The Montreal Canadiens' blue line is doing more than just holding the fort - it's driving the bus. With 134 points from their defensemen since the start of the season, second only to the high-powered Colorado Avalanche, this group is proving that offense from the back end isn’t just a luxury - it’s a weapon. And according to the players themselves, a big part of that success starts behind the bench.
Head coach Martin St. Louis has created an environment where creativity isn't just allowed - it’s encouraged. It’s a philosophy that’s giving defenders the green light to play instinctively, and the results speak for themselves.
“We have that flexibility,” said defenseman Alexandre Carrier. “It’s part of our philosophy. We know we can contribute offensively, that we can make plays in the offensive zone, and that we can go to the net.”
That kind of freedom is rare in a league where many coaches still ask their defensemen to play it safe - dump the puck in, stay back, don’t get caught. But under St.
Louis, guys like Lane Hutson, Mike Matheson, and Noah Dobson are thriving because they’re trusted to make plays. Whether it’s Hutson dancing at the blue line or Matheson carrying the puck through the neutral zone with confidence, the Canadiens’ defense is playing with purpose and poise.
Hutson, in particular, has been a standout. Already sitting at 52 points, he’s become a central figure in Montreal’s attack.
But it’s not just about stats - it’s about chemistry. His connection with Ivan Demidov is turning heads, and not just because of the numbers.
It’s the way they read each other on the ice, the way they anticipate plays before they happen.
Take one recent sequence - Demidov, without even glancing, sent a no-look pass right on Hutson’s tape. A dozen hours later, it was still the talk of the locker room.
“There are players who see certain things, who have wider peripheral vision than others,” said St. Louis. “Demidov understands the play in front of him, but he’s also aware of what’s behind him.”
That kind of vision - that trust - is what’s unlocking the full potential of this defense corps.
But the defensemen aren’t doing it alone. Carrier was quick to highlight the role the forwards are playing, especially in front of the net.
“It gives us a big advantage,” he said. “That’s the kind of thing that wins you games.”
Zachary Bolduc echoed that sentiment, pointing to the importance of net-front presence - especially when the game tightens up, like it does in the postseason.
“We’re sort of preparing ourselves by developing that playoff mentality,” Bolduc said.
And on Tuesday night, that preparation was on full display. The defensemen were getting pucks through, the forwards were creating traffic, and the result? Goals that came from grit and structure - not just skill.
“Last night, our defensemen did a heck of a job getting pucks to the net,” Bolduc added. “On our end, we provided traffic, which produced results. It’s the kind of goal we can create with our defensemen.”
But this group isn’t just about point shots and deflections. The Canadiens’ defensemen are dynamic - they’re joining the rush, jumping into plays, and turning defense into offense in a flash.
“They have so much talent that they can join the rush at any moment,” Bolduc said. “Yes, they do it in the offensive zone, but they also do it on the counterattack, which creates odd-man rushes.”
That kind of versatility makes the Canadiens dangerous from anywhere on the ice. Whether it’s a structured cycle in the offensive zone or a quick transition off a turnover, this blue line is built to attack.
And with St. Louis giving them the green light, they’re not just playing defense - they’re changing the game.