Browsing: Canadiens

MONTREAL — The first rule of potentially surviving prison is to pick the biggest, baddest man in the yard and immediately challenge him to a fight.

If you survive that — and thatâ€s a big if — no one else will mess with you.

Seems to be the logic that Florian Xhekaj applied in deciding to drop his gloves with Philadelphia Flyers winger Nicolas Deslauriers in his first pre-season game with the Montreal Canadiens this year.

“I probably wouldnâ€t have fought that guy,†said his brother Arber.

Let the record show that Arber did fight that guy back in 2022, when he was 21 years old — the same age Florian is right now.

The intentions were also the same.

“Itâ€s good to get it over with,†Arber said, “and it also gives him confidence to know that he can hang in there.â€

Florian more than hung in there.

Arber, on the other hand, watched from the bench, fighting off a wave of anxiety as Deslauriers freed up his right hand.

“I was scared for a moment,†he said. “Iâ€ve got to realize that heâ€s all grown up now. Heâ€s my size, heâ€s not a little boy anymore.â€

Florian Xhekaj, whoâ€s now six-foot-four, 220 pounds, proved it by scoring a goal and surviving a fight with one of the most feared enforcers of the last decade.

He was also the first Xhekaj to make his mother, Simona, cry in the stands.

Cameras caught her shedding another tear when Arber scored the empty-net goal that sealed this 4-2 win over the Flyers.

One can only imagine how Simona felt after driving six hours from Hamilton to watch her two boys play their first-ever game together as members of the Canadiens.

The brothers both said the same thing about how their father, Jack, mustâ€ve felt missing it after he was unable to get off work to be there in person.

“Heâ€s going to be pissed all week,†said Arber.

He added that Jack would likely be up all night after all that excitement.

“It doesnâ€t happen often,†said Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis. “I think just being a parent, having three boys, itâ€s a cool experience when I watch my two boys play each other in college. I can just imagine what itâ€s like for the two boys to play together in the NHL, in Montreal, and being far but close enough to be there. Itâ€s amazing. Itâ€s a special moment. And Iâ€m glad that they were able to share it together, but also share it with their family. And I think itâ€s a tight family, so itâ€s nice to see them have that experience.â€

It was a fun one for everyone, including us.

It also wrapped up 24 hours of observations we made through the first two pre-season games the Canadiens played, so letâ€s get to those.

The play was coming towards him at full speed — a two-on-one turned two-on-none by an ill-timed dive from Canadiens teammate Jake Evans — but he remained locked into the puck carrier until the very end. Fowler didnâ€t cheat, instead, he just waited to make his push.

That patience is the mark of a composed goaltender, one who knows relying solely on anticipation is a foolâ€s game against the best and most deceptive players in the world. And that patience is a rare quality for a 20-year-old playing his first minutes of NHL pre-season action to possess.

Heâ€s so composed,†said Brendan Gallagher after watching Fowler enter Mondayâ€s game cold off the bench to make 13 saves — including that 10-beller off Avery Hayes— and three more in the shootout to help the Canadiens secure a 2-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.

“Heâ€s one of those goalies that gives you a lot of confidence, because thereâ€s not a lot of movement. Heâ€s always in position, not a lot of loose pucks in front of his feet,†Gallagher continued. “Those are the guys you like to play in front of. Makes it look easy. Obviously, itâ€s a tough job that heâ€s got. But he makes it look easy and gives you a lot of confidence to play in front of him.â€

Thatâ€s what Fowler has been doing since well before getting drafted by the Canadiens with the 69th pick in 2023. The Floridian was a United States Hockey League MVP, Clark Cup champion and World Junior-A Challenge gold medalist.

And then he won a world junior championship and played two sensational seasons with Boston College before being named the NCAAâ€s best goaltender.

Fowler made his professional debut with the Laval Rocket at the end of last season, posting a .914 save percentage and winning two of three games he appeared in before going 3-3 in the playoffs. And he looked anything but uncomfortable in his NHL debut on Monday.

“What I like about him is heâ€s calm but not meek,†responded Marc Denis, when we asked the former-NHL-goaltender-turned-RDS-analyst what stands out to him about the kid.  “Some guys can turn into victims with traffic and action in front of them, but he doesnâ€t shrink in those moments. He faces them.â€

Fowler explained why after the game.

“I think, for me, itâ€s easy to stay calm because I just love to play hockey,†he started. “I love to go out on the ice, whether itâ€s in front of 20,000 people or by myself. I think hockeyâ€s just what makes me calm. A lot of people get wrapped up into different things, but Iâ€m one to let the game come to me and just be a hockey player.â€

Thatâ€s what Fowler did on that overtime rush.

Maybe not today, or tomorrow, but this kid understands what will eventually make his dream come true.

After punching up Samuel Poulin in Mondayâ€s game, Davidson explained how his development into an edgy, tough customer began as a youngster with the Western Hockey Leagueâ€s Seattle Thunderbirds.

“I have to give credit to my junior coach, Matt Oâ€Dette,†Davidson said. “I was 16 when he taught me how to play in that fourth-line role. Growing up, I never had to do anything like that. Almost didnâ€t make the team as a 16-year-old, but I did what I had to do just to get in the lineup. You have to get noticed every night, and thereâ€s no easy way to do it. Hopefully, goals and points come, but thatâ€s something easy you can do to get noticed every night — stick on puck, go hit someone on the forecheck, make it easier on your linemates to play — and thatâ€s what has made me who I am today and how I play. I give a lot of credit to him for just teaching me how to play in those gritty roles.â€

The Edmonton native can play, too.

Josh Anderson was saying after the game that Gallagher, whoâ€s also from Edmonton, told him he loves Davidsonâ€s game. He said Gallagher told him to watch out for him.

Anderson did and was blown away by what Davidson did with his fists.

“I loved that,†he said.

“I thought it was a great fight. There was no hesitation,†he said. “I think heâ€s a gamer. Ever since Iâ€ve seen him play, I feel heâ€s a gamer. Heâ€ll do whatever the game needs him to do. I think heâ€s hungry, he wants to play at this level, heâ€ll do whatever, and he actually has the scoring touch too. Weâ€ve seen it in years past, obviously, in Laval.â€

Davidson piled up 35 goals and 61 points in 107 games with the Rocket over the last two seasons.

And he played with the type of bite the Canadiens could use more of.

“I feel as a team, I love our skill level and everything. And I think the way we play together, I love that too. But we need to add some sandpaper to our game a little bit, and itâ€s not necessarily just (fighting),†said St. Louis. “Itâ€s not necessarily just one guy, or two guys, itâ€s collectively, as a pack. Can we be a little tougher to play against? Not just strategically, but physically?â€

Weâ€d bet on Davidson being a player who helps them do that down the line.

The 23-year-old is tracking in that direction.

— David Reinbacher didnâ€t get an assist on Florian Xhekajâ€s goal to make it 2-0 against the Flyers, but he started the whole play by rushing the puck out of harmâ€s way and out of Montrealâ€s zone.

The type of subtle, effective play Reinbacherâ€s game is made of.

The fifth overall pick in 2023 was burned by speedster Anthony Richard for a goal.

But another controlled breakout from Reinbacher helped Nick Suzuki make the score 3-1 against Philadelphia.

Between him, Xhekaj, Davidson, Fowler, Owen Beck, Oliver Kapanen, Adam Engstrom and Joshua Roy, the Canadiens have a lot of players knocking on the NHL door.

At least one of them will break through to start the season. The rest will fight for chances to be called up while likely fueling Laval to another successful season.

— Montrealâ€s top line of Suzuki, Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky took 53 seconds to connect for a goal in pre-season. This will be their fourth season playing together, and it shows.

Tuesdayâ€s game was childâ€s play for them, as they combined for two goals and a 17-1 edge in shot attempts against the Flyers.

— Lane Hutson attempted 3.6 shots per game in his Calder Trophy-winning season. He had four through the first 40 minutes and eight by the end of Tuesdayâ€s game.

We didnâ€t get a chance to speak with him, but it’s probably not a stretch to assume heâ€ll be trying to shoot more this season.

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On Monday, Pittsburgh Penguins’ hockey officially kicked off for the 2025 pre-season.

And the performances of some of the Penguins’ most promising prospects was certainly a sight for sore eyes – even if the result didn’t go their way.

The Penguins fell to the Montreal Canadiens, 2-1, in a shootout after an all-around tight, solid game. Forward Tristan Broz scored the lone goal for the Penguins in regulation on a first-period power play, and he also registered the team’s only shootout goal. Owen Beck potted one for the Canadiens in the second period, while Sean Farrell and Oliver Kapanen capitalized in the shootout to seal the win for the Habs.

Goaltender Joel Blomqvist started the game for the Penguins and stopped all 11 shots he faced, and youngster Sergei Murashov relieved him midway through the second period and surrendered just one goal on 20 shots.

There were a lot of things to like about the Penguins in this game, and the youngsters certainly showed up. Here are some thoughts and observations from Monday’s pre-season opener.

– Broz really showed up to the rink tonight in all three zones.

He made some really solid reads on the penalty kill all night long, he was on the second power play unit and put home a rocket on a nice, quick feed from Valtteri Puustinen, and he was showing off his 200-foot game and hockey smarts during five-on-five play.

When folks talk about the Penguins’ top prospects and who has a shot at the opening night NHL roster, Broz is sometimes left out of those conversations. But he shouldn’t be counted out. I’m not sure there’s another player like Broz in the Penguins’ organization in terms of his versatility, his smarts, his ability to finish, and his effectiveness on the defensive side of the puck.

He’s just a solid all-around player, and the strides he made at the center position in the AHL last season have certainly shown in his game. If this guy hits his ceiling, he could be a reliable second- or third-line center option for the Penguins in the very near future.

– Another two-way player who looked solid Monday was Tommy Novak.

Novak, 28, was acquired at the trade deadline from the Nashville Predators, and a post-deadline injury only let him see two games with Pittsburgh last season. He finished the season with 13 goals and 22 points in 54 games.

I knew Novak was a decent skater, but I was surprised by how fast he looked out there. On a third-period penalty kill, he killed about 20 seconds off the clock by skating in circles around the offensive zone with the puck, and he was able to get himself back into almost every play.

There is a lot that still needs to work itself out in the duration of training camp. It’s unclear at this point whether Novak might play in a top-six role next to Evgeni Malkin or if he’s going to be this team’s third-line center. Either way, I think he is going to be a solid, reliable player for the Penguins this season, and his role may end up being influenced by whether or not youngsters like Broz and Filip Hallander push for roster spots.

I’m eager to see more from him this season.

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– I can’t say enough how good Murashov was in this game.

First and foremost, it would be unfair to take anything away from Blomqvist, too. He wasn’t tested as much as Murashov was, but anytime you don’t allow a goal against in an outing, it’s a good day. Blomqvist did his job – and did it well – then handed the keys to Murashov to close out the game.

I wrote about this Sunday, but it’s amazing to me just how easy and effortless Murashov makes goaltending look. The easy saves are second-nature, the hard saves look easy, and the very hard saves are being made almost every time.

Even on the goal against, Murashov made two or three saves before that, and Matt Dumba’s stick was a culprit in the puck finally sneaking past him. He made a ridiculous cross-crease toe save in overtime, and he didn’t even flinch when Ivan Demidov – a likely Calder candidate for the Habs next season – tried to deke him out in the shootout.

His poise, confidence, and ability far exceed his age of 21. If he’s not the starting goaltender in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) this season, the Penguins are doing something wrong. This kid just has it.

– Some snippets of new head coach Dan Muse’s system were slipping through the cracks during the exhibition game. I can’t claim to be an expert in the field of systems work, but one big difference that I did notice was that there is a lot more movement in general.

A lot more.

There seemed to be a lot less perimeter play and more center drive. The power play was a constant rotation with no one standing dormant or stagnating. There is definitely an emphasis on an attack mentality in all three zones and on swarming the puck carrier defensively.

I’m curious to see how these changes look with some of the more veteran players on the roster. But there seems to be buy-in from the younger guys, and the emphasis on movement was refreshing to watch.

‘The Energy Is Through The Roof’: Competition The Focus In Dan Muse’s First NHL Training Camp
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– It is very important to emphasize that this was only one pre-season game, and it was the first pre-season game. The Canadiens’ lineup wasn’t stacked – even if there were a few higher-profile players like Patrik Laine and Noah Dobson in the lineup – and neither was the Penguins.’

But it’s hard to ignore the performance that Owen Pickering and Harrison Brunicke put on together as a pairing.

Pickering really looks like he has the potential to develop into a solid, reliable, hard-to-play-against top-four blueliner. He has figured out a way to use his 6-foot-5 frame more advantageously, and he routinely shut down opposing scoring chances all night long. He, like Brunicke, is also good in transition and knows how to man the offensive blue line.

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And Brunicke? I don’t know what else there is to say about this kid.

Just when I thought there were times in the first three training camp practices when he was trying to do too much, he went out in a competitive setting and made that a distant memory. His secondary assist on Broz’s power play goal was a thing of beauty, as he faked a shot and made the Canadiens’ defense overcommit, exposing a wide-open passing lane to Broz, who quickly dished it to Puustinen, who quickly dished it back.

Brunicke also looked solid on the defensive side of the puck, using a strong stick to disrupt and his hockey sense to read angles and cut them off. He saw a few shifts in overtime, too, and was one of three Penguins’ defensemen to see the ice – the others being Dumba and Ryan Shea.

There is still a lot of pre-season left. Six more games, to be exact. But these two already look comfortable playing together and have chemistry, and they were the best defensive pairing on the ice Monday by a mile. And that’s saying something, since Dumba and Connor Clifton were solid, too.

If they carry this play through the end of the pre-season – and against better competition – there is no way they should be leaving the city of Pittsburgh when final roster cuts are made.

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MONTREAL – The Montreal Canadiens opened their NHL pre-season schedule at the Bell Centre Monday with lots of shots, hits and highlight-reel saves.

Tristan Broz of the Penguins opened the scoring with a power-play goal at 10:26 of the first period. Owen Beck of the Canadiens tied the game at 2:36 of the third, seven seconds after a Montreal power play had expired.

Jared Davidson of the Canadiens fought Sam Poulin in a spirited fight halfway through the second period.

Montreal goaltender Sam Montembeault stopped 20 of 21 shots, before being replaced midway through second by Jacob Fowler, who stopped all 13 shots he faced in faced in regulation and overtime. He stopped four of the five shoots he faced in the shootout.

Pittsburgh goalie Joel Blomqvist stopped all 11 shots he faced in the first 30 minutes before being replaced by Sergei Murashov, who stopped 19 of 20 shots in regulation and overtime. He stopped three of the five shots he faced in the shootout.

Montreal outhit Pittsburgh 32-23 and blocked more shots (22-18).

The Penguins went 1-for-4 on the power play, while the Canadiens went 0-for-5.

Penguins: Visit the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday.

Canadiens: Host the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday.

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