When expansion forced the Victoire to part with key pieces of its lineup, Montreal suddenly found itself in need of blue-liners, and with one of their more reliable defenders in Kati Tabin a pending unrestricted free agent, it could have been even worse.
However, general manager Danièle Sauvageau wasted no time re-signing Kati Tabin to a two-year deal., as it was the first signing announced by the team ahead of what ended up being a very busy free-agency period. Tabin wasn’t just a steady...
Montreal Canadiens news and notes
Florian Xhekaj thanked his mother for helping him recover from injuries in his youth and Pascal Vincent — “the best coach I’ve ever had” — for helping him achieve his dream of playing in the NHL. [ Journal de Montreal ]
Arber Xhekaj was a proud brother when Florian’s first NHL point was announced. [ TVA Sports ]
Jake Evans said he made the decision himself to pull out of the third period versus Washington, wanting to make sure he was clear of ...
First period
Florian Xhekaj starts his first NHL shift with a loud hit on Troy Stecher in the offensive zone.
Well there’s a hockey game being played, but so far it looks like what you’d expect from teams that haven’t won many games in the past few weeks.
Jakub Dobeš shoots out his leg to pinch the puck on the post after a wraparound attempt by Dakota Joshua. A good save for him early.
It looks like Toronto is the first team to wake up in the contest.
The Leafs are p...
Game 21: Montreal Canadiens vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
Start time: 7:00 PM EST / 4:00 PM PST In Canada: CBC, Sportsnet E/O/P (English), TVA Sports (French) Streaming: CBC Gem, ESPN+
The good news is that Jake Evans is good to go after taken an elbow from Tom Wilson last game. The better news is that Florian Xhekaj, called up when Evans had to miss practice on Friday, will be in the lineup anyway to make his NHL debut. The forward hasn’t had the start to the season in the AHL to match h...
Game 21: Montreal Canadiens vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
Start time: 7:00 PM EST / 4:00 PM PST In Canada: CBC, Sportsnet E/O/P (English), TVA Sports (French) Streaming: CBC Gem, ESPN+
For the first time this season, the Montreal Canadiens’ skaters seemed to get demoralized by their goaltending on Thursday night. They responded well after Samuel Montembeault allowed a goal just as the game began by tying the game before the first period was up, but another two quick goals to begin th...
A hard week for the Laval Rocket continued on Friday night as they welcomed the ever feisty Belleville Senators to Place Bell for a two-game series. The Rocket endured a frustrating defeat on Wednesday night to the Syracuse Crunch, in a game where officiating seemed deadset against Laval. For Laval, they had to prepare quickly for a game that could either keep them in first place or see them slide down to fourth when the night was over.
The Rocket entered what was sure to be a combative a...
Montreal Canadiens news and notes
It’s too early for the Canadiens to turn to Jacob Fowler to play a regular role, but there’s precedent for a goalie to get his first NHL experience at this stage of development. [ La Presse ]
It’s more likely that Samuel Montembeault is the .900 goaltender that he’s been the past few season than what he appears to be right now. [ Montreal Gazette ]
Marin St-Louis’s message in practice was that the players can’t create as many chances for the o...
The Montreal Canadiens made a personnel swap on Friday evening, recalling Florian Xhekaj from the Laval Rocket.
Note: An earlier version of this article said that Joshua Roy was sent down, but the Canadiens have clarified he remains with the NHL team.
Erratum : Les Canadiens ont rappelé l’attaquant Florian Xhekaj du Rocket de Laval. Joshua Roy demeure avec les Canadiens. Erratum: The Canadiens have recalled Florian Xhekaj from the Laval Rocket. Joshua Roy remains with the Canadiens...
Now losers of five straight, four of which have come in regulation, the Montreal Canadiens are reeling. With one more game at the Bell Centre before they embark on a tough road swing through the western United States, this streak could become interminable if they can’t figure out a way to get some key saves here and there.
For the second time just during this losing streak, the Habs had to yank their starting goaltender. Also for the second time during said streak, it didn’t help.
Ja...
Montreal Canadiens news and notes
This is Joshua Roy’s great opportunity. [ La Presse ]
Zack Bolduc’s top-line opportunity comes two years after Juraj Slafkovský maximized his. [ The Athletic ]
Bolduc is holding fast to junior coach Patrick Roy’s words as he navigates the ups and downs of the season. [ Journal de Montreal ]
Noah Dobson has transformed the Habs defence. [ The Hockey Writers ]
Three members of the Canadiens who need to step up amid a tough stretch for ...
First period
The game isn’t off to the greatest start as Juraj Slafkovský was called for an errant high stick in the neutral zone. At least it’s only two minutes.
Or two seconds, as the case actually was. Alexander Ovechkin fires a shot off a faceoff win and opens the scoring.
Nick Suzuki gets laid out as he tries to get back on defence with the puck nowhere close to him. Neither official calls it.
About 10 seconds later, Mike Matheson is called for tripping.
Montrea...
Game 20: Montreal Canadiens vs. Washington Capitals
Start time: 7:00 PM EST / 4:00 PM PST In the Canadiens region: TSN2 (English), RDS (French) In the Capitals regions: MNMT Streaming: ESPN+, RDS, TSN+
Montreal may be missing three forwards who would usually play in the top nine and a top-four defenceman, but the club has managed to play some of its best hockey of the season in recent games with those four first-round selections out injured. They have finally given up on trying to c...
The Montreal Victoire get their season underway on Sunday afternoon, and on Thursday they announced their 23 player active roster and three reserve players that will start the season as they seek their first Walter Cup.
The team made their final cuts: Forward Audrey-Anne Veillette and goaltender Tricia Deguire. The team then added Claire Vekich, Tamara Giaquinto, and Maya Labad to the reserve roster, who will serve as replacements if anything happens to the players on the active roster.
...
Game 20: Montreal Canadiens vs. Washington Capitals
Start time: 7:00 PM EST / 4:00 PM PST In the Canadiens region: TSN2 (English), RDS (French) In the Capitals regions: MNMT Streaming: ESPN+, RDS, TSN+
Montreal’s reward last season for being the team to claim the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference was a first-round series with the Washington Capitals. The Canadiens had poured everything they had into the final third of the season to achieve that goal, while the Capitals ...
The Laval Rocket completed a solid swing through New England last Sunday, shutting out the Providence Bruins to reclaim first place in the AHL’s North Division. They returned to Place Bell for a three-game homestand against division rivals, starting with the Syracuse Crunch on Wednesday night. The Crunch sat just two points back of the Rocket and were led by the duo of Dylan Duke and Jakob Pelletier, who both were playing at over a point-per-game pace.
Pascal Vincent left his forward line...
Montreal Canadians news and notes
After four straight losses, it’s time for one of the Habs’ netminders to step up. [ Sportsnet ]
Zachary Bolduc will get another chance on the first line during Thursday’s game against the Washington Capitals. [ Journal de Montreal ]
Canadiens’ prospect Quentin Miller is off to a standout start in his first NCAA season. [ Journal de Montreal ]
Canadiens repeat as TSN’s top Core 4 U-24 team, but will the momentum show up on the ice? [ TSN ...
Montreal Canadiens news and notes
The Canadiens are learning lessons amidst their current struggles. [ Daily Faceoff ]
The Habs leave Columbus one step closer to busting their slump. [ Sportsnet | Radio-Canada ]
November will nonetheless prove pivotal for the Canadiens’ season. [ La Presse ]
The Habs are still two or three years away from being a true contender. [ La Presse ]
Juraj Slafkovsky moves from a little brother on the top line to a big brother with Ivan Demi...
Losers of three straight in regulation, the Montreal Canadiens embarked on a short road trip to Ohio for a single game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. With long-term injury woes forcing them to ice a new-look lineup, they had to battle their way back into the game just to salvage a point for themselves. Ultimately losing in a shootout, they at least
The good news is that most of the regulation time play was quite encouraging, particularly given all the changes to their forward group.
...
Montreal Canadiens News and Notes
Who is the Habs’ most impactful player? [ NHL ]
Alexandre Carrier is a team player. [ Montreal Gazette ]
The Habs recalled Marc Del Gaizo from the Rocket. [ Canadiens ]
Montreal’s injury-riddled series of losses doesn’t tell the whole picture any more than their hot start did. [ The Athletic ]
While he’s out with an injury, Alex Newhook is taking the opportunity to support his sister Abby at the game between the Victoire and the Flee...
Jakub Dobeš gets startled up by the cannon, and we’re ready to go in Columbus.
First period
A new line of Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, and Zachary Bolduc comes out to start the game. It will be interesting to see how Bolduc can adjust to their style of play.
The second line that resulted from that shift with Juraj Slafkovský beside the two rookies spent its shift in the offensive zone versus Kirill Marchenko’s trio, and that’s a positive debut.
Suzuki gets the pass to Bo...
Game 19: Montreal Canadiens @ Columbus Blue Jackets
Start time: 7:30 PM EST / 4:30 PM PST Streaming: Prime Monday Night Hockey
In the latter portion of last season, both the Montreal Canadiens and Columbus Blue Jackets had a goaltender come in through the minor-league system and establish himself as a regular. Jakub Dobeš and Jet Greaves have started eight and 11 games, respectively, through the opening few weeks of the season, and will go head-to-head in the first meeting between t...
The Montreal Victoire will officially return for their third game at the Bell Centre on December 27 when they host the Toronto Sceptres.
BACK AT THE B3LL C3NTR3! For its THIRD consecutive year, Montréal Victoire is back at the Bell Centre on December 27 for the Duel at the Top presented by @scotiabank ! 🎟️ Don’t miss it, public on-sale starts Nov 21! pic.twitter.com/xY3w5t1iiJ — Victoire de Montréal (@PWHL_Montreal) November 17, 2025
This will be the fifth professional wome...
The Montreal Canadiens have once again recalled defenceman Marc Del Gaizo from the Laval Rocket.
Les Canadiens ont rappelé le défenseur Marc Del Gaizo du Rocket de Laval. Il rejoindra l'équipe à Columbus. The Canadiens have recalled defenseman Marc Del Gaizo from the Laval Rocket. He will join the team in Columbus. pic.twitter.com/0PDOiwcV3o — Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) November 17, 2025
The reason that Del Gaizo was recalled and not someone like Adam Engström is li...
Game 19: Montreal Canadiens @ Columbus Blue Jackets
Start time: 7:30 PM EST / 4:30 PM PST Streaming: Prime Monday Night Hockey
Perhaps a game on the road will benefit the Montreal Canadiens. They were too focused on trying to create amazing goals in front of the Bell Centre fans, to the point that they simply refused to shoot the puck, always believing there was a better play to create offence.
It was of course most noticeable on two five-on-three power plays that generated jus...
Shiann Darkangelo is entering her first PWHL season with the Montreal Victoire, but her name has been involved in rumours linking her to the team going back as far as the league’s first season when she was with the Boston Fleet.
In that season she would eventually be traded to the Ottawa Charge, where she spent a little over a season and helped defeat the Victoire in four games in the PWHL Semifinal. When she became a free agent, the Victoire targeted the 31-year old and made her a priori...