Montreal Canadiens Proving Doubters Wrong With Hot Start to Season
Montreal Canadiens off to a blazing hot 7-0-1 start, proving many pundits wrong in the process; Who has been key to the Habs success?
The Montreal Canadiens are on top of the NHL standings. A team whose moves in the summer were heavily criticized have paid off, at least for the early stretch of things.
Defenseman Shea Weber, who was acquired in a blockbuster trade with the Nashville Predators, has been lighting it up with three goals and nine points through eight games.
Controversial free agent signing Alex Radulov has also been a major component to the Canadiens success, with five points through eight matches.
Goaltending has also been a big catalyst in the Canadiens early season streak. When superstar Carey Price came down with the flu to start the season, backup Al Montoya stepped up to the plate and delivered, going 3-0-0 with a 1.47 GAA and .955 SP.
Price has looked like his old self since returning, also going 3-0-0 with a 1.51 GAA and .947 SP (The one Canadiens overtime loss was credited to prospect Charlie Lindgren).
As long as Price stays healthy and the Canadiens core keeps producing, this team is a surefire contender heading into the new year. Weber is having the best start to a season of his career, and the momentum is carrying over to his teammates.
Remember, this team is only one year and a bit removed from reaching the Eastern Conference finals in 2014-15. That time, it was solely Price who was the backbone of Le Bleu Blanc et Rouge.
But continued improvement from 22-year-old Alex Galchenyuk and the presence of snipers Radulov and captain Max Pacioretty gives the Habs a deadly offense to go along with great goaltending.
Still, you’ve gotta wonder how far can the Montreal Canadiens go with head coach Michel Therrien at the helm? Let us know what you think in the comment section.
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