After losing last night's game vs the Leafs, Marty St-Louis and the Habs were back at it tonight vs the Wings. The only lineup change was Dobeš had the net on the second night of the back to back. This was the right call as it would have been tough to justify taking anyone out of the lineup, so Veleno and Struble were in the press box for the game.
The Habs had a really strong game and were all over the Wings after giving up the opening goal early in the first.
The Forecheck
All game, Montreal did a good job of pressing Detroit defenders in the offensive zone and generated several turnovers. This is exactly the style the Habs are built to play and they did it to perfection.The Wings are a weaker opponent, tis true, but if the the Canadiens want to take the next step this year, they need to outclass weaker teams each and every night.
Oliver Kapanen
He had another great game and really seems to have found another gear so far this year. This is great news as the Habs search for a second line centre has been well documented. It's early in the season, but so far, Kapanen is making a case for the job. He's great 5 on 5 and is also very effective on the PK. If he can keep this up, maybe he could see some time on the PP? He seems to have great chemistry with Demidov.
Jakub Dobeš
He had a solid night in nets and really showed off his athleticism. This guy is good and I love his presence out there. The Habs have a great 1-2 punch here. During intermission, the commentators were talking about how he should play more games due to the condensed schedule. I agree, but scheduling or not, I really think he should play 30 games until he becomes a starter with the Habs or somewhere else.
The D Core
They look solid, confident and in sync. Everyone can skate, move the puck, shot and crow. Hughes did a masterful job, and they have a very competent Struble in the stands and Engström and Reinbacher in Laval. Everything looked pretty smooth out there.o
The Powerplay
Both units move the puck well and have really dangerous shooters and two solid quarterbacks with Hutson and Dobson. It's early, but I see Kapo taking Dach's spot on the second unit if he keeps it going. Having two dangerous units is key if the Habs are serious about making the playoffs every year and winning a cup down the road. This also puts a lot of pressure on opposing teams as they need to contend with different looks. They need to work on zone entries however as they seemed a little disjointed at times.
Zach Bolduc
He scored again tonight and at one point was credited with a second goal when he was standing in front of the on the Carrier shot. So far, the Mailloux trade is having an impact for the Habs as they are getting good secondary scoring. He's playing great hockey and the system fits him like a glove
Overall a great game. They played with speed, purpose and intelligence. The system was on full display and guys like Kapo, Bolduc, Demidov and Newhook seem to really be thriving early on as they can utilize their speed and creativity up front. The Canadiens are back in action on Saturday at 7pm vs the Hawks in Chicago!
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