Canadiens lean on depth scoring as top line searches for even-strength game

Montreal Canadiens' Cole Caufield (13) celebrates his goal with teammates Nick Suzuki (14) and Juraj Slafkovsky (20) during second period NHL hockey action against the Anaheim Ducks, in Montreal on Sunday, March 15, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi

MONTREAL — Martin St. Louis isn’t worried, neither are his players.

The top line of Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky hasn’t produced an even-strength point through three playoff games after driving the offence all season.

But the Canadiens — the youngest team in the post-season — have wrestled home-ice advantage from the experienced Tampa Bay Lightning and lead the first-round series 2-1 heading into Game 4 at the Bell Centre on Sunday night.

“Do I try to help them during the game? Yes, I do, but I’m confident with how responsible they’re going to be,” said St. Louis, Montreal’s head coach. “Those guys will always be a big part of our success, whether they’re on the scoresheet offensively or not, because they rack up a lot of minutes against some really good players.

“They’re going to be fine.”

Suzuki, Caufield and Slafkovsky have struggled to meet their sky-high standards — they combined for 262 points this season — while matched up against unyielding Lightning forwards Anthony Cirelli and Brandon Hagel.

Instead, others have stepped up.

Josh Anderson, whose physical playstyle is tailor-made for the playoffs, has two goals. On Friday, the fourth line of Kirby Dach, Alexandre Texier and Zachary Bolduc registered two points each in an electric 3-2 overtime win.

“We’ve got a lot of depth,” Bolduc said. “Maybe Suzy, Cole and Slaf don’t produce as much as they want right now but they’re playing against the top line on the other side and they’re doing a good job in that part of the game.

“We also know that if you want to win the championship, you need your four lines and your six D to produce.”

In almost 36 minutes at five-on-five, Suzuki, Caufield and Slafkovsky have combined for nine shots and 13 against.

“It can be mentally hard, and we just got to stick with it and trust each other,” said Suzuki, Montreal’s captain, post-game. “We know we’re a good line.”

Centre Jake Evans rightly pointed out that the Canadiens’ 4-3 overtime victory in Game 1 doesn’t happen without their top offensive players leading the charge.

Slafkovsky scored a hat trick while Caufield and Suzuki pitched in a pair of assists each, all on the power play.

“We’ve obviously relied on them a lot five-on-five, but we don’t win Game 1 without them either,” said Evans, a key penalty killer. “They’re getting some tougher matchups, and when playoffs start those guys’ names are circled and you need to shut them down and it’s time for other guys to sometimes step up.

“It just helps, when you’re down a goal and you’re in a tight game, knowing that other guys can help pitch in. It gives that confidence to everyone and I’m sure it gives confidence to those guys that they don’t need to force plays.”

For Lightning head coach Jon Cooper, limiting Suzuki’s line has been one of his team’s biggest positives so far.

“I wouldn’t sit here and say everything has worked for us, but that sure has,” he said of chasing the Cirelli-Suzuki matchup. “They know their assignment and I think they have done an admirable job in it.”

Asked if he’s concerned about his team trailing despite that, Cooper looked at the glass half-full.

“I don’t know, we could be down 2-1 and they could be lighting it up,” he said post-game. “We got to take some positives out of what’s gone on.

“(It’s) a series that’s far from over.”

Rallying around Kirby

Dach wrote a redemption story in Game 3, scoring the tying goal and assisting on the opener three nights after his ill-advised overtime icing and ensuing missed coverage sunk the Canadiens in Game 2.

The gaffes drew heavy criticism as fans questioned whether the once-top prospect — who has struggled to find consistency over three injury-plagued seasons — should remain in the lineup. Dach even deactivated his Instagram account amid the online hate.

The Canadiens, St. Louis said, rallied around the vitriol.

“What is established here is a family spirit, and when things like that happen, I think it galvanizes the group,” he said. “We support each other. It’s important.”

Xhekaj Steps up

Montreal’s blue line depth is also shining in the absence of top right-shot defenceman Noah Dobson. Alexandre Carrier, the only right-shot blueliner in the lineup, has stepped into Dobson’s spot on the top pairing with Mike Matheson while Jayden Struble and Arber Xhekaj have provided steady minutes.

The bruising Xhekaj, 25, has often watched games from the press box as a healthy scratch this season. He was plus-2 with one assist, two shots and eight hits in 10:40 on Friday.

St. Louis said the undrafted Xhekaj, whose oft-told story includes working at Costco before breaking into the NHL, has fought for every minute.

“It has never been linear, but he’s not someone who wants to be given everything for free,” St. Louis said. “He’s built himself up, and that’s not the norm, I would say. Today’s generation wants everything easy, so it’s hard to break those people who have built themselves.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 25, 2026.

Daniel Rainbird, The Canadian Press