Stu Cowan: Brendan Gallagher a rare bright spot for Canadiens

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There haven’t been many positives for the Canadiens by the primary 13 video games this season.

Following Tuesday’s 3-2 additional time loss to the Calgary Flames on the Bell Centre, the Canadiens had a 4-7-2 document, which had them in final place within the Atlantic Division and twenty ninth within the total NHL standings.

In Yr 3 of their rebuild, the Canadiens are 4 factors behind their tempo from final season once they have been 6-5-2 after 13 video games and three factors behind their tempo from the earlier season once they have been 6-6-1. They’re on a four-game dropping streak (0-3-1) and are 2-6-2 of their final 10 video games. Their minus-18 purpose differential was the worst within the NHL by Tuesday’s video games.

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Limitless on-line entry to our award-winning journalism together with thought-provoking columns by Allison Hanes, Josh Freed and Invoice Brownstein.Alternative to interact with our commenting group and be taught from fellow readers in a moderated discussion board.Limitless on-line entry to the Montreal Gazette and Nationwide Publish, together with the New York Occasions Crossword, and 14 extra information websites with one accountSupport native journalists and the following era of journalists.Montreal Gazette ePaper, an digital reproduction of the print version to view on any machine, the place you possibly can share and remark..

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One brilliant spot has been the play of Brendan Gallagher, who scored his fifth purpose of the season towards the Flames. It appeared like Gallagher had additionally scored his sixth purpose to place the Canadiens up 3-1 within the third interval, nevertheless it didn’t rely after a video evaluate confirmed that Josh Anderson put himself offside earlier than establishing Gallagher.

The one Canadien with extra objectives than Gallagher is Cole Caufield, who was tied for the NHL lead with 10 by Tuesday’s video games. Gallagher is on a tempo to complete the season with 32 objectives, one wanting his career-high 33 in 2018-19.

“I’ve simply by no means actually been a type of guys that measures my recreation on objectives and factors,” Gallagher stated after Tuesday’s recreation. “It comes while you do the best issues and I really feel proper now the sport feels easy to me. Enjoying with linemates that I really feel snug with (Christian Dvorak and Josh Anderson towards the Flames) and I can learn off straightforward and we’re simply taking part in an actual easy recreation and when the probabilities come they’re discovering methods to go in, which is sweet. There’s going to be occasions the place they don’t, however I feel there’s sure areas of my recreation proper now that I really feel snug with. Forechecking is a giant a part of it and also you simply attempt to play to your strengths each night time and hope you find yourself on the best aspect of it.”

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Gallagher additionally obtained off to an excellent begin final season, when he had 5 objectives after 14 video games. However he then went 24 video games with out a purpose and completed the season with 16.

The 32-year-old nonetheless has two extra seasons after this remaining on his contract with an annual salary-cap hit of US$6.5 million, which makes him the third-highest paid participant on the workforce behind captain Nick Suzuki (US$7.875 million) and Caufield (US$7.850 million).

Former Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin signed Gallagher to a six-year, US$39-million contract extension on Oct. 14, 2020, after he had scored 31 objectives in 2017-18, 33 in 2018-19 and 22 in 2019-20 when he was restricted to 59 video games due to a concussion that ended his consecutive video games performed streak at 229. Within the 5 seasons since signing the contract extension — which kicked in for the 2021-22 season — Gallagher has scored 50 objectives and missed 92 video games due to accidents. He solely missed 5 video games final season due to a suspension for an unlawful test to the pinnacle on New York Islanders defenceman Adam Pelech and scored 5 objectives within the last 5 video games. Gallagher now has 10 objectives in his final 18 video games relationship again to final season.

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Gallagher was wholesome on the finish of final season for the primary time in a very long time, which allowed him to have a full summer season of coaching.

“It’s nonetheless early within the 12 months, proceed to do the work, however yeah, I really feel good,” he stated.

Going by a rebuilding course of isn’t straightforward, particularly for a veteran like Gallagher in his thirteenth NHL season with a purpose of profitable a Stanley Cup earlier than he retires. The Canadiens made the playoffs in six of his first 9 seasons with the workforce and went to the Stanley Cup last in 2021.

“All of us have a job to do,” Gallagher stated concerning the rebuilding course of. “There’s no dangerous days on this league. You get pleasure from every single day right here on the rink and I actually get pleasure from being round this group of men, particularly. We’re combating for outcomes proper now. I feel what I actually admire is guys are placing the work in, guys have expectations and we’re attempting to carry one another to a sure commonplace. Nobody’s proud of the outcomes we’re getting proper now, however we’re going to proceed to place within the work. While you’re a part of a bunch like that it’s straightforward coming to the rink every single day.

“I simply imagine in these guys rather a lot,” Gallagher added. “I’ve perception within the progress. I get to see them away from the rink as effectively and there’s quite a lot of aggressive guys on this room which are keen to place in that work. … I really feel snug. It’s a spot I’ve referred to as dwelling for a very long time, so I’d love nothing greater than to get again to taking part in some aggressive hockey round right here.”

Gallagher is doing his half to date this season.

scowan@postmedia.com

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