As it turned out, the Montreal Canadiens didn’t need to play spoiler against the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night. With a Washington Capitals win, Detroit was eliminated regardless of the result. Still, the Canadiens followed a nearly identical game script to the night prior, surrendering a multi-goal lead and losing this time in a shootout. Once more, they made it entertaining, and provided a good send off for the Bell Centre faithful.
They also showed everyone in attendance why the future in Montreal looks to be very bright.
A 20th goal, and 50th point for Juraj Slafkovsky set a career mark that very few thought he could reach this season. To not only see that happen, but have it set up by the dynamic blue-line presence of Lane Hutson, was perhaps one of the best parting gifts this team could give its fans. Two hugely important pieces of this team’s future linking up in the final game, both looking poised to be difference makers in the years to come.
Slafkovsky took a massive step forward this season, quelling much of the consternation around his selection. Hutson has only gotten a taste of the NHL, but the sound that the Bell Centre makes when he touches the puck shows just how much the city believes in him. These two alone would give reason to be optimistic about the team’s future, but the show didn’t stop with them.
Logan Mailloux, making his NHL debut on Tuesday, played a very reserved game, punctuated by excellent breakout passes like the one that set up Alex Newhook’s goal. His offensive talents were always known, but the biggest concern was around his play in the defensive zone. He was solid the entire night, and while you don’t want to read too much into a single game, he was yet another young player giving some hope that the years to come won’t see the team jockeying for lottery position.
With goals also coming from Newhook, and Cole Caufield, the Habs’ young guns all showed up for the final game of the season. Sure, they blew yet another lead, and that is something they’ll need to address, but they wouldn’t have built that lead in the first place without the future of the organization putting on a show.
The season may be over, and as disappointing as it is to see the third year in a row without playoff hockey, the organization appears to be in an excellent position.
Click the play button below to listen to your full Bottom Six Minutes, also available wherever you get your podcasts. I would like to thank everyone who took the time to listen to my rants this season, and we’ll be back next year, hopefully to talk about a Canadiens team chasing a playoff spot.
