The Montreal Canadiens are on pace for 103 points - yet hold just a three-point playoff cushion with one month left. Their offensive firepower remains elite: Cole Caufield has 39 goals, Juraj Slafkovsky ignited a comeback goal, and the Suzuki-Caufield-Slafkovsky line has 11 goals in six games.
But defensively, the Canadiens rank 24th in the NHL. They repeatedly back off at the blue line, allow unrestricted access to the slot and net front, and fail to physically engage attackers in high-danger areas - habits that will not survive the playoffs.
Kirby Dach exited Sunday’s loss to Anaheim after a blindside hit from Jeffrey Viel. He did not return. Dach - a pending unrestricted free agent - has missed more games than he’s played over the past three seasons due to recurring knee, foot, and now likely upper-body injuries.
The solution lies in Laval: David Reinbacher, the Canadiens’ 2023 fifth-overall pick, has posted a plus-15 rating in his last 18 games with the Rocket. He’s ready. Montreal needs reliable, smart, defensive-zone stability - not more offence from the blue line.