Author: Dose

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It’s possibly David Savard’s last game

If the Canadiens lose today, it will be chaos in Montreal.

The Canadiens’ fans will become Islanders fans for 24 hours.

If Montreal were to miss the playoffs, it could be the last game of David Savard’s career. He hasn’t confirmed it, but Renaud Lavoie has opened the door to the possibility. He never says anything for nothing, that one.

If the Habs were to make the playoffs, the Quebecer would be in the lineup.

He has slowed down, certainly, but he remains a leader, he has a Stanley Cup and nobody in the team plays defensively like him.

His playoff experience would be crucial for a very young group.

In recent weeks, the man himself has not wanted to confirm anything, but one thing is almost certain, he should not play for another team if retirement is to wait.

He is in a position where he has had an extraordinary career. […] He’s a guy who has been through a lot, who has been very tough on his body. – Renaud Lavoie

Months ago, my colleague Marc-Olivier Cook wrote a story about the fact that listening to him, it’s either retirement or Montreal for Savard.

Experiencing a beautiful spring in the playoffs with his childhood team would be a great way to retire once and for all.

After tonight’s game, he will have played 870 games in the big league with Montreal, Tampa Bay, and Columbus.

Overtime

– Interesting.

 

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– Yes.

– Boom!

– To listen.

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Election signs of Demidov: the Liberal Party did the same thing, but with Mark Carney

The Canadian federal election of 2025 will take place prematurely on April 28, 2025. It’s coming.

Earlier this week, the Warrior company took advantage of the moment to put up election signs for Ivan Demidov in the streets of Montreal, who had just partnered with the brand.

Warrior used the election to do their campaign and it caught attention because it’s a good marketing move.

Seeing that the signs sparked interest from several people, the Liberal Party of Canada decided to adopt the same strategy.

How?

By putting up identical election signs to Warrior’s near the Bell Centre… but with Mark Carney’s face and the Liberal Party logo.

It’s well done. Even if… I find it a bit of a copy/paste. Did the Liberal Party lack inspiration (hehe)?:

Clearly, the end of the Montreal Canadiens’ season is getting attention for several reasons.

The (fake) Warrior election campaign with Demidov…

The leaders’ debate that was finally moved to 6 pm because of the Canadiens’ game tonight…

It coincides with Ivan Demidov’s arrival in North America, but it coincides mostly with the fact that the Habs are fighting for a playoff spot right now.

It’s been a long time since we’ve seen this in Montreal and clearly, the Canadiens’ performance at the moment has an impact on the world of politics.

Noting that the Molson company also joined the “marketing party”: today, a large sign was spotted in Montreal that reads: “Let’s relive ’93”.

Have you been told that it smells like playoffs in Montreal?

Hoping that the Canadiens can get a point tonight against the Hurricanes…

Overtime

– I love it.

– Hehe.

– Clean.

– I’m stressed.

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“It’s going to be a bloodbath” : Anthony Stolarz sets the table for the Leafs vs Sens series

For the first time since the 16-17 season, the Senators have obtained their ticket to the playoffs.

And on this occasion, the Sens will face the Leafs in the first round of the playoffs.

This could get heated. We know the two teams really don’t like each other, after all…

There is a big rivalry between the two Ontario teams and Anthony Stolarz set the tone for the series by saying… this:

It’s going to be a blood bath. – Anthony Stolarz

We should expect some animosity in each game of this series.

On paper, the Leafs seem to have the advantage because their talented group of players seem more united than ever… but when the Sens use their physical game, they can disrupt almost anyone.

Brady Tkachuk had better attach his helmet with a pin because he’s going to get hit a lot… hehe.

The last time the two teams met in the playoffs was in 2004.

It was very physical… and it was an intense series from start to finish.

I have the impression that it will be the same thing, 21 years later:

We should also remember that last year, Morgan Rielly jumped on Ridly Greig after seeing him score into an empty net with a slapshot.

This gave energy back to the rivalry that persists between the two teams… and it will be pleasant to see them face off in the playoffs:

The confrontation between the Sens and the Leafs is probably the one that attracts me the most for the upcoming playoffs in the NHL.

Of course, we will all follow the Canadiens if they get their ticket tonight by picking up a point against the Hurricanes… but we will also have to watch the Leafs and the Sens because the series is going to give us some great games.

At least, Anthony Stolarz’s comments suggest it’s going to be a good show.

Overtime

– Logical.

– 4-1 Canadiens.

– Well done.

– Reminder: six games will be presented in the NHL tonight.

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Ivan Demidov : what if the Canadiens still had Sean Monahan…

Kent Hughes maximized the value of Sean Monahan.

He acquired him from the Flames with a first-round pick in 2022… and the GM of the Habs then sent the center to Winnipeg for another first-round pick and a third-round pick.

Two first-round picks (and another third-round pick) for a guy who played a total of 74 games with the Habs, that’s pretty excellent.

The Flames made a mistake by paying to get rid of the main interested party. The organization no longer believed in him because he was often injured… but today, Monahan would be one of the best players in Calgary.

And he probably would have helped the Flames qualify for the playoffs.

But in fact, the Habs might have also had to keep him in their ranks. We agree that Kent Hughes’ decisions are difficult to criticize because he was able to get really interesting assets for the player.

On the other hand… The Habs would have the second center they’ve been looking for since Sean Monahan left. The Kirby Dach experience was never really fruitful and now, we keep saying that the Habs need to find a guy to surround Ivan Demidov on the team’s second unit.

Monahan could have filled that seat. In fact… we could even say that he would have filled that seat wonderfully.

He didn’t slow down: the former Habs player had 56 points in 53 games this season in Columbus.

He has a plus-18 differential, he plays in all possible situations because he is reliable in all three zones of the rink and he is an important part of his team’s surprising successes since the start of the campaign.

But again, we can’t hate the fact that Hughes used a player that nobody believed in to get two first-round picks. The Habs’ GM took advantage of the situation at the 2024 trade deadline to add assets to his bank, and maybe that will turn in favor of the Habs in the coming years.

That being said, when we look at the situation from another angle, it’s true that Monahan would really help the Habs right now.

Overtime

— I love it!

— Tony Marinaro agrees too:

— Good point.

— McDavid will be in uniform tonight. He is looking for his 100th point of the season.

— That would be something.

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Brendan Gallagher: the only player who has experienced a “real” playoff game at the Bell Centre

Tonight, the Canadiens have one last opportunity to control their own destiny and help themselves make the playoffs. To do so, they simply need to go out and get a point (or two, obviously) against the Hurricanes.

If they don’t, the Blue Jackets will have a chance to qualify by winning in regulation tomorrow night against the Islanders.

But you already knew that. You also knew that we’re talking about the biggest game of the year tonight at the Bell Centre. And it will likely be watched en masse, once again.

 

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Of course, there must be stressed people in the Habs’ locker room – and that’s normal.

So, it’s up to the team’s veterans to try to take some stress off the younger players. Those who have been through this before have a duty to help the young guys relax a bit.

But let’s talk about those veterans in Montreal.

There are not many players who have experienced the playoffs with the Canadiens. In fact, when you count them, you can see that the number is really small, which shows that the team has really changed in the past four years.

The captain, Nick Suzuki, played in the playoffs in 2020, in the bubble, and in 2021, in a nearly empty Bell Centre. Cole Caufield was only there for the 2021 playoffs.

Jake Evans and Joel Armia, who play on the fourth line, were there in 2020 and 2021. Josh Anderson, the fourth star of the 2024-2025 season, was also there, but only in 2021.

 

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David Savard (with the Lightning) was in the finals in 2021.

But otherwise, among the team’s active players, we must note that only one player was there in 2017, the last year there was a full arena for the playoffs. We’re talking about Brendan Gallagher.

He’s the player with the most seniority on the team and he’s the only one (apart from maybe Martin St-Louis and Vincent Lecavalier, but I’m talking about players) who can tell the others what it’s like to play in a full Bell Centre during the playoffs.

Samuel Montembeault was present for the Four Nations Cup, but it’s not the same thing.

Brendan Gallagher’s experience, who has lived through strong emotions in 2025 in his personal life, is worth gold right now. It’s essential for him to show the way and help the guys understand that they have the talent to live through a full Bell Centre during the playoffs.

If the Habs play like they’re capable of tonight, the playoffs are within reach.

in a lot of ways

– As long as they don’t have a sugar crash at the wrong moment…

 

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– The fans deserve playoffs. [BPM Sports]

– Oh yeah?

– Well.

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Team supper on Tuesday to welcome Ivan Demidov

Ivan Demidov arrived in Canada last week.

The team went to join him in Toronto on Friday evening after the game against the Sens and the young player made his NHL debut on Monday.

But the players also took the time to have dinner with him to welcome him to the group.

According to Jean Trudel’s information – who hosts the Stanley25 podcast with Maxime Truman – almost all the players went to eat at Estelle restaurant last night.

We’re talking about an Italian restaurant located on Courcelle Street in Montreal – just near the Turcot interchange.

The guys barely drank any alcohol (0, 1 or two glasses each) and no one was on the brush.

The group of players present at the restaurant left around 9 pm, which is logical since there is a crucial game on the schedule tonight.

Clearly, the guys were not there to party. But they wanted to do something to welcome the best prospect the organization has seen in a long time to the team and that’s a good thing to emphasize.

The players and the organization of the Canadiens understand that they need to surround Ivan Demidov as needed.

They understand that they must help him feel good in his new environment because he is not from here.

They are there for him… and clearly, it shows the nice team spirit within this group.

That’s more proof, because we already know how close the guys are to each other in the locker room.

JT mentioned it in a tweet: yesterday was a “team building” activity.

And the timing is well chosen because the guys will need to be united on the ice tonight to beat the Hurricanes team.

Overtime

– Classic.

– Beautiful contract.

– He’s back from far.

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One last game before the series (or the 2025-26 preseason schedule)

Defeat…

Defeat in overtime…

Defeat in a shootout…

If the Canadiens can’t get a point against the Hurricanes’ B team tonight at the Centre Bell, in front of their fans, they will have only themselves to blame. Especially after recently losing to the Blackhawks, a bottom-team in the West.

Yes, I still believe the Habs will make the playoffs. They need to win (in regulation or overtime), lose in overtime, lose in a shootout, or simply see the Blue Jackets not win in regulation tomorrow night.

But, I’m lucid enough to imagine the catastrophic scenario: the Canadiens get beaten by Rod Brind’Amour and his gang, the Blue Jackets win against the Islanders, Lane Hutson loses the Calder Trophy, Martin St-Louis doesn’t get a nomination for the Jack Adams Trophy, the players give their jerseys to the fans in a somber and sad atmosphere on the ice after the game… and they empty their lockers in the dressing room Friday morning, before leaving Quebec as quickly as possible.

No, barely missing the playoffs wouldn’t be that big of a failure. The front office’s goal was to be in the mix… and the team would have been.

But the way the Tricolore would miss them would hurt. And it could leave scars. Losing the last games of the season and missing the playoffs by a single point would be like taking a slap in the face.

Not playing in the playoffs for a fourth consecutive season (a new concession record) and not giving players like Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Lane Hutson, Juraj Slafkovsky, and others that experience would be another slap in the face.

And what about the bosses at TVA Sports? Instead of broadcasting games with over a million viewers (and getting the cash that comes with it), the sports channel will have to show games featuring the Kings or Blue Jackets to their subscribers. Ouch! Especially with the broadcasting contract expiring in a year and a few months…

Theoretically, the Canadiens may not have a case, but they must get at least a point tonight at the Centre Bell. For the fans, partners, restaurants, bars, the gloominess of the city and province, etc.

And stop telling me that not making the playoffs would be a good thing! Drafting 13th instead of 17th wouldn’t be a big enough victory.

Many of us will be watching the Hurricanes vs Canadiens game tonight on RDS (or directly from the Centre Bell). Around 9:30 pm, we’ll either be over the moon waiting for the first playoff game (Sunday or Monday) or devastated, thinking that the team’s next game will be a preseason game against guys like Cédric Paré next September.

Kent Hughes was hoping his team would play meaningful games; they will play a big one tonight at the Centre Bell. It remains to be seen how his millionaire athletes will react.

I expect a big game from Ivan Demidov and Lane Hutson… but if the first line doesn’t show up, the chances of having to wait six months for the next regular season game will be high.

Juraj Slafkovsky hasn’t scored with his stick since the beginning of April. After the 4 Nations Tournament, he had criticized himself, saying he had played like a junior before Valentine’s Day. Tonight, he must play like a first-line forward in the NHL, not like a junior.

Same thing for Cole Caufield, who hasn’t scored in the last three games and has a minus-4 differential during that short sequence.

As for the coach, he needs to find the right combinations and coach like a pro. The season depends on it.

The team will be under pressure tonight. How will they react? The answer will come around 9:30 pm.

Overtime

— News from CF Montréal.

— Big compliment.

— More proof of the Canadiens’ impact.

Hockey shakes up our habits. To read on ledroit.com
www.ledroit.com/chroniques/m…

[image or embed]

— Mario Boulianne (@mboulianne.bsky.social) 16 avril 2025 à 11:39

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Here are the (big) absentees from the Hurricanes’ practice: that’s good for the habs

Yesterday, we learned that the Carolina Hurricanes would be resting a number of players in anticipation of tonight’s game.

Because the Carolina formation is assured of receiving the Devils in the first round, what’s the point of playing everyone and risking injuries, right?

There were some call-ups last night and this morning, at the team’s regular practice (not optional), there were some notable absences. Sebastian Aho, this Habs legend, is among them.

There’s only one step to take, as you know, to claim that it’s more than possible that these guys won’t be in uniform tonight against the Habs, at the Bell Centre.

It must be buzzing in Ohio since the Blue Jackets need a regular-season win from the Canes tonight.

Obviously, the Habs shouldn’t take it easy and think it’ll be simple. After all, there are some AHL guys who will be hungry and want to win for Carolina tonight.

But it simplifies the work for the Habs, let’s say.

Let’s recall that on the heels of the biggest game of the year, the Habs players only need one point to confirm their spot in the playoffs and their first-round matchup against the Capitals.

Let’s also recall that Ivan Demidov will be playing with Patrik Laine and Alex Newhook.

overtime

If the Habs don’t get any points tonight, the Blue Jackets can make the playoffs if they win in regulation tomorrow night against the Islanders under Patrick Roy. So it’s also in the Habs’ best interest to win tonight.

Only a few hours before the game.

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Ivan Demidov will play with Patrik Laine and Alex Newhook

This morning, we learned that Emil Heineman will take Oliver Kapanen’s place in the lineup. This is the only change to note for tonight’s game, which is very important.

We learned that he will play with Jake Evans, as well as with Joel Armia.

Logically, since the trio of Nick Suzuki and the one of Christian Dvorak do not need to be changed, it is clear that this leaves Ivan Demidov with Alex Newhook and Patrik Laine.

Right now, this is the most optimal lineup in my opinion.

The way Demidov moves with the puck, if he can find Patrik Laine’s stick, a guy who can roast the nuts, it could create sparks on the ice.

And visibly, the coach has recognized it.

Nick Suzuki’s trio will have the mandate to generate offense, but we know that Newhook’s trio will be in the same position. After all, the wingers of that trio are not defensive experts by trade.

I don’t think I need to remind you that one point would allow the habs to qualify for the playoffs instead of putting their fate in the hands of the Blue Jackets. Demidov will be one of the players who will have to step up to help the club.

Will he do it? Based on how he played on Monday, we can believe that yes.

The atmosphere tonight at the Bell Centre will undoubtedly be very intense, and it will be up to the guys to make sure they don’t kill the buzz quickly. Because if they do, the evening will be long.

To follow, therefore.

In Overtime

– Kaiden Guhle is ready.

– Jacob Fowler impresses. [BPM Sports]

– David Carle: the Blackhawks want to add the university coach. [RG media]

– For the AHL? Yes.

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Emil Heineman back in the lineup

Good news for the Habs: Emil Heineman is no longer injured.

In this very important day for the Canadiens, who will want to go get a point to not leave their fate in the hands of the Blue Jackets tomorrow night, Heineman will be able to play.

He confirmed it to the media.

In recent days, he has been absent due to an upper body injury. But we can think that it’s related to concussion symptoms that the player was not playing.

We must think that Oliver Kapanen will join Michael Pezzetta and Joshua Roy on the bench.

Seeing the player come back to the game gives more options to Martin St-Louis and this, by the force of things, pushes Kapanen and Pezzetta down in the team’s hierarchy. #Depth

More details to come…