Canadiens: Phillip Danault On Generous Jake Evans

Last week, in the game against the Dallas Stars, Montreal Canadiens centerman Phillip Danault notched his first goal of the season, something he was looking forward to crossing off his to-do list, especially since his first lamplighter didn’t come until January 20 last season. It didn’t take nearly as long this season, thanks to Jake Evans, as the two players skated alone on an empty net. Knowing Danault was keen to take the proverbial monkey off his back, Evans passed him the puck and told him to go for it. I asked Danault what that meant for him after Saturday night’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins:

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Before moving on to the next question, Danault added, "I gave him a wine bottle," with a big smile. Let it be known that if you’re generous with the Quebecer, he will be generous in return. This is just another example of how positive the vibes are in the Canadiens room. The players take care of one another and can rejoice in each other’s successes. There may be internal competition for a roster spot, but that doesn’t stop anyone from cheering for each guy on the team.

Danault and Evans may not wear a letter on their jerseys unless a member of the leadership group isn’t playing, but they both contribute to the team's positive culture. The two veterans are great examples for the young Habs to follow on and off the ice.

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