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

By Sebastian High

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 Canadiens
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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