The Montreal Canadiens are one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference this season after years of struggling to rebuild the organization. However, since Kent Hughes was hired as the general manager (GM) of the club, something felt different. Last season was an interesting ride that ended with a first-round loss to the Washington Capitals.
This season, it’s been phenomenal to watch. Since opening night, they’ve been one of the most fun teams to watch. And now, with just 13 games remaining in the season, they are third in the Atlantic Division, just four points back of the Tampa Bay Lightning for second in the division. With that, let’s take a look at all the latest rumblings surrounding the Canadiens.
Caufield Chasing 50 Goals
If you needed any proof that the Canadiens’ core has arrived, look no further than Saturday’s blowout against the New York Islanders. Cole Caufield exploded for a hat trick and a five-point night, bringing his season total to 43 goals, leaving him just seven goals short of 50 with 13 games left in the season.
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Earlier in the week against Boston, Caufield became the first Canadiens player to hit the 40-goal mark in 32 years, ending a drought that dated back to Vincent Damphousse in 1993-94. If he were able to hit the 50-goal mark, he’d be the first Canadien to do so since Stephane Richer scored 51 in 1990.
Fowler’s Dominance Continues
When the Canadiens drafted Jacob Fowler in the 2023 NHL Draft, they knew they got a steal. Fast forward three years and that is very much the case. In his short time in the NHL, he has shown that he can handle the pressure and rise to the occasion whenever they call on him. Last season alone, he had a 6-5-2 record with a 2.72 goals-against average (GAA) and a .899 save percentage (SV%). On top of that, he has been called upon at the most important time of the Canadiens’ season.
Fowler is the goalie of the future. That much is clear, but the question is just how good can he become? Well, when he was in net on Saturday night against the Islanders at the Bell Centre, it felt a lot like when a young Carey Price was in net for Montreal. That’s not to say he will be on Price’s level, but even if he gets close to it, fans will be very appreciative.
Canadiens Have 2 Huge Games Against the Lightning
As mentioned above, the Canadiens have 13 games remaining in the regular season. Only three of those games are against teams in the Atlantic Division. They play the Florida Panthers once and the Lightning twice.
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Those two games stand out. If they can keep up their strong play and continue to find ways to earn points, those games on March 31 and April 9 could be a deciding factor in whether they can move past the Lightning and earn the second spot in the division. Which would give them home-ice advantage against Tampa Bay in the first round.
