First Star: Jonathan Drouin
Jonathan Drouin has been reaching another level lately. He has always had speed and skill, but he never really seemed to put it all together in a Habs sweater so far. He would show bursts of quality play here and there but then look like he is just drifting around the perimeter for a stretch as well.
This season, especially lately, he has looked terrific. Last night was no exception. He has been playing on the team’s top line with Nick Suzuki and Josh Anderson most of the season, but with Anderson injured, Tyler Toffoli has stepped up to play on the most dangerous scoring line on the team.
Drouin twice made great plays that led to the Habs tying the game last night.
With the Canadiens trailing 2-1 in the second period, Drouin got the puck to Alexander Romanov at the point. He then came up high to support Romanov and got the puck back, turned and fired a wrist shot at the net. It was tipped by Nick Suzuki and then went off Tyler Toffoli’s skate, but it found the back of the net. It wasn’t Drouin’s most creative play of the year, but the awareness to follow his pass up high in the zone to give Romanov an outlet opened things up just before he fired the puck at the net.
On the team’s third goal, with the goalie out, Drouin was in the high slot and made a great tip on a Jeff Petry wrist shot from the blue line. The puck would ricochet off Perry in front and tie the game with just over a minute left.
Drouin was behind the net, but when the puck went to Petry at the point, he allowed Perry to stay close to the goaltender, and moved to the high slot. The plan worked perfectly and the goal was originally given to Drouin, but later changed to Perry with Drouin getting credit for his second assist of the night.