Welcome back to PuckTalk MTL, your go-to destination for Montreal Canadiens previews, NHL analysis, and in-depth hockey breakdowns! In this preview, Kosta looks ahead to a highly anticipated matchup as the Canadiens finally return home and prepare to take on the Calgary Flames at the Bell Centre. After a long road stretch, the Habs will look to feed off the home crowd energy and put out the Flames in a key interconference showdown. He'll review the biggest storylines heading into Canadiens vs Flames, including lineup decisions, goaltending expectations, and which players need to step up for Montreal to control the pace. Kosta will also go over what was said at today's mid-season press conference with Kent Hughes. Can the Habs tighten up defensively, generate more sustained offensive pressure, and take advantage of Calgary’s weaknesses? We also analyze the Flames’ recent form, top scoring threats, and how their physical style could challenge Montreal on home ice. Whether you’re a Montreal Canadiens fan, a Calgary Flames supporter, or a passionate NHL and hockey fan, this preview delivers everything you need before puck drop. From special teams battles to key matchups and coaching strategies, we cover it all. If you’re searching for Habs previews, NHL game analysis, or Canadiens vs Flames breakdowns, this video is for you. 🔥 LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE for more Montreal Canadiens coverage, NHL previews, and daily hockey talk on PuckTalk MTL! 0:00 - Show Start 1:00 - Clearing Up Kosta's Michael Hage Comments 2:48 - Reviewing Kent Hughes' Mid-Season Press Conference 10:17 - Projected gameDay LineUps - Will guhle Play Wednesday or Thursday? 14:37 - Our 5 Point Play For The Calgary Flames 32:01 - The 5 Keys To Victory For The Habs Over Calgary #Habs #GoHabsGo #NHL #Hockey #IceHockey #CH #HockeyVLog #CanadiensVsFlames #CalgaryFlames #FlamesHockey #PuckTalkMTL In every episode, Kosta Papoulias takes a deep dive into the latest Montreal Canadiens news involving Ivan Demidov, Patrik Laine, Juraj Slafkovsky, Josh Anderson, Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, Kirby Dach, Joe Veleno, Jake Evans, Zach Bolduc, Brendan Gallagher, Alex Newhook, Oliver Kapanen, Habs Defencemen, Arber Xhekaj, Kaiden Guhle, Sam Montembeault, Lane Hutson, Jayden Struble, Alex Carrier, Mike Matheson, Noah Dobson, Jakub Dobes, Jacob Fowler, Kent Hughes, Martin St Louis. Dans chaque épisode, Kosta Papoulias analyse en profondeur les dernières nouvelles des Canadiens de Montréal concernant Ivan Demidov, Patrik Laine, Juraj Slafkovsky, Josh Anderson, Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, Kirby Dach, Joe Veleno, Jake Evans, Zach Bolduc, Brendan Gallagher, Alex Newhook, Oliver Kapanen, Habs Defencemen, Arber Xhekaj, Kaiden Guhle, Sam Montembeault, Lane Hutson, Jayden Struble, Alex Carrier, Mike Matheson, Noah Dobson, Jakub Dobes, Jacob Fowler, Kent Hughes et Martin St Louis. Please Click to Subscribe / Veuillez cliquer pour vous abonner: https://bit.ly/mtlhockeytalk

Hadi Kalakeche of EliteProspects and Eyes on the Prize, joins the podcast to talk about the Montreal Canadiens prospects in the tournament. * Mikus Vecvanags “He faced 41 shots, allowed 8 goals. I mean, there’s only so much you can do with Latvia in front of you. Overall, I thought that the Latvians tried their best to kind of get bodies in front of shots.” “He’s lower down the pecking order of the goalies I like within the Habs system. There’s a lot of other guys that are doing really well. Obviously, Jacob Fowler, but Alexis Cournoyer, Quentin Miller both of them are playing really well in the NCAA right now.” * Carlos Händel “The concern with Händel remains that he hasn’t learned to handle defend forechecking pressure. And that’s still something he’s struggling with at a QMJHL level, it’s going to be even tougher for him to scale that up to the AHL or NHL level. And that’s a key, key part of being able to be a defenseman in the pros.” “With Händel, there’s a lot of inconsistencies. At times, the skating looks like his best strength, and at times, he doesn’t really move his feet all that much, so there’s still a lot to work on with this game.” * Aatos Koivu “What he brings to the game, he has a ridiculous shot. He’s able to just wire it from the half wall. It’s all about what he can build around that, right? And it’s all about compounding good decisions that lead you to those spots, because that’s what works in the NHL. That’s how good scorers become great scorers in the NHL. You stack good decisions on top of each other and build a skill set around that.” “I haven’t seen that yet from Koivu, but I think with time, this type of prospect, with this type of pedigree, with a dad who played, who’s a legend in Montreal, there’s extra incentive.” * L.J. Mooney “The thing with Mooney that’s really impressive is just he’s always moving his feet. And it’s ridiculous at which rate he’s active with his feet. And that leads a lot of his game. The issue is how do you bring that to a level where you’re able to create the same way in the NHL? Because you can’t move your feet the entire time in the NHL. You need to be able to modulate your pace, to adjust, you know, slow down, speed up, accelerate, decelerate. Being able to do that at an NHL level is going to be very, very tough for LJ. Mooney,” “If his physical game doesn’t scale up, you lose a bit of that dynamism, a bit of that ability to create at high speeds like he does. It’s going to be a very curious case study, and another player like Aatos Koivu, who is probably going to take a bit more time to get to where he needs to be and what a ceiling is. * Michael Hage “We were having these conversations a lot internally at Elite Prospects as the tournament was going on, especially the semi-final game, which was a heartbreak for Canada against Czechia. What really stood out with Hage is just he’s a player who… loves getting 80% of the way to a highlight reel goal. He’s always so close to scoring that highlight reel goal. He’s just missing that extra 20% at the very end of it. Dynamic, elusive, really smart. He sees things really well. But his contact game needs to expand in order to play a central role in the NHL. We saw at this tournament, Hage wasn’t as effective down the middle. He was more effective as the brains of the operation from an F3 position.” When those elements aren’t there early, it takes a lot of time for prospects to grasp them at an NHL pace and level. Possession-heavy Habs system might limit the impact of Hage’s hurdles, but might also limit Hage’s reps in those specific contexts and prevent him from expanding.— Hadi Kalakeche (@HadiK_Scouting) December 29, 2025 Then the podcast moves on to the discussion about Ivar Stenberg or Gavin McKenna as number one in the 2026 NHL Draft, with a few other names that can challenge though the rest of the season. ---

Montreal Canadiens news and notes * Michael Hage, who led the tournament with 15 points, was one of the six players named by the media to the all-star team at the 2026 World Juniors. [IIHF.com] * Martin St-Louis explains that Juraj Slafkovský’s growing ability to control the pace of the game is why he’s become such a dominant force. [La Presse] * Slafkovský is featured in the latest episode of NHL My World: * Ivan Demidov has taken the team lead in offensive-zone possession time. [RDS] * The first half of the season was defined by comebacks and overtime wins, the biggest difference from last year to this. [RDS] * Lane Hutson helped the Canadiens claim a 4-1-2 record over the stretch of seven consecutive road games, and carried the Habs through the temporary absence of Mike Matheson. [TVA Sports] * The Canadiens are far from the only team outperforming their expected-goal numbers this season. [The Athletic] * With a tough road trip now completed, the next challenge is seven games versus division opponents before the Olympics. [TVA Sports] Around the league and elsewhere * Sweden snapped its 13-year gold drought at the World Juniors by surviving a late push by Czechia in the Gold Medal Game. [TSN] * Vojtěch Čihař of Czechia was named the tournament MVP. [CHL.ca] * Christian Dvorak signed a five-year contract extension with the Philadelphia Flyers. [NHL.com] * The Carolina Hurricanes acquired Juuso Valimaki from the Utah Mammoth for future considerations. [TSN] * Igor Shesterkin was helped off the ice last night after sustaining a lower-body injury. [NHL.com] * Marc-André Fleury is learning the ropes of how the Minnesota Wild are managed as he considers the possibility of one day taking on such a role. [La Presse] * The Pacific has become a division of awful teams. [The Athletic] * Kevin Cheveldayoff is shocked that his Winnipeg Jets have fallen to the bottom of the standings. [Sportsnet] * Nikita Kucherov, Sidney Crosby, and Auston Matthews were the NHL’s three stars of the week. [NHL.com] * Zayne Parekh says he could have chosen his words better when discussing how he’s been asked to rein in his personality in Calgary. [Sportsnet] * Parekh will return to the Flames now that the World Juniors have concluded. [Sportsnet] * Sam Hallam explains his construction of Sweden’s Olympic team. [The Athletic] * Bob Pullford, a four-time winner of the Stanley Cup as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs, has passed away aged 89. [NHL.com] * Longtime OHL commissioner David Branch has died at the age of 77. [CHL.ca]

Welcome to PuckTalk MTL, where we tackle the biggest questions in Montreal Canadiens hockey, NHL development, and the future of Canadian hockey. In this episode, Kosta asks a controversial but necessary question: Did Michael Hage deserve better at the World Junior Hockey Championship—and what’s actually wrong with Hockey Canada right now? He breaks down Michael Hage’s role, usage, and performance, and examine whether Team Canada properly identified and developed its talent at the World Juniors. Was Hage underutilized? Were roster decisions and deployment part of a deeper systemic issue? This video dives into player development models, coaching philosophy, and how Canada’s approach now compares to Europe and the United States. For Montreal Canadiens fans, he connects the dots between Hage’s situation and the Habs’ own development philosophy. For Junior hockey fans, Team Canada supporters, and World Junior Hockey Championship followers, this is an honest, analytical discussion about why Canada may be falling behind on the international stage. He also explores scouting bias, ice-time distribution, lineup politics, and whether Canadian hockey is struggling to adapt to the modern game. If you care about Canadian hockey’s future, elite prospects, or international tournaments, this episode is a must-watch. 🔥 LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE for deep-dive Habs content, World Juniors analysis, and real hockey conversations on PuckTalk MTL. 0:00 - Show Start 1:44 - How Did Czechia Manage To Beat Team Canada? 6:10 - Why Wasn't Michael Hage Selected As A Tournament MVP? 14:24 - What's Missing In The Hockey Canada Development Model? #MichaelHage #WorldJuniors #TeamCanada #HockeyCanada #MontrealCanadiens #NHLProspects #JuniorHockey #PuckTalkMTL #GoHabsGo #NHL #Hockey #IceHockey #CH #HockeyVLog #Habs In every episode, Kosta Papoulias takes a deep dive into the latest Montreal Canadiens news involving Ivan Demidov, Patrik Laine, Juraj Slafkovsky, Josh Anderson, Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, Kirby Dach, Joe Veleno, Jake Evans, Zach Bolduc, Brendan Gallagher, Alex Newhook, Oliver Kapanen, Habs Defencemen, Arber Xhekaj, Kaiden Guhle, Sam Montembeault, Lane Hutson, Jayden Struble, Alex Carrier, Mike Matheson, Noah Dobson, Jakub Dobes, Jacob Fowler, Kent Hughes, Martin St Louis. Dans chaque épisode, Kosta Papoulias analyse en profondeur les dernières nouvelles des Canadiens de Montréal concernant Ivan Demidov, Patrik Laine, Juraj Slafkovsky, Josh Anderson, Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, Kirby Dach, Joe Veleno, Jake Evans, Zach Bolduc, Brendan Gallagher, Alex Newhook, Oliver Kapanen, Habs Defencemen, Arber Xhekaj, Kaiden Guhle, Sam Montembeault, Lane Hutson, Jayden Struble, Alex Carrier, Mike Matheson, Noah Dobson, Jakub Dobes, Jacob Fowler, Kent Hughes et Martin St Louis. Please Click to Subscribe / Veuillez cliquer pour vous abonner: https://bit.ly/mtlhockeytalk

Gold Medal Game: Sweden vs. Czechia How to watch Puck drop: 8:30 PM EST / 5:30 PM PST In Canada: TSN (English,) RDS (French) In the United States: NHL Network Live stream: TSN+, RDS Direct With the United States, Canada, and Finland, the three nations that have combined to win the past 13 championships, all eliminated on the way to the Gold Medal Game of the 2026 World Juniors, we’re going to see a team that doesn’t claim the title very often leaving the tournament with the gold medal. Sweden’s last gold came in 2012, just their second ever after first winning in 1981, while Czechia has to go back to 2001 to find memories of a tournament win, also their second as they claimed gold in back-to-back years. Last year, Czechia beat Sweden in the Bronze Medal Game, and this year wants the same result for a more valuable medal. They clearly have the talent to make that happen with 30 goals through their opening six games, but Sweden managed one more leading up to this point. With Sweden also allowing the fewest goals of any team, you have to give them the advantage in this game, but it’s likely going to be a very even, high-energy match that could go either way. Team Sweden projected lineup .tg {border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;} .tg td{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg th{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; font-weight:normal;overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg .tg-bobw{font-weight:bold;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} .tg .tg-8d8j{text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} .tg .tg-7zrl{text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom} Left Wing Centre Right Wing #16 Anton Frondell #14 Linus Eriksson #18 Victor Eklund #15 Ivar Stenberg #21 Viggo Bjorck #25 Eddie Genborg #29 Casper Juustovaara #26 Jack Berglund #22 Loke Krantz #27 Wilson Bjorck #12 Milton Gastrin #28 Eric Nilson #23 Liam Danielsson .tg {border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;} .tg td{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg th{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; font-weight:normal;overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg .tg-bobw{font-weight:bold;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} .tg .tg-8d8j{text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} .tg .tg-7zrl{text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom} Left Defence Right Defence #8 Felix Carell #4 Leo Sahlin Wallenius #5 Sascha Boumedienne #3 Felix Ohrqvist #20 Alfons Freij #19 William Hakansson #9 Victor Johansson .tg {border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;} .tg td{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg th{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; font-weight:normal;overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg .tg-bobw{font-weight:bold;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} .tg .tg-8d8j{text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} Starter Backup #1 Herman Liv #30 Love Harenstam Team Czechia projected lineup .tg {border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;} .tg td{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg th{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; font-weight:normal;overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg .tg-bobw{font-weight:bold;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} .tg .tg-8d8j{text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} .tg .tg-7zrl{text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom} Left Wing Centre Right Wing #15 Vojtech Cihar #17 Petr Sikora #14 Vaclav Nestrasil #18 Tomas Poletin #12 Maxmilian Curran #20 Adam Benák #24 Adam Novotny #25 Stepan Hoch #19 Dany Chludil #11 Matej Kubiesa #29 Samuel Drancak #21 Jiri Klima #22 Adam Titlbach .tg {border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;} .tg td{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg th{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; font-weight:normal;overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg .tg-bobw{font-weight:bold;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} .tg .tg-8d8j{text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} .tg .tg-7zrl{text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom} Left Defence Right Defence #7 Jakub Fibigr #5 Adam Jiříček #23 Tomas Galvas #6 Radim Mrtka #8 Matyas Man #3 Max Psenicka #9 Vladimir Dravecky .tg {border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;} .tg td{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg th{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; font-weight:normal;overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg .tg-bobw{font-weight:bold;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} .tg .tg-8d8j{text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} Starter Backup #30 Michal Orsulak #1 Matyas Marik

After having their hopes of playing for a gold medal dashed on Sunday, Canada and Finland had to regroup to play for a bronze medal on Monday afternoon. Canada was the team that seemed to have recovered better from the disappointment, with a quick start. As many of their goals in the tournament have been created, Michael Hage set up the opening, carrying the puck to the crease and pulling a defender with him before slinging it over to an open Sam O’Reilly. O’Reilly just had to deke around Finnish goaltender Petteri Rimpinen to deposit the puck in the net. CANADA OPENS THE SCORING 🔥 Sam O'Reilly finishes off the Hage pass to make it 1-0 early.#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/d09QNGKNSF— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 5, 2026 Another common outcome following a Canadian goal occurred shortly afterward: an immediate answer from the opposition. The defensive coverage was too loose to contain Arttu Valila, who evened up the score 2:13 later. FINLAND ANSWERS RIGHT AWAY 👀 Arttu Välilä scores on Finland's first shot of the game.#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/VjtZTvaDlY— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 5, 2026 Canada didn’t get fazed by the goal against, by this point used to trading goals in high-scoring games. About a minute-and-a-half later, Braeden Cootes took a Keaton Verhoeff feed to restore the one-goal lead. CANADA AND FINLAND TRADING GOALS 👀 Braeden Cootes makes it 2-1 Canada just five minutes into the game!#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/luF9BGktMJ— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 5, 2026 Another difficult moment of defence led Zayne Parekh to take a holding penalty. Finland was able to move the puck around the zone with relative ease, and took advantage of a failed clearing attempt to reset, and find another tying goal as goaltender Carter George lost track of the puck and had it slide through his five-hole. FINLAND TIES IT ON THE POWER-PLAY 🔥 Julius Miettinen makes it a 2-2 game.#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/38NpxaBlXT— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 5, 2026 In their bid to take the lead again, Canada had a shot for off the post, bu drew a cross-checking call in the process. Parekh scored on the power play, going off the crossbar and in for the defenceman’s fifth goal and 12th point of the tournament. PAREKH RECORDS HIS 12TH POINT 🔥 He's now tied Alex Pietrangelo (2010) & Bryan McCabe (1995) for most points by a Canadian defenceman at a single #WorldJuniors. pic.twitter.com/A8Uac4S1Jx— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 5, 2026 Less than two minutes into the second period, Porter Martone gave Canada its first two-goal lead of the game. PAREKH. IGINLA. MARTONE. Canada leads 4-2.#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/nSdwp9N5Y9— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 5, 2026 Finland then put Canada’s dangerous power play, which had improved to 11 for 21 in the first period on Parekh’s goal, back on the ice with a slashing call. Hage sent the puck across to Gavin McKenna, who in turn sent it toward the crease where Sam O’Reilly was stationed to tip the puck in, increasing the power-play’s conversion rate to 54.5%. ANOTHER ONE FOR O'REILLY 🗣️ Canada converts on the power-play to make it a 5-2 game.#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/ULv2ZtyLHk— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 5, 2026 Finland was able to get a small win by killing off a hooking penalty, keeping Canada’s power play off the board for the first time in the game. A few minutes later there were able to reduce the deficit to two goals with a marker from Heikki Ruohonen, who shot the puck over a Canadian defenceman lying on the ice and inside the arm of George. FINLAND MAKES IT A TWO-GOAL GAME 👀 Heikki Ruohonen makes it 5-3 late in the 2nd period.#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/HwOL4SZ0Ev— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 5, 2026 The Finns survived another power play, a rather lacklustre effort from Canada, and went on to draw a call of their own as Ethan MacKenzie was sent off for holding. They were unable to take advantage of the five-on-four opportunity, and saw another two minutes come off the clock. With just over six minutes to play, O’Reilly just missed a hat-trick goal off a nice pass from McKenna. The shift still ended on a positive as Hage set up McKenna for a goal, giving those two players their fourth point of the contest, and more importantly a more comfortable three-goal lead. MCKENNA MAKES IT A 6-3 GAME 🔥 That's a four point night for him and Michael Hage.#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/CVTa0ZiGI5— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 5, 2026 George was called upon to make one more big save, but the deficit was too big for Finland to overcome as Canada won the game, taking home the bronze medal, their first hardware in three years of the tournament.

Want to know what Coach K thinks of analytics? He can't get much clearer than this. Check out more podcasts and subscribe at https://youtube.com/@pucktalkmtl #Habs #GoHabsGo #CH #MontrealCanadiens #NHL #PuckTalkMTL

Frankly, I should know better. For almost 16 years, Marie-Philip Poulin has made a career of it. When the moment gets tough, she meets the moment. Since 2015, I have watched her at the professional level and obviously her international exploits are well known. So when the Montreal Victoire were staring down a fourth regulation loss in a row, a stretch that saw them fall to last place in the league, she met the moment. First, a diving effort to tie the game midway through the third period. Then, after Minnesota took the lead with 1:50 remaining, she made the pass to Abby Roque, who redirected it in the net with 28.7 seconds remaining. (An aside: Roque deserves full credit for that goal. She was standing at the goal line, as close to the corner as she was to the net, and redirected the puck in from an absurd angle. It was part Sidney Crosby, as her head coach Kori Cheverie said, and part Cole Caufield, her former schoolmate at Wisconsin in the sense of ‘how did she score from there?’.) Then in overtime, Poulin did Marie-Philip Poulin things. On a delayed penalty, she got the puck in open space skated into a dangerous area and unleashed a backhand that Maddie Rooney couldn’t react to. It would have been perfect placement on a forehand, never mind a backhand. But that’s just what she does. RIGHT ON TIME 🚨 Marie-Philip Poulin (6) and Abby Roque (5) extend their points streak for a crazy @PWHL_Montreal win! pic.twitter.com/mCjPX36gjc— PWHL (@thepwhlofficial) January 4, 2026 For years, I have joked with people covering women’s hockey that Poulin has a “quiet” (by her standards) start to the season, and by the time you look up at the leading scorers she’s right there. Eight points in eight games is anything but quiet, but there had yet to be a Poulin moment. That all changed on Sunday, and what do you know… Her three points now have her tied for the PWHL scoring lead. Roque, by the way, is second and just one point back. So when I called for a change to the top line just two days ago on this very website, I was worried about the Victoire relying too much on their top line. As it is, over the last four games, all eight goals they have scored have been with that line on the ice. However, I underestimated Poulin at my own peril. Cheverie admitted after the game that she would like to see other lines get on the scoresheet, but said that they are doing a great job defending other lines, and the other three lines did generate chances on Sunday. The scoring will come – boosted by the return of Jade Downie-Landry and Lina Ljungblom, who had been out all season to this point. She also said that they have to be OK with the top line scoring because they’re not going to stop. She’s right. I should have known better. Notes * The Victoire made several roster moves ahead of Sunday’s game. They activated Lina Ljungblom from Long Term Injured Reserve. To make room, they sent Kelly-Ann Nadeau back to the reserve roster. They then released F Claire Vekich from the reserve roster. * Erin Ambrose missed the game with an illness, leaving the team with five defenders so they signed Tamara Giaquinto to a 10-day contract to replace her. Giaquinto made her PWHL debut. Full Highlights Standings Montreal now has a week off before facing the Vancouver Goldeneyes in Quebec City on Sunday and they turn that around quickly with a game at home against Ottawa two days later.

On Sunday night, the Montreal Canadiens finished up a long seven-game road trip. Thankful though they surely were to have it broken up a bit by the holiday break, it was no easy feat, as they saw some of the very best teams in the league on their schedule along the way. The end result for them was 10 of a possible 14 points, helping them remain near the top of the Atlantic. In their final act, on the second half of a back-to-back against a Dallas Stars team that sits second in the entire league, they gutted out another overtime win. Danault fights for a draw, Lane Hutson wheels and calls game with a short side snipe on Oettinger. #Habs win pic.twitter.com/OwM6TkFbTE— Matt Drake (@DrakeMT) January 4, 2026 For two periods, they played a very tight game with a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. By the third period, you could tell that they had next to nothing left in the tank. They surrendered a one-goal lead, but still managed to hold on for overtime, where they know they always have a chance. Lane Hutson, whose gas tank seems absolutely bottomless, found a game winner to send the team home with a bang. What is all the more impressive about the results on this trip is that their top line struggled at times. They relied on some of their youngest players like Ivan Demidov, Oliver Kapanen, Juraj Slafkovksy, and without a doubt, the brilliant Hutson. It wasn’t long ago where if the Habs’ top line were even remotely off for a road trip of any length, they could bank on it being disastrous. That’s no longer the case, as they have a second line that is capable of producing like a top line. Add in the blue line production, and this team no longer melts if their top dogs can’t produce on a given night. It wasn’t all sunshine and roses – the game against the Blues was decidedly disappointing for instance – but with how tough this trip was from a scheduling and opposition standpoint, it’s hard to imagine them making out any better than they did. Now, with a four-game home stand on tap, we’ll get to see if they can carry some of that swagger with them to the Bell Centre. So far this season, they’ve boasted a far better record on the road than at home, and the next step for this team to continue keeping pace at the top of the Atlantic is to take advantage of home ice when they have it. Don’t forget, it wasn’t until the second half of last season that this team really took off, and they’re in a much better position this time around. Click the play button below to listen to your full Bottom Six Minutes, also available wherever you get your podcasts. We’ll be back on Wednesday night for the start of the home stand against the Calgary Flames.

The Habs went 2-1-0 during the first week of January and sit second in the Atlantic Division with a record of 23-13-6. The week started out with another chaotic comeback, this time against the Carolina Hurricanes, in which Juraj Slafkovský dominated the third period in a 7-5 Habs win. The Canadiens were then shut out by the St. Louis Blues in a Saturday matinée in a Jordan Binnington masterclass that ended two-zip. Montreal finished the week on a high note, taking down Dallas in overtime, 4-3. Montreal Canadiens’ Three Stars Unsung hero/Honourable mention: Noah Dobson (GP3 | G0 A0 P0) Noah Dobson certainly deserves some mention after his week. He was Montreal’s de facto number-one defenceman, leading the team in ice time in most games with Matheson dealing with a couple of nagging ailments. Dobson is the Canadiens’ only defenceman deployed on both the power play and penalty kill every game, and plays against the league’s best on a nightly basis. Habs fans may still look at his cap hit and think it high, but defenceman like Dobson don’t grow on trees, and without him it’s a safe bet the Canadiens wouldn’t be where they are. Third Star: Sammy Blais (GP 3 | G1 A1 P2) After being claimed on waivers by the Toronto Maple Leafs earlier in the season, then reclaimed by the Canadiens a few months later, Blais has had a tough road home to Montreal. Last week, he was a shining star in the bottom six. He managed two points on New Year’s Day against the Canes and was a positive factor against the Blues. After being claimed by the Leafs in October, it’s probably safe to say fans didn’t expect to see him scoring goals in a Habs uniform in 2026, but Blais is cementing his role on this team. He played an effective week, using his body and decent footspeed to create chances while being effective defensively. His play has allowed Brenden Gallagher to skate through open ice instead of grinding along the boards, and the veteran has benefited from it. Second Star: Juraj Slafkovský (GP 3 | G2 A2 P4) Juraj Slafkovský has started to dominate games like Habs management hoped he would. He has 12 points in his last eight games and is playing with supreme confidence. He’s showing the patience that was lacking over the last two years, and it paid off. Playing with Ivan Demidov has opened his world, and Oliver Kapanen’s focus on two-way play means that Slafkovský has the opportunity to be the offensive leader on his trio. We’re seeing a glimpse of what his prime could look like right now, and it’s exactly what the Habs wanted. He was also one of the Canadiens’ best forwards in the defensive zone, and is first amongst the Canadiens’ forwards in blocked shots. First star: Lane Hutson (GP 3 | G2 A2 P4) Hutson is playing at a historic clip right now for a Montreal Canadiens defenceman. He has 14 points in his last nine games. No Canadiens defenceman has ever scored more than 85 points in a single season (Larry Robinson in 1977 at 26 years old), but at this point that’s a question of when, not if, for Lane Hutson. After his recent performance he’s now third in points and second in assists among NHL defenceman, elevating himself to the level of elite offensive players Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes. Offence aside, Hutson had a fantastic week defensively. He’s becoming an elite stick-checker and is improving his rush defence every game. He averaged more than 26 minutes a night last week, consistently playing shifts longer than 1:15, and doing so with ease. Any questions on how he can handle minutes have been answered, and emphatically so. Laval Rocket player of the week Alex Belzile (GP 2 | G2 A2 P4) Alex Belzile’s performance against the Utica Comet on Friday was enough to single-handedly save the Rocket’s week from being a failure. That being said, Laval still put up two fairly abysmal performances against the worst team in the AHL. Things look effortless for Belzile right now, and you have to assume his name is right near the top of the Canadiens’ call sheet – especially with Florian Xhekaj’s penchant for turnovers right now. Next up The Habs will play three games in four days this week, starting with the Calgary Flames on Wednesday. They then take on the Panthers on Thursday, before a Saturday night matchup with the Detroit Red Wings. With all three games at the Bell Centre, Montreal is going to find out whether the lights at home really are too bright.

Montreal Canadiens news and notes * Martin St-Louis says there were no passengers on the team during the road trip. [Sportsnet | Radio-Canada] * Samuel Montembeault was happy to play a big role in yesterday’s game, especially with a breakaway save in overtime before Lane Hutson’s winning goal. [TVA Sports] * Phillip Danault wasn’t surprised that his goal ended up being credited to Brendan Gallagher. “He always steals my goals.” [TVA Sports] * Arseni Radkov was traded from the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada to the Saint John Sea Dogs. [TVA Sports] Around the league and elsewhere * Alexander Wennberg signed a three-year contract extension with the San Jose Sharks. [NHL.com] * Matthew Tkachuk could return to the Florida Panthers’ lineup on their upcoming road trip. [NHL.com] * Gabriel Landeskog crashed into the post and will be out for some time with what is hinted to be broken ribs. [Sportsnet] * Devon Toews was also injured in the match and will miss games. [TSN] * The Panthers put an end to the Colorado Avalanche’s 10-game winning streak. [NHL.com] * Logan Stanley was suspended one-game for sucker-punching Brady Tkachuk. [NHL.com] * John Beecher received the same suspension for the same action against Michael McCarron. [NHL.com] * Sweden beat Finland to advance to the Gold Medal Game at the World Juniors. [TSN] * 16-year-old Chyna Taylor is touted as a future superstar in the women’s game. [NHL.com]

In the first semifinal of the 2026 World Juniors, Sweden got past Finland in a shootout to become the first team to advance to the Gold Medal Game. Canada and Czechia took to the same ice later in the day, each hoping to be the team to join the Swedes in the championship match. It was a very tight-checking start to the game, much different from how the game between the nations had been played on the opening day of the tournament in what was a 7-5 win for Canada. There were few shots and fewer scoring chances in the opening 10 minutes of play. The first great chance went to Canada’s Michael Hage on a power play, but his shot went off the pad of Czech netminder Michal Orsulak and then the post. Tij Iginla came out on the next unit and accepted a great feed from Michael Misa through traffic, ensuring the chance wouldn’t go to waste by giving his team a 1-0 lead. BANG! TIJ IGINLA SCORES THE ICEBREAKER TO PUT CANADA ON THE BOARD! 😤🇨🇦 #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/X6QIK9I8mR— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 5, 2026 Less than two minutes later, Czechia tied the game. Canada attempted to play the puck behind its net, but it was picked off by Adam Benak. Benak sent it back toward to point to Tomas Galvas, who sent the puck toward the net. It ended up on the stick of Maxmilian Curran who beat Jack Ivankovic five-hole. The Czechs even the score in the frame, capitalizing off a Canada turnover! #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/gyLh21qEyU— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 5, 2026 The goal sent the teams to the intermission in a 1-1 tie, still anyone’s game with 40 minutes to play. Just under four minutes into the second, the Czechs took the lead. A failed clearing attempt left Canada scrambling to get the puck back, and they never did as Czechia moved it around the zone. It ultimately came to the stick of Adam Titlbach in the slot, and he sent it high over Ivankovic’s glove. Adam Titlbach with the go-ahead goal for Czechia! 🇨🇿 #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/8ROrZLcp1b— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 5, 2026 As the game passed its midpoint, shots were 12-7 for the Czechs, who were looking strong in their effort to end Canada’s hopes for gold for a third consecutive year. The game took another turn when Petr Sikora fell over Ivankovic and was eventually called for slashing. On the power play, Hage hit his second post of the night from right in the slot, but the Czechs sent the puck over the glass in a desperate attempt to clear the crease. On the resulting five-on-three, Hage had another shot that went off the body or Orsulak and then the post as the puck refused to go in for Canada’s #29. Canada finally got one of their power-play shots to go, and it came off the stick of leading scorer Zayne Parekh, The defenceman was a bit off-balance as he accepted a pass in the slot and just flipped it toward the net, but it went off the pants of teammate Cole Reschny and fluttered over the line to tie the game. ZAYNE PAREKH WITH HIS TEAM-LEADING FIFTH GOAL OF THE #WORLDJUNIORS! WE'RE TIED AT TWO APIECE! 😤 pic.twitter.com/TQevVdowLO— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 5, 2026 Hage’s speed resulted in a breakaway with a chance to give Canada a lead, but his hand was slashed just as he went to shoot, resulting in a penalty shot. On that one-on-one versus Orsulak, he was tripped by the goaltender, and that meant another penalty shot was awarded. On his third breakaway of the sequence, Hage attempted a sweeping deke to open up the glove side of the net, but lost the handle, and the change went for nought. The missed opportunity with two minutes to go was a costly one. Ethan MacKenzie turned the puck over while trying to carry it through the neutral zone, leading to a two-on-one for the Czechs. Curran sent it across the ice to Benak, and with 43 seconds to play in the second period, Czechia took a 3-2 lead. Canada was desperate to even things up as the third period, and went to work in the offensive zone. It took four minutes for them to find the goal they were looking for, when Reschny accepted a pass from Hage, and was given plenty of space to walk the puck to the front of the net and send it behind Orsulak. COLE RESCHNY OPERATES IN THE CREASE TO TIE THE GAME FOR CANADA! WHAT A GOAL! 😱 #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/GoA9535Y44— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 5, 2026 You might have expected the game to settle down once it became tied in the third, but the opposite occurred, with the two teams flying around the ice to trade scoring chances. The next stretch was played with few whistles, with a lot of desperate defending from both teams as the offensive players went to work. When the whistle finally did sound, it was accompanied by the goal horn. Three Canadian players were lined up along the blue line trying to prevent an entry, but only forward Caleb Desnoyers turned to follow Vojtech Cihar to the net. He couldn’t keep up with the speed of the attacker, and Cihar was able to pull Ivankovic to the left as he shot the puck into the right side of the net. VOJTECH CIHAR WITH A NASTY GOAL TO GIVE CZECHIA THE LEAD 😮 #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/60pIyRDxCC— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 5, 2026 Despite taking the lead, Czechia kept its foot on the gas and remained on the attack, testing Canada’s beleaguered defence. One one play at the side of Canada’s net, Gavin McKenna got his hands up into the face of his man and shoved him down, going off for cross-checking at a critical time. Czechia spoiled its own chance to at least take some time off the clock by botching a line change and playing with six skaters. Canada immediately responded with their own mistake on the ensuing offensive-zone faceoff, when Misa played the puck with his hand after taking the draw, heading off for delay of game. Surviving the penalty, Canada was able to go on the attack, and it took only a few seconds for Porter Martone to collect a rebound in front of the net and tuck it into an open cage to tie things at four. PORTER MARTONE IS HIM! WE HAVE A TIE GAME ONCE AGAIN! 😱🔥 #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/ugd3YxW92V— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 5, 2026 Czechia hadn’t let up for a second in the game, and that didn’t change despite the late tying goal. They charged up ice and sliced through Canada’s defence to get the puck to the crease, and it went off the skate of Tomas Poletin and in to give his country a lead with 74 seconds to play. THE CZECHS HALT THE CANADIAN MOMENTUM WITH A LATE GO-AHEAD GOAL 😦 #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/GLTNRzcTR3— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 5, 2026 Reschny got a good chance to tie the game again, but when it didn’t go he put his shoulder into the goaltender to send him to the ice, and that made what was already a difficult situation much more so with Canada down a player. Forced to pull Ivankovic just to play at five-on-five, Cihar played the puck down the ice and fired the puck into the vacated net for a 6-4 lead to seal the game. After the goal, McKenna was handed a penalty for abuse of officials, and that was the final addition to the scoresheet in a 6-4 win for Czechia. The Czechs advance to play Sweden with gold on the line tomorrow. Canada will have to regroup to play the Bronze Medal Game earlier in the day.

Semifinal #2: Canada vs. Czechia How to watch Puck drop: 8:30 PM EST / 5:30 PM PST In Canada: TSN (English,) RDS (French) In the United States: NHL Network Live stream: TSN+, RDS Direct In the second semifinal of the 2026 World Juniors, the two teams that finished first and second in Group B will meet up for the second time in the tournament. There’s more on the line this time around than in the opening game for both teams back on December 26. Canada got to this game with a very easy win over Slovakia in the quarters, a match in which they scored five goals in the first period and sailed to a 7-1 win. Things weren’t a great deal more difficult for Czechia, which claimed a 6-2 victory over Switzerland. With those low-pressure results and a day off on Saturday, the teams are as fresh as possible for this game that will determine which nation plays for gold. Surely it won’t be a 7-5 game like the first one between the teams, but these are two of the three highest-scoring squads in the tournament, and no lead will be safe. Team Canada projected lineup .tg {border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;} .tg td{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg th{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; font-weight:normal;overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg .tg-bobw{font-weight:bold;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} .tg .tg-8d8j{text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} .tg .tg-7zrl{text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom} Left Wing Centre Right Wing #9 Gavin McKenna #29 Michael Hage #28 Brady Martin #11 Tig Iginla #7 Michael Misa #22 Porter Martone #25 Caleb Desnoyers #26 Cole Beaudoin #23 Sam O’Reilly #17 Jett Luchanko #21 Cole Reschny #8 Braeden Cootes .tg {border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;} .tg td{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg th{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; font-weight:normal;overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg .tg-bobw{font-weight:bold;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} .tg .tg-8d8j{text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} .tg .tg-7zrl{text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom} Left Defence Right Defence #10 Cameron Reid #19 Zayne Parekh #13 Ethan MacKenzie #4 Harrison Brunicke #2 Kashawn Aitcheson #14 Ben Danford #5 Carson Carels #20 Keaton Verhoeff .tg {border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;} .tg td{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg th{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; font-weight:normal;overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg .tg-bobw{font-weight:bold;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} .tg .tg-8d8j{text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} Starter Backup #1 Jack Ivankovic #30 Carter George Team Czechia projected lineup .tg {border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;} .tg td{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg th{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; font-weight:normal;overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg .tg-bobw{font-weight:bold;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} .tg .tg-8d8j{text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} .tg .tg-7zrl{text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom} Left Wing Centre Right Wing #15 Vojtech Cihar #17 Petr Sikora #14 Vaclav Nestrasil #18 Tomas Poletin #12 Maxmilian Curran #20 Adam Benák #24 Adam Novotny #25 Stepan Hoch #19 Dany Chludil #11 Matej Kubiesa #29 Samuel Drancak #21 Jiri Klima #22 Adam Titlbach .tg {border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;} .tg td{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg th{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; font-weight:normal;overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg .tg-bobw{font-weight:bold;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} .tg .tg-8d8j{text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} .tg .tg-7zrl{text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom} Left Defence Right Defence #7 Jakub Fibigr #5 Adam Jiříček #23 Tomas Galvas #6 Radim Mrtka #8 Matyas Man #3 Max Psenicka #9 Vladimir Dravecky .tg {border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;} .tg td{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg th{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; font-weight:normal;overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg .tg-bobw{font-weight:bold;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} .tg .tg-8d8j{text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} Starter Backup #30 Michal Orsulak #1 Matyas Marik

Welcome back to PuckTalk MTL for a must-watch Montreal Canadiens post-game breakdown after a thrilling road win against the Dallas Stars. In this post-game episode, Kosta reacts to an outstanding performance from Samuel Montembeault, who stood tall all night, and a clutch overtime winner from Lane Hutson that sealed a huge victory for the Habs. Coach K breaks down how Montembeault shined in goal, making key saves under pressure and giving Montreal the confidence to weather Dallas’ push. From defensive structure and shot suppression to rebound control and poise in high-danger moments, he analyzes why this was one of Montreal’s most complete goaltending performances of the season. he also dives into Hutson’s OT heroics, his vision, skating, and why his growing impact is exciting Habs fans across the NHL. For Dallas Stars fans, he examines where the game slipped away and missed chances in overtime. For NHL and hockey fans, this breakdown delivers insight beyond the box score, including coaching decisions, special teams moments, and momentum swings. If you’re searching for Canadiens vs Stars post-game, Montembeault highlights, Lane Hutson OT goal, or in-depth NHL analysis, this video is for you. 🔥 LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE for daily Montreal Canadiens content, NHL post-game reactions, and full coverage on PuckTalk MTL! 0:00 - Show Start 0:52 - Don't Miss PuckTalk MTL LIVE on Friday Nights at 8 PM 1:38 - Game Highlights - A Back and Forth Affair, Ending with Some OT Magic 7:00 - Coach K's Game Report - Flowers For Montembeault & Slafkovsky #Habs #GoHabsGo #NHL #Hockey #DallasStars #StarsHockey #CanadiensVsStars #PuckTalkMTL #IceHockey #CH #HockeyVLog In every episode, Kosta Papoulias takes a deep dive into the latest Montreal Canadiens news involving Ivan Demidov, Patrik Laine, Juraj Slafkovsky, Josh Anderson, Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, Kirby Dach, Joe Veleno, Jake Evans, Zach Bolduc, Brendan Gallagher, Alex Newhook, Oliver Kapanen, Habs Defencemen, Arber Xhekaj, Kaiden Guhle, Sam Montembeault, Lane Hutson, Jayden Struble, Alex Carrier, Mike Matheson, Noah Dobson, Jakub Dobes, Jacob Fowler, Kent Hughes, Martin St Louis. Dans chaque épisode, Kosta Papoulias analyse en profondeur les dernières nouvelles des Canadiens de Montréal concernant Ivan Demidov, Patrik Laine, Juraj Slafkovsky, Josh Anderson, Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, Kirby Dach, Joe Veleno, Jake Evans, Zach Bolduc, Brendan Gallagher, Alex Newhook, Oliver Kapanen, Habs Defencemen, Arber Xhekaj, Kaiden Guhle, Sam Montembeault, Lane Hutson, Jayden Struble, Alex Carrier, Mike Matheson, Noah Dobson, Jakub Dobes, Jacob Fowler, Kent Hughes et Martin St Louis. Please Click to Subscribe / Veuillez cliquer pour vous abonner: https://bit.ly/mtlhockeytalk

First period * Montreal seems more ready for the start of the game today. * Cole Caufield gets a breakaway, but Thomas Harley makes a stick lift very close to Caufield’s hands at the last second. It could have been called a penalty shot had the ref wanted to, but it was borderline. * It’s a decent start, but it still isn’t coming with many shots. * The third line is able to get set up in the offensive zone, and then swing the puck back to the point to get a little breathing room. Alexandre Carrier moves into the space and fires a shot at the net that goes off Jamie Benn standing a few feet in front of him, then a leaping Phillip Danault a bit further along the path, then finally off Brendan Gallagher’s leg to bounce into the net. Gallagher gets the goal he came so close to scoring in yesterday’s game, and Carrier continues his great recent play with the secondary assist on the pinball shot. It looks like Phil Danault has his first goal of the year as he gets a deflection on the Carrier shot 1-0 Habs! [image or embed]— Scott Matla (@scottmatla.bsky.social) January 4, 2026 at 3:20 PM * Juraj Slafkovský intercepts the puck along the wall in his own zone and spins it to the middle. It’s picked up by Oliver Kapanen who leads a three-on-one, executing a give-and-go with Lane Hutson, but opts for a high shot that goes wide, and the Stars survive the danger. * Instead of being 2-0, the game is now tied at one as Samuel Montembeault didn’t handle a wraparound chance well at all. He didn’t get set at all as the puck was sent into his crease, and it ended up going off his foot and into the net. * Ivan Demidov tries to make a stick check and ends up getting it caught in front of Matt Duchene. The ref calls him for holding, and that seems highly unnecessary. * Montreal does well on the PK, actually standing up at the blue line to deny a few entries, and marking everyone well when the puck enters the zone. * Out of the box, Demidov gets a takeaway at the offensive blue line and is wrapped up along to boards to prevent him from making a play. “Is that holding?” he screams at the ref who decided that was less of a penalty than his play minutes earlier. * Montreal didn’t get that call, but does get one on the next shift when Hutson is tripped in the neutral zone. The Habs will have 93 seconds of power-play time to begin the second period. Second period * They were unable to capitalize on the power play, but immediately draw another one as Ilya Lyubushkin hooks Noah Dobson. * The second unit gets 90 seconds of the latest power play, but can’t solve Oettinger. That’s two opportunities to get a lead that the Habs have missed. * The best shift of the game goes to the most productive line over the past several weeks. It starts with Slafkovský winning the puck along the boards and sees several scoring chances generated before the Stars finally deflect a Carrier shot out of play. * Zachary Bolduc comes out on the ice before Cole Caufield goes off, and Martin St-Louis sends him to the box to serve the too many men penalty. * If the Canadiens carry one thing forward from this game, I hope it’s the aggressive plays they’re making at the blue line on the penalty kill. They’ve been very effective today. * They killed off 119 seconds of the penalty, but Montembeault didn’t follow a pass to Wyatt Johnston in the slot, and flailed at the puck as it hit the centre of the net to make it 2-1. * Slafkovský forces the puck through the neutral zone to allow Demidov to get the zone entry and spin to wall to wait for his teammates to get into position. Kapanen goes to the far side of the ice unnoticed by the Stars, and one-times Demidov’s pass in to tie the game. Insane feed from Ivan Demidov to Oliver Kapanen and we are tied in Dallas [image or embed]— Scott Matla (@scottmatla.bsky.social) January 4, 2026 at 4:23 PM * Mikko Rantanen catches Sammy Blais with an elbow that goes unseen by the officials. Rantanen has suddenly become the NHL’s dirtiest player. * Esa Lindell slashes Blais in the hand, and that sends Montreal’s power play back on the ice. Time to make one count. * The Stars were positioned well on the kill, but Montreal’s top unit was still able to set up a couple of shots. Still slightly too selective; they can score on rebounds, too. * Dallas gets a two-on-one by slashing Hutson’s stick out of his hands. The refs are all over it. * Montreal needs to cash in on this power play. * And they do. The third shot in the opening 30 seconds comes off the stick of Slafkovský in the slot, and finds the top corner to give the Habs a 3-2 lead late in the period. The Canadiens power play finally clicks and makes it a 3-2 game! [image or embed]— Scott Matla (@scottmatla.bsky.social) January 4, 2026 at 4:36 PM * Mike Matheson’s stick breaks just playing a pass that comes toward him. He needs to tear up the contract with his current supplier and try something new. * Slafkovský just misses Kapanen on a setup in the final 10 seconds of the period. * One last-second effort from Jason Robertson is stopped by Montembeault, and Montreal will begin the third period with a one-goal lead. Third period * This was always going to be the real test for Montreal after playing yesterday. Their defensive positioning will need to be sound as their legs get heavier in the final 20 minutes. * So far it’s been an ideal defence of the lead, spending every shift in Dallas’ zone. The most efficient option. * Dallas finally gets a shot almost five minutes into the period. That’s how good the Habs have been. * The Stars end up with two dangerous ones on that shift, but Montembeault turns both aside. * Jamie Benn goes down on the ice and holds his head. It looks like he couldn’t get his hands out to catch himself and banged his head off the ice. He’s walking very slowly on his way back to the locker room, and that might be a serious injury. * A fourth-line shift in the offensive zone is a bonus at this stage. Good work from all of Owen Beck, Blais, and Joe Veleno to take a chunk of time off the clock. * Rare giveaways from Slafkovský and then Hutson allow the Stars to get about four chances. Montembeault scrambled around a bit, but managed to turn everything aside. * Montembeault makes one save, but doesn’t readjust to the rebound, and Matheson can’t prevent Johnston from getting a shot. The game is tied as the Stars begin to take over, which was to be expected given their two days of rest beforehand. * It’s now going to be a seven-minute battle to get out of regulation with a point. * Danault is flatfooted as the only man back to defend against Rantanen, and has to hook the Stars forward as he flies past. Dobson had raced to the bench despite the Stars about to launch their attack. Dallas will get a power play with just over five minutes to go. * This might be a one-point penalty kill coming up. * The Habs kill off the opening minute by pinning the puck in the corner before Kapanen claims it and ices it. * Johnston ends the power play early by hooking Dobson, and the Canadiens will be thankful for that. * Four-on-four might be just as dangerous for the tired Habs, but they manage to get through it. * Montreal is now on a power play that will really just be a minute of time-wasting. * Two minutes to go to claim a point. * Rantanen falls along the boards and pretends to be hurt trying to draw some type of penalty. He’s not a favourite of mine. * And that’s a point for Montreal, a great result considering the situation, and they will be no worse than 2-1-2 on this trip. Still a chance to make that even better. Overtime * Dallas is 1-4 in overtime this season, which is quite surprising. * The Stars take the first possession. * Matheson fires high and wide on a rush. At least his stick stayed intact. * Suzuki takes a shot that is just deflected over the net by Oettinger. * Montembeault makes a huge save on Johnston as he splits through the coverage with speed. * Slafkovský intercepts the puck in the neutral zone and gets a good chance. * Off a faceoff win by Danault, Hutson sees all the space available to him on the right side of the ice, builds up speed, and heats Oettinger over the glove to win the game for his team. LANE HUTSON OT HERO [image or embed]— Scott Matla (@scottmatla.bsky.social) January 4, 2026 at 5:36 PM * A 3-1-1 record during what could be the toughest road trip of the year is an excellent result for Montreal. They’re up to 52 points through 42 games, returning home one point out of first place in both the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference. * After a needed two days off, the Habs will play in front of the home fans on Wednesday versus the hard-working Calgary Flames. EOTP 3 Stars 3) He needs his Bell Centre moment 2) He got the win, but this is far from the Montembeault we saw last season 1) It’s been an amazing rise

Game 42: Montreal Canadiens @ Dallas Stars Start time: **2:00 PM EST / 11:00 AM PST** In the Canadiens region: TSN2 (English), RDS (French) In the Stars region: Victory+ Streaming: ESPN+, RDS, TSN+ The Canadiens have finally reached the last destination on a post-Christmas road trip and seventh consecutive stop away from home since December 20. What had been a very successful trip hit its first road bump yesterday with a shutout loss in St. Louis, and another loss today would drop the Habs’ record to 2-2-1; something you’d normally take at this time of year, but would be a disappointing end result considering the 2-0-1 start. To finish with a winning record on this journey, the Habs will need to beat the Dallas Stars, which has been a tough ask in general this season, but not as impossible in the past few games. The Stars are currently on a four-game losing streak, as their normally elite-level defence has faltered, with four goals allowed in regulation in the last two matches. Montreal knows it needs a better start than it had yesterday to extend that five, with better focus on their transitions and offensive setups. They can build on an eventful finish to the game yesterday to come out with a good start in this one. Montreal Canadiens projected lineup .tg {border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;} .tg td{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg th{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; font-weight:normal;overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg .tg-ymce{background-color:#BE2F37;color:#FFF;font-weight:bold;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} .tg .tg-8d8j{text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} Left Wing Centre Right Wing #20 Juraj Slafkovský #91 Oliver Kapanen #93 Ivan Demidov #13 Cole Caufield #14 Nick Suzuki #85 Alexandre Texier #76 Zachary Bolduc #24 Phillip Danault #11 Brendan Gallagher #27 Sammy Blais #90 Joe Veleno #62 Owen Beck .tg {border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;} .tg td{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg th{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; font-weight:normal;overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg .tg-rjwb{background-color:#21386F;color:#FFF;font-weight:bold;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} .tg .tg-8d8j{text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} Left Defence Right Defence #8 Mike Matheson #53 Noah Dobson #48 Lane Hutson #45 Alexandre Carrier #72 Arber Xhekaj #47 Jayden Struble .tg {border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;} .tg td{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg th{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; font-weight:normal;overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg .tg-n1r7{background-color:#FFF;font-weight:bold;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} .tg .tg-8d8j{text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} Starter Backup #75 Jakub Dobeš #32 Jacob Fowler Scratched: Adam Engström, Samuel Montembeault Injured: Josh Anderson, Kirby Dach, Jake Evans, Kaiden Guhle, Patrik Laine, Alex Newhook Dallas Stars projected lineup .tg {border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;} .tg td{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg th{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; font-weight:normal;overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg .tg-bobw{font-weight:bold;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} .tg .tg-nrix{text-align:center;vertical-align:middle} .tg .tg-8d8j{text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} Left Wing Centre Right Wing Matt Duchene Wyatt Johnston Mikko Rantanen Jason Robertson Roope Hintz Mavrik Bourque Justin Hryckowian Sam Steel Jamie Benn Oskar Back Radek Faksa Colin Blackwell .tg {border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;} .tg td{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg th{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; font-weight:normal;overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg .tg-bobw{font-weight:bold;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} .tg .tg-8d8j{text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} Left Defence Right Defence Esa Lindell Miro Heiskanen Thomas Harley Nils Lundqvist Ilya Lyubushkin Alex Petrovic .tg {border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;} .tg td{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg th{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; font-weight:normal;overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg .tg-bobw{font-weight:bold;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} .tg .tg-8d8j{text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} Starter Backup Jake Oettinger Remi Poirier

Welcome back to PuckTalk MTL, your trusted source for Montreal Canadiens previews, NHL analysis, and detailed hockey breakdowns. After a tough loss to the St. Louis Blues, the Habs hit the road looking to bounce back against the Dallas Stars, one of the NHL’s most structured and dangerous teams. This matchup presents a major test for Montreal’s resilience, consistency, and defensive discipline. In this preview, Coach K breaks down what went wrong against St. Louis and what the Canadiens must fix immediately to compete in Dallas. From lineup adjustments and goaltending decisions to defensive zone coverage and forecheck execution, we analyze how Montreal can respond after adversity. We also examine the Stars’ strengths, including their depth scoring, puck possession game, and ability to punish mistakes. Whether you’re a Montreal Canadiens fan, Dallas Stars supporter, or a passionate NHL and hockey fan, this episode delivers key matchups, strategy insight, and storylines to watch before puck drop. Can the Habs reset mentally and steal a road win, or will Dallas dictate the pace? If you’re searching for Habs previews, Canadiens vs Stars analysis, or NHL game breakdowns, this video has you covered. 🔥 LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE for more PuckTalk MTL, Habs coverage, and daily NHL previews! 0:00 - Show Start 1:45 - Projected Game Day LineUps - Will Anderson & Engstrom Slot Back In? 4:06 - 5 Point Play - What Are The Stars Strengths & Weaknesses 11:18 - What Stars Do The Habs Need To Watch & Who Needs To Shine For Montreal? 14:52 - Keys To Victory For the Canadiens Over Dallas #Habs #GoHabsGo #NHL #Hockey #IceHockey #CH #HockeyVLog #DallasStars #CanadiensVsStars #PuckTalkMTL In every episode, Kosta Papoulias takes a deep dive into the latest Montreal Canadiens news involving Ivan Demidov, Patrik Laine, Juraj Slafkovsky, Josh Anderson, Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, Kirby Dach, Joe Veleno, Jake Evans, Zach Bolduc, Brendan Gallagher, Alex Newhook, Oliver Kapanen, Habs Defencemen, Arber Xhekaj, Kaiden Guhle, Sam Montembeault, Lane Hutson, Jayden Struble, Alex Carrier, Mike Matheson, Noah Dobson, Jakub Dobes, Jacob Fowler, Kent Hughes, Martin St Louis. Dans chaque épisode, Kosta Papoulias analyse en profondeur les dernières nouvelles des Canadiens de Montréal concernant Ivan Demidov, Patrik Laine, Juraj Slafkovsky, Josh Anderson, Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, Kirby Dach, Joe Veleno, Jake Evans, Zach Bolduc, Brendan Gallagher, Alex Newhook, Oliver Kapanen, Habs Defencemen, Arber Xhekaj, Kaiden Guhle, Sam Montembeault, Lane Hutson, Jayden Struble, Alex Carrier, Mike Matheson, Noah Dobson, Jakub Dobes, Jacob Fowler, Kent Hughes et Martin St Louis. Please Click to Subscribe / Veuillez cliquer pour vous abonner: https://bit.ly/mtlhockeytalk

Riding a four-game winning streak after Friday’s win against Utica, the Rocket came into Saturday’s matchup looking to stay undefeated against the Comets. Laval rebounded nicely after struggling in December and was nicely poised to take advantage of one of the weakest teams in the AHL. Pascal Vincent continued to rely on clicking chemistry, not touching any of Laval’s four forward lines. Only Josh Jacobs and Kaapo Kähkönen drew out of the lineup, with Jacobs replaced by Nate Clurman on the bottom pairing, and Hunter Jones getting the start with Laval having played the night before. After looking like an even match for the bottom-ranked Comet on Friday, Laval needed a strong start, and they received it. Laval controlled play for the opening minutes of the game, with Sean Farrell and Jared Davidson both getting good looks in the first five minutes. After 14 minutes of mostly nothing from either side, Laval got the lead after a hard wristshot from Marc Del Gaizo found a way through the crowd. Marc Del Gaizo ouvre la marque!! Del Gaizo scores first 🚀 UTC 0 – 1 LAV pic.twitter.com/rARR3nZJis— Rocket de Laval (@RocketLaval) January 4, 2026 Jared Davidson was called for a tripping penalty a couple of minutes later, and the Rocket spent most of the back end of the first period hemmed in their own zone. The onslaught eventually paid off, and Utica tied the game with less than a minute left, a perfect shot from the high slot from Topias Vilan. The second period started out with a bang, with Florian Xhekaj dropping the gloves just over a minute in. The Rocket’s mood was spoiled shortly thereafter, as Utica climbed ahead 2-1 less than a minute after the fight with a knuckle puck beating Jones. The Comet took control of the period after the goal, and Laval was left battling on its heels. At the midway point of the second, shots were 14-5 in favour of Utica. The Rocket spent much of the period short-handed, but a few good kills eventually led to Xhekaj tying the game with a short-handed goal. He stole the puck on Laval’s blue line and beat Jakub Málek glove side from between the circles. XHEKAJ 🚨2-2 pic.twitter.com/CAmElp63uN— Rocket de Laval (@RocketLaval) January 4, 2026 Laval used the goal and a power play to tilt the ice back in its favour, and by the end of the second, shots were 18-14 in favour of Utica, a stark contrast to the totals midway through the frame. The Rocket came into the final period intent on doing what they couldn’t the previous day: seal the win in regulation. Del Gaizo started the Rocket off on a good note, sniping his second of the game just two minutes into the third. This one was a quick wrister from the wall that beat Málek off the post and in. Pascal Vincent’s new third pairing was making the difference offensively. 3-2!! 🚀 https://t.co/sfMuyQtFyq pic.twitter.com/Cof0YAGz8t— Rocket de Laval (@RocketLaval) January 4, 2026 The goal bolstered the Rocket and Laval controlled possession for the next five minutes. They managed three straight line changes in the offensive zone before Utica came up with a clearance, and even then, Laval was right back at it. After Friday’s game devolved into a violent show of force from both squads, the teams kept things clean through the stretch of the period, playing hockey instead of just battling, even after things got chippy. Despite the Rocket momentum, as the game shifted to four-on-four Utica was able to tie the game with 11:25 left in the third after a fairly routine wrister squeaked through Jones. The Comets took the lead just 50 seconds later, with Ethan Edwards snapping a wristshot over the left shoulder of Jones, who ended up off balance while trying to move laterally. The two goals sucked the life out of Place Bell. Trailing 4-3 with less than four minutes to go, Laval was stifled time after time in the offensive zone. Davidson was stopped on a backdoor tap-in, Joshua Roy on a one-timer from the circle, and Farrell blocked point-blank in the slot. Laval dominated the cycle, but Málek stood strong, and the Comets’ defence put their bodies on the line. Utica hung on for a whopping 3:45 of constant offensive pressure from the Rocket, and came away with a much-deserved victory. Final Score: Laval 3, Utica 4 Laval (21-11-0) will be back in action on Friday, January 9, when they travel to Rochester to take on the Americans (16-11-3). Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 PM ET.

Game 42: Montreal Canadiens @ Dallas Stars Start time: **2:00 PM EST / 11:00 AM PST** In the Canadiens region: TSN2 (English), RDS (French) In the Stars region: Victory+ Streaming: ESPN+, RDS, TSN+ There are several opportunities for an NHL team to immediately get back on the ice following a loss each season, and especially in a year such as this with a compressed schedule for the Olympic break. It’s not so common for the turnaround to be quite so quick; today’s start will be just 22 hours after the Montreal Canadiens and St. Louis Blues dropped the puck on Saturday. If you ask the players, they probably would have taken an even shorter span to try to make up for the performance that kicked off this back-to-back. The players were all frustrated with how they played yesterday, unable to make basic plays for the opening 40 minutes. Finally getting their game together in the third period to pepper St. Louis with several top-quality scoring chances made their second shutout loss of the season all the more frustrating. They had the Blues on their heels, but couldn’t get the puck past Jordan Binnington’s toes. The first shutout of the year came on home ice versus the team they’ve headed further west to play today. The Dallas Stars scored goals from everywhere in that game in mid-November, finishing with seven despite just 19 shots on target and four high-danger scoring chances. It was a difficult day for both Jakub Dobeš, who was pulled for the second time of his short NHL career, and Samuel Montembeault, who didn’t provide much in the way of relief with two more goals against on six shots. Tale of the Tape .tg {border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;} .tg td{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg th{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; font-weight:normal;overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg .tg-ymce{background-color:#BE2F37;color:#FFF;font-weight:bold;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} .tg .tg-8d8j{text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} Canadiens Statistics Stars 22-13-6 Record 25-9-7 49.0% (21st) Expected-goal share 48.7% (22nd) 3.29 (6th) Goals per game 3.41 (3rd) 3.27 (24th) Goals against per game 2.68 (5th) 23.9% (8th) PP% 29.8% (2nd) 77.1% (23rd) PK% 82.2% (6th) 0-1-0 Head-to-Head Record 1-0-0 Cole Caufield (20) Most goals Jason Robertson (24) Nick Suzuki (31) Most assists Mikko Rantanen (40) Nick Suzuki (45) Most points Mikko Rantanen (56) Such is the firepower of a Stars team that ranks third in the NHL in goals with almost three-and-a-half per game, despite the absences of Roope Hintz and Jamie Benn at various points in the opening half of the year, and now a much longer one for Tyler Seguin who just underwent ACL surgery. But the Canadiens shouldn’t be intimidated by that scoring ability considering that they, outside of yesterday’s game, produce almost as much, and have seen better depth of scoring with six players already up to double-digit goal totals. Martin St-Louis’s decision to shift Juraj Slafkovský to a line with Ivan Demidov and Oliver Kapanen has balanced the top-six almost perfectly. Since the move was made on November 17 in response to injuries to Alex Newhook and Kirby Dach, Slafkovský has tied with Cole Caufield at 21 points, while rookie Demidov has been a point-per-game player. When it comes to even-strength offence, the duo of Demidov and Slafkovský paces all forwards on the team with 17 and 14 points, respectively, trailing only Lane Hutson. Montreal Canadiens even-strength offensive totals dating back to November 17. | NHL.com Offence is only a portion of the story, however. The Canadiens have given up almost as many goals as they’ve scored, but the Stars have been strong defensively. Like the other two members of the three-headed monster in the Central Division — the Colorado Avalanche and Minnesota Wild — they couple their offence with top-five defensive numbers. In Dallas’s case, that’s largely thanks to goaltenders Jake Oettinger and one-time Hab Casey DeSmith, who have Dallas at a team .904 save percentage, which ranks fourth in the NHL. With Montreal at 28th in that category, it stands as one of the biggest differences between the two clubs. The tables are turned on Montreal in this match from how the first four of this post-Christmas trip went when their opponent was playing the second game of a back-to-back. In each of those games. the Canadiens witnessed fatigue set in in the third and pounced for a total of 19 high-danger scoring chances and a total of eight goals to mount several comebacks. That is the fate that awaits them this afternoon versus a Stars team that hasn’t played since New Year’s Day. If the Canadiens are going to make up for both yesterday’s frustrating loss and the blowout on home ice in the first game of this season series, they need to come out of the gate with a strong start to build a cushion and hope they have enough in the tank to see out a third win of the trip.

Montreal Canadiens news and notes * The players lamented the complete lack of execution in yesterday’s game in St. Louis, and are happy they get to play again today to make up for it. [La Presse] * Grading the Habs players through half a season. [La Presse] * Doug Armstrong is satisfied with the mix of youth and experience on his Team Canada, and thankful to have a versatile player like Nick Suzuki who can play any role. [RDS] * Michael Hage is the product of believing in a long-term plan, both in terms of his development and how the franchise acquired him in the first place. [La Presse] Around the league and elsewhere * Jonathan Toews and Drew Doughty, two players who made the Canadian Olympic Team at a young age, say there will be a short period for Macklin Celebrini when he gets overwhelmed by all the legends in the dressing room, but will start to get comfortable as soon as the games begin. [The Athletic] * Jason Robertson was disappointed to be left off of Team USA’s roster, but remains happy with how he’s playing this season. [NHL.com] * The Vancouver Canucks and Kiefer Sherwood continue to exchange offers in contract extension talks. [Sportsnet] * The Buffalo Sabres’ 10-game winning streak came to an end with a loss in Columbus. [NHL.com] * “We’ll contend when we’re ready to contend,” Steve Staios says of his Ottawa Senators that haven’t taken a step forward following their post-season berth last year. [Sportsnet] * Auston Matthews scored two goals to take over the Toronto Maple Leafs’ franchise goal mark. [NHL.com] * Mats Sundin had a video message to congratulate Matthews on the record. [NHL.com] * Marc-André Fleury believes the cost of equipment is a major contributing factor to the decline of goaltenders developing in Quebec. [Journal de Montreal] * Ashkan Karbasfrooshan on his plan to bring back the Montreal Expos and Quebec Nordiques. [RG.org] * NHL power plays are no longer about setting up wide one-timers, but getting setups from behind the net to the crease for the most dangerous type of shot. [The Athletic] * Brendan Shanahan has taken on the task of reviewing Junior hockey in Ontario to make recommendations on improvements. [TSN]

First period * The ref is calling Noah Dobson for a high stick even though he was playing the puck up the boards in the offensive zone. * The Blues looked quite dangerous on the power play, so the Habs will have to not do things that the officials can interpret as penalties. * Montreal is making it a bit too easy for the Blues to get to the slot right now, backing off too much and giving them a lane to the slot. * The Habs are also getting too many players caught up ice for St. Louis counters. * Facing almost no resistance, it’s no surprise that the Blues open the scoring. Not a single member of the Phillip Danault line with Zachary Bolduc and Brendan Gallagher was close to his man with the puck in Montreal’s zone, and it ended with an open-net goal for an unmarked Jonatan Berggren. * Trap game it is. The Habs are showing zero interest in putting the necessary effort in today. * With about seven minutes left to play in the period, Montreal tests Jordan Binnington, the goaltender with the fourth-worst save percentage among goalies to play at least 10 games, with a second shot. * I think the third line would have better possession metrics if they stayed on the bench for their shifts. They all look lost on the ice. * Surely the Canadiens can’t play any worse than that, so perhaps they can overcome this one-goal deficit in the second period. Second period * The Blues typically only score a couple of goals every game, so they’re comfortable playing with just a one-goal lead. Too comfortable today as their positioning in neutralizing the Canadiens’ speed. * We probably should have known that the game would go this way given that, with the Detroit Red Wings losing today, there was another chance to take the division lead. That’s been a recipe for a rough match in recent weeks. * St. Louis isn’t pushing anything. Every time Montreal manages to get the puck out of the zone, there are at least two defenders in the neutral zone. Maybe one day the Habs will play like that, too. * Pavel Buchnevich tripped Alexandre Carrier in the offensive zone, and the Canadiens get a reprieve from the suffocating checking with a power play. * What they get instead is a collision at centre ice between Hutson and Ivan Demidov, and then whiffs from both players as they try to break up the short-handed chance that ensues. Just a total lack of any type of execution from Montreal today. * Carrier gets taken down again, and the Blues will get another short-handed opportunity. * Montreal gets a great chance as the side of the net as Demidov gets an open look. The puck bounces up in the air, but before it falls to where Suzuki can bat it in, Colton Parayko slashes him in the neck. The captain drops, but is good to stay out for the five-on-three. * The Habs try a five-way passing play at the end of the five-on-three, but Binnington gets his stick on the last one that was going across to an open Suzuki to end the play. * Gallagher ends what remains of the power play with a hook, and now the Blues will have most of a two-minute power play. * Montreal puts in one good shift to end the period with a couple of scoring chances, but Bolduc can’t take advantage of the best one as he gets the puck all alone to test Binnington. * I may have been wrong about them not being able to play worse than they did in the first. The simplest plays like passes and stick-handles are insurmountable challenges today. Third period * Slafkovský takes a stick in the face, and it’s another power play for Montreal. They’ve been granted their opportunities. * Gallagher fires a shot off a Hutson entry and hits the post. He’s been a different player after the first period. * Sammy Blais gets the puck in the low slot with Binnington spinning as he can’t find it. Still Montreal can’t get the puck to go in. * A few good shifts in a row for the Canadiens. This is usually when fatigue sets in for a team that played the previous day. * Texier has the puck come to him right in the crease. Again Binnington isn’t following the puck. Still the Habs sit at zero goals. * Fowler has gone to the bench with just under four minutes to play. * Binnington is prostrate on the ice. Suzuki’s shot hits his pad and stays out. * Montreal continues to get chances that should be going in for goals but aren’t. We can only hope Binnington’s luck follows him to Italy. * That’s Binnington’s first shutout of the season, and just the second time Montreal has failed to score this year. * As frustrating as the game was, the Habs didn’t start on time to deserve anything better. They’ll need to be ready tomorrow versus the Dallas Stars. EOTP 3 Stars 3) At least the three that would have changed the result 2) He plays five-on-four and six-on-five, but not when he would have the most space to exploit 1) Let’s see him carry that play through the second half

Game 41: Montreal Canadiens @ St. Louis Blues Start time: **4:00 PM EST / 1:00 PM PST** In the Canadiens region: TSN2 (English), RDS (French) In the Blues region: FanDuel Sports Network Midwest Streaming: ESPN+, RDS, TSN+ Montreal Canadiens projected lineup .tg {border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;} .tg td{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg th{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; font-weight:normal;overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg .tg-ymce{background-color:#BE2F37;color:#FFF;font-weight:bold;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} .tg .tg-8d8j{text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} Left Wing Centre Right Wing #20 Juraj Slafkovský #91 Oliver Kapanen #93 Ivan Demidov #13 Cole Caufield #14 Nick Suzuki #85 Alexandre Texier #76 Zachary Bolduc #24 Phillip Danault #17 Josh Anderson #27 Sammy Blais #90 Joe Veleno #11 Brendan Gallagher .tg {border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;} .tg td{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg th{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; font-weight:normal;overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg .tg-rjwb{background-color:#21386F;color:#FFF;font-weight:bold;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} .tg .tg-8d8j{text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} Left Defence Right Defence #8 Mike Matheson #53 Noah Dobson #48 Lane Hutson #45 Alexandre Carrier #72 Arber Xhekaj #47 Jayden Struble .tg {border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;} .tg td{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg th{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; font-weight:normal;overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg .tg-n1r7{background-color:#FFF;font-weight:bold;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} .tg .tg-8d8j{text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} Starter Backup #32 Jacob Fowler #75 Jakub Dobeš Scratched: Owen Beck, Adam Engström, Samuel Montembeault Injured: Kirby Dach, Jake Evans, Kaiden Guhle, Patrik Laine, Alex Newhook St. Louis Blues projected lineup .tg {border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;} .tg td{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg th{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; font-weight:normal;overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg .tg-bobw{font-weight:bold;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} .tg .tg-nrix{text-align:center;vertical-align:middle} .tg .tg-8d8j{text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} Left Wing Centre Right Wing Jake Neighbours Robert Thomas Jordan Kyrou Pavel Buchnevich Brayden Schenn Jimmy Snuggerud Otto Stenberg Dalibor Dvorsky Jonatan Berggren Alexey Toropchenko Oskar Sundqvist Mathieu Joseph .tg {border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;} .tg td{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg th{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; font-weight:normal;overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg .tg-bobw{font-weight:bold;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} .tg .tg-8d8j{text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} Left Defence Right Defence Philip Broberg Colton Parayko Cam Fowler Justin Faulk Tyler Tucker Matthew Kessel .tg {border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;} .tg td{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg th{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; font-weight:normal;overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg .tg-bobw{font-weight:bold;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} .tg .tg-8d8j{text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} Starter Backup Jordan Binnington Joel Hofer