Slafkovský scores 1st profession NHL objective as Canadiens rout Coyotes

It took 5 video games and slightly extra tape on his stick however Juraj Slafkovský lastly scored his first Nationwide Hockey League objective.

The Canadiens used a three-goal first interval to cruise to a 6-2 win over the Arizona Coyotes on Thursday in Montreal. The Bell Centre crowd gave the primary total decide a standing ovation because the PA announcer known as his title and saved it going by chanting Slafkovský’s title after the second-period marker.

“It is wonderful. To attain my first objective on this constructing, it is a dream come true for certain,” he mentioned. “I feel nothing higher might occur after a primary NHL objective than what occurred on the market.”

“I am comfortable for the child,” added Habs coach Martin St. Louis. “There’s a variety of strain for an 18-year-old, first total decide, to play right here in Montreal and the followers made a pleasant gesture to encourage the child scoring his first objective. I used to be anticipating nothing much less, we’ve spectacular followers.”

Requested whether or not his first objective was instantly attributed to totally taping over his stick, not like his first 4 video games, Slafkovský reluctantly agreed.

“I feel a variety of guys within the locker room assume that and perhaps coaches as properly, so perhaps sure,” he mentioned.

Josh Anderson, Cole Caufield and Brendan Gallagher all scored to present Montreal the early cushion.

Nick Suzuki notched a penalty shot marker and Sean Monahan added an empty-netter. Jake Allen made 25 saves within the win.

WATCH | Canadiens’ Suzuki scores highlight-reel penalty shot objective:

Beautiful penalty shot objective by Suzuki helps Habs take down Coyotes

Montreal captain Nick Suzuki flipped his penalty shot previous Arizona goalie Connor Ingram because the Canadiens defeated Coyotes 6-3.

The Canadiens (3-2-0) improved to 3-0 at residence on the season with the victory.

“We’re very process-focused however the result’s vital for the boldness of the crew,” St. Louis mentioned. “Profitable’s received to be a part of the method too.

Coming off a 4-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Coyotes (1-3-0) didn’t construct on any potential momentum. J.J. Moser and Travis Boyd scored for Arizona within the third interval. Lawson Crouse added two assists.

“We had an A day in Toronto, and immediately, it was not as sharp,” Coyotes coach Andre Tourigny mentioned. “That is the fantastic thing about the sport. You by no means know who will win as a result of all people can have an awesome day or a foul day, but it surely’s our job to have extra good days than dangerous days.”

In his first begin with the Coyotes, Connor Ingram stopped 24 of the 29 photographs he confronted.

“I feel we owe him one, that is for certain,” Tourigny mentioned. “I feel the primary 4 photographs had been scoring possibilities so it did not make it simple on him.”

Anderson received the Habs began 1:58 into the opening interval as he scored on a rebound from a Jonathan Drouin shot that hit the put up.

Simply over two minutes later, Montreal doubled its benefit when Crouse gave up a pricey turnover to Caufield within the slot the place his shot bounced previous Ingram and into the web.

Gallagher tried his luck on a two-on-one and beat Ingram glove facet to open his 2022-23 account on the Canadiens’ fourth shot of the sport 7:17 into the primary to make it 3-0.

Slafkovský notched his first NHL objective 8:17 into the second interval when he intercepted the puck and beat Ingram with a wrist shot from the highest of the left faceoff circle.

Later within the interval, Suzuki was given a penalty shot when he was tripped by Juuso Valimaki whereas Montreal was short-handed. The captain took all of the house he wanted then lobbed the puck over Ingram to extend the Habs’ result in 5-0 18:27 into the second.

The Coyotes ruined Allen’s shutout bid with two fast objectives within the third interval. Crouse despatched the puck to Moser who fired a one-timer atop the left faceoff circle to lastly break the ice at 6:21.

Crouse then fed Boyd who gave Arizona its second objective at 8:18.

With beneath 4 minutes remaining, Monahan scored an empty-net objective to shut it out.