Canadiens Lineup

Artturi Lehkonen – Max Domi – Brendan Gallagher

Paul Byron – Nick Suzuki – Jordan Weal

Phil Varone – Nate Thompson – Dale Weise

Alexandre Alain – Lukas Vejdemo – Alex Belzile

Victor Mete – Shea Weber

Brett Kulak – Josh Brook

Maxim Lamarche – Xavier Ouellet

Carey Price – Keith Kinkaid

Game Report

The third game of the pre-season was back at the Bell Centre with the Canadiens facing the Panthers for the second straight night. With a couple of exceptions, the two teams iced new lineups than had appeared in Bathurst on Wednesday night.

It quickly became clear that, at least in the minds of Montreal players, there is a competition for roster spots at this camp. Three Habs, who were not in the lineup on this night, are in prime position for consideration.

Ryan Poehling has consistently played at a very high level since Development Camp, through the Rookie Showcase and in two pre-season games. He is the most NHL-ready of the prospects and will be hard to ignore when the opening night roster is assembled.

Cale Fleury, who may be the surprise of camp, has looked poised, mobile and physical since the tournament in Belleville. With Noah Juulsen’s status remaining unresolved, Fleury has to be given a serious look.

Jake Evans started slowly in the exhibition game against New Jersey but came through when needed to score the game-winner. Evans, who has noticeably bulked up in the off-season, is harder to knock off the puck and has been engaging physically. With a strong two-way game, he could be a bottom six contributor for the Canadiens.

Which brings us to another contender, who was in the lineup tonight. Nick Suzuki has been timid and quiet on the ice at times this fall. But in the second and third periods of Thursday’s win, Suzuki provided a glimpse of his offensive potential. He saved the dazzle for the shootout, scoring on a slick flip.

With Poehling well ahead in the NHL roster sweepstakes, Suzuki will have to show much more on a consistent basis if he has a chance to start the season with the big club.

Apart from the rookies, the forward who is having the best camp so far is Artturi Lehkonen. On Thursday, Lehkonen played on a line with Max Domi and Brendan Gallagher. The trio was dominating generating an abundance of scoring chances. 

Earlier this week Lehkonen and Domi also played well but were hampered by a disinterested Jonathan Drouin. Whoever the right winger is, Claude Julien would be wise to keep Lehkonen and Domi together when the season starts.

It is hard to ignore that Drouin’s two games in the pre-season don’t look much different from his final 30 games of last season. Whether he is mishandling the puck on the point of the power-play, missing defensive assignments or coasting without the puck, Drouin seems oblivious to the competitive camp around him. In a camp based on merit, Drouin’s job would be in jeopardy.

The door to one of the bottom six roster spots may have opened slightly wider as Paul Byron left the game not to return after playing just 9:30. In the post-game presser, Julien said that the move was precautionary and that Byron would be evaluated on Friday.

The ‘competition’ continues on Saturday as the Habs are in Ottawa to face the Senators. Be sure to tune in to the Canadiens Connection podcast LIVE on Saturday at 1:00 pm. for a preview of the game.

The Canadiens practice at Brossard at 11:00 am on Friday morning. 

Plus / Minus

▲  Artturi Lehkonen, Nick Suzuki, Shea Weber, Brendan Gallagher, Alex Belzile, Jordan Weal

▼  Maxim Lamarche, Dale Weise, Xavier Ouellet