Canadiens' Five-on-Five Excellence Shines in Victory Over Wild
Montreal Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis expressed significant satisfaction with his team's performance following their 4-3 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday night. St. Louis specifically highlighted the team's excellence at five-on-five play, describing the game as one of the best the Canadiens have played throughout the current season.
Coach's Assessment of Team Performance
In post-game comments, St. Louis emphasized the quality of Montreal's play during even-strength situations. The coach's positive evaluation comes as the Canadiens continue to develop their identity and competitive edge in the National Hockey League. The victory demonstrated notable improvements in fundamental aspects of the game that coaches often prioritize.
Controversial Penalty Call Discussed
The game included a controversial moment involving a penalty called on Canadiens defenceman Lane Hutson. Replays showed that Minnesota's Marcus Foligno appeared to trip without any contact from Hutson, creating what many observers described as a phantom penalty call. Despite this questionable officiating decision, the Canadiens managed to secure the win, showing resilience in overcoming adversity.
Player Returns and Lineup Changes
Several significant player developments contributed to Montreal's performance:
- Kirby Dach returned to the lineup after missing two months with a fractured foot and was immediately placed on the top line alongside Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield
- Phillip Danault continued his solid performance since rejoining the Canadiens via trade with the Los Angeles Kings
- Veteran forward Brendan Gallagher's future with the team remains a topic of discussion
- Defenceman Arber Xhekaj was made a healthy scratch for the game against the Wild
Analysis from Hockey Inside/Out Show
The Gazette's Stu Cowan recently hosted former Canadiens teammates and 1986 Stanley Cup champions Rick Green and Chris Nilan on the Hockey Inside/Out Show. The panel provided in-depth analysis of:
- How the Canadiens have improved their five-on-five play this season
- The controversial penalty call against Lane Hutson
- Various roster decisions and player performances
The show is available through multiple platforms including YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts, with three bonus episodes scheduled for release in the coming days.
This victory represents an important step forward for the Canadiens as they continue to build toward future success. The team's ability to excel at even strength while overcoming questionable officiating decisions demonstrates growing maturity and competitive capability that could serve them well as the season progresses.
