David Reinbacher Can Be the Answer to Canadiens’ Playoff Problem
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.
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