Habs Room: ‘It was a fun game,’ Monaghan on 2-1 win
“It’s a hard league and you need someone special to do something special,” said the manager of the veteran forward’s performance in Calgary.
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CALGARY — Canadiens’ Sean Monaghan arrived at the Scotiabank Saddledome wearing a plastic walking boot on his right leg for Thursday night’s game against the Calgary Flames.
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After the match, after answering questions from the media, the cast stood up in a suit with a toque on their head, sweating even after taking a shower.
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Between removing the cast and putting it back on, Monaghan assisted goals for Juraj Slavkowski and Cole Corfield as the Canadiens beat the Flames 2-1 on the first trip to Calgary, where Monaghan played nine seasons. Broke. Traded last summer.
“He’s a tough guy,” said Canadiens goalkeeper Jake Allen, stopping 45 of the 46 shots he faced.
The Flames honored Monaghan with a video tribute on the scoreboard during the first televised time-out six minutes into the game, and he received a standing ovation.
Monaghan said he could not miss the game and got his first assist just 13 seconds after the puck dropped when Slavkowski scored.
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“It was a fun game,” said Monaghan. “I played with most of them[of the Flames]for quite some time. I will always remember how Jakey had his head in his head to get the two points off to a good start. He is one of the things.”
When asked if the cast was the result of shooting his leg in a previous game, Monaghan said, “Yeah, it’s just a sore leg.”
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When asked about the pain he endured during Thursday’s game, Monahan said: I can handle it right away, so it’s okay. Good feeling. It’s a minor thing and I’m trying to get over it. ”
Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis was asked what the team’s younger players could learn from watching Monaghan’s performance against his old teammates.
“If anything, this league is difficult,” St. Louis said. “It’s a hard league and you need special people doing special things to play long and I think they see that.”
The No. 1 overall pick in this year’s NHL Draft, Slavkowski will play in the second line alongside Monaghan and Josh Anderson for the first time this season. The 18-year-old rookie said the 28-year-old Monaghan has the ability to make the players around him better.
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“He understands the game,” Slavkowski said. “He knows when to slow down, when to speed up, how to turn the puck, etc. It’s pretty much everything and I think that’s what makes other players better on the ice.”
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Allen entered the match after conceding 22 goals in his previous five games. This was Samuel Montembaugh’s second back-to-back start after playing his previous two matches and winning both. St. Louis said he was the “number 1 goalie” when he put Allen back in goal in a 4-0 loss against the San Jose Sharks at Bell’s center on Tuesday. I confidently voted for Allen. Scoring Allen again against the Flames was another vote of confidence.
But Allen had never heard St. Louis say he was still the number one goalie.
“I didn’t even know he said that,” Allen said when asked about the St. Louis comments. “I haven’t followed the media all year, so I’m the last guy I know.
“Me and Marty have a great relationship,” Allen added. “He is very open with me. We had a great dialogue from day one. There are some challenges along the way. I am not perfect either, but hopefully I can get better from here. increase.”
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Monaghan is a quiet, soft-spoken man, but there was emotion on his face after the game. I know what is like.
As NHL players do when facing their former team for the first time, Monaghan put some money on the board in the locker room before the game to motivate his teammates.
Was it an expensive victory for him?
“Yeah, sure,” said Monaghan with a grin. “Lots of tickets (for friends and family). Make money on the board for everyone and trainers etc. But it’s worth every penny.”
scowan@postmedia.com
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Habs Room: ‘It was a fun game,’ Monaghan on 2-1 win
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