With three European prospects in action last night, something was bound to happen that would entice the fans of Montreal Canadiens. It didn’t take long for the prospects to make a case for the highlight reels in North America this morning.
Montreal’s own tsar, Alexander Romanov, started it all by assisting on a goal by Linden Vey. While the defenceman didn’t really participate in the immediate action before the goal, he was part of the build-up. CSKA beat Slovan with a 4-1 score, and Romanov’s assist came on the game-winning goal.
Finlay got a chance to show the secondary assist by Romanov in todays game against Slovan.
He passes Kaprizov, and thanks to his good movement and shot Kaprizov uses #TheTsar as a fake before handing over to Linden Vey who scores the game winner. #Habs #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/vkKZAjw7eY— Patrik Bexell (@Zeb_Habs) February 15, 2019
Joni Ikonen was the next one to let loose. On a breakaway, the Finnish centre used his wicked hands to best the goalkeeper and open KalPa’s scoring on the night.
Joni Ikonen with a big game in Liiga right now. Ikonen opened the scoring by scoring with some silky moves on this breakaway.
Ikonens fourth goal of the season. #Habs #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/bRbwyRORLJ— Patrik Bexell (@Zeb_Habs) February 15, 2019
Ikonen quickly followed up in what became a rout of Jukurit. The game finished 7-2, and Ikonen scored the 4-0 goal on the power play with a great one-timer.
Joni Ikonen with his second of the game on a one-timer on the power play. His fifth goal since the return from injury.
Ikonen promised playoffs for KalPa in a recent interview with @HabsEOTP he sure tries to fix it himself. #Habs #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/9YjR9GYpBF— Patrik Bexell (@Zeb_Habs) February 15, 2019
KalPa needed the win and are only two points away from the last playoff spot — a spot that Ikonen promised us that his team would make in a recent interview.
He has seven points (5G, 2A) in 10 games after his eight-month absence from hockey due to a knee injury sustained in the off-season.
Not to be outdone in the Finnish and Montreal market, Jesse Ylönen wanted to show that anything Ikonen can do he can do just as well. Much in the same way as Romanov, Ylönen got an assist on a goal, however it was at a similar length of time from when Ylönen touched the puck to the actual goal being scored as in Romanov’s case. However, the goal did showcase Ylönen’s skating. Just look how he beats the defender, who has a head start, over that distance.
The assist by Jesse Ylönen today showed off his work ethic but especially his excellent skating. Ylönen out paces everyone on the counter attack and goes hard towards the goalie to keep the puck in the OZone and set up the goal. #Habs #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/tUnG53Gbhj
— Patrik Bexell (@Zeb_Habs) February 15, 2019
With the Pelicans bogged down in a shootout in their own Isku Areena, the game finished 9-4 in the end, but was 4-4 at the start of the third period, Ylönen stepped up with a breakaway goal to score the game-winner. The goal was a delicacy where Ylönen showed both patience and skill.
Jesse Ylönen open his scoring account today with this delicacy. Thats the #habs prospect 11th goal of the season. #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/TuO7BAcRcz
— Patrik Bexell (@Zeb_Habs) February 15, 2019
Later in the third period, Ylönen used the defender to screen his shot from inside the blue line to score his second of the night, recording his third point.
Great rivalry tonight in Liiga, Jesse Ylönen with his second goal (and third point of the night). As Gretzky said; “You miss every shot you don’t take”. #Habs #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/jRxBzcIcxm
— Patrik Bexell (@Zeb_Habs) February 15, 2019
Ylönen now has 22 points (12G, 10A) in 43 games, and for the first time this season he is over a half-point-per-game scoring rate. It will be very interesting following the speedy winger in the playoffs staring in the middle of March.
