Montreal Canadiens: 24 Thoughts On Habs Slump Busting Win

Third Period Thoughts

Jesse Ylonen has played just 6:30 through two periods, but every time I see him on the ice he looks like a player. He has played less than everyone except for Mitchell Stephens. I think they need to find a way to get him on the ice more often to see what he can bring in a bigger role because he is making zero mistakes where he is now.

Montembeault makes a nice save in tight just seconds into the third period to keep the 3-1 lead. That was a huge and timely save as this is a much different period if it is 3-2 with 19:35 to go.

Slafkovsky has his stick knocked out of his hands and it flies about 30 feet in the air. This is usually an automatic call, but since Slafkovsky is a young fella some referees don’t give him the calls. I imagine if the same thing happened to …. I actually can’t think of a prominent player on the Kraken so nevermind.

Now Matheson gets called for…. pushing? Not sure what they could have actually called that. Vince Dunn scores on a blast from the point on the ensuing power play and the Kraken are within one with still more than 15 minutes to play. The refs pretty much stayed out of the way until that Matheson call and it changed the complexion of this game quickly.

Montembeault gets bumped by a Kraken player in the crease but there is no call. It wasn’t a huge collision, or even the same impact as Matheson’s ridiculous penalty earlier in the game, but a Kraken player skated into the crease and then skated into Montembeault. If it is interference in one end at the hash marks how is it not interference in the crease?

Slafkovsky out there with just under five minutes to play and protecting a one goal lead. When he previously played this high in the lineup, he was replaced by Joel Armia or Jake Evans at this point in the game. The youngster is clearly gaining more trust from his head coach as he continues to develop his all around game.

Josh Anderson scored a goal! It has been a while. I think his last goal was assisted by Sprague Cleghorn. Anderson’s first goal of the season. Has anyone been scoring goals lately for this team? Monahan’s first in 15 games, Pearson got his first in 20 and Anderson’s first since before they closed the Montreal Forum.

Canadiens now have 25 points in 25 games. I guess you would have taken it if someone told you at the start of the season they would be two points back of Tampa Bay and three behind Toronto after 25 games, but they have a lot of improving to do if they want to be actual playoff contenders.

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