Canadiens Sick Postgame: Bolduc Shootout Magic Strikes Again

Here is your Sick Media Montreal Canadiens Postgame:

THREE STARS:

1. Lane Hutson (1G, 1A, 2 shots)

2. Olen Zellweger (2G, 4 shots)

3. Cole Caufield (1G, SO goal, 5 shots)

CLUTCH: 

The clutch performer for the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday was defenseman Lane Hutson, who scored a much-needed power play goal in the first period. Hutson’s goal was just his team’s second goal of the season on the man advantage and the first scored by the Canadiens’ top unit. Later on, he set up Josh Anderson for a goal by walking into the slot and threading a pass to the left circle for Anderson to one-time out past Luukkonen. Hutson also led all Canadiens skaters in ice time with 27:07, including nearly half of the 3-on-3 overtime period.

An honourable mention goes to Cole Caufield, who scored a big goal in the second period and came up clutch once again in the shootout by beating Luukkonen with a wicked wrister blocker side. Caufield finished the night with 5 shots on goal, which was tied with linemate Nick Suzuki and Alexandre Texier for the most in the game.

UNSUNG HERO:

Forward Josh Anderson stepped up as a leader on the Canadiens’ second line against the Sabres. He scored a big goal in the second period off a one-time shot after being stopped on by Luukkonen during the first period on a cross-crease pass by Chris Kreider. While it could be argued that him missing his chance on Luukkonen was a negative, it was also a sign that Anderson was getting himself in the right spots throughout the whole game for prime scoring chances. Anderson was also a key part of why the Canadiens killed five penalties on Tuesday, using his size and speed to his advantage.

Both Alexandre Texier and Alexandre Carrier deserve honourable mentions as funding heroes. For Texier, it was because he had many scoring chances and came up big with the game-winner in the shootout. As for Carrier, it comes down to a very important block test he made at the end of overtime on a 4-on-3 penalty kill that may have saved the game for the Montreal Canadiens.

SPECIAL SAUCE: 

The Montreal Canadiens power play was 1-for-3 on Tuesday night. Meanwhile, their penalty kill went 5/5 against the Sabres.

THE BANGERS: 

Defenseman Noah Dobson quietly led all Montreal Canadiens players with 5 hits. He also left briefly with an injury after being hit in the face by the puck, showing his toughness in the game. As for the Sabres, forward Beck Malenstyn finished the night with 5 hits of his own. 

SIN-BIN:  

It was a very tough night for Canadiens rookie defenseman Adam Engstrom, who had two Sabres goals deflect off him and in the net. He also committed a costly turnover on the game’s opening goal. There will be nights where a rookie like Engstrom’s inexperience will show, and Tuesday night was just that for him. 

On top of the two goals that bounced off Engstrom and in for the Sabres, the game-tying goal in the third period also hit a Canadiens defenseman and in. All three goals that the Sabres scored in regulation showed just how bad the Canadiens’ luck was on the night.

UP NEXT: 

The Montreal Canadiens head on Wednesday night to take on the Washington Capitals in the second half of a back-to-back. On Saturday, the Canadiens will be back at the Bell Centre to host the Buffalo Sabres for the second time this week. 

HOW THEY LINED UP:

Forwards:

Cole Caufield – Nick Suzuki – Juraj Slafkovsky 

Chris Kreider – Alex Newhook – Josh Anderson

Alexandre Texier – Phillip Danault – Zach Bolduc

Kirby Dach – Jake Evans – Owen Beck

Defense:

Lane Hutson – Noah Dobson

Kaiden Guhle – Alexandre Carrier

Arber Xhekaj – Adam Engstrom

Goalies:

Jacob Fowler

Jakub Dobes

For the best live postgame analysis of every Montreal Canadiens game on week nights, watch the Sick Podcasts Postgame with Tony Marinaro, Pierre McGuire, Marco D’Amico, and guests!