Canadiens Score Big Win Against Divisional Rivals

It’s been established that Gallagher cannot be as effective as he once was, but with a limited role and load management, he can still deliver. After 40 minutes on Tuesday night, he had only seen 6:01 of action across nine shifts and had delivered a game-leading five hits on top of getting an assist on Anderson’s game-tying goal in the second frame.

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In his own way, he can still be the spark plug that he once was, but you have to use him at the right time and in the right situation, which Martin St-Louis appears to be doing right now. Getting a point in his 900th game, against the Bruins as well, was the perfect way to mark the occasion.

The diminutive player with a big heart ended his work night with 10:37 of ice time, 6 hits, 2 shots, and a blocked shot. The perfect proof of the heart he has on the ice came in the third frame when he landed a hit on Hampus Lindholm. The 6-foot-4 and 217-pound blueliner ended up on his backside behind the net as if a giant had hit him. But no, it was the 5-foot-9 and 185-pound alternate captain that took him down. When you play like Gallagher, size does not matter.

Asked about Gallagher’s big milestone after the game, Martin St-Louis explained:

When you play somewhere for that long, it says a lot about your character, the human side, the presence you bring; it’s about more than just what you do on the ice. You look at how he entered the league (a fifth-round pick), how he found a spot, and the way he plays, it’s galvanizing. He has a galvanizing energy; he gives his all, and he deserves it. It’s not easy to play 900 games in the NHL; not many do it (Gallagher is the 13th player to play 900 games with the Habs). And the way he has played those 900 games? It’s a lot of effort; he doesn’t stay on the perimeter; he’s right there in the blue paint, he takes the big hits, he’s a warrior…the way he plays, it’s not easy to make it to 900 games. I tip my hat to him, and I’m really proud of him.

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While the Canadiens skated away with the two points tonight, they easily could have gone home empty-handed if Jakub Dobes didn’t make some big, timely saves. The Czech netminder faced 28 shots and saved 26 of them for a .929 save percentage. Late in the third, after a bad change at the Canadiens’ bench, he had to pull off a tough breakaway save.

Over the weekend, Lane Hutson didn’t play his best hockey, but on Tuesday night, paired with Jayden Struble, he looked much better. He spent 21:41 on the ice, had seven shot attempts, even though only one made it to Swayman, and finished the night with a pair of assists, including one on the overtime game-winner.

However, one of his defensive plays saved the day. During extra time, he had to defend a two-on-one, and he slid at just the right time to poke the puck and kill the play. Had he not done that, the Canadiens might not have had two points.