LAS VEGAS | You went to bed late and have dark circles under your eyes while drinking coffee this morning. If it’s because you saw the Canadian’s game, you can tell yourself it was worth it.
Martin St-Louis’ team pushed the Stanley Cup champions, who had been unbeaten in regular time since the start of the season, to the limits of what was possible. A spectacular game, at the end of which the Habs players lost 3-2 in a shootout.
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Despite the result, they were able to leave the T-Mobile Arena full of pride. It was certainly St-Louis himself who best summed up his team’s evening of work.
“It’s the best game we’ve played since I took office,” said the coach, who has now sat behind the Canadian bench 128 times.
“I’m so proud of her. I told them that I would give them 30 seconds to be disappointed with the result, but that after that they would have to focus on the process,” St-Louis continued.
The famous process is this idea according to which the team must grow through the various experiences and trials that it will have to go through in the coming months and years. This is the baggage the group must acquire if they hope to one day aspire to great honors.
On Monday night, St-Louis saw his team take a step in that direction.
“It was a game where we raised our standards. It’s not the coach who does it. We lead them, but it is the group that ultimately makes that decision.”
The bottled champions
Despite setbacks, there is actually something to be proud of. Few gave this inexperienced team a chance to stand up to the Golden Knights. This will certainly be good for the group’s confidence.
“It shows that we can compete with these teams,” said Samuel Montembeault.
The Canadian, who was always first to the puck and fought hard in duels, gave his rivals practically nothing. So much so that the Golden Knights were limited to two shots on goal in the second period.
“I think I got as many shots in overtime as I did in the second and third periods,” Montembeault said.
Bécancourois was not far from the truth.
In those five minutes he had to fire six shots. Seven if we add the penalty for Jack Eichel. That’s one less than in the second and third thirds combined.
“We paid attention to the small details. Our positioning and that of our bat made the difference. We limited their reaction time and scope, which allowed us to limit the number of good chances they had,” analyzed Sean Monahan.
We simply don’t want the Canadian to collapse in his next appearances. If this were the case, this magnificent achievement would quickly be seen as a stroke of luck.
Matheson was visibly bothered
Additionally, Mike Matheson playing the game was a dubious case for the game. The defenseman, who injured his lower body Saturday against the Jets, appeared to be in discomfort. During the massive attack, we saw him drop the puck a few times.
The extension allowed him to move up the hierarchy of St-Louis’ most frequently used defenders. He finished the night with 22 minutes of playing time, four fewer than Kaiden Guhle.
Only Arber Xhekaj was on the ice less often than him at times.
We will certainly keep a close eye on his health.