WINNIPEG | Scoring the winning goal, in overtime, in front of your parents and with your brother in front of you, wearing the opposing team's uniform, is certainly a pretty unique feeling.
Justin Barron's smile as he returned to the tiny visitors' locker room at the Canada Life Center said it all.
“It was really special the way it happened. I didn't expect to get playing time in overtime. Then, Mike [Matheson] And [Adam] Lowry received a penalty that resulted in my brother and I ending up on the ice.
It's a shame for Morgan, who had had the upper hand over his younger brother in this match up to that point.
You could also see happiness on Jake Allen's face. Relief too. He stopped 30 shots en route to his first win since Oct. 28. A seven-game losing streak.
“It feels good to get a break [de Noël] with a good grade. I feel like I’ve played well in net the last few times I’ve played,” Allen said. It is important to remain patient. In this league it sometimes seems like you can't lose. Sometimes you need a bit of luck to win.”
Luck, that's a bit of what the Canadian had on Monday evening. Because despite the effort and the work, it was anything but perfect. But Martin St-Louis' men withstood the tumult and were rewarded in the end.
“We had problems with our execution in the first third. “But we got back on track,” said the Canadian head coach. Jake [Allen] played an excellent game. We took two penalties and our massive attack produced two goals.”
In doubt
The Habs players were also rewarded for their presence at the net. An aspect that her coach has been emphasizing for a long time. The team's first two goals were the result of that close presence from Connor Hellebuyck.
Josh Anderson took advantage of the opportunity and scored his third goal in two games. Is this the beginning of a sequence? That remains to be seen.
“He gets rewarded because he plays the right way,” St-Louis said. And I think he's been playing right for a while now. Sometimes it takes a little longer for the tide to turn.”
Anderson then had a hand in Christian Dvorak's goal by giving him the target for a move that could well have been rejected by the referees.
“I felt a tug on my stick, but in the heat of the moment it was hard to tell if it was the puck or an opponent's stick,” Anderson said.
And since no stick was close enough, that shake was actually the puck. Although it was very difficult to determine the recovery.
“I understand why they appealed the footage. From the angle we had, I noticed that the puck had changed direction due to Andy's stick. But we kept our fingers crossed.”
Good for experience
By playing games like this where he stays afloat and manages to win despite the tumult, the Canadian can build on his experience. And the Jets were no easy prey.
They are strong and aggressive and do not make things easy for anyone who ventures into their territory. It is not for nothing that they represent one of the most powerful defense brigades in the world.
“It’s a great team win. “We were able to adapt, we were alert,” St-Louis said. We continue to be rewarded and strive for results through our behavior on the ice. That’s important for a young team.”