Author: Dose

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3 goals in 3 matches: Ivan Demidov is unstoppable

Ivan Demidov appears to have been motivated by the recent presence of Kent Hughes in Russia.

He scored in his last two games on December 19 and 21.

The young prospect has not had consistent quality playing time this season, but he does occasionally play good minutes, as he did during the game on December 21.

He played nearly 16 minutes in that 3-2 overtime victory.

On this Christmas Day, Demidov and SKA Saint Petersburg faced the powerful CSKA Moscow.

And the Montreal Canadiens’ prospect picked up right where he left off and continues to impress the Canadiens’ management with his 3rd goal in as many games.

Additionally, Demidov also collected an assist in a very intense matchup.

As for being an intense game, it was quite something.

CSKA Moscow initially started the game like lions, scoring no less than… 5 unanswered goals in the first period.

During that first engagement, Roman Rotenberg changed goalies twice.

Afterward, SKA gradually got their engine running, but it was too little, too late, as Demidov’s team ultimately fell 6-5.

However, Demidov’s performance surely gave good reasons to play him more often.

1 goal and 1 assist, in addition to playing 15:34, is worth its weight in gold.

Rotenberg even used him for 55 seconds on the power play during the game, in addition to having him on the first unit.

Below is his Christmas goal that brought much hope to SKA, as the team was dangerously close to catching up with their opponents.

You can see the turnover that Demidov created by using his body to separate his opponent from the puck, then going on to finish Mikhail Grigorenko’s pass.

Demidov is not only talented, but he also knows how to use his body and is very smart, allowing him to create such opportunities.

We know Demidov is a magician with the puck, but seeing him involved in all aspects must be very appealing to the Canadiens’ management.

Rotenberg must also have been pleased with the young forward’s performance and may be inclined to use him more on the power play.

In Brief

– Father Lindholm.

– A bet that could pay off big for him.

– A must-read.

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A beautiful year 2024 for the Montreal sports teams

MONTREAL, QC - JULY 11: Montreal Alouettes defensive back Kabion Ento (48) attempts to tackle Toronto Argonauts running back Daniel Adeboboye (21) during the Toronto Argonauts versus the Montreal Alouettes game on July 11, 2024, at Percival Molson Memorial Stadium in Montreal, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Where to start?

The year 2024 was glorious for Montreal’s sports teams.

The CF Montreal, the Alouettes, and the Carabins all had great seasons: let’s take a detailed look at what happened with each of these clubs.

CF Montreal (11-10-13) 

It started well for CF Montreal.

The club hadn’t lost after three away matches to start the season, but it became more complicated afterward.

It was truly in the 10th match of the season that things started to spiral quickly. The crushing 4-1 defeat against Nashville hurt, and CF Montreal went on a terrible streak afterward:

  • Loss 4-1 vs Nashville
  • Loss 3-2 vs Miami
  • Loss 3-1 vs Columbus
  • Loss 5-1 vs Toronto

It was night and day compared to the start of the season. The club only won one match in May… 

Amid all this, there were rumors surrounding the possible departure of the club’s star, Mathieu Choinière.

Nothing to help, then.

Things got better at the beginning of June and the club went on a five-match unbeaten streak.

However, with losses of 4-1 against Colorado, 2-0 against NYC, 5-0 against New England, and 4-1 against Cincinnati during the final stretch of the season, there were growing concerns about the club’s playoff participation.

CF Montreal was never consistent, after all… And when Choinière officially left at the end of August, hopes faded.

But miraculously, CF Montreal had good results in September and October.

It qualified for the preliminary round match of the MLS Cup, played at Stade Saputo in front of a roaring crowd… But the club ultimately lost in penalties to Atlanta.

From CF Montreal’s 2024 season, we also remember…

  • The positive performance of Josef Martinez (11 goals)
  • The disappointing performance of Matías Cóccaro
  • The emergence of Joel Waterman
  • The presence of Laurent Courtois

For one of the rare times in its history, CF Montreal will start the next season with the same coach as the previous season.

That’s a good thing… And it remains to be seen if Joey Saputo will want to invest money in the group so the club can have a better season in 2025.

Note that the club will play its first match on February 22, in Atlanta.

Montreal Carabins (7-1-0)

The Carabins had a good season.

This is often the case, but the Montreal team was one of the best in the country. And it showed week after week:

  • Match #1, victory 45-14 against Sherbrooke
  • Match #2, victory 47-8 against McGill
  • Match #3, loss 32-22 against Laval
  • Match #4, victory 30-18 against Concordia
  • Match #5, victory 25-6 against Sherbrooke
  • Match #6, victory 38-28 against McGill
  • Match #7, victory 32-31 against Laval
  • Match #8, victory 33-2 against Concordia

The Carabins easily accessed the RSEQ playoffs and defeated McGill University in the provincial semi-finals by a score of 42-3.

However, the club lost the final against its long-time rival: the Rouge et Or from Laval University won the final (22-17) to claim the Dunsmore Cup for the 17th time in its history.

It is difficult to predict what lies ahead for the Carabins since they will have to manage without Jonathan Sénécal next year.

But the University of Montreal has one of the good football programs in the country and there is no need to worry too much on that front.

Montreal Alouettes (12-5-1)

The Alouettes’ season is easy to summarize.

After week 12 in the CFL, the Montreal club held a record of eleven wins and one loss… And at that moment, thoughts were already turning to the playoffs in Montreal.

It makes sense.

Jason Maas (coach) knew it was practically sealed, which is why we saw a certain relaxation in the final stretch of the campaign.

The Alouettes won only two of their last seven matches of the season, and even though they had won the Grey Cup in 2023, they entered the playoffs in the “wrong” way.

The Sparrows faced the Toronto Argonauts in the Eastern final and sunk themselves with several turnovers during the match.

It was a great contest, but the Alouettes were unable to beat their opponents:

The defeat hurt because in the Alouettes’ locker room, they genuinely believed in their chances of winning the Grey Cup for a second consecutive year.

But that might be the issue too: the club arrived at the playoffs perhaps a bit too confident… And that led to several mistakes against Toronto.

Note that we also witnessed the emergence of quarterback Davis Alexander, who replaced Cody Fajardo on several occasions in the Montreal lineup.

It was Alexander who received a vote of confidence from Danny Maciocia since Fajardo was traded to Edmonton on December 17:

Montreal Team in the LPHF (13-6-5) 

Lastly, we must mention the Montreal team!

The LPHF launched its activities in 2024 and the league had a successful first year of existence.

The Montreal team did well, finishing with a record of 13 wins, six losses, and five additional overtime losses, which allowed them to end up in second place in the league’s overall standings.

Unfortunately, Marie-Philip Poulin’s team lost in three games during the first round of the playoffs against the Boston team, abruptly ending the Montreal women’s season.

But here’s the positive: Poulin, Laura Stacey, and Erin Ambrose were all among the most productive players in the LPHF during the 2024 season.

They did well:

(Credit: LPHF)

 

Conclusion

The Alouettes and the Carabins are likely to be quite good again in 2025.

As for CF Montreal… It is always complicated to predict because we never know when a controversy might arise around this club.

But ultimately, it would be nice to see CF Montreal have a great season.

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Soon showing: a new documentary about Maurice Richard

Did you know that a new production involving Maurice Richard is imminent?

As can be seen through the social media of Cinoche cinema, an unprecedented portrait of the legendary #9 will land on our screens soon, in the winter of 2025.

It is a documentary (in the form of a feature film) that will talk about someone who was significant in the history of the Montreal Canadiens, but also for French-speaking Quebecers.

You can click here to see the trailer for this project.

Let us remember that in 2005, there was a film about his career. But this time, it’s different: there will not be actors in the film since it will use archival footage.

There will be unseen footage that has not been revealed to the public before which will be included in the feature film.

These images were filmed over 35 years, which means we will be able to see him at various moments in his life. This is different from the 2005 film, which focused on his playing career.

I am convinced that a film of this kind, about a player built from a mold that no longer exists today, will attract the attention of many people in Montreal and across Quebec.

And it is normal since his impact went beyond the realm of hockey, as he helped French speakers assert themselves.

In Brief

– Hmm…

– Keep an eye on.

– Attention to those interested.

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Showing Patrik Laine’s shoulder: nothing new in the NHL.

Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images

During the match on Monday between the Blue Jackets and the Canadiens, it became clear that the Columbus players had on their minds the comments made by Patrik Laine (regarding the loser mentality of the Blue Jackets), who spoke before the match.

This is understandable.

The club canceled the tribute prepared for the Finn (it was supposed to be presented during the match) and a feud has emerged between the former player and the organization. Yes, the marriage definitely ended badly in Ohio last summer.

What Renaud Lavoie said yesterday was that the club was clearly looking to get Laine out of the match. And to do that, he was targeted.

But aside from the fact that he was targeted, we must understand that he was aimed at his surgically repaired shoulder from last year. Clearly, everyone in the Columbus locker room knew which one it was.

Obviously, this has sparked reactions. But who is surprised here? This happens very often in the NHL, stuff like this.

You know that to hurt Laine (or just to make him feel pain), there are two primary areas to target: the shoulder that bothered him at the beginning of 2024 and the knee that cost him two months of activity this fall.

The guys from Columbus couldn’t aim for his knee without it being dirty. But the shoulder? That can be done quite easily.

Because the hits are usually directed at the shoulder, it was easy to execute. And in my eyes, it’s not a coincidence that Laine didn’t finish the game, all in the name of prevention.

Because yes, everything suggests that Laine is not seriously injured. I could be wrong, but…

On the ESPN site, he is officially listed as day-to-day. However, I see this as just a formality for a player who didn’t finish Monday night’s game.

We will have more answers in two days when the CH resumes training ahead of its return to play on Saturday against Florida. Until then, the CH is on break: don’t expect any developments.

To be continued, then.

In Brief

– Consider yourself greeted by Aaron Portzline this December 25.

– Christmas also rhymes with NFL. [BPM Sports]

– Interesting.

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When Arber Xhekaj plays the game and makes a video with Tacu

For the past few weeks, things have been looking good for Arber Xhekaj.

He’s staying in the Canadiens’ lineup because his game is up to par. Playing with David Savard clearly has an effect on his partner’s game on the left; let’s be honest about that. #StabilizingEffect

That’s great news for the Canadiens.

After all, it hasn’t always been the case for the Sheriff. He has sometimes made headlines for his turnovers, for his fights, or for things like his off-ice endorsement deals.

And today, that’s what I want to talk to you about.

I don’t know if you know Tacu, but he’s a Quebecer who’s increasingly making a name for himself with his videos on social media with his son. You can follow him here, for those interested.

And now Xhekaj and Tacu have joined forces in a video aimed at promoting the defender’s burger at La Belle et la Boeuf.

View this post on Instagram

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When Arber Xhekaj plays the game and makes a video with Tacu.

For a few weeks now, things have been looking up for Arber Xhekaj.

He hasn’t left the Canadiens’ lineup because his play is up to par. Playing with David Savard clearly has an effect on the game of his left-side partner, let’s be honest. #StabilizingEffect

That’s great news for the Canadiens.

After all, it hasn’t always been the case for the Sheriff. He has sometimes been in the spotlight for his turnovers, his fights, or elements like his off-ice endorsement deals.

And today, that’s what I want to talk to you about.

I don’t know if you’re familiar with Tacu, but he’s a Quebecer who is increasingly gaining attention for his videos on social media with his son. You can follow him here, for those interested.

And now Xhekaj and Tacu have joined forces in a video aimed at promoting the defender’s burger at La Belle et la Boeuf.

View this post on Instagram

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Five predictions of teams that could win the Stanley Cup this season

We are in the month of December, but we are also approaching the mid-season in the National Hockey League.

Some clubs are disappointing, while others are impressive… But as I write these lines, it is almost impossible to predict which team will win the Stanley Cup in six months.

Nonetheless, I decided to play along and talk about five teams that, in my eyes, have a chance to go all the way. Let’s go!

The Edmonton Oilers

It started poorly for the Edmonton Oilers.

The team struggled to get going after losing the last final to the Florida Panthers, and it took time before we saw the Oilers return to their winning ways.

But now, for the past month, everything has returned to normal in Edmonton.

The two-headed monster has awakened, the defense is playing tighter, and Stuart Skinner – even if he is not always perfect – is doing the job in front of his net.

On paper, the Oilers have what it takes to go all the way.

I would perhaps like to see Stan Bowman (GM) find additional support on the right side of the defense, but otherwise… The Oilers really have a great team.

This is without mentioning Evander Kane, who is currently injured:

(Credit: DailyFaceoff)

There are chances of seeing Kane return at the beginning of March, but it could also be possible in April.

The forward should, however, be able to participate in the playoffs, and if that happens, the Oilers will be a team to watch, in my opinion.

The New Jersey Devils

During the 2022-2023 season, the Devils were really good.

They finished the campaign with a record of 52 wins, 22 losses, and eight other overtime defeats… This allowed them to secure 2nd place in the Metropolitan Division.

However, they lost in the 2nd round of the playoffs.

The Devils had a difficult season in 23-24, but there are two reasons: the team has been plagued by injuries and the goaltenders did not do the job.

They tried to save their season by trading for Jake Allen, but it was already too little too late.

But now, everything is running smoothly in New Jersey.

The Devils are well placed at the top of the overall standings in the National Hockey League, they are scoring a lot of goals while conceding few, the special teams are performing wonderfully… And in front of the net, Jake Allen and Jacob Markstrom are really solid.

The team relies on young players, and when we look at that, there aren’t many players with playoff experience… But in terms of talent, the Devils have what it takes to cause damage.

Especially when Jack Hughes is in form.

The Winnipeg Jets

Few people could have predicted that the Jets would be this good this season.

It certainly helps when Connor Hellebuyck plays like the best goaltender in the world… But still.

The Jets are red-hot: they are the highest-scoring team since the start of the season and there are no passengers in the group.

The team’s big guns are productive, and everyone contributes to the Jets’ success:

(Credit: HockeyDB)

The problem with the Jets… Is that in the playoffs, the team often collapses.

And this is partly due to Connor Hellebuyck. He struggles to stay calm, often allows bad goals, and this always hurts the team.

But if Hellebuyck can maintain his current pace, the Jets will have a chance. Because since the start of the season, the goaltender has been on fire:

  • Record of 21-5-1 (four shutouts)
  • Save percentage of .927
  • Goals against average of 2.07

Difficult to do better.

The Colorado Avalanche

This choice may be a bit surprising to some because things have not been going very well for the Avalanche since the start of the season.

The team has a record of 20-15-0 after playing 35 games, and there are problems on defense because the team is allowing too many goals.

But if I don’t rule the Avalanche out of the group, it’s for a reason. And my reasons are called: Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Mikko Rantanen.

Hockey is a team sport, but the three star players in Colorado are capable of carrying the team on their shoulders.

MacKinnon and Rantanen are having exceptional seasons, each surpassing the 50-point mark (in 35 games), and Makar continues to be excellent.

Now, it remains to be seen if Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood can solidify things in front of the net.

The Avalanche has traded its three goaltenders (Alexandar Georgiev, Kaapo Kahkonen, and Justus Annunen) since the start of the season because they were atrocious, and things have been much better since the “Wood-Duo” has been in place.

The Avalanche has too much talent to be ruled out of the picture.

And if Valeri Nichushkin can stay stable, that will help as well.

The Toronto Maple Leafs

I know, I know…

In Montreal, no one is supposed to vote for the Toronto Leafs in this kind of exercise.

But at the same time, the Leafs are so good this year!

Led by the brilliance of Mitch Marner, who is having quite a season, the Leafs are sitting at the top of the Atlantic Division (record of 21-11-2) and overall, the team looks really solid.

It’s especially the acquisition of Chris Tanev on defense that changes everything.

The Leafs are very good in their zone, they don’t give up many goals to the opponent, and they finally have a general on the blue line who can guide the other defenders.

No matter how much we hate the Leafs… We must also admit: on paper, the team has a really interesting roster.

(Credit: Daily Faceoff)

Additionally, both goaltenders have been excellent since the start of the season.

Anthony Stolarz is currently injured, but Joseph Woll is there to back him up, and that makes a difference.

We know that it’s always harder for the Leafs in the playoffs. But this year, maybe it’s the right one…

Overtime

You will notice that there are three Canadian teams among my five choices.

It would be time for the Stanley Cup to return to Canada: the last time was in 1993… When the Canadiens defeated Wayne Gretzky and the Kings to lift the 24th Stanley Cup in their history.

It’s been too long.

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5 players from Team Canada junior to watch

In two days, Team Canada will begin its World Junior Championship against Finland.

Several young prospects for our favorites will be worth watching, and perhaps one of them will even play in Montreal in 2025 and/or 2026, who knows?

Here are five players to keep an eye on:

Gavin McKenna – undrafted

Gavin McKenna is far the youngest on this team. He was born in 2027 and due to the fact that he will not be drafted in 2025, he will be in the tournament next year as well.

He will have two opportunities to showcase himself in a highly anticipated tournament for scouts. Right now, he is the consensus first overall pick for the 2026 draft. He has generational talent akin to Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby, and I know of a few teams that will finish near the bottom of the overall standings in 2025-2026 who are already licking their chops.

The kid is that spectacular. Make no mistake, despite his young age, I expect to see him dominate. Well, I don’t believe he will break Connor Bedard’s record of 23 points in one tournament, but he will have the chance to come close.

McKenna, who has 60 points in 30 games in the WHL, is a name to remember. Many teams will be watching this young player closely, anyway.

Matthew Schaefer – undrafted

Matthew Schaefer is another undrafted player, but unlike McKenna, he will be selected in the upcoming draft.

In many mock drafts, he is at the top. For those who don’t necessarily follow junior hockey in Canada, you will get a chance to see how incredibly talented he is.

This will be a pretty important tournament for him if he wants to solidify his rank for the next draft. James Hagens, who will play for the United States, also has chances to make a splash in June.

Porter Martone – undrafted

If Porter Martone isn’t in the same category as Schaefer and Hagens, he will still be drafted very early in 2025.

He’s a big guy and you will notice him quite easily on the ice in the coming days. As Simon Boisvert likes to say, he is a man playing among children, and this tournament, against the best young players in the world, will be crucial for his development: is he just as dominant against players a little closer to the NHL?

Sam Dickinson – Sharks

Sam Dickinson has already been drafted, (by the Sharks), but this will be his first World Junior Championship.

I include him in the five players to watch because he is one of my favorite defensemen from the last draft. In my opinion, he was a steal for the Sharks at 11th overall and the one who has 46 points in 26 games with the London Knights (OHL) is impressive.

A defenseman with nearly two points per game is impressive, no matter the level. Dickinson will be Team Canada’s number one or two defenseman (along with Schaefer) and he will have huge responsibilities. For fans who know him less, this will be the perfect opportunity to get familiar with his game.

And if you don’t have time to watch him soon, you will see him often in the highlights over the next few years in San Jose.

Jett Luchanko – Flyers

For reasons everyone knows, Canadiens fans like to scrutinize Flyers prospects closely.

The comparisons of Ivan Demidov-David Reinbacher-Matvei Michkov won’t stop anytime soon. I’d like to talk about Jett Luchanko because, honestly, I was greatly surprised by his early selection by Philadelphia in the last draft.

13th overall: Daniel Brière bypassed Zeev Buium (who was chosen 12th overall, but the Flyers moved back), Michael Hage, Trevor Connelly, and Cole Eiserman, among others, to select Luchanko.

I’m excited to see him with Team Canada because Luchanko, after all, is one of the three players selected in 2024 to have played in a game in the NHL. The others are Macklin Celebrini and one of the Avalanche’s seventh-round picks, Nikita Prishchepov (10 games).

In four games, Luchanko didn’t record a point and was sent back relatively quickly to the OHL, where he is doing well, nothing more. He has 20 points in 16 games, which is not bad, but I expect more points for a guy drafted 13th overall.

With Team Canada, he will have the chance to prove that Philadelphia made a good choice in drafting him. He will have plenty of opportunities to showcase his talent. We’ll see if he makes me eat my words.

Overtime

Here is the schedule for our prospects in the World Junior Championship taking place in Ottawa:

  • December 26 against Finland
  • December 27 against Latvia
  • December 29 against Germany
  • December 31 against the United States

The game on New Year’s Eve should be to determine first place in the division.

Knockout rounds will follow.

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Rookie defensemen of the CH: Lane Hutson has the two longest point streaks in history

In the NHL, the history of the Canadiens is undoubtedly the most glorious.

Despite this, Lane Hutson is able to write his name among the hundreds of rookie defensemen who have worn the tricolor uniform.

He is the left-hander who has the two longest point streaks by a rookie defenseman in the club’s history. He alone holds the longest streak (seven games) and tied with two other guys, he has the second longest streak (six).

Moreover, this second streak is active and it stayed alive yesterday with a goal against the Blue Jackets.

On Saturday against the Florida Panthers, he will have the chance to extend his streak to seven games with at least one point and thus hold the two longest point streaks for a rookie defenseman in the history of the organization.

That’s no small feat, and this accomplishment deserves recognition. As of today, the American has collected 26 points (two goals and 24 assists) in 34 games. He is on pace to collect 62, which would be phenomenal for a 20-year-old guy who is 5 feet 9 inches tall.

Hutson (with Quinn Hughes) is one of those who demonstrate that even if you are small and play defense, you can produce in the big league. When the playoffs come, it might be different. After all, Hughes had a tough time in Vancouver under similar circumstances.

But if I notice one thing about Hutson, it’s that defensively, he doesn’t let himself be imposed upon. And he doesn’t get walked through in his territory (like Mike Matheson, his colleague, did yesterday).

Among all the rookie players in the NHL, the Canadiens’ prospect is ranked second in scoring.

He is just one point behind Matvei Michkov and the first place. Macklin Celebrini, who has nine fewer games, is one point behind Hutson. Look no further: those three will be the finalists for the Calder Trophy.

Without being biased, I believe that Lane is the most impressive, as he is a defenseman… not a forward playing on the first line of a weak team.

Quick Hits

– Speaking of the wolf.

– It’s violent, our national summer sport.

– He’s dominating.

– The tribute to Ryan Johansen was also canceled.

– A must-read.

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Mathias Brunet: Patrik Laine missed a good opportunity to stay silent.

The topic of the moment in Montreal (and Columbus) is Patrik Laine’s comments, which did not sit well with the Blue Jackets.

We know that the Finn was heavily targeted yesterday. In fact, he left the game after the first period and never returned. During and after the game, players from his former team did not hold back in expressing their thoughts. Especially in the case of Zach Werenski.

It should be mentioned that Laine’s comments were not only poorly received by the Jackets. Indeed, in his column on BPM Sports today, Mathias Brunet confessed that the winger missed a good opportunity to keep quiet.

Brunet believes that the comments should not have been made, especially before the game.

If he could do it again, the journalist is sure that he wouldn’t have said anything. One thing is certain, the Finn has certainly learned his lesson, and if he were to speak ill of a former team, it should be done privately or after the game. Anthony Marcotte and Renaud Lavoie share Mathias’ opinion: Laine definitely put his foot in his mouth.

Comments of this nature, need good timing. Marcotte finds the timing of his message quite strange. It has only motivated the enemy.

My colleague Charles-Alexis Brisebois told you that Don Waddell made similar comments recently, but according to Brunet, the boss has the right to do so. He was not there when the club was struggling and was not part of the problem. Laine was part of the problem; he was in the locker room with the guys and spent four years with them.

In short, 24 hours after the comments, the page has turned, and now we look to the health status of the main interested party. Is he seriously injured, or did the Habs just want to pull him from that game?

Do not expect any news tomorrow or the day after: the team is not playing, and no one is working.

Quick Hits

– We also need to see the positive…

– Despite the negative.

– To be continued.

– Interesting read.

– It’s clear.