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Martin St-Louis isn’t worried about Samuel Montembeault, but fans are

The case of Samuel Montembeault continues to be the talk of the town.

Obviously, yesterday’s5-1 lossto the Kings is not just on the goalie’s shoulders. After all, the club’s skaters really played like crap in front of him.

We’ll come back to that.

But the fact remains that, once again, Montembeault was unable to stop the bleeding and give his club the best chance of winning.

Kevin Fiala’s goal is a case in point. Monty granted a… generous return on that one.

For the rest, it’s hard to blame him. The last goal was in an empty net. The fourth goal was on a breakaway. The second goal was when the Kings had an extra man and were buzzing in the opposition zone. The first goal was defended. #VueVoilée

And that’s probably why Martin St-Louis defended his goaltender to the media, saying he still had confidence in him going forward.

But on the other hand, the NHL is a league of results. And Monty’s results haven’t been incredible so far this season, which makes fans a little cynical about him.

If a goalie in top form had given up those goals, it would have been easy to talk about an anomaly. But this isn’t the first time this season that Montembeault has given away a few goals in a short space of time.

Yesterday, we’re talking about three goals in 4:05. It killed the club – especially after Fiala’s goal.

I was among those who wanted to see Montembeault play yesterday, to see him build on his performance against the Mammoth on Saturday. But inevitably, we now wonder what it would have been like if Jakub Dobes had been in front of the net.

Would he have made a key save to give his teammates some gas? Who knows.

Logically, Dobes will play tomorrow against the Stars. But the real question will be which goalie gets the start on the heels of Saturday’s game against the Bruins. That’s when we’ll find out if St-Louis really meant what he said last night.

But that’s not all we have to remember about yesterday’s game. Québécois Samuel Montembeault wasn’t the story of the game, let’s face it.

So what do I remember?

1. The guys had a bad one in the system. Martin St-Louis wasn’t shy about saying that his group played poorly in front of Montembeault last night.

And Nick Suzuki did the same, pointing out the number of turnovers his team committed.

2. Juraj Slafkovsky had a tough game. It even prompted Martin St-Louis to give Ivan Demidov a few reps on the first line.

I can’t wait to see how it looks tomorrow…

3. There were several Team Canada executives in the room last night. Let’s just say that some guys picked a bad time to have a bad game.

Darcy Kuemper, who is fighting for a position in front of the net with the Olympiques, did well in front of the Kings’ cage.

4. A young club taking on an experienced, heavy-handed team that knows how to close down the game when it has a lead, posed a major challenge for Martin St-Louis’ men.

That’s what learning is all about.

5. The Canadiens were 0-for-3 on the powerplay. The Kings were also 0-in-3, but scored on a man-up penalty.

Sure, if the club shot more on goal, it would help the powerplay – and the game in general, for that matter. It’s only natural.

6. The Canadiens may have come up against their bête noire and seen the referees award a phantom penalty to Kirby Dach, but a loss is still a loss. We’ll have to correct a few things for tomorrow’s game.

After all, no one in Montreal wants to see the Stars niify the Canadiens in French tomorrow night… like the Kings did.

7. Three of the four former Canadiens players now playing for the Kings earned at least one point yesterday. Corey Perry was left off the score sheet.

That’s worth noting.

extension

Today, at 11:30 a.m., the Canadiens will practice in Brossard. The club will have a few things to correct for tomorrow’s matchup against the Stars at the Bell Centre.

In recent years, the Dallas club has always looked good when it comes to the Bell Centre. And with the Habs undoubtedly holding on to their advantageous position in the standings, they’ll have to try to win this one.

(Credit: NHL.com)
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Top-5: Nathan MacKinnon has 12 points in three games

Last night, the Habs were really roughed up by Los Angeles.

Eight other games were played.

Here are the results and highlights:

1. Nathan MacKinnon has 12 points in three games

The best player in the NHL right now is without a doubt Nathan MacKinnon.

In his last two games, he collected nine points. Last night, he collected another three, giving him 12 points in three games.

Incredible, though.

He played a part in three of his team’s four goals in a 4-1 victory.

The Ducks’ only goal was scored by Leo Carlsson, who is also enjoying a good streak.

It was his 100th career point.

Gabriel Landeskog scored his first goal of the season.

And Scott Wedgewood is the first NHL goalie to reach the 10-win plateau this season.

2. Seven straight wins for the Bruins

The Bruins are on fire.

Yesterday, they beat the Maple Leafs 5-3 and have won their last seven games.

They are now tied with the Habs for first place in the Atlantic.

In the win, David Pastrnak scored his 400th and 401st career goals. At his 400th, the bench was emptied.

Jeremy Swayman lost his mask on a big shot from Brandon Carlo.

A match forgotten in Toronto, which not only lost the game, but the services of its best player, Auston Matthews, and its number one goalie, Anthony Stolarz.

Matthews left following this contact:

3. Stars win in Ottawa for the first time since 2016

The Canadiens may be struggling against the Kings.

The Stars, on the other hand, aren’t capable of winning in Ottawa. Yesterday, they finally won a game in Canada’s national capital, their first since 2016.

Roope Hintz gave the Stars victory in overtime.

With Ottawa leading 2-1 midway through the third period, Jason Robertson brought everyone back to square one.

Then Linus Ullmark did everything he could to send everyone into overtime.

Dallas faces Montreal on Thursday.

4. Jordan Binnington is the goalie with the most games played in Blues history

No goalie in Blues history has more games played than Jordan Binnington.

Yesterday, he played his 348th game.

This plateau was celebrated with a victory over the NHL’s worst team.

St. Louis won 3-2 against the Flames.

In the win, Binnington stopped 38 of 40 shots.

Oskar Sundqvist was in charge of the forwards. He picked up two assists.

5. The Blue Jackets didn’t even know they’d won

In Seattle, it was a fairly defensive game between the Jackets and the Kraken.

In the end, the Blue Jackets won the shootout in spite of themselves.

After Charlie Coyle’s fourth-round goal, the bench seemed quite confused.

In the victory, goalkeeper Jet Greaves was impeccable, stopping 22 of the 23 shots directed at him.

The only goal scored by the visitors came from Adam Fantilli.

Extension

– Obviously.

– Beautiful ceremony.

– Top scorers from the previous day.

(Credit: NHL.com)

– Four games on the bill tonight.

(Credit: Google)
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The Canadiens lose a tough game to the Kings

After a convincing win over the Mammoth on Saturday night, the Canadiens were back in action tonight, as the Los Angeles Kings were in town.

For the occasion, Samuel Montembeault returned to the net.

Here’s the Habs lineup:

On the Kings’ side, there were four players who were with the Habs during its playoff run in the summer of 2021: Phillip Danault, Joel Edmundson, Joel Armia and Corey Perry.

Here’s the visitors’ line-up:

During the first period, the Habs celebrated Armia’s return to the Bell Centre.

He played 406 games in seven seasons with the Habs.

In terms of goals, the first period was very quiet… until the very last minute.

Josh Anderson unleashed a cannonball from the slot to open the scoring.

After 20 minutes, the score was 1-0 in favour of the Canadiens.

In the second half, however, things went from bad to worse for Montreal. The club didn’t get off to a great start, and Joel Edmundson took advantage.

He scored his first goal of the season.

And in the minutes that followed, it didn’t get any better… and the Kings kept the pedal to the floor to add two goals in 65 seconds.

Samuel Montembeault, who had just had a solid first period, snatched one away.

Martin St-Louis stirred his soup late in the period, and we even saw Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Ivan Demidov, Lane Hutson and Noah Dobson used at the same time at 5-on-5.

They were sent to the ice on a sequence in the offensive zone… before returning to their usual positions.

After 40 minutes, the score was 3-1 in favour of the Kings.

In the third period, the Kings continued to muzzle the Habs… and Joel Armia also found a way to score against his former club.

He played a trick on Lane Hutson.

Martin St-Louis tried to create a late spark by sending Demidov back to the top line, but to no avail. Warren Foegele completed the scoring in an empty net.

The Habs thus lost in regulation time for the first time since October 23… but also suffered their third defeat in four games.

Final score: 5-1 Los Angeles

The Canadiens will be back in action on Thursday night, when the Dallas Stars come to town.

Extension

– It really wasn’t an easy game for the Canadiens tonight. Everything seemed tedious on the ice… and we finally saw that the club won’t find a way to pull a rabbit out of its hat every night. Let’s hope this doesn’t become a trend… and that the club adapts accordingly. #ShootMoreOften

– Lane Hutson played his 100th NHL game tonight. And for the occasion, he got his 75th career assist. Not a bad kid.

– With the Team Canada executives at the Bell Centre tonight, it was Josh Anderson who was the Habs’ best player. Maybe he wanted to prove that he deserves to be on the team, especially if it’s to take Tom Wilson’s place, hehe.

– As the Habs took advantage of a 5-on-3 in the first period, Noah Dobson took Juraj Slafkovský’s place on the powerplay. The composition of the massive forward is therefore different depending on the number of opposing players on the ice.

– The Canadiens have now lost their last nine games against the Kings. Marc Bergevin obviously has his old club’s number.

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Lane Hutson at the 2026 Olympics: it’s not just Quinn Hughes working against him

The 2026 Olympics, where NHL players will make their comeback, are drawing ever closer. It’s all set to take place next February… but in reality, the line-ups of the various countries will have to be announced well before then.

In six weeks’ time, the federations will have to announce which players have been selected.

And what seems increasingly clear is that Nick Suzuki will be part of the Canadian squad. TSN‘s Craig Button and Mike Johnson have projected him alongside Macklin Celebrini and Mitch Marner on Canada’s third line.

But when it comes to the U.S. roster, the Habs players seem far less assured of a spot. Cole Caufield has a chance(although he wouldn’t make the roster right now), but for Lane Hutson, it’s looking a lot less likely.

And tonight, during the Insider Trading segment, Pierre LeBrun also talked about Hutson’s case… and according to him, there are two reasons why he doesn’t have much of a chance.

We’re talking here about the presence of Quinn Hughes (which we’ve talked about at length)… but according to LeBrun, Hutson’s lack of experience would also work against him.

If LeBrun is to be believed, then it’s not just Quinn Hughes who’s playing Hutson at the moment. You get the feeling that Team USA ‘s executives want guys with a certain NHL track record.

And that’s despite the fact that no U.S. defenseman has scored as many points as the Habs defenseman this season.

It’s clear, then, that no matter how much management likes Hutson (according to LeBrun), we shouldn’t expect to see him in the lineup, even as an extra.

The good news is that it suggests he’ll have a better chance of being there in the future, whether at the World Cup in 2028 or the Olympics in 2030.

Overtime

– Great read on Macklin Celebrini.

– 50 goals for Cole Caufield: Alexandre Pratt believes.[Zone exit]

– Too bad for the Blue Jays manager.

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The Canadiens’ success: Corey Perry is (really) not surprised

Corey Perry is just passing through Montreal. The veteran, who spent only one season in town, quickly won the hearts of fans with his on-ice grit.

A little pest, that’s the kind of player you like… when he’s on your team, hehe.

What’s interesting, though, is that Perry still had time to rub shoulders with some of the club’s younger players, including Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield.

And the 40-year-old forward, who spoke to Anthony Martineau(TVA Sports) about all this, made it clear that he never doubted the club’s eventual success.

So he’s not surprised to see the Habs off to a strong start.

Perry, who also saw this core up close during his years in Tampa Bay (a division rival), saw just how talented the guys were at a young age. So he never doubted that, sooner or later, they’d start winning games.

And that’s exactly what’s happening.

Perry also took advantage of his interview with Martineau to give some love to the Montreal fans, saying that it doesn’t make sense how much energy this crowd gives you when you jump on the ice.

And that’s even though he’s never played in front of a full Bell Centre as a member of the Habs. That’s saying a lot.

Perry has never been forgotten in Montreal, but what’s clear is that he’s never forgotten Montreal either. And at 40, he’s still playing great hockey in the NHL.

That’s very, very impressive.

Overtime

– Speaking of Perry.

– Things are going well for the Habs prospect.

– Wow.

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The Habs have three defensemen on track to score 50 points this season

The Canadiens are scoring a lot of goals this season. In fact, they’re scoring 3.80 goals per game, fourth in the NHL so far this campaign.

And that’s despite the fact that their 24.9 shots per game rank 31st in the league, just ahead of the Flyers (24.8). That’s pretty spectacular.

To explain the club’s offensive success, we need to talk about the offensive contribution of the defenders in town. And when you look at the numbers, you realize that what’s happening in town is pretty spectacular.

In 15 games this season, Lane Hutson (13 points), Noah Dobson (11 points) and Mike Matheson (nine points) are producing a ton. And when you look at their pace heading into the quarter of the campaign, all three guys are well on their way to reaching the 50-point plateau this season.

Matheson is slightly behind on a 50-point pace… but at 49, we agree he’s not far off.

(Credit: Screenshot/Advanced Hockey Stats)

Last year, across the league, only 15 defensemen (including Hutson) scored at least 50 points in a single season. And those 15 players all played for different teams.

To have three of them on the same team would be pretty spectacular.

It’s logical to wonder whether all this will really last over time. Hutson should easily reach the 50-point plateau, and Dobson seems to have a good chance. But with the Habs scoring a little over their heads, it’s more than possible that these guys’ production will decline over the course of the season.

But we also know that all three guys have reached this plateau in the past…

If the Canadiens are to continue to be an offensive powerhouse, they’ll need these three defensemen to keep scoring like this. And when you watch them play since the start of the season, you can really see that the Habs, who wanted a defensive brigade capable of supporting the attack, has succeeded in this mission.

Overtime

– Of note.

– Speaking of the club’s offensive defensemen.

– What do you think?

– Interesting.

– To be continued.

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Blues looking to trade : Any ties to the Habs?

The St. Louis Blues are in a strange situation.

The club has the luxury of talented players in the line-up… but the results aren’t there this season. The guys aren’t performing up to expectations, with the result that the Blues sit second-to-last in the overall National League standings.

It’s bad out there, to put it another way… and we could start seeing consequences.

Frank Seravalli, on his podcast, mentioned that the Blues are currently looking to make some trades. Doug Armstrong (GM) is obviously fed up with seeing his club lose and seems ready to give up on the season – even though it hasn’t been going on long.

And Seravalli is talking about Brayden Schenn as the most likely candidate to move before the others. The 34-year-old captain boasts two goals and four assists in 16 games.

Seravalli also mentioned that Jordan Kyrou’s name continues to be popular in the rumor mill… but that it could be a while before we see him traded.

That said, there are indirect links to be made between the Blues’ situation and that of the Montreal Canadiens.

The Blues are looking to make a move to get rid of certain elements, while the Habs would like to add talent to their group in order to improve the team on the ice…

Is there a “fit” between the two clubs in terms of a transaction? Reminder: Armstrong and Kent Hughes are two trade partners who know each other well, having danced together this summer (Zachary Bolduc vs. Logan Mailloux)…

We all know that the Blues’ GM will be aggressive in his demands, and that’s to be expected. It’s early in the season and he won’t want to empty his club just for the fun of it, or just because things aren’t going well on the ice.

At the same time, we know that Kent Hughes isn’t afraid to overpay to improve his club. Here again, it looks like there are some interesting links to be made between the Blues and the Canadiens…

Overtime

– Well done, Gally.

– It’s your turn to answer.

– News in MLB.

– Of note.

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Olympic Games: Cole Caufield wouldn’t take part if it started today (according to Pierre LeBrun)

Cole Caufield has scored 12 goals in 15 games so far this season.

Only one NHL player has hit the back of the net more often than him so far… and that’s Nathan MacKinnon, who has 14 goals to his name.

But Caufield’s offensive brilliance doesn’t guarantee him a place in the Americans’ line-up for the next Olympics. Far from it, in fact…

According to Pierre LeBrun on RDS, Caufield would not be taking part in the event if the competition began today. The informant maintains that the little forward “is close” to securing his place, but that he obviously still has some points to win for it to happen.

Well… Are Americans stupid, or what, as my colleague Maxime Truman wondered last week?

What more will Cole have to do to prove he deserves a spot in the U.S. lineup?

The answer is: he’ll have to grow at least a few inches, because obviously, his height still bothers people. He’s clearly seen as a one-dimensional player by U.S. officials, and that’s unfortunate in a way, because Caufield has improved the rest of his game so much in recent years.

He’s become more responsible on the 200-foot ice and he’s no longer a problem defensively. Caufield knows he has to be involved in every facet of the game to be even more successful, and there’s a reason he’s having his best NHL moments right now: he’s doing things the right way, and there are even more results.

But hey. If Americans can’t recognize that, too bad for them. If they decide to deprive themselves of one of the best goal scorers on the planet right now, that’ll be their problem.

I think it’s a shame for the player, for example. Because he’s really proving that he deserves to be in the Olympics…

Overtime

– I love it.

– Yes.

– I’m going with Bedard!

– Great story.

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There’ll be a big crowd at the Bell Centre tonight (snow permitting)

It’s winter (or almost)!

Snow has settled in Montreal in the last few hours. Several centimetres have fallen all over the city, and while the scenery is magnificent… we all know how difficult it can be to get around.

If you’re going to the Bell Centre tonight, leave early. Especially with the STM strike…

Note that there’s supposed to be a big turnout for the Canadiens’ game against the Kings tonight. Don Sweeney and Julien BriseBois should be on hand… if – and only if – the snow permits.

Both members of Team Canada’s Olympic leadership were in Toronto for the GM meeting earlier today. As was Kent Hughes, by the way…

If BriseBois and Sweeney are in the building, there are Canadiens players who will have to get the message.

Nick Suzuki, Samuel Montenbeault, Noah Dobson… these guys need to have a good game to earn points in the eyes of Team Canada executives. But at the same time, whether they’re there or not, it all comes down to the same thing in a way: the guys have to play well regardless.

The presence of Sweeney and BriseBois shouldn’t change anything in the players’ approach on the ice.

That said, it’s a really good test for Canadienm tonight.

The Kings have had a decent start to the season, but have also enjoyed a great deal of success on the road (6-1-2 record) since the start of the campaign. Martin St-Louis’ men will have to be ready to face the music, because the Kings won’t be in town to fool around.

That said, I can’t wait to see what it’s going to be like in the stands tonight. I have a feeling we could see a couple of empty benches due to the weather and the strike… and it could be the same on the catwalk too.

Long live the snow…

Overtime

– Hard to forget.

– With good reason.

– He’s really good.

– Enjoy the podcast.

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Kirby Dach: “We’re a family here”

In Montreal, Kirby Dach is the embodiment of perseverance. After two major injuries in three years, the 24-year-old forward is back not only on the ice, but also smiling.

And if his comeback is attracting so much attention, it’s because he’s backed by a team that, in his words, “is a real family”.

A path strewn with pitfalls

Dach’s injury history could have shattered many a career. In October 2023, just two games into the season, he seriously injured his right knee in a collision with Jarred Tinordi of the Chicago Blackhawks. Examinations revealed a torn anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus, ending his season after just 20 minutes of play.

Back in form in the fall of 2024, Dach demonstrated the same blend of energy and rigor that had seduced Martin St-Louis upon his arrival in Montreal. In February 2025, he underwent further knee surgery, ending his season for the second time in two years.

It’s the kind of injury that takes time to heal. Antoine Roussel knows that it’s a long process before you’re back to your old self, and that it can take years before you feel 100%.

“Believe me, I know Kirby Dach has come a long way – Antoine Roussel, Journal de Montréal

Dach’s comeback is the fruit of meticulous hard work and an ironclad mentality. During practice camp, Dach explained how Martin St-Louis had helped him regain his confidence after his first season in Montreal.

“Marty told me: go out there and play. He supported me all the way. He played a significant role in helping me rediscover the pleasure of playing.” – Kirby Dach

A statement that speaks volumes about the relationship between player and coach: respect, communication and trust.

A team united around him

Since his return, Dach has felt the full support of the dressing room and staff. In an interview published on the Canadiens’ official website, he reiterated the importance of this competitive and caring atmosphere.

“I think you’re always competing with everybody, right?But it’s friendly competition… we just try to push each other to get better every day.” – Kirby Dach

This climate of healthy competition, established by St-Louis, allows everyone to feel supported in their progression.

Dach isn’t just looking to pick up his pace: he’s establishing himself as a central piece of the Canadiens’ young core, alongside Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovský. His versatility, vision and composure on the ice add to the balance of the group.

Two injuries, months of absence, but the same certainty: Kirby Dach never stopped believing.

Thanks to the support of his team-mates and the philosophy of Martin St-Louis, he was able to turn adversity into strength.

in Overtime

– Of note on the GM meeting.

– Nick Suzuki just wants to help his club.

– To be continued.

– Yes.

– Team Canada wants to adapt.