Canadiens' depth shines against Bruins in statement victory

The Montreal Canadiens of old would have struggled to beat the Boston Bruins on a night when Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky, and Lane Hutson combined for just a single point. They are no longer that team. To become one of the NHL's best teams, your stars need to produce, but when they are having an off night, you need players you can count on.

Who steps up will change from game to game. One night it could be the second line, while the next it could be the third or fourth. Against Boston, all four lines contributed offensively, showing that the Canadiens no longer need to rely on their stars to carry them to victory.

Canadiens' depth takes centre stage against Bruins

The fourth line got the offence going for the Canadiens just 2:34 into the first period. It was a goal that came out of nowhere. After receiving a pass from Arber Xhekaj at the blue line, Dach took the long way around the Boston defenders before circling behind the net and scoring on a wraparound. Dach has been at the forefront of criticism, but has been playing extremely well on the Canadiens' new-look fourth line alongside Oliver Kapanen and Alex Newhook.

The Canadiens' second-leading goalscorer this season is Josh Anderson, on pace to surpass his career high of 27, which he set in 2018-19 with the Columbus Blue Jackets. He doubled Montreal's lead in the first period, batting a rebound out of the air and past Jeremy Swayman. Anderson has had great chemistry on the Canadiens' third line with Jake Evans and Chris Kreider, with the line combining again in the second period. This time it was Evans giving them a 3-0 lead, scoring past Swayman on a breakaway set up by Anderson.

Zachary Bolduc, Phillip Danault, and Alexandre Texier did not begin the season as the Canadiens' second line, but their consistent play has earned them a larger role. They have been dubbed the "French Connection" by local media, and while they have not reached the status of the Buffalo Sabres' famous forward line, they have been integral to the Canadiens' success. That continued against Boston, with Danault firing home a one-timer past Michael DiPietro, giving the Canadiens a 5-0 lead and putting the game out of reach.

Canadiens taking the next step toward contention

Much of the discussion surrounding the Canadiens last season focused on their success despite being one of the youngest teams in the NHL. The age and inexperience were evident in the playoffs, and despite reaching the Eastern Conference Final, they ultimately lost to a deeper, more experienced team. The Carolina Hurricanes spent years making deep playoff runs before finally getting over the finish line and winning the Stanley Cup last season. Their depth was a major reason why.

Carolina had four lines they were comfortable playing in nearly any game situation, and that ultimately proved too much for the Canadiens to handle. This season’s Canadiens look different. Through 19 games, the depth has been just as crucial as the team’s stars. The Canadiens have battled through injuries to key players without missing a beat. They won five straight games without Suzuki and Ivan Demidov in the lineup earlier this season. The team’s depth is a huge reason why they are in a tie for first in the Atlantic Division, and they were once again a contributing factor in the victory against the rival Bruins.