Connect with us

Canadiens Postgame

Habs Highlights: Juraj Slafkovsky Demoted, Jakub Dobes Pulled

Published

1 month ago

on

montreal canadiens jakub dobes3

The Montreal Canadiens hosted the Tampa Bay Lightning on Superbowl Sunday, desperately needing a win before the break for the NHL’s 4 Nations Faceoff tournament.

Martin St-Louis turned to rookie goaltender Jakub Dobes, while also replacing Logan Mailloux with Jayden Struble on the blue line.

There was some good news from a quality of competition standpoint, as Nikita Kucherov, the most charismatic and likeable player in the NHL, was pulled from the lineup shortly before puck drop.

But even without the Hab killer in the lineup, the Canadiens would have their hands full, and not only because the Lightning are well ahead of them in the standings.

The last Canadiens goal scored at the Bell Centre took place in the first period versus the Winnipeg Jets, back on January 28. Of course, the schedule played a big part in that stat, but there’s no ignoring the complete lack of offence in the last few games.

Overall, the Canadiens played a strong game. They controlled almost 70 percent of the shots at 5v5, and the high-danger chances were 18-6 in their favour.

Statistically speaking, that’s excellent, and the heat map confirms such a statement.

montreal canadiens

However, it wasn’t enough to make up for a few blatant mistakes, as the Lightning emerged with a 5-3 win.

Let’s dive into the highlights!

Here We Go Again

The Canadiens held the edge in shots and chances in the first period, but it’s far from a silver lining when you realize they once again spotted their opponents an early lead.

Juraj Slafkovsky’s costly giveaway led to Nick Paul’s 16th goal of the year, and while Jakub Dobes’ anticipation was not on point, it’s hard to blame him for the scoring play.

Slafkovsky was soft and slow on the puck, a recurring theme for the 20-year-old.

Following the poor decision, St-Louis demoted Slafkovsky from the first line to a new combination that saw him play alongside Christian Dvorak and Brendan Gallagher, a decision that led to a much more positive showing from the youngest player in the lineup.

Jake Evans took Slafkovsky’s spot on the top line, which goes to show the team’s lack of depth up front is far from a resolved issue.

Slafkovsky wasn’t the only young player who made a bad decision on Sunday. Lane Hutson’s questionable pinch in the first period is what led to Tampa Bay’s second goal of the game. Hutson’s overall positive impact is undeniable, but just like Slafkovsky, he still has some work to do when it comes to his timing.

The good news is that Brendan Gallagher cut the Lightning lead to just one by scoring his 13th of the season in the dying minutes of the first period. Full marks to Alex Newhook for using his speed to push back defenders, creating enough time and space for Gallagher to get his shot off.

Dobes Pulled

You could argue Dobes should have done better when Paul scored his first-period goal, and he was clearly out of sorts when the Lightning restored their two-goal lead early in the second period, but I don’t get the sense St-Louis pulled his 23-year-old netminder as a punishment. More than anything, it seemed like a mercy pull during yet another game where everything that could go wrong in the defensive zone did go wrong.

Having watched many of Dobes’ games in the NCAA and AHL, I am quite confident he will bounce back, because he’s the ultimate competitor, and history has shown he does not stay down for long.

That being said, it was a reality check for all involved.

Montreal Canadiens Chemistry Abound?

Slafkovsky seemed a little less timid when he was separated from Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki, and his renewed willingness to take shots paid off when Christian Dvorak scored his sixth goal of the year.

It wasn’t a particularly amazing play by any means, but after Slafkovsky hit the post, the puck made its way to Alexandre Carrier, who fed Dvorak in a high-danger scoring area. If I had to guess, Slafkovsky would have forced a pass in that exact situation if he was still playing on the top line.

Slafkovsky did not assist on Gallagher’s second goal of the game, but his quasi-interference on Victor Hedman was key, as it opened up precious space in the offensive zone for his veteran linemate.

It was too little, too late, but at the very least, Slafkovsky enters the 4 Nations break on somewhat of a high point. Yes, he was demoted, but he quickly bounced back in a different setting, which should help erase the sour taste in his mouth following the first-period meltdown.

Bad outings are inevitable. It’s how you react to such valleys that determines whether you’ll make it to the next peak.

Before we end this recap, we should also quickly discuss Josh Anderson’s play in recent games. He’s clearly hurt, but he’s still providing the team with an honest effort, which has led to a bevy of scoring chances. Full marks to the veteran for showing leadership during a tough stretch.

The Montreal Canadiens will take a break during the 4 Nations Faceoff tournament. Their next game is scheduled for February 22, versus the Ottawa Senators. The puck drop is scheduled for 7 pm ET. All Montreal Canadiens statistics are 5v5 unless otherwise noted, via Natural Stat Trick.

Related Topics:

MHN in your inbox

Enter your email address and get all of our articles sent directly to your inbox

Canadiens Roster & Cap Info