Author: Dose

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Top-3: Another embarrassing defeat for the Predators

The Rangers and the Predators are among the clubs that have disappointed the most since the start of the season.

It’s a good thing: they were in action last night, with three games presented in the NHL.

Let’s see what happened:

1: Again…

It’s crazy how bad the Preds are.

And it would have been difficult to predict that they would be out of the playoff picture by December 31, after what they did this summer.

But that’s the case, and we had another example of it yesterday: the Nashville team was never able to break through Connor Hellebuyck’s wall.

The Jets’ goalie was perfect in the game by stopping all 22 shots directed at him, allowing him to earn his 5th shutout (!!!) of the season.

He’s really having an incredible season:

Gabriel Vilardi stood out for the Jets by scoring twice during the game.

He’s also having a good season: his 16th and 17th goals of the campaign place him 3rd in his team’s scoring leaderboard (34), tied with defenseman Josh Morrissey.

The Jets won the Pierre-Luc Dubois trade:

The Jets won the game by a score of 3-0.

Note that the Preds have a record of 4-5-1 in their last ten games.

2: A nice milestone for Panarin, but…

The Rangers’ descent into hell continues.

They had a big test yesterday as they were in Florida to face the Panthers… And they were unable to answer the call.

The Rangers ultimately lost 5-3, marking their eighth defeat in their last ten outings.

Chris Kreider, who was benched by his coach two weeks ago, scored during the game:

Jesper Boqvist had fun down in Florida.

He scored two goals and benefited from a pass from his brother, Adam, to score his 2nd of the match.

It makes for a nice story:

It should be noted that on Kreider’s goal, Artemi Panarin recorded his 500th point in a Rangers uniform.

He became the fastest player to reach that landmark in New York, by the way.

It’s too bad that his team lost…

3: Kraken victory over Utah

We can all agree on one thing.

The game played between the Kraken and André Tourigny’s team… Let’s just say it wasn’t the most exciting to watch.

But the Kraken delivered a strong performance in front of their supporters.

Yanni Gourde opened the scoring for Seattle with a beautiful shot on reception.

And the crowd was loud after his goal:

Logan Cooley scored his 9th goal of the season for Utah, but it wasn’t enough.

The Kraken won by a score of 5-2, largely thanks to a three-point performance from the veteran Jaden Schwartz.

Matty Beniers also scored for Seattle… And let’s just say the Utah goalie will want to review the play:

Overtime

– It’s crazy!

– The top point scorers of the night:

(Credit: NHL.com)

– Several games today, including the Canadiens’ game in Vegas:

(Credit: Google)
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Winter classic: Steps to get to the Blues’ locker room

We hear about it more or less this season, but the Winter Classic will take place tomorrow, December 31.

It will be a matchup between the Chicago Blackhawks and the St. Louis Blues.

Here are the jerseys that both teams will wear for this game at Wrigley Field in Chicago.

They are really beautiful, I love them.

The setup for the Winter Classic is also incredible, as it is every season.

However, there is something quite special about the facilities.

There are several stairs that separate the Blues’ locker room from the outdoor rink.

You can even see members of the organization going down those very stairs.

You don’t see that very often.

We have to think about the fact that the players will have to climb those stairs at the end of the game…

That might be a pain.

In the video published by the team’s Twitter page, you can see that some players are much more comfortable than others.

Goalie Joel Hofer is one of them, who was wobbling while going down the stairs.

(Credit: St. Louis Blues)

All the players seem to find it relatively funny.

The Winter Classic is a very special moment.

Let’s hope no one gets injured trying to get to the rink. It’s not easy with skates on your feet.

It’s also a first for many players, including young Connor Bedard, who can’t believe he has the chance to experience this unforgettable moment.

“This is one of the most cool experiences of my life so far and the game hasn’t even started yet.” – Connor Bedard

Experiencing this at only 19 years old must be quite special, indeed.

Some players and media members had the chance to test the ice earlier today.

Bedsy decided to give Paul “Biz Nasty” Bissonnette a lesson on the rink while having fun with him like a puppet.

Definitely a day that will be forever etched in Bedard’s memory.

In Brief

– Speaking of the Classic, Nick Foligno’s children asked the other Hawks players if they could beat their father in a race on the ice.

– Ouch, that hurts a lot.

– It won’t be long before there’s a change in the organization.

– The Boqvist brothers (Jesper and Adam) are teaming up on this play.

– Karl-Anthony Towns ended the game with 32 points in 31 minutes.

– Oufff…

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The Dallas Stars have been fined for holding a practice on December 26.

Yesterday, we learned that the Dallas Stars and Peter DeBoer are being investigated by the NHL for holding a practice on December 26.

Ultimately, the Texas organization was fined.

This was reported by Chris Johnston from TSN and The Athletic.

According to Article 16.5(b) of the NHL collective bargaining agreement, it is prohibited to ask players to practice on December 24, 25, and 26.

Paying $100,000 for holding a practice during the holidays definitely warrants reading the collective bargaining rules.

At least, this amount will be directly sent to the NHL Foundation.

The owner of the Stars can thus say that he is making a generous donation for a good cause.

Interestingly, this is not the first time this has happened, as the Toronto Maple Leafs were also fined $100,000 in 2022. The team’s players had to fly on December 26 for their first game after the holidays.

The holiday season is made for resting anyway.

The NHL implements a transaction freeze from December 20 to 27 and teams cease all activities from December 24 to 27.

It’s better to take it easy, enjoy visiting family (even if it possibly involves a flight), and eat good food.

In brief

– Very nice message from Jakub Dobes.

– It must be quite special, indeed.

– Worth reading.

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“Jake Evans is the new Phillip Danault” – Renaud Lavoie

MONTREAL, QC - APRIL 16: Montreal Canadiens center Jake Evans (71) plays the puck during the Detroit Red Wings versus the Montreal Canadiens game on April 16, 2024, at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Jake Evans is having a very good season so far. The forward already has 10 goals and 23 points in 36 games, along with a +5 plus/minus rating, all while playing on the fourth line. He is currently on a five-game streak with at least one goal. Not bad at all!

His offensive production places him fourth among the team’s top scorers, behind Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, and Lane Hutson.

And let’s not forget that right now, Evans is the most utilized forward on the penalty kill in the NHL.

Moreover, his +5 rating with a team that has faced its share of difficulties at even strength is remarkable.

In short, Evans is the new Swiss Army knife of the Canadiens. He can be used in all situations and is reliable in all areas of the game.

According to Renaud Lavoie, in a column on BPM Sports, “Jake Evans is the new Phillip Danault”.

It’s hard to disagree with the remarks about how the center is playing this season.

The loss of Danault hurt the Canadiens, who tried to replace him with Christian Dvorak, who has never been able to provide the same offensive contribution or defensive stability.

This season, Evans is providing a contribution similar to that of Danault and helps to address our weakness at center.

It must be said that the presence of two solid wingers in Joel Armia and Emil Heineman, who have 18 and 15 points respectively, contributes to Evans’ success this season.

Let’s say that right now, the Canadiens have a luxury fourth line.

In fact, this line’s contribution is at the heart of the Canadiens’ recent successes.

Jake Evans has really become an indispensable player for the Habs, and I believe the team should not trade him before the trade deadline, unless they receive a ridiculous offer, even though he will be a free agent at the end of the season.

On the contrary, the organization must ensure to sign their center for a few seasons because he is the type of player you need in your rebuild.

And if he continues to perform like this, Evans risks experiencing a significant salary increase, as he currently earns a salary of $1.7 million.

In Brief

– Happy December.

– Team photos.

– Drouin returns.

– A must-read!

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Twelve points in thirteen matches: Oliver Kapanen is doing very well in Sweden.

MONTREAL, QC - SEPTEMBER 23: Look at Montreal Canadiens center Oliver Kapanen (91) during warm-up before the Philadelphia Flyers versus the Montreal Canadiens preseason game on September 23, 2024, at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Oliver Kapanen has been performing well since his loan to Sweden.

The Canadiens’ prospect just scored his fifth goal and already has 12 points in 13 games so far with Timrå IK in the Swedish league.

Kapanen is a former second-round pick, 64th overall, in the 2022 draft.

He had a strong training camp to the point that the Canadiens decided to offer him a trial with the team at the start of the season.

However, Kapanen didn’t really get the chance to showcase his talents, mainly getting ice time on the fourth line. In twelve games, the Finn only registered two assists and a -4 plus-minus.

His ice time decreased with each game, and he was not used in situations where he could display his offensive skills.

On November 6, the Canadiens made the decision to loan Kapanen to Timrå IK, where his father is the general manager, so that the young player could get more quality ice time.

So far, this seems to be the right decision.

One might have thought that sending him to play in Sweden could affect his confidence, but Kapanen seems to see this as an opportunity to continue his development.

And 12 points in 13 games in the SHL, a league not particularly known for scoring, is very interesting production. If he had played the entire season at the same pace, he would be in the top 10 scorers in his league.

According to all probabilities, Kapanen will play the rest of the season in Sweden, where he can help his team, which is currently in sixth place in the SHL, in the playoffs.

Hoping he can build his confidence for the upcoming Canadiens training camp, Kapanen will begin the second year of his three-year entry-level contract, celebrating his 22nd birthday in July.

Without saying it’s a last chance camp, the forward will find a way to secure his place on the team sooner rather than later. Especially since we might see the arrival of an Ivan Demidov, which could limit available spots up front.

However, in the meantime, we can hope that Kapanen continues to perform like this and arrives fully prepared in September for the next Canadiens training camp.

In short, another Canadiens prospect to keep an eye on!

In Brief

– A fine of $100,000 for the Stars.

The @DallasStars have been fined $100,000 for violating the Collective Bargaining Agreement. https://t.co/2uTcZ43AFD pic.twitter.com/u6ILKrDgS8

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) December 30, 2024

– A twelfth-place finish for Canada

ALPINE SKIING: A 12th place finish on Sunday for 🍁Cameron Alexander at the Bormio World Cup Super G ahead of his compatriot Jeffrey Read. @Alpine_Canada @Equipe_Canada @MilanoCortina26 https://t.co/lkje1XkQQk

— Philippe Germain – VCI (@goVCIca) December 30, 2024

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Jesse Puljujarvi is placed on waivers by the Penguins.

Great things were expected from Jesse Puljujarvi when he was selected 4th overall in the 2016 draft by the Oilers.

But the player has never been able to reach his full potential.

He was traded to Carolina during the 22-23 season, before agreeing with the Pittsburgh Penguins… And now he finds himself on waivers today.

More details to come…

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Alexandre Carrier reminds (again) how much better the CH locker room is than in Nashville.

Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images

Before the holidays, shortly after his arrival with the Canadiens, Alexandre Carrier mentioned how much heavier it was in the Nashville Predators’ locker room than in that of the Canadiens.

With higher expectations in Tennessee than in Quebec, it was normal. Nashville is possibly THE disappointment of the season.

Now, for the second time in a short period, Alexandre Carrier didn’t hesitate to praise the Canadiens’ locker room compared to that of his former organization.

Arriving in a winning locker room (because yes, the Canadiens have been winning quite a bit more often these past few weeks) makes all the difference in his eyes.

The atmosphere is a lot more enjoyable for him than it was in Nashville.

It feels good. Mentally, it feels really good. – Alexandre Carrier, on the difference between playing for the Canadiens and the Predators

Believe it or not, this is not the first time he has compared the two situations and had less flattering words for the Predators’ locker room than for that of the Montreal Canadiens.

Is it a coincidence or not?

The feeling I have is that he mainly wants to praise his new environment and that the comparisons with Nashville come naturally… but he doesn’t necessarily want to throw his former team under the bus.

But I could be wrong. Maybe he wants to do that a little.

The fact that the guys play for each other has also been highlighted by Carrier, who seems revitalized by his change of scenery. And in Montreal, nobody is missing Justin Barron at the moment.

It remains to be seen if this will continue in this way.

In brief

– Well said.

– For the fans of CF Montréal.

– History repeats itself.

– Worth reading.

– Ouch.

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Jakub Dobes in the NHL: the Canadiens must learn from the mistakes of the Cayden Primeau case

Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images

It’s done: the Canadiens have changed their second goaltender.

It seems that before the start of the season, we were so focused on issues like Lane Hutson’s, Logan Mailloux’s, Oliver Kapanen’s, or Emil Heineman’s places in the lineup that we weren’t talking about the goaltenders.

We thought Cayden Primeau would back up Samuel Montembeault and that Jakub Dobes would pair with Connor Hughes in Laval. And that’s exactly what happened for a few months.

But clearly, the Canadiens gradually lost confidence in Primeau, to the point where Samuel Montembeault started 10 consecutive games in December. The message towards the American was clear.

Recently, the Canadiens took advantage of Dobes’s return to health to do what they perhaps wanted to do for a while: test him in the NHL alongside Montembeault, himself a product of waivers.

By placing Primeau on waivers (which Kent Hughes had refused to do since the fall of 2023) recently, he changed the dynamics of his goaltenders. For now, Dobes is the #2 goalie in Montreal, and Primeau is back down.

The latter is far from his strong finish to the season in Montreal in 2023-2024.

But the question is: will the Canadiens only use Montembeault and Dobes in net until the end of the season? In my view, it’s an unlikely scenario.

Obviously, if Dobes continues to earn his spot in the sun, he will stay. But just because he’s there right now doesn’t mean it will definitely continue like this until April. He needs to understand that he doesn’t need to be placed on waivers to join the Rocket.

Primeau, if he plays well down there, can try to force the hands of the Canadiens’ management.

But above all, Kent Hughes, Jeff Gorton, Martin St-Louis, Éric Raymond, and the Rocket staff must ask themselves the following question: what is best for Dobes’s development?

You know as well as I do that a goaltender takes time to develop. And you also know as well as I do that it was by having Primeau warm the bench for the CH a few years ago that his development went off the rails.

Does the CH want that for Dobes? No, obviously.

If Dobes doesn’t get enough playing time up top and Primeau regains confidence, the CH will reassess the possibility of changing goaltenders again as things progress.

And this is true even if Carey Price likes Dobes’s work.

However, we must not forget that the CH is better than before. If the goal is really to be in the playoff race, Samuel Montembeault will play a lot, but the team will also, from time to time, need to win its games with its backup. And if Dobes contributes more…

That’s part of the equation.

Overtime

Obviously, there are several factors to consider. But for Primeau and Dobes, the situation is simple: they do not control their playing time or where they play.

They only control how they behave and their performances when the CH or the Rocket calls upon them.

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Madeline Gaudreau gave birth to her child.

Several months ago, the Gaudreau family experienced the worst of blows.

Just hours before one of the sisters in the family was to get married, Johnny and Matthew were killed by a drunk driver. This obviously paused the wedding in question.

This greatly affected the NHL community due to the fact that Johnny was a star.

What made the situation even sadder was the fact that Johnny had two children. Furthermore, both Johnny’s wife and Matthew’s wife were pregnant.

Matthew and his wife had announced they were expecting a child before his death, but not Johnny and his partner, who shared the news with everyone at the funerals of the two brothers.

So here we are at the end of 2024, Madeline Gaudreau, Matthew’s wife, announced on social media that she has given birth to the couple’s first child.

Tripp Gaudreau is the name of the child, as had been announced previously.

View this post on Instagram

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Eight wins in 12 matches: the best month for Martin St-Louis as a coach

TAMPA, FL - DECEMBER 29: The Montreal Canadiens celebrate a goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena on December 29, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mark LoMoglio/NHLI via Getty Images)

In December, the Canadiens had 14 games on their schedule. They have played 13 so far… and I’m starting to think that regardless of tomorrow’s result against Vegas, the Habs will have had an excellent month.

Has it been difficult at times? Obviously. It actually started with a very ordinary departure against the Bruins in Boston on Sunday, December 1st.

Things were not going well in the city at that time.

Since that loss, however, the Canadiens have a record of 8-4-0. That’s really not bad for a team that was playing like a last-place team in the previous months.

Yes, there have been painful losses (including the 9-2 defeat against Pittsburgh), but the Habs have more often surprised their fans in a good way than the opposite.

The two games this past weekend in Florida are proof of that. Let’s remember that yesterday, the Habs won 5-2 in Tampa Bay.

In my eyes, what happened shows that the players stepped up, but also that Martin St-Louis was able to adapt and navigate through his first storm as a coach in the NHL.

This morning, I don’t see many people standing up and calling for his head, do I? It’s probably because he has just, based on the results and how he bounced back, had his best month as the Canadiens’ coach.

It must be the effect of the beard.

There is probably a direct correlation between the fact that he finally has a healthy team and that he is winning hockey games. Naturally, that must help a bit, right?

The arrival of Patrik Laine is addressing many issues – just like Carey Price back in the day. Alexandre Carrier stabilizes the defense. And even though the sample size is small, Jakub Dobes has the organization’s confidence, unlike Cayden Primeau.

These are elements that have allowed the five-game road trip after Christmas to start off quite well. If I had told you that the Habs would win two out of five, that would have been not too bad.

But for now, it’s two for two. #StillGood

But even if Carrier stabilizes the Canadiens’ defense and the guys who arrived in Montreal recently are changing the game, there’s more than that to explain how the Habs are playing.

What do I take away from yesterday’s game?

1. It is hard to overlook Jake Evans’ performances. For the fifth game in a row, he found the back of the net, which is quite remarkable for a guy like him.

Such sequences in the NHL are rare.

But you know, just like me, that the eye test clearly shows he is dominant on the ice. While shorthanded, he is one of the best forwards in the NHL.

Right from the start of camp, you could see that he was hungry. And now, he is delivering the goods.

In 36 games this season, he has 23 points. He is the third most productive forward for the Habs this season, and only Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, and Lane Hutson have more points than him.

And with his 10 goals, he matches Connor Bedard. Oh wow.

2. Emil Heineman is strong when protecting the puck. On Joel Armia’s goal, he played a key role since he really allowed his team to maintain possession of the puck for as long as possible.

He is a reason the Habs have scored at least four goals in their last five games. #InTheMix

3. To see a team like the Canadiens win two in a row in Florida (a first since 2009, by the way), everyone has to contribute. And since Christmas, the second line looks like a second line.

The puck was moving all over the place last night.

4. Just four days ago, if I had told you that Team Canada junior would lose to the Latvians and that the Canadiens would win against Florida teams, would you have believed me?

Yesterday, the Canadiens won against the Germans, but…

Overtime

Last night, around 10 PM, the Canadiens’ plane took off for Vegas. As we speak, the guys must be sleeping in Nevada on their day off.

Tomorrow, the team will play at 3 PM (Quebec time) against the Golden Knights.