Are the Montreal Canadiens Turning a Corner?
Montreal is finally playing some meaningful hockey.
My first NHL game in Canada was in Montreal…a 2-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings not too long before we all went into Covid hibernation.
The atmosphere was amazing. For a somewhat inconsequential game in December against a Red Wings team that (at the time) was fully in the throes of their rebuild, the crowd that amassed that night at Centre Bell in Montreal was electric. The arena was lively and fun to walk around. I even got to meet Youppi! before the game.
It was an amazing experience, and I cannot wait to return for another game sometime. It’s safe to say that I have a place in my heart for the Canadiens.
It’s been tough going for Montreal in recent years. It seemed like the team was poised for glory and becoming a cup contender in the East around the 2014-15 season. Unfortunately, several high-profile trades, retirements, and injuries left Montreal without a cup…even after a highly unlikely run to the 2021 Cup Final, where they lost in five games to Tampa. And in the years since, Montreal has been working to rebuild through smart draft picks, trades, and coaching.
A month ago, Montreal sat at dead last in the Eastern Conference. They were four games below .500, and had a scoring differential of -29. There were signs of hope- newly acquired Patrick Laine (after a preseason injury) had recently returned to provide an offensive spark to the Canadiens’ roster. But even still, things were looking bleak for this season.
I’m not sure what changed for Montreal. Perhaps there’s something in the water there. Or maybe head coach Martin St. Louis is finally getting the right things to click with the roster. Or perhaps it’s newly called-up goaltender Jakub Dobes providing the Habs with some pretty stellar goaltending.
In any case, things are working for Montreal right now, and a month later, they’re sitting two points out of the second wildcard spot in the East. While they dropped a game on Jan. 11th to the Stars, they are 7-2-1 in their last ten and have beaten some truly good teams in the process.
So, is Montreal finally good? Are they going to make the playoffs???
Well, let’s take a deep breath and have a look at how things have unfolded.
A month ago (Dec. 12th), Montreal dropped a horrifying 9-2 game to the Pittsburg Penguins. In the weeks since that game, the Habs have won 9 out of 13 and climbed out of the basement in the Eastern Conference. This is obviously a good thing for Habs fans, and it’s made the team fun to watch.
Looking at the team, calling up Jakub Dobes from Laval seemed to be a major spark for this team. Dobes is currently 3-0 with the big club and has certainly looked like he belongs in the NHL so far. Samuel Montembeault has also done his part to backstop the team, with a 6-3-1 record and a .900 save percentage.
The team in front of him has done their share to produce as well. Patrik Laine has been producing, with six goals (all on the power play. In fact, all of his goals this season have been on the man advantage). Cole Caufield also has racked up 14 points (6g, 8a). Nick Suzuki has put up an impressive 13 points (2g, 11a) of his own.
The defense has been doing its part as well. Kaiden Guhle has stepped up in a big way, as has David Savard. Lane Hutson has played out of his mind as well, putting up 13 points (3g, 10a) and blocking 14 shots in the process.
This is a team that has certainly hit a hot streak after being murdered by the Penguins, and hasn’t allowed more than four goals in a game since that 9-2 defeat.
But…is this the turning point?
It’s not perfect in Montreal, that’s for sure. This is still a young team that is growing into itself. It’s a team that despite some quality performances by Caulfield, Suzuki, and others, is still in need of some serious offensive depth to be truly taken seriously. Montembeault is still working to establish himself as a true #1 goaltender for this team, and obviously, the sheen and shine on Dobes will inevitably wear off and he will face his own adversity.
But credit goes to Martin St. Louis and the team for bouncing back from what could have easily been a game that crushed this team into the depths for the rest of the year. After watching them beat the Capitals on Friday, it’s clear this is a hungry team becoming what the visionaries in Montreal have been hoping they would become.
Will they make the playoffs? I personally don’t think so. I tend to think there are more mature and stable teams in the East that will take those two wild card spots.
But the future is bright for the Habs. And as a fan of the team, I’m happy they’re fun to watch again.
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