It will be very difficult to argue against the unexpected impact of the Montreal Canadiens' depth players in the 2026 NHL Playoffs.
While the first line has scored exactly one goal at 5v5, the top five goalscorers are far from the guys you would consider star players in Montreal.
Alex Newhook leads the way with five goals, while Kirby Dach is close behind with four. Once we overcome the gap between the above players and the rest of the lineup, we reach the players who have managed to score two goals: Alexandre Texier, Zachary Bolduc and Josh Anderson.
Yes, you read that right, only Newhook, Dach, Texier, Bolduc and Anderson have scored more than one 5v5 goal.
If it's not related to the division of the NHL's youngest team, it's very interesting.
Room for another veteran
And yet, I would argue there is room for another veteran in the mix.
An experienced player who is the oldest player in the organization.
Yes, I'm talking about none other than Brendan Gallagher, the oft-maligned winger who gets far more criticism than he deserves, while also admitting that his talent level has dropped significantly in recent years.
Consider this: In three playoff games, not only has Gallagher scored a goal, but the Habs have outshot the Lightning by a huge margin whenever he's been on the ice.
During his shift, the Canadiens controlled nearly 70 percent of the shots, expected goals and high-danger scoring opportunities.
The sample size is small, but Gallagher has provided the Habs' best individual results in the playoffs from an underlying numbers standpoint.
More importantly, Gallagher quickly made his way to his natural habitat and created chaos in the crease, troubling opposition goalkeepers with ease.
In addition to frustrating opposing netminders, he quickly takes his coverage to the wall, making for a frustrated, unfocused opponent.
The playoffs are truly made for players like Gallagher.
And you know he will never hesitate to put his body on the line to ensure his team gains even the slightest advantage.
This struggling lion won't roam the Savanna forever, but it's quite clear that he's not quite satisfied with his last kill.
Considering his dedication to the organization, not to mention his excellent on-ice numbers, using Brendan Gallagher vs. the Buffalo Sabers could be the kind of small advantage that could swing a series in Montreal's favor.
All Montreal Canadiens and Brendan Gallagher statistics via Natural Stat Trick.
