Montreal Canadiens

Post Game Poutine: Top-Line Horsepower Leads Habs to 3rd Win

Published

2 years ago

February 21, 2022

The Montreal Canadiens have now won three-straight games after a 5-2 thrashing of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Josh Anderson scored two goals and added an assist; Cole Caufield scored a goal and had two assists and Brendan Gallagher finished with two assists for the Montreal Canadiens. Samuel Montenmbeault made 35 saves in the win.

Ilya Mikheyev and Pierre Engvall scored for the Leafs and Petr Mrazek was shelled allowing five goals on 24 shots.

Here’s your MHN Postgame Poutine:

GOLD STAR: Josh Anderson – Since being put on the top line with Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki, Josh Anderson has become a player transformed. He’s creating space, using his speed, and is finishing far more of his chances. Anderson led the charge once again tonight with 2 goals and 1 assist, each of which included Cole Caufield. This was perhaps his best game as a Montreal Canadien, as he could easily have scored 4 goals with a little more puck luck; all while being a physical force all around the ice. Martin St-Louis seems to have found a perfect combination on his top-line and, as he said, they’re not going anywhere.

#Habs After multiple attempts, Josh Anderson scores goal vs #MapleLeafs

Assists: Petry, Caufield@AllHabs @RocketSports #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/HUhtzYDRKN

— Chris G (@ChrisHabs360) February 22, 2022

TABARNAK: Petr Mrazek – Right from the get-go, Petr Mrazek looked like he couldn’t get his groove going. With less than three minutes into the 1st period, he had already allowed a goal to Josh Anderson, and the rest was downhill from there. Mrazek allowed five goals on just 24 shots tonight, most of which seemed to be aimed high glove side. Unfortunately, the team in front of him game the Canadiens players way too much space, and they capitalized. Mrazek cannot be fully blamed for such a high goal count, but he looked to be battling the puck the whole night.

TURNING POINT: Josh Anderson Goal – Not three minutes into this game, Anderson set the tone with a quick goal 2:58 into regulation in tight, and the Canadiens never looked back, cruising to a 5-2 win over the Maple Leafs.

HONORABLE MENTION: Cole Caufield – The young phenom that wowed fans last year during the Canadiens improbable Playoff run has returned. Caufield has been a player transformed under Martin St-Louis and was one of the best forwards on the ice. He was given the first star of the game for his 1 goal and 2 assist total in this game. What’s more impressive is how fluid Caufield has become as a skater, as he’s been able to cover so much more ice due to his constant motion and heads-up plays. He’s certainly not overthinking the game as much anymore, as evidenced by this blistering one-timer below. Clearly, this is the level Cole Caufield is capable of playing, and, he’s only just begun.

Cole Caufield scores his 5th goal in 6 games!

Profile🔗:https://t.co/B1Ip8zCaB8 pic.twitter.com/SnOlMUePXU

— Elite Prospects (@eliteprospects) February 22, 2022