Montreal Canadiens v Philadelphia Flyers — Rafael Harvey-Pinard in action during an NHL game.

Who is Rafael Harvey-Pinard? Everything about the record-breaking rookie for the Montreal Canadiens

Modified Mar 26, 2023 12:42 GMT

Rafael Harvey-Pinard had a night to remember after scoring thrice in one period. He became the first rookie to do so since Kirill Kaprizov on March 12, 2021.

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Harvey-Pinard's feat against the Columbus Blue Jackets makes him the fourth Montreal Canadiens player to have achieved this record. His goals aided his team to a dominant 8-2 win.

Despite the Jackets taking an early lead, the Canadiens struck back quickly (twice in eight minutes) to snatch the lead. They continued to play aggressively as they put four past the Jackets' defense in the second period, which included three strikes from Harvey-Pinard.

This dismantled the Jackets' defense and the Canadiens scored twice more to end the game with a scoreline of 8-2

How has Rafael Harvey-Pinard performed in his career so far?

Montreal Canadiens v Vegas Golden Knights

The 24-year-old started his NHL journey in the 2021-22 season after a deal of an AAV of $825,000. Harvey-Pinard is earning $750,000 per season, which also contains signing bonus payments of $75,000.

Rafael Harvey-Pinard has played 23 games, averaging 16 minutes on the Ice. He has scored 10 goals with a shooting percentage of 20 while assisting in five more. He has been decent so far, with a goal contribution in his every second game. In the current season, Harvey-Pinard is tied for seventh on the list of top goalscorers for the team with nine goals.

Montreal Canadiens 2022-23 season overview

The Canadiens are languishing last in the Eastern Conference Atlantic with 64 points, 15 behind the playoffs spot. They have scored 199 goals in 72 games averaging less than three per game. Contributions from Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufieldis have accounted for 46 goals for the team and they will have a big role to play in the games to come.

On the defensive front, the Canadiens have struggled to keep it tight at the back and have allowed 3.7 goals per game this season. All the goaltenders are averaging over three goals per game and have saved 0.897 percent of the shots this season.

What's next for Rafael Harvey-Pinard and the Montreal Canadiens?

The 24-year-old had a breakthrough season and would like to continue performing at the same level in the upcoming games. Given that the season is about to end, he will look to maximize the return for the team and make a case for a crucial role next season.

For the Canadiens, the road to the playoffs is very tricky. They will focus on one game at a time to sustain the winning momentum for a long time. They play the Buffalo Sabres next on March 27, 2023.