Christian Dvorak, centre for the Montreal Canadiens, scored a goal in the second period against the Boston Bruins on Thursday night, April 3, 2025, in Montreal. He was seen celebrating after the play. (Photo: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov)
The Montreal Canadiens’ third line is proving to be the unexpected spark behind the team’s late-season playoff push. Brendan Gallagher, Christian Dvorak, and Josh Anderson — all facing criticism just a year ago — are now leading by example, turning doubt into determination and effort into results.
On Thursday night, the Canadiens delivered a resounding 4-1 win against longtime rivals, the Boston Bruins. Gallagher notched a goal and an assist, while Dvorak added another tally to his growing total. Though Anderson didn’t score, his five hits and relentless play gave the Bruins little breathing room.
“It’s the kind of hockey we’re built for,” Gallagher said after the win. “Simple, physical, and focused. We’re sticking to that, and it’s paying off.”
Anderson agreed, saying their priority is just doing whatever it takes to help the team win. And so far, it’s working — this trio has put up 13 goals in the last 10 games. Dvorak alone has five of those and hit 11 goals on the season during Thursday’s victory.
Captain Nick Suzuki praised the line’s consistency. “They’ve probably been our most reliable group this year. The chemistry is obvious, and they’re setting the pace for us.”
Each player on the line had something to prove this season. Anderson, now 30, was brutally honest last year, saying he “sucked” during a rough stretch. Dvorak, 29, started slow and missed much of the season with injury. Gallagher, 32, also struggled early on. With the three of them combining for a hefty $16.45 million annual salary, fans and critics expected more — and they’re finally delivering.
“They came into the season with something to prove,” Suzuki added. “And they’ve done exactly that. They’ve shown up night after night and are a big reason why we’re in the mix.”
Thursday’s win helped Montreal keep its hold on the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. The Canadiens now have 81 points in 75 games — staying just ahead of the Rangers and Blue Jackets. Since the 4 Nations break, the team has gone 11-4-4, one of the strongest stretches of the season.
For Gallagher, now in his 13th season with Montreal, the chance to return to the playoffs after years of rebuilding means everything. “It’s been a long road,” he said. “You start to realize these chances don’t come often. You want to make the most of it.”
Anderson echoed that sentiment. “The Bell Centre has felt like playoff hockey lately — the energy, the noise, the fans chanting,” he said. “It’s what you play for. We just need to keep this going.”
Milestone for Suzuki
Nick Suzuki also hit a career milestone in the game, becoming the first Canadiens player to reach 80 points in a season since Alex Kovalev back in 2007-08. He set up Cole Caufield for a slick goal and later scored an empty-netter to make it 81 points.
With just one more point, Suzuki will average a point per game — a mark Montreal fans have been waiting for years to see from a top player.
Asked if he remembered Kovalev, Suzuki smiled: “Yeah, I remember him from the all-star games. He did tricks with his feet. I used to practise that stuff.”
Bruins in Trouble
Meanwhile, the Bruins’ nightmare continues. With Thursday’s loss, Boston extended its winless streak to 10 games — a slump not seen since 2010. Even worse, they’ve lost seven in a row in regulation, something that hadn’t happened since 1997.
Defenceman Nikita Zadorov didn’t sugarcoat it. “Other teams want it more,” he said. “We’re not battling hard enough. It’s just too easy for our opponents.”
Boston now sits at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, trailing even the Buffalo Sabres.
