The Montreal Canadiens have done their best to make the team more competitive and bigger, but the smaller players have been the story through two games this season.
Lane Hutson has dazzled with his brilliant edgework and quick puck handles, throwing off the opposition regularly. Each time he touches the puck the crowd almost forgets to breathe, anticipating something spectacular to happen. With two assists to start the season, Hutson has been impressive offensively, which was expected, but he has also been solid defensively.
Let me guess, 500 leafs and sens trolls are going to come and tell me how this was bullshit and Hutson actually sucks at hockey. https://t.co/PKWBUiCvng
— Matt Drake (@DrakeMT) October 10, 2024
Hutson's rush through the neutral zone is the perfect segway to Brendan Gallagher, who was the beneficiary of one of his patented rushes. Hutson played keep away with the Boston Bruins, then made a smart pass to a wide-open Joel Armia, who shot it toward the net. Gallagher's smartly positioned stick was in the perfect spot to deflect the puck past Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman.
Gallagher hasn't scored more than 16 goals since the 2019-20 season when he recorded 22 goals in 59 games. The hot start is certainly a reason to be excited for Gallagher, for all intents and purposes is the engine that keeps the Habs chugging along. If he can continue doing what has made him successful his entire career, while his cap hit is high, it will be a good thing for the team.
The one guy who was expected to put the puck in the net is Cole Caufield and he has done just that, despite his linemates managing just one assist (Slafkovsky). Caufield has been his dangerous self, showing up open in the soft areas and not hesitating to shoot the puck. Surely the loss of Patrik Laine lit a spark in Caufield, much like his number swap.
Some help is needed
Gallagher isn't exactly expected to score 30 goals a season anymore, is he does great, but the responsibilities had changed. If the Canadiens are going to be successful, they will need more than just Gallagher scoring. It's early into the season, so hitting the panic button would be crazy, but there needs to be some more goals.
I would think that means the attention shifts to guys like the captain Nick Suzuki and Slafkovsky. Kirby Dach has also been quiet and Alex Newhook also, not for lack of trying, but it showed against the Bruins. The 1-0 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs masked the goal-scoring issue, Samuel Montembeaut was brilliant, but Cayden Primeau's shaky play pulled open the drapes.
Martin St. Louis, I expect will have a gameplan for the Ottawa Senators on Saturday night, and I would think it involves shooting the puck more. The passive game is great, but you can't put the puck in the net with only passes. Suzuki and Slafkovsky can shoot the puck well, and should; as for Newhook and Dach, it would go a long way if they would shoot when able.