Danault had two assists, one blocked shot and one hit over 16:14 of ice time in Saturday's 5-1 win over the Oilers.

EDGE Analysis

Danault picked up a pair of primary assists in the win, including on the game-winning goal. On a two-on-one foray, he deked toward the slot before sliding a pass to Tomas Tatar, who buried the puck top shelf over goalie Mikko Koskinen's glove hand. Both Danault and Tatar are in contract years and off to good starts through two games.

Danault won 17 of 27 faceoffs (62.9 percent) and had one shot with two hits in Wednesday's 5-4 overtime loss to Toronto.

EDGE Analysis

Danault, who won eight of 11 draws against Auston Matthews, was back on the top line, centering Tomas Tatar and Brendan Gallagher, after finishing last year's playoffs on the third line. At that time, he told Pat Hickey of the Montreal Gazette that he was not pleased with the demotion, nor was he interested in becoming a defensive specialist on the third line. At 27, Danault is the old man in the middle, so his experience, particularly on faceoffs, will be of value on the top line while young centers Nick Suzuki, Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Jake Evans hone their skills at the dot on lower lines.

Danault can become an unrestricted free agent following the 2020-21 season, Stu Cowan of the Montreal Gazette reports.

EDGE Analysis

Danault should be motivated entering his fifth full season in a Montreal uniform. His trade from Chicago in 2015 kick-started the 2011 first-round draft pick's career. Danault has since established himself as the Canadiens' top-line center, working well with Tomas Tatar and Brendan Gallagher. The team has not alluded to their plans for Danault beyond this season, and the organization is watching the development of up-and-coming centers Nick Suzuki and Jesperi Kotkaniemi, both coming off good runs in last season's playoffs. Those two could be ready for promotions in 2021-22. The bottom line for Danault, however, is that the 27-year-old is in his prime and improved his market value during his stay in Quebec.

Danault scored an empty-net goal and added four hits in Wednesday's 5-3 win over the Flyers in Game 5.

EDGE Analysis

Danault added the insurance tally with 18 seconds left in regulation to assure the Canadiens' season would have at least one more game. The center has struggled to produce in the postseason -- his goal snapped a five-game point drought. He's at three points, 24 shots and 28 hits through nine playoff outings.

Danault posted an assist and five hits in Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Penguins in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Qualifiers.

EDGE Analysis

Danault drew the secondary helper on Jeff Petry's game-winning goal in the third period. Through three games versus the Penguins, Danault has a pair of assists, 12 shots on net, 11 hits and six PIM. The 27-year-old center is seeing top-line usage and returning solid value in that role.

Danault has 13 goals, 34 assists and is plus-18 while averaging 18:51 of ice time per game on Montreal's top line over 71 games in 2019-20.

EDGE Analysis

There's a narrative out there that Danault is not a legitimate top-line center, but he's grown into the position since joining the Canadiens. He wins faceoffs (57.9 percent, sixth among centers with 50 games played), is responsible defensively (plus-18, eighth), is productive in 5-on-5 situations (43 points, 16th) and leads all centers with a 59.2 shot attempts percentage. The Canadiens added him to the power play this season, giving Danault a career-high 1:34 of ice time per game on the PP. Prior to the suspension of the regular season, Danault was on the verge of establishing new career highs in goals and shots while his 119 hits are a new benchmark. He'll be entering the final year of his contact in 2020-21 and should return to the top line with scoring stars Tomas Tatar and Brendan Gallagher.

Danault notched two assists in Tuesday's 6-2 win over the Islanders.

EDGE Analysis

He picked up the secondary helper on the Habs' first two goals of the night, setting the team on its way to a big victory. Danault now has a modest four-game point streak going, during which he's recorded one goal and six points.

Danault had a goal and an assist in Saturday's 4-3 overtime win over Carolina. He added one shot, one blocked shot and a minor penalty.

EDGE Analysis

Montreal's top line, which has not done much goal scoring the last couple of weeks, produced a pair goals in the win. Danault's goal futility extended farther than linemates Tomas Tatar and Brendan Gallagher, as he entered Saturday's contest without a goal in the previous 18 games before lighting the lamp early in the first period. The two-point night, his seventh of the season, extended Danault's scoring streak to three games (one goal, three assists).

Danault had an assist, four shots and three hits in Tuesday's 4-3 overtime loss to Vancouver.

EDGE Analysis

Danault, who hasn't scored in 17 games, logged just his third point in the last 10 games, as Montreal's top line is in the midst of a cool stretch. The trio of Danault, Tomas Tatar and Brendan Gallagher has accounted for just four goals in the last 11 games.

Danault had two hits over 18:33 of ice time in Wednesday's 4-1 loss to Boston.

EDGE Analysis

Danault was available to play after taking a puck to the mouth Monday, which prompted dental attention and stitches under his mouth. He had a normal allotment of shifts while skating on both special teams.