A second chippy preseason game in a row was not what most Montreal Canadiens fans were hoping to see on Tuesday night. There were injury scares both for the Habs and the Ottawa Senators, and the Canadiens had already lost two players to injury in their previous contest. These games are supposed to be about preparing for the season, and not at all intended to be wars of attrition.
But the Habs did learn something important, which is that Joshua Roy is absolutely ready to take Patrik Laine’s top-six spot for the time being.
Roy had clear chemistry with Kirby Dach, who seems to be a lock for the number two spot at centre. With Joel Armia as their other winger, that line commanded a stellar 88.92% expected goals for. Alex Newhook is a more likely candidate to play the other wing when the season starts, but they clearly have a strong option to start the season, even without the presence of Laine.
Roy assisted on Dach’s goal, then notched a second assist on Oliver Kapanen’s goal after Dach had been ejected for understandably fighting Ridly Greig. Despite little NHL experience, Roy has proven time and time again that he will work with almost anyone they put him with. That versatility was always going to make him a very useful middle-six winger, but with injuries having struck the team early this year, he should see himself immediately in the top six.
While injuries wouldn’t be the way he would want to find himself playing top six minutes, this is a big opportunity for Roy. He doesn’t have to work his way into the lineup like he did last year, and he’ll have a real chance to establish himself as a bonafide top six player while the team waits for Laine to return.
Click the play button below to listen to your full Bottom Six Minutes, also available wherever you get your podcasts. We have a bit of a break now, but will return following Saturday night’s preseason finale, once more against the Ottawa Senators.
