Recalled from Laval, Justin Barron is poised to assist Canadiens’ energy play

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TAMPA — May Justin Barron be the important thing to unlocking the Canadiens’ energy play?

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The reply may come as quickly as Wednesday, when the Canadiens start a four-game post-Christmas highway journey towards the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Enviornment (7 p.m., SN, RDS, TSN-690 Radio, 98.5 FM).

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Barron, 21, was recalled from the Laval Rocket Tuesday, and it’s not obscure why he acquired the decision. The Halifax native has all the time had an offensive aptitude, and 5 of his seven objectives this season have been scored on the facility play. That’s essentially the most by an AHL defenceman.

The Canadiens have struggled on the facility play this season. They at present rank final within the NHL with successful price of 14.6 per cent. Montreal has scored solely 15 power-play objectives and Arber Xhekaj is the one defenceman to attain a power-play aim this season.

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“We’ll see,” coach Martin St. Louis stated when requested whether or not Barron might be within the lineup Wednesday.

With Mike Matheson and David Savard again in Montreal nursing accidents, the selection will come right down to Barron or veteran Chris Wideman. Each are right-handed photographs with offensive upsides however, given St. Louis’s current penchant for experimenting, the nod might go to Barron.

If he does gown, the younger Montreal defence corps will get even youthful. He would be part of fellow rookies Johnathan Kovacevic, Jordan Harris, Kaiden Guhle and Xhekaj, with Joel Edmundson because the lone veteran.

Barron was a first-round draft alternative of the Colorado Avalanche in 2020 and performed two video games with the Avs earlier than he was traded to Montreal as a part of the commerce deadline deal that despatched Artturi Lehkonen to Colorado.

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Barron performed 5 video games with the Canadiens earlier than his season ended with a sprained ankle. He was thought of a powerful candidate to start out the season in Montreal, notably since he’s a right-handed shot, however Harris and Xhekaj had higher camps.

“Proper off the bat, it was disappointing, however there was no sense dwelling on it. It wasn’t going to assist my sport or the group in Laval,” Barron stated of demotion.

“The transition down there was fairly simple. The coaches have been nice, my teammates have been nice. That made it simpler to maneuver on. There are some areas of my sport I needed to work on and I shifted my focus to that. I had issues to work on defensively, a few of my decision-making. I centered on taking part in with slightly extra grit in my sport, being slightly bit more durable to play towards.”

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Barron performed in each state of affairs in Laval.

“That’s one of many benefits of taking place to start out the season,” he stated. “I acquired a lot of ice time (and) it was an opportunity to construct my confidence again up.”

Barron stated he has extra alternatives to shoot on the facility play as a result of he has Jesse Ylonen and Anthony Richard on the wings they usually opened issues up for him.

Sean Monahan additionally remained in Montreal, however Brendan Gallagher was at apply Tuesday. Gallagher hasn’t performed since Nov. 29 and there’s no assure he’ll face the Lightning, however he’s anticipated to play sooner or later on this journey.

The Canadiens play the Florida Panthers Thursday, are in Washington on New Yr’s Eve and wrap up the journey in Nashville on Jan. 3.

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