Canadiens Lineup

Tomas Tatar – Phillip Danault – Brendan Gallagher

Artturi Lehkonen – Max Domi – Andrew Shaw

Jonathan Drouin – Jesperi Kotkaniemi – Joel Armia

Nicolas Deslauriers – Ryan Poehling – Jordan Weal

Victor Mete – Shea Weber

Brett Kulak – Jeff Petry

Jordie Benn – Christian Folin

Charlie Lindgren – Carey Price 

Charles Hudon, Dale Weise, Mike Reilly, Matthew Peca, Nate Thompson, Antti Niemi

Paul Byron (wrist)

Game Report

Early today, a few Habs fans were ready to talk about expectations exceeded, to declare the season a rousing success and then to move on with their summer lives. 

Casual fans, I suppose. Unserious ones.

Hardcore fans are probably not surprised to hear that Canadiens players were at the complete opposite end of the spectrum. They were very upset, extremely disappointed and looking for answers.

What went wrong?

Count me among this group.

Claude Julien said that his players were not a happy group, so much so that the head coach was concerned about the kind of effort they would deliver in the final game of the season.

Julien was right to be concerned. For the first eleven minutes of the game, the Habs looked disinterested, like they wanted to be anywhere else on the ice. And the Maple Leafs took advantage taking an early 2-0 lead.

But there was one player in red who was soaking up the experience and who was ready to make a mark. And he would have to do it while centering the Canadiens fourth line.

Ryan Poehling scored his first NHL goal just 11:41 into his first NHL game. As remarkable a feat as that was, Poehling was only getting started.

It was the jump start that the rest of the Canadiens needed to get their heads in the game.

With just two-and-a-half minutes to play in the third period, Poehling scored his third goal of the night putting himself into select company by registering a hat trick in his NHL debut. Poehling was on the ice with Artturi Lehkonen and Andrew Shaw providing a glimpse into the future.

And in true storybook fashion, Poehling scored the game-deciding goal in the shootout. 

But Poehling wasn’t the only St. Cloud State alum announcing his intention to stake claim to a 2019-2020 spot in the Canadiens lineup. Charlie Lindgren battled hard in a wide-open game devoid of much structure or defensive play. Lindgren made 44 saves for Montreal.

And in the shootout, Lindgren bested Toronto shooters Mitch Marner, John Tavares and Kasperi Kapanen to earn a win in his first start of the season. 

Those that simplistically read AHL numbers may have the wrong impression about Charlie Lindgren. But those who have been watching know that Lindgren is an NHL goaltender who is ready to backup Carey Price next year.

It was a bittersweet end to the Canadiens season. While true Canadiens fans and players began the day with disappointment, they left the Bell Centre with smiles.

We can now move to dissecting the 2018-19 campaign with a healthy dose of hope for next season.

Plus / Minus

▲  Ryan Poehling, Charlie Lindgren, Artturi Lehkonen, Andrew Shaw, Jordan Weal

▼  Phillip Danault, Jonathan Drouin