Author: Dose

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Macklin Celebrini: Carey Price has never had such a productive “teammate

Let’s talk about Carey Price.

Once Alex Kovalev left Montreal, the goalie never had a teammate score more than one point per game alongside him in the NHL. It’s still a striking statistic.

Of course, if he were still healthy, the story would be different, as Nick Suzuki scored 89 points last season. But Price is no longer healthy, as we all know.

But do you want a good one?

In his entire active career, Price has never seen a teammate score 24 points in 16 games, as Macklin Celebrini just did at the start of the season.

Celebrini thus becomes Price’s first “teammate” to accomplish the feat. And even if it’s a custom-made statistic, it’s still… striking.

It took a San Jose trade to do it, hehe.

The B/R Open Ice account relied solely on Price’s active years to come up with this fact. But it’s worth noting that from February 25, 2025 to March 30, 2025, Nick Suzuki had 23 points in 16 games.

That’s close to Celebrini’s mark. And in the spring of 2025, Price’s contract was on the habs’ books.

Either way, it’s a reminder of what Price didn’t have in his career: a top-notch center who couldn’t get his club to the promised land.

Yes, Price played with Suzuki… but not with the 2025 version of the captain.

If Price had had such a prolific scorer in his active years, it’s safe to assume that on June 24, Price would have been told yes to entering the Hall. #StanleyCup

But you can’t rewrite history.

overtime

– Read more.

– Intéressant.

– Really?

– The Habs celebrate Remembrance Day.

– Too bad for Charles-Alexis Legault: he underwent surgery and will miss at least three months with a hand injury.

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Samuel Montembeault will be in net tonight: Jakub Dobes still waiting his turn

The Canadiens and Kings cross swords tonight at the Bell Centre.

What we do know is that Nick Suzuki skated this morning and there are no extras in town at the moment. So it’s easy to go 1+1 and speculate on which 18 skaters will play tonight.

It’s been the same refrain for the past few games.

But in front of the net, it’s different. After all, the Canadiens have two goaltenders who can play, and #1 is slowly finding his feet.

And on the heels of today’s early morning practice, we understand that it’s the Québécois who will be in action.

This means that Montembeault will get his second start in a row. And of necessity, goaltending is still a hot topic.

Martin St-Louis chose to go with his #1 goalie at home, in the first game of three this week. I expect Monty to play on Saturday night, too, against the Bruins.

But on the other hand, Jakub Dobes was the NHL’s third star in October… and he’s only played one game in November, so far. That was on November 6, in New Jersey.

We should expect to see Dobes on Thursday against Dallas, in my opinion.

(Credit: ESPN)

extension

Since #1 is doing well, playing him makes sense. But Dobes must, at some point, wonder what more he can do to get more playing time.

That would be a humane reaction. And that’s despite the fact that the two of them get on well together.

However, I agree with Martin St-Louis’ decision on this one: Monty needs to build on his win against the Mammoth to try and get the W tonight.

Let the internal competition continue.

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Nick Suzuki on hand for morning practice

It’s game day in Montreal.

A few hours before the visit of the Los Angeles Kings, there was a morning skate for the Habs players. And the good news is that Nick Suzuki was there.

The Habs center wasn’t there yesterday morning.

Yes, Suzuki missed two practices in the last week. But since he’s played in his team’s last few games, it’s logical to think he’ll be there tonight too.

His foot doesn’t seem to be hurting enough to break his ironman streak.

Since the Canadiens have only 12 healthy forwards (and six healthy defensemen) up top, we shouldn’t expect a lineup change.

It’s the goalie who’s the talk of the town…

Details to follow…

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Kings: Phillip Danault is on a tear (and should no longer be linked to the Habs)

Just because a few centimetres of snow have paralyzed the City of Montreal Repentigny and its electrical system bygone doesn’t mean that life doesn’t go on in Quebec. The Canadiens are back in action tonight when they welcome the Kings to the Bell Centre. This will be the Habs’ first three-game homestand this week.

The last time the Habs got the better of the Kings, Tomas Tatar was the team’s leading scorer, and the word coronavirus had never been heard before.

What can we expect from the Kings tonight?

The Los Angeles Kings (7-5-4) are in ninth place in the West this morning, just one point away from a playoff spot. Adrian Kempe, rumoured to be on the verge of signing a new multi-season contract at an annual salary of over $10 million, is currently his team’s leading scorer (17 points in 16 games).

Anze Kopitar, who will be making his last career visit to the Bell Centre tonight, has clearly started to slow down (8 points in 16 games), but what interests us most, I think, is the performance of the former Canadiens playing in LA. Former Canadiens whom Marc Bergevin rubs shoulders with on a daily basis in California…

1. Corey Perry has fallen into the fountain of youth
Corey Perry may be 40, earn an annual salary of “only” $2 million and start the season on the injured list, but this morning he is the Kings’ top scorer (7 goals) and fourth-best scorer in 2025-26.

He also boasts the best differential(plus-5) of all Jim Hiller’s men.

To think that Marc Bergevin wouldn’t offer him a two-year contract in the summer of 2021, when Perry was tipped to be the Habs‘ next captain …

No, Perry’s advanced stats aren’t always pretty, but he still brings a lot of positive things to the team he decides to play for.

All this while being used on the fourth-line wing right now…

2. Joel Armia on the first line
When he signed a new two-year, $5 million contract, I thought Joel Armia had become someone else’s enigmatic ball and chain.

Armia is only 32, but on the ice, he looks like he’s 45, so slow and unexplosive is he.

Joel Armia plays on the first line, on the wing, alongside Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe.

(Credit: DailyFaceoff)

This season, Armia has 7 points in 16 games. He is also used on his team’s second shorthanded unit.

Will we notice him tonight at the Bell Centre?

3. Joel Edmundson gets the job done
Joel Edmundson is probably the most aging defenseman in Montreal’s COVID big four.

Edmundson is 32 years old and still plays around 17 or 18 minutes per game on the Kings’ top 4. So far this campaign, he has six points in 16 games. Only Brandt Clarke has more points than him (seven) this season for the Kings.

After the current season, he still has two years left on his contract at an average annual salary of $3.85 million.

4. Phillip Danault looks for himself
Phillip Danault is already in his fifth season away from Montreal. He is currently playing in the fifth year of his six-year contract (at an average annual salary of $5.5 million).

How is Danault doing in California? Let’s just say it’s been pretty tough for him since the start of the season.

He’s been used as the center of the third line and, in 16 games, he still hasn’t found the back of the net. Worse still, he has just three measly assists.

He’s the Kings’ 17th “best” scorer this morning, and let’s just say that at 32, it’s easy to think that Phil Danault’s best is now behind him.

It will probably be Danault’s job to muzzle Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky tonight at the Bell Centre. Will he succeed?

Extension

This summer, two people told me that Phillip Danault would like to come back and play in Montreal. I’m pretty sure that many of my colleagues have heard the same thing; we’ve seen Danault’s name thrown around in a few transaction rumours involving the Canadiens.

However, Danault, who still earns a second-center salary, no longer has what it takes to create offense on a regular basis in the NHL. No, he’s not THE solution to give Ivan Demidov the puck…

I hope we’ll never hear Danault’s name linked to the Montreal Canadiens again. The solution lies elsewhere.

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I want to see Florian Xhekaj take Joe Veleno’s place

Let’s take a look at the Canadiens’ worst scorers this season.

At two points, we find Kaiden Guhle, who played five games and has a defensive mandate. At one point, we find Arber Xhekaj (another defenseman with a defensive mandate) and Patrik Laine, who was having an ugly season before getting injured.

And “with no points” this season: Owen Beck, Joshua Roy… and Joe Veleno. The first two, however, haven’t played 10 games up top this season.

(Credit: NHL.com)

Let’s not forget that the Canadiens started Veleno in the stands this season, and that Patrik Laine’s state of health has changed things in recent weeks.

And since the Habs don’t want an extra forward, Veleno knows he won’t be dropped from the lineup.

Yes, Veleno sometimes makes good plays on the ice. But very often, we don’t see him during a game. He’s not contributing much to his club right now.

He also has a minus-5 differential. It’s not great, but it’s similar to that of Jake Evans (minus-8) and Josh Anderson (minus-5), who form a line with few mandates in the offensive zone.

We can’t even say he’s indispensable as a left-handed player who can get to the face-off circle, since he doesn’t necessarily take a ton of face-offs… and he doesn’t dominate as much as some of the regulars.

At 48.9% on a sample of 47 face-offs, Veleno is well behind his line-mate Jake Evans (58.2%) at the moment. Nick Suzuki (52.3%) and Oliver Kapanen (53.3%) are also doing better than Veleno.

(Credit: NHL.com)

I understand that Kent Hughes wants to save himself some salary by not having an extra up top. But a Florian Xhekaj to take Veleno out of the lineup, even for a single game, would help put pressure on the Québécois.

Because right now, Veleno is a passenger.

And what if a potential recall of the Unicorn would put pressure on the team internally, energize a fourth line that’s in neutral via some good old-fashioned physical play… and motivate Arber in the process?

What would the Habs really be risking?

overtime

– Worth noting.

– To be read.

– Indeed.

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Sidney Crosby is done talking about rumors: “you can fight anyone”

Sidney Crosby has been the talk of the town for several months now. That’s to be expected: he plays in Pittsburgh.

His name has been circulating en masse in Montreal and elsewhere in the NHL recently. The fact that his agent (Pat Brisson) came out publicly to say that his famous client had to make the playoffs added fuel to the fire.

But on the heels of the Penguins’ season opener, the rumors are less intense. #Normal

(Credit: NHL.com)

What I’ve noticed, though, is that in the interviews Sidney Crosby gives, he doesn’t necessarily talk about other teams anymore – something he probably never liked to do.

Why is that? Because right now, there’s no need.

Take, for example, a recent interview with RG Media. The Penguins captain didn’t have to talk about rumours elsewhere in the NHL, since the Penguins are doing well.

Instead, Crosby was able to talk about his team’s performance.

We’ve established the fact that we’re a hard-working team. And when we do that, we can beat anybody. – Sidney Crosby

Crosby, in the past, has said that it’s in defeat that rumors arise. He’s (unsurprisingly) aware of how things work in the NHL.

So it’s up to him to make sure his club’s successes aren’t just a flash in the pan.

Do we believe that? Not necessarily, no. Dan Muse may be a good coach, but we feel that the Penguins don’t have what it takes to stay at the top of the pyramid when the going gets tough, i.e. during the season.

We’ll obviously be keeping a close eye on that.

overtime

– Oh…

– Well done.

– Encouraging.

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Top-4: Rangers win home opener

Last night was a quiet night of action in the NHL.

Only four games were on the schedule.

Here are the results and highlights:

1. Rangers win first home game

It’s been almost a month since the season began, and the Rangers still hadn’t won at home.

In fact, that was true the day before yesterday, as last night the club won a game at MSG. Final score: 6-3.

In seven home games prior to yesterday’s, Rangers had scored just six goals. Yesterday, they scored just as many.

On Alexis Lafrenière’s goal, Gabriel Perreault picked up his first NHL point.

For the Preds, all three goals were scored by Matthew Wood. In his last seven games, he has seven points, including four goals.

2. Connor McDavid scores a superb goal

It wasn’t easy for the Oilers in Edmonton, but miraculously, they found a way to win.

Thanks to Connor McDavid, who scored two beautiful goals in short order.

After two periods, the hosts were booed off by their own fans.

With less than a minute left in the game, Edmonton forced overtime.

And in overtime, Jack Roslovic gave his club the win.

3. Mitch Marner makes the save of the year

In the late-night game, the Golden Knights hosted the Florida Panthers.

Florida prevailed 3-2, thanks to a strong performance from Sergei Bobrovsky.

30 saves on 32 shots for his 437th NHL victory.

Brad Marchand took care of the forwards with a superb goal.

Late in the game, Mitch Marner wasn’t able to send everyone into overtime, but he made one of the saves of the year.

What a dive!

4. Devils force overtime with four seconds left in the game

In New Jersey, the Devils’ arch-rivals, the Islanders, were visiting.

New York, with four wins in their last six games, won a good duel in overtime.

Mathew Barzal sealed the win.

The Devils had forced overtime.

There were just over four seconds left in the game.

In his last six games, Bo Horvat has six goals.

Yesterday, he scored again.

And Matthew Schaefer picked up another point in the win.

Extension

– He collected two points on his return.

– Jacob Hasek.

– Top scorers.

(Credit: NHL.com)

– Nine games on the bill tonight.

(Credit: Google)
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The last time the Habs beat the Kings, Tomas Tatar was the team’s leading scorer

The Habs play the Kings tomorrow night at the Bell Centre. It’s a chance for the Habs to put an end to a long losing streak against the California team.

How long, you ask? Six years. And yes, the last time the Habs beat the Kings, Shea Weber scored two goals and Carey Price was in net in a 302 victory at the Bell Centre.

Here are seven events that took place around this time.

  • COVID-19 was not yet in Quebec. The pandemic hit Quebec in March 2020.
  • Tomas Tatar was the Habs’ leading scorer. He finished the season with 61 points (22 goals, 39 assists).

  • Phillip Danault was the team’s first center. He accumulated 47 points that season.
  • Victor Mete, Cale Fleury and Brett Kulak were part of the team’s defensive brigade.
  • Nick Suzuki was a rookie and started the season with Nate Thompson on the team’s fourth line.
  • St. Louis Blues were defending Stanley Cup champions

Let’s just say that the Habs are due to win one against the Kings. It’s amazing how different things look six years later, and for the better.

A rebuild was necessary, and it allowed Nick Suzuki to surround himself with a talented team. And the work isn’t over yet. Kent Hughes still has a lot of work to do to put together an aspiring team.

One thing’s for sure: the 2025-2026 team is much more exciting for the future than the 2019-2020 one, without taking anything away from players like Price and Weber.

Overtime

– They too want a center.

– You’re not dreaming, the Rangers won at home.

– Islanders play good hockey.

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Martin St-Louis: If Nick Suzuki played with himself, he’d score 40 goals

The Canadiens are off to an excellent start to the season. Beyond the 10-3-2 record, it’s the way the team is behaving that’s interesting.

There’s no sense of friction and everyone is pushing in the same direction. This has been the case for a long time, and Nick Suzuki is leading the way.

He delivers the goods on the ice too. In 15 games, he has four goals and 16 assists, as well as being a key player defensively. Martin St-Louis praised him on Utah’s most recent Mammoth.

He mentioned to their broadcast team that if Suzuki had played a clone of himself, he could score 40 goals.

St-Louis added that the #1 center is such a good playmaker that it would help him reach that plateau.

We know that St-Louis likes to protect his players, but also praises them on occasion. In Suzuki’s case, he hit the nail on the head.

He’s a player who, to this day, is truly underrated in the NHL. He’s so reliable on both sides of the rink, and he’s an iron man for the team. He’s a great passer, which allows Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky to shine and score.

I’ll say out loud what everyone else is saying: he needs to be on the Canadian Olympic team. It’s not a question of bias because he plays for the Habs, he’s a player you can play in any situation. He’s capable of bringing offense, but on a fourth line, he can also shut down a good opposing line. There aren’t 12 Canadiens forwards who are better than him right now.

Overtime

– The week is on.

– It’s over for the Roses.

– Ouf.

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Grey Cup: Marc-Antoine Dequoy arrives in Winnipeg wearing Monty’s jersey

The Alouettes arrived in Winnipeg this evening in preparation for Sunday’s game against the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

What’s at stake?

The winner of this match will lift the Grey Cup. It’s a fine challenge for Jason Maas’ men, and clearly, all of Quebec will be rallying behind the Sparrows this weekend. It promises to be a great show.

For the occasion, Marc-Antoine Dequoy stepped off the plane this evening… proudly wearing a Canadiens jersey.

And it’s not just any sweater, either: it’s Samuel Montembeault’s #35. Dequoy wanted to support a local athlete, and it’s really cool to see.

Of course, watching Quebec athletes cheer each other on… it’s always fun.

The Alouettes have a big game on Sunday, and Dequoy doesn’t look like the most stressed-out guy on the planet. He looks happy to be able to put on his Canadiens jersey to support Monty, and it shows in his big smile.

Let’s hope, though, that Monty’s struggles so far this season don’t carry over to the football field next Sunday. The Sparrows have the chance to lift a second Grey Cup in the space of three years, and they’ll need a big game to come away with the W.

But I love seeing Dequoy wearing Monty’s jersey.

They’re two fine Quebec athletes right now, and they make us proud in their own way. That said, aweille dont, Marc-Antoine! Another Grey Cup at home… that would really be incredible.

Overtime

– Good question.

– Ouch.

– Nice line-up.

– Obviously.