A three-game winning streak against playoff contenders has catapulted the Montreal Canadiens into postseason contention and bolstered their self-confidence.
Montreal will look to keep its good fortune going on Friday against the Chicago Blackhawks, an opponent that will take any positive vibes it can get.
Chicago comes into the game on a season-high five-game losing streak, with the last three losses coming by four goals. The Blackhawks had not lost three straight games by at least four goals since 1987.
The Blackhawks’ morale plummeted Tuesday night. Playing at Chicago’s hometown Wrigley Field, they lost 6-2 to rival St. Louis Blues and fell to 0-5-0 in the league’s regular-season event.
«I’m shocked at how we played,» Chicago’s Taylor Hall said. «Really disappointing. Our fans have been through a lot this year and they came out to support us so much… If we laid an egg like that, I’m really sad for the people that support us and for us here, it’s got to be a big wake-up call, how hard we have to play.»
In addition to looking inward, the Blackhawks can examine Montreal’s recent surge for motivation for a turnaround.
Five games under .500 after being outscored 13-4 in back-to-back losses in mid-December, the Canadiens have responded by winning six of seven.
Montreal came into Thursday’s game three points out of the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. The Canadiens’ last three victims would all be in the playoffs if the season ended today. They include the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers and Pacific Division leaders Vegas Golden Knights.
«We’re finally starting to see the results of the work we’ve been doing and the effort we’re putting in as a team,» Montreal’s Kirby Dach said. «It’s nice to get a reward.»
Added Emil Heineman: «We know we’re a good group and a good team. So we have to persevere and never give up. We believe in ourselves.»
Dach scored the game-winner in Las Vegas on Tuesday, as the Canadiens rallied from an early two-goal deficit to win 3-2. After losing 5-4 in Columbus to start a six-game road trip, Montreal has prevailed by a combined 12-4 in its last three games.
«I think it’s an evolution, a progress,» Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis said. «Our team really believes in what we’re doing. It’s not a magic trick. We’re doing simple things consistently. On the other hand, there’s magic that happens if you’re consistent.»
Chicago has been outscored 27-12 during the losing streak, which matches a five-game losing streak from Nov. 29 to Dec. 7.
Leading scorer Connor Bedard has provided much of the offense during the most recent slump, with a five-game point streak that includes three goals and four assists.
On Thursday, Chicago called up Dach’s younger brother, Colton, from AHL affiliate Rockford in an attempt to boost the offense. Colton Dach has six points in his last four games and 25 points in 30 games overall. In a corresponding move, Joey Anderson was assigned to Rockford.