Author: Dose

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Top-4: sixth consecutive victory for the Red Wings

There were only five games in the National Hockey League last night, while 10 teams were in action.

And aside from the Montreal Canadiens’ victory over the Washington Capitals, other highlights caught attention in the other games.

Here they are.

1. Sixth consecutive win for the Red Wings

After a tough streak in early December, the Red Wings seem to be on a path to glory over the past few weeks.

Indeed, since their head coach, Todd McLellan, told them during practice to simply f**king play hockey, the Red Wings have rolled off six wins.

Last night, the Wings added this sixth consecutive victory by winning 5-3 against the struggling Chicago Blackhawks.

Notably, the winning goal for the Wings was courtesy of the first career NHL goal from 24-year-old defender, Albert Johansson.

In short, with this winning streak, the Wings are back in the mix for the playoffs, as they are only one point behind the Canadiens and two points behind the Columbus Blue Jackets for the 8th playoff spot.

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2. 3rd shutout of the career for Dustin Tokarski

You probably all remember Dustin Tokarski with the Montreal Canadiens.

He was the backup goalie who stepped in for Carey Price during the 2014 playoffs against the New York Rangers after the Chris Kreider incident.

Well, since then, this same Tokarski has been bouncing between the American League and the National League, changing teams fairly often.

Now 35 years old, Tokarski finds himself with the Carolina Hurricanes, and last night, while playing his 5th game of the season, he recorded a shutout with 14 saves in a 2-0 victory over the Vancouver Canucks.

This is his first shutout since March 18, 2022.

This is the third shutout of Tokarski’s career, who is having a great season this year with four wins in five games for the Canes.

Good for the former Canadiens player.

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3. Adrian Kempe plays the hero for the Kings

In a game between two very good teams in the Western conference, it was the Los Angeles Kings that won 2-1 in overtime against the powerful Winnipeg Jets.

It was Adrian Kempe who scored the game-winner for the Kings in overtime in Winnipeg.

With this victory, the Kings surpass the Oilers for second place in the Pacific Division, and are on a path to a fourth matchup in four years against the Oilers in the first round.

The Kings will be looking to win their first series against the Oilers in this stretch.

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4. Utah closes in on playoff spot

If we now look at the playoff race going on further down in the West, the Utah Hockey Club picked up two important points last night.

Indeed, by winning 2-1 against the San Jose Sharks, Utah moved within three points of a playoff spot.

They are three points behind the Canucks, as the latter lost last night.

Utah can thank Barrett Hayton for the late winning goal.

Overtime

– Here are all the results from the previous night.

– Here are the top scorers from the previous night.

(Credit: NHL.com)

– On the agenda today in the NHL: 15 games.

(Credit: Google/NHL)
(Credit: Google/NHL)
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The new trend in BPM: The tortilla slap

With social media and platforms like TikTok, several trends have emerged and created some pretty hilarious moments.

At BPM Sports, we are trying to reach a wider audience with a variety of content, and the radio station recently started a new trend.

You may have seen it, but it is the tortilla slap challenge.

This Monday, BPM Sports introduced this trend as Ben Roger slapped Martin Lemay with a tortilla as a consequence.

Everyone in the studio seems to have found it quite funny.

Yesterday, it was Ben Roger’s turn to receive a “flour slap,” as he likes to call the challenge.

Since the challenge has generated a lot of interest, the station decided to do it again, Friday at noon.

This time, Éric Hoziel received the slap… given by none other than Georges Laraque.

Seeing how the former tough guy “cranked” his slap, we understand why the tortilla broke on impact.

When Hoziel received the flour slap, he got up from his chair to jump (playfully) on Laraque and make a mock fight.

I really like what the hosts and collaborators are willing to do for the radio.

It creates diversity, it breaks the routine, and it creates very funny moments.

In Brief

– Imagine if Lane Hutson had Shea Weber’s shot power.

– Connor McDavid was honored in Erie, tonight.

– For those who hadn’t heard from Dustin Byfuglien in a long time, here is his message for Connor Hellebuyck’s 300th win.

– Must read.

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Disputes in the locker room: The Canadiens are lucky

Everyone knows it: it’s nice to live in the Montreal Canadiens’ locker room.

Since the change in management and the new culture introduced, all the players have great chemistry with each other.

Recently, Alexandre Carrier commented on this chemistry.

“The chemistry of those guys. I think the guys are like brothers in the locker room… They’re enthusiastic, they’re happy, they’re excited…” – Alexandre Carrier

Recently, there have been talks of possible disputes in the Canucks’ locker room between J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson, who have denied these frictions.

Today, according to reports from Boston media, there are said to be tensions in the Boston Bruins’ locker room involving Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak.

The two teammates have clearly denied this information by stating that they are not playing together to balance the lines, not because they do not get along well. They are best friends, plain and simple.

This is the last thing any club management wants within its organization: disputes that affect the group’s chemistry, and thus, the results on the ice.

In Montreal, the Canadiens are lucky, very lucky even.

From what we see on social media and on the ice, everything seems perfect in the Montreal locker room.

There are so many examples, but on the CH’s Twitter/X page, the club frequently posts moments with players having fun.

Here is one example among many others that was posted earlier today.

Cole Caufield is clearly the team’s clown.

It must be noted that the 23 players do not necessarily all hold hands.

At least, nothing seems to affect the results, as the group plays very well together.

However, it is important to remember that not everything has always been rosy in Montreal.

The first example of disputes with the Tricolore that comes to mind dates back to the 2007-08 season when Mikhail Grabovski and the Kostitsyn brothers did NOT get along AT ALL.

Fortunately, all of that seems to be in the past and the CH management can only be happy with its current group.

Quick Hits

– Cole Caufield is really standing out this season.

– Bad bench, Luke!

– Now that’s speed.

– A must-read.

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The role of Mailloux is changing in Laval, and it’s natural to have questions.

LAVAL, QC - OCTOBER 18: Look at Laval Rocket defenseman Logan Mailloux (24) during the game between the Rochester Americans and the Laval Rocket on October 18, 2023 at Place Bell in Laval, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

When Logan Mailloux was selected by the Canadiens at the draft in 2021, he was primarily talked about as a defenseman with great offensive qualities.

We saw those qualities last year, as he finished his first professional season with a total of 47 points (14 goals) in 72 games with the Rocket in the American League.

However, his role is changing now, which raises questions…

Mailloux no longer plays as much on the power play because, in Laval, they want him to become a more complete player. They want him to improve in aspects of the game and to be more robust when he doesn’t have control of the puck.

But Anthony Marcotte pointed this out this morning on the radio, and it’s logical to talk about it, but we shouldn’t misrepresent the young man either.

It’s worth repeating: Mailloux was selected because of his offensive potential. And now, they are taking away his playing time on the power play so he can progress in other areas of his game?

Hmm…

Logan Mailloux has been selected to participate in the AHL All-Star Game, but there are doubts about him as the defenseman is not having a strong season.

This is good for the league’s visibility for the event, though… Because Mailloux – on his own – can draw more fans compared to a guy like Owen Beck or Adam Engström.

On the other hand, maybe it will do him good to go there and decompress a little. Mailloux is capable of being a good player in the American League because we saw him do it last year.

He’s in a rough patch right now (four points in 20 games with a -10 differential) and that needs to change:

(Credit: AHL.com)

The talent is there and the potential as well.

However, he also needs to be placed in a good situation and I find it hard to believe that taking away his offensive responsibilities will lead to that. Especially when we see him struggling like this…

But hey. We’ll see if the strategy pays off!

In brief

– He’s going to be good.

– Not bad…

– 😂

– Logical. He can help any NHL team.

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He jokingly said that he would have chosen Lane Hutson with the 1st pick in 2022.

COLUMBUS, OHIO - NOVEMBER 27: Cole Caufield #13 of the Montreal Canadiens is congratulated by Lane Hutson #48, Juraj Slafkovsky #20, and Nick Suzuki #14 after scoring a goal during the second period of the game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena on November 27, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/NHLI via Getty Images)

It was known that Lane Hutson had the potential to become a good player in the National Hockey League.

But it was not necessarily known that he would have such a significant impact on the Canadiens’ roster at the beginning of his NHL career.

Because let’s be honest: Hutson has become indispensable in Martin St-Louis’s lineup, especially because of his offensive talent.

It’s crazy to think that the defender fell to the 62nd spot (!) in the 2022 draft due to his small size.

Teams were afraid of his build, and the Canadiens were lucky enough to select him with a late second-round pick.

In 2022, it was Juraj Slafkovsky who was picked first overall in the draft… But Slaf, seeing the talent of his teammate, joked that he would have chosen Hutson as the first overall pick:

I like to joke about it, but I would have picked him first overall. And sometimes, I would have redrafted myself at 62! – Juraj Slafkovsky

Lane Hutson’s talent is undeniable.

And now, it’s his own teammates who are impressed by what he is capable of doing on the ice. Not bad!

We’ve been talking about the defender since the beginning of the season, and there’s one aspect that really stands out in his game.

Hutson is good night after night… Because he gives it his all night after night.

He doesn’t take nights off; he is often one of the first players on the ice at practice because he wants to be better, and that’s why I think he is having so much success.

When effort and will are present, it helps a player improve:

If Lane Hutson keeps up the same pace, it will be difficult not to talk about him as a strong candidate for the Calder Trophy.

But even if he doesn’t win the trophy awarded to the Rookie of the Year in the NHL, that won’t take away from his talent. And that’s the beauty of it because the Canadiens will be able to benefit from him for many years.

In a nutshell

– At least!

– The boys are ready.

– A goal for Ovi tonight?

– Great team!

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It is important to be careful with Evans: His shooting efficiency percentage is not normal.

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

At 28 years old, Jake Evans is having the best season of his career.

He is on pace for over 45 points, and it is also the last year of his contract with the Canadiens.

Now, Kent Hughes has to make an important decision regarding his center. Do we extend his contract, or do we take advantage of his value to get something in the trade market?

There is a “strange” aspect to Evans’ game this season: he is scoring more goals than usual, placing him today at 3rd among the top scorers for the CH (tied with Brendan Gallagher and Emil Heineman).

What stands out is his shooting percentage, which stands at 28.6% since the start of the season.

Evans has scored 10 goals on only 35 shots:

My colleague Maxime Truman talked about it on the radio yesterday on the show with Georges Laraque and Stéphane Gonzalez (BPM Sports), but this can’t last forever.

Evans may be on fire… but no bottom-6 NHL player can maintain that pace for several years.

There are a few exceptions, but even the best NHL scorers have a lower success rate (see the category highlighted in yellow to the right of the chart below):

(Credit: NHL.com)

Does this take credit away from Jake Evans? Absolutely not.

But we also need to be realistic in saying that he hasn’t become one of the most efficient scorers in the NHL overnight.

He will have to slow down sooner or later…

Evans’ situation – even though it isn’t exactly the same – reminds me of Rafaël Harvey-Pinard’s in 22-23.

The Quebecois finished the season strong with 14 goals in 34 games at a success rate of 24.1%, but the following season, he only managed two goals in 45 games with a success rate of 7.7%.

The difference is quite striking…

In the end, we simply need to be cautious with the projection of Jake Evans’ next contract.

It’s true that he is having great moments and, still, all the credit goes to him…

However, we shouldn’t necessarily expect his offensive production to remain similar or increase in the coming years. Because if we look at his numbers since the beginning of his career, he is not having a season like the others.

In Brief

– I love goals scored this way.

– There is tension between the Sens and their fans. [TVA Sports]

– To be continued.

– Emotional reading.

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Utah HC: $10 for a ticket, a hot dog, and a beverage

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - JANUARY 08: Mikhail Sergachev #98 of the Utah Hockey Club skates against the Florida Panthers on January 8, 2025 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/NHLI via Getty Images)

Gary Bettman did everything he could to keep the Coyotes in Arizona.

But at some point, he faced the reality: the original version of the Coyotes no longer had a place in the NHL. The club’s assets were quickly sold to a group from Salt Lake City.

I say “original version” because hockey in the desert is not dead.

Last year, the NHL welcomed the Utah HC. Ryan Smith and his group helped Gary Bettman get out of that situation by bringing hockey to Salt Lake City.

Honestly, it felt good. The NHL now has 32 real teams, and there’s no longer an organization just trying to reach the salary floor at all costs. Good for them.

But is everything perfect in the state of Utah? No.

The Yeti (because yes, I think that will eventually be the club’s name) announced that alongside the opening of the upper level of the arena for the rest of the season, there’s a promotion in play: tickets for $10 in those sections.

University students in the state and people shopping at Smith’s Grocery Stores who want to pay $10 will get a ticket, a hot dog, and a bottle of water in the upper section. A hot dog and a bottle of water at the Bell Centre cost… almost $10 Canadian.

This is available in the section that wasn’t open yet (yes, the arrival of hockey in Salt Lake City happened quickly) because the view is partially obstructed up there.

I know that not everything is perfect when a move happens quickly, but to see an NHL club offering tickets at that price with food is still beneath the standards of the best league in the world.

Luckily, it’s not the big, bad Winnipeg Jets who did this. Papa Bettman would have been very angry, and the club would likely have faced a visit from the commissioner.

In Brief

– Well done.

– Noteworthy.

– The CH is four points from 29th place. #Perspective

– Hmm…

– To be continued.

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Future of Patrik Laine in Montreal: Alain Crête does not see him long-term with the Canadiens

What is Patrik Laine’s future with the Canadiens?

It is known that at the moment, Laine is highly regarded by fans and those involved with the Canadiens. His ability to energize the power play alone is worth the entry ticket to the Bell Centre.

However, just because he is good during five-on-four situations, it does not mean he is indispensable.

He has been absent for a week. And we can’t say that the Canadiens have slowed down. – Alain Crête

Note: The veteran media member, who said this morning on BPM Sports, is not claiming he is completely useless. But he states that at equal strengths, he is not the most noticeable player.

Of course, he just returned to the game and will surely bounce back… but Alain Crête is correct since Laine has mentioned this several times since his return.

 

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Expect to see Connor Hughes returning to Switzerland next season.

Let’s talk about the situation of the CH and the Rocket in front of the net.

Right now, the Canadiens are relying on Samuel Montembeault as #1 and Jakub Dobes as #2. The latter has taken the spot of Cayden Primeau, who is now paired with Connor Hughes in Laval.

These are the four main goalies in the organization at the moment. Luke Cavallin (three games in Laval) is also there from time to time, but without being a regular.

That’s for this year. But what will it be like next year?

Montembeault will surely be in Montreal, and Dobes will surely be in the organization, whether it be in Montreal or Laval. I don’t know what Cayden Primeau will do, but we can think that he is on borrowed time within the Canadiens’ organization.

What about Connor Hughes?

According to reports in the media “24 Heures” in Switzerland, it is not impossible to think that the goalie, whose contract expires in a few months, could return to play in Switzerland as soon as next season.

Goaltender Connor Hughes, currently engaged in the Montreal Canadiens organization, is expected to return to Switzerland next season. – 24 Heures

In the Swiss media Watson, the term “stuck” is used to talk about Hughes’s situation in Laval and within the Canadiens’ hierarchy. It is said that John Fust, the GM of the Lausanne club (his former team), is working hard to bring him back next year.

These are still some good clues regarding Hughes, who has spent many years in Switzerland. And another good element, in this piece from Swiss Habs: his agent would have proposed him to Swiss clubs, including Lausanne, for 2025-2026.

The possibility of seeing the Rocket’s goalie leave is quite real. And if that’s the case, we can think that the situation in front of Pascal Vincent’s net will need to be completely rebuilt—if Dobes remains up, which is not guaranteed.

Obviously, the name Jacob Fowler is one to keep in mind. I wouldn’t be surprised if the American becomes the #1 goalie in Laval next year—and I wouldn’t be surprised if Connor Hughes knows that too.

Is Quentin Miller, who recently left the LHJMQ, also going to be an option for Laval next year? It’s much less certain, but it’s a name to keep in mind.

However, we must bear in mind that last year it was tough for Dobes until a veteran (Kasimir Kaskisuo) arrived in town. If Fowler is in Laval, a guy like Connor Hughes—whether it’s him or someone else—could be very useful to support him.

In brief

– Notice to the interested.

– Trading Mike Matheson: a mistake by the Penguins. [BPM Sports]

– To be continued.

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Stolen laptop: Trevor Letowski must hope that the data from the CH does not circulate in the city.

It was recently learned that Réjean Tremblay had agreed to write for Punching Grace.

And without wanting to make a bad pun, the Godfather’s column today is a “punch” type since we learned that Trevor Letowski had his computer stolen.

This could certainly have significant complications.

Letowski, who left his computer in his car before the holidays while going to the Bell Centre, had his equipment stolen. But what needs to be known is that according to Réjean Tremblay, there are still interesting things in the computer.

We don’t know exactly what was in the computer, but this sentence from Réjean Tremblay’s text is important.

At the station, the police quickly realized after questioning Letowski that the contents of the laptop were explosive if they fell into the wrong hands. – Réjean Tremblay

Does this mean that the players’ data has been stolen? That the team of Martin St-Louis’s gaming system is somewhere in the city? Not necessarily.

According to Renaud Lavoie, who heard about the story without digging into it deeply, it would be Letowski’s personal laptop. That’s what he said this morning on the BPM Sports airwaves.

The Godfather’s information suggests that it was a homeless person who stole the computer, left openly in the car of Martin St-Louis’s assistant, to sell it at a pawn shop to buy drugs.

It is also learned that the normal procedure in such cases is to erase the data from the computer for resale. And since no fraud has apparently been reported in his case, we can think that it will stop there.

But that is not certain either.

In my opinion, this is the last time that Letowski and many people at the CH will leave their computers in plain sight on the streets of Montreal. And everyone reading my text this morning should take note of that.

In brief

– USHL: Johnny Gaudreau’s number will be retired.

– The Ravens must not panic. [BPM Sports]

– Yes.