On Saturday, Kirby Dach finally silenced the whispers that had hovered over him for too long. Two goals, newfound confidence, and a Montreal Canadian who leaves with a resounding 4-0 victory against the defending champions, the Florida Panthers.
But let’s be honest: behind this awakening hides a key player. Patrick Laine. This guy is not only a genius sniper, he’s bringing life back to a teammate who desperately needed it.
Dach, remember, was stuck in a downward spiral since the start of the season. We saw it, we felt it: it wasn’t just a question of numbers.
It was a question of trust. And it was Laine who brought this confidence back, slowly, without making waves.
No need for grandiose speeches or spectacular gestures. Laine simply did what he does best: elevate those who play with him.
Take Dach’s first goal against the Panthers. It all starts with Laine in the corner of the offensive zone drawing three players with him, and, at the perfect moment, a pass to Kaiden Guhle.
Guhle finds Alex Newhook in the slot, and Newhook places the puck on a silver platter for Dach, who scores.
The shooting? Not perfect, but who cares? The puck is at the bottom, and that’s all that matters.
And Wool? Not a mention on the score sheet. But he was the one who initiated the whole action. He was the one who attracted three players, who opened up space, who gave Guhle and Newhook time to build the play.
“Patrick is incredible. Even when he doesn’t score, he finds ways to make us better,” Dach said after the match. And frankly, it’s hard to argue with him.
It’s not just about passes or goals. It’s a question of presence, of aura. Laine has this rare ability to transform a trio, to give meaning to chaos.
In recent matches, he has formed a combination with Dach and Newhook that is seriously starting to worry opposing defenses.
Newhook summed it up well: “We’re really starting to understand each other on the ice. Patrick gets so much attention that it opens up spaces for Kirby and me. It’s up to us to take advantage of it, and we’re starting to do so.”
Dach’s second goal on Saturday is another example.
Laine, once again, started the game with a perfect read in the neutral zone to force a turnover from the Panthers player, which directly benefited Newhook who was able to recover the puck and spot Kirby.
Dach, as on the first goal, is in the right place, at the right time. Two goals, two sequences where Laine does not appear in the stats, but where he is clearly the key element.
So yes, it’s easy to get carried away after an evening like that. Two goals from Dach, a convincing victory, and a trio which finally seems to find its cruising speed.
But let’s be realistic. It’s just one match. Dach will have to prove that he can maintain this level, that he can continue to be this dominant center that is expected of him.
And Wool? He will have to continue to be that catalyst, that player who, even without scoring, changes everything on the ice.
For now, what we saw on Saturday is promising. Dach, Laine, Newhook: a trio that is starting to make waves.
A Canadian who is finally showing signs of life at five-on-five. And a Kirby Dach who, after months of doubts, finally seems to believe in himself.
This is the real impact of Patrik Laine. Not just his power play goals, but his ability to breathe life into a team that sorely needed it.
For Dach, this is just the beginning. But a start that could change everything. And for that, he can say thank you to Patrik Laine. Montreal too.
Amen
