Can Staal and Holden Hold Up?
Nick Holden and Marc Staal had an abysmal Game 2, as the pair was on the ice for all three goals against in regulation. That includes the game tying goal late where Holden had foolishly broken his stick and was unable to prevent Plekanec from getting to it.
After benching Nick Holden in Game 3, Vigneault came to the conclusion that he didn’t have any better options. Klein missed a lot of time late in the season and had a poor game. Holden played better after the benching but still had some bad moments.
Marc Staal had some key turnovers and hasn’t been the defensive force of years past. This pair was on the ice for many of Montreal’s best scoring chances.
Still, Staal and Holden remain locked in as the second pair after McDonagh and Girardi. Brendan Smith has earned the coach’s trust, but Brady Skjei has not. Skjei only played about 12 and half minutes in Game 6, the fewest for a defensemen.
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Both Staal and Holden played over twenty minutes and the team looks like they will sink or swim with this duo. Vigneault needs to play Skjei more and ease the burden on his second pair. Regardless, they will need to play better.