Two costly penalties by defenseman Jayden Struble in the third period nearly derailed the Canadiens’ chances against the Devils, and now coach Martin St-Louis faces tough questions about his defensive rotation.
Struble’s infractions gave New Jersey back-to-back power plays during a critical stretch, forcing Montreal into survival mode. Though the team escaped without conceding, the momentum shifted—and fans took notice.
“Back-to-back penalties for Jayden Struble; Martin St-Louis isn’t going to be happy about that,” tweeted journalist Priyanta Emrith. With Kaiden Guhle’s return looming, Struble’s spot in the lineup may be in jeopardy.
The game also saw Jake Evans score his first goal of the season, offering a rare bright spot. But the defensive lapses and continued underuse of Ivan Demidov have left fans questioning whether St-Louis is losing grip on the locker room.