four shots but it certainly wasn’t his best game. Still made the crucial one-touch pass off the boards to give Suzuki the inch of space on the power-play to find Toffoli for his goal. Would have made all the difference on the Canadiens early 4-on-3 power-play but he was in the box. If he has one bad game in five and picks up an assist, he’ll be fine.
Mathieu Perreault – 6/10
My bar for him going from healthy scratch to third-line centre was remarkably low. Did better than I expected. Was tenacious in all three zone and gave it his all along the boards. But clearly isn’t the long-term answer down the middle. Created very little offensively with Caufield and Toffoli on his wings. Miscast.
Cole Caufield – 5/10
Yes, playing next to Perreault surely played a part. But has done absolutely nothing on the power-play and not much at even strength either. Nearly grabbed a lucky assist in the third but Gallagher’s backhand wouldn’t go in. Looks indecisive and unsure out there. Left Kotkaniemi alone in front of the net for his killer goal. His customary swagger is missing.
Tyler Toffoli – 7/10
Hopefully that goal will open the floodgates. Got his stick free just outside the crease and Suzuki found him for his first and the team’s first on the power-play. Puck fell to him point blank in the third but couldn’t bury it. Denied by Bear on a goalmouth scramble in the second. It’s not the best stat but minus-3 isn’t great. Popped up here and there in the offensive zone. But his complete game still needs work.
Jake Evans – 6/10
Where are you going, Jake? Inexplicably challenged way too far at the blueline and created the passing lane for Aho’s opener on the power-play. Did lead the way on faceoffs, winning 56 percent. He and his fourth line mates with a big cycle shift in the second that started to turn the momentum. Hopefully that line sticks together going forward. No shots on goal though.
Joel Armia – 6/10
Was a beast on the penalty kill in the first period. Not nearly as much at even strength offensively. We still haven’t seen that all too familiar dominant game that makes you think why can’t he do that all the time. Least used Habs forward on the night which is rather shocking considering how much Ducharme likes him.
Artturi Lehkonen – 5/10
Stat line reads zeroes across the board. Needs to be more tenacious and noticeable. There are glimpses but he’s another one who hasn’t got going at all so far this season. Like him in that role next to Evans and Armia though.
Coach
Dominique Ducharme – 7/10
Thought he played his optimal lineup. Both offensively and defensively there seemed to be a clear reason why he put the team together the way he did. Same with the power-play. He can’t account for his team making momentary mistakes and a superior team punishing them for it. Also can’t turn Mathieu Perreault into the offensive centreman the team clearly needs. Probably the team’s best game of the season. But again, the Hurricanes are just that much better.
