With the Montreal Canadiens atop the NHL standings, one of the unexpected surprises is who is leading the Canadiens in terms of goals scored: Alex Galchenyuk, Shea Weber, and Paul Byron.
Byron and Galchenyuk, along with Alexander Radulov, make up the top-scoring line on the team.
But nobody expected Byron to have scored seven goals in the first six weeks of the season.
His career record was set last year, when he scored 11 goals in 62 games.
The left-winger is playing the best hockey of his career by stripping it down to the essentials.
"I'm just keeping it simple. I'm getting my speed, making sure I'm going to the net, going to the hard areas, forechecking forward," said Byron.
His line's centre, Galchenyuk, knows Byron is going to force his way to the point and do his best to stay there.
"He's always around the net, or the net area, because he knows that we will be trying to make plays, and we will pass to the D(efenceman) or just shoot on net, and we need one guy there," said Galchenyuk.
"It's been paying off. It's not an easy area to be in."
Coach Michel Therrien said he appreciates Byron for his defensive abilities.
"He's part of our first group to kill penalties," said Therrien.
It's more impressive when considering how the Canadiens acquired Byron: by snapping him up when the Calgary Flames put him on waivers at the beginning of the 2015-16 season.
It turns out Canadiens scouts recognized Byron as a very fast skater who had played through several injuries.
"I don't look at my contract and then feel satisfied. I want to make sure that I get better every day so I set goals for myself and keep pushing," said Byron.
The three-year contract he signed in February of this year has gone a long way toward making Byron settle down and concentrate on his game.
"To get that deal from management it was a pretty good feeling, pretty rewarding, and we were able to set a home base here for a few years," said Byron.
"It took some pressure off me and I think it allowed me to play better."
