5 Canadiens Who Need to Step Up Against Lightning – The Hockey Writers –

Tied 2-2, it’s now a best-of-three series between the Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning. Especially in the wake of the injury to defenseman Noah Dobson heading into the playoffs, the Habs will probably take the series split so far.

That isn’t to say the Canadiens are necessarily lucky to be tied, because there’s certainly a case to be made they could easily be up 3-1 instead (a statement that admittedly could just as easily apply to the Lightning). However, considering, in some instances, experts overwhelmingly favoured the Bolts heading in, the Habs should be satisfied with the position in which they find themselves.

Even so, the Canadiens have reason to be confident in their chances over the next two-three games. They haven’t just stuck with the Lightning so far, but they’ve done so without firing on all cylinders. In fact, some Habs have been firing blanks. If even a few of the following five, who have been struggling to hit the scoresheet, find a way to take their games to the next level in Games 5 and 6 (and maybe 7), the Habs are a good bet to be the ones to move on to Round 2:

5. Nick Suzuki

This fifth spot could just even be dedicated to either one of Nick Suzuki’s linemates in Cole Caufield or, dare I say, Juraj Slafkovsky, despite the latter’s heroic and historic hat trick in Game 1. Slafkovsky may have scored three power-play goals to set a franchise postseason record, but he has yet to tally a single point at even strength (or a single point at all) since.

In fact, the same holds true for Suzuki and Caufield (neither having scored a single point at even strength in the series). Slafkovsky gets a pass because he was the difference in Game 1 and Caufield does because he snapped his goalless slump in Game 4. To date, Suzuki has yet to score, despite co-leading the team with four points (Caufield, Lane Hutson).

Now, to be clear, Suzuki is nowhere near entering scapegoat territory. Under his leadership and on the strength of his 101 points this season, the first time since 1986 a Canadiens player has scored that many, the Habs have continued their trend of improving every season, since bottoming out with a last-place finish in 2022.

In fact, technically by winning one more game in Round 1 than they did last spring against the Washington Capitals, the Canadiens have already accomplished the bare minimum needed to call this season a success. Any subsequent success they enjoy from this point forward would be gravy… but it will likely only come with Suzuki contributing more than he (already) has.

4. Mike Matheson

With Dobson out, his power-play time has been spread out across the board. Mike Matheson’s has increased from 0:17 per game during the regular season to 1:29, as the second-most-played Canadiens defenseman on the man advantage against the Lightning (Hutson; 6:51). To show for it, he has a solitary assist (and a third-ranked eight penalties in minutes).

Needless to say, for a player who once scored 62 points (2023-24) with a second-on-the-team 28 on the power play, Matheson would ideally produce more (obviously). The points don’t even have to come on the man advantage, though. Just looking at his 24:52 per game this series and the career-high 34 points he scored at even strength this past regular season, it’s reasonable to expect more from the veteran, even if he’s been deployed in more of a defensive role this season than in the past. He certainly has the skill to, if not the points.

3. Oliver Kapanen

Being deployed in more of a defensive role was true of rookie Oliver Kapanen too, at least to start the series.

While playing most of the regular season on a scoring line with fellow-rookie Ivan Demidov, Kapanen was relegated to a smaller role to close out the campaign. In Games 1 and 2, he played with Zachary Bolduc and Kirby Dach, before being reunited with Demidov (and Alex Newhook) for Game 3. Despite the former two having since broken out offensively, Kapanen remains pointless.

It’s especially disheartening because of:

• The 22 goals Kapanen scored this season, which ranked third among all rookies, and
• How he closed out the regular season, going pointless in his last 10 (now-14) games

To a degree, it’s understandable that Kapanen would hit a wall come a certain point. You still would have hoped for him to take his game up a notch during the playoffs (or at least regain some of the scoring prowess he displayed during the regular season).

2. Alex Newhook

At least Kapanen is a rookie. (Relative) veteran Newhook has meanwhile parlayed increases in power-play and overall ice time from the regular season to the playoffs, during which he’s played almost exclusively with Demidov, to the same zero points and a paltry three shots (in four total games).

It’s a far cry from the great start to the season to which Newhook got off, when he scored six goals and 12 points in his first 15 games (also playing with Demidov). Even though he ended the season cold, admittedly having missed 40 games due to injury, his 25 points in 42 contests largely aligned with the 34 in 55 he scored in his debut 2023-24 season with the Canadiens, which was widely considered a success.

It should have been enough to warrant the benefit of the doubt regarding the meagre 26 points Newhook scored over a full 2024-25. However, over 36 career playoff games, he has just two goals and nine points. That’s even worse. He needs to do something, soon, to change what will surely become the perception he’s simply not built for the playoffs.

1. Ivan Demidov

At just 20 years old, Demidov has too small a sample size of both playoff and regular-season action for anyone to so much as begin to doubt his abilities, based on his draft pedigree (No. 5 overall in 2024) and having led all rookies in scoring this past season. However, the single assist he has in four games against the Lightning so far is disappointing. He’s had chances, though… which is a good sign.

Whereas his linemates, Kapanen and Newhook, have three shots apiece, Demidov has double that. Granted a total of six through four games is far from Earth-shattering, but it’s the same amount as both Caufield and Josh Anderson.

Few people are worried about Caufield, especially now that he got the monkey off his back in Game 4 with a goal. It goes to show all Demidov really needs is one to get on track. Meanwhile, no one is questioning Anderson’s worth after having scored two goals. However, to put everything in perspective, no one of sane frame of mind would dare suggest he’s more valuable overall than Demidov to the Canadiens.

There’s no denying Demidov has struggled in the postseason, having gone goalless in nine playoff games total so far. However, there’s no denying his game-breaking talent all the same. Give him time.

The fact the Canadiens are where they are right now, having won two games against the Lightning without one of their best players available, is proof the rebuild is going according to plan for the league’s youngest team to start this past season. Their window arguably hasn’t even opened yet. As the Habs have overperformed this season relative to general expectations, give them time too. It doesn’t even have to be over the next 2-3 games, either… as exciting as that would be. Fans have been treated to an exciting series so far, and it’s clear they want more. The above five names are at least capable of delivering. Will they?