Montreal Canadiens: Luke Tuch Makes Great Impression in First NCAA Game
Montreal Canadiens prospect Luke Tuch has great first NCAA game
Montreal Canadiens prospect Luke Tuch was taken in the second round of the 2020 NHL Draft. Though that draft was held months later than originally scheduled, it still took a long time before Tuch played another game of hockey.
It wasn’t due to injury, as Tuch was committed to Boston University this season. Unfortunately, they weren’t able to play a game before Christmas due to Covid-19. That meant the Habs young prospect had to wait almost ten months between games.
The last time he was on the ice, the 6’2″ and 205 pound left winger was playing for the U.S. Development Program. He scored 23 goals and 44 points in 66 games while playing a power forward style of game.
Tuch didn’t wait very long to get on the scoreboard in a Boston University sweater. With 9:11 to play in the first period, defenceman David Farrance made a terrific spin move and cross-ice pass that landed on Tuch’s tape. Without hesitation, Tuch one-timed the puck into the back of the Providence College goal.
Early in the second period, a good forechecking shift from Tuch’s line with Jake Wise and Dylan Peterson. Tuch and Peterson worked the puck loose behind the Providence goal and got it back to the point. From there, Sean Driscoll fired it into the net with Tuch getting to the front of the net to provide a screen and earn his first career NCAA assist.
On his next shift, Tuch shut down a breakout at the red line with a punishing body check, something he is known to do quite frequently.
It was mostly downhill from there for Boston University. Providence had already played eight games before the Christmas break and were on the ice regularly for months. Tuch’s Terriers have barely been on the ice together and it was their first game of the season. That showed as B.U. would blow their 3-1 lead and allow six consecutive goals in a 7-3 loss to open their season.
It was a difficult result for the Terriers who have plenty of talent in their lineup. It will take them a little while to hit their stride as they are just playing catch up right now having not played a game until last night.
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Still, Luke Tuch looked pretty solid offensively and physically throughout the contest. The second round pick came as advertised: big, strong and physical with enough scoring touch to finish off his opportunities.