Photo credit: James Carey Lauder-Imagn Images
With the Detroit Red Wings’ loss the other night against Mammoth, the Montreal Canadiens officially sit second in their division just before the Olympic break.
Let’s be honest — no one would have bet a single dime on that at the start of the season. The Habs now boast a 32-17-8 record for a total of 72 points.
It’s clear that Martin St-Louis’ “mix” is starting to pay off, especially with the offensive resurgence of the team’s young guns. There’s no way around it — the team’s execution has been solid as of late.
An unexpected rise in the Atlantic standings for the Montreal Canadiens
Detroit is trailing with the same number of points, but the Canadiens currently hold the tiebreaker advantage. It’s a constant battle in the Atlantic.
“Canadiens finish in second place in the Atlantic Division after Red Wings loss to Mammoth. They’ll remain there through the Olympic break if Buffalo loses to Pittsburgh Thursday.”
– Eric Engels
An unexpected helping hand from Pittsburgh
Now, thanks to the Buffalo Sabres’ loss to the Penguins, the Canadiens remain in second place in the Atlantic Division heading into the Olympic break.
The young kid, Avery Hayes, stole the show in his NHL debut by scoring twice in the opening period.
Ben Kindel also did his part with a pair of goals, bringing his total to 14 this season. The 18-year-old forward is proving that he already has a major offensive impact despite his age.
For the Sabres, Tage Thompson reached the 30-goal mark with a power-play tally. Despite that effort, Buffalo remains two points behind the Canadiens in the divisional standings.
Let’s be honest, there was concern the Sabres might leapfrog Montreal before the weekend. Instead, the Montreal Canadiens can breathe a little easier thanks to the strong performance by Pittsburgh’s rookies.
Buffalo holds a 32-19-6 record and sits just two points behind the Canadiens. Every point matters in this final stretch before the players head off to the Olympics.
The Habs have picked up six wins in their last ten games, showing strong consistency despite the mounting pressure. Martin St-Louis’ group appears to have found its rhythm at the perfect time.
Montreal Canadiens fans can send a thank-you email to the young prospects of the Pittsburgh Penguins this morning.
Previously on All Montreal Hockey
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Canadiens’ position in the standings takes an unexpected turn heading into the Olympic break
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