Author: Dose

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Powerplay: Ivan Demidov practiced on the 2nd wave

The Canadiens have a big problem right now. And we all know it.

On the powerplay, it’s not working. In fact, it’s not working anymore. The Habs were really good for a few games on the man advantage… but it’s been five games now that they haven’t hit the target on the powerplay.

And now, Martin St-Louis has decided to make some corrections to his two waves.

I’m having trouble understanding why… but it’s Ivan Demidov who’s been “scooped” in a sense. The Russian practiced this morning on the second wave of the power play, while Zachary Bolduc was back on the first unit.

Will this help the Canadiens regain the success they had before running out of gas?

Seeing Martin St-Louis change things is interesting.

But to see Martin St-Louis take Demidov out of the first wave – when he was the one who seemed to have lit up the first unit – seems special in a way. Demidov is creative as hell with the puck, and to have him play with talented guys like Suzuki, Caufield, Slaf and Hutson… we agree that it might make sense.

That said, colleague Maxime Truman texted me to say that Demidov was dominant on the 2nd wave at practice today and that he completed some nice plays with Oliver Kapanen…

Anyways. The club’s performance would have to change at 5-on-3, because it’s been pretty painful since the start of the campaign…

In all this, I’m wondering one thing in particular: why does Brendan Gallagher, who has no goals in 18 games this season… still have a place on the second wave of the powerplay?

Seems to me we could give another guy a chance to shine…

In closing, Jakub Dobes will be in net tomorrow against the Blue Jackets. Will he be able to bounce back after a (really) tough last outing?

Overtime

– Indeed(lol).

– C*lice !

– Damn, he’s good.

– Solid.

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Samuel Montembeault in Edmonton: the final week changes the game

The Canadiens had a tough week, losing all three of their home games, and just about nothing seemed to work.

However, aside from the six points in the standings, what hurt the Habs the most was the loss of two forwards who had been at the heart of the team’s success in Alex Newhook (4 months) and Kirby Dach (4-6 weeks).

Add to this the injuries to Kaiden Guhle, who underwent surgery this week, and Patrik Laine, and you’ve got quite a few people in the infirmary.

The numerous injuries are likely to change the plans of Kent Hughes, who could be looking for forwards to compensate for the loss of the injured without necessarily being the famous second center the team needs.

David Pagnotta, who discussed the situation in front of the Oilers net on The Fourth Period podcast, thinks that a goalie like Samuel Montembeault could be of interest to the Alberta club.

Especially if Jakub Dobes, who has had an excellent start to the season with the exception of his start against the Stars, continues to perform well.

In fact, Pagnotta wonders if one of the reasons Martin St-Louis continues to give Monty lots of starts might be to showcase him, not only for Team Canada, but for other teams too.

Even though the Habs coach recently reiterated his confidence in Montembeault as number one, if the goalie continues to cost his club wins, it’s unclear how much longer St-Louis will be patient.

Especially when Dobes gives you more chances to win night after night.

However, if the Habs trade Montembeault, who would fill the number-two spot in Montreal? Jacob Fowler needs playing time to develop and Kaapo Kahkonen has only played one NHL game since last season.

The problem is that, with his recent performances, the Quรฉbรฉcois goalie’s value isn’t at its highest right now.

Incidentally, this isn’t the first time Montembeault’s name has been linked to Edmonton in trade rumours.

And on the Oilers’ side, aside from the untouchable players, the team doesn’t have that much depth or assets to offer for a trade.

The most interesting player is right-handed center Jack Roslovic, who signed with Edmonton as a free agent for one year at $1.5 million shortly before the start of the season.

The 28-year-old forward has 14 points, including six goals, in 18 games this season and could fill the void left by the loss of Dach and Newhook, as well as adding depth for the playoffs.

On the other hand, I’m far from convinced that the Oilers will be interested in parting with Roslovic.

In short, it’s a story to be followed in the coming weeks, and will depend a great deal on the respective performances of the two teams.

Overtime

– Ready for tonight.

– November is never an easy month.

– To listen to.

– The Rocket in action this afternoon.

– Things are going well for the Quรฉbรฉcois.

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Alouettes drop Grey Cup

The Montreal Alouettes and the Saskatchewan Roughriders faced off for the 112th Grey Cup.

This is the second time in three years that the Montreal club has participated in this iconic game, where they won the Grey Cup in 2023.

The last time Saskatchewan played in the championship game was in 2013 against Hamilton. The Roughriders managed to lift the cup that year.

There’s no doubt that Davis Alexander is the starting quarterback for the Alouettes and Trevor Harris for the Roughriders. Davis Alexander is still undefeated this season.

The Alouettes started the game on the back foot, but were the first to score a touchdown. They gathered 54 yards, in six plays, to conclude on a touchdown-carry thanks to a beautiful reception. Shea Patterson is credited with the touchdown.

However, the momentum was short-lived. The Roughriders demonstrated their offensive strength by scoring two touchdowns in a row. The first was a copy-and-paste of the Alouettes’, as Tommy Stevens made a one-yard run into the end zone.

The second is also on a run, but this time from four yards by A.J. Ouellette.

The Alouettes returned to the locker room with a 15-7 deficit. While singer MGK warmed up the place during intermission, it was the Roughriders who came back strongest. Trevor Harris completed a 34-yard pass to Tommy Nield that fell just short of the end zone, and Tommy Stevens would succeed on a one-yard run on the ensuing play. That makes it 22-7.

Kicker Brett Lauther continues to dig the Alouettes’ grave with a 48-yard field goal. The Montreal team has not said its last word and Stevie Scott III completes an 11-yard run just before the end of the third quarter. The score is now 25-14.

Midway through the final quarter, J. Maltos makes a field goal to add three points for the Alouettes. Too little, too late for the Montreal team, who lose 25-17. The Saskatchewan Roughriders win the fifth Grey Cup in their history. The Alouettes’ defense had a very difficult game.

overtime

– Kirill Kaprizov scores in overtime to give the Wild the win.

– Big performance from Quinn Hughes who collects four assists against the Lightning.

– The Canucks win 6-2 over the Lightning.

– Emil Heineman scores on his birthday.

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Jacob Fowler plays like a guy who wants to be called back

In Laval, we currently have a goalie who is doing everything he can to force the Canadiens’ hand. Since the start of the season, Jacob Fowler has been putting in a string of top-level performances and playing like a guy who clearly wants to be called up. Today, he added another solid piece to his record with his third shutout of the season.

With a record of six wins and three losses, a 2.01 goals-against average and a .924 save percentage, Fowler is no longer just a promising prospect. He’s one of the most dominant goaltenders in the AHL.

His strength since the first game? His confidence. Fowler doesn’t give anything away for free. He controls rebounds, he reads the game like a veteran, and he imposes a calm that reverberates throughout the team. When he’s in front of the net, the Rocket seems to play with a different kind of confidence. Everything seems simpler, more structured, more solid. Maybe that’s what the Habs lack.

The situation is completely different in Montreal. Samuel Montembeault has been looking for himself since the start of the season. He’s giving away goals he wasn’t used to giving away last season. His confidence is far from at its best, and this is having an impact on the rest of the team.

For Jakub Dobes, it’s a completely different story. He had a sensational start to the season, but has been struggling in recent games. The Canadiens have allowed a grand total of 15 goals in their last three games. The defense isn’t playing perfectly, but neither are the goalies.

The contrast between the two cities is striking. In Montreal, we’re looking for answers. In Laval, we have one. Jacob Fowler guards the net as if every game were an audition. He shouldn’t be in this conversation so soon, but now he has no choice but to consider it.

Obviously, a recall isn’t around the corner. The Habs don’t want to jump the gun and rush a young goalie into an unstable situation, but when the performance gap becomes this obvious, it’s hard to ignore what’s happening in Laval.

And if not now, Fowler is sending a clear message for the future. He doesn’t just want to be part of the Canadiens’ future… he wants that future to begin sooner rather than later.

overtime

– Adrian Kempe’s new eight-year contract.

– Nikita Kucherov scores his 365th career Lightning goal, tying Martin St-Louis’ career high.

– Sergei Murashov earns his first career shutout in his second game.

– Great vision from Mats Zuccarello on the first goal of the game between the Wild and the Golden Knights.

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Here is the preliminary timetable for all Habs injuries

The Canadiens are in the doldrums.

The Habs have lost two key forwards, Alex Newhook and Kirby Dach, in the last two games, and could be in for a rough ride over the next few weeks.

What’s more, the loss of Guhle is starting to catch up with the club, which has allowed 15 goals in its last three games.

Here’s a list of preliminary timelines for the return of injured players.

If all goes well, the Habs could see Dach and Kaiden Guhle again this holiday season.

Between now and Christmas, Montreal will play 19 games due to the condensed Olympic schedule with at least four injuries. That’s almost a quarter of the season.

On top of that, there’s a three-game road trip where the team will face the Mammoth, Golden Knights and Avalanche in one sequence.

What’s more, the Canadiens will have a particularly taxing stretch for the team with 13 games in 22 days in December before the holiday break.

That’s a lot of hockey.

Then, even if Dach returns to action soon after Christmas, the Habs have five games on the road with two games in Florida at the end of December and stops in Carolina, St. Louis and Dallas to start 2026.

Guhle’s return could really help the club in the last three games of this road trip if he can return to action

This is going to be a big test for the Habs’ depth, who are experiencing their first difficult moments of the year not only in the infirmary, but also on the ice.

However, it’s also an opportunity for a young team to gain experience in adversity, learning to win by working hard rather than relying solely on their talent.

Let’s just say that, even if the Habs aren’t likely to string together as many wins as they did at the start of the season, the most important thing will be to limit the damage and bad sequences as they are doing at the moment.

In Newhook’s case, he won’t be back until March, and he’ll only be able to help the club in its final stretch of the campaign.

One also wonders whether Kent Hughes won’t be looking for reinforcements on the open market. A forward who could partly fill Dach’s absence and Newhook would become an interesting depth piece to end the season and for the playoffs.

And I know I didn’t mention Patrik Laine, but that’s no oversight.

Overtime

– Go Als Go!

– Whitewash for Jacob Fowler.

– MLB in a nutshell.

– When will there be a team in Quebec City?

– A great story.

– They have little room to maneuver.

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Samuel Montembeault in Edmonton: the final week changes the game

It’s been a tough week for the Canadiens, with three home defeats for a team that seemed to be doing just about nothing.

However, apart from the six points in the standings, what hurt the Habs the most was the loss of two forwards who had been at the heart of the team’s success in Alex Newhook (4 months) and Kirby Dach (4-6 weeks).

Add to this the injuries to Kaiden Guhle, who had to undergo surgery this week, and Patrik Laine, and you’ve got quite a few people in the infirmary.

The numerous injuries are likely to change the plans of Kent Hughes, who could be looking for forwards to compensate for the loss of the injured without necessarily being the famous second center the team needs.

David Pagnotta, who discussed the situation in front of the Oilers’ net on The Fourth Period podcast, thinks that a goaltender like Samuel Montembeault could be of interest to the Alberta club.

Especially if Jakub Dobes, who has had an excellent start to the season with the exception of his start against the Stars, continues to perform well.

In fact, Pagnotta wonders if one of the reasons Martin St-Louis continues to give Monty lots of starts might be to showcase him, not only for Team Canada, but for other teams too.

Even though the Habs coach recently reiterated his confidence in Montembeault as number one, if the goalie continues to cost his club wins, it’s unclear how much longer St-Louis will be patient.

Especially when Dobes gives you more chances to win night after night.

However, if the Habs trade Montembeault, who would fill the number-two spot in Montreal? Jacob Fowler needs playing time to develop and Kaapo Kahkonen has only played one NHL game since last season.

The problem is, with his recent performances, the Quรฉbรฉcois goaltender’s value isn’t at its highest right now.

And on the Oilers’ side, apart from the untouchable players, the team doesn’t have that much depth or assets to offer for a trade.

The most interesting player is right-handed center Jack Roslovic, who signed with Edmonton as a one-year, $1.5 million free agent shortly before the start of the season.

The 28-year-old forward has 14 points, including six goals, in 18 games this season and could fill the void left by the loss of Dach and Newhook, as well as adding depth for the playoffs.

On the other hand, I’m far from convinced that the Oilers will be interested in parting with Roslovic.

In short, it’s a story to be followed in the coming weeks, and will depend a great deal on the respective performances of the two teams.

Overtime

– Ready for tonight.

– November is never an easy month.

– To listen to.

– The Rocket in action this afternoon.

– Things are going well for the Quรฉbรฉcois.

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Dobes tomorrow against the Blue Jackets: Habs need him to pull out a big one

The Canadiens have lost five of their last six games.

But they don’t have much time to wonder… because the team will be in Columbus tomorrow night to face the Blue Jackets. The club has announced that Jakub Dobes will get the start.

One thing’s for sure: it would be nice to see a good performance from a Habs goaltender.

It’s been a long time, after all, since we’ve seen one of the two goalies get off to a fiery start. Dobes has been on fire in his last two games… And Monty is literally one of the worst goaltenders in the National League so far this season.

You can’t make that up. And now it’s up to Dobes to help the Canadiens get back to winning ways.

This would be a great opportunity for Dobes to pull out a big one.

The Blue Jackets aren’t seen as one of the strongest teams in the National League: they currently sit 12th in the East and 22nd overall in the NHL standings.

The game is doable, to put it another way. But Dobes has to make the big saves at the right times, and that’s the problem with the Canadiens’ goalies right now…

Because a big performance from a goalie could do a lot of good on several levels too.

It’s been tough for the Canadiens lately, with a lot of guys injured (Dach, Guhle, Newhook, Laine…) and the team’s confidence level really doesn’t seem to be at its peak. It would be nice to see the Habs regain the swagger they had at the start of the season… and maybe it can just go away with a great game from Dobes tomorrow.

To be continued.

Overtime

– Let’s go!

– The Kid is having fun.

– Well done.

-Great contest.

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Powerplay: Ivan Demidov practiced on the 2nd wave

The Canadiens have a big problem right now. And we all know it.

On the powerplay, it’s not working. In fact, it’s not working anymore. The Habs were really good for a few games on the man advantage… but it’s been five games now that they haven’t hit the target on the powerplay.

And now, Martin St-Louis has decided to make some corrections to his two waves.

I’m having trouble understanding why… but it’s Ivan Demidov who’s been “scooped” in a sense. The Russian practiced this morning on the second wave of the power play, while Zachary Bolduc was back on the first unit.

Will this help the Canadiens regain the success they had before running out of gas?

Seeing Martin St-Louis change things is interesting.

But to see Martin St-Louis take Demidov out of the first wave – when he was the one who seemed to have lit up the first unit – seems special in a way. Demidov is creative as hell with the puck, and to have him play with talented guys like Suzuki, Caufield, Slaf and Hutson… we agree that it might make sense.

That said, colleague Maxime Truman texted me to say that Demidov was dominant on the 2nd wave at practice today and that he completed some nice plays with Oliver Kapanen…

Anyways.

In all this, I’m wondering about one thing in particular: why Brendan Gallagher, who has no goals in 18 games this season… still has a place on the 2nd wave of the powerplay.

It seems to me that another guy could be given a chance to shine…

In closing, Jakub Dobes will be in net tomorrow against the Blue Jackets. Will he be able to bounce back after a (really) tough last outing?

Overtime

– Indeed(lol).

– C*lice !

– Damn, he’s good.

– Solid.

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Jayden Struble missed todayโ€™s practice

From the start of last night’s match against the Bruins, we were treated to a fight.

Jayden Struble dropped his gloves to take on Nikita Zadorov… and the Canadiens’ player didn’t look bad either.

It set the tone for the match.

This may have nothing to do with the fight in question, but it’s still worth noting that today, Struble did not participate in the Canadiens’ practice.

The Habs have announced that the defenseman will benefit from a day of treatment.

The captain was on the ice with the rest of his teammates. He missed several practices in the last few days – and deservedly so, as it looked like he’d hurt himself against the Flyers on November 4.

There were eleven forwards and five defensemen present at today’s practice in Brossard.

Colleague Maxime Truman was on hand… and he noted that the trios looked like this:

  • Caufield – Suzuki – Slafkovsky
  • (Roy) – Kapanen – Demidov
  • Bolduc Evans – Anderson
  • Davidson – Veleno – Gallagher

Can we expect to see these combinations tomorrow in Columbus?

Let’s hope, in all this, that it’s just a “simple” day of treatments for Struble.

Losing him too (remember that Dach will miss four to six weeks of activity), that would hurt…

Overtime

– Of note:

– Good point.

– Yikes.

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Kirby Dach out for four to six weeks | Joshua Roy recalled

Good. Great news (or not).

The Canadiens have announced that Kirby Dach will miss four to six weeks with a fractured foot. Clearly, the Habs continue to be plagued by bad luck.

Guhle, Newhook, Laine and now Dach…

The Canadiens are practicing this morning in Brossard and will then head to Columbus.

To replace Dach… the Habs have recalled Joshua Roy from the Laval Rocket. He will join the team in Columbus.

More details to come…