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The Montreal Canadiens improved to 2-1-0 with a convincing 4-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators on the Bell Centre on Saturday evening.
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After a deflating defeat on Thursday towards Boston, the Canadiens reverted to issues that received them their first win on opening evening. The ability play clicked, Cole Caufield scored once more, and goalie Sam Montembeault performed like an early Vezina Trophy candidate.
Final week, the Senators swept Montreal in a back-to-back set to shut out the pre-season, however the Canadiens discovered a method to flip the script on their division rival. Let’s talk about just a few takeaways from their first Saturday evening win since Jan. 6, 2024.
Kiss These Pre-Season Energy Play Jitters Goodbye
The Canadiens did not rating a power-play aim within the pre-season, which led many hockey analysts to surprise if the crew might survive Patrik Laine’s absence. Moreover, there have been questions on whether or not head coach Martin St-Louis might repair the particular groups, which ranked twenty seventh final 12 months.
After going goalless in six pre-season video games, Montreal scored a power-play aim of their first three regular-season video games and has a 20% success fee on the person benefit.
There isn’t any assure that this success will proceed all through the marketing campaign, however the youngsters and veterans are working their magic on particular groups by way of three video games.
They presently rank 18th on the facility play (20%) and eighth on the penalty kill (92.3%), two surprising turnarounds.
Montembeault on a Mission
The competitors for Crew Canada on the upcoming 4 Nations Face-off is huge open. Most specialists peg Stuart Skinner (Edmonton) because the clear favourite to begin, however his efficiency main as much as the occasion will likely be a figuring out issue.
In the meantime, Canadiens’ Montembeault is making his case to be the starter, particularly for the reason that event will likely be in his house rink on the Bell Centre.
Related: 7 Fascinating Statistics About Canadiens’ Montembeault
In six intervals of hockey, he is surrendered a single aim and compiled an astonishing .986%, which ranks second within the NHL. In his first sport towards the Toronto Maple Leafs, he stonewalled one of many league’s high offenses, and with a cushty 3-0 lead towards the Senators, he was as soon as once more good with 24 saves.
As an under-the-radar starter, Montembeault performs like somebody on a mission to get the popularity essential to signify his house nation in a world hockey occasion.
Caufield Should not Be Pondering 30, however 40
To say Caufield has a guardian angel watching over him this season could be an understatement. He has 4 targets by way of three video games and is on tempo for 109 targets.
Caufield will not be breaking Wayne Gretzky’s single-season file (92) anytime quickly, however he is on tempo for at the very least 30 targets. That may be a brand new profession excessive since he reached 28 final 12 months, probably the most he is had in a 12 months.
Contemplating that no Canadian participant has scored 40 targets since Vincent Damphousse in 1993-94, Caufield has an opportunity of turning into the primary participant to succeed in that milestone in three many years.
Reaching 30 could be memorable, and reaching 40 could be magical. Both method, he is on hearth proper now and discovering the gaps to get these pucks previous elite netminders like Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman.
The Children are Certain Enjoyable to Watch
When was the final time the Canadiens have been this enjoyable to observe? It has been a minute, for certain.
Whether or not it is Lane Hutson dancing with the puck, snipes from Caufield, laborious hits from Arber Xhekaj, and Montembeault making saves, there is a renewed vitality in regards to the 2024-25 Canadiens, and the Bell Centre is roaring again to life.
Related: Canadiens Chasing Milestones in 2024-25
The gamers within the lineup have developed a powerful bond, and you’ll inform by their crisp passes and unselfish systemic play. Gamers are stepping as much as block photographs, making an attempt to get open when teammates have the puck, and never shying away from being bodily, standing up for each other.
Sadly, many have written the Canadiens off and imagine they may end in no man’s land, distant from a high draft spot however nowhere near a playoff spot.
It’s nonetheless early, however this crew is way from being written off and has held their very own towards some Jap Convention heavyweights.
Montreal hit the ice on Monday evening towards Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins. The puck drops at 7:00 pm, solely on Prime.
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