Joe Veleno Grabs Assist in First Bell Centre Playoff Game
Joe Veleno made his first Bell Centre playoff game count on Sunday, collecting an assist, five hits and 12:18 of ice time in Montreal’s 6-2 win over Buffalo. joe veleno had gone six NHL seasons without a postseason appearance before this run, and the Canadiens now lead the best-of-seven first-round series 2-1.
Veleno’s Bell Centre debut
His assist came on Zachary Bolduc’s second-period goal, the one that pushed Montreal ahead 3-1. Veleno also won all five of his faceoffs while skating on the fourth line between Bolduc and Kirby Dach.
The performance followed a quieter start to the series. He was a healthy scratch through Montreal’s first-round matchup against Tampa Bay, then dressed for both games in Buffalo last week before finally getting his home playoff debut.
From scratch to fourth line
Veleno logged 8:33 in Game 1 at Buffalo last Wednesday and 10:32 in Montreal’s 5-1 win last Friday. By Sunday, his role had grown to 12:18, a jump that matched the Canadiens’ need for more from their lower lines in a series that has tightened after three games.
That path has been unusual even by playoff standards. Selected 30th overall by Detroit in the 2018 NHL draft, Veleno spent his final junior season with Drummondville scoring 42 goals and finishing with 104 points in 59 games, but his NHL career before Montreal never included a postseason game at Bell Centre.
Joe Veleno and Montreal
Afterward, he said the night carried extra weight. “This moment has meant everything,” Veleno said, adding, “I’m so glad and grateful to be part of it, to be on the ice playing in front of these fans.” He also called the arena crowd “probably the most passionate fan base in the NHL.”
For Montreal, the immediate takeaway is simple: Veleno has moved from healthy scratch to a usable fourth-line piece in the same series. He said, “I want to keep it going and play every game like that,” and Montreal will try to keep leaning on that version of him as it protects a 2-1 lead.
