Montreal Canadiens Win And Get Under Winnipeg Jets’ Skin

Jake Evans sealed the game but…

Winnipeg got to within 4-3 on a Kyle Connor goal late in the third period. It was Jake Evans’ attention to detail that nabbed Montreal’s fifth goal. He chased the puck down and tucked it into the empty net. What occurred next is not for the faint of heart…

Evans got freight-trained by Mark Schiefele. The hit has been shown enough times to make the blood boil on many sides. Scheifele had been agitated all game long. There were several plays where it appears the Winnipeg center let emotion get the best of him. He skated almost 200 feet to hit Evans and there was no forethought to play the puck. Scheifele wanted to send a statement and he did.

Jake Evans laid there on the ice and would have to be stretchered off. There will be updates on his condition later in the day. The important thing is his health. While many argue the debate of how long of a suspension, the paramount priority is Evans.

Montreal counted on his tenacious defensive abilities and it is a definite question mark as to his status going forward in the series. Give Nikolaj Ehlers a ton of credit for realizing the gravity of the situation and putting everything aside. Ehlers got in everyone’s way to protect Evans from further harm as players fought around the fallen Evans.

Scheifele was assessed a five-minute major and ten-minute misconduct. Surely, there will be an inevitable hearing from NHL Player Safety as well. It does little to ease the loss of Evans from Montreal’s standpoint. Hopefully, the Montreal forward can return sooner rather than later and at 100%.

The kids are alright…

One quick stat leaped across the pages last night. It was this. The Montreal Canadiens’ young forwards have combined for 11 points in these playoffs. They are all at or under the age of 21. Suzuki, Caufield, and Jesperi Kotkaniemi are that young.

It is fun to think of what future they may have together. However, the right now dictates that since their full infusion into the Montreal lineup, Montreal has become a much better team. They are balanced and it has had a ripple effect.

Latest Canadiens News

• PODCAST: Full Press Canadiens – 9/22 – Intra-Squad Scrimmages
• Fantasy hockey sleepers: Metro Division: Hurricanes and Blue Jackets
• Sean Farrell Will Open Some Eyes In Canadiens Training Camp
• In Hainsight: A Puzzling Move For Tanner Pearson
• Fantasy Hockey Sleepers: Blues and Jets

The Montreal Canadiens’ Special Teams

That’s right. Montreal’s special teams were a net positive in Game 1. Brendan Gallagher scored a power-play goal which, at the time, gave the Canadiens a 4-2 lead. Overall, the Canadiens went 1-4 on the man advantage. This is while killing all three Winnipeg power-play attempts. There were a few dangerous moments but Carey Price and the Montreal penalty killers held firm.

Winnipeg had come in with a 30% power play against the Edmonton Oilers and had one of the top ten power plays in the league. Montreal’s penalty kill ranked tied for 23rd. That mattered none. The Canadiens were effective in containing the Jets’ power play and stopping certain plays from happening. It was one of the big differences in Game 1.

A few final words…

The fallout from Game 1 is going to have long-reaching effects. There will be an inevitable suspension for Mark Scheifele. How long that will be is anyone’s guess? Jake Evans will be out for an indeterminable period of time. Montreal will have to adjust accordingly. They have shown so far, in these playoffs, adaptability. Montreal will need to continue to do so throughout this series in order to advance.