Max Pacioretty scores thanks to pass from Nathan Beaulieu

There are two important things to take away from this second-period Max Pacioretty goal in Game 6 on Monday night.

First, it was Pacioretty's first goal of the series, and only second of the postseason, snapping what had been a five-game goalless streak to give his team a 2-0 lead (a lead that would later be extended to 3-0 thanks to Thomas Vanek's power-play goal).

Second, it only happened because of Nathan Beaulieu, playing in his first career playoff game, and his ability to get the puck up the ice and out of the defensive zone. After watching that play, it probably has Canadiens fans asking where he was earlier in the series when the coaching staff was still running Douglas Murray out there as a third-pairing defenseman. Murray offered no real ability to get the puck out of danger or start the play offensively. In one play Beaulieu was already an immediate upgrade, and through two periods had helped Montreal take over the possession game (13 shot attempts with Beaulieu on the ice to only four allowed).