Golden Knights expect challenge by Canadiens
The last time the Vegas Golden Knights played the Montreal Canadiens was Jan. 18, 2020, Pete Deboer’s second game as Vegas coach and two months before the world shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic. A lot has changed.
The Golden Knights kick off the Stanley Cup semifinals Monday against the visiting Canadiens in the first playoff meeting between the franchises.
Despite a lack of history together — just six all-time meetings — there are countless narratives to follow in this series.
They include: It’s the NHL’S oldest franchise against its youngest; it’s Max Pacioretty returning to Montreal, where he was once captain; it’s Vegas’ second-ever draft pick shining since he was traded away, and it’s the best Quebec-born goalie in a generation taking on his hometown team.
“Montreal’s been good throughout these playoffs and they’ll be another big challenge for us,” that Quebecborn goalie, Marc-andré Fleury, said.
One of the biggest matchup battles hinges on whatever Montreal does with center Phillip Danault. Like Minnesota’s Joel Eriksson Ek, he has some offensive pop — about half a point per game over the past three years — but his defense is his calling card.
Look for his line, along with wingers Brendan Gallagher and Artturi Lehkonen, to be tasked with trying to slow Vegas’ top line of Pacioretty, Chandler Stephenson and Mark Stone.
The Golden Knights acquired Pacioretty in 2018 for forward Tomas Tatar and Nick Suzuki, a player for whom Vegas had high hopes after picking him 13th overall in the 2017 draft. But they had to part with the young prospect to bring in an elite scorer in Pacioretty.
Suzuki has been one of Montreal’s breakout stars this postseason, tying for the team lead with four goals and coming in second with eight points in 11 games. He also had 41 points in 56 regular-season games.
The offense may not have many household names outside of Canada, but the defense sure does. Shea Weber is the big name, but Jeff Petry and Joel Edmundson have arguably been more impactful.
Petry finished with 42 points in the regular season, tying with Vegas’ Shea Theodore, among others, for seventh in the NHL. Petry may miss Game 1 with an injury, but is expected back before the series ends.
“I compare it a little bit to Minnesota when you look at the quality of those top four defensemen than Montreal has,” Vegas general manager Kelly Mccrimmon said. “Minnesota was similar in that way. Big, heavy, big minutes, hard to get inside.”
There were some snickers when an NHL players’ poll revealed Montreal’s Carey Price to be the goalie his peers deemed the best, considering even then he was five years removed from his Hart Trophy-winning 2014-15 campaign.
Now he’s a 33-year-old who had a save percentage below .910 three of the past four years. Last season he helped Montreal upset the heavily favored Pittsburgh Penguins in the qualifying round, and this year has been just as good.
“Carey Price has certainly been a real strength for their team this year,” Mccrimmon said. “For many years.”