Tonights Ottawa-Montreal game is going to be an interesting one. These are two teams who have done what a lot of people here wanted the Kings to do, they have given ownership to their young players, and despite some hiccups that come with traditional rebuilds, it seems that both are nearing the point where they might be ready to take that next step up to the playoffs with the young players leading the way, a similar spot to where the Kings were around 2009/2010.
Suzuki (25) centering Caufield (24) and Slafkovsky (20) has been one of the best lines in the NHL recently. Montreal is 7-1-2 over their last 10, in that time these guys are.
Suzuki 5-11-16 +9
Caufield 7-5-12 +9 (3 GWG)
Slafkovsky 6-5-11 +9
You can add Hutson as another young player really taking off, he is 1-10-11 +6 over his last 10, showing no signs that the increased NHL schedule or his diminutive size is slowing him down, he has actually improved beyond the number of games he played in college.
But even with the 7-1-2 run, and 16 out of a possible 20, they have only gained one point on the standings over Ottawa who is 7-2-1 in their last 10, and is now 6 points into a playoff spot, a regulation win tonight and Ottawa really puts a stranglehold onto a playoff spot. For Ottawa it's the usual suspects, you really can't understate just how awesome their drafting was between 2017 and 2020. Tkachuk, Stutzle, Sanderson, Batherson Pinto, Greig they flipped Norris into Cozens now. Ottawa's best players are almost all 26 or younger, and the only guys over 30 playing any type of significant roles are Giroux and the goalies
The Blue Jackets, Rangers and Red Wings have all kind of stalled recently, so it's very possible that these two get the WC spots (and Montreal possibly adds another weapon in Demidov), I wouldn't want to see these teams in the playoffs if I am a top contender, I'd much rather play someone like the Rangers or Wings.
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