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Montreal Canadiens head coach Marty St. Louis made his feelings about Lane Hutson's playing time very clear after Thursday's game against the LA Kings.
The Canadiens put forth a strong effort but ultimately lost 4-1, a defeat that came with significant consequences as they lost their top defenseman, Mike Matheson, to an upper-body injury in the second period.
Matheson exited the game and did not return, leaving the Habs short-handed. Amid the shortcoming, rookie sensation defenseman Lane Hutson stepped up, earning a spot on the first powerplay unit.
Although he couldn't generate any scoring opportunities, Hutson showcased his maturity and skill on the ice. His ice time skyrocketed to over 30 minutes (30:05) due to the team's limited roster, demonstrating his ability to handle increased responsibilities despite the tough loss.
Coach Marty St. Louis praised Lane Hutson's performance after the game, emphasizing his relentless work ethic and commitment to the team. He said (via HabsOnReddit's post on X):
“Lane (Hutson) doesn’t take a shift off. I love the consistency in his compete level. He drives possession. For a guy who played 30 minutes, he gave everything he had to help the team (tonight).”
According to Sportlogiq, during Hutson's 30-plus minutes of ice time, he had possession of the puck for four minutes and 16 seconds. In comparison, only Quinn Hughes (4:58), Erik Karlsson (4:36), Matthew Barzal (4:27), and Cale Makar (4:18) had more puck possession last season.
Also Read: Sidney Crosby makes his thoughts about Canadiens rookie sensation very clear
How Lane Hutson has fared for Montreal Canadiens so far
Hutson has been a regular for the Habs on the second defensive line alongside Kaiden Guhle. The 20-year-old defenseman has accumulated four points in five games, with a plus-minus of minus-3, and is averaging 22:92 ice time with the Habs this season.
According to ESPN projections, Hutson is on pace for 66 points in a full 82-game regular season. Lane Hutson was drafted No. 62 overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2022 NHL draft and appeared in two games for the club last season.
Meanwhile, the Montreal Canadiens (2-3-0) are sixth in the Atlantic Division and 24th in the league standings. They'll next travel to UBS Arena to face off against the New York Islanders on Saturday. The puck drops at 7 p.m. ET.
