If the Canadian wins tonight against the Canucks, it won’t be fair in the mix ; he will be squarely in the top eight of the Eastern Association, or in the portion of the ranking giving access to the playoffs.
Who could have predicted such a thing just a few weeks ago?
The CH has a record of 18-18-3 since the start of the campaign, which gives it 39 points in 39 games. Will he finish the first half of his season over .500?
What can explain this Montreal resurrection?
1. Patrik Lainewho had instilled energy and hope in everyone during training camp, greatly affected the morale of the Montreal troops when he was injured.
Since December 3, the date of Patrik Laine’s first match with the Habs, the CH has a record of 10-5-0, fifth best in the entire NHL.
And if we remove the two missed matches on weekend last by Laine (flu) and the one he only played in the third (Columbus), the CH is even stronger: 9-3-0.
In short, Patrik Laine makes the Canadian win; it’s proven.
And recently, he even found a way to produce with equal strength – and not only in power play – and resurrect Kirby Dach!
Dach and the Montreal power play just aren’t the same when Laine isn’t there…
(Credit: Getty Images)
2. Alexandre Carrier came to stabilize a defense that did not seem to know how to play the system man-to-man demanded by Martin St-Louis and Stéphane Robidas.
His arrival – and the departure of Justin Barron (who is having a hard time in Nashville) – ensured that everyone found themselves in a chair made for them currently. And the coaching staff seems a little less crazy with its man-to-man system…
Since Carrier was a Habthe Canadian has won no less than six of his eight games, scoring 28 goals and allowing only 18. The CH scores more goals than before… and what’s more, it plays better defensively. It is more structured, which results in more shots taken and fewer shots allowed.
Carrier, recognized first and foremost for his defensive play, even found a way to obtain four assists in eight games.
That’s what it’s like, a Quebecer who wants to play in Quebec! It reminds others, without having to say it directly, how special it is to play for the Montreal Canadiens.
3. Jakub Dobes transformed the situation in front of the net Habs.
We went from a team that had to play Samuel Montembeault every game or almost because his substitute was not not/more of NHL caliber to a team that has a number two who challenge seriously the number one position of Samuel Montembeault.
Day and night!
-Dobes blanked the Panthers, then defeated the Avalanche at home in a shootout, allowing only a small goal against Nathan MacKinnon and his gang.
I know the sample size is small, but Dobes has a 0.48 goals-against average and a .982 save percentage this NHL season. Looking forward to seeing him play another match…
The question that remains unanswered, however: why not have recalled it before, however? Especially since the Canadian’s management had been toying with the idea of recalling him for a while…
Dobes has everything to succeed: talent, size, technique, attitude, work ethic, etc. Let’s not put too much pressure on him, but still believe in him.
Rappel : as early as September, people close to the Rocket and the Canadian told me that Dobes was perhaps the future #1 goalie in the organization and that we should give him a chance with the big club. #It’s done
Prolongation
– Of course, there is also the awakening of Kirby Dach (and Alex Newhook), the consistency of Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki and Lane Hutson, the incredible season of Jake Evans, the efficiency of Joel Armia, the surprise of Emil Heineman and the brilliance of Samuel Montembeault to explain the good position in which the club currently finds itself.
In short, success is a team affair among Montrealers.
However, Juraj Slafkovsky will have to wake up in turn because what he has shown us on the ice since the start of the campaign is worrying.
Fatigue, lack of enthusiasm, slow decision-making, lack of crunch on his skates, hands too slow, soft passes, rare shots…
Remember that Slafkovsky is a first overall pick and that he will receive an average of $7.6 million per year starting next fall… including only $10 million in real terms in 2025-26!
– Tonight’s game against the Canucks will not be easy.
Even if the Canucks will be deprived of a few important players, the Montrealers will have heavy legs, having lined up games and steals quite intensely recently. And the first home match after returning from a long trip is always difficult…
Stay that it will be a first match at the Bell Center in 2025 and a first in front of the club’s fans for two weeks in a half…
And the club won’t have any other games until next weekend!
It is time for the CH – which has only won 10 of its 19 games presented at the Bell Center this season – to make its arena a fortress and a hostile place for the opponent.
At least, he will most likely be able to count on the return of Patrik Laine…
