Hidden game: Canadians blow big lead in Lane Hutson’s debut

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This edition of the Hidden Game is dedicated to Canadiens rookie defenseman Lane Hutson, who made his NHL debut Monday night against Detroit at Little Caesars Arena.

That the 20-year-old Holland, Michigan native was making his debut in Detroit, in front of family and friends, somehow seemed appropriate.

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Selected in the second round (62nd overall) by Montreal in 2022, Hutson’s mobility, skating and hands should make him a power-play force in the coming years, although he is small at 5-foot-10 and weighs 162 lbs. I need to stock up on bacon cheeseburgers and fries.

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This is how you start an NHL career: In just his second shift, Hutson capped a solo effort by assisting Brendan Gallagher, who scored the first of two just 4:25 into the game. Two shifts and his first point in the Major Leagues. It won’t be Hutson’s last.

What is wrong with this picture: We love Original Six matchups, and when the Canadiens complete their regular season Tuesday night at the Bell Center against the Red Wings, it will be the teams’ fourth meeting this season. On the other hand, Montreal played Toronto only three times this season.

Strange but true: While we would never begin to tell Derek Lalonde how to coach his team, we found his decision to start Alex Lyon in net strange, to say the least. Since February 29, Lyon has a record of 3-10-3. This was the Red Wings’ biggest game of the season, and while it was Lyon’s 44th appearance, perhaps James Reimer, who beat the Maple Leafs in overtime last Saturday, deserved a second straight start? Lyon allowed four goals in the first 13 shots they faced, but in the end they made Lalonde look good.

News you need (Part I): When Canadiens defenseman Justin Barron made it 2-0 less than two minutes after Gallagher opened the scoring, it was his first goal since Dec. 18. But that statistic is misleading, considering Barron spent 30 games playing for AHL Laval.

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Newbie mistake: Hutson seemed to get lost in the defensive zone on Detroit’s first goal, scored by JT Compher.

Moment, schmomentum: Compher’s goal came 1:56 after Barron’s.

Does not score, but: Never question Josh Anderson’s determination in what has been his most disappointing season as a Canadian. He blocked two shots in the first half, one of the best 20 minutes he has played this season.

News you need (Part II): Michael Pezzetta had four hits in the first period, despite being limited to six at-bats in just over four minutes of ice time.

In case you were wondering: Hutson’s first NHL stint consisted of seven shifts in 7:05.

Take his photo of the milk carton: Rafaël Harvey-Pinard has been missing in action for most of the season. But he scored his second goal in 44 games just over five minutes into the second half, giving Montreal a 3-1 lead. It was Harvey-Pinard’s first goal since January 15. He went 27 games without scoring.

Night Pass (Part I): Jake Evans to Harvey-Pinard.

Salvation of the night: At exactly 8:00 of halftime, and with Detroit on the power play, Samuel Montembeault got his left pad in front of what appeared to be a sure goal, denying Robby Fabbri.

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News you need (Part III): Pezzetta received five minor penalties in April over an eight-game span.

Success of the night (Part I): Anderson on Lucas Raymond in the 16th minute of the second half.

Momentum, schmomentum (Part II): Just 33 seconds after Gallagher made it 4-1, Compher’s second goal of the game cut the Canadiens’ lead to 4-2 at 15:59 of the period.

News you need (Part IV): Patrick Kane’s assist on Compher’s second goal was the 813th of his career. He is tied with Mike Modano for the most assists by an American-born player, trailing only Phil Housley (894).

Success of the night (Part II): Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki doesn’t play a particularly physical game. However, late in the second period, he destroyed Raymond behind the Montreal net.

Hutson update: Over two periods, he had 14:35 of ice time and 14 shifts.

Inch Set: Kane hit the post seven minutes into the third period.

Face to face of the night: Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin beat Alex Newhook to a tie. Five seconds later, Alex DeBrincat scored at 10:38 of the period, making it 4-3.

Most crossbars impact within 20 seconds: DeBrincat, then Shayne Gostis will be here in overtime.

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Night Pass (Part II): Larkin to Raymond for the game-winning goal, scored at 4:35 of overtime.

Slow students: The Canadiens blew four one-goal leads against Ottawa last Saturday. Against Detroit, they blew a three-goal lead in the second period, allowing four straight Red Wing goals. While Detroit is a desperate team in a playoff battle, these scenarios cannot happen if Montreal hopes to take the next step in its rebuilding process.

News you need (Part V): For the second time in three games, Montembeault was denied a career-high 17th victory. With 30 stops, his save percentage against Detroit was .857.

News you need (Part VI): The Canadiens are now 17-11-15 in one-goal games. Twenty-six losses in 43 games won’t be enough.

Template update: After the game, the Canadiens announced the retirement of defenseman Logan Mailloux from the Rocket.

They said it: “I felt pretty good,” Hutson told reporters in Detroit after the game. He played 21:54, had one shot, one assist and was minus-1. “It was good to be out there. The Red Wings have a good team. We also have a good team. “You never really know what to expect, but I was excited to be there.”

“It’s a lesson we’ve had to learn the hard way this year,” Gallagher told reporters in Detroit. “You have to understand that if we want to get to where we want to get to eventually, these are the games that we have to feel comfortable playing and learn to play a little better with the advantage. There are a lot of one-goal losses this year. It makes you feel optimistic that we can change things.”

“It was just a good learning (experience) for us to play a team in Game 7 mode and (play) desperation hockey,” Evans said in Detroit. “We need to learn how to win those games.”

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