Zachary Bolduc is starting to make waves with the Montreal Canadiens, finally delivering on the high expectations that accompanied his arrival in Montreal this past summer. The 22-year-old forward from Trois-Rivières, Quebec, had a memorable night at the Bell Centre on Thursday, scoring twice in a 4-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks.
Bolduc's journey to this point has been one of adaptation and perseverance. Acquired from the St. Louis Blues on July 1st in exchange for prospect Logan Mailloux, Bolduc was touted as a potential top-six forward with a blistering shot. The Canadiens believed he could develop into a key offensive contributor as the team progresses towards Stanley Cup contention.
He started his Canadiens career strong, scoring in each of his first three games on the road. However, he then experienced a scoring drought, managing only one goal in his subsequent 18 games. During that time, coach Martin St. Louis shuffled him throughout the lineup, searching for the right fit and a spark to ignite his offense. "He's coming from a different team, different teammates. You come in trying to get acclimated, you're not sure what chair you're going to sit in," St. Louis said.
Lately, Bolduc has found chemistry on the top line alongside Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield. On Thursday night, Bolduc tied the game 1-1 in the first period,岩cranking a one-timer from the slot off a feed from Caufield. The crowd erupted as Bolduc celebrated his first home goal with visible emotion, cheering and pumping his fists. "It's super special," Bolduc said. "I mean, it took me 19 games, so a lot of work behind that. But I'm super happy to share that moment with my parents that are here tonight. My whole family's here, one of my best friends is here, too, so I'm super happy".
Bolduc then scored again just 20 seconds into the third period, deflecting a shot from Lane Hutson into the net to give the Canadiens a 2-1 lead. Hutson, who had three assists in the game, praised Bolduc's shooting ability, saying, "He's got a great shot. He's had some great looks at home, and it's good to see him finally get rewarded". Noah Dobson also scored for Montreal, and Nick Suzuki added an empty-net goal to seal the victory. Goaltender Jakub Dobes made 14 saves for the Canadiens.
The game wasn't without its challenges, as three goals were disallowed after video reviews, including two against Montreal. However, the Canadiens overcame those setbacks, dominating the Blackhawks with a 35-15 shot advantage. Bolduc's performance, along with Hutson's playmaking and solid team defense, proved to be the difference.
Bolduc embraces the pressure that comes with playing in the Montreal market. "I don't have a hard time dealing with pressure or criticism," he said. "They're things that come with the Montreal market, and I think I've grown a lot since I got here". With his recent performance, Zachary Bolduc is showing signs that he is ready to embrace the opportunity and become a significant player for the Canadiens.
