Author: Dose

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Western Final: a smoking Connor McDavid gives the Oilers the series lead

This afternoon, the Stars and Oilers crossed swords in Game 3 of the Western Final. With the series tied 1-1, both teams had the opportunity to take the series lead.

And this time, it was the Edmonton side’s turn to do battle.

The Oilers, who had won Game #2 of the series, arrived with a ton of momentum… and clearly, it showed early in the game. Evan Bouchard opened the scoring… and Connor McDavid doubled his team’s lead 36 seconds later.

An arena already filled with energy became very, very loud…

And that’s not the start the Stars were hoping for.

But clearly, the story of the game was Connor McDavid, who was absolutely smoking this afternoon. The Stars showed their teeth afterwards and hit the target… but McDavid made sure to quickly close the door on a comeback.

He scored a big goal at the very end of the second period that really broke any kind of momentum the Stars had just found.

What’s interesting, though, is that the Stars didn’t have an ugly game. The club directed a ton of pucks at Stuart Skinner… but the Oilers goalie had a good one in the system.

He frustrated the Stars time and time again.

The brilliance of Skinner and McDavid was more than enough to give the Oilers a 6-1 victory.

Zach Hyman scored two insurance goals in the third period (and John Klingberg added another late in the game) to confirm the Oilers’ victory.

The next game in the series is Tuesday night… and the Oilers will have the opportunity to push the Stars into the wire. And perhaps by then, the Panthers will have already secured their place in the final, opening the door to a repeat of last year’s final.

Extension

– Ryan Nugent-Hopkins collected three assists in his team’s victory.

– Connor McDavid is truly at the top of his game.

– It’s his net now. He was incredible today.

– Elsewhere in the hockey world, the USA won the Worlds for the first time in 92 years thanks to a Tage Thompson goal in overtime. They won 1-0… and made sure to include Johnny Gaudreau in their celebrations.

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If Evgeny Kuznetsov really wants to come back to the NHL, the Habs have something to interest him

In recent months, we’ve been following Ivan Demidov with the SKA. The Canadiens’ prospect, who wasn’t expected to arrive in town until next season, was fortunately able to make it to Montreal in time for the playoffs.

It may have been a short journey… but it was still a good learning experience for the kid, especially after a special season in Russia.

Demidov’s playing time was managed by Roman Rotenberg… but there was one guy in the dressing room who made sure Demidov was taken under his wing: Evgeny Kuznetsov.

The two guys, who have developed great chemistry on the ice, have had some good times together… and like Demidov, Kuznetsov is no longer under contract with SKA. Kuznetsov is now negotiating his next contract.

And according to reports, the veteran might be interested in a return to the NHL if the opportunity arose. This is what his agent reported in the Russian media, as reported by TVA Sports.

Obviously, there’s a world in which Kuznetsov’s agent is using all this to give himself leverage to negotiate a better contract in Russia for his client… but if Kuznetsov is ever interested in returning to the Bettman circuit, there’s one club in particular that has a big asset to interest him: the Canadiens.

And that asset is Ivan Demidov’s many distractions in town.

Kuznetsov isn’t the player he was in his heyday in Washington, but he’s proved this year that he has a great connection with Demidov on the ice. And even if the kid is doing his utmost to fit in well in Montreal, having his mentor of recent months back by his side certainly wouldn’t hurt.

And that’s just as well, because the Canadiens need a center who can help offensively. Kuznetsov isn’t the second center of their dreams, of course, but if the club doesn’t like the price on the free-agent or trade market, they could do worse than go after a guy who has natural chemistry with Demidov as a transition option (until Michael Hage arrives, for example).

Because if the club can’t find anything better and still ends up with Kirby Dach at the center of the second line, would it risk much to take a chance on Kuznetsov for a year or two?

Kuznetsov obviously shouldn’t be at the top of the Habs’ shopping list, but he’s a name to keep in mind as a last resort. At best, he’ll help Demidov settle in town for a year or two… and at worst, the Habs will let him return to Russia.

Overtime

– The game has started.

– Caleb Desnoyers is popular at the Memorial Cup.

– He’s the best pitcher in Major League Baseball.

– Tie game for the Roses.

– Well done.

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Despite 3 points in 10 games, Heineman had a good tournament at the CDM

Sweden won their match against Denmark today (6-2) to claim the bronze medal at the World Championship.

Emil Heineman scored an assist in the game, and finished the tournament with three points (one goal) in ten games.

Not exceptional (offensively speaking), you might say. But there’s one thing in particular to remember about his performance at the tournament.

The forward was still able to help his team on the ice, because he fulfilled his role to perfection. He hit, he created space for his teammates and he was involved in all three zones of the ice.

He was often noticed because his skating stroke made him even more visible on a bigger rink.

His three points in ten games aren’t necessarily impressive in the circumstances because he was also playing with quality players, but still: if Heineman plays next year like he did in the last month at the CDM, he’ll help the Canadiens.

And if he can understand that he needs to use his shot even more, he’ll really help the Canadiens.

Because there it is, his secret weapon:

We know the Swede struggled in the second half of the season.

He scored on January 3 and got 2025 off to a good start… but he got hit by a car a few days later and lost his rhythm.

The result?

He scored on January 3… and didn’t find the back of the net until April 30, the Canadiens’ last game of the season. He scored the Habs’ only goal in Game 5 (and last) of the series against the Capitals.

In short, Emil Heineman has a big summer ahead of him. He needs to build on this tournament to reach the pinnacle of his confidence come September, and if he does, he’ll easily earn a spot on the Canadiens’ bottom-6.

But if not, it could be tough with all the guys hungry for a spot. Heineman better get up early, then, or he could miss the boat.

Overtime

– Nice honor.

– Worth watching.

– Indeed.

– The guys are ready.

– Too bad.

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Ultimate match: Cayden Primeau will have the task of propelling the Rocket to the next round

The Rocket’s season comes down to the wire this afternoon.

A win would put the team in the conference finals.

A defeat… and the boys would be on vacation for the summer. The Rochester Americans will be at Place Bell (4:30 p.m.) and Pascal Vincent’s men have a tough challenge ahead of them.

Cayden Primeau will have the task of propelling the Rocket into the next round.

In the club’s last game, Jacob Fowler was sent off after giving up four goals on 14 shots. Primeau came on in relief… and did well under the circumstances.

Pascal Vincent will therefore be relying on his veteran this afternoon. And all in all, his choice is a logical one.

More details to come…

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“It’s not the end of the world if Kirby Dach is the 2nd center in 25-26”

The next few months will be important for Kent Hughes and the Canadiens de Montréal.

The draft is fast approaching, but we also know that the Habs GM has big plans for the summer.

At least, we know he’d like to add a quality forward to his lineup. A top-6 player, ideally… in order to surround Ivan Demidov in the best possible way.

After all, we need to find a quality second center.

Alex Newhook filled that role for much of the season, but the results weren’t great. Kirby Dach had a chance to shine, but it took a long time for him to get going because he was coming back from a major injury… and like Newhook, it’s not as if he’s had a ton of success either.

Perhaps, that said, there’s still a place for Dach at center of the second line.

In fact, that’s the idea of Arpon Basu(The Basu & Godin Notebook)… who wonders if it can work for Dach on the 2 with a dynamic player like Demidov.

It’s not the end of the world if Kirby Dach is the 2nd center next year. – Arpon Basu

That doesn’t mean it’s crazy.

Because in the real world, we’ve seen Ivan Demidov be able to succeed quickly in the NHL. He could help Dach get back on the right track, and if there’s a connection that forms quickly, it could yield interesting results.

But the Canadiens can’t take the risk of automatically giving Dach that chance without making any moves this summer.

If it doesn’t work out with Kirby at the center of the 2, the Habs will have a problem. And not just on the center line: we’ve been saying it for months, but we need to bring in a guy who can play at Demidov’s speed.

The Russian needs a teammate who can follow him around the ice and complete his plays. That wasn’t the case with Newhook in the last two games of the season and in the playoffs.

On the other hand, does Kirby Dach deserve another chance? I’m going to say yes.

But he’s got to come to camp in top form, he’s got to come to camp with confidence, and he’s got to come to camp with a knife between his teeth to prove to the organization that he still has the potential to be an important player in Montreal.

And if he doesn’t, things will start to get really complicated for him.

In Overtime

– Emil Heineman and Sweden win the bronze medal at the CDM.

– He’s really adapted well to his new club.

– Bon.

– News from CF Montreal practice:

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Brad Marchand devours a Dairy Queen Blizzard during intermission

The Florida Panthers are currently in complete control of the Eastern Conference Final against the Carolina Hurricanes.

They took a 3-0 series lead last night, and have never trailed once in each of the three games so far.

In short, things are going well for the Panthers, who won easily three times, 5-2, 5-0 and 6-2 last night.

Florida and its players are so confident, that some even allow themselves a few moments of relaxation and indulgence during intermissions.

Last night, in the middle of intermission, Brad Marchand devoured a Dairy Queen Cookie Dough Blizzard.

Brad’s really not stressed.

Eating a dessert like that in the middle of a Stanley Cup playoff conference final game is pretty zany and unprecedented.

It’s quite a scene that Marchand gave us with his images, as he didn’t hesitate to devour his favorite dessert, the best in the world according to him.

In addition, when asked about his Blizzard, Marchand said he was looking forward to a lifetime of free ice cream from Dairy Queen.

In short, all is well with the Panthers, as they devour both the Blizzards and the Hurricanes.

Let’s see if Paul Maurice’s troupe can close out the series with a sweep tomorrow in Florida in game #4, starting at 8pm.

We’re also likely to see Marchand wearing the same suit once again. The little pest is very superstitious, and has been wearing the same suit since Game #7 against the Leafs.

Overtime

– A point for Emil Heineman in the bronze medal game.

– Indeed.

– If only.

– Norris wins Monaco ahead of Leclerc and Piastri.

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Florida and Vegas: two destinations of interest to Mitch Marner

Once again this season, as they do every year, the Toronto Maple Leafs fell apart in the playoffs, and failed to silence the critics and “choker” jokes directed at them.

I’m one of those who wasn’t at all surprised to see the Leafs lose Game #7 again, even if it was in the second round rather than the first.

And like every year, after another disappointing elimination, there’s talk of big changes in Toronto, something that never happens.

But this time, it will clearly be different.

And why?

Because all indications are that Mitch Marner, who is out of contract for next season, will be leaving Toronto via the free agent market.

He’s one of the big pieces of the Leafs’ core, and this time it really feels like the end of his run with the Leafs.

Marner is expected to leave Toronto and sign with a new team on July 1.

And according to Pierre LeBrun, Marner’s preferred destinations already include Las Vegas and Florida.

That’s what the renowned tipster told TSN 1050 earlier this week.

Of course, it’s no surprise to learn that these two teams, the Panthers and the Golden Knights, would be of interest to Marner.

These are often two teams that are very popular with players, and especially with free agents.

However, in this case, it’s hard to imagine either Florida or Vegas having the cap space to sign a player of Marner’s calibre.

But never say never, as the Golden Knights have already made huge moves by being stuck under the cap.

And who knows, maybe Marner, who could fetch $11 million or more a year, will decide to cut back a little on his demands in order to join a team with greater aspirations.

If Marner wants to win, he may be willing to reduce his salary demands.

Just imagine if Marner were to sign with the Panthers, who have eliminated the Leafs twice in the last three years, at a reduced price, in the 9-10 million range.

There would be riots in Toronto.

In short, let’s see if Marner can join a team he’s interested in, or if he’ll have to settle for an offer from a team strongly interested in his services.

According to LeBrun, the Anaheim Ducks, Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks and Los Angeles Kings are interested in Marner.

And let’s not forget the Penguins.

Overtime

– Ultimate match today for the Rocket.

– Du Marchand tout craché.

– What a great hire for Real Madrid.

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Ivan Demidov to spend summer in Montreal

Ivan Demidov’s arrival in Montreal at the end of the season was a bombshell for the entire city.

Canadiens fans were euphoric and simply couldn’t believe that the young Russian prodigy would be wearing the Habs’ colors this season.

Never has a player generated so much excitement at the Bell Centre, and with good reason.

Of course, we all know what happened next. Demidov got off to a roaring start, and then slowly adapted to NHL playoff hockey.

It was clear that number 93 was trying to find his feet and adjust to the North American game.

Let’s just say he hadn’t had much time to prepare before being sent to the playoffs against the Washington Capitals.

And so, in preparation for the next campaign, Demidov wants to make sure he’s perfectly ready and adapted to North American hockey.

To that end, well, the young Russian sensation will be spending the summer in Montreal in practice.

Indeed, this is what Marco d’Amico reports on the RG Media website, via his various sources very close to Demidov.

We recall that it was d’Amico who got the scoop that Demidov was coming to Montreal.

After taking a few days off following the Habs’ elimination, the CH’s number 93 quickly returned to Montreal, and had already started skating again in Brossard.

Well, this rhythm of intensive practice will continue throughout the summer, with Demidov training in Montreal with the Habs development staff.

Demidov wants to work on and improve several aspects of his game in preparation for his first NHL season, but that’s not the only reason he’ll be staying in Montreal all summer.

The Russian cocluche really wants to get to know the city of Montreal, and thus immerse himself in the Montreal culture, as well as getting to know the people.

It’s really a great initiative that Demidov has taken, and it’s a testament to how much he loves Montreal, and how much he values all aspects off the ice too.

What’s more, Demidov will take advantage of the fact that he’s spending the whole summer in Montreal to study and learn English more seriously, as well as French.

In short, the Habs’ new number 93 isn’t just preparing for the upcoming season, and therefore the month of October.

He’s preparing for a long and successful career in Montreal.

Overtime

– Incredible.

– What a touching moment.

– Greatly deserved.

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Series wrap-up: far too easy for the Panthers

We’re getting closer and closer to the Stanley Cup Final, with the 2025 champions set to be announced in the coming weeks.

And the closer we get, the greater the chances of seeing the same final as last year (Panthers vs Oilers).

Last night, the Panthers had the chance to take a serious shot at a third consecutive appearance in the Stanley Cup Final.

The Panthers are far too strong for the Hurricanes

After winning both games in Carolina, the Florida Panthers were in a very good position last night to take a serious option on the series with a home win.

The Hurricanes, for their part, couldn’t afford to lose and trail 0-3 in the series, but unfortunately for Carolina, once again, the Panthers were too strong.

At least, they were too strong in the third period.

Because before the final frame, the game was very close, tied 1-1.

Niko Mikkola and Logan Stankoven had both put their teams on the scoreboard after two periods.

We were heading for a very tight third period, but in the end it was a total rout as the Panthers scored five unanswered goals.

Jesper Boqvist opened the scoring with a superb goal.

And then the Panthers gave themselves a cushion with two goals in 29 seconds.

Barkov then added more, and Brad Marchand also joined the party with the Panthers’ sixth goal.

The Panthers scored five goals in the third period, including four in four minutes and 11 seconds.

Florida finally won 6-2, and are now pushing the Hurricanes to the wall.

The Canes had several chances to win the game last night, including a five-minute powerplay late in the first and early in the second, when Eetu Luostarinen was ejected for checking Jackson Blake.

Carolina failed to take advantage, and now find themselves on the brink of elimination, once again in the conference final.

The Canes, who haven’t won a game in their last three appearances in the Eastern finals, are in for a big change.

Game #4 of the series takes place on Monday in Florida, starting at 8pm.

The Panthers lead the series 3-0.

Overtime

– Two assists in each of the three games so far for Evan Rodrigues.

– Here are yesterday’s top scorers.

(Credit: NHL.com)

– On the program today: game #3 between the Oilers and Stars starting at 3pm.

(Credit: Google/NHL)
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“David Reinbacher is a bit like Carey Price”

It’s often said: the Canadiens have a bank of very talented prospects.

We can immediately think of more flamboyant young players like Lane Hutson and Ivan Demidov.

However, we shouldn’t forget David Reinbacher, because even if he’s less flashy than the other two, the fact remains that he’s a prospect with elite potential.

Unfortunately for him, his development has been slowed by a knee injury sustained in practice that forced him to miss most of the season.

One wonders whether, without this injury, the defenseman would have managed to carve out a regular position with the Habs last season.

In Reinbacher’s case, it’s not a question of if, but when.

And the Swiss will help stabilize the Habs’ defense as a whole, particularly in his zone, which should help the team concede fewer goals.

Remember, the Canadiens were 24th in the NHL in goals allowed with 265, and this is something the team will definitely have to improve.

Is Reinbacher really that good? Yes.

According to Marco D’Amico, on The Shaun Starr Show podcast, the young defenseman reminds him of Carey Price because both players have mastered the fundamentals of their respective positions.

You can listen to the extract here :

These are two players who aren’t necessarily flashy because they do everything so well that it looks easy for them.

And that’s just as well, because a good stay-at-home defender isn’t a flashy thing, and usually, when you notice it, it’s because he hasn’t done his job properly.

D’Amico also discusses Reinbacher’s improved forward play, which includes more use of his delivery to create chances on offense.

That’s good news for the Habs, too, because if the youngster can develop his shot and become a threat on the powerplay, it would give Martin St-Louis and the team’s powerplay more ammunition.

In short, I can’t wait to see him join the Canadiens.

Overtime

– From bad to worse!

– Eetu Luostarinen out of the game.

– Bob the thief!

– Moncton defeat.

– Good evening, she’s gone!