Juraj Slafkovsky called the Canadiens' win before it happened

The NHL's French-language account is spotlighting Juraj Slafkovsky's prediction for how the Canadiens would beat Utah last night.

Montreal won 5-4 in overtime Thursday night. Slafkovsky's call wasn't the boldest of the day, but it was the right one.

He had a hand in the result himself. The big winger finished with an assist, a +1 rating and four shots on goal in 19:41 of ice time.

That fits what he's been doing all season. Slafkovsky has 12 points in 16 games, and ten of them are assists. The first overall pick in 2022 is still waiting on his goal total to catch up to the rest of his game.

Utah made it a fight. Logan Cooley scored three times for the visitors, and Jakub Dobes stopped 16 of 20 shots in the Montreal net. Cole Caufield, Kirby Dach, Adam Engstrom and Arber Xhekaj all scored for the Canadiens, and Caufield is credited with the game-winner.

The league's French account, with analysis from JF Chaumont, noted that Slafkovsky's call wasn't the boldest of Thursday but it was the right one.

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Nick Suzuki also had a big night with a goal and two assists. That matters because Nick Suzuki's return to the top line put him back between Caufield and Slafkovsky earlier this week.

Why Slafkovsky's 2 goals still matter for Montreal

Four shots on goal without a goal is a good night for a winger, not a bad one. He's getting the looks, and a two-goal season total at this point doesn't reflect how often he's shooting.

I don't think the Canadiens should worry. A player who sits at 19:41 in a one-goal overtime game has the coach's trust, and Martin St-Louis has leaned on him in the spots that count.

The win keeps Montreal at 10-3-3, second in the Atlantic Division and sixth in the NHL. The Canadiens are 7-1-2 over their last 10, and they've managed it even though Nick Suzuki's absence against the Jets on Tuesday took their top center out of the lineup.

The next test comes quickly. The Canadiens visit the Maple Leafs on Saturday, and Slafkovsky will be looking for his third goal of the season.

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