The Montreal Canadiens were back home on Saturday night to greet the New York Islanders. In a very tight Eastern Conference playoff race, every game feels like a must-win. The result in this one was a 7-3 win.
Here’s what caught my eye.
In a contending version of the Habs, that Suzuki trio stays together.
13 points between them last night, and all three of them having career years. When Slafkovsky was drafted he made reference to Suzuki and Caufield looking for a winger. He nailed it, and has become the perfect fit.
While they’re still building the second line, the coach may choose to split them for balance, but when this team is ready to compete they will be a fixture. Could Caufield find playmakers that suit him better than those guys?
About that second line…
Newhook scored a nice one last night. Sometimes his shot is surprising and you wonder why we don’t see it more. That line needed a goal. Let’s be honest. That line needs a top-six player or two and the other guys need to find their right chair.
A truly competitive version of the Montreal Canadiens probably has a complete turnover on the fourth line. It probably doesn’t have Evans as the third line centreman, and so on. Michael Hage is coming soon, and Hughes may be revisiting a trade in the summer. Change is coming.
Kaiden Guhle has found a better chair.
Guhle looked good in two of three games this week, which is a vast improvement. The fit between he and Hutson is just not there. When Carrier arrived last season he helped Guhle when they played together. Both guys look better together.
In the meanwhile, it’s criminal to have Lane Hutson playing with a seventh defender. HuGo is obviously hoping Reinbacher will be the eventual solution there. They need to see him at the NHL level. My prediction is that they call him up to head out with the team on the five-game road trip that begins next Saturday.
Even in a 7-3 win, a complete game escaped the Habs.
At least half of that second period was unwatchable. Imagine how good they could be if they played a full 60 minutes.
Hab At Her 