We have a confession to make: The Hidden Game has never been big fans of exhibition matches in any sport, but realizes it’s a necessity so management can determine which players comprise the team.
Having said that, the Canadiens never should be forced to play two home contests on consecutive nights. And if we never see the New Jersey Devils again — at least unless two points are at stake — it’ll be too soon.
The Devils, one of the NHL’s most boring teams, arrived in Montreal on Tuesday night without Jesper Bratt, Nico Hischier, former Canadien Tomas Tatar, Dougie Hamilton and goaltender Jacob Markstrom, all of whom played Sunday. And with New Jersey playing again on Wednesday night against Washington, we understand head coach Sheldon Keefe’s thought process.
On the other hand, there was no need for Sominex after this tedious affair, won 3-0 by Montreal. Nobody who witnessed this spectacle should have had difficulty falling asleep. We only wish, just once, the NHL played running time.
Food for thought (Part I): We wonder what Keefe, the former coach of Toronto, must think looking down his bench and not seeing Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander and John Tavares. Keefe probably has gained confidence knowing he might actually win some playoff games now, assuming the team qualifies.
Strange, but true (Part I): When New Jersey and the Canadiens last met, back on Feb. 24, the Devils won 4-3 on home ice. Montreal’s goalie that night? Jake Allen. The Devils’ starting netminder on Tuesday? Allen.
News you need (Part I):Juraj Slafkovsky and teammate Filip Mesar were playing against Devils defenceman Simon Nemec. The three were childhood friends in Slovakia and, during the pregame warm-up, posed for a photo.
Guessing this caught him by surprise: When Allen was traded to the Devils last March for a conditional third-round draft choice in 2025, he might have believed his playing time would increase. Then the Devils acquired Markstrom last June from Calgary, relinquishing a first-round 2025 draft choice along with defenceman Kevin Bahl.
It’s hard to hit a moving target: In the game’s second minute, defenceman Logan Mailloux, the only Montreal player to dress for both games this week, missed an attempted check on Nolan Foote in front of the Canadiens’ bench.
It was like watching paint dry: The Devils didn’t register their first shot until the sixth minute, while on the power play. Through 13 minutes, the teams had combined for eight shots.
News you need (Part II): Pointe-Claire’s Ryan Jackson, an NHL linesman working this game, is the son of former NHL referee Dave Jackson.
Strange, but true (Part II): Yes, that was Michael Pezzetta killing penalties.
Faceoff of the night: Early in the second period, Florian Xhekaj beat Xavier Parent to the draw. The sequence eventually led to the Canadiens’ opening goal.
Play Pezzetta: Yes, it was that noted sniper Pezzetta beating Allen with a shot to the glove side from the left-wing circle at 2:42 of the second period.
Next time, decline the penalty (Part I): The Canadiens had a two-man advantage for a full two minutes in the second period, but generated only three shots — two of which came in the final 30 seconds.
He’s made it his pied-à-terre: After taking a double roughing minor in the middle period, New Jersey’s Kurtis MacDermid took a hooking minor eight minutes later.
Dumb penalty: Nathan Bastian slashed Canadiens defenceman Mike Matheson in the offensive zone in the same period, negating a Devils power play.
Some kind of trifecta: Canadiens prospect Owen Beck registered three shots on net, all from the slot, and was denied each time.
Next time, decline the penalty (Part II): The Devils took another double minor in the third period, providing the Canadiens with another two-man advantage for a full two minutes. The result? One shot. The Canadiens went 0-for-8 on the power play. Maybe former assistant coach Alex Burrows wasn’t the problem?
Food for thought (Part II): What are the chances, following successive shutouts, the Canadiens won’t allow a goal this season?
Quick stats: Pezzetta, who scored a second goal into an empty net, produced five shots, along with Mesar, and was on the ice for 4:12 while the Canadiens were short-handed. He also was a plus-2 and was named the game’s first star. On the other hand Nemec, at minus-3, is the early clubhouse leader. The Devils went 0-for-6 on the power play.
They said it: “He (head coach Martin St. Louis) was giving (the fourth line) a chance to prove ourselves,” Pezzetta said. “For me I was just trying to take advantage of every opportunity, whether it was in the last minute or some penalty-killing time. I was trying to do the best I could and show him I can expand my tool box here.”
“Obviously there’s a little bit of disappointment to not score those,” Beck said. “To get three Grade-A (scoring chances) at this level is hard to do. It’s something to build off of. It’s like when you’re playing golf. You bomb a drive down the fairway, then you shank the chip and miss the green. That’s kind of what it felt like tonight.”