Knowing that Bunting will miss today’s game, there are questions to be asked.
Is he injured, even though the Penguins organization says he’s okay?
Are the Penguins making this decision as a precautionary measure?
Is the Penguins’ decision hiding something else (driving under the influence or an accident caused by some substance)?
At the core, knowing that Bunting was involved in a traffic accident is concerning. We all remember the story of the two Gaudreau brothers (even though they weren’t driving), and if there’s worry regarding Bunting, that’s normal.
Just hoping that Bunting will be okay health-wise and will be able to return to play soon.
Until then… We will all wait for news about him attentively.
Michael Bunting may be a pesky player on the ice because he bothers the opponent… But his life comes first, let’s agree on that.
A little earlier this week, we practiced at the Colisée de Laval and Pascal Vincent was mic’d up It was also a trip down memory lane for him as he played there in the 90s
Earlier this week, we practiced at the Colisée de Laval and Pascal Vincent was mic’d up It… pic.twitter.com/EYN2gXwWPC
If you have no memory of the summer of 2019, let me refresh your memory.
In July, the Canadiens reached agreements with forwards Michael McCarron, Charles Hudon, Joel Armia, and Artturi Lehkonen on the terms of new contracts. Keith Kinkaid and Ryler Barber also signed a deal with the Habs that summer.
Nothing too spectacular, you might say… But there was also another disappointment in town, seeing Matt Duchene sign a seven-year contract (worth $8 million per season) with the Nashville Predators.
The forward was on the Canadiens’ radar, and Renaud Lavoie reminded us yesterday during the game against the Stars that it was either Montreal or Nashville for Duchene at that time.
We also know that Duchene came to Montreal to visit the club’s facilities. And to make Duchene feel comfortable about the idea of signing here, the Canadiens gave gifts (a stuffed animal and a cap) to his son to attract the family to Montreal.
Renaud Lavoie discussed this yesterday on TVA Sports, and the channel also shared a photo about it:
Matt Duchene’s son, Beau, received some nice gifts from the Canadiens when they visited Montreal before signing with Nashville… @renlavoietvapic.twitter.com/irTtRuH6L2
The forward was under contract until the end of the 2025-2026 season.
In the end, the Canadiens were unable to make the big splash that was expected, even though they had made efforts to convince Duchene to sign in the city, and today, in 2025, we can say it turned out to be good news.
I wonder what the last few years in Montreal would have looked like if the Canadiens had succeeded in their mission in the summer of 2019…
In Brief
– It’s true that it doesn’t hold up.
What was the NHL’s logic behind scheduling the Habs to play in Denver, Colorado on Jan. 4th, then scheduling them back to Salt Lake City, Utah on Jan. 14th? https://t.co/2VS78IkXnN
When the Canadiens acquired Patrik Laine, it was known that this would help the team in power plays.
The player is recognized as a powerplay specialist since his debut in the NHL because he possesses a high-quality shot.
And we can see how much his addition is beneficial in this area.
From October 9 (the Canadiens’ first game) to December 3 (Laine’s return), the Canadiens were relatively good on the power play: they had an effectiveness rate of 20.8%, which placed them 15th in the NHL.
That’s still decent.
But since Laine’s return to the lineup – even though he missed four games – the Canadiens have an effectiveness rate of 23.5% with the man advantage.
The difference is as follows: since December 3, the Canadiens are the 11th best team in the league when they find themselves on the power play.
His impact is significant:
(Credit: NHL.com)
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We knew he had the qualities to change the power play all by himself.
That’s exactly what we are seeing right now!
No kidding, it makes a world of difference because it allows the team to score more goals.
It’s no coincidence that the Canadiens have a record of 12-5-1 and are the 5th best team in the ENTIRE NHL since December 3, which is since Laine’s return…
(Credit: NHL.com)
Since December 3, the Canadiens are also the 11th team in the NHL that has scored the most goals.
That’s something to consider as well.
Ultimately, it is easy to see that Patrik Laine’s arrival in Martin St-Louis’s lineup had the desired effect.
The Canadiens went after him with the goal of scoring more goals and providing more offensive support in the lineup, and the results are currently evident.
He has 9 goals scored since the start of the season, but they have all been scored on the power play. This allows him to currently be ranked 3rd among the best powerplay scorers… Even though he has only played 14 games.
The Montreal Canadiens still have a very nice bank of prospects who have yet to make the jump to the professional level.
Indeed, several young players still playing in Europe or at the junior/university ranks are catching the attention of CH fans and generating excitement for their potential arrival in the pros.
Obviously, Ivan Demidov is the one grabbing the most attention, and if not, Jacob Fowler is often discussed as the next number one goalie for the Tricolore.
However, we must not forget a certain Michael Hage, who is performing very well and exceeding the expectations placed on him at the start of the season in the NCAA.
As a rookie, Hage was seen as a young player who might take some time to adapt to the NCAA level.
But ultimately, right from the start of the season, Hage has shown how dominant he is, even as a rookie and newcomer at the University of Michigan.
Hage has been so good since the beginning of the season that he currently sits at the top of the scoring leaders among freshmen in the NCAA.
(Credit: EliteProspects.com)
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With his 11 goals and 13 assists, Hage is the only freshman to have reached double digits in both statistics since the start of the season.
His 24 points in 19 games even put him ahead of James Hagens, who is seen by many as the potential first overall pick in the upcoming NHL draft.
Of course, Hagens is younger, but there are only six and a half months separating the two players.
Hage was one of the youngest players drafted in the last draft, so to see him at the top of the freshman scoring leaders in the NCAA is truly impressive.
The 18-year-old prospect of the Tricolore stands out in every game he plays in the NCAA, as he did this past weekend by grabbing three assists, two of which were yesterday, across two games.
Habs prospect Michael Hage does it again! Another (13), his second assist of the night and third point of the weekend. He now boasts an impressive 24 points in 19 games this season! #GoHabsGo#HabsProspectshttps://t.co/VtERvlPstj
Hage is extremely talented, and he is truly building a very nice potential that could someday earn him a spot in the CH’s top-6.
This likely won’t be for next season as with Ivan Demidov, but still, for a 21st overall pick, Hage represents a great project that could greatly contribute to the future successes of the Canadiens.
In Brief
– Here is a roundup of the performances of other CH prospects.
ALERT Habs Prospects Results 01/11/25
Laval Rocket 1 Cleveland Monsters 2 OT
Owen Beck (8) 1 PTS 4 SOG
Joshua Roy (13) 1 PTS 6 SOG
Adam Engström (15) 1 PTS 3 SOG
Connor Hughes 2 goals on 24 shots SV%: . 917%
Hutson viens d’ateindre le cap des 1000 minutes en carrière avec le match de ce soir. Il a déjà 30 pts et 1000 minutes. Plus rapidement que n’importe quel défenseur depuis 1997. pic.twitter.com/mgzc3C9Csl
Même entre les périodes en plein match notre capitaine Nick Suzuki prend un moment pour donner une puck à un kid. La semaine passé il a donné son bâton après son but gagnant en OT #gohabsgopic.twitter.com/oy4HHAsHye
The #Patriots are expected to hire Mike Vrabel as their new head coach, per me and @TomPelissero. The clear favorite from the beginning.
A former All-Pro in New England and member of the team’s Hall of Fame, Vrabel lands at his top choice. Back with his old team. pic.twitter.com/dG0mjY07KV
At the beginning of the season, when the Montreal Canadiens’ management addressed the media during the CH golf tournament, the goal was clear: to be in the mix.
We wanted to see the Tricolore improve and fight for the playoffs longer than in recent seasons.
Well, after a rather difficult start to the season, the CH is exactly where it wanted to be, which is in the mix, sitting just two points away from a playoff spot.
The current excellent streak of the CH has allowed it to climb up the standings and thus be in a competitive position where everyone wants to see the team win.
There is a lot of excitement and enthusiasm in the city, as the players and fans believe more than ever and have all forgotten the idea of drafting in the top 5.
We want to win and make the playoffs.
This turnaround for the CH changes many things, especially concerning the decisions that management will have to make ahead of the trade deadline.
And on this subject, Kent Hughes stated that the Tricolore will not be buyers of rental players at the deadline.
Indeed, in an interview with Jean-Charles Lajoie on TVA Sports, the CH general manager explained that there is still a lot of hockey to be played before March 7, with 20 games left, and that no definitive strategy had been chosen.
However, Hughes was clear that the CH would not be looking for rental players at the cost of sacrificing future elements of the organization.
So, even though the Tricolore is in a very good position in the playoff race as the trade deadline approaches, Kent Hughes will not spend to acquire one or more rental players who will not be part of the team in the long term.
The CH GM later explained that this does not mean he will not complete a trade, and if he does make one or more, it will be similar to the transaction made to acquire Alexandre Carrier.
The Tricolore will want to improve to acquire elements that will contribute to the team’s success beyond this season, as is the case with Carrier, who still has two years on his contract after this season.
In short, Kent Hughes has obviously not committed too much, as he cannot know right now whether he will be a seller or a buyer, but he still provided some interesting information looking ahead to March 7.
The next 20 games leading up to the trade deadline will be crucial and will determine the direction Kent Hughes will take.
In Brief
– Today, Eric Staal’s jersey will be retired by the Hurricanes.
As Hurricanes retire Eric Staal’s jersey today, a look at the ‘heart’ that drove his NHL careerhttps://t.co/BdYEaBzPXw
I know, you are probably just as disappointed as I am with the outcome of the Montreal Canadiens game last night against the Dallas Stars.
Even though the Canadiens managed to secure an important point, the evening ended with a 2-1 loss in a shootout that stings, as they were so close to securing both points.
Everyone believed that the Tricolore would walk away with the victory against one of the top teams in the NHL, as evidenced by the wave made by the crowd at the Bell Centre during overtime.
There is a tremendous amount of excitement and positivity surrounding the team right now, and rightly so, so we must maintain this attitude, recognizing that obtaining three points out of four during this back-to-back against two excellent teams is a great achievement for the Tricolore, marking a mission accomplished.
And that point in the standings is indeed very important, as it keeps the Canadiens neck and neck with the other teams in the playoff race, with only two points separating the Tricolore from the Blue Jackets.
(Credit: NHL.com)
In short, it was an important point secured by the Canadiens, and we owe a huge thanks to Samuel Montembeault.
Indeed, without the brilliance of the Quebec goalie, the Tricolore probably wouldn’t have even secured that point.
Montembeault was very solid, especially during the last ten minutes of the third period when the Stars were pushing hard and were truly controlling the game.
The 28-year-old keeper did not let himself be overwhelmed, managing to hold the fort until the shootout.
In short, Monty excelled last night, just as Jakub Dobes did on Friday.
A healthy competition is clearly developing internally between the two goalies, and that is really great news.
Indeed, this competition only brings positive energy right now, as Dobes’ performances push Montembeault to excel, just as he did last night against the Stars.
Monty understands very well that he won’t be allowed many missteps if Dobes continues to perform well and win games, which drives him to perform even better.
Let’s say that he wouldn’t feel or have felt such a strong wind at his back with Cayden Primeau as backup.
Montembeault being pushed by Dobes…figures: «I better up my game.» He does just that. Healthy competition is very much a positive.
Laine may still not have scored at five-on-five, but yesterday, he helped his line generate a lot of scoring chances, as the trio he forms with Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook produced eight shots, the most of any line on the Canadiens.
2. The fourth line came very close multiple times.
Even though they haven’t produced much in recent games, the line of Jake Evans, Emil Heineman, and Joel Armia continues to be dominant when on the ice and significantly disrupts the opponent.
Martin St-Louis trusts this line and sends them into very important, crucial game situations, such as late in the game when it was tied 1-1 with just a few minutes remaining.
In Brief
– Logical.
No practice today for the Canadiens, who are heading to Utah.
The team wants to arrive two days before Tuesday’s game, not just the day before, to better acclimate to the time change.
It was a big Saturday for hockey yesterday in the National Hockey League, with only two teams not in action.
The 30 other NHL teams were playing a game yesterday, which gave us a plethora of highlights.
Without further ado, here are those that captured more attention.
1. Alex Ovechkin records his 20th consecutive season of 20 goals or more
Alexander Ovechkin is in his 20th season in the National Hockey League.
The Russian winger has become a true legend of the sport, and he continues to impress us every day.
In fact, last night, Ovi scored his 20th goal of the current campaign, allowing him to reach this milestone for the 20th time in 20 seasons of his career.
22 TO GO!
Alex Ovechkin has his 20th goal of the season and is 22 goals away from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals record! pic.twitter.com/FFKtQXF4Ih
Only Gordie Howe has had more seasons of 20 goals or more than Ovechkin.
With this goal in the Capitals’ 4-1 victory over the Nashville Predators, Ovi is just 22 goals away from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goal record.
It’s also worth noting that in this win for the Caps, rookie Ethen Frank, who was playing in just his second NHL game, scored his first career goal last night.
2. Kaapo Kakko scores two goals in under two minutes
The 23-year-old Finn is currently enjoying a fresh start with the Seattle Kraken after being traded from the New York Rangers.
So far, Kakko had scored only one goal in nine games, but last night, in a 6-2 victory for the Kraken over the Buffalo Sabres, Kakko found the back of the net twice in one minute and 40 seconds.
This brings his point total to seven in ten games since joining the Kraken, clearly giving him confidence for what lies ahead.
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3. Defender Adam Pelech makes a great save
Normally, when we talk about a sensational save, we talk about a save made by a goalie.
But last night, in the 2-1 victory of the New York Islanders over the Utah Hockey Club, it was actually defender Adam Pelech who made a steal.
Indeed, early in the game, trailing by already one goal, the Islanders’ defender stopped a shot that was heading straight for an open net along the goal line.
This save by Pelech turned out to be crucial, as the Islanders won by just one goal.
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4. The Rangers win two games in a row for the first time since November 19
In the West, the biggest disappointment is clearly the Nashville Predators.
But in the East, that title clearly belongs to the New York Rangers, who have been steadily dropping in the standings after starting the season so well.
The Rangers have fallen, but fortunately, they are still close to the playoff spots.
However, they must quickly pull themselves together if they want to secure a playoff spot.
And that’s what they did yesterday, as the Rangers won their second game in a row for the first time since November 17 and 19.
The Rangers won 2-1 against the Vegas Golden Knights and now find themselves four points behind the Columbus Blue Jackets and the last playoff spot with a game in hand.
MONTREAL, CANADA - OCTOBER 9: Cole Caufield #13 of the Montreal Canadiens celebrates after scoring a goal during the first period of the NHL regular season game between the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Bell Centre on October 9, 2024 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Vitor Munhoz/NHLI via Getty Images)
A little over a month ago, we learned that three players from the Canadiens would participate in the Four Nations Showdown. Samuel Montembeault will represent Canada, while Patrik Laine and Joel Armia will do the same for Finland.
However, there are still some club players who have been overlooked. Among them, Cole Caufield was bypassed by the United States, despite a strong start to the season.
They preferred to choose supportive players (after all, you need players to play while short-handed), but it was unfortunate for Caufield.
What we notice, however, is that since being overlooked by his country, Caufield has really been on fire. In fact, the forward has played 16 games since learning he was ignored by the U.S. team… and in those 16 games, he has scored 17 points.
For this reason, NHL Network has listed him among the biggest snubs from the U.S. team.
What is clear, however, is that #13 is playing some very solid hockey lately. He has scored a goal in each of his last five games, which has helped the team as Patrik Laine missed the last four games.
This means that at the moment, Caufield is alone at the top of the Bettman circuit for goals scored at 5-on-5 this season, ahead of one Leon Draisaitl (and Rickard Rakell, who is having a fantastic season in Pittsburgh).
5-on-5 goal leaders:
1. Cole Caufield – 16
T2. Leon Draisaitl – 15
T2. Rickard Rakell – 15
T4. Brandon Hagel – 14
T4. Jack Roslovic – 14
T4. Matthew Knies – 14
It should also be noted that Caufield is tied for first in the NHL for goals scored on the road, tied with Draisaitl. He scores goals both on the road and with the man advantage: hard to ask for more from a scorer.
Last week, my colleague Marc-Olivier Cook wondered if the United States was starting to regret overlooking Caufield for the tournament. A week later, Caufield, who is on track to finish the season with 46 goals, added four points (including two goals) in two games, and importantly, he has logged at least 20 minutes on the ice in each of his last three games.
One can think that the U.S. is regretting it more and more… but more importantly, it is motivating Caufield right now. And if it helps him continue to play the great hockey he has been playing for the past month, the Canadiens certainly won’t complain (at all).
In Brief
– Juraj Slafkovský enjoyed his game yesterday.
“I made a couple of plays. Those guys (Nick & Cole) don’t wanna score when I pass them. No, it was better. I was skating a little better. I can still be more physical, skate even more, be better with the puck…but it’s one of (my) better games.
Following the irresistible streak of 12 wins in 17 games by the Canadiens since December 3, coinciding with Laine’s return to play, there is a slight scent of playoffs at the city’s doorstep.
Can such a push, during which the Canadiens play at .705, be maintained until the end of the season?
One might doubt it.
But in any case, the Canadiens won’t need to play at .700 in the second half of the season to qualify for the playoffs. If that were the case, it would result in a 100-point season!
The Blue Jackets, in 8th place, have 44 points in 42 games, a pace of 85 points…
If our resurgent Glorious ones from the last few weeks manage to collect, let’s say, 50 points in the next 41 games (.625), a very realistic estimate based on the team we’ve seen over the last 2 months, they would finish the race with 94 points, which should be enough to qualify in the East.
Indeed, it is by looking at the last 25 games, going back to November 11 – the day of the famous 7-5 victory in Buffalo where the players may have said something like “ enough is enough ” – that we can better establish the probabilities of a little set square in spring at the Bell Centre.
With 33 points out of a possible 52, the Canadiens are playing at .635 in their last 25 games.
A playoff participation is therefore logical considering this strong trend.
Following Kent Hughes’ press conference earlier this week, here are five factors that could further solidify playoff participation for the Tricolore.
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1. A major breakthrough for Kirby Dach
It’s easy to forget, but Kirby Dach had already experienced a breakout before his two major knee injuries. In his first season in the metropolis, he had already become a center capable of producing at a rate of over 50 points in a full season.
Of course, the problem is that Dach has not yet experienced a full season.
But here he is at mid-season, still injury-free (knock on wood), and after a difficult first half for various good and less good reasons (conditioning?), the Albertan has the chance to be reborn and experience another major breakout.
Despite still making too many thoughtless passes, Dach is showing increasing signs that his form is returning. In addition to his four goals and five points in his last six games, he is more often seen with the puck, and his speed seems to have returned, as he is slightly above the NHL average in this area.
Provided that pretty much everyone stays healthy and continues to play up to their potential, a breakthrough from Dach could be THE deciding factor between making and missing the playoffs.
So, no pressure Kirby, but this one is still a bit on you!
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2. A more consistent and confident Slafkovsky
Apart from Dach and Newhook, Slafkovsky is the only other forward (with Newhook, to a lesser extent) whose season has so far left us somewhat wanting. There’s no need to go into too much detail about it.
Kent Hughes has also been very clear on this subject: Slaf can do more.
He needs to redeem himself in the second half, and he knows it. He actually played one of his best games of the season yesterday in Washington.
His production isn’t too bad when he’s paired with Suzuki and Caufield; he regularly dominates along the boards and makes some beautiful passes to his talented teammates, as was the case again yesterday or like here earlier this week:
The Canadiens will need the best from their big Slovak forward as the games become more intense and fiercely contested.
We don’t just want to see flashes here and there; we want to see real full-time Slaf.
And if Slaf has more of a passer identity than a shooter, then let it be so.
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3. A dominant goalie duo
The Canadiens are not yet the kind of team that can regularly win with “ordinary” performances from their goaltenders.
That may come, but… not yet.
Montembeault and Dobes will therefore need to continue delivering performances worthy of the best duos in the NHL if the Canadiens hope to qualify for the playoffs.
Montembeault is solid between the ears and consistent on the ice. He can handle a heavy workload.
But the young Dobes, 23, is hungry and impresses with his temperament and athletic qualities, particularly in his play with his large pads…
The big Czech, 6’4, 215 lbs, shows enormous potential.
Following his three very conclusive starts in the NHL – against three recent Stanley Cup champions, no less – we can expect Dobes to start an average of one game out of three until the end of the schedule… and Monty knows it’s best to be good in the two others, or else it could be more…
Having two performing goaltenders is one heck of a nice problem for any team…
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4. March 7 deadline: Hughes likely to be a buyer
The Canadiens already have 12 picks (!!!) in the upcoming draft and nine more in 2026. Do they really need more?
Let’s say… not really?
And that’s exactly what Kent Hughes hinted at during his press conference.
If he hadn’t returned to the “mix” and was still hoping to draft in the top-5 of the upcoming draft, Hughes would likely have been inclined to trade Dvorak, Savard, or even Evans and Armia, if only to weaken the team further in the short term.
But now it feels like he won’t want to trade these four future unrestricted free agents for scraps. At worst, he will prefer to keep them and see them as his own rental players!
In the same vein, it is also increasingly probable that Hughes and Gorton present themselves as Cartesian buyers by the deadline.
And that’s where it could get very interesting.
Thus, in such a context, without deviating from the long-term plan, if they could make another “similar” trade to those they made to acquire Laine and Carrier, young players with a few years left on their contracts, why not?
Mailloux, Struble, Roy, Mesar, Kapanen, and especially the eight second and third-round picks in the next two drafts then become all potential pieces if the offer is good.
Hughes has also taken care to list all these nice and numerous picks in front of the cameras during his Wednesday press conference…
We would however be very surprised if the two first-round picks of 2025 were put in play by the Canadiens; maybe one in return for a young veteran who could be integrated into HuGo’s overall plan, but not both.
The Tricolore must complete its reconstruction, and these two picks – or what may result from them – must serve to complete the foundations of the reconstruction, leaving virtually no organizational deficiencies in a medium to long-term perspective.
However, if the Canadiens are in the playoff picture and decide to bet on themselves by seeing themselves as a playoff team with a Demidov in the lineup next season, the first pick of 2026 would be much more tempting to trade than those of 2025…
Reminder: In the CH’s video on its last draft (at 7 min 30 sec), when GORTON asks him in an interview if he sees himself as a “ franchise player ”, Demidov, smiling confidently, answers in the affirmative without even hesitating.
In general, “franchise” players have a significant impact from their first season, and it shouldn’t be any different for Demidov.
A nice question from Marc-Antoine Godin during last Wednesday’s press conference: “Kent, what do you see as the most sustainable thing in this team?”
Hughes replied that it was the culture that is being established in the locker room, a culture that all winning clubs possess.
There indeed seems to be a well-embedded “team first” mentality in the words and attitude of the players. This is a factor that is already contributing to the team’s success and may make the difference between the Canadiens and their competitors this season and for those to come…
In short, the upcoming months promise to be exciting.
pic.twitter.com/nIFuH4oeHj
#U18WomensWorlds pic.twitter.com/ET4d701I5j
It was also a trip down memory lane for him as he played there in the 90s
(13), his second assist of the night and third point of the weekend. He now boasts an impressive 24 points in 19 games this season! 
(13) 1 PTS 6 SOG
(@WaveIntel) 
