Canadiens Lineup

Jonathan Drouin – Max Domi – Artturi Lehkonen

Paul Byron – Phillip Danault – Brendan Gallagher

Tomas Tatar – Jesperi Kotkaniemi – Andrew Shaw

Kenny Agostino – Michael Chaput – Nicolas Deslauriers

Jordie Benn – Shea Weber

Mike Reilly – Jeff Petry

Brett Kulak – Victor Mete

Carey Price – Antti Niemi 

Matthew Peca, Charles Hudon, David Schlemko

Joel Armia

Game Report

Consider this the Phil Danault edition of the Canadiens game report. It was all Danault, all the time in Vegas this afternoon.

Danault came into today’s game as the Canadiens number one centre, in name only. In 36 games this season, Danault had scored just two goals playing on Montreal’s number one line. By contrast, his wingers had combined for 27 goals this season.

While the Canadiens brass would like Danault to round into a true shutdown centre to replace Tomas Plekanec, that hasn’t worked out either. Danault’s defensive numbers aren’t pretty and the penalty-kill, which he leads, is in the bottom third of the league.

But 3:40 into this game, it was Danault who one-timed the puck past Marc-Andre Fleury to open the scoring. Before the period was over, Danault was front-and-center again losing a puck battle to Vegas forward Brandon Pirri. The game was tied 1-1 going into the first intermission with Danault playing a significant role in both goals.

The Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde act continued in the second period. Danault lost his man in the high slot leading to a Jonathan Marchessault goal. Not to be outdone, Danault scored (for the Canadiens, just to be clear) less than four minutes later.

In all, Danault was on the ice for every goal scored in regulation, three by each team.

It was a puzzling performance worthy of the Jekyll and Hyde moniker. Danault registered his first NHL hat trick, including the game-tying goal. Yet Danault had team worst possession numbers reflective of the fact that his line was pinned in its own end for the majority of his shifts.

It was left to Paul Byron to perform overtime magic to take the Habs to the Christmas break on a winning note. Victor Mete picked up an assist on the overtime-winner capping off a very strong game.

The Canadiens played a hard, competitive game and got excellent goaltending. They were quick and won puck battles.

The Golden Knights have lost just three times at T-Mobile in regulation this season. But for the Habs, their Christmas miracle came early.

Plus / Minus

▲  Carey Price, Phillip Danault, Victor Mete, Paul Byron, Artturi Lehkonen, Jesperi Kotkaniemi

▼  Phillip Danault, Brendan Gallagher, Tomas Tatar, Mike Reilly, Jonathan Drouin, Max Domi, Michael Chaput, Nicolas Deslauriers