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3 major takeaways from Montreal Canadiens' 5-0 preseason win vs Philadelphia Flyers
The Montreal Canadiens won their preseason opener 5-0 over the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday night. The shutout marks a solid start for the Canadiens who are looking to take the next step in the rebuild.
Luke Tuch scored the game-winner, with David Savard, Emil Heineman, Josh Anderson and Alex Barré-Boulet adding the other tallies for the Montreal Canadiens.
Meanwhile, Cayden Primeau and Jakub Dobes combined to make 25 saves to keep the Flyers off the scoresheet. The game was a strong showing for Dobes who made 121 saves, helping solidify his case as a potential backup option for the Habs.
Here’s a closer look at three major takeaways from Monday night’s matchup between the Canadiens and Flyers.
3 major takeaways from Montreal Canadiens' 5-0 preseason win vs Philadelphia Flyers
#3. The Habs struggled on the power play
The Habs went 0-for-3 with the man advantage. While they moved the puck around well enough, the Canadiens failed to get quality scoring chances.
In particular, an early 5-on-3 powerplay went fruitless. To make matters worse, a turnover at the blue line led to a Flyers shorthanded rush, forcing Primeau to make a solid save on a 2-on-1.
On the bright side, newcomer Patrik Laine seemed comfortable on the power play. The Habs will be looking to have Laine lineup in the slot looking for one-timers. The Canadiens have a long way to go, but their power play looks encouraging at this point.
#2. The Habs worked hard throughout the game
If there’s one thing Martin St. Louis has preached to his team, it's hard work. Montreal has been consistently working hard to win puck battles, outcheck its opponents and play sound defensive hockey.
The Canadiens outhit the Flyers 34-27 while showing a strong presence along the board. If the Canadiens keep this type of play going, they will be a hard team to match up against this season.
#1. The goaltending was sharp
The most encouraging sign was the goaltending. Both netminders looked solid when they had to. They were in the game the entire night, making key saves when needed.
It’s worth pointing out that the Habs played a solid defensive game in front of their netminders. Nevertheless, the goaltending was sharp.
The Habs look to be in a good position in goal. With Sam Montembeault penciled in as the starter, Primeau’s performance on Monday night could push St. Louis to consider a 1A-1B tandem situation. Plus, Dobes’ performance is encouraging as well, giving the Canadiens several options in goal.
Having flexibility will be crucial, especially if injuries become an issue at some point in the season.
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