A thrilling hockey tale unfolds as the Montreal Canadiens prepare for their Olympic break with a decisive 5-1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets. This win, coming 21 days before their next game, was a testament to the team's determination to end on a high note.
Despite the Jets' recent improvement and their position at the bottom of the standings, the Canadiens dominated after a shaky start. Lane Hutson, a player who surprisingly didn't make the USA Olympic team, showcased his skills with a remarkable goal, his 10th of the season.
Hutson, a top 15 scorer in the league, is known for his exceptional assist abilities, ranking second with 48 assists this season. His overall performance, with 58 points in 57 games, surpasses his rookie season's 66 points, making him the third-highest scorer among defenders in the league.
The argument against Hutson's Olympic inclusion revolves around the importance of defensive responsibility, especially around one's own goalie. However, Hutson's impressive plus-21 rating on the season, ranking 12th in the league, challenges this notion. His analytics, including a 19th-place ranking in the NHL's Corsi metric, further solidify his elite status.
The Canadiens' game against the Jets was a tale of two halves. Initially dominated, the team found their rhythm thanks to the strong early performance of goaltender Samuel Montembeault, who hadn't played in 11 days. Montembeault's 36 saves on 37 shots were pivotal in the team's eventual success.
The Phillip Danault, Josh Anderson, and Brendan Gallagher line had a standout performance. Anderson set up Hutson for a goal, and then scored himself on a deflection for his 12th of the year. Gallagher contributed two assists early on and later sealed the game with a tap-in tally, assisted by Kirby Dach.
Dach, a player with a unique pattern of rising and falling, showcases glimpses of stardom but struggles to maintain consistency due to injuries. The Canadiens, 15 games over NHL .500 for the first time this season, have lost only 17 games in regulation, an impressive feat for a team on the rise.
Before last season, oddsmakers predicted the Canadiens would finish with 75 points, but they exceeded expectations with 91 points. This season, with a projected 104 points, they are eighth in the league.
As the NHL trading deadline passed without any trades for the Canadiens, the focus shifts to the Olympic trade embargo, which will be lifted on February 22. The only trade on the final day involved the New York Rangers, who acquired Liam Greentree, a mid-level prospect, in exchange for Artemi Panarin.
The Canadiens were not involved in the Panarin trade, as an aging player on the clock doesn't fit their early rebuild strategy, unless it's Sidney Crosby. The only Montreal rumor with merit involves Patrik Laine, who might be on the move, with the Canadiens facilitating the trade by retaining part of his salary.
Laine, who has been practicing in a contact jersey for the past two weeks, is ready to play whenever the Canadiens need him. However, the team seems reluctant to give him a chance, despite his improved health and speed.
With the Canadiens' successful rebuild, they now find themselves in a position where they need salary cap space to add more talent to their winning team. Laine, who has been unable to prove himself due to health issues, deserves another opportunity to showcase his skills.
There's little downside to playing Laine, especially considering the Canadiens are willing to unload him with no return and pay half his salary. The worst-case scenario is that he performs poorly, which could benefit a team looking to lose more games for a higher draft pick.
This story continues after the Olympics, when trades will be allowed until March 6. Brian Wilde, a Montreal-based sports writer, brings you 'Call of the Wilde' on globalnews.ca, offering insightful analysis after each Canadiens game.
