The young core of Montreal has now made the playoffs in back-to-back years. It’s a Stanley Cup final rematch from 2021, when the powerhouse Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Canadiens in five games. Only six players from that series will be in this one five years later.
This Montreal team will have to rely heavily on its top players to take over. The big names Caufield, Suzuki, Slafkovsky, and Demidov will all have to pull their weight and then some. In Game 1, Slafkovsky did just that, putting up a hat trick en route to the Canadiens’ stunning Game 1 upset in Tampa Bay.
But, if the Canadiens want to truly advance deep into the NHL Playoffs, what Montreal will really need is someone to step up on the backend.
Noah Dobson is unlikely to play in this series. Kaiden Guhle and Alexandre Carrier are both dealing with injuries. Now the spotlight may have no choice but to turn to the Canadiens fifth overall pick from 2023.
With just two NHL games under his belt, David Reinbacher may have to become the X-factor in this series.
Montreal’s Defensive Situation
Kent Hughes made a splash in the offseason, acquiring Dobson in a trade and adding a top-pair right-shot defenseman to the roster. After a very strong regular season, the NHL’s shot-blocking leader took a puck off the hand in game 80 of 82. As a result, he’s set to miss anywhere from four to six weeks.
Carrier was the only other right-handed defenseman on the roster. He was out of the lineup for all of April’s regular-season games. Making a return in game one against Tampa, he logged over 18 minutes of ice in the win. His game showed that his spot on the backend is cemented as long as he can remain healthy.
Still, that leaves Montreal with five left-handed defencemen, which seems like a recipe for disaster. This Tampa team is far too talented not to take advantage of Montreal’s defence playing on their offside. There were multiple times in Sunday’s matchup where offensive puck movement was killed due to players being on their off-hand sides.
With the reduced time and space of the postseason, Montreal will need to address this issue before it costs them.
Reinbacher’s Test Trial
Dobson’s injury opened the door. With Montreal already playoff-bound, it was the perfect time to give Reinbacher his first NHL look. After playing for Laval in the AHL on a Friday and Saturday towards the end of the season, he made his NHL debut in Game 81, on a Sunday, against the New York Islanders.
Playing three games in as many days is no easy task. After seeing how Reinbacher fits and what he brings, he might be the perfect answer to Montreal’s problem.
Why Reinbacher Fits
After winning game one by only allowing a single 5-on-5 goal, for now, the blue line will remain intact. Reinbacher will be watching from the press box for both games in Tampa, but that doesn’t mean he won’t be a deciding factor the rest of the way. The bottom pair of Xhekaj and Struble was fine. But to put it bluntly, neither has the ceiling to affect the game that Reinbacher does.
As a given, he fits the bill of being a right-handed D-man. But the way he plays the game would be perfect for this lineup. Reinbacher showed in his two games with the big club that more than anything, he wants to keep things simple.
When he has the puck, the Austrian looks to make the first pass as quickly as he can. Making the quick play on the breakout gives forwards more time to read pressure and find the next option. It also helps beat the opposing team’s forecheck by denying them time to set up. Reinbacher usually opts for quick, simple passes. But he’s also shown he can use his skating to create breakout opportunities.
Where He Needs To Grow
As with most young defensemen, he struggles to keep up with the game in the D-zone at times. Fatigue may have affected Reinbacher in Montreal’s final game. There were spots where he looked lost in his own end. He was caught puck-watching and lacked awareness of his coverage when shift lengths became longer.
Another tool that Montreal brass and fans would be eager to see is an added mean side to his game. If Reinbacher adds more physicality to his game, it will lessen the impact of subtracting Struble or Xhekaj much more. If the coaching staff can unlock that part of his game, they will have a truly special player. Something that has been missing in Montreal since Shea Weber’s retirement. A big stable guy on the right side to slot in with Lane Hutson down the line can be what takes this team to the next level.
For Canadiens To Advance, They’ll Need David Reinbacher
The East presents a unique opportunity this year. With only half of the teams from last year’s postseason returning, this truly could be an unpredictable first round. If the Canadiens can get past Tampa, this team can unquestionably make its way to a Stanley Cup appearance. Matheson and Hutson aside, the rest of Montreal’s backend will need to continue to step up as they did in game one.
Any Habs defenseman is capable of coming through when the Canadiens need it most. That said, none of them offer more potential to become a series-changer than Montreal’s newest call-up. If David Reinbacher adapts to playoff hockey and taps into his full skill set, the Canadiens will be tough to beat.
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