The Montreal Canadiens only played 2 games in this 7 day stretch against their former captain Max Pacioretty and the Las Vegas Golden Knights and the Edmonton Oilers. The week started off with a highly entertaining 5-4 win against the Golden Knights in which the Canadiens battled back, and a 6-2 loss against the Edmonton Oilers.
Third Star of the week: Andrew Shaw
This might come as a surprise to some. However, Andrew Shaw had a great week (albeit only two games), but the Montreal Canadiens needed Shaw in every way possible. Shaw scored two goals against the Las Vegas Golden Knights which proved to be pivotal. His first goal of the game helped erase a two-goal lead for the Knights as the Canadiens tied the game 2-2, and his second goal of the evening tied the game at 4’s both goals coming from right in front of the Golden Knights net.
The game against the Edmonton Oilers is, unfortunately, nothing to write home about. The Montreal Canadiens lost 6-2; however, Shaw kept up his goal scoring as he potted a goal in the early stages of the second period again tying the game and again from right on top of the crease. Shaw also tallied an assist on Max Domi‘s 10th goal of the season.
Andrew Shaw isn’t the first player that comes to mind when you think of players who can help contribute offensively for the Canadiens, but dating back to last week he’s on a 3 game point streak in which he has 4 goals and an assist. Shaw’s ice time has also been going up recently and I doubt that it’s a coincidence that his production has as well.
Second Star of the Week: Jesperi Kotkaniemi
Jesperi Kotkaniemi has been the sign of hope within the Montreal Canadiens organization. After being selected 3rd overall in this past NHL entry draft. Kotkaniemi had a really good 2 games this past week picking up a goal against the Golden Knights as well as an assist on the opening goal scored by Charles Hudon. Kotkaniemi is a special talent, he skates and shoots the puck at elite levels and seems to have a knack for being in the right spot in his defensive zone.
Kotkaniemi is still a rookie though and has been sheltered a little bit by head coach Claude Julien as he averages a little of 13 minutes a night. This is likely by design as he starts 68 percent of his shifts in the offensive zone.
All in all the youngster is really starting to come into his own as a pro. He seems more confident in his decision making while on the ice and as evidenced by his assist against the Golden Knights he is a very dangerous player on the rush, which fits in with the Montreal Canadiens structure phenomenally.
First Star of the Week: Max Domi
Max Domi has been everything the Montreal Canadiens had hoped for and then some. It seems that every week he’s in this spot on the Weekly Warriors because of his sheer offensive talent. This week he had a down week by his recent standards and still produced one goal and two assists.
Domi started the week off by picking up a secondary assist on Shaw’s first goal of the game against the Golden Knights which was really just a broken play however without the clean zone entry from Domi the goal never happens. Max added his second helper of the night on Shaw’s 2nd goal of the game which was a rebound created by a Max Domi shot while he was coming off of the half wall. Again Shaw will get credit with a goal, and many will look at it and call it a “garbage goal.”
Notice how Domi loops past Jeff Petry to make himself available for the pass, and then the patience shown by Domi as he waits for the Vegas defender to drop giving him a clear path to the net for a shot which leads directly to a goal.
Domi also tallied a goal against the Oilers in which Noah Juulsen fell coming out of the penalty box and knocked the puck over to Shaw, who then found Domi in stride entering the offensive zone and Domi finished the playoff by picking the top corner with a goal scorers goal. Not many players in the league can score a goal beating a 6 foot 7 goalie over his shoulder.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. If the Montreal Canadiens make the playoffs this year and Max Domi continues to play the way he’s been playing he will be nominated for the Hart Trophy come award time.