Hidden Game: Canadiens end five-game road trip with win against Avalanche

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We’ll never know how the Canadiens might have played Tuesday night at Colorado had assistant and interim head coach Trevor Letowski remained behind the bench.

But never dispute the power and importance of Martin St. Louis, who returned to the team for the first time since March 16, after taking time to be with his youngest son, Mason, who was hospitalized with an injury he suffered during a hockey game in Connecticut.

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Playing the Avalanche — one of the NHL’s strongest teams — on the road and negating much of its power, the Canadiens looked like a team that wanted to win for St. Louis. Letowski did as well as expected through a difficult stretch in the schedule, going 1-2-1 on the road, but Montreal is St. Louis’s team, and that should never be forgotten.

Having said that, this organization must make improvements next season and at least challenge for a playoff berth.

Go figure: The Avalanche was on a nine-game (5-0-4) winning streak and had won 28 games at Ball Arena before facing the mighty Canadiens. Indeed, Montreal hadn’t won at Denver since Dec. 1, 2014. Montreal swept the two-game season series against Colorado.

Strange, but true: Joel Armia scored both game-winning goals against the Avalanche.

Change of scenery helps: Say what you will about Jonathan Drouin, who generally under-performed during his time in Montreal. Playing for Colorado has provided him with a new lease on life. With 14 goals and 46 points this season, the left-winger has produced his most goals, assists and points since the 2018-19 season, when he scored 18 goals and 35 assists with the Canadiens.

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Of course, it doesn’t hurt to have Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen as linemates.

That’s how you start a game: One shot, one goal for the Avalanche, as MacKinnon converted a cross-ice pass and beat Samuel Montembeault only 43 seconds after the opening faceoff.

Who else?: MacKinnon has now produced points in 35 consecutive home games and 19 overall. This marks his second 18-plus-game points streak. He becomes the second NHL player to accomplish this feat, behind Wayne Gretzky, who also did it twice. With 45-78-123 totals, MacKinnon has established a franchise record for most points in one season.

Momentum, schmomentum: Nine seconds after MacKinnon’s goal, Nick Suzuki scored for the Canadiens, giving the team captain a career-high 67 points.

Game of inches (Part I): MacKinnon hit the post in the 10th minute of the first period.

Game of inches (Part II): Rantanen banked a shot off the crossbar in the 18th minute of the same period.

Trifecta of saves: Montembeault, stellar as usual, stopped Miles Wood three times in succession on the lip of the crease in the opening period. All three saves were quite spectacular.

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Milestone: With an assist on Suzuki’s goal, former first-overall draft choice Juraj Slafkovsky not only notched his second eight-game points streak this season, he also produced his 40th point this season, surpassing by one the single-season record by a Canadiens teenager, held by former head coach Mario Tremblay. Slafkovsky’s days as a teenager end this Saturday, when he turns 20.

News you need (Part I): The revitalized Armia, who scored the Canadiens’ second goal nearly 15 minutes into the game, had three of Montreal’s 11 shots in the period.

Play Pezzetta: Michael Pezzetta had a team-low 1:32 of ice time in the first period over four shifts. Of course, it shouldn’t be forgotten the Canadiens drew two penalties, potentially cutting short some of his time not sitting on the bench.

Slow start: The Canadiens have been known to struggle in the second period. It should come as no surprise the team didn’t generate its first shot until the seventh minute.

Next time, decline the penalty: Through two periods, the Avalanche went 0-for-3 on the power-play.

Hit of the night: In the 11th minute of the second period, Canadiens defenceman Arber Xhekaj demolished Rantanen.

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News you need (Part II): Through two periods, Armia had five of the Canadiens’ 18 shots. He completed the night with six of the team’s 27 shots.

The slump continues: Josh Anderson has been held to one goal in his last 26 games, and hasn’t scored since March 2. But he also drew Colorado’s opening penalty in the 12th minute of the third period — a hooking minor against defenceman Sean Walker. Anderson was in alone and could have been awarded a penalty shot. Of course, given his scoring dearth and inability to convert breakaways, it probably wouldn’t have ended well.

Dumb penalty: No sooner was Walker out of the box than he drew a double-minor for high-sticking Brendan Gallagher with 5:03 remaining in regulation time and the Avalanche trailing by a goal. Gallagher’s nose was bloodied on the play. We’re going to assume it wasn’t the first bloody nose of Gallagher’s life.

Next time, decline the penalty: The Canadiens also went 0-for-3 on the power-play.

All hail Monty: Forget for a moment that Montembeault has lost his last six games. He always provides the Canadiens with an opportunity to win. With 27 stops against Colorado, his save percentage was a scintillating .964.

Welcome back: In his return to Colorado, Alex Newhook drew an assist on Armia’s goal while winning 11 of 16 faceoffs (69 per cent).

hzurkowsky@postmedia.com

twitter.com/herbzurkowsky1

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