The third period saved it from being a complete Montreal Canadiens show, but they held on to get the two points on Friday night.
The Montreal Canadiens are now 2/3 on the road trip and have a good chance to sweep the Western Swing. It’s a good feeling to have the team be involved in a well-executed game and be rewarded for it by the end of the final buzzer.
Seeing Charles Hudon become a healthy scratch ahead of puck drop was tough, but based on the way Artturi Lehkonen played, it may have been necessary. It was his first game since Remembrance Day when the Montreal Canadiens beat Buffalo 2-1 in overtime, but it didn’t look like it at all. He was flying around the ice, involved in every battle, and taking the punishment around the net. Additionally, the fourth line gave fans another reason why Claude Julien shouldn’t touch either of them with a 1000 ft pole.
The Habs didn’t change positionally in the standings after this game, but they did spread things out a little bit. Boston is only five points away now, and the magic number for Detroit and Florida to overtake Montreal has jumped to three. It’ll take a bit of luck as the season continues, but as long as the Habs continue to do their part, we shouldn’t have too much to be upset about.
Last game’s critique was a little defence in a sea of offence, and Montreal cleared that up for the most part. The next objective for them will be to keep things going this way and get a rhythm going.