Call of the Wilde: Montreal Canadiens shock Vegas Golden Knights with 3-2 win – Montreal

After two of essentially the most spectacular moments of the season with back-to-back wins in Florida over the Panthers and Lightning, the problem was much more tough in Las Vegas.

The Golden Knights are one of the best dwelling staff within the NHL, however they couldn’t present it in opposition to the Canadiens.

Montreal noticed Vegas two, however then roared again to attain the following three in top-of-the-line wins of the season. The Canadiens have received three straight enjoying a few of the greatest groups within the league on the street.

Wilde Horses 

The highest plus/minus centre in all the league, Jack Eichel, turned one more centre that Nick Suzuki may deal with successfully.

The highest line is enjoying robust defensive hockey in opposition to a few of the greatest on the earth this street journey. Suzuki’s line confronted Aleksander Barkov on Saturday and fared effectively in opposition to Brayden Level on Sunday. These simply aren’t two of the highest scoring centres, additionally they are two centres on traces with one of the best 200-foot video games.

On this one, the Suzuki line truly out-chanced and outscored the Eichel line. Late within the second, the Canadiens scored as Juraj Slafkovsky received his puck battle, then he rapidly fed Suzuki who noticed Cole Caufield alone in conjunction with the online. It was aim quantity 100 within the profession of Caufield. That’s 19 on the season for Caufield, setting a tempo of 42 on the season.

It is a first line that the rebuild can depend on as a robust and completed product keyed by the play in the midst of Suzuki. He’s a vastly underrated participant.

One other gem that the membership has added this season is Emil Heineman. It isn’t simply that Heineman has proven an affinity across the web, however he additionally performs an excellent 200-foot sport. He nearly by no means prices the staff whereas scoring 9 targets on the season.

His marker within the third interval tied the competition finishing a two-goal comeback. Heineman deflected a degree shot, then adroitly jumped on the rebound to flick it dwelling. Heineman has the third highest aim complete amongst rookies behind solely Matvei Michkov and Macklin Celebrini.

The outstanding comeback continued with the Canadiens taking the lead two minutes later. Josh Anderson blocked a shot then flipped it to centre the place Kirby Dach led a 2-on-1. Dach tried a cross to Patrik Laine, however it went by Adin Hill. Dach has three targets on the street journey.

It was Hill in opposition to Samuel Montembeault on this one. One of many two will play for Canada within the 4 Nations, and one will sit and watch. It’s benefit Montembeault, because the saves within the final minute to protect the lead had been world-class.

The Canadiens refuse to stop today. There may be perception. The street to a playoff spot is 7-4 in every 11 sport phase to conclude this season. After one 7-4 set, they’re already two wins and no losses within the subsequent 11 sport set.

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Wilde Goats 

After having some robust video games on defence, the second line was again to being the first difficulty on the membership, permitting two targets within the opening 20 minutes in Vegas.

Early on, it was Dach with a giveaway that led to a 3-on-3 rush that didn’t look that harmful, however then Alex Newhook didn’t discover a man to cowl.  Within the final 10 seconds of the opening body, it was Laine who misplaced the puck, then Dach was caught on the wall, and much too late on the again verify, permitting a second aim.

It’s outstanding to see Suzuki tackle one of the best centres in hockey, but discover a approach to keep even general. On the season, Suzuki is a shocking plus-one on the yr, whereas Dach is minus 22.

4:55
Name of the Wilde: Habs crushed by Pens

The differential for all the membership in targets this season is minus 15. Suzuki’s line is even. Jake Evans line is barely a plus by two targets. Christian Dvorak’s line is barely detrimental by two targets. Primarily, all the deficit is the second line.

With the targets that the second line is now scoring, it was hoped that the Dach line may tighten it up on the defensive finish as effectively. Sadly, for the Canadiens, it stays a piece in progress.

Normally the defensive legal responsibility is blamed on the centre, however Dach will not be precisely with identified defensive stalwarts Laine and Newhook. The simplest repair is that this line getting a robust defensive centre. The targets are coming, however the differential is all the time the larger, and extra necessary, story.

Wilde Playing cards 

To increase Jake Evans or to not prolong Jake Evans. That’s the preferred query on the minds of Canadiens followers within the final month. The sentiment is shifting to giving Evans an excellent contract to maintain him in Montreal on the age of 28.

Evans is an unrestricted free agent. His contract provide may very well be so long as 4 years, however three years is extra probably. The annual wage may very well be within the vary of three million {dollars}. It is perhaps much more. There are 32 groups, and it solely takes one determined staff fooling around as a result of they should make a splash.

The plus aspect to the Canadiens signing Evans earlier than he listens to different groups on the primary of July is Montreal is aware of what they’ve in him. They know that Evans can carry out at the moment. For each the group and the participant, there may be stability figuring out he suits.

The down aspect is Evans might be handing over one of the best season of his life, and a basic supervisor doesn’t need to pay for a participant’s previous. Kent Hughes needs to pay for his future. Additionally, does Hughes want Evans sooner or later?

Earlier than Hughes throws $12 million to $14 million at Evans, he has to make it possible for he wants the participant on the roster. In the mean time, it is a tough proposition. If Hughes wants a second-line centre, then Dach turns into a 3rd line centre. That leaves prospects Owen Beck and Oliver Kapanen to struggle for the fourth line function.

Evans is a fourth liner now. He’s, actually, centring one of the best fourth line in all the NHL with 25 targets forward of Carolina with 18 targets. Nevertheless, the group doesn’t need to go away Beck and Kapanen within the minors for too lengthy. They’re near prepared.

5:06
Name of the Wilde: The Habs win 2 in a row

If Dach can enhance his play and be a bona fide second-line centre subsequent season, then Evans may very well be the third liner and Beck or Kapanen the forth liner. Oddly, Dach’s play, good or dangerous, impacts Evans standing with the membership.

Hughes additionally has the reminiscence of Rafael Harvey-Pinard on his thoughts when he considers tips on how to assess this Evans season. It’s contemporary in his thoughts that he gave Harvey-Pinard a wholesome two-year contract primarily based on the strongest season of his profession.

Harvey-Pinard bought 14 targets in 34 video games. It was inconceivable for him to duplicate that as a result of a taking pictures share of 24 is a pattern that doesn’t proceed.

Evans has related numbers. It’s one of the best season of his profession with 10 targets in 36 video games, however that taking pictures share says that he can by no means duplicate this season. Evans has a career-best taking pictures share of 10, however this yr, he’s at 31 per cent.

At 28, Evans didn’t simply learn to snipe at 31 per cent. The perfect shooter in hockey annually doesn’t do 31 per cent. The perfect taking pictures share in a season within the historical past of the league is 33 by Charlie Simmer of the Los Angeles Kings.

What you see from Evans will not be what you get, so purchaser beware for Hughes contemplating he has already lived by Harvey-Pinard.

Fortunately, on the primary day of 2025, Hughes has time to evaluate this choice. He’ll firstly ponder his want of a second-line centre as an alternative of Dach. If he will get the appropriate reply on Dach, he could go for Evans. If he wants a greater Dach, Evans is surplus that he can’t afford to spend.

To be continued.

Brian Wilde, a Montreal-based sports activities author, brings you Name of the Wilde on globalnews.ca after every Canadiens sport.

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Name of the Wilde: busy weekend forward for Habs