It was a shift for the ages by Emil Heineman Monday against Pittsburgh, one that clearly showed he’s ready for full-time NHL employment.
And the 22-year-old Canadiens rookie winger remembers little about it.
“I don’t remember too much,” Heineman said after after practice at the CN Sports Complex in Brossard on Wednesday. “I think our whole team had a really good second period; our line, too, we got some offence going, created something.”
To refresh Heineman’s memory, in the 15th minute of the second period, he finished his check, emerged with the puck, broke out of his zone on a two-on-one break with Oliver Kapanen and whipped a high shot to the glove side against Tristan Jarry. The Penguins’ goaltender barely moved on the play, the shot in and out of the net that quickly.
It was Heineman’s second goal in two games and provided the team with a short-lived 3-2 lead in a game they ultimately lost 6-3. In the process, it might have shown the AHL now is in the rear-view mirror for the 6-foot-2, 198-pounder.
Heineman said he practised his shot extensively back home in Sweden over the summer. But there’s more to his game as well. Heineman is a strong two-way player who has learned to use his body to disrupt opposing players. This is now his third season in North America after joining Laval in March 2023. He made an immediate impact with the Rocket, scoring seven goals and nine points in 11 games.
“Especially from last year I feel I learned a lot, how to adapt to the style here,” said Heineman, originally drafted in the second round (43rd overall) by Florida in 2020. “I had a good summer to work on that. I came ready and wanted to change mentally. Go out there, play and go for it.”
Heineman had a pair of two-game stints with the Canadiens last season but spent most of the year in Laval, scoring 15 goals and 29 points in 48 games. He stuck with Montreal after training camp this season, and his chance for more playing time improved following Alex Barré-Boulet’s recent demotion to the AHL.
“I really wanted it,” said Heineman, who has been playing on a line with veteran centre Christian Dvorak and Kapanen. “I came in and (decided) I’m really going to go for it now and not say sorry. Just go out and play. You always go into a season with the mindset of taking steps. Every day you want to get better.
“I’m here to help the team and develop as a player. I always want to take steps forward. Do what you can do and see where it takes you.”
As the Canadiens prepare for Thursday night’s home game against Los Angeles (7 p.m., TSN2, RDS, TSN Radio-690, 98.5 FM), plenty of emphasis is being placed on the team’s inconsistent defensive play. Montreal has allowed 13 goals — including one into an empty net — in four games, and while that’s not an alarmingly high total, improvements must be made.
The Canadiens opened the season with a 1-0 shutout against Toronto, but allowed 48 shots in the process. The following night, Boston beat goaltender Cayden Primeau six times. While Montreal was more consistent against Ottawa last Saturday, allowing 25 shots and one goal, Pittsburgh flourished from numerous odd-man breaks on Monday.
It has been a feast or famine scenario for the Canadiens. Defenceman Mike Matheson believes that when breakdowns have occurred, they’ve started in the offensive zone.
“For all five guys on the ice, when the puck turns over there has to be an alarm that goes off, saying we’re on defence now,” he explained. “The quicker and more often that alarm goes off right away, I think we’ll have more success.”
Veteran defender David Savard has been teamed with rookie Lane Hutson. But after they were on the ice for both of Pittsburgh’s first-period goals, head coach Martin St. Louis altered his pairings, teaming Savard with Arber Xhekaj and Hutson with Kaiden Guhle. Matheson found himself with Justin Barron. Hutson was minus-4 against Pittsburgh.
“I think at some points we’re disconnected,” said Savard, who will play his 800th career game against the Kings. “At some other points it feels like everybody’s on the same page and playing really well. We’ve just got to figure out a way, even during those moments when we don’t feel as connected, to execute better. The games we lost we had times where it was more difficult to break out and regroup. We have to figure out a way to be more consistent.”
Defenceman Jayden Struble, yet to play this season due to an upper-body injury, is ready to return according to St. Louis. Centre Kirby Dach (therapy day) didn’t practise on Wednesday.