Canadiens Seek Offensive Boost from Bottom Six
Martin St-Louis aims to spark more offense from his bottom six forwards by making a straightforward change in line combinations. The Montreal Canadiens returned to practice Monday morning in Brossard, where the coach decided to switch Joe Veleno and Brendan Gallagher.
Line Changes Implemented
St-Louis removed veteran Brendan Gallagher from his usual line to reunite him with Kirby Dach and Zack Bolduc. This move placed Joe Veleno alongside Jake Evans and Josh Anderson. Although St-Louis is satisfied with how these lines have played so far, he hopes this adjustment will enhance their offensive output.
Performance Overview
- Gallagher, Dach, and Bolduc played the first five games together, with Bolduc scoring four points, Dach two of his three points, and Gallagher four of his six points during that span.
- Evans and Anderson, paired initially with Patrik Laine, went scoreless in the same period despite Laine's efforts, partly due to a mismatch in play styles.
"It's not that Martin St-Louis is dissatisfied with those two lines; he made it clear that he’s happy with their intentions, with the way they play the game, but he’d like to see if, by making that swap, the Habs could get more offensively from those two lines."
Recent Canadiens News
- Canadiens: Out With The Sunglasses, In With The Wolf Pelt
- Canadiens: Montembeault Believes He Took A Step In The Right Direction
- Canadiens: A Big Milestone For Dobson
Summary: By swapping Gallagher and Veleno, St-Louis aims to ignite the Canadiens' bottom six, seeking better scoring chances without changing the lines' overall approach.