Game 24: Montreal Canadiens @ Colorado Avalanche Start time: **3:00 PM EST / 12:00 PM PST** In the Canadiens region: TSN2 (English), RDS (French) In the Avalanche region: Altitude Streaming: ESPN+, RDS, TSN+ Near the end of the 2023-24 season, one that didn’t go very well for the Canadiens who ended up 28th in the standings, the Montreal Canadiens made the trip to Denver. It had been one to dread for the team, but on that occasion they held on to a 2-1 lead for 45 minutes to snap a losing streak that went back a decade. Last season, the NHL’s schedule-maker decided to tack the game onto the end of the annual Christmas road trip that always goes through Florida. Playing their fifth and final game of the trip and just arriving after a loss in Chicago the night before, the Canadiens claimed another 2-1 win, this one in a shootout, to turn what had been the scene of a guaranteed loss to one that has suddenly seen results turn in the Habs’ favour. As the two teams get set to come together for the first time this season, the Canadiens own a four-game point streak versus the Avalanche. But this year’s iteration of the team in Colorado is a different beast entirely. The Avalanche have now played 24 games, and lost in regulation just once, in Boston on October 25. They carried a 10-game winning streak into Minnesota yesterday at the same time the Canadiens were battling the Vegas Golden Knights. While the Wild were the ones to extend their run instead, nabbing a seventh consecutive win for themselves in a shootout, Colorado claimed a 40th point, four more than any other NHL team has amassed. 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 Avalanche 13-7-3 Record 17-1-6 49.3% (18th) Expected-goal share 57.1% (1st) 3.48 (4th) Goals per game 4.00 (1st) 3.39 (25th) Goals against per game 2.08 (1st) 22.7% (10th) PP% 15.9% (24th) 76.6% (25th) PK% 87.8% (3rd) 1-0-1 Head-to-Head Record (24-25) 1-0-1 Cole Caufield (14) Most goals Nathan MacKinnon (19) Nick Suzuki (20) Most assists Nathan MacKinnon (22) Nick Suzuki (27) Most points Nathan MacKinnon (41) You probably won’t be surprised to see that Colorado is the best offensive team in the NHL with 96 goals scored, an average of exactly four. Nathan MacKinnon is up to his usual Art Ross form and could very well turn that into a second Hart Trophy in three seasons, Martin Necas is proving to be an incredible addition to the team after he was part of the package from the Carolina Hurricanes for Mikko Rantanen, Artturi Lehkonen is on pace for by far the best offensive season of his career at almost a point-per-game pace, and Cale Makar is Cale Makar, the reigning Norris Trophy-winner who might just continue that rule into next season. You might be shocked to learn that Colorado is also the stingiest team in the league, barely allowing more than two goals per game, and that’s about half a goal better than the second-best club. They were a little better than average last year, allowing 2.80 goals per contest, and have shaved about three-quarters of a goal off that in 2025-26. They’re not doing anything extraordinary with their defensive play, ranking in the middle of the pack in terms of shots and scoring chances allowed; their 10.41 high-danger chances allowed (11th-best) at five-on-five per 60 minutes aren’t much better than Montreal’s 10.68 (13th). The numbers are more impressive when looking at expected goals, but there are still five teams that rank ahead of them in that category. The change for them has been goaltending. Last season they infamously had to trade away the two netminders that started the season with them, first shipping out Justus Annunen to acquire Scott Wedgewood, then trading Alexandar Georgiev for Mackenzie Blackwood. Those moves are paying off as both goaltenders have save percentages of .920 or better. Wedgewood has 6.65 goals saved above average at five-on-five, while Blackwood has 3.97 in just five games played. Only the Wild and the New York Rangers have a tandem that has combined for more. A difference of two goals between what a team creates and what it allows is going to lead to a lot of wins, and indeed 13 of the 17 victories Colorado has earned have been by at least that much. Somehow the Canadiens need to find the same level of offence they’ve shown in recent games while also locking down the most dangerous squad in the NHL. That’s a challenge that only a handful of clubs have overcome this season, but a Canadiens team riding a three-game winning streak will aim to join them.

Montreal Canadiens news and notes * “The thing I want to do most is win, and I think I’m giving myself a better chance by doing it here. I also wanted to leave a lot of money for the team, to keep the guys we have and get more in the years to come.” Mike Matheson explains his reasoning for the contract extension. [La Presse] * “If [money] had been [the priority], he would have signed elsewhere,” Matheson’s agent, Philippe Lecavalier stated. [La Presse] * Five trade destinations for Steven Stamkos. [Sportsnet] * Nick Suzuki is proving that he deserves a place on Team Canada. [Montreal Gazette] * The Canadiens have come a long way since this time a year ago. [La Presse] * “This isn’t a situation I’ve experienced in my entire career,” Samuel Montembeault shared about his issues this season, but was happy with how be battled for a win in Las Vegas. [La Presse] * Sammy Blais is prepared to show what he can do in the AHL and hope that results in more NHL time. [La Presse] Around the league and elsewhere * Anaheim Ducks starting goalie Lukas Dostal will miss two to three weeks with an upper-body injury. [TSN] * Jaden Schwartz will miss six weeks with a lower-body injury. [TSN] * The Calgary Flames signed the members of their front office to extensions. [TSN]

Welcome back to PuckTalk MTL, your home for Montreal Canadiens analysis, NHL breakdowns, and in-depth post-game coverage! In this episode, we dive into the Canadiens’ stunning victory over the Vegas Golden Knights, a statement win that shook up the Western road trip and energized Habs fans everywhere. We break down the biggest moments of the game, including key performances, momentum-shifting plays, and how the Habs executed their game plan to perfection. But the road trip isn’t over—next up are the Colorado Avalanche, one of the NHL’s most dangerous teams. We preview what the Canadiens must prepare for, including Colorado’s elite speed, offensive firepower, and the matchups that could determine the outcome. Whether you're a Montreal Canadiens fan, a Vegas Golden Knights fan, a Colorado Avalanche fan, or just a passionate hockey follower, this video delivers all the insight you need. We analyze player trends, coaching decisions, line adjustments, and what the Habs must do to carry their momentum into Colorado. We also touch on the 5 yr / $30M contract extension signed today by Mike Matheson If you enjoy NHL post-game reactions, Habs analysis, and game previews, this episode is for you! 🔥 LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE for more Montreal Canadiens content, NHL previews, and PuckTalk MTL breakdowns! 0:00 - Show Start 1:00 - Big News! Mike Matheson Resigns With The Canadiens for 5 yrs / $30M 4:21 - Game Highlights - Sam Montembeault Was OUTSTANDING!!! 10:59 - Game Analysis - Besides Monty's Performance, How Did The Habs Pull This Win Off! 17:34 - Game Day LineUps - Habs vs. Avalanche 20:17 - Canadiens 5 Keys To Victory Over Colorado #GoHabsGo #MontrealCanadiens #NHL #Habs #VegasGoldenKnights #ColoradoAvalanche #HockeyFans #NHLHighlights #PuckTalkMTL #Hockey #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 * The first great chance of the game wasn’t really a chance at all. Cole Caufield was at a sharp angle to a square Akira Schmid, but fired a shot off the post. * Samuel Montembeault doesn’t look comfortable, and is still sliding too far out of position on his pushes, but he’s stopped the first two pucks that came his way. * Breakout passes aren’t accurate enough, and the Golden Knights are picking them off easily. * Mike Matheson puts the puck right on the stick of Mark Stone in the offensive zone, then takes slashing penalty on the rush that ensues. Not a good shift from the man who signed a five-year extension today. * I don’t understand why the team has gone back to a diamond formation on the penalty kill. Even when David Savard was lying on the ice last year, there was someone at the opposite post. Noah Dobson is trying to defend three players right now. * Two good stops by Montembeault on shots from the slot. * Shots are 9-1 Las Vegas through 12 minutes. Montreal needs to wake up. * The Habs add a couple from the point with the top line on the ice. * The aggressive forecheck from the Golden Knights is too strong as Nick Suzuki gets tripped in his own end. * Montreal doesn’t even need a power-play, however, because they go to work at six-on-five. A nice move from Juraj Slafkovský to move past a defender and an even better pass across the ice tees up Zachary Bolduc for his sixth goal of the season and fourth point on this road trip. Juraj Slafkovsky threads it to Zack Bolduc and Bolduc buries it! 1-0 Habs [image or embed]— Scott Matla (@scottmatla.bsky.social) November 28, 2025 at 5:34 PM * Montembeault is getting a little sharper as the game goes on. Glancing up at the scoreboard and seeing a zero for the home side has to be a confidence boost for him. * Slafkovský is again at the centre of the play as the second line gets a great setup from Ivan Demidov to Oliver Kapanen for a point-blank shot. Schmid made the save, but just had the puck hit him. * Kapanen gets a breakaway to end the shift, but Schmid robs his a second time. * The top line with the Lane Hutson-Jayden Struble pairing puts together a shift that looks like a power play, with a couple more looks. * Perhaps the Golden Knights are trying too hard to tie the game, because Jake Evans almost has a breakaway of his own. Alexandre Texier, playing his first game as a Canadien, just couldn’t find his stick with the pass. * The puck gets into Matheson’s feet, and Las Vegas gets one more chance before the horn sounds. * After a lethargic start, Montreal looked much better after opening the scoring. But we all know the second period will be the most important one played today. Second period * Texier has been too slow in moving the puck today, but we can’t know if that’s a flaw in his game or just a product of this being his first game in almost a month, and with a new team. * Montembeault is looking more confident with each save. * The linesman spends about 15 seconds lecturing both teams on faceoff etiquette, and we can get back under way. * Caufield plays a tune off the iron early in the second period, but this time it’s off the crossbar and in. Just incredible precision from where he was on the ice. A good effort from Alexandre Carrier to keep the puck in at the blue line to allow that play to happen. Absolutely disgusting snipe by Cole Caufield, big shout out to Alexandre Carrier for keeping that puck alive in the OZ 2-0 Habs! [image or embed]— Scott Matla (@scottmatla.bsky.social) November 28, 2025 at 6:09 PM * Dobson drives right to the net trying to make it 3-0. Schmid makes the save as the defence parts in front of him. * Florian Xhekaj forced Schmid into a tough save by setting a screen for a point shot. He also added a shot the next time the puck got into the zone. * Zach Whitecloud is hunched over as the Golden Knights finally get the puck out of their zone, and the referee blows the play dead to check on the defenceman. It looks like he took a puck in the mouth. * A little bobble from the old Montembeault spills a rebound to his left, but fortunately for him no one is standing right there to capitalize. * The linesman calls an offside even though it looked like Hutson held the puck in. Maybe the young defenceman needs to hold his own lecture on offside etiquette. * A wild sequence that sees chances at both ends has Matheson walk into a shot inside the blue line, and Suzuki pokes the rebound over to Caufield, who is denied by Schmid’s pad. * Keegan Kolesar gets too close to Montembeault after he froze the puck. Arber Xhekaj and Joe Veleno team up for the takedown. Xhekaj and Kolesar head to the box. * Four-on-four probably favours the trailing team here. We’ll see how Montreal handles it. * The answer is that Hutson will see all the open space and decide to put on his own Vegas show. After about 30 seconds of puck possession, he hands off to Suzuki, and it’s another great chance for Caufield. * Suzuki literally fights off an interfering defender in the neutral zone to set up a breakaway for Caufield. Caufield is denied. He could easily have four or five goals right now. * Schmid makes a save through an Evans screen. They’re really trying to extend the lead here, and that’s what you like to see as long as they’re not over-extending. * As I finished tying that, Carrier got caught at the offensive blue line and forced Arber to defend a two-on-one. Montreal escaped unscathed. * Evans does get his breakaway. Schmid makes another save. But Ben Hutton threw the rebound over the glass, and Montreal gets a late power play to really put a stamp on this second-period effort. * A little too loose to get any chances, but they will start the third with about 1:10 of PP time. * The Golden Knights has 11 shots to Montreal’s five, but the Habs did well to prevent much in the way of dangerous chances. Third period * Well at least they drained a minute off the clock. They weren’t close to get a shot on net on the power play. * Now an icing at the two-minute mark. They can’t just sit back and hope to survive this period. They got to this point by keeping the Golden Knights on their heels. * The third time is the charm for Evans. He missed out on a first-period breakaway, was stopped on one in the second, but now converts on one created by a great defensive-zone play from Matheson and a nice pass from Texier in the neutral zone for his first Habs point. Mike Matheson with the great clearing pass and Alexandre Texier feed Jake Evans for a breakaway goal Habs up 3-0! [image or embed]— Scott Matla (@scottmatla.bsky.social) November 28, 2025 at 7:08 PM * Montembeault makes a save through traffic. In recent games that would have been a goal and an immediate erasure of the insurance marker. * Bolduc is now starting to understand where his teammates are on the ice. He’s making plays and not just tossing the puck around the boards like he did when he first got promoted. * And the second line is also playing great tonight, led by Slafkovský. It’s a good top six, especially considering the injuries the Habs are dealing with. * One shot on net for the Golden Knights through eight-and-a-half minutes, versus six for Montreal. Excellent defence. * Demidov has a great backcheck to keep a three-on-two from forming. The Golden Knights are limited to another shot from distance instead. * I’ve liked what I’ve seen from Texier. He is at least a more dynamic player than Veleno. * Florian gets a block and the puck bounces out to the neutral zone to end Vegas’s first real pressure of the period. * At the other end, Bolduc tips a shot on Schmid as the Habs recover with the top line on the ice. * A spectacular breakdown on defence has all five skaters go to the boards, leaving Mark Stone with the slot to himself. He has time to complete a series of dekes before putting his team on the board. * Now Montembeault can’t allow that goal get to him. Five more minutes to play. * Jack Eichel almost throws the puck into his own empty net. That would have been embarrassing. * Better for Slafkovský to do it. He deserves it after another solid outing. 4-1 Montreal with two minutes to go. * Also, fourth consecutive game with four goals. * A very faint “Olé!” chant rings out at T-Mobile Arena as the horn sounds on Montreal’s third consecutive win. * Off to Colorado to try to make this a perfect trip. EOTP 3 Stars 3) (Don’t say that out loud, they’ll hear you) 2) This is what I’m thankful for 1) That would have required Marner to touch the puck. I barely noticed him before the Stone goal

Game 23: Montreal Canadiens @ Vegas Golden Knights Start time: **4:00 PM EST / 1:00 PM PST** In the Canadiens region: TSN2 (English), RDS (French) In the Golden Knights region: Scripps Streaming: ESPN+, RDS, TSN+ After a great start on Wednesday, the second-period woes that have haunted the Montreal Canadiens came back versus the Utah Mammoth, turning a 2-0 lead into a 3-2 deficit. But the Canadiens fought back in the third period to score two goals and claim consecutive wins for the first time in almost a month. Today there’s a chance for a third three-game winning streak of the season, but to get it they will need Samuel Montembeault to claim just his fifth win, and first since November 8. It’s normally a very potent team the Canadiens play when the Vegas Golden Knights are on the opposite side, but that’s not the case right now. Pavel Dorofeyev began the season on a tear with a hat trick in the opening game and nine goals in the first 10 matches, but has gone cold since, with just two in the last 13. The team overall is struggling to produce, and hopefully for Montreal’s sake that will continue for at least one more game. 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 #13 Cole Caufield #14 Nick Suzuki #76 Zachary Bolduc #20 Juraj Slafkovský #91 Oliver Kapanen #93 Ivan Demidov #63 Florian Xhekaj #71 Jake Evans #17 Josh Anderson #49 Jared Davidson #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 #47 Jayden Struble #48 Lane Hutson ##42 Adam Engström #45 Alexandre Carrier .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 #35 Samuel Montembeault #75 Jakub Dobeš Scratched: Arber Xhekaj Injured: Kirby Dach, Kaiden Guhle, Patrik Laine, Alex Newhook Vegas Golden Knights 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 Ivan Barbashev Jack Eichel Braeden Bowman Mitch Marner Brett Howden Mark Stone Brandon Saad Tomas Hertl Pavel Dorofeyev Reilly Smith Colton Sissons Keegan Kolesar .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 Brayden McNabb Shea Theodore Noah Hanifin Zach Whitecloud Ben Hutton Kaedan Korczak .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 Akira Schmid Carl Lindbom

The Montreal Canadiens have locked up defender Mike Matheson to a five-year contract extension, the team announced on Friday. The Canadiens have agreed to terms on a five-year contract extension (2026-27 to 2030-31) with defenseman Mike Matheson News release ↓ #GoHabsGo https://t.co/j4zZ1bGjFU— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) November 28, 2025 The contract will be for an average cap hit of $6 million per year. The 31-year-old was set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, and he will now take the mantle of the veteran leader for this group going forward. Matheson has four goals and 10 assists in 22 games so far this season, and he leads the team in average ice time and in plus/minus with a +13. He has had a great start to the season playing with Noah Dobson, and the Canadiens have now locked up four of their six defenders long-term as Matheson joins Dobson, Lane Hutson, and Kaiden Guhle. The Montreal-native is currently in the last year of a deal that pays him $4.875 million, so he will see a slight increase as the salary cap increases.

Welcome back to PuckTalk MTL, your go-to channel for Montreal Canadiens analysis and in-depth hockey breakdowns! In today’s episode, Kosta explores potential centre trade targets for the Montreal Canadiens, examining which players could help the Habs strengthen their lineup and boost their offensive depth. We break down available NHL centres, their stats, performance trends, and fit within the Canadiens’ system. Whether it’s a young up-and-comer or an experienced playmaker, we discuss how each trade target could impact line combinations, special teams, and overall team chemistry. This video is perfect for Montreal Canadiens fans, NHL fans, and hockey enthusiasts who want to understand the Habs’ options heading into potential trade deadlines. We also explore how acquiring a top centre could influence Nick Suzuki, Juraj Slafkovsky, Cole Caufield, and other key players, and what the Canadiens might have to give up to secure the right addition. If you love Montreal Canadiens news, NHL trade analysis, and hockey strategy, this video delivers insights, speculation, and expert breakdowns that every Habs fan needs to know. 🔥 Don’t forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE for more Montreal Canadiens analysis, NHL trade rumors, and PuckTalk MTL coverage! 0:00 - Show Start 1:40 - Why Would The Habs Want Kiefer Sherwood? 3:13 - Nashville Ready To Trade Stamkos Or O'Reilly? Are They A Good Fit? 6:38 - Doubt That Zacha Is Available For Trade 8:02 - Peyton Crebs Is An Interesting Choice 9:05 - Sidnet Crosby Is Still A Piepe Dream For HabsNation 10:35 - The Main Question..Do The Habs Really Want To Make A Trade? #GoHabsGo #MontrealCanadiens #Habs #NHL #HockeyFans #NHLTradeRumors #PuckTalk #HabsNation #NHLAnalysis #CanadiensNews #HabsTradeTargets #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

Game 23: Montreal Canadiens @ Vegas Golden Knights Start time: **4:00 PM EST / 1:00 PM PST** In the Canadiens region: TSN2 (English), RDS (French) In the Golden Knights region: Scripps Streaming: ESPN+, RDS, TSN+ We all saw on Saturday night what life is like for the Toronto Maple Leafs after Mitch Marner moved on in the off-season. The current era has been one defined by a flawed construction braced by elite talent, but without Marner contributing offence at a 100-point pace while also providing Selke Trophy-calibre defence to the top line, that is no longer the case. The Maple Leafs fell to last place in the Eastern Conference after losing to the Montreal Canadiens as they now compete with the Buffalo Sabres for that spot. Marner maybe hasn’t taken on the role he expected when he signed with the Vegas Golden Knights in free agency; not going from playing with the top draft pick from the 2016 NHL Draft, Auston Matthews, to the the number-two selection the previous summer, Jack Eichel, but playing a support role on the second line. He still ranks second on the Golden Knights in minutes per game by a forward, and is probably happy to rank sixth among forwards in penalty-kill time rather than first as he did for the 2024-25 Maple Leafs. Not playing with the top options, he’s not on his 100-point pace, and has cooled off significantly from a hot start to the season that saw him string four multi-point performances together, which happened to coincide with a four-game winning streak for Las Vegas. The team has gone 5-5-6 since that run ended, and Marner has 12 points in those 16 games. 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 Golden Knights 12-7-3 Record 10-5-8 49.3% (18th) Expected-goal share 52.6% (8th) 3.45 (3rd) Goals per game 3.09 (15th) 3.50 (27th) Goals against per game 2.91 (14th) 23.1% (10th) PP% 23.8% (9th) 76.3% (25th) PK% 80.3% (17th) 1-1-0 Head-to-Head Record 1-1-0 Cole Caufield (13) Most goals Jack Eichel (11) Nick Suzuki (19) Most assists Jack Eichel (20) Nick Suzuki (26) Most points Jack Eichel (31) Since a very generous inauguration when too many NHL teams left top players available in the expansion draft, the Golden Knights have always been a great offensive team, never finishing a season averaging less than three goals — nor ever averaging more than three goals against. So far in 2025-26, they’re on pace for the second-worst production in their nine-year history at 3.09 per contest. Limiting the sample to games since that winning streak ended after game number seven of the season, the team is scoring 2.56 goals per game. Given that performance, Martin St-Louis made the decision to give today’s start to Samuel Montembeault, letting him face the less dangerous of the two opponents on this Thanksgiving weekend back-to-back. That’s as clear an indication as any that Jakub Dobeš is currently regarded as the starter, and it’s hard to deny that claim after consecutive wins from the Czech netminder improved his personal record to 8-2-2. But it does make finishing with a winning record on this road trip much more difficult with a struggling Montembeault going first and then Dobeš thrown into the path of an onrushing Colorado Avalanche team that has just a single regulation loss this season. Montreal needs Montembeault to be at least better than he has been to bank a win. Fortunately for Montreal, their own offence is clicking despite missing three middle-six forwards. The Habs have netted at least four goals in each of the past three games, upping their season average to 3.45, which ranks third in the NHL. After a drought of six games when they didn’t have a power-play goal, they now have three in the last three contests (four if you count one that was called back on an offside review). The man advantage is what saved Montreal from a loss on Wednesday night, and will likely play a big role in today’s game as well.

Montreal Canadiens news and notes * Despite the win over the Utah Mammoth, the Canadiens could still use some veteran help. [Sportsnet] * For Sebastian Buna, January will always be an important month. The Canadiens’ assistant athletic therapist will be celebrating his seventh anniversary of being cancer free. [Montreal Canadiens] * Is it time to move on from Joshua Roy? [The Hockey Writers] * David Reinbacher is back on course. [La Presse] * What does the future hold for Arber Xhekaj? [La Presse] Around the league and elsewhere * Carter Hart prepares to return to an NHL locker room. [Radio-Canada] * One reason to be thankful for all 32 NHL teams this Thanksgiving. [The Athletic] * Quinn Hughes is not ready to surrender the season. [Sportsnet] * Who are the Vancouver Canucks’ best trade pieces? [Daily Faceoff] * Wyatt Johnston said it would be “awesome” to represent Canada at the Olympics. [NHL.com] * The butterfly posture is getting a closer look from NHL teams due to its injury impact on the hips. [NHL.com] * Adam Fox is spearheading his father-in-law’s fight with ALS. [NHL.com]  * After a season-ending injury last year, Emerance Maschmeyer is back on the ice. [CBC]

Welcome back to PuckTalk MTL, your go-to channel for Montreal Canadiens analysis, NHL previews, and hockey breakdowns! In today’s episode, Coach preview a crucial matchup as the Montreal Canadiens ride a 2-game winning streak into Las Vegas to face the Vegas Golden Knights. Canadiens fans, NHL fans, hockey fans, and Golden Knights supporters will all want to watch as we break down the key storylines heading into this high-stakes game. We analyze the Canadiens’ recent performances, hot players, and line combinations that have fueled their winning streak. From offensive strategies, defensive pairings, to special teams impact, we cover everything you need to know before puck drop. How will the Habs handle the speed, skill, and depth of the Golden Knights? Which players are poised to make a difference? We also examine Vegas’ strengths, weaknesses, and what Montreal must do to continue their momentum on the road. Whether you’re a die-hard Montreal Canadiens fan, an NHL enthusiast, or a Vegas Golden Knights follower, this preview provides insight, analysis, and everything you need for this exciting NHL matchup. 0:00 - Show Start 1:35 - Game Day LineUps 5:02 - Canadiens Keys To Victory 🔥 LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE for more Habs previews, NHL analysis, and PuckTalk MTL coverage! #GoHabsGo #MontrealCanadiens #VegasGoldenKnights #Habs #NHL #HockeyFans #PuckTalk #HabsNation #NHLFans #CanadiensPreview #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

The Montreal Canadiens have re-claimed Samuel Blais off waivers after he was placed on there by the Toronto Maple Leafs. The @CanadiensMTL were the only claim on Samuel Blais so technically he can be sent down to Laval. So we’ll know soon what’s next for Blais.— Renaud Lavoie (@renlavoietva) November 27, 2025 Blais was a member of the Canadiens in the pre-season but the team put him on waivers where he was claimed by Toronto and his former coach with the St. Louis Blues, Craig Berube. Blais played eight games with Toronto, scoring a goal and adding two assists. The Canadiens were the only team to claim Blais, so they could assign him straight to the American Hockey League’s Laval Rocket where he will replenish some of the organizational depth that injuries have taken away. Montreal can also keep him in the NHL for a maximum of 10 games played or 30 calendar days without needing waivers to send him back down. These limits are cumulative if he gets recalled and sent down multiple times before hitting either limit. With Blais, the Canadiens are at 23 active players so they do not need to make a decision right away. With Alexandre Texier and now Blais, the Canadiens have a little bit of flexibility when it comes to their roster.

“We are a team, much like in Formula 1. There are a lot of us behind the scenes all working for the success of one person. The thing is, nothing we do will work if that player doesn’t put the effort in. Adam has done that since day one. Now, it’s time to reap the rewards.” For three-quarters of the year, hockey players are thrust in the limelight, their every move scrutinized by coaches, management, media, and the fans. Then the summer arrives, and everyone vanishes. While there are expectations that a player maintains some sort of summer training regimen, it’s all under the radar, with minimal input from the team and little to no visibility for the public. For Adam Engström, the summer means a return to his native Sweden and several months of intense work with one of the nation’s best athletic trainers.   It’s not easy to get to Mr. B. The man has clients in many different sports and therefore likes to stay in the background. In fact, reaching him takes up all of my banked goodwill from members of the Swedish hockey community, including Engström himself. It all pays off though, as Mr. B’s first words to me when I finally get in touch with him are, “You come very highly recommended,” to which I reply, “Likewise.” The interview is set under one condition: that the audience will not be given enough details to identify him. So dear readers, the best I can do is to assure you that Mr. B’s track record is second-to-none and his insights are worth this unusual measure. Mr. B refers to himself as an “assistant,” avoiding the term “consultant.” He doesn’t talk about the stature of his clientele nor the compensation that he receives. He sees himself as a helper, a facilitator, more than anything else. First steps Mr. B has worked with Engström since his mid-teens, after he had joined the Djurgårdens IF academy system alongside attending a hockey gymnasium in Stockholm. [In Sweden, after completing nine years of compulsory education, students can attend a gymnasium for three years (typically between the ages of 16 to 18) in order to prepare them for university, the trades, or other career pursuits. Hockey gymnasia add practices before and after a typical school day where students work on on-ice and off-ice training. Most hockey gymnasia are connected to SHL or HockeyAllsvenskan clubs. Similar schools also exist for other sports such as soccer or athletics.] “He was already practising really hard with physio early in the morning, skating at noon, and so on,” Mr. B explained. “Therefore, our focus turned largely to movement and making sure the body can do what it is supposed to handle. “The first thing we do is set up a list of demands [on the body] so that it can produce enough power to skate. On top of that, we aim to develop the mobility in specific sets of joints necessary to play 82 games plus a deep playoff run in the best league in the world. Then you need to be able to handle the lactic acid built up throughout all these games. You can’t do intervals at 45-45 [like the shifts in hockey] because then you just keep doing the same movements, and that won’t be good long-term.” Balancing speed, stamina, and bulk One of the biggest questions for most Junior players is whether they have the frame to play at the senior level. Mr. B approaches this from a different perspective. “The foundation for any sport is the heart and lungs. If we don’t work there, a player will never get better. During our first meeting with an athlete, we usually ask, ‘what do you think it takes to become one of the best athletes in the world?’ If the answer is working out five to six days a week, with some days being double days, you need a [VO2max score] over 60 to handle that. It won’t necessarily show up on the ice, but it will show up between games when it comes to recovery.” Mr. B remembers that when MMA started to become popular, wrestling became all the rage. “I had guys who wrestled for their summer training. They came into camp looking like Greek gods, but they were used to handling how lactic acid built up during wrestling, not skating. At that point, we had to start all over again.” He also prizes technique over raw power. “To get faster, you need power and explosiveness. To get that, you need agility and technique. There is no shortcut here, no easy way. You need to put the work in, and doubly so because you have to translate the motions learned in the gym to the mechanics of skating on ice.” But he casts doubt on undirected work: “How does a player get faster? Well, they go to YouTube and get told to jump. So they jump — a lot. On stairs, over hurdles, jump, jump, jump. The problem is that while everyone can jump, not everyone is strong enough to land properly. Landing is an overlooked repetitive heavy impact on the knees, the back, the butt. As lactic acid builds up from jumping, landing form progressively breaks down — knees start going inward, the back becomes round, everything bad starts happening. Once this occurs, you lose any benefit from the session.” However, that doesn’t mean that Mr. B ignores the value of bulk altogether. “We try to teach players to ‘play their weight,’” he says, explaining that players have to be comfortable in their bodies rather than aiming for specific numerical targets. “You have to trust your gut feelings. Adam is up to 90 kilograms (198 pounds) now, but you can’t tell from the way he skates — he looks so light on his skates.” There is a right way and a wrong way to build bulk, according to Mr. B: “[Without active support], a player will go to their friend, the biggest guy at the gym, or YouTube, for the quickest way to gain 10 kilograms in order to go pro. That doesn’t work.” He notes that Adam hasn’t stressed himself to reach his current weight, and he credits two things for that. The first is a woman named Monica who looks after Engström’s diet. “Everyone overemphasizes protein and fat and downplays carbohydrates, but it’s the carbs that supply energy over the long haul — that get you through a season. [Monica] gets Adam to write a food diary, and then we evaluate and grade each food. Then Monica, as the professional, helps me translate this information back to the athlete. A pro needs to work with pros.” The second is Engström’s meticulousness, because it’s not just about what one eats, but when they eat it. “You need food immediately after a practice,” Mr. B explains. “If you come home from practice and only then start to plan what you’ll eat, it’s too late. But you can’t go online and order it, so you need to plan in advance. You need good produce already at home and ready.” Being part of the Rögle BK program has apparently forced Engström to take all of these things to heart. Still, Mr. B is concerned about the North American schedule: “When players go overseas, things are fine after practices because the team provides food. But evenings at home, after games, are trickier. They also get later and later [since North American games finish later], and there are problems that come when players eat too late in the day.” So what does Mr. B plan for Engström? “In Adam’s case, to challenge his body, we use a lot of Olympic lifts — snatch and clean-and-jerk,” Mr. B explains. ”These lifts generate a lot of power, and we can see that he jumps better because of them. We also think that these complex movements, which engage different sets of joints, muscles, and the brain, make things interesting. We do them in an environment without mirrors, windows, or phones. We barely use music — the point is on mastering the technique itself without any distractions. “As Adam improves his agility and strength, then we add more weight. This strategy will be his backbone for the next 15-20 years.” Adjusting to changes in scenery Being drafted by an NHL team marks the fulfillment of a young hockey player’s journey, a single event that vindicates all of the years leading up to it. But it is also the first step of a new and chaotic journey into North American professional hockey. “It’s a messy year, in general.” Mr. B starts. “First, they go over to development camp, where they meet the organization and get evaluated on absolutely everything they do. Then some of them have to go straight to national team duties as soon as they get sent home, then immediately join their [European] club teams afterward. There’s also a pressure that comes after someone is drafted, where the thought process is that they should always be promoted to the senior team regardless of their prior history. It’s chaos. “Our intentions are to develop as good an athlete as possible, but to do it over time.” Mr. B continued. “They are only 18 years old, and are locked in for four years to an organization. Our thought process is that we want a player to take steps all through those four years, but the first summer is not an issue. The important thing is to not go backward. “Engström was lucky to be drafted by the Montreal Canadiens. Their staff focuses on hockey but also branches out to other parts of development. They understood the importance of time, so Adam and I didn’t do a lot together in that first year. Rather, we were careful and left him in a good environment with [then U20 head coach and current senior assistant coach] Max Bohlin and the Rögle BK team. For example, one time he was up in Stockholm to visit his parents, we had a chance to do some work, but we just focused on sorting out techniques as he lifted weights; we weren’t concerned with how heavy the lifts were.” How development camp complicates things The Canadiens annually hold a development camp for their prospects in July. It’s an opportunity for players to showcase themselves for management, but it’s not all sunshine and roses, especially for European prospects. “Consider this,” Mr. B begins, “You play a season with Rögle, and maybe you make the playoffs, maybe not. Maybe you join the U20s for their playoffs. Either way, you’ve tried to time your physical peak for the post-season [April/May]. Now, you have to try to hold that peak until July, or generate a new mini peak, because you’re going to go up against North American players who have been on the ice during that gap. “There’s also an immense amount of pressure. The players are showcasing their skills in unfamiliar situations: three-on-threes, four-on-fours, special teams, and so on. Then you factor in how this event might be the only time management sees a European player in person all season, as well as the presence of the media — especially in Montreal. Furthermore, you get two weeks off when you get back from North America, but then August arrives and it’s time for heavy pre-season training with your SHL team.” Team Adam In past interviews, Engström highlighted how important Bohlin was for his early development. Even today, the two still link up for individual training sessions throughout the summer. Bohlin’s player development philosophy centres on a desire to learn rather than adherence to set regimens. “I look at it from a holistic approach,” Bohlin explained. “All four aspects — mental, tactical, technical, and physical — are important. When I am able to work on all four areas, it shows that I care about the player, both on and off the ice, and that enhances the player’s development.” Mr. B concurs with Bohlin’s assessment of himself: “Max is so damn good,” he enthuses. “He is so keen to learn, and sharp enough to realize the importance of understanding. Despite being so young, he’s already grasped the importance of things beyond ‘just hockey.’ That it takes a team effort to make these players better.” Mr. B recalls one specific instance where Bohlin came up to Stockholm to learn more about what he and Engström were doing together. “Max spent three days here and he could see how the work I did here translated to on-ice stuff, how general exercises translated to hockey-specific development.”  In the same way, Mr. B adjusted his training regimen based on what Bohlin wanted from Engström. “The first thing we worked on was movement, in order to benefit [Adam’s] skating. I did that because Max was doing a lot of technical sessions in Ängelholm to push Adam to get better on the outside. We needed to do specific exercises so that Adam could perform the movements that Max wanted him to do. This didn’t start the first day after the draft, but rather was something we built up throughout that first season. “We are a team: Max, the Montreal development group and myself,” Mr. B says, but adds that “100% of the work is done by Adam. We are the tools, but without Adam we are nothing. Mr. [Rob] Ramage and Mr. [Lauri] Korpikoski, all of us want to push Adam forward — but again it’s Adam’s work ethic and his willingness to learn that is the key. “It helps that Adam is extremely interested and curious, that he asks and he wants to understand, ‘Why?’ Mr. B highlights one specific conversation between Engström and Ramage. “One of the key things that Adam really took to heart was when we were in Ängelholm with Mr. Ramage and he said ‘defence starts with a D, if you don’t like it, you have to start thinking about doing something else. You have to become a defensive player.’ It was important for Adam to have the stamina to work hard defensively — to be on the right side, shift after shift, and maintain the mental clarity to make a great pass out of his own zone and go for a change.” Ultimately, as Mr. B has repeatedly said, it all comes down to the player. “Grit is necessary to be there at eight every morning. My job is to harness that grit and make sure they channel it correctly.” In this case, Engström is a special individual. Not only has he shown a willingness to sacrifice, he has also displayed a great deal of patience. “Adam has been great,” Mr. B explains. “He has made slow and steady progress over time. He has been engaged, he has been curious, and he has never taken his eyes off his goal of being an NHL player.” Mr. B downplays his own importance in Engström’s progress. “I am just the wall that Adam bounces ideas off of. If everything is good, then we don’t change anything.” However, a member of the Canadiens’ staff summed up the role he plays in the development story. “Mr. B doesn’t build hockey players. He builds athletes that can play hockey.” --- As usual there are a lot of people to thank for their help in writing this article, some of whom can’t be named because they want anonymity, but I really want to thank Nathan Ni for his invaluable help with editing and being someone to bounce questions off.

Montreal Canadians news and notes * On the hunt to address their depth down the middle, the Habs have their eye on Nashville Predators’ Ryan O’Reilly. [TSN] * Adam Engström’s call up has sparked curiosity throughout the NHL. [Journal de Montreal] * The Vancouver Canucks are open to talking with Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes about their impending UFAs. [NY Times] * After making his NHL debut on Saturday, Florian Xhekaj is already starting to feel more at ease with the club. [Journal de Montreal] * Alex Belzile comes back to the Laval Rocket after two years, with his NHL dream very much intact. [Montreal Gazette] * Montreal Victoire fans are fired up as the third season kicks off with some new faces. [CBC] * Victoire’s Abby Roque’s highlight-reel goal has everyone talking. [TSN] * In a single year, the Canadiens added $300 million to their price tag. [Journal de Montreal] Around the league and elsewhere * USA Hockey’s new Milan 2026 jerseys honour the first U.S. squad to win gold. [Sportsnet] * Former Edmonton Oilers goalie Devan Dubnyk weighs in on how much time Stuart Skinner has left. [Edmonton Journal] * Canada hasn’t had this much Olympic-calibre talent in years, even though it’s Canadian NHL teams are floundering. [Toronto Sun] * Florida Panthers’ Matthew Tkachuk has started skating on his own, but is still “a ways away” from returning to action. [NHL] * Defencemen and goaltenders who should head to the Olympics to represent Team Canada. [Sportsnet] * Canadian players who were snubbed for the 4 Nations but could be contenders for the Olympics. [Sportsnet]

The Montreal Canadiens pulled off a CRAZY 4-3 win in Utah, and this video breaks down every moment Habs and NHL fans need to know! In this recap, we dive into how the Canadiens battled the Utah Mammoth in a fast, physical, back-and-forth showdown that had Montreal Canadiens fans, NHL fans, and hockey fans buzzing from start to finish. From clutch scoring, key defensive plays, standout performances, and late-game intensity, this Canadiens vs. Mammoth matchup delivered everything you’d want in a high-energy NHL thriller. Whether you’re a dedicated Montreal Canadiens supporter or a Utah Mammoth fan curious about how this game slipped away, this breakdown covers all the turning points—special teams impact, line combinations, goalie moments, and the big plays that sealed the 4-3 Canadiens victory. With the Habs fighting to build momentum this season, this road win in Utah could be a major confidence boost. If you love Montreal Canadiens analysis, NHL game reactions, hockey breakdowns, or Utah Mammoth highlights, this is the video for you. Don’t forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE for more Canadiens content, NHL reactions, and game-by-game analysis all season long! 0:00 - PuckTalk MTL Post-Game 1:18 - Game Highlights - Suzuki's 1st Goal Was His 400th Career Point 7:25 - Game Analysis - Mistakes A Plenty, But Redemption Between The Pipes #GoHabsGo #MontrealCanadiens #UtahMammoth #Habs #NHL #HockeyFans #PuckTalk #HabsNation #NHLFans #CanadiensPostGame #HabsWin #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 * The teams are playing with a lot of energy, but not a lot of purpose early. Trading possession with no real attack. * Josh Anderson gets the first shot of the game about four minutes in by using his speed to back off the defence before cutting into the middle for a shot. * The line of Florian Xhekaj, Jake Evans, and Anderson gets a hard forecheck going and forces goaltender Karel Vejmelka to pounce on the puck and get a whistle. * Maybe St-Louis recognized that that is the line going the best, because he has the whiteboard out drawing up some strategy for it. * The Mammoth get some good pressure, but that all comes to an end when Jack McBain trips up Lane Hutson after falling down. * Hutson got a good shot off from the top of the circles, but not with enough velocity to solve Vejmelka. * An excellent zone entry from Cole Caufield catches the Mammoth sleeping as the expect a drop-pass (Montreal is starting to do that more often), and a quick hand-off allows Hutson to walk in, but his pass across to Caufield doesn’t work. * Now Ivan Demidov drives down the middle of the ice to draw a hooking call. There will be 53 seconds of five-on-three time. * Suzuki is really struggling to play the puck. * But the captain has the strength to push the puck back to the point. Hutson swings it over to Zachary Bolduc, and that shot is powerful to beat Vejmela for the 1-0 lead. * Some good work from Florian to come back and support his defence, actually being the one to collect the puck in the defensive zone. He then fights through a check on the rush and sets up Adam Engström’s first NHL shot before ending the shift with a face-wash. * Now Florian goes right at his man with a chest-high puck coming his way, and forces a whistle for a drop-pass. He is an NHL player, and so far I see no reason to send him down. * Bolduc is lucky to get away with a poor pass in his own zone, but the puck come right back to him so he can lead the breakout. The puck goes to Caufield than across to Suzuki for a one-timer and the 2-0 goal. * That was Suzuki’s 400th NHL point. * Utah gets a chance to get back in the game with Mike Matheson sent off for tripping. That call probably doesn’t get made if Montreal hadn’t had a five-on-three. * An aggressive kill keeps Utah to the outside, and the Habs take a 2-0 lead into the dressing room after a good period. Second period * Hutson is everywhere in this game, and he really wants a goal. * Montreal is holding the puck in Utah’s zone. This is the way to fix your second-period issues. * Hutson begins a breakout and if not for a great save by Vejmelka, Bolduc would have had a second goal in this game. * Xhekaj is the latest player to get a shot, but he didn’t have enough room to fully pull the puck to his forehand and could only flick the puck. Still, it’s an offensive-zone faceoff earned by the third line. * Despite the flow of play, Alexandre Carrier flips the puck over the glass into the penalty box, and he will now trade places with it. * And that allows Utah to gets its first goal. Barrett Hayton is left unmarked as Josh Anderson wanders too far from his station. * I don’t know what changes this year, but teams are going after Suzuki a lot more. * With the goal, momentum has shifted to Utah. * And the game is tied. * Make that 3-2 for the Mammoth. * Michael Carcone burned Joe Veleno behind the net, and Dobeš looked the wrong way for the rebound. * A scrum ensues after the goal, and Jared Davidson ends up with an extra minor to put the Mammoth back on the power play. * Montreal’s penalty-killers were forced to defend for a full two-minute shift, but the survive. * It was a great start to the period. I think Utah had two shots on the board when Carrier took his penalty at 9:07. Then it was a terrible finish as the Mammoth registered 11 more shots, and three goals. Third period * An early power play will give Montreal a chance to tie the game. * And they do, with Juraj Slafkovský on the top unit to pound in a one-timer. * The Mammoth are looking for offside on the entry. They think they have enough for a challenge. * They do. No goal as Slafkovský was inside the line waiting for the puck to cross it. They will have to do it again. * Bolduc fires a shot off the post, but it bounces across right to Suzuki, who scores his second goal of he game. * It’s a three-point game for Bolduc, the first of his career. * Demidov likes to wait until the final second as he’s about to be hit before swinging around to send the puck across the ice. I fear he’s going to get hurt doing that at some point. * But, he didn’t get hurt that time, and instead ended the shift by beating Vejmelka from range to put the Habs back in the lead. * Clayton Keller blasts the puck off the post on a delayed penalty. Now two important minutes for the penalty kill. * Dylan Guenther gets his stick between Dobeš’s legs and twists him down. Somehow that’s not enough to bring Utah’s power play to an end. * Play is very scrambly coming out of the kill. Montreal gets a two-on-one that delays into a four-on-three, then Utah goes the other way through some desperate coverage to test Dobeš twice. * You can be sure Martin St-Louis is preaching calm in this TV timeout. * The Canadiens have iced the puck four times with Vejmelka on the bench, but they’re hanging on. * Nick Suzuki sends the puck down the ice. It hits the post and bounces straight back, but the linesman is in the habit of calling icings and blows it down. That faceoff will go to centre ice. * Another icing leaves 3.8 seconds on the clock. * Time expires. Montreal wins back-to-back games, and at least temporarily moves into the Atlantic’s third seed with the Senators still playing. * Next is a tough back-to-back in Las Vegas and then Colorado. It will be interesting to see how St-Louis deploys his goalies for the games. EOTP 3 Stars 3) And count it did 2) We’re not quite at that level, but an impressive effort from them tonight 1) Saved by the bell

Game 22: Montreal Canadiens @ Utah Mammoth Start time: **9:30 PM EST / 6:30 PM PST** In the Canadiens region: TSN2 (English), RDS (French) In the Mammoth region: Utah16 Streaming: ESPN+, RDS, TSN+ Martin St-Louis said following Adam Engström’s recall from the Laval Rocket that he didn’t know if the defenceman would see his first NHL action on the trip, but for the second consecutive game we will see a rookie take his first lap in the big leagues. With Florian Xhekaj still in after recording a point in his debut, the Canadiens will have six rookies in the lineup to face the Utah Mammoth. It did make sense for this to be the first game Engström played with the Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche waiting for a back-to-back to end the week. Montreal already knows what to expect from a Mammoth team they just played on November 8, and Engström might be able to get away with an error or two. Utah has played well at home this year, winning seven of 10 games played in Salt Lake City, allowing just 2.50 goals per game in their own building and killing off 85.7% of penalties. It will take a team effort like the one Montreal got back to on Saturday night to break down the Mammoth defence and maintain the offence that has steadily risen over the last four games. 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 #13 Cole Caufield #14 Nick Suzuki #76 Zachary Bolduc #20 Juraj Slafkovský #91 Oliver Kapanen #93 Ivan Demidov #63 Florian Xhekaj #71 Jake Evans #17 Josh Anderson #49 Jared Davidson #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 #47 Jayden Struble #48 Lane Hutson ##42 Adam Engström #45 Alexandre Carrier .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 #35 Samuel Montembeault Scratched: Arber Xhekaj Injured: Kirby Dach, Kaiden Guhle, Patrik Laine, Alex Newhook Utah Mammoth 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 Clayton Keller Barrett Hayton Nick Schmaltz Kailer Yamamoto Logan Cooley Dylan Guenther J.J. Peterka Jack McBain Lawson Crouse Brandon Tanev Kevin Stenlund Michael Carcone .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 Mikhail Sergachev Nick DeSimone Nate Schmidt John Marino Ian Cole Sean Durzi .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 Karel Vejmelka Vitek Vanecek

Will Shoukri and Patrik Bexell get a new podcast adventure started as they take a look at the Laval Rocket’s biggest prospects so far this season. Starting with David Reinbacher, who has gotten back into the grove that got him drafted by the Canadiens. He is a staple in the defensive end but has also gotten on the score sheet more than last year. Things are really looking swell for the Austrian defender, even if he will sit out the Olympics (Yes, William!). The discussion then shifts towards another improving player Filip Mešár who has gone from being a bit of a floater to clearly attacking defenders in the neutral zone and forcing his way into the offensive zone. It’s a step up from what was expected from him at the day of the draft. The biggest question so far has been Owen Beck, who seems to have lost his confidence in his offence. He generates offence, he is getting high danger chances but in the end they don’t go in and he seems to have lost a bit of trust in himself. Florian Xhekaj has joined the Canadiens and the question really is if he stays up all season long. That is the main thing to take away from his debut and the problems that the Canadiens has in the line up at them moment. Jacob Fowler has started the season great and the fact that he has the chance to continue his development in Laval is something that will benefit the Canadiens long term. Nothing seems to unsettle the goalie, who will just get back and do his job of saving pucks. While his win-loss record is 7-4, his individual stats are really good (2.1 GAA and a .914) for a first year player. Another player that will get the chance to play NHL is Adam Engström, and while he is expected to go back down to Laval, it is important for both Adam and management to see how he can be used and what he needs to improve upon for his future development. Some people have questioned his physicality, but he is mean as has been seen in the playoffs both in SHL and in the AHL. He might not get into the big physical hits, or the fights, but he is mean and loves to play in the playoffs. ---

Game 22: Montreal Canadiens @ Utah Mammoth Start time: **9:30 PM EST / 6:30 PM PST** In the Canadiens region: TSN2 (English), RDS (French) In the Mammoth region: Utah16 Streaming: ESPN+, RDS, TSN+ The Montreal Canadiens are no stranger to going on long tours in the United States during holidays with their annual Christmas trip through Florida. This year, they’ve headed off to play some Western Conference teams in the week the U.S. celebrates Thanksgiving. There will be a back-to-back of afternoon games at the end of the week, but first they’ll kick off the three-game trip with a later match versus the Utah Mammoth. Montreal’s first trip west this season was a successful one, going 3-1 versus the northern half of the Pacific Division. Tonight will be the second time the Canadiens play at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, earning a win during a red-hot run in January. We can’t use that adjective to describe them right now after just going through a stretch of five games without a win, but they managed to beat the uninterested Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night to bank a little bit of confidence for the road. 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 Mammoth 11-7-3 Record 12-8-3 50.3% (12th) Expected-goal share 53.1% (6th) 3.43 (4th) Goals per game 3.09 (15th) 3.52 (27th) Goals against per game 2.96 (16th) 21.0% (14th) PP% 13.8% (30th) 76.4% (23rd) PK% 84.1% (6th) 1-0-0 Head-to-Head Record 0-1-0 Cole Caufield (13) Most goals Logan Cooley (13) Nick Suzuki (18) Most assists Nick Schmaltz (12) Nick Suzuki (23) Most points Nick Schmaltz (22) Utah has had a similar run to Montreal this year, piling up wins early in the season (they held an 8-2 record thanks to a seven-game winning streak) then struggling to add to them over the next few weeks. They had gone a stretch of 11 games from October 28 to November 20 winning just two games, but have managed to win their last two contests to hang on to a wild-card spot. The parallels don’t just end at the team level. In previewing the first game a comparison was made between Nick Suzuki and Nick Schmaltz. Neither player was going a game without recording a point in the opening month of the season. Now Suzuki, clearly hampered by an issue that’s negatively impacting his offensive play, has four points in his last eight games, while Schmaltz enters this evening’s contest with one assist in his last six matches. Though Schmaltz is dealing with a four-game point drought, it was raining hats on Logan Cooley on Monday night when he scored four times and added an assist to factor in on every goal in a 5-1 win over the Vegas Golden Knights. With that performance, he’s now just one point from tying Schmaltz for the team point lead. The task of icing Cooley will fall to Jakub Dobeš, confirmed as the starter after he was the one to end the losing streak on Saturday in Montreal. The Maple Leafs were very kind to Dobeš that night as their shots were fired mostly from the perimeter to allow for easy saves. That’s not going to be the case tonight from a Mammoth team that ranks in the top 10 for creating high-danger chances at five-on-five. This is a clash between teams that rank seventh and eighth in full-strength offence per game this year, and the better goaltender could be the difference.

Abby Roque had three points, including a highlight-reel between-the-legs goal, as the Montreal Victoire earned their first win of the season, 4-0, over the New York Sirens on Tuesday night at Place Bell. Roque, acquired at the PWHL Draft from New York was playing her first home game in Montreal as well as her first game against her former team. It was Roque’s sixth career multi-point game in the PWHL. “I actually don’t think I’ve ever tried that in a game or practiced it,” Roque said. “I don’t know why I decided that was the moment. Honestly, I was doing it, and I was like, ‘This is stupid.’ And then it went in. So I got lucky.” “We’re able to use Abby in a lot of different situations,” said Montreal head coach Kori Cheverie. “The fact that her and Pou (Marie-Philip Poulin) kind of switch off at the centre position, depending on who’s winning against certain centres, is really helpful too. Her goal was outstanding, just to create something with the limited space that she had, but that’s the type of player that she is. She’s very cerebral. She’s got a very high IQ, and she’s constantly thinking about the game and strategizing, and she’s the one pulling people in to talk about different ways to handle certain situations. And I thought she did really well on the kill as well. For us to keep adding power play players, but also killers, is really helpful for our overall game.”  Ann-Renée Desbiens made 33 saves for her second career shutout, and first since the inaugural 2024 season. Laura Stacey added two assists, while Marie-Philip Poulin – the third member of the line – had a goal and an assist herself. Montreal came out with a much stronger start than in their opening game, opening an 8-1 edge in shots and getting the better scoring chances. New York’s best scoring chance came midway through the period when a loose puck made its way towards the empty side of the net but Desbiens stretched out her left pad to keep the puck out. Laura Stacey appeared to score the game’s first goal at the 12:38 mark, but the official behind the net instantly ruled no goal for a kicking motion. After review by the PWHL’s Central Situation room, the call on the ice stood. Both teams had power plays in the first period, but were unable to score. Montreal took advantage of a carry-over power play early in the second period. Thirty seconds into the period, Erin Ambrose’s shot was tipped by rookie Natálie Mlýnková, who scored her first career PWHL goal. She was the fourth forward on the first power play unit, joining the top line of Stacey, Poulin, and Roque. The goal was originally credited to Ambrose, but changed to Mlýnková. “I didn’t know,” she said. “I actually didn’t even know they announced it later on until people started telling me. I had no idea [I touched the puck]. I think sometimes those things happen too fast.” A few minutes later, after several Desbiens saves, New York had a goal disallowed of their own also for a kicking motion. Kayla Vespa was the one who seemed to put the puck in, but the score remained 1-0. It would stay that way until 1:15 remaining in the period. Roque sprung Stacey, who was joined on a two-on-one with Poulin. Stacey found her wife with the pass, and although Osborne got across, Poulin was able to sneak the puck past her. Roque’s between-the-legs goal gave Montreal a 3-0 lead at 13:26 of the third period, and Maggie Flaherty added an empty netter with 10 seconds remaining to give Montreal a 4-0 lead. Notes * Kristin O’Neill, the player Montreal traded to acquire Roque was given a tribute video and saluted the crowd in the first period of Tuesday’s game. * Montreal now has 12 days off before hosting the Toronto Sceptres on December 7. Full Highlights

Montreal Canadiens news and notes * It’s back to work on Monday for Simona and Jack Xhekaj after a storybook Saturday. [Montreal Gazette] * Montreal is not done trying to improve their roster. [RG.org] * The Habs have options when it comes to the goaltending. [The Hockey Writers] * It’s been an impressive start for Oliver Kapanen and Ivan Demidov. [La Presse] * Juraj Slafkovsky looks better than ever since moving to the Canadiens’ second line. [A Winning Habit] * Martin St-Louis wants to see intensity as the Habs head out west. [Radio-Canada] * Alexandre Carrier, just a good kid from the South Shore. [Journal de Montreal] * Who is Alexandre Texier? [RDS] Around the league and elsewhere * Grades for all 32 NHL teams at the quarter mark of 2025-26. [ESPN] * Can the Nashville Predators turn their season around? [ESPN] * The Predators are not considering a coaching change. [TSN] * Milan Lucic has been released from his professional tryout with the St. Louis Blues’ AHL affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds. [Sportsnet] * A rough start for the Vancouver Canucks jeopardizes their plans to keep Quinn Hughes in the fold. [Sportsnet] * The Canucks are apparently willing to sell their pending UFAs. [TSN] * “The glass is half full not half empty”, according to Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube. [TSN] * The Dallas Stars have unveiled their new 3rd jersey. [Daily Faceoff] * Alexandar Georgiev signs a two-year deal with the KHL’s Spartak Moscow. [Daily Faceoff] * Clean breakouts and defensive-zone exits often lead to success, explains Dan Bylsma. [NHL.com]

Welcome back to PuckTalk MTL, your home for in-depth Montreal Canadiens analysis, game previews, and NHL breakdowns! In today’s episode, Coach looks into a massive matchup as the Montreal Canadiens begin their Western road trip with a showdown against the Utah Mammoth. Habs fans, NHL fans, hockey fans, and Mammoth supporters will all find something to get excited about as we look at key storylines heading into this crucial game. We break down the Canadiens’ recent performances, lineup expectations, projected forward lines, defensive pairings, and how the team plans to handle Utah’s speed and offensive pressure. With young stars stepping up and veterans looking to lead the way, this Western swing could define the Habs’ momentum for the coming weeks. We also examine the Mammoth’s strengths, recent trends, and players the Canadiens must contain to start this road trip strong. Whether you're a dedicated Montreal Canadiens fan, a passionate NHL follower, or an excited Utah Mammoth supporter, this preview delivers insights, analysis, and everything you need to know before puck drop. 🔥 Make sure to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE for more Habs previews, NHL analysis, and PuckTalk coverage! 0:00 - Show Start 0:27 - Bolduc Not Working On The 1st Line. If Not Slaf, Then Who? 4:08 - Lineup Preview - Habs Vs. Mammoth 7:44 - 5 Keys To A Canandien Victory Over Utah #GoHabsGo #MontrealCanadiens #UtahMammoth #Habs #NHL #HockeyFans #PuckTalk #HabsNation #NHLFans #CanadiensPreview#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

The Montreal Victoire have a strong track record when it comes to the draft. Last season, three players from the 2024 class earned spots on the PWHL All-Rookie Team during the year-end awards ceremony. All three are now playing elsewhere, but the organization was hard at work trying to fill those holes. After a pre-season practice, third-round pick Skylar Irving, second-round pick Natálie Mlýnková, and fourth-overall pick Nicole Gosling talked about what they’re looking forward to as they prepare to play in Montreal. Irving shared her excitement about the atmosphere: “Seeing games on TV for Montreal, games were packed, and it just shows how many people actually want to watch the women’s game. So that’s really, really cool to see.” Mlýnková echoed the sentiment: “The fans show up every night and you feel it. Even just from the screen on TV or experiencing it from the outside, it’s super exciting. I think I speak for all of us when I say we cannot wait to get started and experience it from the ice as well.” You can watch more from our conversation in the video below. Veteran goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens was asked after Sunday’s season opener what advice she has for the players that are going to play their first home game in Montreal. “I just want to tell them to enjoy it. The atmosphere at Place Bell is simply incredible, the fans are loud, they support us, so it’s always a pleasure to play for Montreal. I would tell them to learn from what they experienced today, continue building chemistry and build on that. The crowd will be behind us, and I know it will be our seventh player on the ice Tuesday.”  The Victoire host the New York Sirens at 7:00 p.m. at Place Bell on Tuesday night. The game is available on MSG in the US, YouTube for free outside of Canada, and Prime Video in French and English in Canada.

Montreal Canadiens News and Notes * Florian Xhekaj made a mark in his first NHL game. [Montreal Gazette] * Alexandre Texier is excited for a new start in Montreal. [La Presse | TVA Sports] * Adam Engström has earned his look in the NHL. [Radio-Canada | La Presse] * Engström and Texier bring a lot of excitement and upside, but it remains to see where they’ll fit and how they’ll do. [Le Journal de Montreal] * Joshua Roy has been returned to Laval. [Le Journal de Montreal] * Grading the Habs after the first quarter. [Sportsnet] * Similar time of year, same opponent, honesty, and getting through the tough times together. [The Athletic] * Michael Hage looks forward to a future where he might play alongside Ivan Demidov. [TVA Sports] Around the League and Elsewhere * Barry Trotz says he won’t fire Andrew Brunette. [NHL] * The Blue Jackets sign Brendan Smith. [TSN] * Brady Tkachuk could be back for the Senators. [NHL]

In this episode of PuckTalk MTL, Coach discusses one of the hottest topics for Montreal Canadiens fans: should Juraj Slafkovsky return to the Canadiens’ top line? With fluctuating line combinations and offensive struggles at times, this discussion is crucial for Habs fans, NHL fans, and hockey enthusiasts who want to understand how lineup decisions impact the team’s performance. We break down Slafkovsky’s strengths, including his size, skill, scoring ability, and presence in the offensive zone, and analyze how he pairs with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield. Could returning him to the top line spark more scoring chances? Or is the current setup maximizing chemistry elsewhere? We also consider matchups against NHL defenses, power play opportunities, and the Canadiens’ overall strategy moving forward. Whether you’re a die-hard Montreal Canadiens fan, a passionate NHL fan, or a hockey analyst looking to understand line strategy, this video offers insight, statistical analysis, and discussion on the future of Slafkovsky in Montreal. 🔥 LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE for more Habs analysis, NHL breakdowns, and PuckTalk MTL content! 0:00 - Show Start 1:22 - What Made Martin St Louis Put Bolduc On The 1st Line & Demote Slafkovsky 6:06 - Coach's Logic Behind Why Slafkovsky Should Be Back On The Top Line 17:41 - Joshua Roy Sent Back Down To Laval...Is He Done in Montreal? #GoHabsGo #MontrealCanadiens #Habs #JurajSlafkovsky #NHL #HabsNation #HockeyFans #NHLFans #PuckTalk #HabsAnalysis #MontrealHockey #HockeyTalk #CanadiensTopLine #HabsUpdates #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