Tuesday's 4-3 win for the Montreal Canadiens over the Buffalo Sabres featured several highlights, none bigger than a major bounce-back game for Juraj Slafkovský, who entered the night with just one point through the first five games of the season.
The Canadiens have been eager to get the 2022 first overall pick going, and they moved the 22-year-old back to the top line after Ivan Demidov's injury, with his routine linemates from last season, Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield. The move finally paid off in a big way as Slafkovský finished with a pair of assists, on goals by Lane Hutson on the power play and later Caufield, while playing a season-high 23 shifts.
The Slovakian winger also posted promising numbers under the hood, hitting a top speed of 35.28 kilometers per hour in the overtime period, his second-fastest of the season and just two points shy of his season best. He was also moving his feet, skating a total of 5.13 kilometers, the third-most distance he has covered in any game this season.
Slafkovský is averaging the most minutes of his career this season at just over 19, and although the year got off on the wrong foot, there are signs that it will improve. Several of his season-best marks came on Tuesday, which could be a sign of better things to come.
The reunited line has also been a bright spot with Slafkovský, Caufield and Suzuki having played a team-high 43 minutes together across all six games this season. Caufield's goal Tuesday was the unit's first together, and the trio has allowed one goal against, bringing their season goal differential to even.
« Aweille dans le filet », a dit Cole Caufield à la rondelle, probablement
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) October 13, 2026
"Get in the net,” said Cole Caufield to the puck, probably#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/WzvjNL9pdr
Montreal Canadiens are going to need this top line trio to continue producing and Juraj Slafkvosky is the key
It is likely that Slafkovský's slow start is what held the trio back early as last season, they were Montreal's most dangerous unit, playing 532 minutes together over 65 games and outscoring opponents 33-14. If the line can be that offensively sound again without sacrificing anything defensively, it should once again be a difference-maker for the Canadiens.
The timing of the breakthrough could not have been better as Montreal’s win over Buffalo earned the Canadiens crucial points in the Atlantic Division race while taking points away from a Sabres team that could be a rival for playoff positioning later in the season.
The victory was also Montreal’s second straight shootout win, improving the club to 2-1 in games that go to extra time this year. The Habs will hope to keep building on that mark and continue winning when the game is on the line, just as they did last season on their way to the Eastern Conference Final.
Slafkovský's bounce-back performance Tuesday hopefully suggests, he can help be apart of the solution and a season turnaround for the youngster is within sight.
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