BROSSARD, Que.— You might consider it the biggest play of the Montreal Canadiens’ season, made in the most important game they’ve played since the puck dropped in October.
Andrew Shaw, a winger by trade, plowed through Sean Couturier deep in the Philadelphia Flyers’ end to win a faceoff in the fifth minute of the second period of Tuesday’s game. He pushed forward on the Flyers centre who had won nine of his 12 draws to that point of the game and he hustled to the front of the net to block goaltender Carter Hart’s vision. And when Shea Weber’s booming one-timer from the point came in at full velocity, Shaw didn’t flinch; he held his ground until the puck was behind Hart and the Canadiens had secured the lead they never relinquished.
The assist was the 27-year-old’s 20th of the season — tying a career high in the category set back in 2016. He added one more on Max Domi’s insurance marker to pull to within one point of his career high in points (39) set in 2014.
Back then, it was 39 points in 80 games. Now? He’s got 38 in 54.
Not bad for a player fans — and a couple of media members — suggested at the beginning of the year might not be capable of continuing to stand up to the rigours of NHL hockey.
Canadiens centre Phillip Danault never had a doubt.
“He’s so dedicated,” Danault said on Wednesday. “He wants to perform every night. He’s a true winner and a warrior.”
Take one look at the Belleville, Ont., native’s injury history and there’s no questioning that statement. Shaw had been through more than his fair share of trials and tribulations since coming over to the Canadiens in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks back in the summer of 2016. He bookended his first season in bleu, blanc et rouge with concussions, suffered two knee injuries and two more concussions in 2017-18, and he missed all of this year’s training camp after off-season surgery and putting himself through specialized rehabilitation to recalibrate of his vestibular system.
Considering all of that, it’s no surprise Shaw was in for a battle to put his critics in their place at the start the season.
He scored in his first game and notched an assist in his second, and then he was held off the scoresheet for his next 10. He had a bout with the flu in between and was rendered a healthy scratch on Oct. 27, and the doubts grew in volume.
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But since then, in spite of a neck injury that kept him on the shelf for 15 games between Jan. 1 and Feb. 8, Shaw’s been one of Montreal’s best players. And in crunch time, with the Canadiens chasing down one of the final two wild-card positions in the Eastern Conference, he’s stepped up his game with a goal and four assists in his last six outings.
“When he’s in our lineup, his net-front presence, his grit — he’s a warrior and that goes a long ways,” said Canadiens coach Claude Julien in recognition of the fact.
“His experience as well — as far as having some long playoff runs — you hope will help the guys deal with this last stretch as well,” Julien added.
There’s no question it already has. It was last week, after the Canadiens lost a game against the New York Islanders, that the two-time Stanley Cup Champion questioned their effort and demanded a bigger commitment from certain players.
“We need to be a team playing hard,” Shaw said. “Everyone. All lines, all D, goalie; everyone has to be playing their best every night. Lines are taking nights off, players are taking nights off. They don’t have that fight.”
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A day later, after the Canadiens had returned to Montreal, Shaw clarified his comments by telling members of the media that he placed himself in that group of players who weren’t giving enough. Then, in a hard-fought 2-0 loss to the Blackhawks that saw the Canadiens register 48 shots on net, he led with seven shots on net and seven hits.
And on Tuesday, Shaw was once again one of the best players on the ice — recording three shots on net, winning seven of 11 faceoffs he took and factoring into two of the team’s three goals.
It’s the type of leadership Shaw’s teammates have come to expect.
“He’s been playing in the league for quite a bit,” said Tomas Tatar. “He has [two] Cups, and I think he knows what needs to be said and what needs to be done.”
With nine games remaining, and with the Canadiens one point behind the Columbus Blue Jackets for the final available playoff spot in the East, Danault has no doubt that Shaw will do his part.
“I think he’s doing everything he did in Chicago. Even more,” said Danault. “He’s playing some of the best hockey of his career, he’s motivating our group. He’s a big part of this team.”
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