Call of the Wilde: Montreal Canadiens finish road trip with 4-3 win over Dallas Stars
Global News
Facing the Dallas Stars, who have a lot of talent and could go far in the playoffs, was a tough test for the Habs on Tuesday night. Brian Wilde has more.
The seven-game road trip is finally over, and it was a good one for the Montreal Canadiens who competed hard every single game. A difficult test to wrap it up was facing the Dallas Stars on Tuesday night, who have a lot of talent and could go far in the playoffs.
The Canadiens put in an excellent performance, beating Dallas 4-3. The Stars made it close with their goalie pulled for the last six minutes, scoring twice, but Samuel Montembeault was strong to win it.
It’s extremely difficult to be a great line on a one-line hockey team. Every time that line goes out for a shift, they are greeted by the best players from the other team; not just the best forwards, but also the best defensive pair. The best line of a weak scoring team never gets an easy night.
This is why Nick Suzuki flanked by Juraj Slafkovsky and Cole Caufield are truly remarkable in their short time together. It’s 20 games together, and they remain one of the best lines in the league. If the Canadiens had a second line that the opposition had to worry about, Suzuki’s line’s statistics would be even better.
As it stands, the line is the 12th best in the National Hockey League in Expected Goals, which is the go-to marker to measure play. The line stands at a 61-per cent share overall, and just did a stunning 88 against Dallas.
Suzuki is around the same totals as a player offensively in goals and points as last season, but as a complete player taking care of possession, this is his best season. Slafkovsky makes him better.
Slafkovsky is becoming quite difficult to take off the puck when he acquires it in the offensive zone. Montreal tied it up at one when Slafkovsky grabbed the puck, fought off his check, and fed Suzuki, so he could wire a shot upstairs.
The fortunes of the club could start to come together, if they could get a line healthy to be the second wave. A second dangerous line would compose Kirby Dach, Alex Newhook, and the draft pick that the Canadiens acquire this June. The 2024 entry draft features six outstanding forwards who will all be taken by pick number 10.
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