Canadiens Quick Hits: Hutson, Slafkovsky, Kapanen & Montembeault

The Montreal Canadiens left Dallas with a 4–3 overtime win Sunday night, and it was the kind of game coaches love to rewatch on a long flight. Second night of a back-to-back. Tough building. Playoff-calibre opponent. The Canadiens didn’t dominate or steal the game, but they also didn’t blink. They absorbed the Stars’ pressure, stayed patient, and, when the opening appeared, took it.

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The moment that decided things came late in overtime. Sam Montembeault made a save that kept the night alive, Montreal won a faceoff, and Lane Hutson found the puck was on his stick. He fired it, and the game was over — just simple, smart hockey.

Quick Hit One: Lane Hutson Knows When to Shoot

Lane Hutson continues to show a rare feel for timing. The goal and the power-play assist show up on the scoresheet. What doesn’t is how calm he was. In overtime, on the road, a young defenceman jumping into the play like that? Not supposed to look easy. Hutson made it look that way. He’s a talent.

Quick Hit Two: Juraj Slafkovsky Is Finding His Groove

Slafkovsky found the scoresheet twice — a power-play goal and an assist at even strength. He set up Kapanen and nudged Montreal back on top late in the second. The kid’s reads are faster, his confidence is showing, and he’s starting to feel like a top-six winger every night.

Quick Hit Three: Oliver Kapanen Keeps Chipping Away

Oliver Kapanen scored again, and that’s quietly becoming a regular thing. He’s really not all that flashy, but he does produce. In short, he’s been reliable and increasingly noticeable. Five points in his last eight games isn’t star production. But, for him, it’s great depth scoring. And the Canadiens will need a lot of that scoring over the remaining games in the regular season.

Quick Hit Four: Goalie Sam Montembeault Timed the Save Right

Montembeault turned away 24 shots, but the OT stop on Johnston was the big one. Without that, Montreal wouldn’t have made it to Hutson’s winner. The game would have been over. But he made the stop and gave Hutson the chance to be a hero. He looked good in the game after a season of difficulty.

What This Game Says About the Canadiens

A solid road win for a young squad. The Canadiens didn’t panic when Dallas pushed, held their shape in the third, and stayed calm when the game tightened up.

Phillip Danault registered two assists to pass 400 career points. The Canadiens are happy to have him back after his stint out west with the Kings. Montreal also notched its 13th comeback win of the season — proof that this team doesn’t quit. This is a group that believes it can hang in games — and finish them.

The Canadiens are also winning on the road against good teams. That’s the kind of thing Montreal needs right now.

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