Dach and Special Teams Power Canadiens to Victory Over Blues
In an exciting showdown at Bell Centre, the Montreal Canadiens ended a four-game losing streak with a decisive 5-2 win over the St. Louis Blues. Key to the victory was Kirby Dach, who not only netted his first goal since March 2023 but also added an assist in a much-needed win for Montreal. This performance marked Dach’s return to form after a difficult recovery from a torn ACL and MCL that kept him out of nearly the entire previous season. “It was nice to get it in front of the fans,” Dach remarked post-game, acknowledging the support from Canadiens fans throughout his injury and recovery journey. His goal lifted both the team’s morale and the energy in the arena, making the win especially meaningful for the Canadiens and their fans.
Jake Evans opened the scoring early in the first period, capitalizing on a 2-on-1 opportunity with a swift wrist shot. Dach then followed up in the second period by knocking in a rebound from a Nick Suzuki shot, establishing a 2-0 lead. However, St. Louis responded quickly with two goals from Colton Parayko and Jake Neighbours, briefly tying the game and putting pressure back on Montreal.
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Montreal’s resilience became evident when Alex Newhook netted a crucial power-play goal just seconds into a man-advantage opportunity. The Canadiens’ special teams have seen remarkable improvement this season, and Saturday’s performance highlighted their progress. With a power-play success rate of 24.1% and a penalty-kill rate among the top in the league at 89.3%, Montreal’s special teams have become a formidable asset rather than a liability. Head Coach Martin St. Louis praised the team's ability to pressure opponents, especially in tight spaces along the boards and in their own defensive zone. He noted that players like Lane Hutson, who has shown excellent anticipation on the penalty kill, have played a critical role in disrupting opponents and forcing turnovers.
In the third period, the Canadiens reinforced their lead with a wrist shot from Cole Caufield, bringing the score to 4-2. Joel Armia added an empty-net goal, sealing the game at 5-2 and securing two points for Montreal. Goaltender Sam Montembeault was instrumental as well, stopping 29 shots and helping fend off St. Louis’s offensive efforts. The Blues made a late push but struggled to bring physicality or consistency through the first two periods, with Coach Drew Bannister acknowledging that they “tiptoed into the first period” and only began playing physically toward the end of the game.
Montreal’s effective use of their power play and penalty kill provided momentum swings that helped the Canadiens stay in control, even as St. Louis battled back. Reflecting on the team’s defensive progress, Montembeault credited the unit’s organization and collective effort, noting, “It’s always a group effort and everyone contributed.”
With this victory, the Canadiens demonstrated a newfound confidence and synergy, especially on special teams. The win not only ended a losing streak but also highlighted Montreal’s potential to be a tough competitor this season if they can continue leveraging their special teams and supporting strong performances from key players like Dach and Montembeault.
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