Things just keep on rolling

BROSSARD - The Canadiens surprised the hockey world on Thursday night with a big win over the Winnipeg Jets.

It certainly isn't the first time this season that Claude Julien's contingent surprised not only hockey fans, but the NHL community at large as well.
"We opened up some eyes," stressed forward Charles Hudon. "But, we're focusing on ourselves, on the things that [head coach] Claude [Julien] talks about before games to put into practice during games."

After Thursday's win, the Canadiens will battle the Toronto Maple Leafs for second spot in the Atlantic Division on Saturday night.
"We're proud about what we showed against Winnipeg. We can't be too high about it, but we can't be too low, either," mentioned Hudon, who has three goals and five points in 30 games so far this season. "We just have to stay humble and we'll see what happens after that. We already have to focus on the next game."
For his part, Tomas Tatar was back in the lineup on Thursday night after missing Tuesday night's tilt against the Anaheim Ducks with the flu.
He believes the Canadiens have to alter their approach versus Toronto.
"We played well against Winnipeg, but every game is different. We might have to take a different approach against Toronto," explained the Slovak forward. "It will be another good test. We'll have to be ready."

Julien's troops know putting their best asset to good use will be key.
"We have to be ready every game. We're facing another big test and there will be others," said Hudon. "I think we have to continue to use our speed. There aren't many teams that can keep up with us if we use our speed."
Good stretches
The line of Jonathan Drouin, Phillip Danault and Brendan Gallagher is flying high right now, combining for 17 points over the last two games.
For his part, Drouin boasts nine points in his last three games, including the game-winning goal in Sunday's OT win over the Edmonton Oilers.
With 46 points on the year, the Sainte-Agathe native has matched his point-haul from all of the season, and he did so in 22 fewer games.
This season, Drouin was reunited with his former head coach with the QMJHL's Halifax Mooseheads, Dominique Ducharme.

The two men won the Memorial Cup together in 2013. Ducharme's arrival certainly had an impact on Drouin's play.
"I think that Dominique is a good coach and he does good work in every department that we ask him to be involved in," said Julien. "There's some history there. They had success together. Everyone clicks with Jonathan, including Dominique, but they still have a good relationship. It's special."
At the end of his Junior career, Drouin had amassed 77 goals and 242 points on Ducharme's watch.
Carey Price, meanwhile is at the top of his game.
The Anahim Lake, BC native is on a seven-game winning streak for the fifth time in his career. He is the fourth goaltender in Canadiens history to accomplish the feat.
During the sequence, the Habs' No. 31 boasts a 1.43 goals-against average and a .955 save percentage.
As for rookie Jesperi Kotkaniemi, the Finnish sensation stretched his scoring streak to four games on Thursday night.

Julien shared some interesting comments on how the coaching staff is helping the team improve and evolve as well.
"We do a lot of one-on-one, we do a lot of D meetings, power play meetings, penalty kill meetings. You work in different ways, but what you're trying to do is help this team get better. Kotkaniemi is the best example. He's an 18-year-old that really looked around at the beginning of the year and seeing all these guys that he's watched for years, he's playing against them. He really passed that stage where it's like - 'Hey! I'm playing for myself and my team and it doesn't matter who's on the other side. I'm not intimidated and I just have to go out and do that.' How does he get to that point? With experience," said Julien. "I think that's where our team has gained some experience throughout the year and has continued to grow. I think the other part is the excitement of our group. Wanting to get better, not having to get better, but wanting to get better. I say that a lot. I think that's a real keyword when it comes to that kind of stuff and they see the result. They want more, so our attitude's been great and because of that there are some good things happening."