Finally. Finally. Kirby Dach decided to wake up and show why we bet on him.
We’re not going to lie, in recent months, we were starting to wonder if the Dach experience wasn’t a nice flop wrapped in pretty gift paper by Kent Hughes.
And then, bam! Saturday night, against the Florida Panthers, he remembered that he could be an impact player. has
Two goals, a dominant presence, and suddenly everyone remembers why this guy was drafted so high. Thanks Kirby, we were seriously starting to despair.
His performance wasn’t just good, it was essential. It’s not like the Canadian is rolling in gold lately.
Yes, they win, but it’s often a mix of miracles, hard work, and, let’s be frank, good posts. But there, Dach decided not to leave the fate of the match to chance.
From the second period, he took charge. His first goal? A classic tic-tac-toe pattern that would have made a pee-wee coach smile because it was so perfect.
The kind of play that shows he still knows what to do with a puck.
The second? Ah, that’s great art. A breakaway, a perfect feint, a backhand shot into the top of the net. Spencer Knight didn’t see it coming. And honestly, neither do we.
But it’s not just the goals. Dach had a different energy. He skated with confidence, cut off passes, made smart plays in all zones.
And that’s new. Because it has to be said: for a while now, Dach has looked more like a ghost than a dominant player.
We saw his potential, but it was locked somewhere under layers of doubt and lack of confidence. And there, Saturday evening, he finally broke this shell.
And you know what? It woke everyone up. Because a furious Kirby Dach is contagious.
Jake Evans followed with a shorthanded goal, a missile into the top corner. Cole Caufield added his 18th of the season to nail the coffin for the Panthers.
It was as if Dach’s performance had injected new energy into the entire team. Even Martin St-Louis looked a little more relaxed behind the bench, as if he was thinking, “Ah, so this is how it was supposed to work.”
Now, let’s be clear, there is a big difference between a timely awakening and a real return to form. Dach shined on Saturday afternoon, but he will have to show that he can do that regularly.
Because a player of his caliber, with his talent and his stature, cannot afford to disappear for weeks.
He needs to be a factor in every game, not just once in a while. Canadians need this Dach, not the version that does the bare minimum and hopes no one notices.
And let’s talk about his post-match commentary. Dach, true to himself, remained modest: “Our line played well in all three zones. When we are good defensively, it leads to offensive chances.”
Yes, Kirby, that’s true, but let’s be honest: you were the engine, not just a passenger on this train. The details matter, of course, but it was your intensity that made the difference.
Don’t pretend to be just another guy. Tonight you were the star, and everyone saw it.
So where do we go from here? For now, Dach can enjoy this perfect evening. A performance like this, just before the holidays, is exactly what he needed.
He can finally breathe a little, remember that he’s capable of shining, and hopefully use this game as a springboard for the rest of the season.
But be careful, expectations come with this kind of performance. Canadiens fans, and probably Martin St-Louis, will now expect to see this level regularly.
And if Dach falls back into his ways, this evening risks looking like a great exception rather than the start of a real turning point.
What is certain is that on Saturday, Kirby Dach set the locker room on fire. And the timing couldn’t be better. The Canadian is on a good run, and having Dach at the top of his form could be the missing piece to make this team even more competitive.
Now all that remains is to hope that this fury is not just a flash in the pan. Kirby, the ball is in your court. Don’t make us wait too long before doing this again.
Because on Saturday night, you showed that you could be the player this team desperately needs. And frankly, it’s good to see it.
To be continued…
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