Lane Hutson and Macklin Celebrini headlined the Canadiens-Sharks duel

Tuesday night's game was one conceivably circled on Lane Hutson's calendar in the first of many games against former Boston University teammate and fellow Calder Trophy favourite Macklin Celebrini and the San Jose Sharks.

Celebrini scored the first tally of the game on a Sharks power play. Tyler Toffoli and William Eklund worked the puck around the formation before Celebrini ripped a one-touch shot past Samuel Montembeault. The shot that looked so good on the Boston University power-play was every bit as dangerous.

Celebrini is an elite 18-year-old hockey player in every sense. His release and the flex he puts on his stick to sling the puck is incredible. I have a feeling that he will undoubtedly score 60-plus points this season, and if it comes down to him and Hutson, the pair are going to put on a show.

Hutson answered with a nifty pass to Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki, who found Cole Caufield wide-open in the slot. Caufield made no mistake; those passes that Celebrini enjoyed so much from Hutson in college are a thorn in his side. Hutson had been held pointless in his last five games, I think the first battle in the NHL against his former teammate had him laser-focused.

Hutson’s assist marked his 40th point of the season. The tally makes Hutson the second-fastest rookie defenseman in Habs history to achieve the feat. The fastest was Chris Chelios in 1984-1985.

The Habs padded their lead with the former Terriers’ products even at one point apiece. Alex Newhook scored his 15th goal of the season, firing home a one-timer past Alexandar Georgiev. Alexandre Carrier made a great play at the blueline to keep the puck in, before finding Kirby Dach, who made his way behind the back of the net and fired a cross-zone pass to a wide-open Newhook in the slot. 

As per tradition, a Canadiens goaltender surrenders an opponent’s first NHL goal. Montembeault got beat clean by Colin Graf. Graf is playing in his 18th career game, the former Quinnipiac standout was drafted 

A huge part of the game came with 36.4 seconds remaining on the clock in the second period. Hutson got clipped by a high stick that split him, drawing a four-minute power play. The game remains tied after two, and Hutson and the Habs top unit have just South of four minutes remaining on the man advantage. 

The Canadiens' number one power-play brigade was unable to strike. So, with Hutson sucking back water on the bench, the second group got a chance. Brendan Gallagher scored his 12th, with assists going to Dach and Newhook.

In keeping with their tradition of taking too many penalties, Arber Xhekaj got one for holding. Of course, Celebrini recorded a point, a perfect saucer pass, which sent Tyler Toffoli in alone. Toffoli made a feint one way and then beat Montembeault with a quick flick of his wrists.

I feel like the Habs have hit an unfair amount of posts; all part of the game, but rather frustrating. Many goaltenders thank their posts, and I think Georgiev will join that list tonight. And he will thank Jayden Struble for throwing the puck over the glass and giving his club a golden chance to pull ahead.

Joel Armia and Jake Evans, the perfect penalty-killing duo got loose and made the Sharks pay. Evans found Armia just in front of Georgiev, and he made no mistake. You have to think the duo are drawing attention league-wide. 

The game came down to an empty net for the Sharks, and the Habs gunning for a two-goal lead to close out the game. But without this master class of grand larceny from Montembeault, the game would be tied again. Celebrini had two consecutive perfect chances, but No. 35 shut the door both times, the second with his glove. 

Hutson's side reigned superior, taking a 4-3 win, snapping a five-game skid. And now onto the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday night. Celebrini scored two points, and Hutson one, but the Habs got the last laugh. 

Habs - Kings set for Wednesday night battle

The Montreal Canadiens haven't regained their confidence after closing out a 4-3 win against the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday night, but it was a push in the right direction. This team was brilliant for nearly two months of hockey, and then something changed, and the team looks confused. Plenty of criticism has been tossed about through X (formerly Twitter) tearing some players apart.

It hasn't been easy, and things need to be cleaned up and improved upon. Otherwise, the Canadiens are going to fall off a cliff. I think the Kings are going to be quite the foe for a team that is looking to pull themselves out of their current rut. To get to the top of the totem pole, you start at the bottom; Drake said it best, "Started from the bottom, now we're here," and the Kings will be a great challenge to measure what this team is.

The Kings are riding a four-game losing streak, and it's safe to assume that they are going to bring their A-game. If the Canadiens want to get back into the race, they are going to need to take advantage of their games in hand. It's a tight race for the two wildcard spots, and finishing their California trip with four of a possible six points would be big for the confidence of the group.