The Laval Rocket’s trek through the AHL’s North Division continued on Wednesday night. After a bit of an uneven ending to February, they looked to get March off on the right foot. They again squared off with the Syracuse Crunch with a chance to close their playoff magic number down to just 11 points.
The Rocket would be without starting netminder Jacob Fowler and forward Florian Xhekaj whose illnesses both kept them out of the lineup once again. Will Dineen again centred the fourth line w...
about 2 months ago
· 2 reads
Montreal Canadiens news and notes
Don’t be surprised if the Canadiens remain quiet at the trade deadline for the second straight year. [ Montreal Gazette ]
“We shot ourselves in the foot too often and it cost us” Martin St. Louis said after the Canadiens 7-5 loss to the San Jose Sharks. [ Sportsnet ]
The loss was Jakub Dobeš first in regulation in almost three months. [ Journal de Montreal ]
It might be time to shuffle the Canadiens’ top scoring lines. [ Montreal Gazette ...
about 2 months ago
· 3 reads
With Buffalo and Boston both posting wins earlier in the day, the Montreal Canadiens visited the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday with a big two points up for grabs. In one of their more frustrating performances in recent memory, they bumbled their way to a three goal deficit in the third period, stormed their way back to tie the game, then took a late penalty that ended up giving the Sharks the game-winning goal.
The first two goals scored by San Jose were byproducts of confusion and bad puck ...
about 2 months ago
· 5 reads
Montreal Canadiens news and notes
The trade deadline is just part of the business, says Kaiden Guhle. [ Montreal Gazette ]
The Habs hope that Kirby Dach can hold his position on the first line. [ Montreal Gazette ]
The Habs have decisions to make with Arber Xhekaj and Jayden Struble. [ The Hockey Writers ]
David Reinbacher and his renewed belief in his abilities. [ Radio-Canada ]
When thinking about a Robert Thomas trade, consider: what would the Canadiens want in ex...
about 2 months ago
· 4 reads
First period
A hot start for Montreal sees the top line get two quick scoring chances. They’re ready to play this one.
Lane Hutson takes Macklin Celebrini right out of the play along the boards. He wants to prove he’s the better player is looks like.
Jakub Dobeš just got his stick on a pass destined for a wide-open player at the side of the net. He may have saved a goal with the play.
Hutson has made a standout play on each of his shifts so far.
Oliver Kapanen tries ...
about 2 months ago
· 6 reads
Game 60: Montreal Canadiens @ San Jose Sharks
Start time: **10:00 PM EST / 7:00 PM PST** In the Canadiens region: TSN2 (English), RDS (French) In the Sharks region: NBC Sports California Streaming: ESPN+, RDS, TSN+
Martin St-Louis must have liked what he saw from his team on Saturday in a 6-2 win over the Washington Capitals because he has made no changes from that lineup. Zachary Bolduc remains of the third line, Jayden Struble is still on the third pairing, and Jakub Dobeš is...
about 2 months ago
· 4 reads
Game 60: Montreal Canadiens @ San Jose Sharks
Start time: **10:00 PM EST / 7:00 PM PST** In the Canadiens region: TSN2 (English), RDS (French) In the Sharks region: NBC Sports California Streaming: ESPN+, RDS, TSN+
On January 27, after beating the Vancouver Canucks 5-2 to begin a road trip that would wrap up the pre-Olympics schedule, the San Jose Sharks occupied the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference and the division lead was just six points ahead. The young shiver of ...
about 2 months ago
· 5 reads
Montreal Canadiens News and Notes
Playing at the Olympics has brought new speed to Nick Suzuki’s game, both physically and mentally. [ TVA Sports ]
Last year, Suzuki asked Kent Hughes to keep the team together. This year, they’re in a different position. [ The Athletic | TVA Sports | La Presse ]
Alex Newhook wants to be the top-six forward the Habs are looking for. [ Montreal Gazette ]
Patrik Laine hasn’t been cleared to play, but he traveled with the team to California. ...
about 2 months ago
· 3 reads
This Friday, March 6 will be the trade deadline for the 2025-26 NHL season. It is one of the more unique deadlines in recent memory, since the Olympic trade freeze left a three-week gap where some teams may normally have executed some of their moves ahead of time. Now, on a bit of a time crunch, we’ll see what GMs around the league are able to pull off before the clock strikes midnight.
The Montreal Canadiens haven’t been linked to many names, but it is no secret that they would like to m...
about 2 months ago
· 4 reads
The Montreal Victoire extended their undefeated streak at Place Bell with a 4–0 win over the Minnesota Frost on Sunday afternoon.
They have not lost at their primary home venue, going 7-0 to start the season. The only game they have lost at home this season was at the Bell Centre.
Depth scoring has been key in recent games, and Saturday afternoon was no different. Maggie Flaherty opened the scoring just after the 13-minute mark of the first period, firing one in from the blue line. J...
about 2 months ago
· 3 reads
Montreal Canadiens news and notes
Being on the road through the trade deadline could be a good thing for the Canadiens, Martin St-Louis explains. [ Journal de Montreal ]
The increased pace of play Nick Suzuki played at for Team Canada at the Olympics has followed him back to Montreal. [ Radio-Canada ]
Part of that could be his decision to fly home as directly as possible, forgoing Hockey Canada’s charter flight that would have taken him to Miami instead. [ The Athletic ]
...
about 2 months ago
· 3 reads
Embroiled in an increasingly heated battle for positioning in the Atlantic Division, the Montreal Canadiens hosted the Washington Capitals on Saturday night with a chance to move back into the top three. On the heels of a disappointing overtime loss that saw the Habs surrender a third-period lead, they left no doubt this time around, putting home two empty-netters late in the game to secure a huge 6-2 regulation win.
The win, and frankly the overall success of the Habs this season wouldn’...
about 2 months ago
· 3 reads
Fresh off a 9-3 thrashing of the Rochester Americans on Friday night, the Laval Rocket made the 90-minute trek east down I-90 to square off with the Syracuse Crunch on Saturday night. While the night was dedicated to the newest members of the Crunch Hall off Fame, including former Hamilton Bulldog and St. John’s IceCap captain Gabriel Dumont, the Rocket still had a chance to go 11 points clear atop the North Division.
With bodies in short supply thanks to illness and injury, the Rocket ma...
about 2 months ago
· 1 reads
Montreal Canadiens news and notes
With his two goals to give the Canadiens a lead last night, Cole Caufield set the Canadiens’ franchise record for go-ahead goals in a season. [ TVA Sports ]
The Canadiens are interested in adding a defensive defenceman ahead of the deadline. [ RG.org ]
Patrik Laine is 32nd on The Athletic’s trade-bait board. [ The Athletic ]
Marie-Philip Poulin is still day-to-day, but looked strong in yesterday’s practice for the Montreal Victoire. [ La ...
about 2 months ago
· 4 reads
First period
Cole Caufield had a good chance in the opening seconds, but couldn’t get it through.
Caufield blocks a shot and turns it into a breakaway, and he’s not going to miss a second scoring opportunity.
Despite Montreal having a lead, the crowd at the Bell Centre is pretty quiet. Maybe they’re waiting to see how they play while up a goal.
Noah Dobson takes a couple of punches from Brandon Duhaime after an icing call, but those seem to be allowed tonight...
about 2 months ago
· 3 reads
Game 59: Montreal Canadiens vs. Washington Capitals
Start time: 7:00 PM EST / 4:00 PM PST In Canada: CityTV, Sportsnet East (English), TVA Sports (French) In the Capitals region: MNMT Streaming: ESPN+, Sportsnet+
The Montreal Canadiens’ lineup has seen a few changes since Thursday’s loss to the New York Islanders. Jakub Dobeš steps back into the crease, looking to at least keep the Canadiens’ point streak alive for a seventh consecutive game while he will try to extend a person...
about 2 months ago
· 3 reads
Game 59: Montreal Canadiens vs. Washington Capitals
Start time: 7:00 PM EST / 4:00 PM PST In Canada: CityTV, Sportsnet East (English), TVA Sports (French) In the Capitals region: MNMT Streaming: ESPN+, Sportsnet+
The Montreal Canadiens came out of the Olympic break with another overtime game, their 20th of the opening 58 games of the season. Normally good in three-on-three this year, where they’ve claimed nine of their wins, they dropped a second consecutive decision in the ext...
about 2 months ago
· 3 reads
Montreal Canadiens news and notes
“I have a lot more in my toolbox than what I’ve shown so far,” Zachary Bolduc admits after being a healthy scratch on Thursday night. [ La Presse ]
Pierre LeBrun believes the Los Angeles Kings could be interested in acquiring Patrik Laine. [ The Athletic ]
With Noah Dobson reaching 40 points on the season to join Lane Hutson, the Canadiens have had two defencemen reach that milestone for the first time since P.K. Subban and Andrei Markov in 20...
about 2 months ago
· 3 reads
After a long break for the Olympics, the Montreal Canadiens were back on Bell Centre ice to shake off the rust with a Thursday night matchup against the New York Islanders. Allowing a late goal to tie the game sent them to overtime, and while the one point they earned for getting there is valuable, they left one more on the table when Jean-Gabriel Pageau put home the game-winner at three-on-three.
An unfortunate end, to be sure, but there were some encouraging performances in the game as ...
about 2 months ago
· 3 reads
The Montreal Canadiens have never been accused of being a boring franchise. This series is a look back at the moments that made you throw your hands up, lose your mind, ugly cry, hold your breath, scratch your head, and cheer so loudly you scared the dog … sometimes all at once. If you were there the first time around, you know. If you weren’t, hop in the DeLorean cause we’re going back in time.
The Day the Timeline Exploded
Some trades simply adjust the roster.
Others take down...
about 2 months ago
· 3 reads
Montreal Canadiens news and notes
Phillip Danault used the Olympic break to give his kids the gift of winter. [ Montreal Gazette ]
Why scratching Zachary Bolduc marks another new phase in the Canadiens rebuild. [ The Athletic ]
How close is the blue-line corps to being contender-ready? [ The Hockey Writers ]
Potential destinations for Patrik Laine. [ The Hockey Writers ]
Kent Hughes and Laine’s agent are actively seeking a solution for the Finnish winger. [ RDS ]
...
about 2 months ago
· 4 reads
It’s been three weeks, but there won’t be many more off days for the Canadiens before the end of the season arrives.
First period
Martin St-Louis clearly remembers how well Brendan Gallagher, Phillip Danault, and Josh Anderson played in Winnipeg in the previous game because they’re out to start. And they spend their shift in the offensive zone.
It’s the New York Islanders’ fourth line that opens the scoring in the game, however, as an attempted pass from Danault in his own z...
Game 58: Montreal Canadiens vs. New York Islanders
Start time: 7:00 PM EST / 4:00 PM PST In the Canadiens region: TSN2 (English), RDS (French) In the Islanders region: MSGSN Streaming: ESPN+, RDS, TSN+
The Montreal Canadiens and New York Islanders have taken very different paths to similar places in the standings. The Canadiens sport the NHL’s third-best offence, overcoming the defensive errors they make and their substandard goaltending by scoring enough goals to counter those...
Game 58: Montreal Canadiens vs. New York Islanders
Start time: 7:00 PM EST / 4:00 PM PST In the Canadiens region: TSN2 (English), RDS (French) In the Islanders region: MSGSN Streaming: ESPN+, RDS, TSN+
The NHL season was on hiatus for three weeks as the Olympics took place in Milan, so, as you get with television shows that go on break, a “previously on” recap is required. The last time we saw the Montreal Canadiens in action, they were in Winnipeg wrapping up a three-game road...
As a difficult February began to enter its final days, the Laval Rocket found themselves in one of their toughest stretches in quite some time. Ahead of them lay three games against divisional opponents, starting with the Toronto Marlies on Wednesday night, and just behind them was a nasty three-in-three weekend in Central New York. While the Marlies were sat 15 points back of the Rocket in the standings, every single game between the two sides had been tightly contested all season.
Makin...