In the Habs Room: Oilers’ McDavid and Draisaitl ‘difficult to handle’

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EDMONTON — Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis stated there’s a lesson his staff may study from Saturday evening’s 5-3 loss to the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place.

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“The lesson is to be prepared for something — the sudden — and simply handle the stuff which you could management,” St. Louis stated after the sport that dropped the Canadiens’ document to 12-11-1.

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One factor the Canadiens couldn’t appear to regulate was taking penalties within the second interval after taking a 1-0 lead into the primary intermission following a power-play objective by captain Nick Suzuki.

The Canadiens took 21 minutes of penalties within the second interval, together with a five-minute main and a 10-minute recreation misconduct to defencemen Joel Edmundson for cross-checking the Oilers’ Zach Hyman into the boards whereas Montreal was already short-handed. The Oilers scored three straight power-play objectives within the second interval, together with two on five-on-three benefits.

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The Canadiens battled again to tie the sport 3-3 on objectives by Evgenii Dadonov and Arber Xhekaj (energy play), however Edmonton’s Darnell Nurse delivered a dagger when he scored with solely 4 seconds left within the second interval to offer the Oilers the lead earlier than Connor McDavid sealed the victory together with his second objective of the sport within the third interval.

“It was robust,” St. Louis stated about Nurse’s objective. “We had a lot momentum. I feel guys thought it was icing. It’s robust to surrender these objectives on the finish of a interval like that, particularly the sort of push we had the second half of that interval. It was a troublesome one.”

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St. Louis stated the Canadiens performed effectively at five-on-five and five-on-four, in addition to on the facility play, going 2-for-3 with the person benefit. The Oilers went 3-for-5 on the facility play.

Edmundson’s main penalty and recreation misconduct not solely resulted in one of many power-play objectives by the Oilers, it additionally left the Canadiens with solely 5 defencemen for the remainder of the sport — together with three rookies in Kaiden Guhle, Johnathan Kovacevic and Arber Xhekaj to go up towards the Oilers and their dynamic duo of McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.

McDavid completed the sport with two objectives and two assists, whereas Draisaitl had a objective and three assists.

“No matter win or loss, I feel it was an enormous studying expertise (for the rookie defencemen) and that’s the best way you need to take a look at it’s they had been taking part in enormous minutes towards two of the most effective gamers within the league,” stated Canadiens veteran defenceman Mike Matheson, who logged a team-high 26:57 of ice time. “What extra are you able to ask for once you’re attempting to get higher daily?”

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Guhle had 21:38 of ice time, Kovacevic had 18:06 and Xhekaj had 17:24, whereas veteran David Savard logged 20:48.

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The 20-year-old Guhle had this recreation marked on his calendar as a result of it was his first within the NHL in his residence city after profitable the junior WHL championship final season with the Edmonton Oil Kings and being named the playoff MVP. He additionally obtained to face McDavid for the primary time.

“I might be mendacity if I stated it wasn’t a bit of nerve-wracking at occasions going towards him,” stated Guhle, who stood McDavid up after he entered the offensive zone early within the first interval. “Simply obtained to observe your physique and attempt to restrict cross-overs and simply sort of keep in your spot. He’s such a great participant and has such good arms he’s most likely ready so that you can make the primary transfer. While you get a man like that obtained to play him tight.”

The Canadiens weren’t in a position to play McDavid tight sufficient — and the penalties didn’t assist. McDavid (21-26-47) and Draisaitl (17-25-42) now rank first and second in NHL scoring.

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“I feel they complement one another so effectively,” Matheson stated. “To not say that Draisaitl can’t skate rather well and isn’t quick on his personal, however you evaluate anyone to McDavid they’re going to look gradual. I feel (Draisaitl’s) playmaking skill must be high two or three if it’s not the most effective within the league. And then you definately put a man (McDavid) who additionally has playmaking skill and the pace it’s positively a dynamic duo to play towards.

“It simply looks like when (McDavid) will get the puck all the pieces simply occurs that a lot quicker in comparison with all people else,” Matheson added. “It’s spectacular and it’s tough to deal with.”

One of many brilliant spots for this younger Canadiens staff is that they proved as soon as once more that they by no means hand over, preventing again to tie the sport after falling behind on the three power-play objectives.

“We don’t hand over,” St. Louis stated. “We combat. Simply fell a bit of brief tonight.”

scowan@postmedia.com

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