The Montreal Canadiens welcomed the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday night time (Nov. 16) on the Bell Centre. With solely 12 factors to their identify and simply 14 tallied for the Blue Jackets within the standings, this was a confrontation between Japanese Convention foes attempting to keep away from the basement. Montreal got here out on prime 5-1 due to the efforts of surprising heroes and inspiration from a particular visitor. Listed here are three takeaways.
Mike Matheson Channels Shea Weber
Former Canadiens captain and newly minted Corridor of Fame inductee Shea Weber was within the constructing on Saturday. He gave a short speech to an appreciative crowd earlier than puck drop, thanking them for his or her assist and reminding everybody how a lot satisfaction he had enjoying for the membership.
It was a candy second that allowed supporters to reminisce about a number of the happier days on the Bell Centre. If anybody on the Canadiens’ roster discovered inspiration from the pre-game ceremony, look no additional than present defenceman Mike Matheson. The 30-year-old performed an enormous function within the recreation, enjoying stout defence and contributing on the assault. Somebody watching the sport might have even confused him for Weber within the first interval when he ripped a shot on the facility play to open the scoring.
Matheson almost earned a brace. Within the second interval, an offensive flurry that stored the puck circling Columbus’ web ultimately led the disc to the blue liner’s stick within the slot. The imposing defender cannoned the puck in direction of the opponent’s purpose, however keeper Daniil Tarasov stood robust.
On an evening when a former Habs defender was honoured, Matheson led his facet with a person anticipated targets for (ixG) of 0.348. Solely Matheson is aware of whether or not Weber’s presence really made the distinction. That mentioned, it was a fittingly sensible efficiency from somebody whose play has generally been regarded down upon this season.
Canadiens’ Defensive Mindset
Talking of defence, it had been a very long time since observers may confidently state that the Canadiens put in a sturdy, collective efficiency in that division. Not since Oct. 26 when the membership confronted the St. Louis Blues did they concede fewer than three targets (they received 5-2 that night time). Furthermore, it was solely the third time all season Montreal achieved the feat. That 18 video games have been performed says so much in regards to the workforce’s struggles.
Whereas it’s simple to all the time level to the netminder when a workforce concedes however a single purpose (Samuel Montembeault was good, to be clear), this was a spirited efficiency from everybody concerned. Columbus solely mustered 26 photographs in complete, with a bunch being comparatively simple to see and deal with. The Blue Jackets by no means discovered any type of groove when on the assault within the first interval. It was solely within the center body that the guests efficiently generated stress in Montreal’s zone, however all their efforts translated to not more than a single purpose.
Associated: Lane Hutson Forcing Canadiens Entrance Workplace to Make a Determination on Mike Matheson
The statistics will present that Columbus was responsible of a whopping 18 giveaways. Giveaways aren’t the identical as takeaways, however they may as nicely be simply as praiseworthy. The Canadiens, significantly within the third interval, have been extremely strong within the impartial zone. Montreal constantly made Blue Jackets skaters uncomfortable when making an attempt to maneuver ahead to arrange offensive schemes.
What’s extra, two such moments instantly translated to targets for the Canadiens, which brings us to our subsequent level.
Canadiens’ Supporting Forged Steps up in Third
Lucas Condotta, Josh Anderson, and Jake Evans. What do folks consider when these names are written? ”Who’s Condotta?” and the opposite two haven’t pulled their weight this season. Whether or not truthful or correct, that about sums it up.
In a recreation Montreal narrowly led 2-1 within the remaining stanza, all three got here up huge when the hosts wanted to place the opponent to mattress. At 11:04, Condotta, a not too long ago called-up participant from the Laval Rocket within the American Hockey League (AHL), was left on their own within the left face-off circle and ripped a Joel Armia move to make it 3-1.
Barely a minute later, one other impartial zone turnaround allowed Cole Caufield to slip a move throughout the crease and onto Evans’ stick, who tipped residence a beautiful marker.
Lastly, at 15:55 and with the match’s consequence past any doubt, the Canadiens confidently received a face-off within the Blue Jackets’ zone. Matheson despatched the puck Anderson’s method, who blasted the biscuit into the basket to make it 5-1.
The third interval was indicative of Montreal’s strong night time. This wasn’t the Caufield present (regardless of an help), nor was it the Nick Suzuki present (regardless of that he scored the game-winner). As per MoneyPuck, Armia, Condotta, Emil Heineman, Christian Dvorak, Justin Barron, Kaiden Guhle, Lane Hutson, Matheson, and Kirby Dach all had a superior 5-on-5 anticipated purpose share (xGF%) than the standard stars. Let’s not child ourselves. A couple of names in that listing have been the goal of harsh remarks this season.
However what are followers supposed to remove from a 5-1 victory over a facet with the identical low variety of factors collected within the standings? Bluntly, they need to merely get pleasure from it. It’s been written loads of instances, together with right here at The Hockey Writers, that 2024-25 could be a protracted marketing campaign in Montreal. There might be – and have already got been – greater than sufficient lows supporters care to digest.
Wins like this are to be loved. They let folks know that there’s a spark in that locker room and on that bench. Hopefully, the workforce doesn’t want pre-game ceremonies honouring former gamers to get overvalued each time.
