In life, there are sometimes gifts that we no longer hope for. A streak of three victories by the Canadian, for example. It's clear that the team's fans had lost all hope of finding this present under the tree as their favorites' last game at the Bell Center approached.
However, like a good father on Christmas Eve, Martin St-Louis and his troupe brought this out of the shed at the last minute. It caused waves in the Bell Center.
For the second time in 24 hours, the Canadian got the better of the Red Wings. This time by dominating the match 5 to 1. Added to the win against the Sabers on Tuesday, this gain allowed the Habs to line up three in a row for the first time since the end of March.
MARTIN ALARIE / AGENCE QMI / LE JOURNAL DE MONTRÉAL
Three wins in a row! Wow! Juraj Slafkovksy will say that we think the Canadian is too strong for the league. Uuuh! No.
The good news, however, is that it is, apparently, for ranking fund clubs. It always feels like a win.
But it remains difficult to return to the mix. Despite its three victories, the Habs only climbed two places, going from 16th to 14th in the Eastern Association. A victory on Monday in Columbus would allow the Montrealers to move up another place. But, above all, to enter the Christmas break with a momentum that we have not seen in Montreal since the five victories in a row in February 2022.
We can't get enough of wool
But back to Saturday night's game. You want to know if the Canadian is ahead of the Red Wings in their rebuilding process.
Look from the blue line going down. Behind Moritz Seider and Simon Edvinsson (injured), we find Ben Chiarot, Jeff Petry, William Lagesson and Erik Gustafsson: a quartet of defenders that the Canadian management has thanked at one point or another over the last four seasons.
It's no surprise that the Canadiens players were able to do practically whatever they wanted on the ice.
Like Patrik Laine who scored another goal on the power play. His eighth goal in nine games. All registered on the massive attack. We can't get enough of it. Moreover, he became the first player in NHL history to score eight consecutive goals for a team on a power play.
Like Nick Suzuki and Lane Hutson who added two points each to their record.
Like Emil Heineman who benefited from the sustained work of Christian Dvorak at the back of the territory to score his eighth of the season. Casually, the Swede ranks fifth among the team's scorers. Not bad for a striker who plays less than 11 minutes per game, on average.
Like Brendan Gallagher who took advantage of Alex Lyon's generosity to score his ninth of the season (note that we didn't talk about Kirby Dach's trio).
The end of Primeau is approaching
The 32-year-old goalkeeper is on a rather downward slope. Even if he never climbed the hill very high.
It reminds me of Cayden Primeau.
Although it was a second game in 24 hours and, at the start of the season, St-Louis had stated that it was obvious that its two goalkeepers would split this type of task, he returned with Samuel Montembeault.
It was a ninth start in a row for the masked man from Bécancour. We can understand the Canadiens head coach for not wanting to send Primeau into the lion's den filled with fans who are just waiting for an opportunity to boo and ridicule him.
We also understand that Montembeault is the goalkeeper who offers the Habs the best chance of climbing the rankings.
But it's worth wondering if the 25-year-old American's days with the Canadian are numbered. His last departure dates back to December 1, in Boston.
If he is not sent into the fray on Monday in Columbus, we will have to face the facts that this is the end.
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