Victorious Canadiens Dominate Blues, Courtesy of Caufield’s Seventh Season Goal

Cole Caufield, with his seventh goal of the season in tow, alongside Kirby Dach’s first score since 2023, propelled the Montreal Canadiens to a decisive 5-2 triumph over the St. Louis Blues on Saturday. The Canadiens swiftly seized a 2-0 lead courtesy of goals by Dach and Jake Evans, only for the Blues to level the score with goals from Colton Parayko and Jake Neighbours.

Canadiens Control the Game with Late Goals

The game shifted in favour of the Canadiens with the closing of the second period and the dawn of the third, thanks to goals from Alex Newhook and Caufield. A final goal, netted into an empty net by Joel Armia, firmly placed the game beyond the reach of the Blues. Goalkeeper Sam Montembeault’s 29 saves were instrumental in the Canadiens’ victory, while Jordan Binnington of the Blues conceded four goals from 25 Canadien shots.

Key Takeaways from the Game

Canadiens Improve Special Teams

Historically, Montreal’s special teams have struggled, but early indications this season suggest a potential turnaround. Their win was notably punctuated by a power-play goal and a successful penalty kill, both of which were significant contributors to their triumph.

Blues Struggle in Offensive Zone

Aside from their reaction to Montreal’s second goal, the Blues’ presence in the offensive zone was noticeably lackluster. Despite outshooting the Canadiens, they lacked the necessary aggression to pose a substantial threat for most of the game.

Game Highlight

A critical moment occurred with an eight-minute countdown and a two-goal lead. The Canadiens were faced with a short-handed situation, but not only did they successfully ward off the penalty, they also managed to pose substantial scoring threats.

Noteworthy Statistic

Dach, after a long hiatus due to a torn ACL that led to him missing the entire 2023-2024 season, netted his first goal since March 23, 2023.

What’s Next?

The Blues are set to face the Senators on Tuesday, while the Canadiens will take on Philadelphia on Sunday.