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Preseason video games are a possibility to attempt various things, and probably the most important twist from Montreal coach Martin St. Louis in Monday’s exhibition opener in opposition to the New Jersey Devils was on defence.

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The Canadiens don’t have lots of depth on the fitting aspect and St. Louis determined to experiment through the use of Jordan Harris, a left-handed shot, on the fitting alongside Kaiden Guhle. Harris’s collegiate background is mirrored in his heady play, didn’t look misplaced on his off-side and it is going to be fascinating to see if he challenges veteran Chris Wideman for ice time.

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Cole Caufield picked up the place he left off final season when he scored the one objective of the primary interval. Montreal went on the ability play after former Canadien Tomas Tatar was despatched off for goaltender interference, and Mike Hoffman arrange Caufield for a shot from the left faceoff circle that went over Mackenzie Blackwood’s proper shoulder.

Caufield, who mentioned earlier within the camp that he was being inspired to shoot extra, led the Canadiens with 5 pictures on objective.

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Juraj Slafkovsky, who was the No. 1 general decide on this 12 months’s draft, was cheered when he led a rush on the sport’s first shift. He made two crisp passes on that shift and later pressured a turnover within the impartial zone, however the remainder of his recreation was pedestrian.

Jake Allen, who can be dealing with the lion’s share of the the goaltending duties with the Canadiens this season, performed the primary half of the sport and was good as he stopped 18 pictures.

Cayden Primeau, who can count on an identical workload because the No. 1 goaltender with the Laval Rocket, stopped 11 of 13 pictures and took the loss. Tatar beat him on a second-period energy play, discovering a spot simply outdoors the crease and burying a feed from Jesper Bratt.

Graeme Clarke beat Primeau with just below six minutes to play to provide the Devils a 2-1 victory. The Canadiens thought they’d the tying objective 40 seconds later when Michael Pezzetta scored, however a replay decided that the Canadiens have been offside on the play.

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Newcomer Kirby Dach performed with enthusiasm and there was some excellent news within the faceoff circle the place he gained 4 of 9 attracts. Not nice however higher than his 33.8 per cent success charge final season.

Owen Beck, the primary decide within the second spherical of the draft, continued to be a revelation.

Beck, who’s headed again to junior in some unspecified time in the future, had three pictures on objective and gained 10 of 16 faceoffs.

Should you’re questioning why the Canadiens have 74 gamers in camp, this was the primary of six video games over a nine-night span. The Canadiens journey to Toronto Wednesday, play the Winnipeg Jets at residence Thursday and head to Ottawa Saturday. They’ve residence video games Monday in opposition to the Maple Leafs and Tuesday in opposition to the Senators earlier than wrapping up the preseason down east with a pair of Kraft Hockeyville video games in opposition to Ottawa subsequent Thursday in
Gander, N.L. and  Saturday in Bouctouche, N.B.

phickey@postmedia.com

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