4 Takeaways From Canadiens 4-3 Loss to Senators in Pre-Season Motion

The Montreal Canadiens have been in a penalty-filled affair for the second consecutive recreation, dropping 4-3 to the Ottawa Senators on the Bell Centre.

After dropping David Reinbacher and Patrik Laine on Saturday, the revamped Canadiens lineup virtually misplaced Kirby Dach (once more) when Ridley Greig went headhunting. As an alternative, he departed and returned to tally the sport’s second purpose.

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Nevertheless, Arber Xhekaj did not do his workforce any favors for the second time in a matter of days, getting thrown out of the sport after a serious penalty. Though he had good intentions of standing up for a teammate, he put his workforce shorthanded, and the Senators tallied three straight targets on the person benefit.

It was the evening’s turning level, however there have been a couple of different speaking factors. Let’s get into the takeaways.

Canadiens Energy Play Stays Goalless

The Canadiens have one pre-season recreation left on the schedule, a rematch with the pesky Senators on Saturday evening. It is their final probability to attain an influence play purpose earlier than the video games begin to matter.

After 5 video games, Montreal is 0-for-25 on the facility play, now led by head coach Martin St-Louis. They’ve misplaced three consecutive one-goal video games after pitching back-to-back shutouts within the first two pre-season video games.

These penalty-filled contests might have gone both method, however and not using a well timed purpose on the facility play, the Canadiens threat ending the pre-season with no particular groups targets, a nasty omen to start out the common season.

Cayden Primeau Hung Out in Defeat

Anybody who checks the field rating will see that Canadiens netminder Cayden Primeau completed the sport with a .750 SV%, a horrible statistic for an NHL backup. Nevertheless, he was by no means overwhelmed at even energy.

As an alternative, Montreal handed the Senators 9 power-play alternatives, which led to all 4 targets. They at all times say {that a} workforce’s goalie must be the perfect penalty-killer, however there’s solely a lot he can do when the workforce in entrance of him is taking part in shorthanded for an excellent portion of the sport.

The Canadiens shut down an NHL-caliber lineup, limiting them to 16 pictures over 60 minutes. In fact, Primeau wanted to make well timed saves in these shorthanded conditions, however he bought beat clear on a number of snipes, so the blame for tonight’s loss cannot be positioned squarely on his shoulders.

Story of Two Groups

Earlier than Xhekaj bought ejected, the Canadiens had a cushty 2-0 lead due to targets from Jake Evans and Dach. Furthermore, after two durations, the house workforce led in pictures 21-13 after increase a 6-2 benefit after the primary.

The sport went easily till Dach bought hit, and every part modified. As an alternative of staying targeted on the duty at hand, the Canadiens started searching for physique checks and an opportunity to get some lumber on the wrists or shins.

As soon as Ottawa scored on the five-minute energy play, the wheels started to fall off, and earlier than the center body was over, the guests had sucked the life out of the constructing whereas grabbing a 3-2 lead.

Montreal by no means gave up and stored creating possibilities, bringing the competition again to 1 purpose when Oliver Kapanen scored at 13:56. However it by no means needed to get to that time had they not taken their eyes off the scoreboard and tried to settle scores on the ice as a substitute of within the win column.

A Wholesome Dach Will Be Essential to Canadiens’ Future Successes

After watching two key gamers depart the sport on Saturday, it was virtually deja vu on Tuesday when Dach went down after a excessive hit. Nevertheless, the 6-foot-4 middle returned after a short cease within the dressing room and scored the sport’s second purpose.

On high of amassing 17 penalty minutes, he led the workforce in pictures on targets with six and settled his solely battle by throwing down with Greig, who hit him earlier.

Montreal missed his offensive contributions and presence on the ice final season. Now that he is wholesome, scoring, and sticking up for himself, he modifies the dynamics of the Canadiens’ offensive assault.

Though Laine got here to city to attain some targets and be a lift, the opening within the lineup is simply the chance Dach wants to point out the fanbase that he is able to take his recreation to the following stage. Tuesday evening was solely a glimpse of the on-ice chief he could possibly be.

The Canadiens wrap up their pre-season schedule on Saturday evening within the nation’s capital in opposition to the Senators.

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