Montreal Canadiens Surprise Everyone By Defeating Stars In Overtime

The trip was a success overall, with the Canadiens earning 10 of a possible 14 points. This was considered the toughest stretch of the 82-game season, but Montreal not only rose to the occasion but also proved themselves to be a strong team. In their final game in Dallas on Sunday, the Canadiens looked visibly tired against a well-rested Dallas Stars, yet they delivered one of their best performances of the decade. Montreal defeated the Dallas Stars 3-4 in overtime, with the deciding goal coming from defenseman Len Hutson.
The Stars had gone 0-7 in the last meeting between the two teams in Montreal in November, so the Canadiens aimed to play a more organized and tough defensive game this time around, which they succeeded in doing. The first goal of the match was scored by Brandon Gallagher, while Philip Dano assisted on the goal to complete his 400th career point and earn the first point for the Canadiens.
The synergy between Gallagher and Dano appeared to be even better in the second period. The two were once considered one of the best lines in the league with Tomas Tatar, and now with Zachary Boldik, the same old chemistry seems to be rekindling. The goal of acquiring Dano in December was his defensive ability and face-off skills, which have proven to be fully effective so far. In the match against Dallas, Dano achieved 67% success in the face-off circle.
In overtime, head coach Martin St. Louis trusted Dano for a crucial face-off, which he won and passed the ball to Len Hutson. Hutson seized the opportunity to score his seventh goal of the season on a 15-foot wrist shot, deciding the game. While the first line was somewhat lackluster during the road trip, the second line came into its own. Juraj Slavoskovsky’s development was notable and his presence was clearly felt on the ice. On the 2-2 goal, Slavoskovsky made a brilliant spin pass to Ivan Demidov, who dodged a defender and found Oliver Kapanen in an open position. Kapanen scored his 13th goal of the season, which tied the rookie lead.
Slavoskovsky was the Canadiens’ best forward throughout the seven-game road trip. He scored his 15th goal of the season on a pass from Nick Suzuki. Slavoskovsky scored 11 points on the trip, while Demidov and Hutson scored 10 points each.
In the goalkeeping department, Sam Montembo made a major technical error in the first period, when he failed to close the bottom of the net on a wrap-around shot by Maverick Bourque. However, Montembo made a great comeback after that one mistake and kept the team in the game by stopping several difficult shots. Overall, despite the constant travel and fatigue, the Montreal Canadiens put in an exceptional performance against a strong and well-rested team. This victory is clear evidence that the Canadiens have now become a serious and talented team, capable of winning big games even in difficult situations.