Sometimes, it’s the little things players do that largely go unnoticed that help a team win games. For example, covering for your point man or center or getting the puck out of your zone along the wall.
Dach was the main reason why Connor McDavid was shut down last night for the first time in weeks. He was the de facto center in the defensive zone, and his length, strength, and speed prevented McDavid from generating offence and getting to the slot area with the puck.
A far cry from the player who started the season with 15 even-strength goals against in his first dozen games.
When the puck isn’t going in for you, don’t mope. Bear down and help your team win anyway. That’s precisely what Dach has been doing in recent outings, and suddenly, the Canadiens have won three out of four and are four points out of a playoff spot as Patrik Laine gets closer to returning.
It’s that selflessness that tells us Dach is going to be just fine. The points will start to come, and then so will the confidence, and he will build on that.
Utah coach Andre Tourigny knows all about Dach’s selflessness. He had him on Canada’s 2021 WJC team and named him as captain before an injury kept him out of the event.
Despite being a top-three pick and one of the best junior centers on the planet, Tourigny went to Dach before the tournament and asked him if he would have any qualms with playing on the wing. Dach took it in stride and told him he would play wherever he was asked to play, whatever he could do to help the team win
Tourigny named him captain soon after the meeting and, to this day, speaks glowingly about Dach’s character and attitude.
Do you wonder why Marty St. Louis still has Dach on the first power play? He sees that same attitude and character. Dach didn’t pout over his poor start—he kept working hard, and now it’s paying off with much-improved defensive stats. The offence will come.
After allowing 15 even-strength goals against in his first 12 games, Dach has been on the ice for one ES goal against in his last seven contests. The bare stats (1g 7a and -13) still look poor, but there has been noticeable improvement.
Dach’s work in the defensive zone on recent outings tells me the plan is to switch him back to center when Laine returns. He has been essentially playing center on the Suzuki line, certainly in the defensive zone…we don’t realize it because he’s not taking the draws.
