Canadiens needed Laine’s contribution in Seattle, will rely on it for final push

It’s a sport Patrik Laine turned with one whip of his stick, and the Montreal Canadiens needed to be grateful he was there to wield it after it was holstered for their final two video games.

On Wednesday in Seattle, Laine returned from a virus to revive Montreal’s energy play, which had slipped right into a coma simply earlier than his absence. His 12^th aim on the man-advantage this season was their first in 4 video games, and it was unquestionably his most well timed. 

Not simply because it woke the Canadiens up in a sport they have been sleepwalking by to that time, but additionally as a result of it woke Laine up at a time when the Canadiens want him most. 

They’ve largely been a one-line group since getting back from the break for the 4 Nations Face-Off, and everybody is aware of they’ll must be a four-line group from right here to the tip of the season to not solely stay in the wild-card race however doubtlessly win it. 

Although Laine doesn’t rating a lot at five-on-five, his mere presence in the rotation helps differ Montreal’s assault. It’s a must to hope that occurs as he will get his legs again beneath him and will get again into the rhythm of taking part in frequently. 

However even on wobbly legs, Laine’s mere presence in the sport supplies the Canadiens with a particular groups benefit that may change outcomes, and it did that in the 28^th minute of this sport in Seattle.

When the large Finn leaned on that tall stick of his and whipped his one-timer into the online, it reduce the Kraken’s result in one and turned the momentum. Laine then capitalized on this to reward Alex Newhook a aim lower than 4 minutes later.

Laine advised reporters at Local weather Pledge Area after the 5-4 additional time loss to the Kraken that with out Jacob Dobes, the Canadiens would’ve left Seattle with zero factors banked, and he was considerably proper in regards to the younger goaltender, who stopped 13 of 15 first-period photographs from the Kraken and compelled a pair simply large or excessive sufficient to strike iron.

However the Canadiens positively would’ve left Seattle having not pulled some extent nearer to the Columbus Blue Jackets for the second wild-card spot in the Japanese Convention had Laine not performed what he did, and it ought to reinforce to him what sort of affect he can have — even in a restricted function.

Laine would certainly prefer to play greater than the ten:18 he skated in opposition to the Kraken, however he can earn extra with the sort of effort he put into his first sport again from sickness.

The Canadiens want him to. 

They needed Laine to do it in a sport they seemed to be on their technique to dropping decisively earlier than he stepped up. It was their third in 4 nights on the West Coast, their second in 24 hours after beating the Vancouver Canucks, and so they seemed like they’d subsequent to no power till he gave them some.

Laine recorded his 15^th aim after which his 11^th help in what was his 35^th sport of a season that began with him on the long-term harm checklist and has now been interrupted twice by sickness. He’s been removed from good when he’s performed, however it’s not coincidental the Canadiens have collected simply 24 of 60 obtainable factors with out him and 45 of 70 obtainable factors with him.

With 17 video games remaining, the Canadiens would like to have an excellent higher model of the participant than they’ve gotten to this point. 

But when Laine can simply be the participant he was in opposition to the Kraken, and the participant he’s largely been when he’s been wholesome sufficient to play, that may a minimum of give them one thing they want.

• One other two assists for Nick Suzuki introduced his totals to 17 factors in 9 video games for the reason that 4 Nations break. No participant in the NHL has extra, and Suzuki now has 69 factors for the 69-point Canadiens, leaving him 9 away from setting a brand new profession excessive.

• Juraj Slafkovsky’s two objectives have been his 99^th and 100^th NHL factors in his 183^rd sport in the league. When requested about them, he mentioned, “That’s a pleasant factor, however I’d moderately be in a playoff spot.”

Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis would too, however he nonetheless complimented Slafkovsky, who has collected six objectives and 10 factors post-4 Nations.

“Slaf is a younger participant who will have highs and lows, and he’s confirmed during the last two years that he’s in a position to appropriate himself and study from his much less good moments,” St. Louis mentioned. “It’s not all the time failure, it’s studying, and he’s confirmed he can study and convey himself up, and I’m pleased with him.”

• Lane Hutson wasn’t pleased with how Brandon Montour beat him off the set face-off play in additional time, dishonest ahead as Chandler Stephenson knocked the puck to him for a breakaway.

Hutson earlier grew to become the primary rookie to 50 factors this season, however he mentioned that didn’t imply a factor to him after the loss.