Watch out for the Montreal Canadiens. This surprising team has made an impressive climb up the standings since mid-December. Before this push, the team had been struggling and seemed the last team that would ever become a legitimate playoff contender his season.
However, after sitting at 11-16-3 following a loss to Winnipeg on Dec. 14, the Habs have gone on a tear. They’ve posted a 13-4-1 record to improve to 24-20-4. Not surprisingly, the Canadiens’ run has reinvigorated fans and placed Montreal squarely in the playoff conversation. They are sitting just one point out of the playoffs with a game in hand.
Analyzing the Canadiens’ Big Move Up the Standings
The turnaround began with a resounding 6-1 win against Buffalo on Dec. 17. The return from injury of Patrik Laine has become a difference-maker for this young team. His hat trick set the tone for what was to come in that game. From there, the Habs rattled off surprising wins against tough teams like the Florida Panthers, the Tampa Bay Lightning, and the Vegas Golden Knights. In the process, Montreal learned how to win close games.
For example, the 2-1 shootout win over Colorado and a 3-2 overtime victory against Washington showed that the team could be the real deal. They even began to succeed in high-pressure games. Even when they lost, the games were close. These included a hard-fought shootout defeat to the Dallas Stars. The long and the short of it is that the Canadiens have become competitive in almost every game.
The Canadiens’ best players have shown up consistently to support the team’s current success. Patrik Laine, Cole Caufield, and Kirby Dach have been offensive stars. But perhaps the biggest surprise and a tipping point for the team’s success has been rookie goalie Jakub Dobes‘ stellar play in the crease. He seems unflappable and has beaten several of the NHL’s powerhouse teams.
The other young Habs player to watch is Lane Hutson. The rookie blue-liner has emerged as an elite puck-moving defenseman. Could he win the Calder Trophy? He shares similar skills as the Vancouver Canucks Quinn Hughes and plays with a dynamic edge.
The Key Reason the Habs Have Found Success Is Their Goaltending Stability
The goalie tandem of Dobes and Sam Montembeault has given the Canadiens confidence in the net. Montembeault and Dobes seem able to make critical saves in tight games, and both have been keys to turning close contests into wins. Should this goalie play continue, the Canadiens could be a surprise.
No one expected the team to be close to a playoff spot. Yet, here they are.
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