Call Of The Wilde: Montréal Canadiens shock the Stars in Dallas with OT win
Global News
On Sunday in Dallas - after 15 days on the road - the exhausted Montreal Canadiens turned in one of their best games this decade, beating the Stars 4-3 in overtime.
After 15 days on the road, the Montreal Canadiens are finally finished their Christmas travels. It was a successful trip with the Canadiens capturing ten out of a possible 14 points. It was the most difficult part of the 82-game schedule, and Montreal survived.
In the final game Sunday in Dallas, the Canadiens were exhausted against a well-rested club, yet they managed to turn in one of their best games this decade. Montreal beat the Stars 4-3 in overtime.
The last time the two teams met – in November in Montreal – the Stars won 7-0, so the only direction to go was up. The Canadiens had an eye on playing a much tighter game, and they did. The first goal was key and the Canadiens got it from Brendan Gallagher. Philip Danault earned his first point for the Canadiens on the tally for the 400th point of his career.
In the second period, Gallagher and Danault continued to find each other well. They were two-thirds of one of the best lines in hockey with Tomas Tatar before Danault left for Los Angeles. They seem to be finding that old chemistry with Zachary Bolduc.
What the Canadiens hoped from Danault when they acquired him in December is working well so far, doing what he is supposed to do defensively. He is making a massive difference in the face-off circle. Danault has at least a 58 percentage in the face-off circle in five of the six games he’s played so far.
Up by one, there’s nothing better than a player who wins the face-off, then plays great defence from the centre position. Danault was 67 per cent in the face-off circle against the Stars Sunday.
Credit to Martin St. Louis for valuing a won draw as he used Danault on a key face-off in overtime. Danault got the job done. He won the massive draw, and fed Lane Hutson. Hutson then won space to score his seventh of the season on a 15-foot wrist shot.
The first line cooled off on the road trip, but the second line has come of age. Juraj Slafkovsky is developing powerfully and his presence on the ice is undeniable. On the 2-2 goal, Slafkovsky did a spinarama to feed Ivan Demidov to win the blue line.
