Forwards Lucas Condotta and Brandon Gignac were included in the group of forwards on Saturday night in Kanata. Meanwhile, Quebec defenseman William Trudeau was deployed on the blue line.
Habs GM decided to bench his best players because the Ottawa Senators head coach chose to use these big and physical guys in the lineup for the last preseason game.
During the last game between the two teams, Xhekaj delivered a hard elbow to the head of German player Tim Stutzle. Fortunately, the Senators' player wasn't seriously injured, but this action led to a fight between Canadiens' number 72 and Senators' captain, Brady Tkachuk. Tonight, they wanted to send him a clear message.
Check out the official announcement posted on platform X about two and a half hours before the game:
Lucas Condotta gave it his all, delivering seven hits during his 11 shifts on the ice. In just over nine minutes of playing time, he managed to block a shot.
His teammate with the Laval Rocket, Brandon Gignac, played 13 shifts for a total of 11 minutes and 39 seconds of ice time. He finished the game with a +1 rating. Considered one of Pascal Vincent's top players for the upcoming season in the American Hockey League, Brandon Gignac demonstrated solid offensive skills, directing two shots on the opposing net.
The least-used defenseman for the Canadiens, William Trudeau, finished the game with a +1 rating in just under 14 minutes of play. He blocked two shots aimed at Samuel Montembeault. He also caused two turnovers, which fortunately were not costly for Montreal.
POLL | ||
Which of the three players is closest to earning a regular spot with the Canadiens? | ||
William Trudeau | 87 | 43.7 % |
Brandon Gignac | 57 | 28.6 % |
Lucas Condotta | 55 | 27.6 % |
List of polls |