Claude Julien’s Shuffling of the Top 3 Centremen Pays Dividends

CALGARY, AB - DECEMBER 19: Nick Suzuki #14 of the Montreal Canadiens scores against David Rittich #33 of the Calgary Flames to tie the game and force overtime during an NHL game at Scotiabank Saddledome on December 19, 2019 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images)
CALGARY, AB - DECEMBER 19: Nick Suzuki #14 of the Montreal Canadiens scores against David Rittich #33 of the Calgary Flames to tie the game and force overtime during an NHL game at Scotiabank Saddledome on December 19, 2019 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images)
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MONTREAL, QC – OCTOBER 10: Montreal Canadiens  (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC – OCTOBER 10: Montreal Canadiens  (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

The first half of Game 3 saw a rather stagnant Montreal Canadiens team; however, an electrifying performance ensued Claude Julie’s shuffling of his centres

With the exception of the opening seven minutes of Wednesday’s Game 3 of the qualifying round between the Montreal Canadiens and the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Habs played an ineffective game, looking lost out on the ice, contrasted by a hungry and capable Penguins team. Despite having gained an early lead, the Canadiens seemed unable to match the intensity of the Penguins and conceded three consecutive goals.

The first two games featured a Carey Price who stopped just about everything, and this game was no different, despite the three goals that snuck past him in the opening 26 minutes. The first pair occurred on consecutive Pittsburgh powerplays, with the first featuring a beautiful cross-ice fake shot pass from Evgeni Malkin to Patric Hornqvist and the second a nice pass through the slot from Bryan Rust to Jason Zucker. Both of these goals are difficult to pin on the Canadiens’ netminder as they required an explosive split-second post-to-post transition.

The third goal was a result of Victor Mete bobbling the puck and losing a race to Brandon Tanev, who passed the puck through the slot to Zach Aston-Reese, who was robbed point blank by Carey Price, but the ensuing rebound was forced in by Teddy Blueger. Following this third goal, the Canadiens continued to struggle, with Carey Price bailing them out time and time again.

All this is to say that Price continued his fine form in this game, despite the three shots that got past him and with any other goaltender in net for the Habs, they may very well have been down 5-1 after 30 minutes.

However, unlike many games through the past 10 years where Carey Price’s efforts were nullified by the Montreal Canadiens’ non-existent offensive threat, the Canadiens really stepped up their offensive play at the halfway point of the game, and this is primarily due to a bold shuffling of lines on the part of Claude Julien.

TORONTO, ONTARIO – AUGUST 03: Montreal Canadiens (Photo by Andre Ringuette/Freestyle Photo/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ONTARIO – AUGUST 03: Montreal Canadiens (Photo by Andre Ringuette/Freestyle Photo/Getty Images) /

Claude Julien has oft been criticized in his second tenure as Montreal Canadiens Head Coach, and the past week has been no exception. I myself have found myself questioning a myriad of his decisions, ranging from the powerplay lines to Dale Weise’s spot in the starting lineup to Max Domi being left to dry on the fourth line, and I still find issues with all these decisions.

However, his coaching in the second half of Wednesday’s game was as close to perfect as it gets. I can not think of a single more dominant coaching performance by Claude Juliens since he rejoined the Montreal Canadiens on Valentine’s Day of 2017.

And it all goes back to his bold shuffling of the team’s top three centremen. And do not be mistaken, this was a bold move. Placing two 20-year olds who are each in the midst of their third-ever playoff game at the centres of the team’s top two lines with the team trailing the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-1 is a daring move. Placing Philip Danault on the third line when he has been super-glued to the top trio since Julien’s return to the organization is daring. Claude Julien is not renowned for his daring coaching, but he was bold in this game, and it paid off massively.

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Philip Danault’s play improved as soon as he found himself between fellow defensive-specialists Artturi Lehkonen and Paul Byron. This third line became Sidney Crosby’s constant matchup, and they pocketed #87. The line was incredibly effective defensively and allowed the Canadiens top line to have some freedom offensively since it would no longer have to be matched with Crosby every shift.

The second line consisted of Jonathan Drouin, Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Joel Armia, a line that played great in October and November before Drouin was injured. Their chemistry was apparent soon after the changes to the lineup were made, and it is they who cut the deficit to 1 goal just past the game’s halfway point.

Kotkaniemi has played an excellent series, he, of course, scored a goal in the two opening games, but more importantly, he looks confident, he’s playing some really smart hockey, his skating has vastly improved, and he is using his size, throwing quite a few hits. Given the chance to play in the top-6, he continued to impress. On the Drouin goal, Kotkaniemi beat three Penguins to an errant puck and sent it to Weber, who, in turn, passed it along to Chiarot, whose shot/pass found Drouin’s stick for the deflection goal.

Speaking of Drouin, his play really turned a corner following the tally. He seemed miles more confident on the puck and altogether a dangerous offensive piece. And Joel Armia improved as well. His play has been rather inconsistent in the series, but following the changes in lines, he returned to the effective physical player that he has been for most of the season. He also neutralized the Penguins’ defender’s stick on the Drouin goal, allowing the puck to reach the Montreal native.

MONTREAL, QC – DECEMBER 11: Montreal Canadiens Claude Julien (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC – DECEMBER 11: Montreal Canadiens Claude Julien (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /

Lastly, Nick Suzuki’s debut on the top line really liberated his linemates offensively, considering Danault and his third line took over the Crosby matchup. Suzuki led a few odd-man rushes, really pressuring Pittsburgh defensively, and Brendan Gallagher looked more like the Gallagher we fans have come to know and adore.

While Danault is a very valuable piece to this team and his defensive abilities are elite, he does not have the offensive impact that is necessary from first-line centres; Nick Suzuki does. This being said, the first-line still failed to score, but they were leagues more dangerous than at any other point in this series.

The second goal following the shuffling of the centremen was just five seconds following the end to a Malkin penalty and consisted of a rush led by Nick Suzuki and Paul Byron in which Byron picked up the puck behind the net following Murray’s save on Suzuki and tucking the puck in the net on the second-effort of a wraparound.

The game-winning goal, for the second time in the series, was scored by Jeff Petry, with the Danault line minus Lehkonen on the ice. And what a shot it was. Yes, Murray should have had the top corner covered, he’s a big guy, but that shot was straight out of the Caufield playbook, just stunning.

Though defensemen led the way in terms of offence, with Weber collecting a goal and two assists, Petry a goal and Chiarot two assist, it is the shuffling of offensive lines that tilted the ice in Montreal’s favour. The intensity returned to the Habs’ game, they were once again hungry to win, and the stagnation that had plagued the team for the opening half-hour vanished.

Whether or not these lines stay together or if Julien decides to return to the lines that have become the norm and to make any necessary modifications in-game, I have a renewed sense of trust in the coach following Game 3, he knows what he’s doing, and I will try to refrain from much criticism.

Next. Kulak is quietly excelling in the top-four. dark

Whatever he ends up doing, I just hope to see the level of intensity that appeared in the second half of the game since it is this intensity that makes hockey such an exciting sport to watch, and I have missed it dearly.

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