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On what was otherwise a positive night for the Montreal Canadiens, with a solid win, a decision by Martin St-Louis quickly took over the entire discussion among fans.
The game had started very well for the Canadiens. Each sequence showed a confident group managing pressure effectively. Monty made several important saves at key moments. The offense found its rhythm, and the team seemed to control the tempo when it mattered.
The Canadiens fans present in Vegas clearly enjoyed the energy. But as the game went on, one very simple detail changed the atmosphere.
A minute-management decision that is drawing reactions from Canadiens fans
No need to tell you that this sparked plenty of talk. A message posted by a fan particularly caught attention. In his post, he stated:
“Texier first game as a Hab and he played more minutes than Demidov, who played great today.
I don’t care that we’re winning, MSL should get a ton of hate for this. Pathetic usage once again”
– Michael
The comment perfectly reflects the discomfort many fans feel. Demidov, as we know, brings pace, creativity, and constant danger as soon as he touches the puck.
From my perspective, I think this situation needs to be addressed quickly to prevent this kind of debate from taking over after every game. The usage of young talent should always reflect what they show on the ice. A coach sometimes needs to adjust to send a clear message.
Personally, I firmly believe Demidov earned more. I say it plainly because his impact is too obvious to be limited like this.
The debate will continue, and it will be interesting to see whether this controversy influences decisions in the next game.
Previously on All Montreal Hockey
POLL
5 HOURS AGO | 175 ANSWERS
Martin St-Louis under fire for his latest decision on Ivan Demidov and Alexandre Texier
Do you think Ivan Demidov should have played more than Alexandre Texier yesterday?
