Author: Dose

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Dans les coulisses

Excellence of Jakub Dobes: Cayden Primeau may have to wait a long time

The Montreal Canadiens truly surprised everyone last night by defeating the Colorado Avalanche.

Almost nobody expected the Habs to come away with at least a point, let alone play a close game.

In fact, I tell you, when I sat down to watch the game with my dad, we looked at each other saying it would be a tough match and that we would likely lose by several goals.

But in the end, the Canadiens found a way to not only play a close game against one of the best teams in the NHL, but also to secure two very big points at altitude.

And those two points, well, they are largely credited to Jakub Dobes.

The rookie goalie was sensational, saving 22 of the 23 shots directed at him, making several crucial stops.

Dobes has thus achieved two excellent starts so far in his young NHL career, having allowed only one goal on 57 shots.

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The 23-year-old Czech goalie is also the first goalie in the history of the Canadiens to allow only one goal in his first two NHL games.

He is also the 5th rookie goalie in the history of the Canadiens to win his first two NHL games.

Dobes is having a sensational start in the NHL, and let’s say he’s already beginning to make a name for himself.

Habs fans have already embraced him and are comparing him to Carey Price, and in the locker room, the young Czech seems to be very well-liked, as evidenced by his teammates teasing him during his post-game interview.

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In short, with all this positivity surrounding Dobes, one wonders why he wasn’t recalled by the Canadiens sooner.

He brings a breath of fresh air to the locker room, and above all, he helps Samuel Montembeault by being a solid backup goalie, something Cayden Primeau never managed to do.

Even though Primeau won his first game back in Laval, the American goalie might be waiting a long time before he gets back to the NHL if Dobes continues to perform like this.

The Czech goalie ultimately brings stability and consistency to the backup goalie position, and if this continues, Primeau will remain in Laval for good.

Dobes was so solid and confident last night that many are starting to wonder if Martin St. Louis might give him the start on Monday at the Bell Centre against the Vancouver Canucks.

It would be a nice reward and a great gift to give Dobes his first game at the Bell Centre while he has the wind at his back.

In short, with a back-to-back on Friday (against the Capitals in Washington) and Saturday (against the Dallas Stars at the Bell Centre), Dobes will surely get a third career start this week.

In Brief

– A very nice victory for the Laval Rocket last night.

– To be monitored closely today.

– To listen to.

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Dans les coulisses

Ivan Demidov scores a goal in a sixth consecutive match.

Since the Montreal Canadiens’ management visited Ivan Demidov in Russia, the CH prospect has been simply unstoppable.

Indeed, since the visit from Kent Hughes, Nick Brobov, and Vincent Lecavalier to SKA St. Petersburg, Demidov has scored at least one goal in each of his games.

This also coincides with the fact that Roman Rotenberg, the head coach of SKA, has promoted Ivan Demidov to the top-6, even on the first line.

Once again today, Demidov finds himself on the first line of SKA, as St. Petersburg faces Vityaz Moscow Oblast, one of the worst teams in the KHL.

And let’s say that Demidov has not wasted any time to showcase his talent and continued his excellent streak, as he scored a goal in his sixth consecutive game.

The CH prospect made a very good shot to score his 13th goal of the season.

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This goal allowed SKA to narrow the gap to one goal in the first period, as they were trailing 2 to 0.

It is also worth noting that this is Demidov’s 30th point of the season.

The CH prospect thus reaches a nice milestone, as he now has 13 goals and 27 assists in 40 games.

This is really a very good haul considering all the games where Demidov hardly had any ice time or was simply glued to the bench.

The ordeal seems to be finally behind Demidov, who can now focus on his performances rather than his ice time.

Let’s hope this continues until the end of the season.

In Brief

– What do you think?

– Travel day for the CH.

– Noteworthy.

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Dans les coulisses

Jake Evans: “I want to continue my career with the Montreal Canadiens.”

Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

If I were to ask you what the best revelation this season for the Montreal Canadiens is, you would probably hesitate between two players: Emil Heineman and Jake Evans.

Both players are having an excellent season and making the Canadiens’ fourth line one of the best in the entire NHL alongside Joel Armia.

And this success is largely due to the emergence of Jake Evans, who is currently having the best season of his career.

The 28-year-old center is simply unrecognizable this season, producing offensively at a pace of just under 50 points, which would shatter his best mark of 29 points.

Evans is one of the best players on the Canadiens this season, and he is especially one of the most useful players to the team in all departments.

In short, number 71 for the Canadiens is emerging as a key piece for the team, coinciding with the last year of his contract.

And to that end, for those who are worried, Jake Evans has stated that he wants to continue his career with the Montreal Canadiens.

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Indeed, this is what Renaud Lavoie stated last night during the first period, as he explained he spoke to Evans before the game against the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday.

Evans then told Renaud Lavoie that he wished to continue with the Canadiens beyond the current season, and therefore, he wanted to sign a new contract in Montreal.

This is very big news given that we were all beginning to question Evans, wondering whether he would want to maximize his earnings on the free agent market, or if he truly wanted to stay in Montreal.

With this statement, we can believe that an agreement could very well be reached between Evans and the Canadiens, unless Kent Hughes decides to trade Evans at the trade deadline if he receives an offer that he simply cannot refuse.

However, if the Canadiens remain in the mix as they are currently, fighting for a playoff spot, Hughes may decide to keep Evans and re-sign him even before the trade deadline.

If the Canadiens are in the race, they will want to remain competitive, and thus they will retain Evans.

As for the amount of a potential next contract for Evans, Renaud Lavoie believes that something around $3 million per year would be expected, for at least three years.

In short, this is a story to keep a close eye on, but this news is very positive for Canadiens fans.

In Brief

– It was indeed a loss to expect because of the schedule last night, but the Canadiens still won.

– From one Hutson to another.

– A must-read.

– Indeed.

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Dans les coulisses

The CH has defeated the last four Stanley Cup champions abroad.

Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

In the last days and weeks, the Montreal Canadiens have provided us with simply impressive performances.

We see a club that is tenacious, determined, and especially confident in its abilities.

It had been a long time since the Canadiens generated so much excitement and enthusiasm among their fans, and with the recent sequence of games, we have just experienced some very beautiful emotions.

The most impressive part of all this is that the majority of this sequence was done away from home, and therefore far from Montreal, through a grueling trip.

This trip concluded last night against the Colorado Avalanche, and against all odds, the Canadiens managed to finish their journey with a surprising 2-1 victory in a shootout.

The CH thus earned eight points out of a possible ten during its five-game trip after Christmas, against very good teams.

And not only are they good teams, but they are recent former Stanley Cup champions.

In fact, the Canadiens just defeated the last four Stanley Cup champions within the span of five games.

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Throughout these five games, the only defeat for the CH came against the worst team in the NHL, which is really a classic for the Canadiens, winning against good teams and losing to bad ones.

Post-Christmas trip:

  • December 28: 4-0 victory against the Florida Panthers – 2024 Champions
  • December 29: 5-2 victory against the Tampa Bay Lightning – 2020 and 2021 Champions
  • December 31: 3-2 victory against the Vegas Golden Knights – 2023 Champions
  • January 3: Loss against the Chicago Blackhawks – 32nd NHL team
  • January 4: 2-1 victory against the Colorado Avalanche – 2022 Champions

In short, the CH has just experienced its best run of the season, visiting the champions of the last five seasons.

This is impressive and truly very encouraging for the future, both for the players and the fans.

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It is clear that there is enormous confidence reigning in the locker room as they return home following this sequence.

Moreover, if we extend this sequence until December 17, we realize that the Canadiens have the best record in the entire NHL.

In short, the CH has really provided us with excellent performances lately, and it is truly promising for what lies ahead, especially considering that Martin St-Louis’s team is really back in the mix.

Indeed, Montreal is just one little point behind the Ottawa Senators and the last playoff spot.

In Brief

– Indeed.

– A note.

– To watch today.

– Comments from Tavares, Marchand, and Scheifele on Team Canada Junior’s quick elimination.

– Michkov is learning more and more.

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Dans les coulisses

Top-5: Matthew Knies scores his first career hat trick

We had 12 games yesterday in the National Hockey League, with 24 teams playing on this Saturday, January 4.

During an evening where the Montreal Canadiens triumphed over the Colorado Avalanche, several other highlights caught attention.

Here is a summary.

1. A first career hat trick for Matthew Knies

We witnessed a classic matchup last night as two rival teams from the Atlantic Division faced off.

Indeed, the Boston Bruins visited the Toronto Maple Leafs in a big duel, which was ultimately won by the Maple Leafs with a score of 6 to 4.

It was an excellent hockey game, largely thanks to the Maple Leafs’ first line, which amassed a total of 13 points.

The star of the evening was Matthew Knies, who recorded his first career hat trick in addition to collecting two assists.

Knies is having a great breakout season, already tallying 14 goals and 24 points in 38 games.

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2. Lights go out mid-game in Seattle

In general, hockey is played with the lights on, right?

Well, yesterday in Seattle, for a moment, all the lights in the arena, the Climate Pledge Arena, went out right during the game.

Only the advertisement lights on the boards, generated by television, remained on.

It made for a funny moment.

It seems that the presence of a legend like Marie-Philip Poulin had an effect on the entire arena.

She was in Seattle last night, and she was able to name the Kraken’s lines.

As for the hockey game itself, the Kraken lost to the Edmonton Oilers by a score of 4 to 2.

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3. Ovechkin scores his 872nd

Since returning to play, Alex Ovechkin has been unstoppable.

He came back as if he had never been away, and he is currently dominating, with four goals in five games since his return.

Last night, he also scored his 872nd career goal, netting the game-winner in a 7 to 4 victory for the Washington Capitals over the New York Rangers.

With this goal, Ovechkin is now just 23 goals away from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s record.

23 goals in 43 games is more than achievable for the Caps’ number 8.

As for the Rangers, well, their downward spiral continues, as they are currently five points out of the playoffs with a record of 17-20-1.

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4. Sean Monahan has 15 points in his last eight games

The Columbus Blue Jackets are on fire right now in the NHL, and it’s mainly the work of one line.

Indeed, Sean Monahan, Dmitri Voronkov, and Kirill Marchenko are simply dominant in every one of their appearances, which explains why they are accumulating points so easily in recent games.

If we take Monahan’s case alone, well, the former Canadiens player has 15 points in his last eight games,

and he recorded three assists last night in a 6 to 4 victory for the Blue Jackets over the St. Louis Blues.

This brings him to 40 points in 40 games, as Monahan could very well be heading towards the best season of his career.

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5. Joel Edmundson leaves the game after a very bad fall on the ice

We’re moving on to another former Canadiens player, but this time, for less positive news, as Joel Edmundson was injured in a 2 to 1 victory for the Los Angeles Kings over the Tampa Bay Lightning.

In fact, Edmundson had to leave the game temporarily after falling heavily and dangerously on his head and neck.

It was a frightening scene that ended well, as Edmundson returned to the game like a warrior.

Overtime

– Macklin Celebrini takes the lead in rookie scoring with his 13th.

– Hat trick for Ryan O’Reilly.

– Here are all the results from yesterday.

– Here are the top scorers from yesterday.

(Credit: NHL.com)

– On the schedule today in the NHL: five games.

(Credit: Google/NHL)
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Dans les coulisses

The Canadiens conclude their trip with a victory in Colorado.

After a loss in Chicago, the Canadiens returned to action tonight against the Avalanche.

Jakub Dobes was making his second career start.

Here are the lineups:

Without Patrick Laine and David Savard, the CH faced the music.

Montreal was undisciplined in the first period.

From the very start, Mikko Rantanen completed a play from Nathan MacKinnon to open the scoring. It was the first goal allowed by Dobes in his NHL career.

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Later, the fans had a scare when Ross Colton knocked Dobes down.

Was it Lane Hutson’s fault?

Colton received a penalty on the play, but Montreal was unable to capitalize on the power play.

No goals were scored in the second period: both goalies were perfect.

With just under seven minutes left in the game, as nothing was going offensively, Cole Caufield scored his 21st goal of the season.

On the play, Lane Hutson recorded an assist. An assist worth $250,000.

With just under two minutes left in the game, the CH took a bad penalty. Colorado was unable to take advantage of it, neither in regulation nor in overtime.

Heading to shootouts, which favored Martin St-Louis’s squad.

Final score: 2-1 Canadiens

The Canadiens, who earned 8 points out of a possible 10 on the road, will return to action on Monday against the Vancouver Canucks. They will finally be back home.

Overtime

– The Rocket won.

– A big lack of opportunism.

– Apparently, Jake Evans would like to stay in Montreal. He wouldn’t say otherwise, but still.

– The one who stopped 22 of the 23 shots directed at him was excellent.

– Oh really?

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Dans les coulisses

Beck, Mailloux, Fowler, Demidov: the untouchables of Pierre McGuire

ST. PAUL, MN - APRIL 13: Boston College Eagles goaltender Jacob Fowler (1) skates on the ice before the men's Frozen Four championship game between the Boston College Eagles and the Denver Pioneers on April 13th, 2024, in St. Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Bailey Hillesheim/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The Canadiens are doing well right now, and if this is a preview of the future of the team, we are in good shape.

Especially with Patrik Laine and Alexandre Carrier, the club makes much more sense. Imagine when Michael Hage, Ivan Demidov, and other quality prospects are in the Montreal lineup.

Despite the many young players pushing through the organization, Pierre McGuire believes only four are untouchable: Ivan Demidov, Jacob Fowler, Owen Beck, and Logan Mailloux.

In the case of Demidov and Fowler, I can understand why they would be untouchable.

But Mailloux and Beck? I’m not so sure.

The right-handed defenseman isn’t necessarily having a great second professional season, and if he plays in Montreal one day, it will be in a third-pair role, which could help out in the top-4 from time to time. But with Lane Hutson, Kaiden Guhle, and David Reinbacher, he is dedicated to a more defensive role, despite the fact that he is primarily an offensive defenseman.

Simon Boisvert has said several times: the CH should trade him while he still has some value.

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In Owen Beck’s case, he is a quality prospect, but a bit like Jake Evans, he is dedicated to a bottom-9 role. I know teams need players like Beck, but to say he is untouchable is a bit much, in my opinion.

But for Demidov and Fowler, McGuire is not wrong. I wouldn’t trade the Russian for many players in the NHL… And Fowler is the team’s future goaltender: he can’t be traded for just anything.

Personally, the term “untouchable” shouldn’t exist, because with the right deal, you can always say “yes” to a trade… Connor McDavid may be untouchable in Edmonton, but if Montreal were to offer Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Jacob Fowler, and Lane Hutson, I don’t think Stan Bowman would say no.

And Wayne Gretzky, the greatest player of all time, once changed addresses.

In Brief

– Finland will face the winner between the United States and the Czech Republic. Sweden will face the loser of the semifinal match.

– Wow.

– Must listen.

– The Ravens secure the top spot in the AFC North division.

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Dans les coulisses

Ivan Demidov could replace Evgeny Kuznetsov at the KHL All-Star Game.

I don’t know when the last time was that the Canadiens got their hands on a player as talented as Ivan Demidov.

Canadiens fans are excited to see him in Montreal. It will be at the beginning of next season.

Yesterday, the Russian scored a stunning goal that made headlines. For those who might have missed it, here it is:

He finished his game with two goals and one assist while playing on the first line.

The absence of Evgeny Kuznetsov is unfortunate for the team, but for the playing time and opportunities for the Canadiens’ prospect, it’s perfect. The injury to the former Capitals player could also open another door for Demidov.

Indeed, the KHL All-Star Game could now be a possibility for someone who has 29 points in 39 games this season.

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Last December, Kuznetsov was hit in the head and could miss as much as two months of activity.

Demidov thus has a good chance to participate in his first (and hopefully not last) professional All-Star Game.

For those who haven’t had the chance to see the SKA’s number 91 in action much this season, The Sick Podcast – Draftcast Recruits has published the ice time of the forward during his most recent three-point game.

What I notice is that he always has the puck, creates a lot of opportunities, and plays well on 200 feet. He’s not often in his own zone, which is obviously very good. I also notice that he plays a bit like a center in that he makes plays for his teammates and is good without the puck.

It’s worth taking six minutes of your Saturday to watch this.

In Brief

– Well.

– 2 hours if he goes by car.

– For interested parties.

– Poor Jake.

– Easton Cowan doesn’t find that cool.

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Dans les coulisses

4 Nations: Brad Marchand is looking forward to not being booed in Montreal

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 04: Brad Marchand #63 of the Boston Bruins skates during warmups before the game against the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game Seven of the First Round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden on May 04, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by China Wong/NHLI via Getty Images)

Brad Marchand is, in Montreal, a guy who knows how to make himself liked hated by the crowd. The Bruins forward enjoys provoking and playing the role of the villain, and he is good at stirring up trouble.

That’s part of his style… and it has made him an indispensable player in the Bruins’ success.

However, in a few weeks, Marchand will swap his Bruins uniform for a Canadian uniform for the Four Nations Face-Off. And this will create a unique context… because this tournament will take place in Montreal.

This means that for once, Marchand will wear the colors of the crowd’s favorites… and listening to him speak, you can tell he is excited:

It’ll be nice not to get booed in Montreal! – Brad Marchand

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Obviously, what usually attracts the crowd’s wrath at the Bell Centre is that he uses his provocative techniques while wearing the opposing team’s uniform. However, during the tournament, he will do so in the Canadian uniform, meaning he will represent the home team’s colors.

This will finally put the theory that “fans would love him if he played for their team” to the test… and I have a feeling he will find a way to be liked in Montreal while the competition lasts.

Let’s also remember that once again this year, Marchand is having a solid season with 15 goals and 31 points in 40 games. We can expect to see him play an important role on the Canadian team, meaning fans on-site will have the opportunity to see him spend quite a bit of time on the ice.

However, one might wonder if, as a matter of principle, certain fans will boo Marchand on principle. And we’ll have to wait until the tournament starts to see…

But considering he is not the crowd’s favorite to begin with, maybe Marchand should be cautious before thinking he won’t be booed at all.

In Brief

– Juraj Slafkovský needs to shoot more.

– Enjoy listening.

– CMJ: a good tournament for Brayden Yager.

Categories
Dans les coulisses

Jonathan Drouin: “The Canadiens have a great defenseman in the future with Lane Hutson.”

Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

In Montreal, Lane Hutson is probably one of the most popular players with the Canadiens. The defender, who is just a rookie, is already demonstrating the extent of his immense offensive talent.

He has 28 points on the board after 40 career games. That’s impressive, especially for a defender.

It is quite clear that he is special when he steps on the ice… and if you see him in Montreal, you also notice him elsewhere.

In an interview with Renaud Lavoie (TVA Sports) that will be aired in full tonight, Jonathan Drouin talked a bit about the Canadiens’ defender… and you can sense that he is a big fan of the young player’s potential:

The Canadiens have quite a defender for the future [with Lane Hutson]. – Jonathan Drouin

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Drouin, who claims to watch “almost every game” of the Canadiens (even though he is no longer a member of the team since the summer of 2023), clearly sees the potential that Hutson demonstrates. The Avalanche forward is eager to see him step on the ice tonight as he faces him in Colorado.

He sees Hutson as a player who, while not identical, reminds him of Quinn Hughes. And of course, if the Canadiens are banking on such a player for their future, it’s good news for the team’s future.

Drouin especially appreciates how the Canadiens manage the development of the defender. The defender makes mistakes, certainly, but the coaching staff allows the young player to make his mistakes, and instead of punishing him, they send him back on the ice, giving him significant minutes.

This is a good way to keep him confident even when he makes mistakes.

In short, we’ll see if Drouin is right, but so far, it is quite clear that the young defender is a special player. And seeing him recognized this way elsewhere in the NHL clearly shows that the young player’s performances are drawing attention in the Bettman circuit.

In brief

– Alex Ovechkin’s 872nd goal.

– Interesting.

– Only one goal for Adam Fox this season.