Canadiens Lineup

Rem Pitlick – Nick Suzuki – Josh Anderson

Mike Hoffman – Kirby Dach – Jesse Ylonen

Christian Dvorak – Evgenii Dadonov

Michael Pezzetta – Alex Belzile – Harvey-Pinard

Mike Matheson – David Savard

Joel Edmundson – Justin Barron

Jordan Harris – Arber Xhekaj

Chris Wideman

Jake Allen – Sam Montembeault

Johnathan Kovacevic

Carey Price (knee), Paul Byron (hip), Sean Monahan (lower-body), Kaiden Guhle (lower-body), Brendan Gallagher (lower-body), Jake Evans (lower-body), Joel Armia (upper-body), Jonathan Drouin (upper-body), Juraj Slafkovsky (lower-body), Cole Caufield (shoulder)

Game Report

In a non-playoff season, fans are best finding other places to focus their attention, other than wins and losses, that is. There is a wonderful story unfolding about the breakout season of the Canadiens No. 77. 

Kirby Dach is emerging as a force down the middle, the likes of Montreal fans have not seen for decades. While Dach padded his point statistics earlier this season, propping up the Suzuki – Caufield line, it has only been the past few weeks where his true potential has been on display.

Since Dach has moved back to centre for an extended duration, he has commanded the middle of the ice, created opportunities for his linemates with his drive and vision, and efficiently executed zone exits and entries. And it all came about when the head coach’s hand was forced by the injury to Jake Evans.

Tonight in addition to a growing chemistry between Dach and the underappreciated Jesse Ylonen, fans were treated to a different side of the 22-year-old centre. Dach dropped the gloves for his second pro fight and won a clear decision over Andrew Copp. It wasn’t done for the adulation but because some scores needed to be settled.

A leadership move.

It may have been entertaining to watch the contributions of the fourth line players tonight. And they deserve their due. But more importantly, fans are being treated to a glimpse the potential of a future star of this team and that should bring them hope. 

Up Next

Plus

Minus

Game Preview