Canadiens’ Slafkovsky knows he needs to cut down on silly penalties

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Forget that Juraj Slafkovsky has gone five games without scoring and has been limited to one assist, after having been on a torrid pace.

That’s not the end of the world.

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But the series of seemingly unnecessary penalties the former 2022 first overall pick has taken lately is starting to become an issue. The Slovakian power forward admitted it and, it seems, coach Martin St. Louis will be patient for a while.

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Slafkovsky took a pair of high penalties Tuesday night against Arizona. Both were in the offensive zone and both could be considered superfluous. While the Coyotes failed to score on any of the power plays, Slafkovsky vented his frustration, after being benched for a shift, with Arizona forward Liam O’Brien driving him hard toward the end boards by end of the second period.

There’s no denying that the 6-foot-3, 230-pound Slafkovsky needs to use his size to be effective. But he has also taken 17 minor penalties, the most among Montreal forwards.

When asked after Wednesday’s training at the CN Sports Complex in Brossard what he could do to curb his enthusiasm, Slafkovsky was candid and honest.

“I have no idea,” he said. “Maybe keep my stick on the ice? It is awful. It’s hard. Obviously I don’t want to hurt the team. It’s a shame I have too many.”

While St. Louis and Slafkovsky have yet to discuss the recent series of penalties (the 19-year-old received three minors last Wednesday against Buffalo), it could become inevitable if the issue persists. After the 4-2 win against Arizona, St. Louis dismissed him as a young player learning about life in the NHL.

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The head coach was more expansive Wednesday, not only referring to Slafkovsky’s play but the fact that the Canadiens haven’t had a power play since the third period of last Thursday’s game in Pittsburgh.

“You don’t like taking penalties that don’t prevent a scoring opportunity,” St. Louis explained. “It’s a very fine line. You compete on the ice. It is an emotional game. You don’t want to go out with white gloves and be afraid to take penalties. We are trying to manage that. I think overall we’ve done a pretty good job.

“In terms of the lack of power plays, I feel like in Jersey (last Saturday) we deserved it. I don’t think we deserved it in the last game; We just didn’t play well. It’s hard to take penalties when you don’t have the puck much, you don’t execute enough and you don’t have the rhythm you need. “Speed ​​will force teams to take penalties and we just didn’t get that last game.”

Slafkovsky admitted he needs to be smarter with his cane. He also admitted that keeping both hands on him would certainly help. He has 12 goals and 30 points in 59 games this season after producing six goals and 12 points in an eight-game stretch that began in late January.

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“It’s just difficult. I have never received as many penalties as I do now,” Slafkovsky said. “I have to figure it out. It’s a little difficult (to spend) two minutes in the box. Thank God they didn’t score against us in the last game. I don’t want to do anything against the team. I’m pissed off. “I want to play every shift and (when he was benched) he made me angry.”

Slafkovsky also admitted that he tends to talk back to referees after being penalized. That is considered taboo for any player starting his career and could lead to a target on his back.

“Maybe I shouldn’t shout so much,” he said.

With the Canadiens’ five-game losing streak snapped, the team begins a four-game road trip Thursday night in Florida. (7:00 p.m., TSN2, RDS, TSN Radio-690, 98.5 FM), before stops in Tampa Bay, Nashville and Carolina. Montreal has not defeated the Panthers, who reached the Stanley Cup final last season, since April 29, 2022, Carey Price’s last game. Since then, the Canadiens have lost six straight games to Florida.

“You have to be at your best,” St. Louis said. “You have to be precise. You have to be committed. You have to manage the risks you run.”

Grades: Forward Jake Evans and defenseman Jayden Struble took days of therapy and did not practice Wednesday. Both players will join the team on the trip. … Samuel Montembeault, fresh off his 36-save performance against the Coyotes, will start in net in Florida, St. Louis says.

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