Max Domi is scoring and goalies are in net while he's doing it

The NHL better be taking notice of what’s going on in Montreal. After finishing in the league’s bottom five with a record of 29-40-13 last season, the Canadiens have flown out of the gates in 2018-19. Entering their Saturday night clash with the Boston Bruins, Montreal was comfortably sitting at 5-2-2 and fourth in a competitive Atlantic division.

One of the biggest reasons for its early success is the great play of Max Domi, one of Montreal’s offseason acquisitions. Although he was playing for the Arizona Coyotes at the time, the 23-year-old also battled through a tough 2017-18 campaign.

In 82 games, he was only able to find the back of the net nine times. To make matters worse, that total was inflated by the fact that five of those markers were deposited into empty nets.

It may be early, but it looks like Montreal has provided him with the fresh start that he needed and the right opportunities to find some offensive success. The 2013 first-round pick has been scoring this season.

Better yet, he’s scoring while NHL goaltenders are trying to prevent him from doing so.

He had four goals (none of which were of the empty net variety) coming into Saturday’s game. Midway through the first period, he netted his fifth.

Domi starts the play with a great hands-up pass to a streaking Artturi Lehkonen near centre ice. After beating Boston’s Zdeno Chara to the net, Lehkonen fans on his shot, collects the puck behind the net and sends it to Jonathan Drouin in front. He is also unable to manufacture a shot, but Domi follows things up and grabs the loose puck in the slot.

Although it was likely unintentional, he’s able to psych out Tuukka Rask by also fanning on his initial swipe at the puck. Domi then makes a quick move and roofs it to extend Montreal’s lead to 2-0 at the time.

With the tally, he’s done more twine tickling on goaltenders in 10 games for the Canadiens than he did all of last season.

On top of that, he’s also collected eight points in his last six games.

Montreal took a bit of risk by trading Alex Galchenyuk for Domi in June. Based on the early returns and the fact the Canadiens were able to sign him to a nice two-year, $6.3 million dollar deal, it looks like the move North of the border has worked out quite well so far.

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