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In Hainsight: A Good Show |
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Follow me @KarineHains for all updates about the Montreal Canadiens and women's hockey
Throughout the season, the Canadiens have lost a lot of games by just one goal. While one can see that as a manifestation of the fact the team is improving, soon they’ll have to be on the winning end of those one-goal games. Close isn’t good enough in the NHL, to get points you need to win games not just compete hard. Last night, not only did the Canadiens lose by one goal, but they also got the lead and lost it four times. Martin St.Louis’ men have a lot of work to do to learn how to protect the lead.
All night, the Canadiens and the Senators were trading blow for blow, one team scored, the other responded with a goal of its own. While that makes for an entertaining game to watch for the fans, it’s not something coaches like very much. At this stage of the season, with both teams eliminated, entertainment is all fans can ask. With a shorthanded goal to break the ice and an assist on Cole Caufield’s power-play goal, Mike Matheson added two points to his already impressive tally, giving him 62 points on the season. This makes him third in team scoring, only two points short of Cole Caufield.
Speaking of Cole Caufield, he scored two goals last night, both in the second period. He has 27 on the season, second only to team captain Nick Suzuki. This is also a new career-high for him since he surpassed his tally from last season, although his 26 goals were scored in just 46 games last year, not in 80. It’s worth noting that he’s not a one-trick pony anymore, he doesn’t always shoot now, he’s collected 37 assists which is also a career-high.
As for first-year Hab Alex Newhook, he also collected two points, adding a goal and an assist to his total. It looked like his goal was going to stand as the game-winning one for a few minutes, but Ottawa was able to tie the game up once again with a little over a minute left after pulling their goaltender for an extra attacker.
Meanwhile, Cayden Primeau faced 44 shots in net, and even though he surrendered 4 goals in regulation, he did give his team a chance to win with 40 saves and a .909 save percentage. Ottawa’s captain Brady Tkachuk gave him headaches all night taking 12 of the Senators’ 44 shots. The left winger finished the night with a pair of goals and an assist to earn the first star mention. The Canadiens are the team Tkachuk has scored the most goals against in his career with 13 goals in 28 games. It’s almost as if he wanted to remind Montreal, they could have had him instead of Jesperi Kotkaniemi…As if anyone has forgotten that.
The Canadiens now only have back-to-back games against the Red Wings left in their season. They will be in Detroit on Monday and back home on Tuesday for the last game of the season in front of their fans. While Martin St.Louis did not confirm Lane Hutson would be in the lineup on Monday, it’s hard to see how he could rob the youngster of making his NHL debut in his home state. The Wings are still clinging on thin playoff hope and the games could be do or die for them.
By then, we should also know if Luke Tuch will be joining the Canadiens. Sportsnet’s Eric Engels revealed last night that he has received a contract offer from the Habs and he should be making a decision in the next 24 hours. Montreal has until August 15th to sign him, after that, he’ll become a free agent and he’ll be able to sign with whoever he wants. If it comes to that, I can easily see him head to Buffalo to join big brother Alex. Unfortunately for Jacob Fowler, his team Boston College fell at the last hurdle in the Frozen Four, losing 2-0 to Denver in the final yesterday. It was the first time this season Boston College was shut out, what terrible timing. it has to be said Denver's goaltender Matt Davis probably had the game of his career. Fowler faced a total of 22 shots while Davis faced 23...in the third period alone.
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
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