The Montreal Canadiens continue to find ways to win hockey games. Last year's team felt very dependent on how the Canadiens' top line was performing, but during their five-game winning streak, someone new has stepped up each night. Montreal’s 5-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins was no different. They dealt with some line shuffling right before the game, with Kirby Dach being sidelined with an illness.
Jake Evans moved up to the second line, centring Chris Kreider and Josh Anderson. Their line showed instant chemistry and was crucial in the Canadiens' victory. The trio had three of the team’s five goals, which included Anderson’s eventual game-winner. It does not seem to matter who steps up on any given night. The Canadiens are finding ways to get it done.
Canadiens stepping up when called upon
With Nick Suzuki out of the lineup, Evans has been asked to step up his game, and he has been up to that challenge. With his assist against the Penguins, he now has five points in his last five games, after not recording a point in his first nine games. Evans won 68.8% of his faceoffs in the win, finished with a +4 plus/minus and played his second-highest ice time of the season (17:40). Evans has been great during this stretch, but Kreider, who desperately needed a strong performance, finally delivered.
Kreider was the Canadiens' big offseason acquisition, and the former 50-goal scorer was supposed to help bring some depth scoring. The goals have not been there yet, but perhaps seeing one finally go in is exactly what Kreider needed to get going. Kreider had not scored since the second game of the season, which also happened to be against the Penguins. After his initial deflected shot was saved by Penguins goalie Sergei Murashov, Kreider's rebound attempt was also saved before he put his third chance into the back of the net. For his sake, he will need to have these types of performances against teams other than Pittsburgh.
The third man of the trio, Anderson, had a great start to the season, but has been quiet recently. He had been held off the scoresheet over the last six games, but it was only a matter of time before he left his imprint on another game. After Oliver Kapanen tied the game for the Canadiens, Anderson gave the team the lead just over 20 seconds later. He found a loose puck in the middle of the slot and fired a shot over the right shoulder of Murashov. Anderson scored his second of the game in the second period when Lane Hutson's point shot deflected off him and found its way into the net. The Canadiens' depth has been a key part of the winning streak, and against the Penguins, it was the second line that stepped up.
Canadiens in great spot once players return
Dach should not be out long-term, and it looks like Suzuki is nearing a return, earlier than previously anticipated. Before the injuries, the Canadiens were struggling with consistency. The old trend of the Canadiens being a one-line team was reemerging, but during this win streak, it has been a team effort.
Jacob Fowler has been outstanding, and that definitely makes it a lot easier. Even when he is not at his best, as was the case against Pittsburgh, the Canadiens find different players to step up. Some nights it has been the defence stepping up offensively. Some nights your best players take control of the game, and others it is your depth players making the difference. While Kreider and Anderson have found success alongside Alex Newhook, maybe Martin St. Louis should consider keeping Evans between them when Suzuki returns.
The Canadiens are proving that they are more than just one line and should be considered among the elite teams in the Eastern Conference.
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