Here are my three takeaways from today’s 4-3 Montreal Canadiens overtime win over the Dallas Stars, brought to you by Snap Bar Sportif in Rigaud.
*feel free to RT and engage!*
1 — Canadiens avenge their worst loss
Montreal’s most lopsided loss of the season came back on November 13, when they were blown out 7–0 by the Dallas Stars. That game wasn’t close, and for many, it felt like the sky was falling after a night where just about everything went wrong.
This time around, the Canadiens were up for the task and wrapped up their road trip on a high note.
Dallas pushed hard in the third period, but Sam Montembeault responded by making up for a weak goal allowed earlier and came up with several big saves when it mattered most. The Habs seemed to be running on fumes and just wanted to get the game into overtime. They get the extra point thanks to a game winner by Lane Hutson.
The Canadiens head home feeling good about a road trip that can be classified as a tremendous success. Splitting the season series with one of the league’s top teams is an encouraging sign.
2 — Poor Phillip Danault
Sometimes the hockey gods just aren’t on your side. Danault is still searching for his first goal of the season, and we’re now past the halfway point. You can do all the right things, but at some point a zero in the goal column starts to weigh on any player.
Montreal’s most recent trade acquisition thought he had one in the first period. The only problem was Brendan Gallagher also got a piece of it. The celebration was emphatic, and it looked like the monkey was finally off his back — but not quite. Danault remains in search of his first goal.
That said, he did pick up an assist on the play, marking the 400th point of his NHL career.
3 — Oliver Kapanen is Montreal’s most overlooked player
Kapanen doesn’t get nearly enough credit, despite continuing to score at an impressive pace. With his goal this afternoon, he’s now on track for a 25-goal season — and very few people would have predicted that before the year began.
Yes, he’s benefitting from playing alongside Ivan Demidov and Montreal’s most productive forward in Juraj Slafkovsky, but that doesn’t diminish what he’s accomplished. He’s done nothing but produce.
Gone are the days when the main conversation around the Canadiens centered on the absolute necessity of acquiring a second-line center. They already have a rookie who’s outperformed the vast majority of names that have been floating around in trade rumors since the start of the season.
@tsn690 #tsn690
@NickDeSouza_ Leafs fans crying about a possible Florida date in the playoffs is hilarious. It's a loser mentality. Leafs are probably the deepest team in the East. If I were a leaf fan I'd want to play Florida! Give me the best against my best anytime. This is why leafs haven't won shit.