After a (more than) brief hiatus, we’re back with the Stars of the Week! The Habs went 2-2-0 during the second week of March, and sit third in the Atlantic division with a record of 36-20-10.

The second week of March was overall a success for the Montreal Canadiens, even if the week’s beauty was marred by a few blemishes and the Habs only picked up four out of eight possible points. Strong wins against the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators gave the Canadiens momentum going into the weekend, but the Habs faltered against the San Jose Sharks and Anaheim Ducks.

Against the Leafs, the Canadiens showed the style of play they can be successful with: defensively sound, with a strong forecheck, and consistent offensive-zone time. The Habs played the cycle well, and it was a convincing win. Against the Senators, the Habs spent less time in the offensive zone but showed they were able to successfully play a man-to-man system while having enough offensive talent to win the game.

On Saturday night, we saw some of the warts. Montreal was lax on the forecheck, failed to play the body, and struggled in the defensive zone. The Habs failed to block shooting lanes, and San Jose’s 4-2 win felt like a game that should have finished 3-1 in favour of the Canadiens. On Sunday things dropped a step further in a 4-3 loss to the Ducks.

Three Stars of the Week

Unsung hero/Honourable mention

Alex Newhook (4GP | 1G 2A 2P

Alex Newhook missed 40 games due to an ankle surgery, and when he returned he was quickly tasked with replacing Juraj Slafkovský on Montreal’s second line. Newhook’s time with Montreal has been marred with inconsistency, but his four games this week were an example of exactly what he can bring to the table.

Newhook drew into Tuesday’s game against Toronto and was one of Montreal’s most impactful forwards with Cole Caufield sitting with an illness for the back half of the tilt. Newhook had a strong game against the Senators, followed it up with a high-flying, impactful performance against San Jose on Saturday night, and had a goal on Sunday that started a second-period comeback that ultimately didn’t stand.

Third Star: Noah Dobson (4GP | 0G 3A 3P)

When Noah Dobson was signed for $9.5 million and subsequently became the highest-paid player on the Montreal Canadiens, some fans were suspicious. Social media was flooded with Islanders fans criticizing his effort, defensive lapses, and overall drive to win. Sixty-six games into the year, those doubts have been dashed.

Noah Dobson has 45 points in 66 games while playing 22-and-a-half minutes a night against the league’s best. The best part, at the start of the week, Noah Dobson led the NHL in blocked shots. Nearly $10 million a year is worthwhile for a 6’4″, right-shot defenceman who can lead the NHL in blocks while on pace to score nearly 60 points.

Second Star: Cole Caufield (3GP | 2G 0A 2P)

Even while missing a game, Cole Caufield scored more goals than any other Montreal Canadien this week. Even with a power play that struggled to consistently create high-danger chances, Mr. Saturday Night struck again, then doubled down on Sunday, pulling the Canadiens into a 2-2 tie against the Ducks.

Caufield only played 10 minutes against Toronto on Tuesday, and fans worried about injury. He missed Wednesday’s tilt against the Senators, but the team confirmed that illness was the reason for his absence. On Sunday, Caufield’s presence was felt on the first line, even if Macklin Celebrini stole the show at Centre Bell. On Sunday, Caufield added another tally, even if it wasn’t enough for the Habs to pull two points from the Ducks.

First star: Ivan Demidov (4GP | 1G 3A 4P)

Ivan Demidov has arrived. Over the last three weeks, Demidov has turned things up a notch, and Juraj Slafkovský leaving the nephew line to rejoin Montreal’s top trio has only helped him flower. Newhook’s return on the second line has given Demidov a completely different set of tools to use in his offensive-zone schemes.

Now the play-driver on his line, Demidov, is starting to show his dominance through multiple zones. He is now the primary puck-carrier in the offensive zone, and it’s working. He had an assist in Tuesday’s game against Toronto, and then followed it with a dominant two-point performance against the Senators. Demidov is already Montreal’s most dynamic forward, and his vision in the offensive zone is already elite. He played less than 12 minutes against the Senators in the best game the teams played of the four, and he was still the Canadiens’ most impactful forward.

Laval Rocket player of the week

Sammy Blais (2GP | 1G 1A 2P)

Sammy Blais has been a wonderful stopgap addition to the Rocket this season. A player that Pascal Vincent can plug anywhere into the lineup and produce at the level he does is a blessing on any team. When you add the physical layer to his game, he becomes an outright gem in the AHL.

Blais is a point-per-game player through 25 games in the AHL this season, and when he’s on the ice, it’s evident that he’s closer to the show than most of the players in the league. His presence on the third line during Laval’s two games this week was felt every shift, and his play elevated Tyler Thorpe’s game in both matches.

Next up

Montreal plays three games this week, and they are all important. On Tuesday, the Canadiens host the Bruins, with Boston playing in New Jersey the night before. Suzuki and co. will travel to Detroit to play the Red Wings on Thursday, before finishing the week at home against the New York Islanders.