Following their strong season-opening victory against the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Montreal Canadiens faced off against the Boston Bruins just 24 hours later on Thursday night, resulting in a disappointing 6-4 loss.
Let’s explore the key moments!
Setting the Stage
The Canadiens took an early lead when forward Brendan Gallagher redirected a shot from Joel Armia into the net for his first goal of the season just eight minutes into the first period, marking his first of two goals that night. The 32-year-old Gallagher had a resurgence in the 2023-24 season, scoring 16 goals. After struggling with powerplays during the preseason, the Canadiens managed to score one in each of their first two games. In only his fourth NHL game, Lane Hutson registered his third career point with an assist on Gallagher’s goal, showcasing his exceptional talent and potential despite his limited experience.
Not long after, Charlie McAvoy leveled the score with a shot from the point that got past Primeau. However, the tie was short-lived, as Cole Caufield, the Canadiens’ sole goalscorer from the previous night, quickly netted his second of the season just 74 seconds later, capitalizing on a rebound. Hutson provided another assist on this goal as well.
Losing Momentum
The second period saw the Canadiens struggling to create offense, failing to register a shot until the eight-minute mark. Late in the period, the Bruins struck twice within 55 seconds, establishing a dominant 5-2 lead by the end of two periods, with the shot count favoring them 23-11.
Facing a three-goal deficit in the third, the Canadiens rallied and brought hope midway through the period when Kaiden Guhle, who had missed most of the preseason due to an appendectomy, managed to score his first goal with a seemingly harmless shot after a clean face-off win by Jake Evans. Oliver Kapanen, in his first NHL game, earned an assist on that goal, marking his initial point in the league. Shortly after, Gallagher tallied his second goal, shooting top shelf past Swayman, but the momentum quickly shifted back when Kastelic scored his second goal just 17 seconds later, solidifying the Bruins’ victory.
Despite the loss, there were still encouraging signs; the team’s youth showed promise, Caufield is on pace for an incredible 82 goals, and their power play was effective once again. Lane Hutson made a significant impact on the ice, which is commendable considering he is just starting his NHL journey. While we don’t expect him to sustain a point-per-game average throughout the season, he has played an important role in helping the Canadiens control the game’s tempo.
The Montreal Canadiens will aim to bounce back as they head home for a match against their division rivals, the Ottawa Senators, on Saturday.
