The Montreal Canadiens are having a busy weekend with stops in Dawn, and Tampa Bay, Florida. Montreal try to hold within the playoff image heading into the brand new 12 months. The Panthers had been a troublesome opponent on Saturday evening, profitable 4-1.
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The warmth map of two seasons tells the story for Cole Caufield. It’s the warmth map that explains a 16 capturing proportion final 12 months, and a six per cent this 12 months. Caufield has been getting pushed to the surface extra this 12 months.
Head Coach Martin St. Louis has commented on it too, saying that the opposition has adjusted, and Caufield must work tougher to get to the center of the ice for higher capturing lanes.
Caufield was listening on the primary Canadiens aim. It was an influence play, and as a substitute of being exterior the left face-off dot, Caufield was working exhausting to win area contained in the crease. He did, and it mattered.
Caufield obtained the go from Nick Suzuki proper within the entrance of the web. He turned and fired a backhander to the highest shelf completely. The shot hit the highest twine earlier than the again twine, it was elevated that shortly and that precisely. Only a few gamers in hockey could make that shot. Caufield is one in every of them.
It was his first aim in 12 video games, and solely his ninth aim of the season. Many predicted a 40-goal marketing campaign for Caufield. It could have been the primary 40-goal season for a Canadiens participant since 1994. Nevertheless, Caufield is just on tempo for 20.
It’s a disappointing quantity, however only a few in hockey really feel as if Caufield has dropped from a 16 to a six per cent shooter in a single season with six being the brand new customary. Caufield merely must work a bit tougher to get contained in the dots to enhance his capturing angles. St. Louis is aware of it. The warmth map is aware of it.
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It appears that there’s just one obtrusive gap left in Juraj Slafkovsky’s recreation. He’s doing a lot accurately proper now. He has improved his skating. He’s profitable board battles. His routes are robust. Slafkovsky even is clever on defence early in his profession.
Nevertheless, that shot is approach too gradual on the discharge. Slafkovsky is lastly taking some shot alternatives which is superb, however they’re not getting on internet. Defenders are capable of get their sticks within the lanes whereas Slafkovsky takes his candy time to unload.
Within the second interval, Slafkovsky had what appeared like ages to get his shot off from 15 ft, and he nonetheless couldn’t get it on internet earlier than a defender moved into the lane to deflect it. Nobody expects his launch time to be Connor Bedard’s, however some enchancment is completely required.
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If he cannot get his launch time improved, then all of his targets might be tap-ins utilizing his measurement in entrance of the web, or deflections additionally utilizing his measurement to win area in entrance of goalies. Nevertheless, to be an entire aim scorer, some targets have to come back from precise photographs on aim from 20 ft.
Slafkovsky ought to be capable of discover his approach. He has discovered each different side of his recreation briefly order. He’s nonetheless 19, and there’s a lot of time to fill this gap within the arsenal. He does must work on it although. His shot has tempo and is heavy, however that doesn’t matter if it arrives to the goalie solely at apply in Brossard.
His line-mate Caufield has among the best releases in hockey. Maybe between Caufield and growth professional Adam Nicolas can go on some knowledge to enhance that side of his recreation. Slafkovsky is coming alongside superbly. That is the subsequent pure development in his recreation.
General, the Canadiens had a horrible time creating offence. That they had solely 19 photographs on aim. Nevertheless, the Panthers weren’t precisely on hearth both on this extraordinarily low-event recreation. They solely had 26 photographs. Not a thriller, however the Canadiens caught round as typical. They’ve been nice at staying within the struggle, although, some nights it’s fairly obvious, this membership wants extra scorers.
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It’s been a combined bag, to date, for Canadiens prospects on the World Junior Championships.
It’s fascinating that the perfect performer is a participant who many had been giving up on in the beginning of the season when he struggled to discover a residence. Filip Mesar started the 12 months with the Laval Rocket the place he couldn’t safe work. Mesar landed in Kitchener to play for a excessive flying Rangers membership the place he obtained his confidence again.
Mesar is now driving that confidence for Slovakia as one in every of their greatest gamers. Mesar has six assists because the Slovaks are impressing the hockey world. They’re nonetheless undefeated with a contest Sunday for first place in opposition to the USA. Mesar is second on the staff in scoring. Together with his trademark velocity and skill to execute troublesome actions with that velocity, Mesar has the kind of skill-set that interprets to success on the NHL degree.
The second greatest prospect, because the round-robin concludes, is an enormous shock. Jacob Fowler has shared the goaltending duties with Trey Augustine. It was anticipated that the veteran Augustine would see nearly the entire motion, however Fowler has pushed his approach by beginning two video games to Augustine’s one.
Fowler could possibly be an absolute steal for the Canadiens within the draft. He was taken within the third spherical, however he already seems effectively above that inventory. Fowler is excelling at Boston School in his first season. It will likely be fascinating to see who takes the web for the medal spherical. Initially, it was a provided that it was Augustine, however Fowler could take the web for the massive contests at this level. Fowler has a confidence and swagger that goaltenders should have.
Subsequent up is Lane Hutson. He has not dominated as anticipated within the first three video games. His first two had been, for him, common. Nevertheless, in his third recreation, he led the US membership in minutes performed and was named the participant of the sport. Hutson is plus 3, and has two factors. Each numbers are simply off the lead for defenders on the membership.
The US has been fascinating in how they’ve created their offence. They’ve relied on the purpose males little or no. Most of their offence has come from down low cycles after lengthy bouts of offensive stress. That has led to the forwards all excelling greater than the defenders. In opposition to higher groups to come back, that stability might change.
It hasn’t been a nasty tourney in any respect for Hutson. It simply has not been a dominating one to date. The troublesome video games will determine it. The People are favoured to win. Their line-up is deep, particularly at ahead, the place they’ve energy and expertise on all 4 strains.
The ultimate Canadiens prospect is Owen Beck. He has proven his offensive limitations this week when the competitors has been stiffer. When Beck tries to turn out to be an NHL participant, he’ll mainly be a brand new model of Jake Evans. He might be, like Evans, an clever participant that isn’t providing a lot on offence, however might be accountable on defence.
Beck has no factors in three video games as Canada seems fairly weak to depart with no medal this 12 months. Beck might be an NHL participant. Simply don’t count on even a 15 aim season from him. He’s a assist piece. If he develops defensively, he could possibly be a worthwhile assist piece.
His greatest hope is to be a much-needed shutdown participant taking up the perfect that the opposition has to supply. That has worth. If he can shut down the highest centres of the sport, and try this higher than Evans, there might be huge worth in Beck. We shouldn’t see him although as a top-six with an opportunity to interrupt out as a scorer within the NHL.
Brian Wilde, a Montreal-based sports activities author, brings you Name of the Wilde on globalnews.ca after every Canadiens recreation.
