Even with all the best will in the world, we wouldn’t really know how, or why, to thoroughly analyze a 2-1 loss to the Nashville Predators on a rainy Sunday evening in December. We will therefore not dwell on these two points that the Canadian will never see again.
In this context, it could seem lazy, even opportunistic, to look into the case of the Habs’ only point guard. That’s still what we’re going to do.
Jake Evans scored a more or less glorious goal in the second period. In the opposing zone, he recovered a puck that he had just lost, before beating Juuse Saros with a backhand shot. No need to look for this success in the end-of-year charts: it won’t be there.
This goal, however, had two merits. First, he reduced the gap by half, at a moment when the CH seemed more or less inspired. Then it ended a 26-game scoring drought for Evans. Since he scored the very first goal of the season on October 11 in Toronto, in his first appearance on the ice, he will have spent 515 appearances shooting blanks. It’s long.
If we are interested in the case of the man who is only playing his fourth full season in the NHL, it is because he has found himself in the center of an offensive trio for several days. A situation that he has rarely had the chance to experience since his debut at this level.
Never mind, in almost complete anonymity, Evans maintained an average of 0.37 points per game, the equivalent of around thirty points over a full season. It’s not phenomenal, but it’s comparable to Brendan Gallagher’s production. However, the latter never plays on a numerical penalty, and Evans, never on a numerical advantage.
This season was no exception: from training camp, number 71 wisely took his place on the fourth line, with a rotation of more or less productive wingers at his side – especially less.
During the recent trip to California, however, Martin St-Louis began to do what he had rarely done until then: “cut” his bench. Jesse Ylönen and Michael Pezzetta started skipping turns late in the match. Tanner Pearson and Josh Anderson too. Jake Evans instead got auditions in the top 9. And when Alex Newhook fell in battle, Evans moved up two levels, first leading the third, then the second trio full-time. Here he is at the center of Sean Monahan and Josh Anderson for four games, and the result, without being transcendent, is nothing embarrassing for him. Time will tell if he can play this role in the medium or long term, but for now, it seems to suit him.
“He’s the kind of player you rarely see on the scoresheet, but he brings a lot of things, especially on the disadvantage, with his speed,” added David Savard. He is not afraid to pay the price for the team. When we see a guy like that being rewarded, it always makes us smile. »
“I see him in training, and he has some skills,” added goalie Jake Allen. In this league, you never know when you’ll get your chance. He gets the best out of it. »
Not very talkative by nature, especially in front of the cameras, Evans only said that his experience in this position, so far, has been punctuated by “ups and downs”.
“You face better opponents, you play a little more, we expect more from you offensively,” he listed. I try to improve my game, to maintain confidence. »
Does he feel the pressure to produce, especially in a context where his two current wingers are far from being on fire? “Above all, I want to help them,” he clarified. I think I was put there to help them defensively. My goal is to give them the puck and allow them to do their job. »
Let us insist: it is not because we take the trouble to talk about him that Evans’ experience in the top 6 is miraculous, although the unit had a strong match on Sunday. At five against five, his trio’s record (three goals scored, two allowed) is boosted by an exceptional save rate from the Canadian’s goalkeepers. It should be noted, however, that Josh Anderson is neither better nor worse with him than with all the other center players with whom he has played this season.
And casually, here is Evans at 9 points, his best career haul after 28 games. His differential of 6 also places him at the top of his club.
It will never win him the Hart Trophy. But it is nevertheless to his credit. Especially within the Canadiens from 2023-2024. And even more so after a 2-1 defeat on a rainy Sunday evening in December.