TSN 690 Montreal

Here are my three takeaways from tonight's 5-4 Montreal Canadiens win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, brought to you by Snap Bar Sportif in Rigaud and Biggs in Hudson. 1- Montembeault to the Penguins? Sam Montembeault's injury designation is now day-to-day, and if Montreal can find a way to avoid waivers and the inevitable three-goalie situation, they'll certainly explore it. If I'm Kent Hughes, I wouldn't look any further than the Pittsburgh Penguins, who desperately need help in goal. Pittsburgh has statistically had some of the worst goaltending in the NHL this season, ranking 22nd in team save percentage entering tonight's game. Sergei Murashov is only 22 years old, and while he's an intriguing prospect, he clearly needs more seasoning. Arturs Silovs is okay, but to me, he's more of a 30-35 game goalie than someone you want carrying the load. The biggest questions would be Montreal's asking price and Montembeault's health. But considering Kyle Dubas' familiarity with Montembeault through Hockey Canada, Pittsburgh's need for goaltending and the Canadiens' crowded crease, it seems like a match made in heaven. 2- Crosby speculation will only increase After a decent start, it's been a tough stretch for the Pittsburgh Penguins, and tonight they lose again on the road despite a strong push in the third to overcome a two goal deficit. A month into the season, they have just one road win on the year. It's been a wild NHL season so far when it comes to player movement, with two-time MVP Nikita Kucherov being the latest superstar to want out. If the Penguins don't eventually find their footing and, a month from now, they're still well out of the playoff picture, the hockey world will inevitably start wondering about Sidney Crosby's future. And there wouldn't be many teams better positioned to take a run at acquiring him than Montreal. That said, I actually think the Penguins figure it out. Pittsburgh has been somewhat unlucky and simply hasn't gotten enough saves. If either of those things changes, considering how weak the division is, Pittsburgh could find itself right back in the mix. 3- A fourth line with an identity Martin St. Louis has continued to tinker with his lineup, trying to find the perfect combination. With injured players getting closer to returning, things can change in a hurry. Kirby Dach was a late scratch with what the Canadiens are calling an illness, but he could be losing his spot in the lineup pretty quickly. The line of Florian Xhekaj, Oliver Kapanen and Owen Beck had a great night, not just contributing on the scoresheet but providing a ton of energy every time they were on the ice. You really can't ask for much more from a fourth line, and despite their limited minutes, they were full value. Considering Dach has been by far Montreal's least effective forward, games like this illustrate that the writing could be on the wall. If things stay the same and Nick Suzuki and Ivan Demidov return next week, I can't see Kirby Dach getting back into the lineup anytime soon if the Canadiens are healthy. @tsn690

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