Montreal Canadiens: Jesse Ylonen, Juraj Slafkovsky Should Have Long Look Together

The Montreal Canadiens fell 5-4 to the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday night, but the game produced a few new line combinations. Juraj Slafkovsky and Jesse Ylonen were flanked by Christian Dvorak.

It was a very small sample size, but it was towards the end of the third period to tie the game. The trio was fast, and I feel that the tempo of the line is better suited to Dvorak’s strengths. He is fast, but not much of a puck handler, so the quick passes feed into his game.

The line has a simplistic feel because of Dvorak’s play down the middle, he just gets the job done. But Ylonen and Slafkovsky set this line off, both are so creative and the process plays quickly on the rush. In the offensive zone, they benefited from quick passes, and Ylonen’s willingness to shoot opens up so many rebounds for Slafkovsky, who also has a great shot.

With more time together, I don’t see why this line wouldn’t work. There is a blend of skill, speed and responsible defensive play. Slafkovsky and Ylonen’s defensive games have taken considerable strides forward. And with Dvorak supporting his wingers defensively while keeping up with them offensively, this line could be a fan favourite.

If Suzuki, Caufield and Monahan play on another line or disperse amongst two other lines, it is a benefit to the Canadiens depth. On a team starved for offence, putting your best shooters with players who can help them score goals is just what the doctor ordered. The line is very fun to watch, and St. Louis seemed impressed by his newly made trio, using them regularly throughout the third period.

Dvorak has the experience and defensive acumen to complement his two young wingers. Because of that, they will learn a ton from him, while challenging each other to make quick plays. Ylonen’s shooting tendency will hopefully rub off on Slafkovsky, and perhaps number 20 will start shooting quicker. Considering how well it works for number 56.

I am a believer in the skill and potential of this line, and whether or not Dvorak is the centre, I think Ylonen and Slafkovsky should stick as linemates. I can see them developing together, and forming a great offensive winger duo, who will make their center’s life pretty easy. If you want to make plays and score goals, just pass one of them the puck, and then get open. These two could make Dvorak a 15-goal scorer.

Let’s keep an eye on this line for the Canadiens because it looks like something that could and should stick for a while. They will only get better, and once familiarity and chemistry start to grow between the three players, it should translate to more goals. Dvorak just needs to keep his stick on the ice and stay ready, his wingers will find him out there.

You go with what works, and you don’t fix what isn’t broken, which is precisely why it makes sense to give this trio a long look together. They complement each other’s styles quite well, and Dvorak provides that stout presence down the middle. I can see this line being a problem for the opposition, and the potential to be so much better has to be 10/10.

These three guys are from different parts of the globe, Slovakia, Finland and the United States. But they prove why hockey is such a beautiful game, it brings everybody together. Thank you, hockey, for bringing Slafkovsky and Ylonen together on the Canadiens, I never thought of this duo, but it makes total sense.

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