Canadiens' win over Blackhawks ends home curse at Bell Centre

Very effective on the road this season, Montreal's Zachary Bolduc had not yet been able to get on the scoresheet at Bell Centre, but all that changed on Thursday night in a 4-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. 

The Canadiens forward finally found the net in Montreal after 19 unsuccessful games. That also includes the game he played in Quebec for the St. Louis Blues.

Bolduc, 22, tied the score against the Blackhawks late in the first period. The native of Trois-Rivieres positioned himself in the crease to hammer home the puck set up by Cole Caufield.

In fact, Bolduc enjoyed scoring at home so much that he decided to add a second goal in the third period. This time, it was with a deft deflection that he put past Blackhawks goalie Spencer Knight.

Canadiens' Zachary Bolduc poised for strong finish

Bolduc is starting to fit the mold Montreal needs. He's a hard-working, wide forward who brings finishing and bite without being the main scorer. His night against Chicago was a blueprint in versatility. The first goal was a crease-crowding, power-play score, and the second was a display of silky-smooth hands on a perfect deflection.

His timing, touch, and willingness to battle at the net are very valuable assets for head coach Martin St. Louis. For a team built on simplicity, it's almost mandatory to have these qualities.

Bolduc is effective in transition, where his skating is an asset. He generates sustained pressure with his forecheck, and around the net, his decisions are becoming more calculated and less rushed.

Bolduc displayed great technique on his second goal. This marked the ninth goal of the season for the 22-year-old, who has 16 points in 34 games.  

The Canadiens now have a record of 18-12-4. Besides Bolduc, Nick Suzuki and Noah Dobson were the goal scorers for Montreal.