Two players in the midst of disappointing seasons — Samuel Montembeault and Brendan Gallagher — came up big for the Montreal Canadiens (32-17-8) in a 5-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets at Canada Life Centre on Wednesday.

The Habs head into the three-week Olympic break with a 4-0-1 record in their last five games. They return to action on Feb. 26 against the New York Islanders.

Montembeault won his first game since Jan. 17 with a 36-save performance. Gallagher had three points, boosting his season total to 16.

It was a lopsided score in favour of Montreal in the end, but it didn’t start that way. The home team came out swinging, and at one point led 1-0 with an 8-0 advantage in shots. Kyle Connor scored his 25th of the season at 6:07 on the power play.

The Canadiens righted the ship before the end of the first. With 3:34 remaining in the period, Oliver Kapanen banged home a rebound by Connor Hellebuyck to put the Habs on the board.

In the second, the Habs scored twice in a span of 1:16 to take a 3-1 lead. Josh Anderson scored the first off a deflection from a Jayden Struble shot. Struble entered the lineup in place of Arber Xhekaj. He played more than 10 minutes, which is something Xhekaj hadn’t done in five of his last six starts.

The next goal was by Lane Hutson, who hit double digits for the first time in his young career. He didn’t have much room, but he somehow squeezed the puck past Hellebuyck.

In the third period, Gallagher added to his point total with his third point of the night, this time a power play goal. Phillip Danault added an empty netter after the Jets pulled their goalie with over five minutes to play. The Habs got a few chances before Danault cashed in with Gallagher in the box and icings off the table. Anderson assisted on the goal, giving himself a three-point night as well. Noah Dobson collected his second assist. He’s a point away from matching his total on Long Island a season ago.

The Canadiens enter the break with 72 points in the standings, which puts them on pace for 104. That would be a 13-point improvement from a year ago. The gains have been made on offence: the team is among the elite in goals-for with 197 (second only to Colorado at the conclusion of the game, but with Edmonton still playing). They’re on pace to eclipse last year’s goal total by nearly 40.

Goaltending has been an issue, but Montembeault saved his best performance of the season for a game many fans, including those in on the Hockey Inside Out YouTube livestream, did not want him to suit up for. The prevailing wisdom would’ve been to let Jakub Dobes start and allow Montembeault the benefit of an extended break. Instead, coach Martin St. Louis’s gamble paid off, and his beleaguered netminder can enjoy his vacation with the wind at his back.

Upon return, the games will get tighter, so veterans Gallagher and Anderson (along with Danault) will be counted on even more to provide leadership and chip in the occasional goal. Last night the veterans showed they still have gas in the tank, according to Hockey Stat Cards.

The Liveblog will return when the Habs do. Here’s what the commenters had to say:

3. “This is the best team I’ve seen in 20 years of being a Canadiens fan.” -David Darcy

 

2. “Good to see them bounce back from the Minnie game… rest easy now an come back rarin’ to go!” -Haari Meech

 

1. “Phillip Danault has 9 pts in 21 games with Mtl on the 3rd line… that is great for a 3rd line centre.” -slgreidanus