Canadiens’ X-factor in East Final vs. Hurricanes

There’s no reason to think that Newhook is going to turn back into an average player who is willing to defer to the team’s stars. However, Newhook is not really an X-factor any longer. He is a known commodity, and he will get the full attention of the Carolina Hurricanes.

It’s time for a new X-factor to step forward for the Habs. That player is right wing Ivan Demidov, the 20-year old who plays on the same line with Newhook and center Jake Evans. Demidov will eventually become a star in the NHL — and perhaps a superstar — but he is not at that level at this point.

Demidov is an excellent skater with a wicked shot. He scored 19 goals and 62 points during the regular season, but he has scored just two goals in the postseason to this point along with five assists. He has not been able to reach the heights to this point, but there were signs in the Buffalo series that he was ready to start finding the scoring range.

There’s a very good chance that Carolina head coach Rod Brind’Amour is talking to his players about Caufield, Suzuki, Hutson and the sudden starring role of Newhook, but he is probably not spending much time on Demidov. That could turn out to be a mistake. Demidov is going to turn out to be the player that makes the biggest difference for the Habs among the non-superstars.

Newhook will hand his baton to Demidov and he will show off his speed, passing ability and game-changing shot.

Canadiens are a youthful team with confidence

The Canadiens are the youngest team to make the NHL’s version of the final four since the 1993 Habs. That team was not only the last of the Montreal teams to bring home the Stanley Cup — the franchise’s 23rd — they were also the last Canadian franchise to win the legendary trophy.

St. Louis has a team that can score a boatload of goals in a short time as a result of the firepower of Caufield (51 goals), Suzuki (101 points) and Hutson (78 points and plus-36 from the blue line). The Montreal head coach also has true confidence that anyone on the roster can make key contributions at the most crucial moments.

Suzuki explained that there is total belief within the locker room and that the team’s youth is nothing but a positive factor.

“Guys have really bought into how we play and everything Marty preaches,” Suzuki said. “It’s really cool to be in this situation this fast, being such a young team. We just have a lot of fun, and we just want to keep the journey going.”

The Canadiens are clear underdogs in this series, but they have earned their victories in the first two rounds. The Hurricanes have been perfect to this point, reeling off eight straight victories without a single defeat. The Habs are not intimidated. They have an opportunity in front of them and they have one proven X-factor and another ready to do his part in the Eastern Conference Final.