The Habs went 2-1-1 during the second week of December, and sit third in the Atlantic Division with a record of 17-11-4.
It started with another full-on embarrassment at home, a 6-1 beatdown courtesy of the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday. The Habs then took to the road, with Jacob Fowler getting his first NHL regular-season start against the Pittsburgh Penguins after the Habs hit the organizational panic button – calling up Fowler, Adam Engström and Owen Beck.
All three played in the...
Montreal Canadiens news and notes
Bryce Pickford has caught fire with the Medicine Hat Tigers. The defenceman is riding a five-game multi-goal streak:
5 MULTI-GOAL GAMES IN A ROW FOR BRYCE PICKFORD!!! 🤯🤯🤯🚨🐅 pic.twitter.com/d0gaJGGXBK — Medicine Hat Tigers (@tigershockey) December 14, 2025
Quinn Hughes going to the Minnesota Wild was good news for Montreal because it meant he didn’t go to Detroit. [ The Athletic ]
In Abby Roque, the Montreal Victoire may finally ...
First period
Jakub Dobeš gets the start after a couple of games for Jacob Fowler.
It’s a rough start for referee Furman South as Mattias Ekholm fires a clearing attempt off the back of his knee. We have to hope he remembers which team did that to him.
Josh Anderson goes in on a partial breakaway, but his backhand move doesn’t fool Calvin Pickard.
Juraj Slafkovský’s tips a point shot that gives Pickard more trouble, but the goaltender still makes the save.
Well so muc...
Game 32: Montreal Canadiens vs. Edmonton Oilers
Start time: 7:00 PM EST / 4:00 PM PST In the Canadiens region: TSN2 (English), RDS (French) In the Oilers region: Sportsnet West Streaming: ESPN+, RDS, TSN+
It turns out the Montreal Canadiens can’t just abandon their defensive duties with Jacob Fowler in the net and let the rookie save them. They did well in Pittsburgh to limit the shots he faced to start his NHL career, but the New York Rangers were able to test him from close r...
Game 32: Montreal Canadiens vs. Edmonton Oilers
Start time: 7:00 PM EST / 4:00 PM PST In the Canadiens region: TSN2 (English), RDS (French) In the Oilers region: Sportsnet West Streaming: ESPN+, RDS, TSN+
The Edmonton Oilers have had one glaring weakness for several seasons, and that is goaltending. The team has made back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals despite the issues in net, ranking 11th of the 16 teams in the 2025 post-season with an overall save percentage of .871. The assumption ...
Montreal Canadiens news and notes
Following a brawl that featured several players who had been on the Laval Rocket’s bench when the fracas started, Alex Belzile, Laurent Dauphin, and Joshua Roy were suspended for three games, not eligible to return until after the AHL’s Christmas break. Sammy Blais was also suspended for just yesterday’s game. [ La Presse ]
Without those four forwards and Marc Del Gaizo, who had been hit in the head by Michael Pezzetta to set everything off, the Ro...
First period
Cole Caufield cheats a bit speeding out into the neutral zone as the puck stays in the Canadiens’ end, and that opens up some space for J.T. Miller to get the puck to Braden Schneider to walk in and shoot, but Jacob Fowler makes the save.
The second line comes out, and pass from Ivan Demidov to Oliver Kapanen in the slot just fails to connect.
The top line has now spent both of its shifts in the defensive zone. They have had several games with that not happening t...
Game 31: Montreal Canadiens @ New York Rangers
Start time: 7:00 PM EST / 4:00 PM PST In the Canadiens region: CityTV, Sportsnet East (English), TVA Sports (French) In the Rangers region: MSG Streaming: ESPN+, Sportsnet+
The Canadiens have generally played well this season, with the frustration coming when they have lapses in their execution over stretches of games that spoil the effort. One such case was found in the first meeting of the season between the Habs and New York Rangers,...
Game 31: Montreal Canadiens @ New York Rangers
Start time: 7:00 PM EST / 4:00 PM PST In the Canadiens region: CityTV, Sportsnet East (English), TVA Sports (French) In the Rangers region: MSG Streaming: ESPN+, Sportsnet+
It was a surprising season for the New York Rangers in 2024-25 when a team that had looked like it was trending toward contender status often looked disinterested in putting in any effort and never recovered on the way to missing the playoffs. The lack of urgenc...
It was a rare occurrence on Friday night as the Laval Rocket returned to the ice after a shootout loss to the Toronto Marlies on Wednesday night. The team was still without three of their key pieces as they were part of a winning effort in Pittsburgh for the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday.
That meant Kaapo Kähkönen was again the starter in net, while Ryan O’Rourke drew in alongside Josiah Didier on the Rocket third pairing. The rest of the lineup remained the same as the Rocket looked to ...
Montreal Canadiens news and notes
The Canadiens are looking for a centre, and Phillip Danault might be available. [ TVA Sports ]
“I want to be a teammate who is wanted on a team. For me, that’s not just about making saves and winning games, it’s also about representing the culture of hockey by behaving well on and off the ice,” Jacob Fowler explains about his approach to the game. [ TVA Sports ]
Fowler was happy his first NHL game was played in Pittsburgh, against the team he ...
After a wildly disappointing effort at home on Tuesday night, the Montreal Canadiens hit the road for a Thursday night matchup with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Before hitting the road – in fact, immediately following the aforementioned debacle against Tampa – they called up some reinforcements from Laval, looking to shake things up in search of a win.
The most notable lineup change saw them give a first NHL start to Jacob Fowler in goal, and their top goaltending prospect didn’t disappoint. ...
Montreal Canadiens news and notes
What to expect from Jacob Fowler. [ Sportsnet ]
As with any young goalie, patience is called for. Just look at Carey Price’s early years. [ La Presse ]
The Habs are reportedly not looking at the goalie market yet. [ The Hockey Writers | TSN ]
Owen Beck has another chance to crack the Canadiens lineup. [ Montreal Gazette ]
Quentin Miller never stopped believing, even when he had to go to Chilliwack to get a chance. [ RDS ]
Arou...
There’s a delay to allow people to get to the rink. Jacob Fowler’s NHL debut will wait another 30 minutes.
First period
Owen Beck puts enough pressure on Kris Letang at the end of a long shift for the veteran defenceman to create a turnover. Alexandre Texier collects the puck and fires it off the far-side elbow of the net and in to open the scoring. Beck won’t get a point on the play, but it doesn’t happen without him.
Sidney Crosby tries to tip the puck in in f...
Game 30: Montreal Canadiens @ Pittsburgh Penguins
Start time: 7:00 PM EST / 4:00 PM PST In the Canadiens region: TSN2 (English), RDS (French) In the Penguins region: Sportsnet Pittsburgh Streaming: ESPN+, RDS, TSN+
With both goalies struggling, the Montreal Canadiens have turned to their goaltender of the future for at least one start. Jacob Fowler will make his NHL debut this evening for a team that has lost a couple of games in a row, having issues preventing dangerous chance...
Game 30: Montreal Canadiens @ Pittsburgh Penguins
Start time: 7:00 PM EST / 4:00 PM PST In the Canadiens region: TSN2 (English), RDS (French) In the Penguins region: Sportsnet Pittsburgh Streaming: ESPN+, RDS, TSN+
“I can’t keep having to answer the same question over again,” a slightly agitated Sidney Crosby said as training camp was opening this summer. The Pittsburgh Penguins had failed to make the playoffs the last three seasons, and the most valuable asset the team has to begin...
Montreal Canadiens news and notes
Desperate times may call for desperate measures, but the Canadiens made the right choice calling up Jacob Fowler. [ Montreal Gazette ]
Fowler’s recall isn’t as risky as it may seem. [ Sportsnet ]
Martin St. Louis’s goal is to see where Fowler is in his development, not to bring him in as some kind of saviour. [ Journal de Montreal ]
It will be interesting to see whether Fowler can give the Canadiens the boost they need when he gets his fi...
The Montreal Canadiens barely showed up for their game against the Tampa Bay Lightning last night. Outskated, outplayed, and outscored rather soundly by their divisional rivals, one could be forgiven for assuming it was the Habs, and not the Lightning who had played the night prior in Toronto. It was a truly atrocious performance in front of their home fans, many of whom left early in the third period to beat the traffic.
Management obviously took notice as well, as there would be some tr...
Montreal Canadiens news and notes
Profiling Zachary Bolduc. [ La Presse ]
Alexandre Texier embraces a fresh start with the Habs. [ Montreal Gazette | RDS ]
Florian Xhekaj is eager for a second bite of the NHL sundae. [ Montreal Gazette ]
Andrei Markov’s former teammates salute the General. [ Montreal Canadiens ]
Bryce Pickford is lighting it up to start the season. [ The Hockey Writers ]
Jared Davidson’s journey to the NHL. [ The Hockey Writers ]
Where does...
With a two-game road trip coming up for the Montreal Canadiens, they’ve dipped into their minor-league depth and recalled a player at every position. Owen Beck has received his second recall of the season, Adam Engström is back after joining the team for the previous road trip, and Jacob Fowler will join the NHL team for the first time.
Les Canadiens ont rappelé Owen Beck, Adam Engstrom et Jacob Fowler du Rocket de Laval. The Canadiens have recalled Owen Beck, Adam Engstrom and Jacob Fowl...
Well for anyone worried the Canadiens wouldn’t be up for this game, Brendan Gallagher is sparring with Zemgus Girgensons before the opening puck drop.
First period
It’s still a surprise how quickly the top line can create chances out of seemingly nothing. They just turned a contested puck at the goal line into two point-blank chances, with Juraj Slafkovský again doing the hardest work.
The second line hits the ice and puts together something similar.
All that, and it’s ...
Game 29: Montreal Canadiens vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
Start time: 7:00 PM EST / 4:00 PM PST In the Canadiens region: TSN2 (English), RDS (French) In the Lightning region: The Spot Streaming: ESPN+, RDS, TSN+
The Montreal Canadiens will play the first of four games versus the Tampa Bay Lightning this season, a series that could potentially determine which of the teams qualifies for the playoffs. The Atlantic Division remains tight, with the Detroit Red Wings jumping from fourth to firs...
Game 29: Montreal Canadiens vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
Start time: 7:00 PM EST / 4:00 PM PST In the Canadiens region: TSN2 (English), RDS (French) In the Lightning region: The Spot Streaming: ESPN+, RDS, TSN+
It looked like this was going to be the year that the Tampa Bay Lightning’s run as a perennial playoff team would come to an end. They began the season 1-4-2 to sit in last place in the Eastern Conference. Then they rattled off five wins a row.
It’s been a season of wild mome...
Montreal Canadiens News and Notes
Andrei Markov’s actions (and teammates) did all the talking needed. [ Canadiens ]
Maturing is the goal, and that doesn’t happen overnight or without hiccups. [ The Athletic ]
The Habs goal scorers are propelling them to levels they have not reached in 30 years. [ TVA ]
Pascal Vincent and Owen Beck have a plan for the latter’s development. [ TVA Sports ]
Around the League and Elsewhere
Hockey at the Olympics will be played on...
A day after a shootout thriller in Toronto, the Montreal Canadiens were right back in action, this time against the St. Louis Blues at the Bell Centre. With two-straight shootout wins on the books, they had a chance to stretch their win streak to three, but came up short with a disappointing 4-3 loss in front of their home crowd.
Earlier in the day we found out that Samuel Montembeault would miss the game due to illness. With how inconsistent the Habs were defensively, one could easily wo...