Last week was a light one on the schedule for the Rocket with only two games. They took care of business in both of them, officially securing a playoff spot in the process although there’s still lots to play for seeding-wise down the stretch.
The Habs had three crucial games in the standings this past week. They won two of them to continue to hold onto a playoff spot but the way they lost the other one will be a source of frustration for them for a while.
After a disappointing loss in Detroit on Thursday, the Habs had yet another game against a team right behind them in the standings on Saturday as they hosted the Islanders. The top line took over when it mattered most, leading Montreal to a 7-3 win.
The month of February saw several players in Laval have strong months offensively to keep them atop the North Division. It was a quieter month for some of Montreal’s other youngsters, leading to some new names in our three stars.
Laval had a pair of divisional games on the road last week, including their last chance to gain ground on Syracuse, a team that has been gaining on them lately. They were able to do that, picking up a shootout win over the Crunch but that was preceded by a disappointing loss to Utica.
After a disappointing weekend, the Habs looked to get back on track Tuesday with a key divisional game against Boston. They never led in the game but it didn’t matter as Cole Caufield’s overtime winner gave them the 3-2 win.
Last week was a tale of two halves for the Habs. In the first half against divisional rivals, they took care of business. However, over the weekend against a pair of Western opponents, they struggled and failed to pick up any points, leading to a split week overall.
While the NHL trade deadline passed last week, the AHL trade deadline is Friday. The Habs made a move before the buzzer this time, sending Riley Kidney to Ottawa for goaltender Hunter Shepard and winger Jake Chiasson.
The Habs have signed one of their college prospects. No, not Michael Hage, as his team is still playing for a few more weeks. Instead, the team inked defenceman Luke Mittelstadt to a two-year, entry-level contract.
It appears the Habs will be returning to a three-goalie system as they continue their push to the playoffs. The team announced on Wednesday that they’ve recalled Jacob Fowler from Laval.