The Montreal Canadiens don’t need a miracle to fix their power play. They just need a few pucks to start going in.
Right now, the man advantage has been a mess. Montreal is converting at just 7.7%, with only one goal in 13 chances, and that kind of drought has helped drag the team into its current slump. The lack of production is especially glaring because the Canadiens still have plenty of high-end talent on that first unit.
Cole Caufield remains a pure finishing threat, and last season he scored 11 power-play goals. Juraj Slafkovsky did a big chunk of his damage there too, burying 15 of his 30 goals with the extra man. Nick Suzuki was just as dangerous in that setting, piling up 43 of his 101 points on the power play, while Lane Hutson added 20 power-play points as the quarterback on the back end.
Ivan Demidov’s absence matters, and it matters a lot. The Russian winger is a puck wizard and had strong chemistry with Hutson, so losing him has clearly taken some juice out of the top group. But Montreal did add another important piece this offseason in Chris Kreider, and he brings a different kind of threat.
Kreider put up 17 points and eight power-play goals with the Anaheim Ducks last season. He is not Demidov, and he is not going to unlock a defense with the same kind of passing touch or creativity. What he does bring is a skill that can change a power play fast: he is excellent at tipping pucks.
That should force a shift in how Montreal attacks. The Canadiens have preferred to hunt for the perfect look, valuing shot quality over volume.
That approach can work when the puck movers and finishers are all clicking, but with Kreider now planted around the net on the first unit, the group should be much more aggressive. When he’s set up in front, the mindset needs to be simple: fire away.
A clean shot doesn’t have to beat the goalie outright if Kreider gets a stick on it. A redirect can turn a routine attempt into a goal, and even when it doesn’t, the rebound can still drop into the path of Caufield or Slafkovsky. That kind of traffic and chaos is where this unit can start finding answers.
Demidov’s absence is still a significant loss, but the Canadiens have enough talent to compensate if they lean into the strengths of their new weapon. They’ll get a chance to do exactly that Saturday night against the Detroit Red Wings, who have the fourth-worst power play in the league.
In Other News...
Adam Engstrom Just Gave Canadiens A Tough Blue Line Decision
Adam Engstroms season debut for Montreal came in a 5-2 loss to Nashville, but the rookie defenseman still gave the Canadiens something to think about on a night when their blue line was under the microscope. He skated just under 12 minutes and was not on the ice for any goals against, and his work helped steady a third pairing that had looked shakier in previous games.
Engstrom also stood out in a quieter way by leading Montreal defensemen in turnovers, though none of them turned into dangerous chances for the Predators. For a team trying to sort out its back end, that kind of performance makes the next lineup decision a little more interesting, especially if the Canadiens are looking for signs that a young defender can handle more responsibility. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Face A Telling Blue Line Decision After Struble Trade
Montreals trade of Jayden Struble looks less like a simple subtraction and more like a sign of where the blue line is headed. The Canadiens still have six defensemen on the roster, but management clearly treated the move as strategic, with defensive reinforcements expected to follow rather than leaving the group thin for long.
The next step is what makes the situation worth watching. Kaiden Guhle is nearing a return, which could handle the open spot right away, while David Reinbacher remains the other major internal option if the club decides it needs a seventh defenseman. For a team trying to balance present needs with longer-term planning, the answer will say plenty about how the Canadiens see their depth chart right now. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Face A Delicate Dylan Larkin Test At Bell Centre
The Bell Centre crowd has a way of turning routine visits into something a little more complicated, and Dylan Larkins next trip to Montreal is already carrying an extra layer of intrigue. The Red Wings captain is off to a steady start with two points in two games this season, and with an $8.7 million cap hit, he remains the kind of player who draws attention wherever he goes.
What makes this one stand out is the backdrop around his arrival, which has turned the Canadiens home date into more than just another test on the schedule. TVA Sports reporter Anthony Martineau noted the growing conversation around how Larkin might be received in Canada, and whether the atmosphere inside the building could end up mattering beyond one night at the rink. [Read more 🡒]