Jayden Struble's On-Ice Response Sends a Message Nick Cousins Won't Forget
The Montreal Canadiens once again played with fire on Saturday night at the Bell Centre, but at least managed to pull off a 4-3 overtime win against the Ottawa Senators.
What a game... once again!
Ivan Demidov forced overtime with a goal late in the third period, before Alex Newhook sealed the win with a precise shot after intercepting a pass from Drake Batherson.
But beyond the result, it was another very particular moment that caught my attention.
Jayden Struble Sends a Clear Message to Nick Cousins After the Quebec Incident
Right at the start of the third period, Jayden Struble didn't hesitate to settle the score with-yes, you guessed it-Nick Cousins.
Clearly, the Canadiens defenseman still had in mind Cousins' dangerous act against Ivan Demidov during the preseason game in Quebec, when the Senators forward injured the Habs rookie with a violent slash.
For those who hadn't seen it, here's the hit in question:
One thing's for sure: Struble hadn't forgotten. As you can see HERE, he jumped onto the ice and dropped the gloves in a short but decisive fight.
A single punch was enough to make Cousins understand that the message had been delivered.
"When you have a guy like that taking a shot at your star young player, that was a bad play. None of us liked it. We were thinking about it. This is the first time we played him since. That's on our minds. You can't go around trying to hurt our best players"
- Jayden Struble on Nick Cousins
- Jayden Struble on Nick Cousins
The atmosphere at the Bell Centre was electric - every time Cousins touched the puck, the crowd erupted in boos.
Struble, meanwhile, was cheered for his response and leadership.
"It's crazy to be part of all this right now. It's really fun. Our star players step up every time we need them. Even when we're behind, we know someone's going to score," the young defenseman told TSN's Kenzie Lalonde.
According to an article published by TVA Sports, the Montreal crowd applauded the young defenseman's intensity, and several observers believe he sent a strong message to the league.
In my opinion, Jayden Struble just earned a lot of respect in the locker room - and even more in the hearts of the fans.
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