Juraj Slafkovsky’s short-yet-mighty week has been recognized by the league.
The NHL named the Montreal Canadiens forward the third star of the holiday-shortened week. Slafkovsky had three goals and two assists in just two games, including the game-tying goal with four seconds left in regulation on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The first star of the week was Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov, who had six points in three games, and the second star was Seattle Kraken forward Eeli Tolvanen for doing likewise.
Slafkovsky has really come into his own after a slow start. The 21-year-old former first-overall pick in 2022 is in the midst of a four-game point-scoring streak and tallied 15 of his 28 points this season in 14 games in December. Montreal has a 3-0-2 record in their last five games.
Much of the 6-foot-3, 225-pound winger’s damage on offence has come on a line with Ivan Demidov and Oliver Kapanen.
With 13 goals after 38 games, the forward is on his way to eclipsing last year’s goal total of 20.
Slafkovsky will be representing Slovakia in the upcoming Winter Olympics in Italy.
Montembeault returns in net
The Canadiens also named Samuel Montembeault the starter in goal for Tuesday’s game in Florida against the Panthers.
Montembeault has not played a game for the Habs since coming in relief against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Dec. 9. The netminder was sent to the AHL’s Laval Rocket on Dec. 16 for a conditioning assignment. He was recalled on Saturday.
The club’s number one goalie heading into the season has struggled, with a 5-6-1 record, a 3.65 goals against average and an .857 save percentage.
Alexandre Texier practiced on Monday on the top line alongside Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield.
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