Canadiens draw first blood in playoff series vs. Lightning
Somewhere, we’re wondering what Shane Wright must be thinking.
When the Canadiens selected Juraj Slafkovsky first overall in 2022, the move was met with widespread criticism and skepticism in Montreal — by both the media and fans — who expected the organization to select Wright.
Seems like general manager Kent Hughes knew what he was doing.
Slafkovsky scored 30 goals this season for the first time in his career. And he became an instant playoff hero Sunday night by scoring three power-play goals — the last at 1:22 of overtime — to propel the Canadiens to a 4-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning at Benchmark International Arena in the opening game of their first-round playoff series.
Slafkovsky became the first Canadiens player in franchise history with three power-play goals in a playoff game.
Wright, who went fourth overall to Seattle, scored a pedestrian 12 goals and 15 assists in 74 games this season. Oh yeah, the Kraken also missed the playoffs.
News you need (Part I): Slafkovsky became the first Montreal player to score three goals – including one in overtime – in a playoff game since Eric Desjardins in 1993. Desjardins’s power-play goal 51 seconds into overtime carried the Canadiens to a 3-2 victory over Los Angeles in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup final, evening the series. It was the first hat trick by a defenceman in a Cup final.
News you need (Part II): When winning the first game of a playoff series, the Canadiens are 64-11 in franchise history.
Strange, but true: The Lightning now has a 1-12 record in its last 13 overtime games. And it has lost seven straight.
Random thought of the night: Only 15 more wins and the Canadiens are Cup champions.
Dumb penalty (Part I): While Jake Guentzel contributed three assists, it was his high-sticking infraction against Kaiden Guhle in the final seconds of regulation time that put the Canadiens on the power play. We’re assuming Guentzel feels shame. If you don’t understand, watch the legendary 1977 movie Slap Shot. And be prepared to laugh.
Dumb penalty (Part II): Nikita Kucherov’s high stick on Alexandre Carrier in the opening seconds of the second period. It squandered 69 seconds of a Tampa Bay power play.
Hit of the night: Josh Anderson flattened Charle-Edouard D’Astous from behind in the second period while the Rimouski native was also being hit from in front by Jake Evans. In Gary Bettman’s NHL, this resulted in a charging penalty.
Sieve of the night: Andrei Vasilevskiy faced only 19 shots. He was also beaten on the third, eighth and 14th shots he faced. His save percentage was .789. Vasilevskiy faced only four shots in the first period — and none until Lane Hutson’s effort in the ninth minute. The second period saw him tested once over the opening 18 minutes. Perhaps he required more caffeine before the game?
Now we understand: Starting with the 2023 playoffs, Vasilevskiy has lost 13 of 17 games. Prior to Sunday’s contest, his average was 3.37. His save percentage was .882. One word comes to mind: choke.
Pass of the night: Carrier, from behind the net, to Anderson on the Canadiens’ opening goal.
He could have written the Final Jeopardy! answer in a similar time frame: Jakub Dobes made numerous big stops for the Canadiens. But the rookie goalie also allowed two second-period Tampa Bay goals in a span of 29 seconds. His save percentage was .870.
Speed kills: Darren Raddysh scored the Lightning’s opening goal, on the power play, with a blast from the left-wing circle. The shot was measured at 154 km/h.
Sometimes it’s just not meant to be: In the 12th minute of the second period, Brandon Hagel’s shot hit the post, then deflected off the crossbar. Nonetheless, he paced the Lightning, with two goals.
Best goal scored on one knee: Slafkovsky’s first, on the power play, in the second period.
Late goals kill: The goal came with 24 seconds remaining in the period. The Canadiens then regained the lead almost six minutes into the third period.
Dumb penalty (Part III): Zachary Bolduc’s slash on J.J. Moser in the offensive zone in the third period led to the Lightning’s tying goal.
Give the guy a compass, or at least a road map: Dobes skated to the wrong end to begin the overtime period.
Best timeout of the night: It was called by Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis before Slafkovsky’s winner.
Quick stats: Along with his three goals, Slafkovsky had seven shots and two hits while playing 21:11. Anderson, Alex Newhook and Alexandre Texier each had four hits. Arber Xhekaj had five hits despite playing only 10:59. Mike Matheson blocked six shots and had four hits. Guhle and Carrier each had three hits. Hutson played a mind-boggling 29 minutes, but was guilty of four giveaways. The Canadiens won 61 per cent of their faceoffs and were slightly outhit, 44-42.
They said it: “I kind of saw an open space there,” Slafkovsky said in Tampa, describing the winning goal. “I just had to shoot it. Thankfully, it went in. We’re all happy. It’s pretty nice. I like that feeling. Obviously we don’t want to go to overtime. Hopefully we can close out games before that. I’m happy the way it happened.”
“I thought (Anderson) was ready to go, right from the start,” Nick Suzuki said. “His style of play, his energy and speed and physicality is perfect for playoff hockey. He started us off with a big goal and big hits. He had a big night for us.”
“(Slafkovsky) probably won us the game today,” Dobes said. “He has been so good for us. In the big moments, he wants the puck. He’s a big-time player. I’m really proud of him.
“Definitely the two (quick) goals can happen,” he added. “That’s the one part I need to be better (at).”
“He’s a power forward, a big guy and it’s hard to stop him,” Anderson said of Slafkovsky. “You think (Suzuki and Cole Caufield) make him better, but I think he makes them better, too. Obviously he’s a huge-time player for us. He’s got a lot of confidence and swagger. I loved his game.”
