While all eyes were on Pittsburgh Sunday night as Sidney crosby reached a historic milestone, a different kind of ascent was taking place in the shadows as Juraj Slafkovsky continues to emerge as a driving force for the Montreal Canadiens.The young forward not only contributed key assists but is increasingly being viewed as the catalyst for a Canadiens offense that’s finding new adn potent combinations. This developing dynamic, coupled with the recent acquisition of Phillip Danault, presents head coach Martin St-Louis with intriguing lineup decisions as the team aims to build momentum during a crucial stretch of the season.
MONTREAL – While Sidney Crosby rightfully commanded the hockey world’s attention Sunday night in Pittsburgh as he surpassed Mario Lemieux as the Penguins’ all-time leading scorer with 1,724 points, Juraj Slafkovsky continued to impress for the Montreal Canadiens.
Slafkovsky did far more than set up Oliver Kapanen and Ivan Demidov for their 11th and 8th goals of the season, respectively. He spearheaded the Canadiens’ most effective line and was, once again, Montreal’s best forward on the ice.
The young forward nearly secured a victory for the Canadiens in overtime, a period dominated by Montreal that could have spoiled Crosby’s historic night.
However, the hockey gods intervened, as Slafkovsky, Mike Matheson, and Cole Caufield all hit the posts with scoring chances.
Slafkovsky has been playing inspired hockey for the past month – “mature” hockey, as head coach Martin St-Louis has noted – leading to questions about whether he’s become the catalyst for the Canadiens’ offense.
When paired with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield, Montreal boasts a dangerous top line, one that consistently makes opponents pay for their mistakes. It’s a line that is finally living up to its potential.
Slafkovsky brings youthful energy to that trio, at 21 years and 267 days old.
He displays the same energy and drive when tasked with mentoring Ivan Demidov and Oliver Kapanen, a role assigned to him earlier this season. Yet, it appears the experience of 236 games in a Canadiens uniform is taking over. He’s no longer simply complementing Suzuki and Caufield; he’s orchestrating the line’s attack.
And with that, Montreal suddenly has a second line that is not only defensively sound but capable of producing at a blistering pace.
That was evident Sunday night in Pittsburgh.
Under Slafkovsky’s guidance, Kapanen and Demidov don’t appear to be rookies overwhelmed by the NHL’s intensity. They look like players capable of not only adapting to the challenges but also imposing their will on any opponent, in any situation.
Demidov and Kapanen are certainly contributing, but they appear inspired by Slafkovsky’s leadership and direction, yielding impressive results for the Canadiens.
With 11 goals, Kapanen is tied for the league lead with Beckett Sennecke of the Anaheim Ducks. It’s an impressive feat for a player who wasn’t expected to produce at such a high level.
But beyond the goals, Kapanen’s effectiveness in the faceoff circle and even more impressive defensive play make him a valuable asset for Montreal.
This raises the question of whether the Canadiens would alter this highly effective line, even with the recent acquisition of Phillip Danault to bolster the center position.
With 28 points, Demidov is tied for the league lead among rookies with Sennecke, the same player the Ducks selected ahead of him in the draft two years ago. Demidov and Sennecke are also in contention with Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer for the Calder Trophy.
One Line Soaring, Another Struggling
The challenge for the Canadiens is that Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield haven’t been as effective when Slafkovsky is not on the ice, both offensively and defensively.
Is this solely attributable to Slafkovsky’s absence? Perhaps not.
The Canadiens have confirmed that Suzuki is playing through an injury, and his performance has noticeably dipped. He’s half a second slower in his execution, less tenacious defensively, and less effective in the faceoff circle, winning just five of 16 draws Sunday (31%).
As noted after Saturday’s win over the Penguins, Suzuki was at his best earlier in the season when he wasn’t burdened by penalty-killing duties. The losses of Newhook and Evans have forced St-Louis to rely on Suzuki to kill penalties, which is impacting his overall game.
Cole Caufield, meanwhile, has squandered several golden opportunities in front of the net. While he hasn’t lost his touch, as demonstrated by his fourth shootout goal in five attempts this season, he’s not creating goals from seemingly impossible angles as he has in the past.
Speaking of shootouts, Nick Suzuki missed his 15th consecutive attempt Sunday night in Pittsburgh. He’s a shadow of the player who converted 11 of his first 20, scoring four game-deciding goals during that streak.
Zachary Bolduc, filling in for Slafkovsky on the top line, has a difficult role. No one can truly replace Slafkovsky when he’s playing as effectively as he has over the past month (4 goals, 14 points in his last 15 games since November 22).
Bolduc is working hard, skating, and getting into position, but he hasn’t yet established the same chemistry with his linemates as Slafkovsky has with Suzuki and Caufield.
Balancing the Lines
It will be interesting to see how Martin St-Louis and the coaching staff manage the lineup with Danault’s arrival and the potential return of injured players.
St-Louis will be hard-pressed to break up a line as successful as his second trio. But he must also find a way to reignite the spark that seems to be missing from Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield.
How do you give to one without taking away from the other?
Should Demidov and Bolduc be moved around?
Should Slafkovsky be reunited with Suzuki and Caufield, with Kapanen moving to the wing and Danault centering him and Demidov?
Those answers will come soon enough…
Effective Bench Management
It’s not always easy for a head coach to win the small battles of line matchups when his team is on the road.
This is where a coach can capitalize on an opponent’s mistake.
An example occurred early in Sunday’s game during a faceoff in the Canadiens’ zone.
Because goaltender Dobes pulled the net to play the puck on his right, Martin St-Louis couldn’t send a new player onto the ice.
The trio of Owen Beck, Gallagher, and Blais remained on the ice.
Surprisingly, Penguins coach Dan Muse decided to keep Sidney Crosby and his top line on the bench, missing an opportunity to exploit the situation.
Pittsburgh had Kindel, McGroarthy, and Koivunen on the ice – three promising rookies with a combined 79 games of NHL experience.
Beck won the faceoff, and as the Canadiens pushed into the offensive zone, St-Louis recalled Blais and Beck, sending out Suzuki and Caufield.
Martin St-Louis’s quick thinking didn’t result in a goal, but it highlighted his aggressive and effective management of the lineup.
