Here are the Montreal Canadiens news items, stories and content you may have missed on Thursday.
montreal canadiens news
We now know when the Habs and Lightning will play Game One of their first-round series. Well, we know what day it will be on Sunday, but the league has not released the actual start time yet. Oh, and we haven't yet been advised when games two, three, four, five, six or seven will take place. Classic NHL! [NHL Playoff Schedule: Canadiens Vs. Lightning Begins Sunday]
ICYMI: There is no doubt, the Tampa Bay Lightning have been the better team at 5v5 this season. However, when the numbers between Montreal and the Lightning are evaluated against each other in their four games, the discrepancy is less noticeable, with the Canadiens managing to control more shots than the Bolts. [Playoff Preview: Canadiens Vs. Lightning Head-To-Head]
Check out this awesome playoff pump-up video made by Danielle Lapierre! There was a time when editing at this level was reserved for a few expensive videos per year, but now we're seeing fan-driven content that trumps the content produced by teams, which is nothing short of excellent. Keep up the good work, Danielle!
I'm not saying Lane Hutson should win the Norris Trophy, but it's a little ridiculous that he's not ranked among the top candidates by the NHL voters. Most data-based analysis shows that Hutson should be considered one of the front-runners when it comes to selecting the best defenseman in the league.
With the regular season ending tomorrow night, who is your vote for the Norris Trophy as the league's best defenseman? 🗳️ #NHLAAwards
Read more ➡️ https://t.co/0NxHNBlLNm pic.twitter.com/qdbkUkyDY7
- NHL Media (@NHLMedia) 15 April 2026
Even though it seems clear that the Canadiens do not intend to use Patrik Laine any time soon, head coach Martin Saint-Louis is keeping a close eye on the situation, which may not be easy for the Finnish forward.
What do Martin St. Louis and Patrik Laine say to each other before training starts? 🤔🧐@DLCoulisses #GoHabsGo #line #NHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/sLSNVkZeZs
- Patrick Guillet (@PatGuillet) 16 April 2026
As for players looking to make their mark, rookie David Rickenbacker spent a lot of time with skills coach Adam Nicholls on Thursday.
David Rickenbacker worked alone with Adam Nichols for several minutes after practice.
The Austrian defender wanted to improve his handling and protection of the puck near his net.@DLCoulisses #GoHabsGo #reinbacher #NHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/6ux0E1z3N5
- Patrick Guillet (@PatGuillet) 16 April 2026
Shockingly or not, Hutson and Ivan Demidov were among the first players to jump onto the ice during practice.
Even in the playoffs, Lane Hutson and Ivan Demidov's habits don't change: They're the first two players on the ice this morning in Brossard.@DLCoulisses #GoHabsGo #hutsan #Demidov #NHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/laqm9hAMWQ
- Patrick Guillet (@PatGuillet) 16 April 2026
Sportsknot Network
Anders Lee spent 14 of his NHL seasons wearing a New York Islanders sweater. This may be about to change soon. Lee spoke about his future on Islanders breakup day on Wednesday and why his exit interview with GM Matthew Darche was important. [New York Islanders]
It's official, folks, the Ottawa Senators will take on the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round of the playoffs. This places the Senators in the metropolitan portion of the bracket for the first two rounds, along with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers. [Ottawa Senators]
The Detroit Red Wings need to make a move during the 2026 NHL offseason. After a late-season collapse, the Red Wings fell from leading the Eastern Conference to falling out of playoff contention. However, could Detroit consider making a blockbuster trade during the 2026 NHL offseason? [Detroit Red Wings]
