Last night, the Canadiens won their game again. It was against the Sharks and the team needed Cole Caufield to score a spectacular goal in overtime to win 4-3, but a win is a win.
Theoretically, it’s good for the standings, isn’t it? Obviously. It’s better than a loss in a playoff race.
But in reality, even if the Canadiens seem to be #InTheMix right now and have won their three games since the break, the team is unable to gain ground in the playoffs.
The proof?
Despite yesterday’s win, the Canadiens are still five points away from the playoffs. There are also four teams (that are better than the Canadiens in my opinion) to overcome in order to qualify.
Not easy to make the playoffs…
The guys are playing like a team that wants to convince their bosses not to sell at the deadline, but it doesn’t change the fact that the standings aren’t helping the players’ cause.
When you look at it, the Islanders (14th in the East) are only two points away from the Canadiens. The Penguins (15th) are four points away from the Canadiens, who are on a bad streak.
It would take about three points in the next two games for the Canadiens to hope to make the playoffs in 2025. Kent Hughes probably doesn’t think it’s likely…
But if we focus on yesterday’s game, there are still some elements to consider that allowed the Canadiens to not be seven points away from the playoffs this Friday morning.
For example?
1. Lane Hutson found a way to get another assist last night. It’s his 40th this season, achieved in 59 games. A rookie defenseman with 40 assists in less than 60 games since 1991-1992, there are only two in the NHL.
The other? Nicklas Lidstrom. No less.
2. Nick Suzuki has been rolling since the break. He has eight points in three games… and yesterday, he scored two goals and set up Cole Caufield’s superb goal in overtime.
The captain, who can still read the game well, but has never had a hat-trick in the NHL, reached the 60-point plateau. Will he have 82 points this season? It’s possible… even if he plays with a weight on his line.
3. Arber Xhekaj didn’t look good on the Sharks’ third goal and was benched. Martin St-Louis didn’t want to leave him on the bench for the entire third period, but power plays prevented him from using his #72. And at the end of the game, St-Louis didn’t want to send him in cold.
With Jayden Struble (who fought) and David Savard playing less, the other three defensemen played more minutes.
4. Josh Anderson getting hurt (again) and coming back to play while giving it his all on the ice is impressive. He motivates his teammates, and that’s good for the veteran.
But at some point, he’ll need a break.
5. Owen Beck collected his first NHL point, but Owen Beck worked hard to earn it. He accepted a hit and found a way to control the puck to pass it to his linemates.
That’s worth noting.
6. Michael Ryder was in town last night. I wonder if it was to finally give Brendan Gallagher the Rolex he promised him, but never gave him, for giving up his #73 in 2011-2013… #OrNot
In 2019, it still hadn’t been done.
7. Samuel Montembeault wasn’t as solid as usual in front of his net, but he found a way to get the win. In a results-driven league, that’s important. Will he get a break tomorrow in Buffalo?
8. The Canadiens’ first home win against San Jose since 2015 is worth noting.
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