It’s astonishing that the Montreal Canadiens are on track for 104 points, yet they find themselves in a fierce battle to secure a playoff spot this season. Last year, they reached the postseason with just 91 points. This year, the Eastern Conference is excelling in matchups against the West, creating an unprecedented imbalance.
The Canadiens delivered a strong performance against the Washington Capitals, securing a crucial 6-2 victory on Saturday, which is vital for Montreal’s playoff aspirations.
Untamed Equines
If Cole Caufield can maintain his health, he could achieve the most remarkable goal-scoring season for the Canadiens since 1994. That year marked the last occasion a player from Montreal reached the 40-goal mark, with Vincent Damphousse achieving that feat.
Since that time, there has been a continuous struggle to surpass what isn’t particularly impressive in the NHL. The nearest attempt was by Max Pacioretty, who netted 39 goals during the 2013-14 season. Caufield’s highest tally stands at 37 goals, a record he set last year.
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This season, Caufield has a remarkable goal in mind. Just 30 seconds into Saturday night’s game, he intercepted a shot at the Capitals’ blue line and took off on a breakaway. He fired to the far side, easily outsmarting Charlie Lindgren. Caufield then scored again in the first period, outmaneuvering Alexander Ovechkin in a close-range skirmish to net his 35th goal of the season.
Achieving the 40-goal milestone seems well within reach for the league’s second leading goal scorer. Caufield is projected to net 49 goals this season. Not only should he break the Canadiens’ disheartening 32-year streak without a 40-goal scorer, but Caufield also has the potential to become the first player since Stephane Richer in 1990 to score 50 goals.
It will be thrilling to witness what total Caufield can accomplish in the remaining 23 games of the season.
In his first two games back from a significant ankle injury and subsequent surgery, Alex Newhook has performed impressively. He has recorded two assists in these two matches since his return. Alongside Nick Suzuki, Newhook is one of the forwards tasked with securing the zone during power plays, making a back pass from their own blue line. Newhook actually excels in this role due to his remarkable speed.
Newhook secured the zone just as the power play was about to expire. He broke through the Capitals’ defense and then passed to Zachary Bolduc, who set up Mike Matheson trailing behind. Matheson found the back of the net on the far side. It was an exquisite goal made possible by Newhook’s incredible speed.
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The Canadiens took a 4-1 lead late in the second period thanks to an impressive play by their top line during a three-on-two break. Suzuki brought the puck into the corner and then set up Kirby Dach, who launched a slap shot into the top corner. The first line was the only group that posted a favorable Corsi rating throughout the game.
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Both Suzuki and Jake Evans scored empty-net goals as Montreal appeared to capitalize on every opportunity, resulting in a score that didn’t quite reflect the dynamics of the five-on-five gameplay.
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Wild Goats
The Canadiens struggled significantly in their defensive zone. They dedicated a substantial amount of time attempting to fend off the larger Capitals, yet they were not penalized for it due to a stellar performance by Jakub Dobes. He recorded 27 saves out of 29 shots, ensuring that the goats segment remained unscored upon.
If the prospective Cup campaigns commence in 2026-27, they will have Michael Hage and Alexander Zharovsky as forwards; David Reinbacher will be on defense; and Jacob Fowler will be in goal. Should the campaign begin this year, they will require a top-line winger, a third-pair defenseman, and an improved goalie.
Dach hasn’t provided a solution on the opening line, yet the Canadiens had a solid performance on Saturday night. The team appears hesitant to rely on Arber Xhekaj as a third-pair option. Samuel Montembeault is significantly below the league average in goal, and Jakub Dobes is also slightly underperforming compared to the league standard.
If Hughes and Jeff Gorton choose to invest, they must part ways with Patrik Laine, who seemingly has no place in their roster. Laine has been donning a contact jersey during practice for more than a month, yet they refuse to utilize him. Moreover, they are also denying the media access to him. It seems almost certain that his tenure in Montreal is coming to an end.
The outlook for the Canadiens is exceptionally promising, but the question remains: how soon do they wish to see that potential realized? If they were to secure assets at this moment, the influx of talent for the next season would be substantial. They currently have no unrestricted free agents with contracts expiring next season. However, in the following season, the entire third line, consisting of Phillip Danault, Brendan Gallagher, and Josh Anderson, will be available to negotiate their futures.
Don’t assume that Hughes has limited his options. In reality, he’s situated in a vast open space. There are no incorrect decisions; only intriguing possibilities.
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Brian Wilde, a sports journalist from Montreal, presents Call of the Wilde on globalnews.ca following each game played by the Canadiens.
