This edition of the Hidden Game is dedicated to Canadiens’ forward Brendan Gallagher, who played the 800th regular-season game of his NHL career Thursday night at Detroit.
Not many players reach that milestone, especially ones who stand only 5-foot-9 and weigh 185 pounds. But what Gallagher lacks in size, he compensates for with grit and determination. Gallagher, the Canadiens’ fifth-round (147th overall) draft choice in 2010, has made a career of going to the net, never giving an inch and taking a physical pounding in the process.
At age 32, we’re not sure Gallagher will make it to 900 games, but we wouldn’t bet against it. He contributed an assist in Montreal’s 4-2 loss to the Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena, giving him 446 career points.
Night of milestones: Gallagher’s teammate, Patrik Laine, played his 500th career game. It also was Christian Dvorak’s 500th game, while Detroit captain Dylan Larkin dressed for the 700th time in his career. Laine had an assist, while Larkin contributed a goal and an assist.
One milestone not reached: Montreal head coach Martin St. Louis will have to wait at least until Saturday, against New Jersey, for his 100th career win.
Great moments in coaching changes: When Detroit fired head coach Derek Lalonde on Dec. 26 — Merry Christmas, by the way — the team had a 13-17-4 record. The Wings lost their first game under new coach Todd McLellan before going on a seven-game winning streak. Detroit now sits at 22-21-5 and, although we’re mathematically challenged, even we can figure out this change has worked. So far.
With the Wings on a Christmas break in the schedule at the time — like all NHL teams — Lalonde didn’t have the opportunity to address his players. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.
Strange, but true (Part I): Before facing the Canadiens, the Wings had been held to three goals in three games.
Money well spent: After Detroit lost some scoring punch, general manager Steve Yzerman decided to invest in 33-year-old Vladimir Tarasenko, signing him for two years and paying the veteran US$4.75-million this season. Although Tarasenko has scored 33 goals or more six times in his career, he’s on pace this season for 10. He has been held to two goals in his last 24 games, both coming against San Jose, the worst team in the NHL.
Tarasenko’s next goal — provided there is one — will be the 300th of his career.
News you need (Part I): Detroit defenceman Erik Gustafsson has played for every original six team except Boston. That included five games with Montreal in 2020-21. We hope there’s a trade to the Bruins in his future.
News you need (Part II): Wings goaltender Cam Talbot likes playing the Canadiens. Heading into this game, he was 8-3-1 against Montreal with a 1.58 average and .941 save percentage. Of Talbot’s 32 career shutouts, four have come against the Canadiens.
That’s how you play defence: Early in the game, Moritz Seider made a nice play on a streaking Josh Anderson.
A typical Dvorak shift: Turnover, turnover, icing call midway through the period.
This isn’t handball: In the 10th minute of the period, Lucas Raymond tried swatting the puck past Samuel Montembeault with his glove hand.
Late goals kill: Alex DeBrincat gave Detroit a 2-0 lead at 19:56 of the opening period after Jonatan Berggren opened the scoring at 13:00.
Like we said: Tarasenko’s next goal — provided there is one — will be the 300th of his career. Early in the second period, he was on the lip of the crease and was denied, twice. Guy is worth every penny.
Best blocked shot of the night: Simon Edvinsson got in the way of a Lane Hutson blast, providing Andrew Copp with a breakaway and a shorthanded goal at 4:25 of the second period.
Momentum … schmomentum: Only 64 seconds later, Kirby Dach scored Montreal’s first goal. It was his fourth goal in six games and 10th on the season.
Unsung hero: While Dach got an assist on Kaiden Guhle’s goal at 11:06 of the second period, the puck doesn’t elude Talbot without Dach’s screen.
News you need (Part III): The Wings had a 32-16 shots advantage following two periods. Getting outshot by a 2:1 margin generally is a recipe for disaster.
If only: Had Cole Caufield buried his opportunity in the fifth minute of the third period, the Canadiens would have pulled to within a goal.
Best stop while prone: Montembeault, while lying on his back, stopped J.T. Compher in the third period.
Next time, decline the penalty: What’s worse, the Canadiens going 0-for-3 on the power play or allowing a shorthanded goal? We’ll let you decide.
Dumb penalty: With 66 seconds remaining, Juraj Slafkovsky high-sticked Ben Chiarot.
News you need (Part IV): Hutson’s nine-game point streak came to an end.
Quick stats:Alex Newhook had a team-high five shots. Caufield, Slafkovsky, Hutson and Nick Suzuki were all minus-2. Guhle was plus-2. Gallagher and Anderson both delivered four hits. Despite allowing four goals, Montembeault’s save percentage was .911. He faced 45 shots.
Strange, but true (Part II): This was the first time since Oct. 22 — and only the third time this season — the Canadiens allowed more than 40 shots in a game.
They said it: “They did to us what we’ve been doing to other teams,” Dach told reporters in Detroit. “They were on top. They made it hard to break pucks out. We didn’t get enough pucks below the goal-line, get on our forecheck and make life uncomfortable for them. We dug a hole and couldn’t dig ourselves out of it.
“We kind of put ourselves behind the eight-ball,” Dach added. “I think as a group we’ve grown and matured enough to the point where we can turn the page on this, take the lessons that we need to learn and move on to Saturday’s game.”