標籤: ability

Here are the Montreal Canadiens and NHL news items you may have missed on Wednesday.

montreal canadiens news

• The Habs have managed to beat the Sabers in the first four games of the series, and they have outshot them by a wide margin at 5v5 as well. Special teams will play a key role in the final three games, but it’s safe to say that the Habs are in relatively healthy shape despite the loss in Game 4. [Canadiens Hold Destiny In Their Hands Versus Sabres]

• Buffalo Sabers head coach Lindy Ruff commented that there were some instances in Game 4 of the Canadiens players losing too easily. Canadiens head coach Martin St-Louis responded by asking if he was also talking about the Sabres. In all fairness, the Canadiens may have had some calls in their favor in Game 4, but it’s also fair to say that the Sabers had about as much discipline as a bunch of drunken pirates who finally broke into the rum store on a ship that was lost somewhere in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. High-sticking players every few changes makes life much easier for the referee. There’s no debate involved, for the most part, they were blatant and useless penalties.

Before leaving Montreal this morning, #LetsGoFellows Head coach Lindy Ruff was about to officiate at GM4 and said he thinks #hubs Players were losing easily…#GoHabsGo Martin St. Louis was asked about Ruff’s comments: “Is he talking about his team too?” He said smiling.

– Priyantha Amrith (@HabsInHighHeels) 13 May 2026

• New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer took home the Calder Trophy, defeating Canadiens rookie Ivan Demidov in the process. This is not a surprising result, as Schaefer is an 18-year-old defenseman who has scored 23 goals, but it must be said that Demidov still had a very solid freshman season. He led all rookies in scoring with 62 points in 82 games. Due to this, Demidov remained in second place in the voting. Netminder Jacob Dobbs finished fourth. [Two Canadiens Among Top Four Calder Votes]

• Instead of practicing at Brossard, the Habs decided to cancel their morning skate. Instead they headed to Buffalo a little earlier than expected.

#hubs Wednesday morning’s practice at Brossard has been canceled. Instead it will be just a travel day with the team flying to Buffalo at noon for Game 5 on Thursday (7 p.m., CBC, SN, TVA Sports).

– Stu Cowan (@StuCowan1) 13 May 2026

• There are still three games left to be played in the series, but it must be said that the results in Montreal have been quite confusing. The team, which scored at will during the regular playoffs, has struggled to find the back of the net, while their normally weak defense has become a stronger presence. This is a complete contrast to his normal powers. game!

Team Ratings for the Montreal Canadiens pic.twitter.com/MurIlOG672

– hockeystatcards (@hockeystatcards) 13 May 2026

Sportsknot Network

• Sunny Mehta took over his former club-Florida Panthers when he made his first appointment at New Jersey Devils. Mehta announced the hiring of Braden Burch as Assistant General Manager, adding significant experience and championship pedigree to his hockey operations department. [New Jersey Devils]

• New Toronto Maple Leafs hockey executives John Chayka and Mats Sundin spoke for several hours with head coach Craig Berube last weekend. And coming out of this, all signs point to Berube staying on as Leafs coach, at least for a while. But on Wednesday morning, the team fired the head coach after a two-year run. [Toronto Maple Leafs]

• With the Carolina Hurricanes’ historic sweep over the Philadelphia Flyers, they earned a berth in the Eastern Conference Finals for the third time in four years. However, as they potentially look at 10 straight days off, it leaves time to wonder and contemplate whether they have what it takes to move past the rounds of 1-16 they have endured in the last 15 years. [Carolina Hurricanes]

Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont

liverpool They have their sights set on Colombian youngster Matias Lozano, who currently plays for Atlético Nacional.

Journalist Alexis Rodriguez and WIN Sports report Liverpool are keeping a close eye on the 17-year-old midfielder ahead of a potential move.

liverpool watching closely

The website states that Matías Lozano is one of Atlético Nacional’s rising stars and could be one of ‘the next great exporters of Colombian football’.

The young player is gaining a growing reputation in his homeland and that has obviously not gone unnoticed on Merseyside.

According to journalist Alexis Rodriguez, Liverpool are closely monitoring the 17-year-old’s development this season.

“Liverpool are tracking Nacional’s midfielder, Matias Lozano (17 years old),” they posted on X.

WIN Sport then adds that Liverpool are known for scouting young talents with international potential and the Colombian Professional Football League is often a ‘demanding market’. Lozano may be the latest to benefit from the attention.

The website then provides a brief profile on the youth. He says he has been praised for his ‘technique, vision and ability to operate effectively’ in midfield.

They also emphasize that their profile is in line with the type of sport that typically attracts interest in ‘competitive markets’. He’s young, has room to grow and is developing at a club with a ‘rich history’.

Atlético National for the Premier League

There’s definitely some truth in that last part. Over the past 10 years, Atlético Nacional have sold players such as John Solis, Marlos Moreno, Davinson Sanchez, Yerson Mosquera and Daniel Munoz to the European market.

Mosquera and Moreno were sold outright to the Premier League. People like Sanchez and Munoz arrived there via the Netherlands and Belgium respectively. But it shows that the Colombian side knows how to develop talent.

Now Matias Lozano could be the latest to join the list. Liverpool are certainly following the 17-year-old’s progress with the Colombian side closely.

#CortitasYalPie thank you comes @WplayColombia

JG Square
One team 🇺🇸, one 🇧🇷 and two 🇨🇴 are interested. His contract with Pisa expires in June and he will have to decide whether to end his career or continue

matias lozano
Liverpool keep an eye on the national midfielder (17 years old) pic.twitter.com/e3w8ApuP6P

– Alexis Rodriguez (@alexisnoticias) 7 May 2026

Paolo Banchero capped the Orlando Magic’s four-game Western Conference road trip with a 36-point performance in a 110-109 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night, but his impact extended beyond scoring. In consecutive matchups against Kawhi Leonard and Luka Doncic, Banchero took over the primary defensive duties, highlighting his ability as an elite two-way player.

Wendell Carter Jr., who recorded 20 points, 11 rebounds and two assists in 36 minutes – including the game-winning putback – praised Banchero’s defensive focus and competitiveness.

“Man, when P gets locked in defensively he’s one of the best in this league. In my opinion he has the potential to be one of the best two-way players to play this game. He had two big challenges the other night with Kawhi and then tonight with Luka. He accepted that challenge. When he’s in that mode, when he’s locked in, man, it unlocks his team and takes us to another level.”

On Sunday, Leonard scored 37 points against Orlando, adding eight rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks, while shooting 14 of 25 from the field. Two nights later, Doncic faced a more disruptive defensive presence from the Magic. The Lakers star finished with 22 points, 15 assists and nine rebounds, but shot 8-for-24 from the field and 2-for-10 from 3-point range while committing two turnovers.

Wendell Carter Jr. on Paolo Banchero’s defense this season:

“When P is off defensively, he’s one of the best in this league. He has the potential to be one of the best two-way players ever…When he’s in that mode, it takes us to another level.” pic.twitter.com/qHDu8BIgJ6

– Julian Ojeda (@jowepafm) 25 February 2026

Paolo Banchero accepts the challenge of protecting elite scorers

Banchero addressed the defensive responsibility of protecting leading scorers throughout the league.

“Yeah, I think it’s just me, you know, accepting the challenge. You know, I think a lot of times, you know, coaches want to, you know, have some better players to guard a guy. They don’t have to expend as much energy. But, you know, getting Jalen out, Franz out, they’re our two best perimeter defenders. And so I know I’ve got to step up on that side of the ball. And I’m a big I feel like I’m a good defender, especially on one on, guarding big guys, big guards.”

He acknowledged the difficulty of controlling the stars but emphasized effort and physicality.

Paolo on defending Kawhi Leonard, Luka Doncic in the last two games:

“With Jalen and Franz out, I know I have to step up. I’m a big guy, I can step up. You can’t stop guys like that, but you can be tough on them – make them miss some, force them to work.” pic.twitter.com/HMurC2OMrI

– Julian Ojeda (@jowepafm) 25 February 2026

“And so guarding guys like that, you can’t stop them from scoring, but you can get your heart on them, make them miss some shots, just make them expend a lot of energy. So that’s just what I’m trying to do. Kawhi obviously had a big night, but getting some stops and making it difficult and, you know, seeing him as a great player and just a creator with the ball in his hands, you know, he just Know what my body is trying to show you, be there when it’s trying to show off, pretend.

Banchero’s offensive output remained steady. Against the Lakers, he added 10 rebounds and six assists while shooting 12 of 22 from the field and 10 of 11 from the free-throw line in 38 minutes.

Magic cover Luka Doncic as Banchero delivers late against Lakers

Head coach Jamahl Mosley emphasized the collective challenge of defending Doncic while highlighting Banchero’s timely shot making.

“Listen, sometimes when he shoots, you just have to hope it doesn’t go in. Because he’s so good and when the game was on the line, he took the big three that put them up by three. And Paolo comes back and hits one. As soon as he goes up in a corner, you know it’s good because that’s what he did. I’ve seen him do it. He did it when we were in Dallas when we played in Portland. I did the same thing. Saw the perfect shot. So you just have to keep mixing up the coverages against him, make it tough, try your best to make it without fouls, and just keep making it tough against him.”

Orlando limited Doncic’s efficiency, holding him below his season average of 32.5 points. With the win, the Magic improved to 31–26 and had road wins over both Los Angeles teams in the same season for the first time since 2012–13.

The Magic return home on Thursday to begin a four-game homestand against the Houston Rockets (35-21). As Orlando continues its push into the Eastern Conference standings, Banchero’s willingness to defend elite scorers while carrying the offensive load underscores the franchise cornerstone’s growing two-way ceiling.

The Miami Dolphins are expected to move on from Tua Tagovailoa this offseason, six seasons after making him the fifth overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Of course, first-year general manager John-Eric Sullivan and first-year head coach Jeff Hafley may decide that retaining the one-time Pro Bowl quarterback is best for the team’s future.

However, every so often, a new regime wants to get its own quarterback in town. The same could happen with Tagovailoa. However, moving on from a player who is already guaranteed a $54 million salary in 2026 won’t be easy.

Recently, Sports Boom’s NFL insider Jason La Canfora spoke to an unnamed general manager and an unnamed league executive. Neither of them believe the Dolphins are in a good position to move on from Tagovailoa. One GM even said that dolphins are “f-ed”.

Another unnamed NFL executive said Tagovailoa has a “terrible contract that no one wants to touch.” Tagovailoa is under contract through 2028, and he is entering season two of a four-year, $212 million deal.

The Dolphins are reportedly willing to eat a large portion of Tagovailoa’s salary to help make the trade more attractive. This may be their only way to get something in return as well as get him off their books.

RELATED: NFL trade candidates 2026: 10 NFL starters who could be moved this offseason

Dedicated NFL copywriter/editor. My work has been found on SportsNut, Sports Illustrated, Sporting News, MSN, Yahoo, and Minnesota Sports… More about Andrew Buller-Russ