標籤: Canadiens

The Montreal Canadiens are set to face the surging Carolina Hurricanes in the 2026 NHL Eastern Conference Finals, giving us a great opportunity to evaluate their 5v5 numbers throughout the regular season.

Next we’ll look at how the Habs and Canes performed when they faced each other on three occasions.

Canadiens and Hurricanes regular-season statistics (5v5)

The first thing we should note is that the Hurricane is the epitome of an ‘analytics darling’ team. They take a lot of shots, and they outscore their opponents by significant margins.

They are also a top-5 team when it comes to creating high-danger scoring chances.

When it comes to shot-share battles, expect the Hurricane to reign supreme.

Shooting and goaltending

On the other side of the coin, the Canadians enjoyed better goaltending in both regular save percentage and high-danger save percentage. They also had more skilled shooters, including higher quality shooting opportunities.

While the Hurricanes put more rubber on net, the Habs are much better at stopping said rubber, not to mention when it comes to capitalizing on their own scoring opportunities.

It’s a battle of quantity versus quality, with the Hurricanes requiring an incredibly high volume of shots to generate most of their attack.

Target

When we boil things down to their ability to score and prevent goals their results are quite similar.

The Habs score more often at 5v5, but the Hurricanes are still among the top 10 teams, while the Canes are better at preventing the puck from entering their net, but not by much.

Canadiens Vs. storm head to head statistics

Carolina and Montreal faced off on three occasions in the regular season. All three games ended with victories for the Canadiens, although they were certainly high-event match-ups.

The Canadiens defeated the Hurricanes 7–5 on January 1, before winning two games in late March.

Overall, they outshot the Hurricanes 12-3, giving them an 80% lead in goals scored at 5v5.

That means it should be a walk in the park for hubs, right?

Absolutely not!

Statistically speaking, the Canadiens were incredibly lucky to emerge from their three games against the Hurricanes with a point, let alone three wins.

This doesn’t mean that Carolina will completely dominate the Habs at 5v5 in the upcoming series, but we shouldn’t fool ourselves into thinking that Montreal will be the favorite team due to the regular season results.

Montreal Canadiens Brass Tacks

Most analysts will pick the Hurricanes to win the Eastern Conference Finals, and there is enough data to suggest that this is a very logical decision.

However, we have yet to see what impact the nearly two weeks off between playoff series will have. The Hurricanes are cold as ice, while the Canadiens have been playing essentially every two days since the playoffs began.

It is also important to remember that the Canadiens faced a lot of quality competition in the playoffs, as the Sabers and Tampa Bay Lightning were among the best teams in the Eastern Conference, while the Ottawa Senators and Philadelphia Flyers were not.

If I were a betting man, my money would be on the Hurricanes, but I’d be very eager to support the Canadiens, given their tendency to rise to the challenge when faced with adversity.

And as we all know, they will face a mountain of adversities in the upcoming series vs Hurricanes.

All Montreal Canadiens stats are 5v5, via Natural Stat Trick, unless otherwise noted.

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

Now that the Montreal Canadiens have qualified for the Eastern Conference Finals, it is worth discussing how they managed to produce enough offense to overcome the Buffalo Sabres.

The lack of first-line production at 5v5 has been well-advertised, and while it’s fair to suggest Nick Suzuki, Juraj Slafkowski and Cole Caufield need to score with greater frequency, similar to their regular-season dominance, we also have to acknowledge that the Sabers have focused on shutting them down.

By doing so, they devoted most of their energy and game planning to only three Canadiens forwards, opening the door for the rest of the lineup to capitalize on their opportunities.

And he stepped up and did a great job.

Newfoundlander Alex Newhook scored six goals in the series, five of which came at even strength. Close behind is Kirby Dach, who scored twice at 5v5.

Alex Newhook!!!!

The Montreal Canadiens are going to the Conference Finals!!!! #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/USlIPc5p3Z

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 19 May 2026

Apart from those two, no other player scored more than one goal at 5v5, but nine different players managed to find the back of the net at least once.

Of course, this is ignoring powerplay production, but the point is that the Sabers were so busy trying to slow down Montreal’s best players, the floodgates were opened on the rest of the lineup.

The underlying numbers paint an accurate picture. Players like Jake Evans, Ivan Demidov, Zachary Bolduc and Philippe Danault played a solid brand of hockey, resulting in the Canadiens controlling more shots while they were on the ice.

Final Series Impact card for the Montreal Canadiens after defeating the Sabers 4-3 pic.twitter.com/7upuENuSmj

– hockeystatcards (@hockeystatcards) 19 May 2026

Montreal Canadiens Brass Tacks

The mere fact that the Habs have managed to win two playoff series just a few years after beginning their rebuild is quite encouraging.

Franchises around the NHL are keeping an eye on the Canadiens, trying to figure out if they can somehow emulate his quick rise through the ranks.

But it takes a special kind of team to constantly find new ways to win.

You need a great leader.

A confident goaltender.

A friendly coach.

And a solid roster.

But most importantly, you need a group of players who are willing to put everything on the line while also being able to adapt to the endless factors involved in professional sports.

Every Canadiens player in the lineup is rowing in the same direction, which has been the driving force behind their exciting playoff run.

All Montreal Canadiens stats are 5v5, via Natural Stat Trick, unless otherwise noted.

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

The Montreal Canadiens faced the Buffalo Sabers in Game 7 of their second round series, hoping to pick up another thrilling, upset victory.

Before puck drop, the Habs announced they would be making a lineup modification, replacing fourth-line forward Joe Veleno with rookie Oliver Kapanen, who made his series debut.

It was another exciting matchup, and the Habs managed to emerge with a 3–2 victory, qualifying for the Eastern Conference Finals in the process.

Let’s look at the highlights!

veteran effect

The Canadiens got off to a great start, culminating in Philippe Danault’s first goal of the playoffs. The veteran took advantage of an excellent forecheck from Josh Anderson, not to mention a very smart pass from defenseman Caden Guhle.

At that point in the game, high-danger scoring chances were already 3–0 in favor of the Habs, and it should be noted that when the team scored first in Game 7 their score was 12–2.

Philippe Denault gave us the lead by scoring early. #GoHabsGo 1-0 lead.

Great work by Josh Anderson on the forecheck. pic.twitter.com/J7YNSsGK5k

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 18 May 2026

important goals

Depth players continued to play a key role in the game, as evidenced by Zachary Bolduc’s third goal of the playoffs. Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki provided excellent assists in the game.

Considering that he had an up and down regular season, Bolduc’s increase in effort and results throughout the playoffs is more than admirable.

He is still a very young player and has a long career ahead of him. Enjoying a relatively successful playoff run will go a long way in instilling a certain amount of confidence.

Zachary Bolduc gives #GoHabsGo 2-0 lead!!!! pic.twitter.com/5RZRLvucwi

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 19 May 2026

classic adversity

One thing that is crystal clear when analyzing the Canadiens is that they have the potential to be a world-class team.

They also put together some of the worst hockey you’ll ever see, as it happened for much of the second period.

The Sabers took advantage when Jordan Greenway, with the help of several of his friends, found a way to beat Dobbs, who was creating havoc in front of the Sabers crease.

Same game, different scene! 👀 #game7 #Stanley Cup https://t.co/8DFxUckEk9 pic.twitter.com/NtsKIDdBRH

– NHL (@NHL) 19 May 2026

best referee on earth

The Sabers decided to restart Dobbs, and like the referees in most of these playoff games, the referees failed to do their job.

This was truly a terrible job done by experienced officers who should know better.

And this is clearly a recurring issue that has been plaguing the league.

Dobbs gets crushed (again, this is happening a lot in these playoffs).

No penalty. Absolutely.#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/rnSi615H0q

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 19 May 2026

Given that the refs decided to game manage, which is exactly what no one wants to see, the Sabers got the advantage of not killing a penalty.

Soon after, Rasmus Dahlin leveled the game.

A moment for defense personnel‼️#LetsGoFellows pic.twitter.com/Jl8payY2Bp

– Buffalo Sabers (@BuffaloSabres) 19 May 2026

need a hero

The final 10 minutes of the third period will go a long way in determining whether the Canadiens can truly rise to the occasion, as they have done so many times in the regular season, or whether they will showcase their lack of experience by blowing another lead in an elimination game.

The Habs played timidly for most of the second and third periods, which led to a lot of time in the defensive zone.

You could argue that he had no trace of murderous tendencies.

The good news is that they had a chance to win the game with just one more shot, as the teams were tied 2-2 in overtime.

Alex Newhook, one of the most important players for the Canadiens in the playoffs, played the hero, scoring with just a few minutes remaining in overtime.

Alex Newhook!!!!

The Montreal Canadiens are going to the Conference Finals!!!! #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/USlIPc5p3Z

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 19 May 2026

All Montreal Canadiens stats are 5v5, via Natural Stat Trick, unless otherwise noted.

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

After nine days of wondering who their next opponent would be, the Carolina Hurricanes finally have their opponent for the Eastern Conference Finals following the Montreal Canadiens’ overtime win in Game 7 against the Buffalo Sabres.

Between their sweep of the Philadelphia Flyers in round two of the ECF and Game 1, the Hurricanes would have 11 days of rest, setting a modern NHL record. Ironically, only 1919 Canadians had more than 12.

Game 7 between the Canadiens and Sabers was certainly interesting. The Canadiens took an early lead by scoring two goals in the first frame, before the Sabers evened it out in the next two frames. However, the Sabers found the back of the net for the third time after the puck bounced off the legs of Jacob Dobbs, while the remaining puck was pushed across the line by Beck Malensteen. But unfortunately for the Sabres, as Dobbs tried to cover the puck, the referee blew the whistle – despite having no control over it, and the goal was ultimately waved off.

With 8:38 left in the extra frame, Alex Newhook got the game-winning goal.

A Brief History of the Hurricanes vs. the Habs

Throughout the regular season, the Canadiens won all three games against the Hurricanes. However, in the only two instances when the two teams have faced each other in the postseason (2002, 2006), the Hurricanes have defeated them in six games or less. Ironically, the Hurricanes also appeared in the Stanley Cup Finals in both postseasons, and won the championship in 2006.

Carolina Hurricanes-Montreal Canadiens schedule and broadcast information

game 1

When: Thursday, May 21, 8:00 pm EDT
Where: Raleigh, NC | Lenovo Center
How to watch: TNT, TruTV, HBO Max, SN, CBC, TVAS

game 2

When: Saturday, May 23, 7:00 pm EDT
Where: Raleigh, NC | Lenovo Center
How to watch: TNT, TruTV, HBO Max, SN, CBC, TVAS

game 3

When: Monday, May 25, 8:00 pm EDT
Where: Rivals Arena
How to watch: TNT, TruTV, HBO Max, SN, CBC, TVAS

game 4

When: Wednesday, May 27, 8:00 pm EDT
Where: Rivals Arena
How to watch: TNT, TruTV, HBO Max, SN, CBC, TVAS

Game 5 (if necessary)

When: Friday, May 29, 8:00 pm EDT
Where: Raleigh, NC | Lenovo Center
How to watch: TNT, TruTV, HBO Max, SN, CBC, TVAS

Game 6 (if necessary)

When: Sunday, May 31, TBD
Where: Rivals Arena
How to watch: TNT, TruTV, HBO Max, SN, TVAS

Game 7 (if necessary)

When: Tuesday, June 2, 8:00 pm EDT
Where: Raleigh, NC | Lenovo Center
How to watch: TNT, TruTV, HBO Max, SN, CBC, TVAS

All games will feature local play-by-play by Mike Maniscalco and analysis by Trip Tracy on the Hurricanes’ radio partner, 99.9 The Fan.

Rachel Barkley is a beat writer covering the Carolina Hurricanes for Carolina Hockey Now on SportsNote. Painting Stories…More About Rachel Barclay

The Montreal Canadiens advance to the Eastern Conference Finals after defeating the Buffalo Sabers 4–3 in their second-round series.

The Sabers won Game 1 and Game 4, but the Canadiens were the better team, as shown by their dominant performances in Game 2 and Game 3. That being said, Buffalo deserves credit for its impressive comeback in Game 6.

All things considered, advancing to the Conference Finals is quite an accomplishment for the league’s youngest team, but the hard work is far from over.

Next playoff opponent

The Canadiens will face the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Finals, a powerhouse team that has yet to taste anything but success in the 2026 NHL Playoffs.

The Hurricanes easily defeated the Ottawa Senators 4–0 in the first round series, outscoring them 11–5 in the process. They continued their momentum into the second round, where they once again had a dominant performance, defeating the Philadelphia Flyers in four consecutive games and defeating them 13–5.

Simply put, they have been the best team in the playoffs, and by a wide margin.

They are sure to be very well rested compared to the Canadians, although that may not be an advantage given the situation. While the Habs have lacked rest, they have maintained their lead by playing every two days and facing equally competitive opponents.

While the Hurricanes have not played a game since May 9, meaning they will be facing a very cold winter ahead of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Given that Game 1 of the series is scheduled for May 21, the Hurricanes will not have played an NHL game in a dozen days, leaving a significant amount of rust for these highly-tuned athletes.

Of course, his lack of game-time action in recent days will be mitigated by the fact that the Hurricanes are one of the most talented teams in the league.

Montreal Canadiens Vs. Carolina Hurricanes conference finals

• game 1 – Thursday, May 21. Time TBD – @CarolinaHurricanes
• game 2 – Saturday, May 23. Time TBD – @CarolinaHurricanes
• game 3 – Monday, May 25. Time TBD – @MontrealCanadiens
• game 4 – Wednesday, May 27. Time TBD – @MontrealCanadiens
• *game 5 -Friday, May 29. Time TBD – @CarolinaHurricanes
• *game 6 – Sunday, May 31. Time TBD – @MontrealCanadiens
• *game 7 – Tuesday, June 2. Time TBD – @CarolinaHurricanes

*if necessary.

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

Not two words Montreal Canadiens fans wanted to hear after Saturday night.

Game 7.

Still, that’s where this series is headed after the Buffalo Sabers owned the final 40 minutes at the Bell Center.

After Rasmus Dahlin scored 32 seconds into the game, Montreal jumped out to the lead on the Buffalo Sabres, scoring three goals in the first period on the sticks of Arbor Zekhaj, Ivan Demidov and Jake Evans.

After Lindy Ruff picked off Ukka Pekka-Lukkonen in Game 6, they immediately pulled him for Alex Lyon after a Montreal barrage in the first period.

Hubbs convinced the crowd that it was over before it really even started. But a key high-sticking penalty from Mike Matheson helped the Sabers claw back a goal on the power play thanks to Jason Zucker, giving the game a 3–2 lead heading into the first intermission.

Only then can you feel the change in speed.

In the second the buffalo came out flying. Zach Benson tied it early, then Jack Quinn hit a snapshot on the power play to put them ahead. Consta Helenius added an insurance marker to give Buffalo its first and indefinite multi-goal lead of the game, sending Buffalo into the second intermission with a 5–3 lead.

All were subs in the third period. Quinn added his second power-play marker of the night, and Taj Thompson finished it with an empty-net goal.

Still, with the goaltender back in net for Buffalo, Zack Metsa scored his first in the playoffs, while the man added insult to injury by taking advantage late, leading Montreal to an 8–3 loss.

With a few minutes left in the third period, an uproar broke out and tempers flared. Six miscues between whistles were handed down to an extracurricular activity, making the appeal of Game 7 even stronger.

Buffalo dominated the shot clock 36-22 and owned special teams on Saturday night.

This was the reaction everyone in Western New York wanted after the Habs took on Don Buffalo on their field in Game 5, while Montreal fans were hoping to wrap up the series tonight.

Instead, the Canadiens’ early multi-goal lead vanished, and now they await a similar elimination to the Sabres.

The series heads back to KeyBank Center for Game 7 on Monday.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

There was something oddly familiar about the Montreal Canadiens’ start to Game 6 on Thursday night.

In most cases, watching a rookie netminder allow three goals on three consecutive shots would generate a fair amount of concern.

But if the Habs have taught us one lesson during their expertly-executed rebuild, it’s that this team needs a certain amount of adversity before it can perform at its best.

Think of it as the hockey version of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, if you want.

They only reveal their strongest form megazordOnce there their backs are against the wall.

A slightly less stupid metaphor would be the Incredible Hulk.

The longer he endures continuous punishment, the stronger he becomes.

Okay, that was just as silly, but you get my point.

It wouldn’t be Canadiens hockey if there wasn’t a point in the first period in which fans questioned whether the past four years were merely a fever dream.

And yet, despite seeing the Habs chase multiple leads in the first period, there was a shared sense of calm among fans Thursday night, which is rare in sports, even more so in Montreal.

It’s a testament to the shared conviction not only between the fans and the team, but also between the skaters and their rookie netminder, who has clearly been the team’s most valuable player through 12 playoff games.

#hubs Nick Suzuki on Jacob Dobbes today: “We never lost confidence in him; everybody was struggling in the first period…”

– Priyantha Amrith (@HabsInHighHeels) 15 May 2026

It’s all part of the learning process, and logic dictates that the Canadian will eventually be able to win a game, or motivate himself, without facing an uphill climb.

But as things stand, Habs has mastered the climb well enough to be considered a favorite in the upcoming Tour de France.

Hyperbole aside, this isn’t necessarily a recipe for success, at least not in the long term, but it has equipped the Canadiens with a very interesting and powerful weapon as they attempt to become the fourth and final team to qualify for the conference finals.

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

The Montreal Canadiens faced the Buffalo Sabers in Game 5 of their tied second-round series on Thursday night.

A hectic first period paved the way for a dominant effort from the Habs, not to mention a solid 6-3 win.

There’s a lot to discuss, so let’s dive into the highlights!

the way she goes

Buffalo opened the scoring thanks to an accidental bounce, leading to Jason Zucker’s first goal of the playoffs, but it must be said that Alexandre Texier had a chance to clear the zone before the goal, making it another early, unforced error.

Double deflection beats Dobbs, Sabers lead 1-0.

Jason Zucker’s first goal of the playoffs: pic.twitter.com/dURKfL4PXR

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 14 May 2026

As the elders foretold

As we discussed in the ad before Game 5, the first line has done a much better job of producing solid underlying numbers at 5v5, but their lack of goals at this point in the playoffs is absolutely unacceptable.

This may sound harsh, but such is life in professional sports.

The good news is that Cole Caufield scored his first 5v5 goal of the spring on Thursday night, immediately responding to the Sabres’ lucky bounce to tie the game at 1-1.

Unsurprisingly, fellow first liners Nick Suzuki and Juraj Slafkowski provided assistance.

Tie the game!

#GoHabsGo Respond with a goal via Cole Caufield, his first 5v5 goal of the playoffs!

Surprisingly, or not, Nick Suzuki provided assistance. pic.twitter.com/5BFEqHElfW

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 14 May 2026

luck returned

Although the Canadiens were unlucky and lost 1–0 early in the first period, they cannot claim that luck was solely on Buffalo’s side.

Alexandre Texier tied the game at 2-2 with another incredibly fortuitous layup. It was his third goal of the playoffs, with assists from Alexandre Carrier and Philippe Danault. As has been the case all year, Canadiens hockey included a heavy dose of excitement, along with a side order of chaotic defence.

Exactly how the Habs planned it.

The game was tied, as the puck hit Texier just wide of the net. #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/EZPxbwcqTP

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 14 May 2026

Bananarama

Speaking of chaos, the Sabers re-established their lead shortly after on what can only be described as an incredibly weak goal on Jacob Dobbs.

To Dobbs’ credit, he has clearly been the team’s most valuable player in the playoffs, but there’s no doubt that the entire team groaned when Kostas Helenius scored with a weak wrist shot from distance.

It was just a bad goal, but it was also the Sabers’ first three shots in a row. Dobbs rebounded nicely in the latter part of the frame, but it was clearly a tough start for the 24-year-old netminder.

Three goals on three shots for the Sabres.

Dobbs would like the last one back, it was tough. pic.twitter.com/Z2pI6zSS7f

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 14 May 2026

Faaaaaaaaaair be

As the game began, Dobbs settled in well, and provided excellent goaltending while the Sabers applied pressure in the second period.

Jacob Dobbs showed great patience to prevent Thompson from getting separated. #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/XaAa19mBwT

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 15 May 2026

phenom

As per tradition, it didn’t take long for the leadership to disappear.

This time, it was phenom Lane Hutson who carried all the burden, giving up an easy goal to veteran Josh Anderson, his third of the playoffs.

No matter how many times I’m lucky enough to witness Hutson’s magic, her ability to command everyone’s attention never ceases to amaze me. If there were a metric for creating time and space for teammates in the offensive zone, I’m sure Hutson would be among the league leaders.

I’d venture to say he’d probably be No. 1 with a bullet, but I digress.

To be fair to the Sabres, they aren’t the first to be charmed by Lane Hutson.

A great pass sets up Josh Anderson’s goal. Game tied again. #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/iUZm3KGZab

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 15 May 2026

It wouldn’t be a true Canadiens hockey game without an unfair dose of adversity. That’s when hubs are at their best.

Ideally, they won’t have to be in a situation where their back is against the wall before they can find a rhythm, but some things in the game are ideal.

All that matters is that the Canadiens play well when the game is on the line, as evidenced by Ivan Demidov’s nice flurry that resulted in Jake Evans’ first springtime goal.

Eva…Jake Evans!!!! pic.twitter.com/OaR4VjaACC

– TVA Sports (@TVASports) 15 May 2026

opening the floodgates

From that point on, the Sabers continued to explode, but mainly because the Canadiens refused to apply the brakes.

Instead of maintaining their lead, they went overboard and this resulted in a flurry of goals.

Suzuki extended the lead to 5–3 with a powerplay goal, although Slafkowski deserves credit for offering a great assist.

Nick Suzuki makes it 5-3 #GoHabsGo!

The Habs made the most of their only power play of the game, with a big assist from Juraj Slafkowski. pic.twitter.com/A9r1ackTeW

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 15 May 2026

rookie effect

Demidov, a player who has had difficulty creating scoring chances in recent games, enjoyed his best game of the playoffs, adding a goal to his assist midway through the third period.

Game 5 was really a case of the Canadiens firing on all cylinders from an offensive standpoint, which bodes well for the upcoming matchup against the Sabres.

A sweet Ivan Demidov gives SNIPE #GoHabsGo 6-3 lead!

What do you think about that save by Lane Hutson at the blue line? pic.twitter.com/hrmi4dLRkk

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 15 May 2026

Game 6 between the Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabers is scheduled for Saturday, May 16 at 8 PM ET.

All Montreal Canadiens stats are 5v5, via Natural Stat Trick, unless otherwise noted.

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

The Montreal Canadiens have had a relatively stable duo in the playoffs, but a change could be in the works.

When evaluating Montreal’s defensive pairings, the results are quite curious. In this particular case, we’re only discussing their 5v5 numbers vs. the Sabres, so, the sample size is limited, but it gives us a pretty good idea of ​​how things have unfolded on the blue line.

Defensive Pairings at 5v5 (vs. Sabres)

The eye test tells us that the duo of Mike Matheson and Alexander Carrier lag behind by a wide margin, and it’s reflected in the numbers. They have managed to control just over 45 percent of their shots, which is far from ideal.

And yet, the fact that they are facing the opposing team’s best players suggests that they are facing higher quality competition than their peers, making their 59% control of high-danger chances an impressive number.

It’s almost the opposite situation for the second pairing, which currently consists of Noah Dobson and Lane Hutson. They controlled more shots than any other pair, but they were lagging behind by a fairly wide margin.

And finally, when it comes to the third pairing of Arbor Zekaj and Caden Guhle, they’re working with an even smaller sample size, but the early results are nothing to write home about.

Montreal Canadiens Brass Tacks

Neither Zekaj nor Jaden Struble practiced on Thursday, meaning there’s a chance the former will have to make way for the latter in the lineup.

Czekaj played only 3:46 minutes on Tuesday, which was the least amount of playing time given to any player on either team, indicating that he was likely falling out of favor with head coach Martin Saint-Louis.

And yet, his replacement in the lineup will likely ease the toughness at a time when the Sabers are going out of their way to increase the physicality of every single inning.

That doesn’t mean Struble is a withered flower, as he can certainly bring a significant element of violence to the table, however, it’s worth noting that he only spent 17 minutes at 5v5 with Guhle in the entire regular season.

But if Struble’s play allows St.-Louis to build its pairings with less apprehension and more confidence, it would be a significant win from a roster construction standpoint.

All Montreal Canadiens stats are 5v5, via Natural Stat Trick, unless otherwise noted.

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

It will be very difficult to argue against the unexpected impact of the Montreal Canadiens’ depth players in the 2026 NHL Playoffs.

While the first line has scored exactly one goal at 5v5, the top five goalscorers are far from the guys you would consider star players in Montreal.

Alex Newhook leads the way with five goals, while Kirby Dach is close behind with four. Once we overcome the gap between the above players and the rest of the lineup, we reach the players who have managed to score two goals: Alexandre Texier, Zachary Bolduc and Josh Anderson.

Yes, you read that right, only Newhook, Dach, Texier, Bolduc and Anderson have scored more than one 5v5 goal.

If it’s not related to the division of the NHL’s youngest team, it’s very interesting.

Room for another veteran

And yet, I would argue there is room for another veteran in the mix.

An experienced player who is the oldest player in the organization.

Yes, I’m talking about none other than Brendan Gallagher, the oft-maligned winger who gets far more criticism than he deserves, while also admitting that his talent level has dropped significantly in recent years.

Consider this: In three playoff games, not only has Gallagher scored a goal, but the Habs have outshot the Lightning by a huge margin whenever he’s been on the ice.

During his shift, the Canadiens controlled nearly 70 percent of the shots, expected goals and high-danger scoring opportunities.

The sample size is small, but Gallagher has provided the Habs’ best individual results in the playoffs from an underlying numbers standpoint.

More importantly, Gallagher quickly made his way to his natural habitat and created chaos in the crease, troubling opposition goalkeepers with ease.

In addition to frustrating opposing netminders, he quickly takes his coverage to the wall, making for a frustrated, unfocused opponent.

The playoffs are truly made for players like Gallagher.

And you know he will never hesitate to put his body on the line to ensure his team gains even the slightest advantage.

This struggling lion won’t roam the Savanna forever, but it’s quite clear that he’s not quite satisfied with his last kill.

Considering his dedication to the organization, not to mention his excellent on-ice numbers, using Brendan Gallagher vs. the Buffalo Sabers could be the kind of small advantage that could swing a series in Montreal’s favor.

All Montreal Canadiens and Brendan Gallagher statistics via Natural Stat Trick.

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

The Montreal Canadiens host the Buffalo Sabers on Tuesday night, looking to leave the Bell Center with a 3-1 series lead.

As expected, it was another tight battle, but the Habs only scored on one of the seven power plays given to them, giving the Sabers a 3–2 victory.

Let’s look at the highlights!

Ode to Newfoundland

The Sabers opened the scoring during another poor start from the Habs. Despite the many improvements the Canadiens have made since the start of the rebuild, they have still not been able to win in the first 10 minutes of every game.

The Sabers appeared to have taken a 2–0 lead, but a smart challenge from Martin Saint-Louis was successful, restoring the one-goal lead.

The challenge led to an immediate and noticeable increase in effort from the Canadiens, culminating in a goal from usual suspect Alex Newhook.

It was his sixth goal in the playoffs, and his fifth in only three games.

Newhook is the stick that is sparking Montreal’s offense, there is no doubt about that.

Another goal for Newhook!

#GoHabsGo The forward tied the game after a great pass from Jake Evans. pic.twitter.com/jYHncH9QWG

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 12 May 2026

defend at all costs

Given that the Sabers decided to run rookie netminder Jacob Dobbs at full speed in Game 4, the Habs took no chances in Game 5, fiercely defending their most valuable player whenever traffic began to pick up.

The Habs are doing a good job guarding Dobbs, especially since the Sabers ran him at full speed in the last game.

Don’t take any risks with your current MVP. Protect him at all costs. #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/aR3xZPvTzp

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 13 May 2026

star effect

After what can only be described as a soft call on Tage Thompson, Canadiens sniper Cole Caufield found the back of the net for the second consecutive game.

It was a powerplay goal, meaning he has yet to score at 5v5, but you can’t look like a gift horse, especially in the playoffs.

Caufield is heating up, and that’s nothing but great news for the Habs.

Cole Coffield makes it 2-1 #GoHabsGo Before the end of the first period!

A smart little deck opened the 5th hole. pic.twitter.com/RYTP1FUk0K

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 13 May 2026

can’t win them all

All things considered, the Habs actually had good luck in the playoffs, but it was the Sabers who benefited from a very fortuitous surge in Game 4.

Tage Thompson’s shot bounced off the seam of the boards, hit Dobbs’ back and landed behind him, tying the game at 2 in the second period.

A random bounce leads to a Sabers powerplay goal.

Thompson’s luckiest goal ever.

2-2. pic.twitter.com/NfejYQgTSo

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 13 May 2026

Penny Drops

Montreal deserves credit for using its speed wisely, but there is clearly something wrong when it comes to the Sabers in the second round.

They’re showing the type of discipline we’ve come to expect from the Canadiens, constantly taking penalties that are not only glaring, but completely pointless.

Fortunately for the Sabres, Montreal mostly failed to take advantage of the many power plays they were given.

While the Canadiens struggled to make the most of their power plays, the Sabers took a 3–2 lead via a goal by Zach Benson on the man advantage.

It was Buffalo’s second power play goal of the game, and a good reminder that special teams go a long way in ensuring playoff success.

Zach Benson gives Sabers lead in third period pic.twitter.com/8TDXytDUJe

– TVA Sports (@TVASports) 13 May 2026

To Dobbs’ credit, he played very well, despite the fact that the Habs swept the Sabres.

At 5v5, Buffalo had an 8-3 edge in high-danger chances in the first two periods. Montreal eventually generated a good amount of scoring opportunities of their own, but it was a matter of score impact, and the Sabers attempted to park the bus for much of the half period.

It was all in vain, as the Sabers managed to hold on to their fragile lead long enough to emerge with a 3–2 victory.

Jacob Dobbs, ladies and gentlemen! pic.twitter.com/wAnyaXHPg4

– TVA Sports (@TVASports) 13 May 2026

The Montreal Canadiens will be back in action on Thursday facing the Sabers in Buffalo. Puck drop is scheduled for 7pm ET.

All Montreal Canadiens stats are 5v5, via Natural Stat Trick, unless otherwise noted.

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

The NHL has announced two fines following Game 3 of the second-round series between the Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres.

The first was Sabers forward Beck Malensteen, who ran down Habs goaltender Jacob Dobbs in the second period. Malenstein never attempted to stop, hitting Dobbs at full speed in what looked like a clear attempt to injure the rookie netminder.

Malensteen was fined $3,515.63, the maximum allowable under the collective bargaining agreement.

Beck Malensteen ran him at full speed in an attempt to injure Jacob Dobbs.

No attempt to stop.
He got a 2-minute penalty. pic.twitter.com/OOXGECxjl0

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 11 May 2026

Game 3 saw a significant increase in goalie-related moves, with the Sabers attempting to disrupt Dobbs as often as possible.

The good news for the Canadiens is that Dobbs remained in the game, and was in good enough mood to chat up the Sabers bench after Juraj Slafkowski took advantage of the ensuing power play.

laugh out loud

Dobbs takes a little skate to thank the Buffalo bench after Slafkowski powerplay goal.

Classic. #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/fjOyWZMyWn

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 11 May 2026

Xhekaj fined

The second penalty was awarded to Habs defenseman Arbor Zekaj, who decided it was a good idea to throw a pair of gloved punches at the end of the game, and felled Sabers forward Sam Carrick at the final whistle.

It was an ugly play, and although some may justify the action by pointing to several poor plays made by the Sabers early in the game, there really is no place for that in a hockey game.

Czekaj has been particularly efficient in the playoffs, producing excellent numbers on the third pairing, meaning the Canadiens are lucky not to have to lose him due to suspension, but they must be careful not to let emotions boil over moving forward. He performs at his best when he walks the line, not when he goes past it.

Arbor Zekaj has been fined $3,385.42 for abusing Sam Carrick. pic.twitter.com/JPNvfzw3IQ

– Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) 11 May 2026

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

The Montreal Canadiens host the Buffalo Sabers on Sunday night, attempting to establish a 2-1 series lead at the Bell Centre.

It was another impressive game from the Habs, resulting in a 6-2 win, a win that could change the entire makeup of a playoff series.

Let’s look at the highlights!

Newfoundland Power

As we discussed in the game preview, Montreal’s depth players are doing wonders to make up for the lack of attack from the first line, and one of the most important Canadiens in that regard is none other than Alex Newhook.

The speedy winger scored his fourth goal of the playoffs to tie the game at the end of the first period. It was also an important goal as the Habs were the better team in the first period, but were at risk entering the first intermission with a goal deficit.

Newhook gets the bell center bumpin 🚨

Sabres-Canadiens all set deal on ESPN and the ESPN app 👀 pic.twitter.com/0jHSHEaOqo

– ESPN (@espn) 10 May 2026

star power

Another topic we discussed in the preview was the possibility that Juraj Slafkowski or Cole Caufield would find their offensive rhythm, making the Habs a team that no longer relies solely on first-line or depth players, but on both.

They are a dangerous team, especially in the playoffs.

On that note, Caufield scored his second springtime goal after a tremendous deke by phenom Lane Hutson, giving the Canadiens a nice 2-1 lead.

Cole Coffield scored after a great layup by Lane Hutson. #GoHabsGo Up 2-1. pic.twitter.com/0V4tKkOsd3

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 11 May 2026

You could argue that the Canadiens were robbed of a third goal when Philippe Danault was accused of interference on Lyon without any evidence.

The puck definitely went into the net. pic.twitter.com/DTzfp8Zodf

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 11 May 2026

back to depth

Rather than rest on their accomplishments, the Habs continued to press the game, resulting in a 3–1 lead when Joe Veleno beat his opponent to set up Zachary Bolduc for his second goal of the playoffs.

Once again, depth players made significant contributions, which is a recurring theme for the Canadiens.

Joe Veleno -> Zac Bolduc.

3-1 #GoHabsGo. They dominate this game. pic.twitter.com/TXqdm5IiSh

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 11 May 2026

Dobe’s Revenge

At this point in the game, the Sabers decided to increase foul play, culminating with the apparent intent to injure netminder Jacob Dobbs.

Beck Malensteen skated into Dobbs without attempting to make a break, however, the Canadiens goaltender simply shook off, and managed to stay in the game.

Beck Malensteen ran him at full speed in an attempt to injure Jacob Dobbs.

No attempt to stop.
He got a 2-minute penalty. pic.twitter.com/OOXGECxjl0

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 11 May 2026

The Canadiens only got a two-minute power play due to a dirtbag play, but that was long enough for Slafkowski to tip in a Hutson point shot, giving the home team a 4–1 lead.

You’ll notice that Dobbs made sure to thank the Sabers for the opportunity to score on the man advantage.

laugh out loud

Dobbs takes a little skate to thank the Buffalo bench after Slafkowski powerplay goal.

Classic. #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/fjOyWZMyWn

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 11 May 2026

icing on the cake

To put a nice mark on the entire team effort, Dach restored Montreal’s three-goal lead midway through the third period.

At a glance, it might not have seemed like a very important goal, but it came after a push by Buffalo that resulted in some high-danger chances. Dobbs was up to the task, but it couldn’t be denied that the pressure from the road team was mounting.

Jacob Dobbs made some key saves and then Kirby Dach took the lead with his fourth playoff score. #GoHabsGo 5-2 lead. pic.twitter.com/T1Mt7LrGU2

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 11 May 2026

perfection

The Sabers got their goal with about five minutes remaining in the third period, which was a logical choice given the 5–2 scoreline.

However, Newhook managed to foul out Rasmus Dahlin shortly after, securing another two-goal game for the Newfoundlander. As an added bonus, his mother was in the crowd to watch her son steal the show at the Bell Center.

Alex Newhook’s mom was in the crowd to watch her son score two goals in a row #GoHabsGo.

Bonus: Dobbs’ premature celebration at the end, haha pic.twitter.com/t5rI5p0QQj

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 11 May 2026

The Montreal Canadiens will be back in action on Tuesday facing the Sabers at the Bell Center for Game 4. Puck drop is scheduled for 7pm ET.

All Montreal Canadiens stats are 5v5, via Natural Stat Trick, unless otherwise noted.

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

It cannot be denied that the Montreal Canadiens would have been in a better position if they had won the first game of their second-round series against the Buffalo Sabres.

With that in mind, the 4–2 scoreline in Game 1 was a bit favorable for the Sabres, who scored four goals on their first nine shots. Given how much good luck the Canadiens have enjoyed in the shooting department, we can’t dismiss Buffalo’s small but efficient offense.

Still, there were some positives to look for as the Habs prepared for Game 2.

montreal canadiens positive

The Habs actually managed to beat the Sabres, and by a fairly wide margin. Montreal held an 18-11 edge in shots on net at 5v5, not to mention a 28-16 lead in all situations.

There are some mitigating factors to consider in this situation, including the fact that Montreal blocked a lot more shots than the Sabres, leading to a huge difference in shots on net. And the Sabers actually produced more high-danger shots than the Canadiens (12-11, all situations).

It’s also worth considering that the Habs were trailing the Sabers for the majority of the game, and thus, the score effect came into play.

And yet, the fact that Montreal managed to beat an opponent as talented as the Sabers is a very encouraging sign for a team that rarely beats anyone in the NHL.

Keep in mind, the Canadiens were only 23rd in shot share at 5v5 during the regular season, while the Sabers finished 16th.

The increase in shot volume from the Habs was not only encouraging, but it was a necessary step forward for a team that relies on quality rather than quantity when attempting to score.

Lane Hutson led all Canadians with four shots, although he was tied with forwards Alex Newhook and Juraj Slafkowski. Nick Suzuki and Ivan Demidov each had three shots apiece, while Cole Caufield, Jake Evans and Noah Dobson had two each.

In other words, most of Montreal’s best players were able to make above average shots in the series against the Lightning.

something’s Gotta Give

As for Montreal’s best players, Suzuki, Slafkowski and Caufield once again failed to score at 5v5, although the Captain did manage to find the back of the net on the power play.

Through eight playoff games, only Suzuki has managed to score at 5v5, which is a red flag when discussing a team that relies on its first line to drive offensive attack.

And yet, Wednesday’s game was arguably the first line’s best performance at 5v5 since the start of the playoffs.

They put more pucks towards the net than their opponents (9-7), and they were able to generate a respectable amount of movement through the neutral zone, which led to more scoring opportunities from the rush.

This should benefit Caufield, especially for a player who has struggled to find the net after having a career-best season with 51 goals.

Game 1 was far from a masterclass, but it featured a significant increase in shooting opportunities for Caufield and company. This is due in part to the Sabres’ style of play. They’re suffocating, but they’re also hell-bent on creating awkward rushes, which leads to a little more open ice than what we saw in the series vs. the Tampa Bay Lightning.

If the trend continues, expect Caufield to begin finding the back of the net with more regularity than he did with the Sabres.

Moreover, given the success of the first line in the regular season, there is no way left but to go to the playoffs.

canadians can be better

Without trying to make any excuses for the Game 1 loss, it’s fair to point out that the Sabers were rested and waited out the Canadiens for several days, while the Habs were coming off a hellish series against the Lightning that included an unreasonable amount of extracurricular activities.

As a result, the Canadiens approached the first period of Game 1 with the same intensity of a wild animal trapped in a gate for several days before finally being rescued.

With a little better preparation, not to mention some rest, the Habs should be able to avoid another multi-goal loss.

All Montreal Canadiens statistics are via Natural Stat Trick.

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

The Montreal Canadiens faced off against the Buffalo Sabers on Wednesday night, with both teams attempting to pick up a statement win in the first game of their second-round series.

Before puck drop, a pair of lineup changes were confirmed by head coach Martin Saint-Louis. Joe Velano was used in his first playoff game, centering the fourth line between Zachary Bolduc and Kirby Dach, while Arbor Zekaj was paired with Noah Dobson on the third pairing.

The Habs managed to outpoint the Sabres, but it was not enough to ensure the victory, as Buffalo emerged with a 4–2 victory.

Let’s look at the highlights!

saber strike

As is often the case in hockey, a strong play at one end of the ice can lead to an immediate goal at the other end. After a play in which Lane Hutson hit the crossbar, he proceeded to cough up the puck at Montreal’s blue line, creating a 3v1 for the Sabres.

Noah Dobson attempted to slide to break up the pass, but failed to make an impact, resulting in Josh Doan’s second goal of the playoffs and a 1–0 Sabers lead.

Benson got don 🦬🦬🦬 pic.twitter.com/Bq5iCJwkIX

– Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) 6 May 2026

final reaction

The Sabers would take a two-goal lead before the Canadiens could respond, although it must be said that the teams were fairly evenly matched at 5v5. More than anything, the powerplay dictated the pace.

Speaking of which, the Habs needed a power play before finding the back of the net. They also needed a precise pass from Juraj Slafkowski and a smart finish from captain Nick Suzuki to cut the Sabers’ lead to 2–1.

A perfect pass from Juraj Slafkowski set up Nick Suzuki’s second goal of the playoffs.

2-1 #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/yR0Hha4Gi1

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 6 May 2026

first banana

It must be said that Jacob Dobbs was Montreal’s Most Valuable Player in the first round, but he did not enjoy his best game of the playoffs on Wednesday night.

He wasn’t terrible by any means, but for the first time since the regular season ended we saw a version of Dobbs that lacked confidence, let alone poise.

The Sabers scored four times on nine shots, although two of those goals came on the power play. To Dobbs’ credit, most of the shots were good scoring opportunities, and the defensemen playing in front of him were generous with gifts.

Jordan Greenway scored early in the second period to give the Sabers a 3–1 lead. pic.twitter.com/aWIbM7YoqD

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 7 May 2026

tertiary scoring

With the Sabers leading 4-1, fourth-line forward Kirby Dach picked the perfect time to inject some energy into the mix through a great individual effort and a beautiful goal.

The second chance marker, which involved typical hand-eye coordination, cut the lead to 4-2, but more importantly, brought the Habs back into the game at a time when they were in danger of quietly disappearing. Instead, they had more than 20 minutes to ensure that they provided an honest effort to open the series.

To Montreal’s credit, they applied pressure, and spent much of the third period on Buffalo’s end, but it was all in vain, as the Sabers held on long enough to defeat the Canadiens 4–2.

Very good! What a goal from Kirby Dach! #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/S70CqWC9Fn

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 7 May 2026

The Montreal Canadiens will be back in action on Friday facing the Sabers in Buffalo. Puck drop is scheduled for 7pm ET.

All Montreal Canadiens stats are 5v5, via Natural Stat Trick, unless otherwise noted.

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

The good news keeps coming for the Montreal Canadiens. Habs rookie Ivan Demidov has been named a finalist for the Calder Trophy, awarded annually to the best first-year player in the league, after winning a tightly contested series against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the NHL playoffs.

The 29-year-old Demidov finished the year as the highest-scoring rookie in the NHL with 19 goals and 43 assists in 82 games. He will be matched up against Matthew Schaefer (New York Islanders) and Beckett Seneca (Anaheim Ducks), two very solid rookies in their own right.

This is the second consecutive season a Canadian player has been a finalist for the coveted trophy, with phenom Lane Hutson taking it home after a tremendous campaign in 2024-25 in which he scored 66 points on Montreal’s blue line.

This is the second consecutive season in which Demidov will be in contention for the Rookie of the Year award in any professional hockey league. He was awarded the KHL Alexei Cherepanov Trophy, the Russian equivalent of the Calder Trophy, in the KHL last year.

Montreal Canadiens Brass Tacks

Schaefer is considered the favorite to take home the trophy because he is an 18-year-old defenseman who somehow scored 23 goals, which is a ridiculous feat. He played a big role for the Islanders and was even considered for a role with Team Canada at the Olympics.

As for Seneca, he also enjoyed a 23-goal campaign while playing a second-line role for the rising Anaheim Ducks. The 20-year-old winger finished fourth in Ducks scoring with 60 points.

Demidov was the most productive player of the first year, but according to many analysts this would not be enough to capture the trophy. Regardless, the fact that he was one of four rookies in the Canadiens’ lineup this season shows the team’s dedication to a rebuilding mantra, favoring youth enthusiasm over experience.

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

Here are the Montreal Canadiens news items, stories and content you may have missed on Monday.

montreal canadiens news

• The Canadiens opted to send defenseman Adam Engstrom to the Laval Rocket (AHL). Laval is in the midst of its own playoff push, currently trailing 2-1 in its series against the Toronto Marlies. They will be in a better position now that their best defenseman of the regular season is back. This also means that Noah Dobson is no longer in danger of missing any games due to an upper body injury.

The Canadiens have traded defenseman Adam Engstrom to the Laval Rocket.

The Canadiens have loaned defenseman Adam Engstrom to the Laval Rocket. pic.twitter.com/2EV19iKgL3

– X – Canadiens Montreal (@CanadiensMTL) 4 May 2026

• We asked Canadiens fans who they thought was the team’s most valuable player in the first round, and the results definitely won’t surprise you. The name of Jacob Dobbs came up early and often. That being said, there were several other Habs players who deserved praise for their performance against the Tampa Bay Lightning. [Canadiens MVPs From The First Round Of NHL Playoffs]

• Head coach Martin Saint-Louis was clearly excited after the series win against the Lightning. Apparently he’s also a big fan of The Wolf of Wall Street.

“we are not going!”

Martin St. Louis in the Montreal locker room after Game 7 pic.twitter.com/zgbMhRbzdQ

– Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) 4 May 2026

• Phenom Len “Wayne” Hutson received high praise from the National Hockey League Players Association.

Wayne Hutson has joined the chat.

@CanadiensMTL The blueliner set a franchise record, scored GWG in OT, led his teammates in ice time and did much more as the NHLPA Playoff Performer of the Series. #Stanley Cup pic.twitter.com/v5LDNIHXvX

– NHLPA (@NHLPA) 4 May 2026

• There’s no doubt that Nick Suzuki (and the rest of the first line) could have performed better at 5v5 in the first round, but all things considered, he still had a good series, as evidenced by the fact that he led the team in scoring along with Hutson (6 points).

Habs captain Nick Suzuki in Game 7 win:

• 1 goal
• 3 shots (33.33% of Habs shots)
• 3 hits
• 3 blocks
• 22:48 minutes pic.twitter.com/8MFZLfEPqO

– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) 4 May 2026

• Head coach Martin Saint-Louis opined on Suzuki’s results, suggesting that his captain improved as the series progressed.

Habs coach Marty St. Louis on captain Nick Suzuki yesterday:

“I just felt like as the series went on, he got better. Players like him, they just adapt and evolve…Defensively, I felt like he competed very hard. Very courageous, stepping up to big shots. I think he… pic.twitter.com/vxzMxRPDGE

– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) 4 May 2026

• Dobbs is one of the most competitive athletes you will ever meet. Surprising or not, he takes every game quite seriously.

Jacob Dobbes speaks to the panel after his amazing Game 7 performance 👏🔥

“I feel like every game I played this year was like a Game 7… I was playing for my life” 😤

Also got a shaving cream pie after 🤔 pic.twitter.com/5TML7tKV3r

– NHLonTNT (@NHL_On_TNT) 4 May 2026

Sportsknot Network

• The 2026 NHL Draft Lottery could completely reshape the future of the league, with multiple teams competing for the No. 1 overall pick. While some franchises enter as clear favorites, history shows that the lottery often springs surprises. [NHL]

• The New Jersey Devils’ decision to trade Sunny Mehta out from under the Toronto Maple Leafs is looking like pure highway robbery, as the Leafs selected John Chayka as their new general manager on Monday. [New Jersey Devils]

• The Carolina Hurricanes are no strangers to the heated competition of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, nor are they unfamiliar with the vice grip-like pressure of their opponents’ passionate fan bases. However, Saturday was a step into uncharted territory with an in-depth statement from an unexpected source.[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

Now that the Montreal Canadiens have ousted the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the 2026 NHL playoffs, it’s time to take a look at some of the top performers from the series.

jacob dobbs reign supreme

Of course, by asking Habs fans to name their most valuable players of the first round, we were really asking them for submissions to establish the team’s second-most important player.

who was your #GoHabsGo First-round MVP, Canadiens fans? pic.twitter.com/qXE1Gw08vQ

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 4 May 2026

Simply put, Jacob Dobbs was clearly the team’s MVP, as evidenced by the fact that he stopped 181 of 196 shots sent his way, good for a .923 save percentage, well above his regular-season save percentage of .901. It’s also worth noting that he faced 80 high-danger scoring chances, which is a testament to his ability to make a big save when the Canadiens needed it most.

Dobbs may have less experience than most NHL goaltenders, but he gave the Canadiens the confidence they needed to contend for long periods in which the Lightning dominated, which equates to a veteran presence in net.

so far, so good #GoHabsGo Netminder Jacob Dobbes. pic.twitter.com/GCfv2QoExN

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 3 May 2026

Montreal Canadiens Best of the Rest

With six points in seven games, not only did Lane Hutson co-lead the Canadiens in scoring with Nick Suzuki, but he also reminded us that he’s not done setting the tone for his NHL career yet.

We already knew he was a dominant presence in the regular season, but it quickly became clear that he had even more to offer in the playoffs.

When it comes to Montreal’s battle fleet, Hutson is a rising tide that lifts all ships.

Everyone will say Dobbs but I’m picking Hutson. He’s a rock star on defense, he changes games if you look at his minutes.

– Turniptruck 🍁 (@Turnipforthewin) 4 May 2026

Given that the Habs lacked much of a sustained attack at 5v5 from their first line, they relied on a range of players to complement their offensive contributions.

You would be hard-pressed to find a particular depth forward who excelled, as there were several excellent options, including power forward Josh Anderson. He scored the first two goals of the series at 5v5, and his physical play set the tone against an incredibly attractive Lightning lineup.

3 stars
⭐️bed
⭐️⭐️hatson
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Anderson
HM: Texier, Danault, Zekaj

– Bianca OJ (@OdigeBianca) 4 May 2026

Habs fans were also quite pointed to the excellent play of the third line, who was actually used as a second line or possibly fourth line at various times in the series. Regardless, the play of Alexandre Texier, Kirby Dach and Zachary Bolduc was key to overcoming the lack of attack from the first line.

As far as defensemen not named Hutson go, Canadiens fans raved about Arbor Zekaj, and although he did not dress for Game 7, it’s fair to say he performed very well in his limited usage against Tampa Bay.

With Szekaj on the ice, the Habs controlled 57% of the shots at 5v5, a significant feat when we remember the Canadiens were ahead by a large margin (316-260). Full marks to Jaden Struble, who served as Zekaj’s defensive partner for much of the series, as he also produced elite numbers on the third pairing.

There was one member of the organization who did not score a single goal, or provide an assist. He could not manage to score even a single hit.

Tsk, tsk, tsk.

And yet, Habs fans wanted to make sure head coach Martin Saint-Louis received recognition for the first-round win.

Martin St. Louis Dobbs is second

– Howard Warner (@HowardBWarner) 4 May 2026

You could argue that he coached John Cooper, one of the most respected coaches in the NHL, but more importantly, he used timeouts wisely, managed his lineups well, and wasn’t afraid to make significant changes when the team faced adversity.

In many ways, the series victory was St. Louis’ coming-out party.

He’s no longer a coach learning the ropes in the NHL. He sets out to write the next chapter of Montreal’s glorious history.

Unless otherwise noted, all Montreal Canadiens statistics are all positions. Through the natural state trick.

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

The Tampa Bay Lightning did everything but beat the Montreal Canadiens in Game 7 of their Eastern Conference First Round series on Sunday night. Unfortunately for the packed house of 19,092, it was the score that mattered – and the Canadiens got a shaky goal by Alex Newhook with 8:53 remaining in the third period, earning a 2–1 victory and a second-round series against the Buffalo Sabres.

Newhook broke a 1-1 tie when he caromed Lane Huston’s shot off the end board to the right of Andrei Vasilevskiy. The puck was knocked out of the air while still behind the net and went over the Lightning goaltender’s back and into the net. This was his first goal in the series.

It was one of only nine shots on goal by the Canadiens in the game, which were outscored and outplayed. They went nearly 27 minutes without a shot on goal, including a shotless second period. Montreal became the first team since shots on goal became an official statistic in 1959–60 to win a playoff game without reaching double figures.

“They had two, we had one,” defenseman Ryan McDonagh said. “It’s hard to put into words how it ended.”

Montreal’s rookie goaltender Jacob Dobbs maintained the lead with some great stops after Newhook’s goal. He made 28 saves to earn First Star of the Game honors. Dobbs made excellent stops on shots from Oliver Bjorkstrand and Jake Guentzel shortly after Newhook’s goal. He also fell on a low rocket from James with less than five minutes remaining.

The Lightning lost their fourth consecutive first-round series. Their last win came in the 2022 Eastern Conference Finals, when they defeated the New York Rangers in six games. The Canadiens won a series for the first time since defeating the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2021 semi-finals. They lost to Tampa Bay in the finals.

All seven games were decided by one goal and four went to extra time.

“That’s all you can ask of your team, whether it’s an Olympic tournament or a best-of-7 playoff, you get better as you go along,” Lightning coach John Cooper said. And I thought as we progressed, we got better. I thought we played our best game of the series tonight.

Lightning season ends with Game 7 loss to Canadiens

The Lightning outshot the Canadiens 9–4 in the opening period and controlled the game for most of the first 20 minutes. Dobbs made his best save with less than five minutes remaining when he stopped Gage Goncalves on a backhander from the front after the Game 6 hero slipped through the defense.

But it was the Canadiens who got on the board first, thanks to a lucky bounce.

Defenseman Caden Guhle had little to do from the left point, which Suzuki deflected into the slot. It was headed wide but bounced off Lightning defense JJ Moser and past the defenseless Vasilevskiy at 18:39. His first goal in the series gave Montreal a 1–0 lead.

The second period belonged entirely to Tampa Bay. The Lightning defeated the Canadiens 12–0, as Montreal failed to register a shot on goal in the playoff period for the first time in franchise history. Tampa Bay spent most of the period in Montreal territory and the game was eventually tied 1–1 at 13:27.

Neither team scored in the first power play. But the Lightning took advantage of their second opportunity after Guhle was called for holding Jake Guentzel at 12:33. Coach John Cooper went with his second power-play unit and was rewarded when Goncalves set up Charles-Ehouard D’Estes for a slapper from just inside the blue line.

James got his stick on the shot and deflected it past Dobbs, who had no chance.

Montreal got its second power play at 15:22 when the Lightning were called for having too many men, but the Canadiens again failed to generate much pressure. Neither team was credited with a shot on goal in the final six minutes. For the fifth time in seven matches the score remained equal even after 40 minutes.

Dobbs evened the score with a big stop on Goncalves from the slot 5:10 into the third period.

Vasilevskiy finally had to make a save at 5:34 of the third period when he blocked Suzuki’s long snap shot. The Canadiens began to generate more pressure, with the Lightning blocking four shots in a 12-second span near the midpoint of the period.

According to Natural Stat Trick, Newhook’s goal stunned the crowd and the Bolts could not find an answer this time despite a 7–3 advantage in high-danger chances and a 32–12 dominance of all scoring opportunities in the game.

“Sometimes you win the game, not the score,” Cooper said. “But this is Game 7. There’s no moral victory in this.”

Key takeaways after Lightning season ends with 2-1 loss to Canadiens

Chasing but not catching Montreal

The loss of power was not due to lack of effort. But they spent the entire series chasing the Canadiens.

Montreal scored the first goal Sunday, marking the fifth time in seven games the Canadiens got the opening goal; One of the first two chances the Lightning scored was in their 1–0 overtime win in Game 6. Montreal won Games 1, 3, and 5, meaning they never took a lead in a game while trailing in the series.

The Lightning lost three of four home games, one of which they defeated Montreal 29–9.

“You have about 30 shots and you miss nine,” center Brandon Hagel said. “I don’t know if that’s ever been done before in a Game 7 — win the game on nine shots. But that’s not the point. I mean, you lose three home games, it’s going to be tough to win the series.”

The Canadiens defeated the Lightning 16–15 in the series and secured their net after Newhook’s series-winner.

“They got the lead and protected it,” Cooper said. “When they broke down, their goalkeeper was there.”

When the stars struggled the fourth line stepped forward

One reason the Canadiens won was that they shut down the Lightning’s big guns – Nikita Kucherov, Jake Guentzel, Brayden Point and Hagel – when it mattered most.

Kucherov had six points in the first four games but none in the last three. Hegel had only one assist in Games 5–6–7 after scoring six times in the first four. Guentzel’s goal in the second period of Game 5 was the last of his eight points in the series. Point, who was a three-time 40-goal scorer before finishing 18th this season, had only one point – a goal in Game 3.

The line of Goncalves, James and Bjorkstrand gave the Bolts a chance to win the series. James scored his first goal of the series in Game 5, had the primary assist on Goncalves’ OT winner in Game 6 and scored Tampa Bay’s only goal in Game 7. Goncalves assisted on both of James’ goals in addition to his series-extending goal on Friday.

What’s next for Lightning?

This is the most painful of Tampa Bay’s four consecutive first-round losses. The Lightning were largely outplayed in the first three, losing to the Toronto Maple Leafs in six games in 2023 and to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers in five games in 2024 and 2025.

Tampa Bay is not expected to make too many changes to a team that has been one of the NHL’s best teams for nearly a decade. Kucherov struggled in the final three games but still had 44 goals and 130 points (and plus-43) in 76 regular season games. Hegel has scored a career-high 36 goals and has at least 30 goals in three of the last four seasons. Vasilevskiy is a Vezina Trophy finalist and is likely to win the award given to the NHL’s best goaltender for the second time.

James and Goncalves showed they have the ability to play higher in the lineup. Moser has become an excellent defender.

One question is whether GM Julien Brisebois can find a way to retain Moser’s teammate Darren Radish, who made just $975,000 in a career year with 22 goals and 70 points. He’ll definitely get a lot of big dollar interest. According to Pukpedia, the Lightning have less than $14 million in cap room next season. How much they will be willing to spend on Radish will be a big question.

stat shots

It was the 105th Game 7 out of 202 in NHL history to be decided by one goal.

Montreal improved to 16–9 in Game 7. The Canadiens are 8–6 on the road, the most Game 7 wins away from home.

Cooper lost in Game 7, less than three months after coaching Team Canada, in a 2–1 overtime loss to Team USA in the gold medal game at the Winter Olympics. Their teams lost both games despite a combined 71–37 lead in shots on goal. “As soon as the last buzzer went off, I felt like, I’ve seen this movie before,” he said.

Vasilevskiy started his 120th consecutive playoff game. The last time the Lightning started a playoff game with a different goaltender was May 13, 2016, when Ben Bishop was injured in the first period of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Only three goaltenders in NHL history have started more consecutive playoff games than Vasilevskiy: Martin Brodeur (194), Patrick Roy (137), and Henrik Lundqvist (129).

Dobbs is the fifth rookie goaltender in Canadiens history to win a Game 7.

Tampa Bay’s loss means there will not be a Florida-based team in the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 2019. The Lightning (2020-2021-2022) and Panthers (2023-2024-2025) each won twice and lost once in the last six seasons.

Jon Krieger covered his first New York Rangers game (against the California Golden Seals) in November 1975 and it… More about Jon Krieger

It’s official, the Montreal Canadiens will be participating in more playoff hockey, having won their first round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The Canadiens were victorious in Game 7, winning 2–1 against the Bolts, and taking a 4–3 series victory in the process.

This can only be seen as a significant step forward for the organization, as they were clearly the underdogs heading into the series, and yet, they rarely allowed the Lightning to establish a single-goal lead.

They also took the lead in high-danger scoring chances for the majority of the series, which was the driving force behind their first-round win, along with some other factors including Jacob Dobbs’ goaltending and Montreal’s scoring depth.

Next playoff opponent

The Canadiens will face the Buffalo Sabers in the second round of the 2026 NHL playoffs, and given that they finished the regular season with 109 points, three more than the Habs, Buffalo will maintain home-ice advantage in the series.

Buffalo picked up its first-round win by defeating the Boston Bruins 4–1 on Friday, with Alex Tuch (4), Mattias Samuelsson (2), and Zach Benson (2) providing the offense for the Sabres, while David Pastrnak (3) was the only scorer for the Bruins.

The Habs have the wind in the air, but this could turn out to be a very tough series, as Buffalo is a bad matchup from a stylistic standpoint. Montreal and Buffalo split their four-game season series, but there were stretches in which the Sabers defeated the Canadiens by much larger margins.

Such is life in the NHL playoffs.

To be the best, you have to beat the best, and the Sabers are certainly one of the best teams in the NHL this year.

Canadiens Vs. Sabers second round schedule

• game 1 – Wednesday, May 6 at 7 pm KeyBank Center
• game 2 – Friday, May 8 at 7 pm KeyBank Center
• game 3 – Sunday, May 10 at 7 pm Bell Center
• game 4 – Tuesday, May 12, 7 pm Bell Center
• *game 5 – Thursday, May 14, TBD | KeyBank Center
• *game 6 – Saturday, May 16, TBD | Bell Center
• *game 7 – Monday, May 18, TBD | KeyBank Center

*if necessary.

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

The Montreal Canadiens are set to face the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 7 of their tightly contested first-round series, with each game decided by a single goal.

Indeed, five of the six games required overtime, suggesting that any advantage in Game 7 would go a long way in deciding the series winner.

Take a look at some of the keys to success as the Habs prepare to face the Bolts.

defensive sharpness

Prior to Game 6, the Habs had done a great job of limiting high-danger chances from the Lightning.

On average, the Bolts managed to generate less than five quality scoring chances per game at 5v5, while the Canadiens were closer to 7 per game.

However, fortunes completely reversed in Game 6.

The Lightning held a 22-7 advantage in quality scoring opportunities, essentially doubling their overall production in just one game. It was enough to erase Montreal’s significant advantage in that statistical department throughout the series (45-41, 52.3%).

If the Habs are to win Game 7, they will need to recapture the defensive excellence that led to success in the first five games of the series. Slowing down the Lightning in the neutral zone, which will slow them down from the rush, will also go a long way in limiting the odd man rush.

star effect

We’ve discussed the lack of first-line offense at 5v5 several times throughout the series, but at this point, regardless of the situation, the team just needs to show them off.

Whether it’s the power play, penalty kill, overtime, or any other possible scenario, the Montreal Canadiens will need Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, and Juraj Slafkowski to lead the offensive attack.

To return to his effective ways, he must find a way to increase his shot production, an issue that has plagued him against the Lightning.

hold the line

There are many advantages to being the youngest team in the league, and the Canadiens perform at their best when their backs are against the wall, but their lack of experience in Game 7 could be seen as a red flag.

Making it to the second round of the NHL playoffs is hard enough, taking a certain level of focus that is usually easier to find among the veterans.

On the other side of the coin, their youthful enthusiasm may be enough to ease nerves and allow them to focus on the task at hand, of course, with a little help from their friends.

#hubs Brendan Gallagher has his advice for players who will be playing their first GM7 today: “Nerves are normal, being over-excited is normal, you just have to believe in yourself and trust your teammates… show up, do your job and we feel we have what it takes to get the job done.”

– Priyantha Amrith (@HabsInHighHeels) 3 May 2026

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

The Tampa Bay Lightning forced their Eastern Conference First Round series into a seventh game with a 1-0 overtime win over the Montreal Canadiens in Game 6 at the Bell Center on Friday night.

The Atlantic Division rivals were held scoreless through more than 69 minutes of action before Gage Goncalves hit a loose puck past Jacob Dobbs for the game’s only goal. Brandon Hagel crossed a checker at the right point and fed Dominic James in the bottom right circle. James threw the puck on net, where Goncalves got a shot at it.

Dobbs got a slice of the shot, but Goncalves got to the loose puck and put it into the net at 9:03 for the win.

The goals came after each goaltender made game-saving stops in OT. Seconds after Lightning star Nikita Kucherov was called for tripping 5:30 into overtime, Tampa Bay’s Andrei Vasilevskiy blocked Game 1 hero Juraj Slafkovsky’s one-timer from the right circle. The Lightning killed off the remaining penalties, and Kucherov almost won it by coming out of the box, getting the puck in the Montreal zone and forcing Dobbs to make a spectacular stop to keep the game scoreless.

Vasilevskiy, who allowed a soft goal in Montreal’s 3–2 win in Game 5 that proved to be the winner, bounced back with a flawless, 30-save effort. Dobbs finished with 32 saves as the teams played their fourth overtime game and sixth one-goal game in the series that has become a classic.

The series returns to Benchmark International Arena in Tampa for Game 7 on Sunday. But playing at home may not be to Bolt’s advantage; The home team has lost four out of six matches in this series.

To say that the scoreless first period was played at a fast pace would be an understatement. With the Lightning in “win or go home” mode and the Canadiens eager to end the series in front of their home fans, both teams were excited. The Canadiens had 26 hits in the opening 20 minutes; The Lightning, not known as a physical team, had 15.

Cole Caufield, Montreal’s 51-goal scorer during the regular season, almost opened the scoring less than three minutes into the game; He beat Vasilevskiy but hit the post. That happened when Tampa Bay’s Yanni Gourde picked up a foul play from Dobbs and took a shot to the back of the net, but couldn’t connect on the wraparound, causing the puck to slip through the crease.

Vasilevskiy faced tougher chances as the period progressed, robbing Jake Evans from close range twice and denying Ivan Demidov from the right circle on a 2-on-1.

The Canadiens got their first power play of the game when Jake Guentzel was called for an unnecessary high-sticking penalty with 11 seconds remaining, but nothing was generated.

The pace was a little less frenetic in the second period, but the result was the same – no goals. This was largely due to some late heroics from Vasilevskiy, who lived up to his status as a Vezina Trophy finalist – especially after Charles-Edouard was called for slashing at 16:54. He denied Caufield again from 20 feet, then robbed Demidov from the right circle after a perfect setup and denied him again on the rebound.

The Canadiens continued to control the game after the power play ended and Vasilevskiy kept the game scoreless for 40 minutes on a last-second effort by Philippe Denault.

Montreal controlled the first five minutes of the third period, but the game changed after Montreal defenseman Caden Guhle was called for slashing Guentzel at 5:11 to break up a solo scoring chance. Tampa Bay did not score but applied a lot of pressure and dominated the game for most of the rest of the period.

The Lightning got a late power-play opportunity when Demidov was called for goaltender interference with 3:17 left after fouling Vasilevsky.

Tampa Bay controlled the puck for almost the entire power play, but couldn’t get past Dobbs, who made big saves on Kucherov, Radish and the point, then denied Brandon Hagel’s tip-in attempt shortly after the penalty ended.

Tampa Bay finished regulation with a 28–27 edge in shots on goal and an 81–58 differential in attempts.

Key takeaways after the Lightning survive by defeating the Canadiens 1-0 in Game 6

Vasilevsky stepped forward

The Lightning were swept in Game 5, but were even at 2–2 before Vasilevskiy was defeated by a blocked shot 99 out of 100. He more than atoned for it in Game 6, earning the 70th playoff win and eighth shutout of his career.

The “Big Cat” was everywhere, leaving Montreal shooters (and team executives) shaking their heads.

“He was excellent tonight,” D’Astas told Scripps Sports. “Because of them we’re going back to Tampa. It was fun to see.”

Hegel said having Vasilevskiy in goal allows him and his teammates to play with more freedom.

“You can go out and play your game and not have to worry about what’s behind you,” he said. “It seemed as if Vasi would never allow another goal.”

Goncalves an unlikely hero

On a team with stars like Kucherov, Vasilevskiy and Hegel, it’s easy to lose sight of players like Goncalves, who is a bottom-six forward and does a lot of attacking work. He was scoreless in the series before getting an assist in Game 5 and had not scored a goal since March 17.

But he missed the game-winner by tipping defenseman Caden Guhle and refused to leave the game after Dobbs blocked his first-time attempt.

“I talked to him before the game about what he needs to do in this game, be where he needs to be,” Cooper said. “It was only fair that such a goal was needed to win. It was a brilliant game by both teams.”

win or go home, take 2

The Lightning probably could have flown home even without the plane – such is the feeling of a season-saving overtime win. But as Cooper said, “We haven’t won anything yet.”

Both teams have had success in Game 7. The Lightning have won seven of 10, including four of five played at home. This is their first Game 7 since the first round in 2022, when they defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 2–1.

Montreal is 15-9 in Game 7s, including a 7-6 mark on the road. The Canadiens’ last Game 7 came when they defeated Toronto 3–1 in the second round in 2021. Ironically, Corey Perry scored the game-winning goal – the same Corey Perry who would be trying to help the Lightning end his former team’s season.

Hegel said, “These are the moments you live for.”

Jon Krieger covered his first New York Rangers game (against the California Golden Seals) in November 1975 and it… More about Jon Krieger

The Tampa Bay Lightning provided a stern test on Sunday night, coming back from two goals down to defeat the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 at the Bell Center and even their Eastern Conference First Round series at two-up.

Brandon Hagel’s second goal of the game with 4:53 remaining in regulation capped the comeback. Hagel was battling for position in front of Montreal goaltender Jacob Dobbs when Nikita Kucherov fired the puck on net from the right board near the top of the circle.

The shot hit him and hit the net, giving the Lightning their first lead of the night.

Hegel tied the game at 2-2 at 1:40 of the third period, winning inside position in front of the net and converting a cross-crease pass from Kucherov into a power-play goal.

Jake Guentzel’s goal in the final minute of the second period put Tampa Bay on the board, after which Montreal took a 2–0 lead on goals by Zachary Bolduc and Cole Caufield.

Andrei Vasilevskiy made 16 saves for his 69th career playoff win. Dobbs stopped 17 shots.

Teams get two days off before Game 5 at Benchmark International Arena on Wednesday night. The Lightning will try to win consecutive playoff games for the first time since the 2022 Eastern Conference Finals, when they lost the first two games to the New York Rangers before winning the next four.

The Lightning had an early chance to take the lead when Montreal was called for fouling just 2:04 after an early face-off. They controlled the puck in the offensive zone for most of the two minutes, but Dobbs blocked a rocket from Darren Raddish and Canadiens defenseman Caden Guhle got his stick on Braden Point’s open shot from the slot.

Montreal did not get a shot on goal until Caufield tested Vasilevskiy at 6:20. But after Bolt took consecutive penalties, the Canadiens got six shots in a span of 3:48 – Max Crozier was called for high-sticking at 7:22 and Yanni Gourde was called for cross-checking at 9:10. Vasilevskiy was up to the challenge, blocking a shot by Game 3 hero Lane Hutson and denying Game 1 hero Juraj Slafkowski on a rebound.

The final nine minutes of the period contained hit penalties by the Canadiens (who finished the period with a 23–10 lead), but few testing shots on either goaltender. Montreal finished the period with a 9–6 lead in shots on goal, but the Lightning held them to just three at 5-on-5 and none at all in the final 8:04 of the period.

The first half of the second period was much the same. Tampa Bay did nothing on the early power play after Josh Anderson was sent off for boarding 41 seconds into the period and neither team produced much offense.

But the game changed shortly after intermission when the Canadiens finally opened the scoring.

Bolduc took a pass at the Tampa Bay blue line and cut to the net, with Reddish trying to stop him. As Bolduc approached the net, Vasilevskiy made a poke-check, but it hit the Canadiens forward and bounced into the net at 10:06, giving Montreal a 1–0 lead.

Guentzel took a bad slashing penalty at 12:24 for hitting Dobbs after a save, and the Canadiens took advantage of it at 13:29 thanks to smart play from their top line. Nick Suzuki controlled the puck in the left corner and Caufield, a 51-goal scorer during the regular season, went to the front of the net before deflecting a perfect pass past the helpless Vasilevskiy for the 2-0 lead.

But the Lightning appeared to get a jolt of energy when Crozier, playing his first game of the series, leveled Slafkowski at center ice with a brutal but clean hit just before the 18-minute mark.

Guentzel then responded with a power-play goal to put the Lightning on the board with 54 seconds remaining. With the teams playing 4-on-4, he moved the puck around the net, passed it to JJ Moser at the right point, raced in front of the net and converted a sensational pass by Moser for his first goal of the season, cutting the deficit to 2–1.

The Lightning didn’t produce much on the power play in the first two periods, but they were nearly flawless after Oliver Kapanen was called for high-sticking 51 seconds into the third. Tampa Bay worked the puck around the offensive zone before a Kucherov-to-Hagel combination tied the game.

Kucherov’s play on the winning goal surprised the Canadians. He caught a quick glimpse of Hegel heading to the front of the net and fired the puck on the goal, where he caught a piece of Hegel and headed it into the net for the win.

Key Takeaways After Lightning Even Series By Beating Canadiens 3-2

Hegel continues to score

Lightning has scored 11 goals in this series. Hegel has six of them, as his pair in the third period evened the best-of-7 series. Needless to say, Hegel leads all NHL players in postseason goals – no one else has more than four.

He also helped the Bolts make some history.

Hagel promoted the 10th multi-goal comeback playoff win in Lightning history, and their fourth on the road. It was his first appearance since defeating the New York Rangers 3–2 in Game 3 of the 2022 Eastern Finals. It was also the fourth consecutive comeback win in this series; Montreal and Tampa Bay are the first set of teams to combine to start a series with four consecutive wins since the St. Louis Blues and Winnipeg Jets played five such games in the 2019 Western Conference First Round.

Crozier’s hit might have changed the series

The Lightning looked like they were headed home in an attempt to avoid a fourth consecutive one-upmanship in the Stanley Cup playoffs when Caufield’s goal gave the Canadiens their first two-goal lead of the series. The Bell Center crowd was roaring, the Canadians were flying and Bolt looked a little surprised.

Then Crozier, who hadn’t played for the Lightning in the postseason since 2024, stepped up — literally.

The 26-year-old, who played 35 games for Tampa Bay this season, finishing with a goal and 10 points, caught Slafkowski near the red line as he received a pass and flattened him with a clean but devastating hit.

The Canadian barked at Crozier but did not attempt to retaliate for the attack, which caused a fire under the lightning. The jolt of energy was palpable, and became more intense after Guentzel’s goal made the score 2–1 less than 90 seconds later.

“He makes a big play and comes back to the bench,” defenseman Ryan McDonagh said on the Scripps Sports postgame show.

the resident comes again

The Lightning trust Vasilevskiy to deliver when it matters most. he did the same in game 4

The “Big Cat” did not face many shots – Montreal attempted 48 but managed only 18. Following the Lightning playoff loss he improved to 16–0 with 16 saves in his last 16 games.

His biggest stop may have been the one he made on Ivan Demidov over the middle, though Montreal’s star rookie found a dead spot in defensive coverage and was alone in the slot.

This was a game the Lightning had to win – and Vasilevskiy made sure they did.

Jon Krieger covered his first New York Rangers game (against the California Golden Seals) in November 1975 and it… More about Jon Krieger

As the Montreal Canadiens prepare to face the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 4 of their first-round series, it’s hard not to question the NHL’s decision making when drafting the playoff schedule.

Before we go any further, it’s important to remember that leagues don’t revolve around hubs, and there are other factors to consider than just hockey. Arenas outside modern sporting settings have become money makers for their billionaire owners, with concerts providing the majority of the year’s profits. With this in mind, it is always difficult to create an ideal schedule, as there are an endless stream of variables to consider.

And yet, watching the Canadiens crowd entertain themselves after a thrilling Game 3 win, I couldn’t help but wonder how much better the atmosphere would have been on Saturday night.

Len Hutson’s Habs playoff OT winner tonight at Bell Center pic.twitter.com/VpeMujdhjQ

– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) 25 April 2026

On the surface, perhaps it shouldn’t matter. The Canadiens will have played two games over the weekend, Friday and Sunday, giving the Bell-Centre faithful plenty of opportunities to celebrate the youngest team in the league.

But if the NHL’s goal is to give the game more exposure to the ultimate fan experience, it would be well served by giving new fans a glimpse of the most exciting atmosphere in North America, and that event only happens on Saturday nights, in the playoffs, at the Bell Center.

Of course, this opinion is dripping in ego, as there are other arenas that offer a healthier environment, but there is a reason the Bell Center is ranked as the best rink in the league.

No other arena can match the intensity, and no other fans can maintain that level of intensity during a game of sixty minutes or more.

And given the intensity involved in each game featuring the Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning, the chances of having a blowout game on a national broadcast will be significantly reduced.

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

Here are the Montreal Canadiens news items, stories and content you may have missed on Saturday.

montreal canadiens news

Tampa Bay’s strategy of rushing players, harassing goaltenders and punching opponents in every scrimmage is backfiring spectacularly. In fact, in addition to the series lead, the Canadiens have actually had more hits than their opponents through three games. [Tampa Bay’s Strategy Is Backfiring In Series Versus Canadiens]

The discrepancy in high-danger shots in the series is hard to ignore. In fact, after three games, the Canadiens have accounted for 75% of high-danger scoring opportunities at 5v5, the highest mark of all teams in the NHL playoffs.

For fun, here are the HDCF% of the various teams in the playoffs after three games. It reflects the share of high-danger scoring chances a team generates.

#GoHabsGo Leading the league by a huge margin with 75%. https://t.co/vtaVVh8y3G pic.twitter.com/1XZdiqMTul

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 25 April 2026

Apart from the physical battle, which the Habs are winning, there are several other reasons why the Canadiens have managed to take the lead in the series, including the excellent play of the third pair of Arbor Czekaj and Jayden Struble. [Top 3 Reasons The Canadiens Have A Series Lead]

Believe it or not, Shekaz leads the entire NHL in expected goal share with an impressive 83.8%. [NST]

Kirby Dach discusses support from head coach Martin Saint-Louis as he overcomes an endless list of injuries in recent seasons.

Kirby Dach on receiving a vote of confidence from Habs coach Marty St. Louis yesterday:

“I think as a competitor, you want a chance to respond. You want to be able to go out there and prove your worth. This game is tough, there are a lot of mistakes, it’s not… pic.twitter.com/uYFCvEuOqz

– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) 25 April 2026

This is clearly trolling, but comparatively speaking, it is quality trolling. Additionally, given that Brady Tkachuk appears to be one of the worst leaders in the league, perhaps it is time to examine his position in the Senators organization. Or maybe he is a great leader who never seems to have luck when it comes to leadership. Difficult to say.

Arbor Zekaj has more points than Brady Tkachuk in the playoffs. pic.twitter.com/t1j569ZKzS

– Alex (@ivandemigoal) 25 April 2026

The clip embedded below has nothing to do with the Habs, but when a dirtbag like Ridley Gregg starts punching a player who’s being pinned down, it’s hard not to roll your eyes. That is pure cowardice.

Will this despicable act by Ridley Gregg be sanctioned by the NHL?🤔 pic.twitter.com/drSzZb6KrY

– TVA Sports (@TVASports) 25 April 2026

Sportsknot Network

Sunny Mehta already has the option to pick up the phone and negotiate a potential New Jersey Devils trade and improve his top six. After failing to make the playoffs for the 10th consecutive season, the Detroit Red Wings are now the longest-serving team to miss the postseason after the Buffalo Sabers punched their ticket this spring. [New Jersey Devils]

Maybe it’s the rivalry factor. The Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers have a history of controversial meetings, and this includes their ongoing first-round games. Or maybe it’s a chance to see the Penguins’ big three players — Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang — back in the playoffs after a three-year absence. Perhaps it’s the continuation of interest in hockey in the United States after the Winter Olympics and the American gold medal. [Pittsburgh Penguins]

Just a week ago, the Senators were filled with hope as they entered the first round of their series against the Hurricanes. Flash forward to Saturday, and the Senators are the first team in the NHL to be eliminated, losing their first-round series 4-0. [Ottawa Senators]

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

With the third game of the series, the Montreal Canadiens now hold a 2–1 lead over the Tampa Bay Lightning.

It’s still very early in the series, and things can change quickly, but the fact that the Canadians have the advantage in first place is rather encouraging, as they are clearly the underdogs in the series.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the factors that have helped the Canadiens take the lead in the series.

Quality Scoring Possibilities

The Lightning have controlled the majority of shots at 5v5, shooting 55.4%. However, it is the Montreal Canadiens who have managed to create the most risky scoring opportunities.

And it’s not even a relatively close contest.

In three games, the Canadiens have made 24 high-danger shots, while allowing the Lightning to take just eight. This means hubs has taken control 75% high quality shots Across the series, that isn’t just a modest gain, it marks a major lead in an important statistical category.

To make matters more interesting, the Habs allowed the Lightning to generate a total of two quality scoring chances in Games 1 and 3 combined.

This is coming from a team that ranked 27th in the league in high-danger scoring chances throughout the regular season with a 46.4% share.

Secondary and Tertiary Scoring

With Juraj Slajkowski’s powerplay hat trick in the rearview mirror, it has become clear that the first line is having difficulty generating much aggression at 5v5.

Even at the Bell Centre, where head coach Martin St-Louis controlled the matchup, Montreal’s first line barely broke even in shot shares.

Given that Slafkowski, Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield carried much of the load during the regular season, it’s fair to say the rest of the team will have to make up for the lack of goals at 5v5 in the playoffs, but that’s easier said than done.

Heading into Friday’s game, only Josh Anderson (2) managed to find the back of the net at 5v5, making goals from Alexandre Texier, Kirby Dach and Lane Hutson very important from a roster construction standpoint, giving the first line a little more time to work out their issues.

Kirby Dach tied the game after Arbor Zekaj kept the game alive.

2-2 #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/AqPB3WOkTX

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 25 April 2026

third pair

When evaluating defense personnel, it is always important to acknowledge that use yields results.

An easier assignment, such as playing on the third pairing, makes life easier on the depth blueliner.

However, Arbor Czekaj and Jaden Struble are not only playing well on the third pairing, but they are also effective physically, and when it comes to keeping the puck away from Jacob Dobbs as much as possible.

To put a fine point on the excellence of Czekaj and Struble, they lead the entire NHL in expected goal share. Xhekaj अभी तक 5v5 के मुकाबले एक उच्च-खतरे वाले स्कोरिंग मौके के लिए बर्फ पर नहीं है, एक अनुस्मारक कि लगातार उपयोग से उन खिलाड़ियों के लिए महान चीजें हो सकती हैं जो NHL में अपनी स्थिरता खोजने का प्रयास कर रहे हैं।

Sure, they face lower quality competition than most, but if it were that easy to produce 80 xGF% on the third pairing, we’d see it more often around the league.

The reality is that few, if any other pairings have managed to control the same percentage of shots, goals, scoring chances and expected goals as Czekaj and Struble.

All Montreal Canadiens stats are 5v5, via Natural Stat Trick, unless otherwise noted.

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

It’s quite clear that the Montreal Canadiens are dealing with a special strategy from the Tampa Bay Lightning in their first-round series.

Whether it’s taunting goaltenders, running at players from behind, or engaging in shenanigans after every whistle, the Lightning have embraced the idea that they are the villains in this series.

And yet, when evaluating the numbers at 5v5, the Canadiens have actually had the most hits, and by a good margin too.

The Habs have averaged 37 hits per game, good for 7th out of 16 playoff teams. The Lightning, on the other hand, have only had 33 hits per game, the fourth-lowest result in the NHL.

Arbor Zekaj referred to himself as a “villain” vs. the Habs on the Tampa Bay Lightning today:

“If they want to think that way, fine. We’re here. We’re ready for whatever they offer us.” pic.twitter.com/1cktWPcG71

– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) 23 April 2026

Most of the heavy lifting has been done by Arbor Zekaj, who currently ranks fifth in the NHL with 17 hits. He joined Josh Anderson, who had 13 hits, as the only Canadiens players to take 10 or more body checks in the series.

And yet, the wolf pack mentality clearly exists. Every Canadiens player, including Oliver Kapanen, has managed to put up at least one hit against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Habs coach Marty St. Louis on the Lightning’s intimidation tactics today:

“We’ve talked about it. Did we look scared? I don’t think so. If they want to play that game, we’re able to play that game. We’re equipped to do it.” pic.twitter.com/wdH47yGu2X

– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) 23 April 2026

You could argue that while the Bolts are so focused on trying to take hubs out of their game, they’re forgetting to focus on the thing that’s most important: creating scoring chances.

The Canadiens have controlled 75% of high-danger scoring opportunities at 5v5, meaning they are not only killing the Lightning, but they are also creating the lion’s share of quality shots.

Montreal Canadiens Brass Tacks

It has something to do with the matchups, which has worked to the Canadiens’ advantage.

Reporter: “Are you still sick and tired of Scott Sabourin?”

Josh Anderson: “I just didn’t pay attention to him tonight. I didn’t see him on the ice much…” pic.twitter.com/j0PMD9lghC

– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) 25 April 2026

For the record, John Cooper kept Scott Sabourin on the ice for nine minutes against Anderson. At the time, Anderson’s expected goal share was above 90%. Playing away from Sabourin, his xGF% dropped to 43.8%.

In other words, having Sabourin on the ice alongside Andersen is actively hurting the chances of victory for Tampa Bay, which is desperate to win a pyrrhic physical contest.

It’s an odd strategy from a coach with as much experience as Cooper, especially since the Lightning were the clear favorites in the series.

That doesn’t mean the Habs have avoided taking the bait at every opportunity, but they’ve done a great job focusing on the big picture while their opponents focus on the dirty play.

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

Goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy did everything he could to lead the Tampa Bay Lightning past the Montreal Canadiens in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference First Round series on Friday night at the Bell Centre. This was not enough.

Vasilevskiy denied three Montreal breakaways in regulation, but he never saw Montreal defenseman Len Hutson’s slap shot from the right point as it passed multiple bodies and into the net 2:08 into overtime to give the Canadiens a 3–2 win and a 2–1 lead in the best-of-7 series.

Alexandre Texier, who opened the scoring early in the first period, flicked a shot back to Hutson, and the 2025 Calder Trophy winner produced a rocket that found its way through a half-dozen bodies and into the net.

Brayden Point and Brandon Hagel scored for the Lightning. Hagel’s goal early in the second period put Tampa Bay ahead 2–1, but Kirby Dach put the Canadiens even at 12:43. Vasilevskiy finished with 26 saves on 29 shots; Montreal rookie Jacob Dobbs faced only 17 shots and stopped 15.

This was the third consecutive overtime game in the series, the first for the Lightning since entering the NHL in 1992. The Canadiens had not gone to OT in three straight playoff games since Games 2, 3 and 4 of the 1993 Stanley Cup Finals – they won all three en route to their most recent championship. It was the first time that an NHL playoff series began with three straight overtime games since the Boston Bruins and Washington Capitals did so in 2021.

The teams split OT wins in Games 1 and 2 at Benchmark International Arena, with the Canadiens winning 4–3 in the opener and Tampa Bay taking the series with a 3–2 win in Game 2. The Lightning have not won consecutive playoff games since the 2022 Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Rangers.

They will try to even the series on Sunday night in Montreal.

The sellout crowd of 20,962 was roaring from the moment Canadiens legend Yvan Cournoyer took the torch to lead Montreal onto the ice. This became even more intense when his heroes gained a quick lead.

Zach Bolduc moved the puck to the right circle and saw that Texier was late in the middle, with no Lightning defender there to pick him up. Bolduc fed a pass onto Texier’s stick for a perfect shot from the slot that took the top corner past Vasilevskiy’s glove at 4:53, giving Montreal the lead 1–0.

But this lead did not last long. Dobbs was called for fouling Yanni Gourde, and the Lightning capitalized at 7:42 when Point found space in the slot, took a pass from Jake Guentzel and one-timed it into the net for a 1–1 tie.

The Lightning got another power play 30 seconds after the goal when Dach was called for tripping but produced very little power. Montreal had a good chance after Nikita Kucherov took an unnecessary tripping penalty at 12:23, and the Lightning again failed to convert after Mike Matheson took a hooking penalty at 19:11.

Tampa Bay dominated the game for the first few minutes of the second period and led 2–1 at the 4:47 mark. Hagel picked up a pass from Jake Evans in the neutral zone, raced to the left circle and surprised Dobbs with a quick shot that beat him on the short side for his fourth goal of the series.

Vasilevsky maintained the lead just over a minute later by stopping Montreal rookie Ivan Demidov on a breakaway. Demidov, who led all NHL rookies with 62 points during the regular season, gave the Lightning their fourth power play at 9:59 when he carelessly high-sticked Ryan McDonagh, but Tampa Bay could not take advantage.

This set the stage for the Canadiens to even the score. Vasilevskiy blocked Dach from the slot, but the puck went along the right board. Dach tracked him down and fired through the maze of bodies; Vasilevskiy never saw the puck, which deflected off McDonagh and into the net at 12:43, making the score 2–2.

Tampa Bay spent most of the remaining period killing penalties. Hegel was called for holding a stick at 14:05, Emil Lilleberg was sent for hooking at 16:14 and Darren Raddish was called for a high-sticking minor at 19:29.

Montreal outshot the Bolts 13–7 in the middle period, and Tampa Bay did not have a single shot on goal until the final 13:25.

Vasilevskiy was the biggest reason the Lightning forced overtime despite being outshot 21-11 in the final two periods, including 8-4 in the third when he faced two more breakaways.

Cole Caufield, the 51-goal scorer during the regular season, came in alone at 3:29, but Vasilevskiy came out to challenge him, but was unsuccessful. Josh Anderson took a breakaway pass coming out of the penalty box midway through the period, but Vasilevskiy did not fake the pass and made a wrist save from his close range.

According to Natural Stat Trick, the Bolts applied little pressure on Dobbs and had only three high-danger scoring chances over the course of 60 minutes. Hutson’s game-winner came on the only shot in overtime.

Key takeaways after Canadiens top Lightning in OT to win Game 3

wasting a precious gem

The Lightning couldn’t have asked for anything more from their future Hall of Fame goaltender. They did everything but stand on their heads as Hegel’s goal put them ahead 2–1, despite managing all five shots on goal.

Dach’s tying goal came after “Vesey” made a big stop on him – and as was the case with Hutson’s game-winner, No. 88 never saw the shot due to the series of bodies in front of him.

Tampa Bay did almost nothing offensively after the first five minutes of the second period and only the play of Vasilevskiy gave them a chance to win.

Hagel and linemates need help

The Lightning scored eight goals in the first three games of this series. Hagel has four of them, assisted on the fifth and has been on the ice for all eight. For good measure, he also became the first player in Lightning history to get a Gordie Howe hat trick (goal/assist/fighting major) in Game 2.

His goal in Game 3 was an unassisted gem, ending with a spectacular shot that completely caught Dobbs by surprise.

Hegel and his teammates, Guentzel (five points, all assists) and Nikita Kucherov (four points; one goal, three assists) each had 14 points. The other three in a row combined have three (point goal and two assists) by Anthony Cirelli in Game 2. This is not a formula for playoff success.

too much punishment

The Lightning’s penalty-killers could use the day off before Sunday’s game.

Tampa Bay did a great job of shutting down all four Montreal power plays in Game 3, including three in a span of just over five minutes in the second period. They limited the Canadiens to five shots on goal during four shutouts and were generally successful in keeping Montreal out. This was a huge change from earlier in the series, when the Lightning surrendered four power-play goals on the Canadiens’ first six opportunities.

But eight minutes of power-play time for the Canadiens meant Tampa Bay had to keep top offensive players like Kucherov on the bench. He played only 41 seconds over the course of 9:59 spanning the second and third periods – most of which Tampa Bay played down a man. Not having your top players in tie games is no way to be successful, especially in the playoffs.

Jon Krieger covered his first New York Rangers game (against the California Golden Seals) in November 1975 and it… More about Jon Krieger

With the series tied between the Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning, it is the perfect opportunity to evaluate some key stats.

As a follow-up to our article discussing the team’s forward line, we will take an in-depth look at the play of the team’s defensive pairings.

Before we move on, it’s important to note that the loss of Noah Dobson cannot be underestimated. On the flip side of the coin, the Lightning are playing without Victor Hedman, which makes it a relatively fair exchange of lost starters, however, considering that Hedman already missed the majority of the regular season, Tampa Bay is used to playing without him.

Playing without Dobson in the lineup, the player who appeared in 80 regular season games has presented a significant challenge for the Habs.

Habs defenseman at 5v5

As noted in the article analyzing the Forward, there has been a significant discrepancy in the underlying numbers after only two games in the series.

This is par for the course when analyzing playoff hockey, but it comes with the caveat that the numbers can quickly change once data from another game is added into the mix.

Despite having a clear edge in expected goal share and high-danger shot share, the Canadiens have controlled less than 40% of shots and 33% of goals.

As far as defense personnel are concerned, there is a huge difference in the results too. The top four struggled, for lack of a better word. They are lagging, and lagging behind, by a large margin at 5v5.

On a more positive note, the pairing of Jaden Struble and Arbor Zekaj has been absolutely exceptional. Yes, they are facing a lower quality of competition, but you never want to look like a hot horse, especially in the playoffs.

The fact of the matter is that when the third pairing is on the ice, the Habs outscore, outscore, and outscore their opponents.

Montreal Canadiens Brass Tacks

It’s very easy to suggest that the Montreal Canadiens need better results from their top four finish.

However, head coach Martin Saint-Louis has limited options, especially if he wants to keep his excellent third pairing together.

Based on their experience over the past two seasons, I would argue that a reunion of Matheson and Hutson could be justified. In over 500 minutes together at 5v5, they made 54.9% of the shots. They also outshot their opponents by a margin of 32–21 (61.1%).

This will give Alexandre Carriere and Caden Guhle some more difficult moments to face, although, based on their history, they are quite suited to accomplish hellish tasks.

In over 600 minutes together at 5v5, Guhle and Carrier managed to be almost even, controlling 49.6% of the shots. They also outshot their opponents (56%), and led the way in high-danger scoring opportunities (53%).

With the changes in place, the Canadiens’ defensive shifts will be as follows:

Len Hutson – Mike Matheson

Caden Guhle – Alexander Carrier

Jaden Struble – Arbor Zekaj.

This was exactly the setup St.-Louis intended to play in game two, before the usual post-whistle antics derailed things, forcing special teams to spend an unreasonable amount of time on the ice.

Regardless, according to the numbers, if the Canadiens can somehow find a way to keep the pairings listed above intact, they will improve their chances of emerging from the series with an underdog win.

All Montreal Canadiens stats are 5v5 via Natural Stat Trick.

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

The first-round series between the Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning is tied at one game each, giving the Habs a perfect opportunity to regain the lead as the series now shifts back to the Bell Centre.

Given that both games required extra time, it is safe to say that the series has been tightly contested, although there are some numbers worth noting as the Habs prepare to host the Bolts.

In this article, we will discuss the game of forward lines, while also keeping in mind that we are working with very limited sample sizes at 5v5.

canadiens vs lightning team stats

The first thing we have to acknowledge is that the numbers behind the first two games are odd. Well, maybe “odd” isn’t the right word, but they’re clearly based on limited data.

Such is life when analyzing in the playoffs.

With this in mind, built-in numbers were developed to get a better idea of ​​how a team—or individual—is performing in this scenario: limited data.

As always, we will discuss four different statistics. The first is Corsi For (CF%), which I often label as ‘shot share’ because it’s so descriptive, but in this case I’ve used the abbreviated version for ease of viewing. We’ll also discuss Montreal’s share of high-danger scoring chances (HDCF%), their expected goal share (xGF%), and actual goal share (GF%) at 5v5.

Through two games, the Lightning have outscored the Habs by a considerable margin, a fact that will be reflected when evaluating the forward lines. The Canadians have managed to control only 39.7% of the shots (66-100), which can only be called worrying.

The Habs have also only managed to score two goals at 5v5, both of which were provided by fourth-line forward Josh Anderson. Overall, the Lightning haven’t lit the lamp as well at 5v5, but they have scored twice as many goals as the Habs.

As far as expected goals go, they represent a very encouraging split for Montreal. The Canadians have gained a considerable advantage and have controlled approximately 54% of the expected targets.

One reason behind the discrepancy in expected goals and shot share is that the Canadiens have done an excellent job of controlling high-danger chances, shooting 72% (18-7). This isn’t just a huge positive, it’s a complete reversal of Montreal’s fortunes with high-quality scoring opportunities. Traditionally, the Habs struggle to generate many quality scoring chances regardless of their opponents.

Canadiens forward lines at 5v5

The biggest issue facing the Habs is clearly their lack of goals at 5v5. If the Canadiens are to have success in this series, the first line in particular needs to start scoring at 5v5.

You could argue that the second and third lines also need to provide some semblance of offense, but the onus is on the team’s best forward to move the ball at 5v5. Fortunately, they are doing a good job at controlling the chances, but the volume is not enough to compensate for their lack of shooting luck.

For the most part, whenever head coach Martin St-Louis puts the first line on the ice, John Cooper immediately counters with a Brandon Hagel, Anthony Cirelli and Jake Guentzel line, which has outscored the Habs 3-0 at 5v5.

Additionally, only one line has managed to control 50% of the shots, which is another team-wide concern. This is reduced by the overall share of high-quality scoring chances, which is reflected in expected goals.

Montreal Canadiens Brass Tacks

Unfortunately for the Habs, shot quantity is very important when it comes to winning a series. Although they have the edge in quality, a greater volume of shots will be necessary if they want to start scoring more goals at 5v5.

If the Canadiens can manage to put a few more pucks on net, the rest of the numbers suggest they will hold a significant advantage in the remaining games of the series, perhaps enough to pick up a win against a more experienced opponent.

To do that, they’ll have to rely on their first line to resume the dominance they showed on a nightly basis during the regular season, while also getting a little help from St. Louis, who will now have their last change as the series returns to the Bell Center.

Keeping Tampa Bay’s top line devoid of their own top players is probably the best path to success.

All Montreal Canadiens stats are 5v5 via Natural Stat Trick.

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

The Tampa Bay Lightning have leveled their Eastern Conference first round series against the Montreal Canadiens after a 3-2 overtime win in Game 2 at Benchmark International Arena on Tuesday night.

Defenseman JJ Moser’s first career playoff goal sealed a one-point win in the series, with the next two games scheduled for Friday and Saturday at the Bell Center in Montreal. The goal also ended Tampa Bay’s seven-game playoff losing streak in overtime games.

The Lightning dominated the extra period, defeating Montreal 8–0, before Anthony Cirelli scored on a pass in the offensive zone to the right of goalie Jacob Dobbs. Moser got the puck near the left point, worked his way around the right circle and fired through a screen. As the puck hit the back of the net at 12:48, the sellout crowd of 19,092 erupted and the series was tied.

Brandon Hagel and Nikita Kucherov scored the other goals for the Lightning, and Andrei Vasilevskiy bounced back from an average performance in Game 1 with 25 saves.

Lane Hutson scored a power-play goal in the first period and Josh Anderson scored late in the second period to put Montreal ahead 2–1. Dobbs made 31 saves.

The win at home was a relief for the Lightning, who were 1-10 in their last 11 playoff games in their own building. They lost to the Florida Panthers three times in the first round in each of the last two seasons before losing to the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2023. The last time Tampa Bay went beyond Round 1 was in 2022, when they lost to the Colorado Avalanche in the finals while trying to win their third consecutive championship.

Lightning even series with OT win against Canadiens in Game 2

The Canadiens had the better of the game early on, holding the Lightning without a shot for more than eight minutes after an early face-off. But Bolt converted his first shot into the opening goal.

Hagel circled into the high slot and shot, but his shot hit a body and landed on the left board. He followed it up and fired again – but this time, the shot went through a screen and past Dobbs at 8:20 to put the Lightning up 1–0.

Tampa Bay got its first power play of the game at 10:11 when Montreal’s Arbor Zekaj got an extra minor after a clash with Yanni Gourde. But it was the Canadiens who almost scored; Vasilevskiy intercepted Jake Evans on a 2-on-1 break and the rebound bounced off the feet of Alex Newhook, who was alone but couldn’t get his stick on the puck.

Then it was the turn to fill the penalty box. A major scrum behind the Montreal net erupted on the Canadiens power play when referees Frederic L’Ecuyer and Graham Skilliter called out 11 minors – Lightning forward Corey Perry received an additional one.

Montreal made it 4-for-6 with an extra man in the series, when Hutson’s straight-up slapper from inside the blue line hit Lightning defenseman Eric Cernak and went past Vasilevskiy at 16:11.

The Canadiens could not score on their next power play after a cross-checking call against Nick Paul at 17:49 and the period ended even at 1–1.

Hegel and the Canadiens’ Game 1 hero Juraj Slafkowski dropped the gloves at 5:14 of the second period and earned the first fighting major of the series, with Hegel downing the much larger Montreal forward to end the fight.

The goaltenders exchanged clutch saves with just over six minutes remaining in the period, but the Canadiens began to get the better of the game and took the lead with 1:24 remaining in the period. Anderson, who had scored the opening goal in Game 1, arrived in front of the net and converted the pass to Philippe Danault, who won the puck battle behind the net. Anderson found position between two defenders and beat Vasilevskiy to give Montreal a 2–1 lead.

The Bolts equalized about five minutes into the third period when Moser beat Dobbs but hit the post. They got a power-play opportunity shortly after when Montreal’s Ivan Demidov was called for tripping but did not apply much pressure.

But Kucherov electrified the crowd when he took the carom of Cirelli’s blocked shot, swung into the back of the net and fired the puck inside the right post at 12:33 to tie the game at 2–2. It was the star forward’s first playoff goal in 17 games.

The Lightning had to survive one more threat to get overtime. After Scott Sabourin’s unnecessary interference penalty with 2:15 left in regulation gave Montreal a late power play, Hutson slapped a straight shot with less than a minute remaining that went off Vasilevskiy’s hand before hitting the post.

Dobbs was brilliant in overtime but had no chance for Moser’s game-winner.

Highlights after Lightning beat Canadiens 3-2 in OT

stars come for bolt

As the third period wore on and the Lightning trailed by a goal, you could have eased the tension with a knife. It wasn’t nice to think about going 0-2 in Montreal, especially after two more home losses.

But then some of Bolt’s stars saved the situation.

Kucherov had gone 16 playoff games without a goal since Game 1 of the 2023 first round against Toronto – before the game was tied. The NHL’s No. 2 scorer during the regular season looked like a giant eagle as he swooped in to grab the blocked shot, fly around the net and deposit the puck into the wide-open net because Dobbs couldn’t move from right to left in time.

Then it was Vasilevsky’s turn. After Sabourin’s penalty he made two big stops on Hutson to give the Canadiens a late power play to preserve the tie.

A “Gordie Howe” for Hegel.

This is the 18th time the Lightning are appearing in the Stanley Cup playoffs, but Hagel became the first player in franchise history to achieve a Gordie Howe hat trick (goal/assist/fighting major) in a postseason game.

The first period goal was his third in the first two games, and he got a secondary assist on Kucherov’s goal. There is nothing surprising in any of this.

This is the main theme of the fight which was out of the ordinary. Hagel only had two fighting majors during the regular season, despite playing on the NHL’s most fighting team – the Lightning led the NHL with 43 majors. He was also watching Slafkowski gain about 40 pounds. Despite this, he landed a punch, knocking out the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft before officials stopped the fight.

bang, bang

The series has only featured Hegel-Slafkowski fighting majors during the first two games, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a lot of physicality.

There were 77 hits in Game 2 (43 for Montreal, 34 for the Lightning). This comes after 86 hits in Game 1 (44-42 lead for the Bolts). Tuesday’s game also saw 23 penalties, including two fights and 14 minor ones for roughing.

Lightning coach John Cooper said his team was stepped up physically after recent seasons, and said this was due to the development of players like Sabourin, who is known for his physical play.

“These are two proud teams,” Cooper said. “You have to do what you have to do to move forward. No matter how we do it, we’re going to do it.”

Jon Krieger covered his first New York Rangers game (against the California Golden Seals) in November 1975 and it… More about Jon Krieger

The Montreal Canadiens faced the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday night, looking to establish a commanding 2-0 lead in the first round series.

The Habs were never able to take the lead, with the Lightning ultimately emerging with a 3–2 overtime victory.

Let’s look at the highlights!

always so smooth

It’s legitimately impressive how sticky the power is at every shift. Not only do they initiate most of the ugly things, but they also behave as if punishing them for their obvious stupidity was some kind of cardinal sin.

Corey Perry epitomizes this lizard-like approach to logic. He constantly seeks out younger opponents, and when they inform him that they have no interest in sharing his oysters, which are almost certainly a mixture of old chili and Mister Beast-branded snacks, he becomes very, very upset.

Perry was in the box as the Canadiens tied the game in the first period, a good reminder that the best way to make the Lightning pay is to score whenever the shenanigans unfold.

It was a player named Len Hutson, whom Perry had attempted to tackle in a recent game, who scored the game-tying goal.

This is what you want to see, especially since power starts making ugly messes at every single change. Make them pay for their stupidity.

#GoHabsGo Tie the game via a Len Hutson powerplay goal. pic.twitter.com/dXTZC5FOKA

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 21 April 2026

adapt and overcome

If you watched the first half of the game on ESPN, you may have got the impression that the Lightning were the dominant team, but that’s far from the truth when it comes to the aspects of the game that really matter.

While the Lightning focused on the ugly, the Canadiens controlled the shots and high-danger scoring opportunities at 5v5.

It’s not a great way to play hockey for Tampa Bay, but it’s a clear path to success for the Canadians as long as they continue to focus on hockey rather than extracurricular activities.

For example, when Juraj Slafkowski fought Brandon Hagel he inspired the Lightning and delivered a powerful punch to his opponent midway through the second period. This was far from an ideal situation and the Hubs should avoid moving forward.

SportLogic had the Canadiens winning 88 per cent of puck battles in the first period.

– Eric Engels (@EricEngels) 22 April 2026

missed opportunity

With the game heating up in the physical department, the Canadiens had a perfect chance to establish their first lead, but veteran center Philippe Danault failed to take advantage of a wide-open net. It should also be noted that Jake Evans has been quietly having a solid series considering his limited usage.

Philippe Danault missed the wide open net. #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/2sWHrr9AlE

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 22 April 2026

trailer park lube

At the risk of being labeled a complainer, which wouldn’t be a bad name given the tone of this article, the Lightning’s sleekness was impossible to ignore.

It’s not just that they constantly take dirty shots after the whistle, but also that they behave like surprised Pikachu when the referee gives a clear penalty.

Then there is diving.

Kucherov flies out, Guhle leaves for hooking. pic.twitter.com/uyqw2aLrQK

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 22 April 2026

And if that doesn’t lead to a goal on the power play, someone like Taylor Raddish will obviously dive in, and the officials will be upset if they don’t catch it. This is ugly, cowardly and confusing hockey at its best.

On the other side of the coin, you could argue that this has led to plenty of success in the past, but you’d be hard-pressed to suggest that there was any legitimate reason to add an extra dose of showboating to the mix on Tuesday.

laugh out loud

Raddish looks at the referee as he falls after feeling contact.

And then he got upset that no call came. pic.twitter.com/kvNfVSSAWz

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 22 April 2026

Most importantly, while the Lightning focused on roughhousing after the whistle, the Canadiens focused on creating quality scoring chances.

They had an 11–4 advantage in high-danger scoring chances during 40 minutes of play, including Josh Anderson’s second goal of the series, which gave the Canadiens a very fragile one-goal lead.

josh anderson gives #GoHabsGo 2-1 lead! pic.twitter.com/1CJ7VvARC8

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 22 April 2026

The weakness was confirmed in the third period, when Kucherov scored his first playoff goal in three years to tie the game.

Slafkowski’s no-look pass through the middle of the ice was the catalyst for the scoring play.

JJ Moser is a hero in Tampa pic.twitter.com/LxCIv9NkWo

– Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) 22 April 2026

target setting

As was the case in Game One, the score was tied after the end of regulation, much to everyone’s delight, necessitating another chance at playoff overtime hockey.

The Lightning were several times better than the Habs to start the extra frame.

Yes, the Canadiens were pretty erratic, but we’d be taking a lot of deserved credit away from Tampa Bay by simply suggesting that it was Montreal that struggled to find its rhythm.

Luckily for the Canadians, Jacob Dobbs had big leads on a few occasions, but it was not enough to stop the momentum, as the Bolts ultimately emerged with a 3–2 overtime victory.

Big Savings!

Jacob Dobbs saved the day in overtime. pic.twitter.com/BOgpVG0b8M

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 22 April 2026

The Montreal Canadiens are back in action on Friday as they face the Lightning at the Bell Centre. Puck drop is scheduled for 7pm ET.

All Montreal Canadiens stats are 5v5, via Natural Stat Trick, unless otherwise noted.

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

Juraj Slachowski showed why Montreal selected him No. 1 overall in the 2022 NHL Draft, completing his first playoff hat-trick by scoring a power-play goal 1:22 into overtime, leading the Canadiens to a 4-3 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning in the opener of their Eastern Conference First Round series on Sunday at Benchmark International Arena.

Tampa Bay’s Jake Guentzel took a high-sticking penalty with 21 seconds remaining in regulation, and Slafkowski made him pay with his third power-play goal of the game. Lane Huston played a pass to Slafkovsky as he went to the left circle and the 22-year-old beat goalkeeper Andrei Vasilevskiy to wrap up the win.

It wasn’t a great night for Vasilevskiy, a two-time Stanley Cup winner with the Bolts. He allowed four goals on 19 shots and rarely looked like the goaltender who excelled when the Bolts won Cup in 2020 and 2021. Montreal rookie Jacob Dobbs made 20 saves.

The Canadiens lead the series 1-0, with Game 2 being played on Tuesday night in Tampa.

Slafkowski’s first power-play goal tied the game at the end of the second period, and his second goal gave the Canadiens a brief 3–2 lead in the third. Josh Anderson opened the scoring with the only goal of the first period.

Brandon Hagel scored twice for Tampa Bay after defenseman Darren Radish tied the game at 1–1 early in the second period.

The Lightning had their first good scoring chance of the game when Eric Cernak found himself alone in the slot, but Dobbs came well out of his net to narrow the angle and make the save.

The Canadiens missed a pair of 2-on-1 opportunities after the Lightning called too many people at 10:37 and failed to capitalize on their first power play. But thanks to some good work from their fourth line they went 1–0 up at 13:24.

Alexandre Carrier worked the puck free behind the net and inserted a pass into the slot, where Anderson quickly put it into the net at 13:24 to put the Canadiens ahead. Vasilevskiy appeared to lose track of the puck and the Lightning defense did the same to Andersen, one of the few Montreal players left in the Canadiens’ five-game loss to the Bolts in the 2021 finals.

Montreal spent most of the remaining period killing penalties. Tampa Bay played 4:13 of the final 5:23 with an extra man in the opening period, but did not get much offense. Despite falling behind 10-4, the Canadiens took the lead with a one-goal lead.

Neither team led much in the first half of the second period, but at 10:43 the Canadiens were looking to double their lead when Anderson stepped up and drilled a point shot into the net. However, a video review showed that Anderson’s stick was slightly above the crossbar, and the goal was disallowed.

Anderson was called for charging 12 seconds later, and the Lightning took advantage of their fifth power play to tie the score. Radish evened it up at 12:15 when he took an accurate feed from Nikita Kucherov and one-timed it past Dobbs from inside the left circle at 12:15 to tie the game at 1–1.

This match lasted only 29 seconds. The Canadiens misplayed the puck behind their own net, and Guentzel slipped a pass off a defender’s stick that came straight to Hegel, whose quick backhander from out of the blue beat Dobbs at 12:49. In just over two minutes, the Canadiens went from an apparent 2-0 lead to an actual 2-1 deficit.

It seemed as if this period might end just like this. Montreal managed only one shot on goal until Tampa Bay’s Connor Geikie took an unnecessary high-stick penalty with 1:28 remaining. Vasilevskiy made some great saves, but had no chance on Slafkovsky’s one-timer from inside the right circle, tying the game 2–2 at 19:36.

Each team scored another power-play goal before reaching the midpoint of the third period. Slafkowski found some space in bumper situations and converted a perfect pass from Cole Caufield at 5:56 to give Montreal a 3–2 lead. But Hagel tied it at 8:58 when he extended his shot in front of the net and redirected Guentzel’s pass past Dobbs.

The game was tied 3–3 in overtime – but not before Guentzel took a high-sticking penalty at 19:39 when he tried to put an airborne puck into the net but missed and hit Canadiens defenseman Caden Guhle in the face, leading to Slafkowski’s OT winner.

Key takeaways after Canadiens outlast Lightning in OT to win Game 1

Slafkowski’s next step

When the Canadiens made Slafkowski the first player taken in 2022, a lot of eyes were raised. He is quick to erase any questions about choice.

Slafkowski became the first Montreal player to score a power-play goal in overtime since PK Subban did so in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Second Round against the Boston Bruins in 2014. It is the first playoff hat trick by a Canadian since Rene Bourque scored a goal against the New York Rangers in Game 5 of the 2014 Eastern Conference Finals.

The hat trick followed a regular season in which he set career highs with 30 goals and 73 points. He led the Canadiens with 15 power-play goals and when he scored one the Canadiens’ score was 22–3–1.

Unsettled night for Vasilevsky

When he calls it a career, “Vesey” becomes a lock for the Hockey Hall of Fame. He has won the Stanley Cup twice, the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP (2021), and the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s best goaltender (2018–19). He has started 113 consecutive playoff games for the Lightning, and his 67 playoff wins are 12th all-time.

But Vasilevskiy wasn’t sharp on Sunday. The TNT studio crew noted this after Anderson’s first-period goal, and he was not sharp for most of the night, failing to make big saves when the Lightning needed it most.

Vasilevskiy’s career goals-against average in the playoffs is 2.46 — but it has been 3.22 or worse in each of the past three seasons, a big reason the Bolts have not advanced beyond the first round since reaching the final in 2022. If the Lightning hope to avoid a fourth consecutive early departure, they need to be much better.

No home-ice advantage in OT for the Lightning

The Lightning sell out East Amaali Arena every night and have done so for every game since COVID restrictions ended. But playing at home doesn’t help when it comes to overtime in the playoffs.

Slafkowski’s game-winner handed the Lightning their seventh consecutive overtime loss in the playoffs. Overall, they are 9-13 in their own building, while they are 14-8 when they have visitors. Tampa Bay has not won a playoff game in home OT since defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs 4–3 on May 12, 2022.

Jon Krieger covered his first New York Rangers game (against the California Golden Seals) in November 1975 and it… More about Jon Krieger

The Montreal Canadiens walked onto the ice before the start of their first-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning, with little opportunity to do so further.

Additional NHL Playoff Analysis

Canadiens vs. Lightning Playoff Primer – Head-to-Head at 5v5

Canadiens Vs. electrical special teams

Canadiens vs Lightning

Montreal Canadiens vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Round One Playoff Series Schedule

• Game One, 5:45 p.m. ET, Sunday, April 19, Benchmark International Arena.
• Game Two, 7 p.m. ET, Tuesday, April 21, Benchmark International Arena.
• Game Three, 7 p.m. ET, Friday, April 24, Bell Center
• Game Four, 7 p.m. ET, Sunday, April 26, Bell Center.
• Game Five, Time TBD, Wednesday, April 29, Benchmark International Arena.
• Game Six, Time TBD, Friday, May 1, Bell Center
• Game Seven, Time TBD, Sunday, May 3, Benchmark International Arena.

You’ll notice that they have not yet revealed the exact start date for Games Five, Six and Seven (if necessary). There are a lot of moving parts when it comes to renting out arenas, and it seems like the logistics aren’t fully understood by the NHL yet.

Montreal Canadiens playoff lineup

The Montreal Canadiens lineup was very similar to the one that was introduced earlier in the week, although it should be noted that Caden Guhle ran with Lane Hutson, not Alexander Carrier.

Things could change, but as of now, it appears the Canadiens will enter the NHL playoffs with players like Brendan Gallagher, Joe Velano and Adam Engstrom, and David Rickenbacker watching the game from the press box as healthy scratches.

It’s also quite obvious that losing defenseman Noah Dobson will make matters more difficult for the Canadiens, but they are far from the only team dealing with life without one of their best blueliners.

Here are the trios and duos in training:

Caulfield-Suzuki-Slafkovsky
texier-newhook-demidov
Anderson-Danault-Evans
bolduc-kapanen-dach

matheson-guhle
hutson-carrier
Struble-Xhekaj
reinbacher-angstrom

Note that Velano, Gallagher and Laine only completed one lap during… pic.twitter.com/BSu1DZt2JM

– Patrick Guillet (@PatGuillet) 17 April 2026

Tampa Bay Lightning playoff lineup

Former Norris Trophy winner Victor Hedman will miss Sunday’s series opener, and is unlikely to attend a hockey game in the near future.

starting line combination
Gonçalves-Point-Kucherov
Hegel-Cirelli-Guentzel
Girgenson-Gourde-Paul
perry-bjorkstrand-sabourin-james

Moser-Radish
McDonagh-Cernak
D’Estous-Lillebourg
carlisle-crozier

Vasilevsky
johansson

– Lightning Insider (@Erik_Erlendsson) 17 April 2026

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

We continue our series preview ahead of the first round matchup between the Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning.

We know that the team that wins the battle at 5v5 will have a good chance of emerging victorious in the series. Additionally, the organization that features the best special teams will have a significant advantage in securing victory.

In addition to those important elements, let’s take a look at some X-factors that will impact the series between the Canadiens and Lightning.

top line players

It’s no secret that Canadians will live and die by the first line’s ability to generate sustainable levels of crime. The Lightning are well aware of this, which means Nick Suzuki, Juraj Slafkowski and Cole Caufield will likely have to face Tampa Bay’s top shutdown line of Gourde, Pontus Holmberg and Zemgus Girgensons.

When playing together, that line has controlled approximately 54.5% of shots, as well as 55.7% of expected goals at 5v5. In an admittedly limited sample size of just 30 minutes versus the Habs, they have actually controlled over 70% of the shots and 90% of the expected goals.

In a short series, matchups will play a key role, and it seems the most important matchup for the Canadiens will involve Tampa’s excellent shutdown trio versus their elite top line. Or perhaps more accurately, finding ways to strip their top line of the Lightning’s best defensive players.

On the other side of the coin, this may seem like the most obvious advice in the history of hockey, but the Canadiens would do well to help their chances by keeping a close eye on Nikita Kucherov.

The elite skater finished the year with 130 points, which was second overall in the NHL, behind only Connor McDavid (138 points). The second most productive Lightning player was Jake Guentzel, who finished the season with 88 points. This represents a 42-point discrepancy, significantly greater than the 13-point difference between the Canadiens’ top point producer (Suzuki, 101 points) and last forward (Caufield, 88 points).

It’s very easy to suggest that shutting down Kucherov is important for the Habs, especially when neither team has yet figured out how to accomplish this lofty goal, but the fact is that the Canadiens will want to keep an eye on Kucherov’s every move throughout the series.

In 42 career games against the Habs, Kucherov has scored 20 goals and added 29 assists.

Freshman Goaltenders

It is incredibly rare to see two rookie netminders tasked with protecting the net in a playoff series. First-year skaters are slightly more common, as it is much easier to convince a coach to enter the playoffs with a few rookie players than a pair of rookie netminders.

The Canadiens will have to rely on either Jacob Dobbs or Jacob Fowler to steal the show, although there’s still an outside chance, albeit slim, that we’ll see veteran netminder Samuel Montebault in the mix.

the gamble was thrown.

This could be seen as an obvious negative given Dobbs and Fowler’s lack of NHL experience, but the Montreal Canadiens aren’t your favorite club. While first-year players playing a significant role isn’t more common than in other NHL cities, it’s part of the path to success in Montreal.

In the long run, this could be the beginning of a trend in the NHL where goaltending results completely usurp experience as the most important factor driving usage in the playoffs.

rookie effect

Fowler and Dobbs aren’t the only newbies expected to play a role in the series. Ivan Demidov and Oliver Kapanen are expected to take over on the second line, once again lending credence to the theory that head coach Martin Saint-Louis does a great job trusting his young players in key roles.

On top of Demidov Kapanen, there are Adam Engstrom and David Rickenbacker on the blue line, two rookies who could play with greater frequency if injuries occur, or if Noah Dobson’s thumb injury doesn’t heal before more games are added to the docket.

To give you an idea of ​​how both teams like to rely on different age groups, Tampa Bay’s top-scoring rookie center is Dominic James, who has seven goals and eight assists in 43 games.

Montreal, on the other hand, has the league’s top-scoring rookie in Demidov (62 points), not to mention the rookie with the third-most goals in Kapanen (22 points).

All Montreal Canadiens stats are 5v5, via Natural Stat Trick, unless otherwise noted.

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

As we continue to discuss the upcoming NHL playoff series between the Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning, we have already established which team will have the advantage at 5v5.

Statistically speaking, the Bolts are the better team at even strength and by a fairly wide margin. And yet, once we filter out the results of the four games between the Habs and the Lightning, the Canadiens ultimately have the better shot share.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at some special team stats that will power organizations in the playoffs.

Canadiens Vs. electric powerplay

There are two ways to look at this. The first involves judging the powerplay efficiency of the respective teams and declaring the winner. Thus, with a 23.1% efficiency, the Canadiens are the better team with the man advantage than the Lightning (20.7%).

However, once we dig a little, it becomes clear that the Habs are using their excellent shooting skills to maintain their powerplay, which would be considered ‘at risk’ once a thorough audit is completed.

While the Canadiens have the 10th-best power play in the league, and with the advantage of having the 10th-most goalscorers per 60 minutes of ice time, they are among the worst clubs in the entire league when it comes to regular shots as well as high-danger scoring opportunities.

The Lightning are worse than the Habs in both goals and efficiency, though the discrepancy between their shots and goals isn’t as glaring as we’re seeing in Montreal.

This presents the Canadiens with a reality that must be addressed in the playoffs: they probably score more goals on the power play than they want to. On the other side of the coin, it also suggests that they can improve their game with the man advantage by taking more shots.

Of course, this has been pointed out all year and very little has been done to improve the deteriorating state of the power play.

Canadiens Vs. thunderbolt penalty killing

The Canadiens are the better team on the power play, but the same cannot be said on the penalty kill. The Lightning kill more penalties, allow fewer routine and high-danger scoring opportunities, not to mention actual goals.

All things considered, one team is elite, while the other is struggling to emerge from the bottom of the league.

To make matters more interesting, Andrei Vasilevskiy had the third-highest save percentage on the penalty kill in the entire regular season (.900), while Jacob Dobbs (.859) was 26th. As for Jacob Fowler, he was only on the ice for 90 penalty kill minutes, finishing the season with an .873 save percentage in that position.

Simply put, while we can debate how much of an advantage the Canadiens actually have on the power play, we probably shouldn’t waste too much time debating which club will have a significant edge on the penalty kill.

All Montreal Canadiens statistics via Natural Stat Trick.

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

The NHL has revealed when the first-round series between the Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning will begin.

According to a social media post published by the NHL’s public relations account, Game One of the first-round series featuring the Canadiens and Lightning is scheduled for Sunday, April 19.

With that in mind, series between the Ottawa Senators and Carolina Hurricanes, the Minnesota Wild and Dallas Stars and the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins begin on Saturday, April 18.

There will be three other series joining the Canadiens on Sunday: Boston Bruins vs. Buffalo Sabres, and Utah Mammoth vs. Vegas Golden Knights. Unfortunately, despite knowing that games will take place on Sunday, the NHL has yet to confirm an exact start time.

Given that there are still two series to be determined due to the remaining games in the regular season scheduled for Thursday, the Colorado Avalanche’s official opponent has yet to be revealed, while the participants in the Western Conference Finals series have yet to be determined. All things considered, this is a pretty chaotic finale to the NHL regular season. In most years, teams can begin setting up their plans for the playoffs more than 48 hours before they expect to host thousands of fans.

2026 #Stanley Cup Playoffs start Saturday!

There is only one guarantee this year: there will be a new champion.

turn on @ESPN, @NHL_On_TNT, @sportsnet And @TVASports. The full schedule will be announced tonight after all first-round matchups have been determined.

Description:… pic.twitter.com/rPW1og9c3w

– NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) 16 April 2026

Montreal Canadiens Brass Tacks

We can expect the NHL to play with a normal schedule, which means the first two home playoff games at the Bell Center should take place on Thursday and Saturday.

Of course, they have actually modified the usual alternate schedule in the past, but if my memory serves, that was only when the Toronto Maple Leafs were involved, which means we should finally be able to celebrate a home game on a Saturday at the Bell Center for the first time in many years.

There’s no better hockey in the NHL than springtime hockey at the best arena on Earth.

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

The Montreal Canadiens will face the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the 2026 NHL playoffs, a repeat of the 2021 Stanley Cup Finals.

Of course, a lot has changed between then and now, especially for hubs. They are the youngest team in the league, and will face a much older Lightning lineup that is loaded with playoff experience.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at some important stats that will play a big role in deciding the winner of this first round series. We’ll start with 5v5 numbers before moving on to special teams in the following analysis piece.

Canadiens and Lightning at 5v5

To get a better idea of ​​which teams are expected to maintain the momentum, we can take a closer look at three specific team-driven statistics.

The first is shot share, which is the percentage of shots a team controls in a given period. This is often represented as ‘Corsi For %’, or ‘CF%’. I prefer to use the term shot share, because it is straightforward.

For example: If there are 10 shots in a period, and a team controls eight of them, they will have an 80% shot share. If there were 100 shots in a game and a team generated 40 of them, their shot share would be 40%.

As you can see in the chart below, the Lightning did a great job at controlling shots throughout the season, and finished with the third-highest shot share in the NHL. The Canadiens are on the other end of the spectrum, controlling just 48.6% of their shots, good for 23rd in the league.

Expected goal share takes into account certain factors including shot quality, shot location and shot type. A deflected shot will have a better chance of scoring than an unblocked shot from the point, so it will have a higher expected goal value.

The Canadiens control the same expected goals percentage as their shot share, not to mention a similar ranking of 23rd in the league. The Lightning do a much better job in this regard, and they find themselves in the top-5 teams in the NHL when it comes to their expected goal share.

Once again the Lightning found themselves several times ahead of the Canadiens as far as high-danger shot share goes. The lack of high-danger scoring opportunities has been an ongoing issue for the Habs since the rebuild began nearly five years ago.

Goaltending and shooting

The Lightning goaltenders do a better job than their Canadiens counterparts, though it should be noted that the numbers include the results produced by Samuel Montembeault, a netminder who is unlikely to feature as a starter against Tampa Bay.

Despite this, it is clear that the Lightning have the goalscoring advantage at 5v5, especially when it comes to blocking high-danger shots.

As far as shooting efficiency goes, you’ll notice that the Canadiens actually managed to edge out the Lightning, as they were the team with the highest shooting percentage at 5v5 in the entire league. I suggest this is not necessarily a good sign, as a low-volume, high-efficiency team runs the risk of being vulnerable in a short series, especially if some of the team’s best snipers can’t find their rhythm.

That being said, at the very least, you could argue that the Habs have slightly better accuracy, although the Lightning rank first in the NHL when it comes to their high-danger shooting percentage, which mitigates the Canadiens’ advantage in the shooting department.

Target

The final numbers we’ll evaluate are simple, and provide little consolation to Habs fans who are hoping to see an upset, with the emphasis on ‘slightly’.

Both the Canadiens and Lightning are great at scoring goals, with the latter being better at preventing pucks from getting into their net.

Montreal Canadiens Brass Tacks

Of course, the numbers don’t paint an encouraging picture for Canadians. For all intents and purposes, they are disenfranchised, and substantially disenfranchised.

John Cooper is likely to advocate his way through a speech that somehow portrays the Canadiens as favourites, but make no mistake, there is little in the numbers to suggest that the Lightning should be considered anything other than massive favorites to win the first-round series.

It’s also important to remember that hockey isn’t played on spreadsheets, and the Canadiens have a funny way of making the numbers appear irrelevant after the final whistle.

The playoffs are a different kind of beast, where passion can trump logic.

Apart from this, there are other statistics that paint a different picture of the upcoming match.

If we filter out the results of the four games in which the Canadiens and Bolts faced off, the numbers are more encouraging. Each team won two games, with the Habs victorious in the final two meetings of the season.

Canadiens vs Lightning Head to Head (5v5)

As you can see, the Montreal Canadiens actually held a pretty significant advantage in shot share across the four games against the Lightning. In fact, Tampa Bay controlled only 47.2% of its shots, one of the worst results of any opponent in a season series versus Montreal.

On the other side of the coin, as usual, the Canadians failed miserably when it came to controlling high-danger shots.

Interestingly, the Lightning received better goaltending and better shooting, including saves and goals on high-danger shots.

Simply put, they capitalized on their opportunities with a much greater frequency than the Habs, while outpacing a team that has struggled to generate many shots all season. This doesn’t mean the Montreal Canadiens will sweep the Lightning every game, but it’s certainly a situation worth keeping in mind as we await puck drop in Game One of the first-round series.

All Montreal Canadiens stats are 5v5, via Natural Stat Trick, unless otherwise noted.

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

The Montreal Canadiens were expected to sign top prospect Michael Hayes over the weekend, now that their team is out of the NCAA Frozen Four.

The University of Michigan was upset by the University of Denver in the semifinals, losing a 4–3 decision in double overtime. Hayes was sparingly used, as he was dealing with an injury that caused him to miss the previous elimination game.

However, according to reports, Hayes will return to the NCAA to play his junior season, which means he will not join the Montreal Canadiens until the end of the 2026–27 season. This development is quite surprising, given that most insiders assumed a deal was imminent, and yet, beyond the disappointment of failing to add a high-end prospect to the mix, the decision makes sense when evaluating all angles.

seeing the forest for the trees

While Hayes represents the team’s best hopes to ultimately fill the No. 2 center spot internally, it is questionable whether he will be able to provide an immediate impact when making the jump from amateur to professional hockey, which is one of the biggest challenges any young player will face early in his career.

By staying in the NCAA for an additional season, not only would Hayes have another chance to win a national championship, thus erasing the bad taste left in his mouth by his recent elimination, it would also allow him to fine-tune some aspects of his skill set that are not considered ready for the NHL, including his defensive positioning.

He will still be considered Montreal’s top prospect after the season ends, and it is highly unlikely he will want to waive his rights, and sign with another NHL club. More likely, once he signs his entry-level contract, the Canadiens will get a polished player who is fresh off a dominant season as one of the best athletes in the NCAA.

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

The Montreal Canadiens are one of the hottest teams in the NHL, and they could be getting a very interesting reinforcement in the form of NCAA star Michael Hayes.

The 19-year-old Hayes enjoyed a stellar sophomore season with the University of Michigan, scoring 13 goals and 39 assists in 39 games. He finished the season with 52 points, more than Gavin McKenna (Penn State), Porter Martone (50 points, Michigan State) and James Hagens (47 points, Boston College).

But for Hayes it’s not just a matter of production.

His playing style is the epitome of dynamic hockey.

He executes his plays at full speed, combining elite playmaking with high-level vision. This is the driving force behind Hayes’ No. 1 ranking among Montreal Canadiens prospects, as voted on by Habs fans.

In that way, despite the fact that he has only spent two seasons in the NCAA, and has yet to play a single game of professional hockey, you can argue that Hayes is one of the team’s most NHL-ready prospects.

“Michigan lost, the Michael Hayes clock is on,” Elliotte Friedman explained on his latest 32 Thoughts podcast. “We’ll see where it goes in the next few days.”

michael hayes status

We can expect Hayes to sign a contract in the near future, although the nature of said contract may vary. As established by Nicolas Cloutier, the contract will not necessarily last in the NHL, even though this is the most likely scenario. There is a possibility that Hayes and the Canadiens will want to test the waters in the AHL through an amateur tryout before signing an NHL deal.

However, in all likelihood Hayes will want to waste a year of his entry-level contract by signing in the NHL, which will lead to some important decisions in Montreal’s lineup.

Hayes is currently dealing with an injury that caused him to miss a few playoff games for the University of Michigan, so rushing out a contract signing is not a priority when it comes to signing, but once he is ready to play, head coach Martin St-Louis will need to establish the ideal usage for the talented prospect.

It’s a situation that’s complicated by the team’s injuries, or lack thereof.

The Habs are a remarkably healthy team at the moment, a rare occurrence for an organization known for overstocking hospitals.

On the flip side of the coin, just because a player is given the green light to play in the NHL doesn’t mean they aren’t going to struggle with minor issues. Many, if not most, NHL players have persistent health issues that are not serious enough to keep them out of the lineup.

With that in mind, the Canadiens may be able to rest some of their players in the final stretch of the season. Of course, the fact that first place in the Atlantic Division is still up for grabs may influence Montreal’s roster decisions, but I digress.

Montreal Canadiens Forward Situation

The only forward who is still on the mend is Patrik Laine, leaving 14 healthy players fighting for 12 spots. That number will increase to 15 if Hayes signs a contract, allowing at least three forwards to see games in the press box as healthy scratches.

It’s also important to remember that Hayes is expected to eventually become one of the top-six players for the Canadiens, meaning the ideal usage would involve filling that role as early as possible. Hopefully, the days of forcing an extremely talented young player to be on the fourth line in a role unsuitable for his skill set are over.

Given that there is little chance that Saint-Louis will want to disrupt his elite first line (again), the second line signals for the hedge.

And yet, given that the only two relatively permanent players on the second line are also first-year players (Ivan Demidov and Oliver Kapanen), there is some logic in suggesting that running a trio with three rookies could spell trouble.

But if there’s one coach in the NHL who will give the experiment a legitimate shot, it’s definitely St.-Louis.

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

The Montreal Canadiens host the New Jersey Devils on Sunday night, looking to extend their winning streak to nine games.

Before Sunday, the Habs knew they would have to defeat the Devils in their second game against the club in as many nights to qualify for the playoffs, however, the Detroit Red Wings had the playoff berth clear before they even took to the ice.

By losing 5–4 to the Minnesota Wild, the Red Wings ensured that the Canadiens officially qualified for the 2026 NHL playoffs.

This led to an unexpected lack of punches from the Habs, giving the Devils a 3-0 decision.

For a view from the other side of the rink, be sure to visit our sister site, New Jersey Hockey Now.

Let’s look at the highlights!

lean Startup

The Habs managed to generate only two high-danger chances at 5v5 during 40 minutes of play, while the Devils were allowed to take six high-quality shots.

As a result, the Devils took a two-goal lead into the second intermission on goals from Timo Meier and Cody Glass.

The latter scored a particularly good goal from a strong individual effort.

On a solo mission. pic.twitter.com/TXk9ToOXut

– New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) 6 April 2026

Sparks fly

Montreal’s energy level improved early in the third period, following a vicious strike from Zachary Bolduc that fouled Luke Hughes.

The chaotic play led to a Canadiens power play, not to mention a questionable decision by Hughes when Bolduc began throwing punches while being tackled by a linesman.

Unfortunately, the Habs failed to take advantage on the power play, allowing what little excitement there was to fizzle out quickly. Even though the Canadiens lacked punch for most of the game, they missed three chances to score with the man advantage, eliminating any chance of another comeback late in the game.

Luke Hughes threw punches at Bolduc while he was restrained by the linesman. Not a great look. pic.twitter.com/SLLsQf6lIX

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 6 April 2026

The Montreal Canadiens are back in action on Tuesday facing the Florida Panthers at the Bell Centre. Puck drop is scheduled for 7pm ET.

All Montreal Canadiens stats are 5v5, via Natural Stat Trick, unless otherwise noted.

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

It’s official, the Montreal Canadiens will participate in playoff hockey for the second consecutive season.

The Habs qualified for the playoffs thanks to a tremendous effort by the Detroit Red Wings vs. the Minnesota Wild. Detroit lost 5–4, meaning they could no longer catch the Canadiens.

Of course, the Canadiens could qualify with another win against the New Jersey Devils on Sunday night, but regardless of the defining moment, it’s fair to say Montreal has exceeded all expectations this season.

Whether it’s Cole Caufield’s pursuit of 50 goals, Nick Suzuki’s 100-point run, Juraj Slafkowski’s continued development at power forward, Lane Hutson’s impressive blue line production, or the play of the rookie netminders, the Canadiens have epitomized excitement while putting together one of the cleanest rebuilds in modern NHL history.

This is especially notable when we consider that the team finished last in 2021-22, which allowed them to select Slafkovsky with the first overall pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.

Of course, the work is far from done, and if the Habs are to be considered legitimate Stanley Cup contenders, they will need to strengthen their defensive game, but the NHL is full of teams that have experienced unsuccessful rebuilds, making Montreal’s progress in just a few years quite remarkable.

home ice in play

If the NHL playoffs begin on Sunday afternoon, the Canadiens will face the surging Buffalo Sabers with home advantage.

Given that they are only two points behind the Tampa Bay Lightning for first place in the Atlantic Division, there is a possibility that the Canadiens could face the first-place wild card team instead of the Sabres.

It would be a fitting reward for a team that has won eight consecutive games heading into the season finale, with several Eastern Conference teams also desperate to punch their ticket to the springtime dance.

While there is much praise to be given to the players, it must also be said that head coach Martin Saint-Louis has done a great job trusting his roster, which is the youngest lineup in the league. There will be very few, if any other coaches willing to give their full confidence to first-year players, and yet when the game is on the line the Canadiens consistently rely on Ivan Demidov, Oliver Kapanen, Jacob Dobbs and Jacob Fowler.

Likewise, it shouldn’t be long until general manager Kent Hughes’ name starts circulating as a strong candidate for the Jim Gregory Award, given to the top GM in the NHL as voted on by a panel of his peers.

Ivan Demidov scored in the shootout. #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/4qRb9HPp2W

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 5 April 2026

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

The Montreal Canadiens (45-21-10) will face the New Jersey Devils (39-34-3) on Sunday, with puck drop scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.

This is the second leg of back-to-back games in which both teams have managed to secure at least one point in the first matchup. The Canadiens jumped out to a 3–0 lead, but the Devils battled back into the game to force it into a shootout, where first-year players Ivan Demidov and Oliver Kapanen scored for the Habs.

Cole Caulfield also scored, but only in the shootout, meaning the Bell Center faithful will have a chance to celebrate his 50th goal.

It’s also important to note that the Canadiens can clinch a playoff berth on Sunday. If they beat the Devils again, they will make it on their own, however, if the Detroit Red Wings lose to the Minnesota Wild they will officially qualify as well. The Habs only have 32 regulation wins, which is why the Buffalo Sabres, who are currently below them in the Atlantic Division standings, have already qualified.

Simply put, it’s only a matter of time before the Canadiens punch their ticket to the springtime dance for the second consecutive season, quite an accomplishment when we consider they finished last in the league in 2021-22.

Lineup Changes

Given that the team did not practice on Sunday, any lineup changes will be confirmed when the Canadiens take the ice for pregame warm-ups.

That being said, the Habs are expected to give rookie netminder Jacob Fowler the start on Sunday, as his first-year counterpart Jacob Dobbs faced the Devils on Saturday night.

Montreal Canadiens Projected Lineup

Cole Coffield – Nick Suzuki – Juraj Slafkowski

Alex Newhook – Oliver Kapanen – Ivan Demidov

Zach Bolduc – Jake Evans – Josh Anderson

Joe Veleno – Philip Danault – Brendan Gallagher

Mike Matheson – Noah Dobson

Jaden Struble- Lane Hutson

Caden Guhle – Arbor Zekaj

jacob fowler

New Jersey Devils Projected Lineup

Timo Meyer – Nico Hischier – Dawson Mercer

Jasper Bratt – Jack Hughes – Connor Brown

Lenny Haminaho – Cody Glass – Nick Bjugstad

Evgeny Dadonov – Paul Couture – Maxim Tsyplyakov

Jonas Seigenthaler – Dougie Hamilton

Luke Hughes – Jonathan Kovacevic

Brendan Dillon – Simon Nemec

jacob markstrom

How to watch Hubs Vs. the devil

Montreal Canadiens vs. New Jersey Devils, Sunday, April 5, 2026, will be broadcast on TSN2 and RDS. A quick recap with highlights will be available on SportsNote once the final whistle blows.

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

If the New Jersey Devils had made the playoffs this season, the series against the Montreal Canadiens could have been really fun.

The Devils hosted the Habs at the Prudential Center on Saturday in the first match of a home-and-home situation of the weekend, losing 4-3 in the first game via a shootout.

Canadian fans arrived in large numbers in Newark, New Jersey, and were unruly before warmups even began.

That’s partly because it looks like Montreal will go to the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and partly because it’s to see Cole Caufield score his 50th goal of the season.

When the puck dropped, Caufield was pounded on the half break – an early opportunity to reach the 50-goal plateau. However, Johnathan Kovacevic’s backcheck was too much for the Habs forward, and he never got a shot on goal.

The Devils then pressed Jacob Dobbs in waves, pushing the Canadiens into their own zone.

However, it was the Canadiens who struck first when Jaden Struble drove into the Devils slot and received a pass from Caufield to give Montreal a 1–0 lead.

The second period also started like the first. The Devils were heavy in the Montreal zone, pressuring Dobbs with abundant zone time and opportunities during the first seven minutes of the middle frame.

However, Jonas Seigenthaler’s tripping penalty at the 7:40 mark of the period sent the Devils to their first penalty kill. Ivan Demidov doubled the Habs’ lead on another Caufield primary assist, receiving a back door pass and making the game 2–0 on a one-time chance.

Just over a minute later, as the power was restored, Lane Hutson tripled Montreal’s lead to give the Habs a 3–0 lead.

However, the Devils finally struck back at the 6:52 mark of the second. Dawson Mercer drove the Devils’ net, and from an impossible angle, sliced ​​the puck over Dobbs’ left shoulder and past his left ear, cutting the Canadiens’ lead to 3–1 with very little visible twine.

Despite the Devils being at a disadvantage, Jack Hughes and Jasper Bratt lined up for a 2-on-1 in the Montreal end.

The Devils suffered a prolonged loss after high-sticking Zachary Bolduc left Brendan Dillon whistled for a double minor.

Although Dobbs made the save, Jack and Bratt quickly went on another 2-on-1 breakaway after a bad Montreal turnover and this time, Jack scored his 25th shorthanded goal of the season to cut Montreal’s lead to 3–2.

The Dillon penalty went over, as did one shortly afterward in the second period, and New Jersey entered the third period trailing by a goal.

The Devils put the pedal to the metal in the third period. It took 17:44 to get going on offense, but Timo Meier finally made the breakthrough and erased the three-goal deficit to tie the game with three minutes to go at the end of the third period.

The lead was not enough in regulation in Game 76 of the season, and the Devils and Canadiens went to overtime. And despite an entertaining extra period, it was not enough and the game required a shootout.

After five rounds, the Canadiens won extra points 4–3 on the stick of Zachary Bolduc.

Jake Allen made 26 saves on 29 shots through 65 minutes of regulation and overtime, handing them their 17th loss of the season.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

On Sunday, the Carolina Hurricanes will kick off their back-to-back homestand, facing the Montreal Canadiens for the second time in less than a week, and just 24 hours after their game with the New Jersey Devils. This game will not only be one of four remaining home games of the regular season, but will also honor veterans for their annual military appreciation night.

The game is scheduled for 5:00 pm EDT.

In the Hurricanes’ last game, they defeated the Devils 5–2 to complete their season, with Shayne Gostisbeer returning from injury, a goal for the third consecutive game for Nikolaj Ehlers and the 30th goal of the season for Seth Jarvis. You can check out the recap here!

Meanwhile, the Canadiens are in the midst of a five-game road trip, which begins on Saturday against the Nashville Predators. In that game, after the Canadiens scored four consecutive goals (including captain Nick Suzuki’s assist number 300), the Predators only got on the board at the end of the third period, giving Jacob Fowler the second NHL shutout of his career.

in the crease

With Brandon Bussy set to play Saturday, Frederik Andersen is almost certain to start against the Canadiens Sunday. Anderson’s record against the Canadiens was perfect, with a slight dip in the previous game – a 5–2 loss – but still, he has won nine of the 11 games he has played against them in his career. Anderson has a save percentage of .871 this season, with a 13-12-5 record and a goals-against average of 3.15.

On the other side of the ice, the Canadiens will undoubtedly opt to keep Jacob Dobbs in net, as Fowler covered the game against the Predators. In his last game against Carolina, he had the best performance of his young career, and his most saves ever in an NHL game. This season, he has a save percentage of .898 with a goals-against average of 2.83 with a 24-8-4 record.

Expected Carolina Hurricane Lines

Andrei Svechnikov – Sebastian Aho – Seth Jarvis

Taylor Hall – Logan Stankoven – Jackson Blake

Nikolaj Ehlers – Jordan Staal – Jordan Martinook

William Carrier – Mark Jankowski – Eric Robinson

protect

Jacob Slavin – Jalen Chatfield

K’Andre Miller – Shawn Walker

Shayne Gostisbehere – Alexander Nikishin

goaltender

Frederick Anderson / Brandon Bussey

Expected Montreal Canadiens Lines

Cole Coffield – Nick Suzuki – Juraj Slafkowski

Alex Newhook – Oliver Kapanen – Ivan Demidov

Jack Bolduc – Jake Evans – Josh Anderson

Joe Veleno – Philip Danault – Brendan Gallagher

protect

Mike Matheson – Noah Dobson

Jaden Struble – Lane Hutson

Caden Guhle – Alexandre Carrier

goaltender

Jacob Dobbs / Jacob Fowler

special teams

Carolina Hurricanes Power Play: 23.6% (8th, up two spots from last game)
Carolina Hurricanes Penalty Kill: 80.3% (13th, up one spot from last game)

Montreal Canadiens Power Play: 24.5% (5th)
Montreal Canadiens Penalty Kill: 76.7% (26th)

storm game notes

After missing nine consecutive games, Shayne Gostisbier returned to the lineup for a two-point game (1G, 1A) on Saturday.

With a shorthanded, empty net goal in the game against the Devils, Seth Jarvis scored his third consecutive 30-goal goal of the season. He is only the sixth player in franchise history to achieve this feat.

There are only four more home games remaining in the Hurricanes’ regular season, and three of them are theme nights (Military Appreciation Night, Grateful Dead Night, Fan Appreciation Night).

how to see

TV: FanDuel Sports Network South
Streaming: ESPN+
Radio: 99.9 The Fan

Rachel Barkley is a beat writer covering the Carolina Hurricanes for Carolina Hockey Now on SportsNut. Painting Stories…More About Rachel Barclay

With only 11 games remaining on the docket, the Montreal Canadiens are in a very good position when it comes to playoff chances.

Before we move on, I would like to address one small annoyance when discussing the process of qualifying for the playoffs. We will often see analysts saying that a team has not yet been ‘mathematically eliminated’, or something similar. However, it should be noted that mathematics is at the core of every playoff race.

Therefore, we can assume that every elimination is based on mathematics.

Every qualification, every win, every loss and most everything related to the game is like this.

Of course, this is absolutely the right thing to choose, and it fits in perfectly with my annoying habit of reminding everyone that there is no such thing as an ‘assistant captain’ in the NHL.

This is an alternate captain. They don’t bring their captain coffee or pick up his dry cleaning.

With that in mind, let’s get to the crux of the matter in Montreal mathematical The race to qualify for the playoffs.

Or, optionalPlayoff race.

Montreal Canadiens Playoff Odds

As it stands, the Canadiens’ playoff chances have increased to 93.8%.

They’re not a lock, but all things considered, the Habs should qualify for the playoffs in the tightly contested Eastern Conference.

This may seem a bit counterintuitive, as they are only four points ahead of the Ottawa Senators, but it’s important to remember that it is very, very difficult to make the final stretch of the year. The game featured three-point games, reducing the importance of the late-season push.

Eastern Conference Playoff Odds (via Money Puck)

Carolina Hurricanes – 100%

Buffalo Sabers – 99.98%

Tampa Bay Lightning 99.91%

Montreal Canadiens 93.8%

Pittsburgh Penguins – 79.4%

Columbus Blue Jackets – 77.9%

Boston Bruins – 72%

Ottawa Senators – 66.5%

New York Islanders – 54.1%

Detroit Red Wings – 39.2%

Philadelphia Flyers – 12.6%

Washington Capitals – 4.1%

New Jersey Devils – 0.5%

Florida Panthers – 0%

Toronto Maple Leafs – 0%

New York Rangers – 0%

Final Montreal Canadiens Regular Season Games

remaining rivals: Nashville Predators, Carolina Hurricanes, Tampa Bay Lightning (x2), New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils (x2), Florida Panthers, Columbus Blue Jackets, New York Islanders, Philadelphia Flyers.

Of the 11 games remaining on the docket, the Canadiens will face teams in a playoff spot on only four occasions (Hurricanes, Lightning x2, Blue Jackets, Islanders).

To make matters more interesting, only two of those rivals are playing in the Atlantic Division.

The situation is reflected in Montreal’s strength of schedule (SOS), which is not the easiest in the league, but is the least worrisome in the Eastern Conference, as only four teams have an easier SOS.

Eastern Conference strength schedule (via Tankathon)

1 – Boston Bruins (.615)

2 – New York Islanders (.607)

3 – Columbus Blue Jackets (.603)

4 – Ottawa Senators (.598)

5 – Philadelphia Flyers (.596)

6 – Tampa Bay Lightning (.594)

7 – Detroit Red Wings (.584)

8 – New Jersey Devils (.582)

9 – New York Rangers (.581)

10 – Carolina Hurricanes (.579)

11 – Montreal Canadiens (.577)

12 – Buffalo Sabers (.572)

13 – Pittsburgh Penguins (.570)

14 – Florida Panthers (.569)

15 – Washington Capitals (.568)

16 – Toronto Maple Leafs (.563)

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

The Montreal Canadiens are a little ahead of schedule when it comes to long-term rebuilding plans. All things considered, the mere fact that they are in the playoff race, just a few years removed from wholesale changes, is rather impressive.

Some teams take a decade or more to right the ship, while the Canadiens actually managed to reach the playoffs last season.

And while this was an encouraging development, it also raised the bar considerably. Canadian fans are not only hopeful that the team will qualify for the playoffs this year, but they are also hungry for post-season success.

But that’s putting the cart before the horse.

As it stands, the Habs will have to make sure they get the first invitation to the springtime dance, and to do that, they’ll have to focus on their biggest area of ​​weakness.

Quality Scoring Possibilities

The biggest problem the Canadiens have faced since the hiring of head coach Martin Saint-Louis has been their poor share of high-danger scoring opportunities.

The team ranks 16th in 5v5 shots at 57.6 per 60 minutes of ice time. It’s far from ideal, but at least, they’re no longer in the basement of the NHL, as they were last season.

However, when it comes to allowing high-danger chances, they are 24th in the league with 12.3 per 60. Not every team below them is in danger of missing the playoffs, but most of them would be described as organizations that are headed toward, or engaged in, a rebuild.

The issue is further complicated by Montreal’s inability to generate a series of high-danger chances to balance out its defensive problems. The Habs rank 29th in the league when it comes to creating quality scoring chances, with just 10.5 per 60.

This means the Canadiens have the fifth-worst share of high-end scoring opportunities in the league, with only 46.13%. The only teams with worse results are the Vancouver Canucks (46.12%), New York Islanders (44.6%), Seattle Kraken (42.36%), and Chicago Blackhawks (41.97%).

For the record, the top three clubs with high threat probability are the Carolina Hurricanes (55.43%), the Vegas Golden Knights (55.02%), and the Colorado Avalanche (54.96%), all teams considered threats to capture the Stanley Cup this season.

Montreal Canadiens Brass Tacks

Sure, better goaltending can mask some of these issues, but in the long run, if the Canadiens hope to one day become legitimate Stanley Cup contenders, they will need to do a much better job of controlling the best scoring opportunities.

To put a fine point on the importance of this particular issue, the Golden Knights have had worse goals against than Montreal this year, and when it comes to team-wide save percentage, the Hurricanes are essentially tied with the Habs, closer to the 89.9% range.

It’s very easy to blame the netminders, but the truth is that the Habs make life very difficult for their goaltenders due to their poor share of high-danger scoring opportunities.

All Montreal Canadiens stats are 5v5, via Natural Stat Trick, unless otherwise noted.

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

The Montreal Canadiens host the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday night, looking to get back to their winning ways after last night’s disappointing loss.

Brendan Gallagher returned to the lineup as a healthy scratch after watching Saturday’s game, with Zachary Bolduc taking his place in the press box. Arbor Zekaj replaced Jaden Struble on the blueline and rookie netminder Jacob Fowler was given his 12th start of the season.

There was also some misfortune on the injury front, as Kirby Dach was forced to leave the game after an injury to Jeffrey Viel in the first period.

It was a tight contest between two talented clubs, but in the end the Ducks emerged with a 4–3 win.

Let’s look at the highlights!

speed demon

With the Ducks leading 2–0, the Canadiens found their rhythm, starting with a great shot from Alex Newhook that was perfectly set up by phenom Lane Hutson.

It was Newhook’s 9th goal of the year, and it must be said that he has done a fantastic job since returning from an ankle injury that caused him to miss a significant portion of the season. For Hutson, it was his 56th assist of the year, which tells you everything you need to know about his impact on a nightly basis.

Hutson is a rising tide that lifts all boats.

Newhook gets a dime back for Hubs!

What a rocket of a shot. 🚀 pic.twitter.com/inLzSE7YLn

– TSN (@TSN_Sports) 16 March 2026

the usual suspects

The Canadiens kept the momentum going with another goal just over a minute later, as Cole Caufield scored for his 39th time of the season.

Once again, excellent play from a defender led to the goal, with Noah Dobson offering a perfect outlet pass that covered nearly 100 feet of ice. Dobson may not provide the offensive impact that Hutson does, few do, but there is no doubt that he has provided a game-changing presence for the Canadiens.

What a snipe from Caufield and the game is tied at two! pic.twitter.com/80wFr2nSPQ

– TSN (@TSN_Sports) 16 March 2026

puck protection

The Canadiens took the lead when Nick Suzuki scored his 23rd goal of the year, thanks to a great effort by Juraj Slafkowski to maintain control of the puck through the neutral zone. It’s the type of play Slafkowski would never have attempted a few years ago, but now that he’s found his rhythm in the NHL, he’s becoming a steady source of controlled exits and entries.

The Habs have scored three consecutive goals and now have a 3-2 lead over the Ducks! pic.twitter.com/GCmdUumyFX

– TSN (@TSN_Sports) 16 March 2026

late fall

Even though they struggled in the second period, the Ducks never relented, which ultimately led to Cutter Gauthier’s 34th goal of the year to give Anaheim a 4–3 lead with just a few minutes left in the third period.

To Fowler’s credit, he saved the day on several occasions before the goal. The Canadiens were frustrated by their poor defensive coverage, which has been a recurring theme this season.

What is nearby?

What is the goal?

Gauthier hit his 34th of the season to lead the Ducks to 4-3. pic.twitter.com/du8GnufvGK

– TSN (@TSN_Sports) 16 March 2026

The Montreal Canadiens will be back in action on Tuesday facing the Boston Bruins at the Bell Centre. Puck drop is scheduled for 7pm ET.

All Montreal Canadiens stats are 5v5, via Natural Stat Trick, unless otherwise noted.

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

The Montreal Canadiens have made a rare deal after the deadline, acquiring a pair of prospects from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Riley Kidney.

In return, goaltender Hunter Shepard and forward Jake Chiasson will make their way to the Canadiens organization, and while it may not seem like a blockbuster deal on the surface, it has implications beyond the Trois-Rivières Lions (ECHL) and Laval Rocket (AHL).

The 22-year-old Kidney was potentially lost in the shuffle, a holdover from the previous regime that never found its rhythm in the AHL. As a result, Kidney spent most of the season in the ECHL, where he scored 11 goals and 22 assists in 46 games for the Lions. In the grand scheme of things, this is not a significant disadvantage by any means.

However, the comeback is very interesting. Beyond Chiasson, who will serve as a depth option for the Rockets or Lions, the acquisition of a minor-league goaltender in Sheppard suggests the Canadiens are in no rush to return rookie netminder Jacob Fowler to the AHL.

With that in mind, it’s also quite clear that veteran netminder Samuel Montembeault has fallen out of favor with the team, and Kent Hughes and company prefer to keep Fowler as an option in the final stages of the season and into the playoffs.

Fowler was voted as the No. 2 prospect in our annual fan-driven Montreal Canadiens prospect rankings due to his excellent positioning and poise, making it very difficult to avoid direct comparisons with former Habs netminder Carey Price.

And now, the Canadiens have given him one final vote of confidence, as they did with Price in 2010 and Patrick Roy in the 1986 playoffs.

By adding another goaltender to the Rockets roster, the organization has not only ensured that their farm team will be in good shape during Fowler’s absence, as Shepard has already captured the Calder Cup twice in his career, but it has also allowed him to focus solely on the job at hand – which, in turn, should improve his preparation for the challenge ahead.

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

The Montreal Canadiens have become one of the highest-scoring teams in the league, and much of the credit for this should be given to the team’s top line.

There have been lineup changes, but in this case, we’re discussing the play of Nick Suzuki, Juraj Slafkowski and Cole Caufield, the most productive forwards in the Canadiens’ lineup.

5v5 production

All three members of the first line are on track to record career high points, which is a testament to their development, not to mention the impressive level of chemistry they have built over the past two seasons.

However, they aren’t really producing much at 5v5. Believe it or not, all three players have suffered a significant decline in points per 60 points this season.

Suzuki suffered the biggest losses with Slafkowski and Caufield. It should be noted that he still maintained a good production rate at 5v5, as anything closer to 2.0 points per 60 is generally considered reasonably good.

powerplay production

The most notable increase in scoring has come on the powerplay, where all three players have enjoyed a significant increase in production. However, Slafkowski leads by a significant margin, while Suzuki and Caufield lag behind.

Their individual improvements are reflected in the overall improvements of the team.

In 2024–25, the Canadiens were 21st in the NHL with 7.27 goals per 60 on the power play.

In 2025-26, the Canadiens rank fourth in the NHL with 9.31 ppg/60. This represents an increase of 28.1%.

Montreal Canadiens Brass Tacks

There’s more to scoring on the power play than just having three talented forwards in the mix. Or in Montreal’s case, often involving four forwards.

Having Ivan Demidov on the first power play unit has certainly increased the scoring, however, I would argue that the biggest difference this season has been having two talented power play quarterbacks available: Lane Hutson and Noah Dobson.

For example, Hutson has scored 5.7 points per 60 on the power play, good for fifth among all Canadiens players. As for Dobson, he is producing 4.4 points per 60, another encouraging result when we consider that he is often used on the second powerplay unit.

In that sense, we can certainly give Slafkowski, Suzuki, and Caufield credit for the improvement on the power play, but we also have to share some praise with the defensemen, not to mention the Montreal Canadiens management, which has finally solved one of the team’s most significant issues, the lack of production on the power play.

The Canadiens scored just 2.4 goals per game on the power play last season, good for 17th in the NHL. However, this season that number has increased to 2.8 goals per game, which ranks fourth in the league.

In other words, as usual in hockey, it’s a combination of factors that have led to Montreal’s improved power play ability.

All Montreal Canadiens statistics are via Natural Stat Trick.

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

The Montreal Canadiens hosted the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday night, a battle of two clubs on opposite poles of the trend spectrum.

The Habs are a team on the rise, while the Leafs are slowly realizing that their previous expectations were merely symptoms of delusions of sporting grandeur.

With this in mind, it was no surprise that the Canadiens defeated the Leafs, although the 3–1 score was a little favorable to the road team, as they lost to Montreal 33–18.

Let’s look at the highlights!

The future is now, old man

The Canadiens showed great pace to start the game, creating several high-danger scoring chances and frequent turnovers in the offensive zone.

This solid play ultimately culminated in rookie Oliver Kapanen’s 20th goal of the year, earning him a cool $212,500 to reach the goal-scoring bonus in his contract.

Oliver Kapanen opened the scoring with his 20th goal of the year.

A beauty, with Demidov and Newhook providing excellent assistance.

1-0 #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/cItuvSvIVs

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 10 March 2026

tertiary scoring

Montreal once again took advantage of their great start as Philippe Danault scored his fifth goal of the year, a nice individual effort that featured quick hands from the oldest player in the lineup.

It should be noted that shots in the first period were 18–5 in favor of the Canadiens, a season-high for the home team. The Canadiens were so dominant that the Leafs enjoyed their second offensive-zone start of the game just minutes into the second frame.

Philippe Danault has fun and doubles the Canadian’s lead! 🚨🔵⚪🔴 pic.twitter.com/1iiU68de09

– TVA Sports (@TVASports) 10 March 2026

stem the tide

Toronto clearly lacked enthusiasm to start the game, but they increased their effort level significantly midway through the second period, as evidenced by the game when William Nylander limited Montreal’s lead to just one goal.

Cowan and Nylander connect to cut Habs lead in half pic.twitter.com/2cUZlI0DdH

– Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) 11 March 2026

Partiality? We don’t need no smelly prejudice

With all due respect to the good folks at Sportsnet, their coverage of Tuesday’s game was completely tilted toward the Leafs.

Keep in mind that the Canadiens beat Toronto by a wide margin and are miles ahead of the Leafs in the standings. Toronto’s season is essentially meaningless, with the playoffs out of reach, while Montreal is engaged in an extremely competitive playoff race. Sportsnet spent more time discussing Benoit-Olivier Groulx’s handful of changes than anything remotely related to the Habs.

Of course, we have to allow for some disappointing catering at the Toronto market, but based on the comments, you’d assume Toronto won the game handily.

Rather, it was the Canadiens who emerged with a solid 3–1 victory, a sign of things to come between the respective franchises.

The Montreal Canadiens are back in action on Wednesday facing the Ottawa Senators. Puck drop is scheduled for 7pm ET.

All Montreal Canadiens stats are 5v5, via Natural Stat Trick, unless otherwise noted.

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

The Montreal Canadiens have 20 games left to play in the 2025-26 season, giving us a great opportunity to look at the team’s playoff odds again.

We’ll also evaluate the changes in the odds of the various Eastern Conference teams competing with the Habs for a playoff spot.

Updated Montreal Canadiens Playoff Odds

With 78 points in the bank after 62 games, the Canadiens are on solid pace to qualify for the playoffs.

According to Money Puck, his chances are currently 81.8%.

If they maintain this pace, they will finish the year with 103 points, which is significantly more than their results last season.

The Habs finished 2024-25 with 91 points, thus, their pace in 2025-26 represents a 13% increase in points per game.

The standings in the Eastern Conference are relatively opposite.

The Canadiens are just five points ahead of the Columbus Blue Jackets in the wild card race, however, it should be noted that they are only six points behind the Buffalo Sabers for the top spot in the Atlantic Division with two games remaining.

As always, the Eastern Conference is offering a very tortuous, chaotic playoff race.

With that in mind, we must remember that it is very difficult to close a gap of five or six points in the standings with only 20 games left on the schedule, especially since there are overtime and shootout points in the games.

Although the points paint a somewhat worrisome picture, the prospects reflect the fact that scoring a half-dozen points with very few games left to play is a tall mountain to climb for any NHL club.

Changes in Eastern Conference playoff odds

Two months ago, Montreal’s playoff chances were less than 70%.

Within a month, they increased slightly, but not to the point where anyone would feel comfortable suggesting any signs of relaxation.

With the Olympic break behind us, the Canadiens have not only strengthened their position, but they have increased their chances by more than 12%.

While the Canadiens slowly but surely improved their odds, some teams, such as the Washington Capitals, Philadelphia Flyers, New York Rangers and Toronto Maple Leafs, fell out of the playoff race, paying homage to Thelma and Louise.

On the other side of the coin, the New York Islanders, Boston Bruins, Columbus Blue Jackets, Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings significantly improved their chances of qualifying for the 2025-26 playoffs.

remaining montreal canadiens games

Opponents: Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators, San Jose Sharks, Anaheim Ducks, Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, New York Islanders (x2), Carolina Hurricanes (x2), Columbus Blue Jackets (x2), Nashville Predators, Tampa Bay Lightning (x2), New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils (2), Florida Panthers, Philadelphia Flyers.

With 20 games left on the docket, the Habs will face 17 Eastern Conference teams that will certainly have a major impact on their playoff race. They will play organizations in the Atlantic Division on seven occasions, while facing teams currently in a playoff spot nine times.

In other words, while Montreal’s playoff prospects are relatively healthy, there are enough games left in the season that there could be quite a swing when we consider that most of their rivals are also competing for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Montreal Canadiens Brass Tacks

All things considered, the Canadiens have a very high chance of reaching the playoffs, an accomplishment that should be celebrated.

Just four years ago, they were the worst team in the league, and they were given the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.

Expectations may have risen to unreasonable levels since then, but there’s no doubt that the Habs have done a great job in their rebuild.

This is one of the cleanest, most streamlined rebuilds in modern NHL history, as reflected by their strong bid to qualify for the playoffs in consecutive seasons.

All Montreal Canadiens and NHL playoff odds via Money Puck.

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

Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes met with the media on Friday afternoon following the NHL trade deadline, which resulted in no deal for the Habs.

According to Hughes, the Canadiens had the outlines of a potential deal, however it fell through in the final minutes of the deadline.

“We spent a lot of time on one case in particular,” he said. “And it came down to the wire, but that doesn’t stop us from revisiting it in the summer.”

Without trying to read too much between the lines, it seems like the Habs were actively involved in a trade for a player like Robert Thomas or Vincent Trocheck, two talented centers who should still be available in a trade after the regular season and playoffs are over.

When pressed for more details about a potential deal, Hughes once again pointed to the possibility that a trade could be completed in a matter of months.

He said, “I’d love to answer, but maybe you’ll find out in the summer.”

As far as pending unrestricted free agent Patrik Laine is concerned, Hughes suggests that despite all the trade talks approaching the deadline, he won’t be a distraction moving forward.

Hughes explained, “Patrick is part of the team like the other players, he’s not a distraction.” “I expect Patrick to be available for the team based on the decisions made by the coaches.”

If the Habs had pulled off a significant trade, Hughes noted that it would likely have resulted in other trade dominoes falling.

“We had some things that would have happened if the deal we were working on had gone through,” he said. “Yes, it was an important business for us.”

Montreal Canadiens Brass Tacks

As for the lack of action, Hughes reminded fans that the team actually made some big deals earlier in the season, including the trade that brought star defenseman Noah Dobson to the Canadiens.

“I think our players are happy to be here and they’re happy with the group,” Hughes said. “They are not unaware of the fact that we have taken significant steps since the end of last season to improve our team.

“Part of the message to the group is that we like these players, we have good hockey players, and we have good hockey players that are not playing.”

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

The NHL trade deadline has been fairly quiet for the Montreal Canadiens, however, a recent report suggests that activity may be picking up in the near future.

David Pagnotta reports that the Canadiens and the Calgary Flames are discussing a potential trade that would involve center Nazem Kadri. He also suggested Habs forward Patrik Laine could be part of the deal.

Pagnotta says Calgary and Montreal are talking about a Nazem Kadri trade.
“I’m told Patrick Laine may also be involved.”
#flames #GoHabsGo #nhl

– NHL Trade Alert (@NHLTradeAlert) 6 March 2026

Montreal Canadiens Brass Tacks

Although there is no pressure on the Habs to make a trade before the deadline, there is no doubt that they could stand to improve their situation in the middle of the ice.

Montreal has destroyed several centers, including forward Robert Thomas of the St. Louis Blues as well as forward Vincent Trocheck of the New York Rangers.

By all accounts, it seems like the acquisition cost for a player like Thomas or Trocheck may be unreasonably expensive, even if they are a good fit for the Canadiens’ lineup.

As far as Kadri is concerned, the Habs have circled around the 35-year-old all season, with reports in November suggesting that Kent Hughes and Co. had identified him as a potential trade target.

The main sticking point when discussing acquiring a player like Nazem Kadri is his age, which certainly doesn’t fit into Montreal’s ideal age group. That being said, the Habs are the youngest team in the league, and adding a little experience to the mix is ​​hardly a bad idea.

On the other side of the trade discussion is Patrik Laine, a player with one of the best shots in the league. His 5v5 numbers are incredibly tough, but it must be said that there is still some value to be found in his usage, especially on the powerplay.

And finally, it should also be noted that the Flames have shown interest in Canadiens defenseman Arbor Zekaj, a player who could be included in a potential trade to grease the wheels a bit.

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