Author: Dose

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The Canadiens have allowed the opposition 4 goals or more 13 times this season (out of 24 games).

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - DECEMBER 1: Charlie McAvoy #73 and David Pastrnak #88 of the Boston Bruins celebrate the first-period goal against the Montreal Canadiens on December 1, 2024, at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images)

Let’s talk about the Canadiens’ start to the season.

After 24 games played, the club has an 8-13-3 record. That’s good for second-to-last place in the NHL standings: only the Chicago Blackhawks have done worse so far.

Ultimately, I have to believe that this can’t be good news for management in Montreal.

When we look at the Habs’ overall statistics, we see that the team is giving away too many goals.

Since the start of the season, the Canadiens have given up 93 goals to their opponents (like the Colorado Avalanche). The Penguins (100) and Sharks (96) are dead last in the league in this respect.

That said, with yesterday’s loss in Boston, the Canadiens have now allowed 4 or more goals in a single game 13 times this season.

And in the context of only 24 games played, that’s pretty obvious.

  • 6-4 loss to the Bruins on October 10 – Primeau
  • 6-3 loss to the Penguins on October 14 – Monty
  • 4-1 loss to Kings on October 17 – Monty
  • 4-3 loss to Islanders on October 19 *** – Primeau
  • 7-2 loss to Rangers on October 22 – Monty
  • 8-2 loss to Kraken on October 29 – Monty
  • 6-3 loss to Capitals on October 31 – Monty
  • 4-1 loss to Leafs on November 9 – Monty
  • 5-3 loss to Devils on November 7 – Monty
  • 7-5 win over the Sabres on November 11 – Primeau
  • 6-2 loss to Golden Knights on October 23 – Monty
  • 4-3 loss to Rangers on November 30 – Monty
  • 6-3 loss to the Bruins on the 1st – Primeau

I gave special mention to the Islanders game because it ended in a shootout.

But in general, it’s still unacceptable :

(Credit: ESPN screenshot)

What can explain all this?

For me, it’s not just about the work of the two goalkeepers. We agree that things would be different if Primeau and Montembeault were more solid in front of the net, but it goes even further than that.

The defence is young and inexperienced, there were difficulties in understanding the system of play at the start of the season and too often, the club is capable of collapsing by allowing several goals in a single period.

We saw evidence of this against the Rangers, the Kraken, the Golden Knights… And we saw it again yesterday in Boston, when the Bruins scored three goals in the nick of time.

It’s frustrating, honestly. And I’m sure I’m not the only one who had that reaction yesterday after seeing the Bruins’ 3rd goal of the first period:

For this problem to be solved, it’s simple: everyone has to be better.

The goalies have to make the big saves, the defense has to tighten up when it comes time to do so, the forwards have to do their part, and the guys have to stop getting mixed up like a deck of cards in the zone, as we saw against the Bruins yesterday afternoon.

It won’t be easy, that said. Because there’s work to be done before we get there…

Overtime

– Whoa!

– Good point.

– He’s back!

– That’s a good one.

– Nice.

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The irony of Patrick Roy heading to Montreal on December 2

December 2, 1995 marked the end of an era in Montreal.

Habs fans know that on this day, 29 years ago, Patrick Roy played his last game in a Habs uniform. It didn’t go well on the ice, he stayed in the game, the crowd – ah well, you know the drill.

The images left a lasting impression.

Since then, Roy has been linked with the Avalanche, Remparts and Islanders, but not the Canadiens. But even so, he’s never been forgotten by Canadiens fans.

His return to the Bell Centre last year is proof of that.

So it’s ironic that the Islanders will be heading for Montreal today, and that their coach, Roy, will be on his way home on December 2.

It’s fun for fans, who will once again have the chance to cheer on their former star tomorrow night, when the Islanders take on the Habs.

But for Martin St-Louis and his men, tomorrow’s game will be a chance to get back to winning ways against a team that hasn’t exactly been dominant lately.

In their last 10 games, the Islanders have a 3-4-3 record. It’s been a while since they’ve beaten a playoff club, and they’ve got injuries here and there.

(Credit: Islanders)

I’m not saying the Canadiens have what it takes to beat the Islanders at home tomorrow night, but the Montreal club must take inspiration from Patrik Laine’s possible return and their opponents’ struggles to go for the W.

After a tough weekend and a day off today (Monday), that would be important for the Habs.

The Canadiens won’t have the toughest December on earth (the club will only sleep three times on the road before going on vacation), and they need to start chasing wins fast.

And that starts tomorrow night against Roy Patrick.

(Credit: Canadiens)

Overtime

– Really?

– Makes sense.

– Read more.

– Interesting stuff.

– What do you think?

– Good news.

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Jean-Charles Lajoie to host his own daily sports podcast from January 13

1995 brought us Il pleut des roses sur Manhattan…

Now, if the same gang wants to make a new feature film for 2025, I could suggest the following title: Il pleut des podcasts sur Montréal (It’s raining podcasts on Montreal).

Because there are dozens and dozens of French-language hockey podcasts in Quebec: Processus, Stanley25, Radar, Sortie de zone, La Poche bleue, Bon match, TLSH hockey, The Sick Podcast(s), Tellement hockey, On jase, Drette su’l tape, Femme d’hockey, La relève, La puck, Les glorieux…

And the list goes on!

So when it comes to podcasts in general that aren’t about hockey, you can imagine how many there are!

The latest to be launched is hosted by my former boss at BPM Sports, Yves Bombardier, and it’s all about real estate. It’s called Dans ma cabane.

Yves and his son Pierre-Alexis will host one Québécois public figure per week to talk real estate with him/her.

The guest on the first episode (released just a few hours ago) is Jean-Charles Lajoie, former employee – but above all long-time friend – of Yves Bombardier.

Jean-Charles talks about his past as a tenant, but also about his current life as an owner and investor.

But at the very end of the podcast, Jean-Charles confided a little scoop: on January 13, he will be launching an online platform on which he will host a daily podcast. It’s a project he’s been nurturing since 2010, and he’ll be launching it with the aim of bringing together a community that shares his interests.

“I really want to create a community. You don’t take the guy out of the guy. Become part of the community of chums […] The insiders, the regulars, who still talk to me about how the Earth stopped spinning at 3:00. The antenna was placed at 91.9 […] People tell me “at 3:00, we’d turn the sound up, then listen to your editorial.” That’s exactly what we’re going to do again. – Jean-Charles Lajoie

He says he’s aware that if he ever loses his TV mic – he lost his radio mic a little over a year ago – then digital may well be his last line of defence. The fate of traditional Québécois TV is far from assured in the medium/long term, and Jean-Charles knows it.

According to Jean-Charles, the commercial partners for the project he’ll be bringing into the world are numerous and solid, but…

Will nostalgic fans be satisfied with the first episodes of Jean-Charles’ new project? Only time will tell.

Prolongation

The Canadiens suffered two more defeats this weekend , making it 16 in 24 games so far this season. No other team has lost more than the Habs in 2024-25…

I could talk about Caufield’s brilliance, Primeau’s setbacks or the difficulties of Dach, Matheson and Newhook…

But I’d rather use these few lines as a reminder that a man-to-man system in your zone doesn’t work against the best players in the world.

A man-to-man system in the defensive zone is like playing police and robber, 1 v. 1, against one of the best robbers in the world.

When you win, you’ve avoided the worst, and when you lose, you put your team in the sh*t.

The guy you’re up against is almost always fast, agile, creative… he’s got good hands… and an incredible ability to change direction. He knows how to mask his intentions.

If you lose him, it doesn’t matter whether or not he’s carrying the puck at the time, it gives the other team an advantage. 3 v. 2… 2 v. 1… 1 v. 0…

And if you keep awarding overnumbers-because sooner or later, you won’t be able to win 100% of your 1 v. 1 duels-you end up awarding goals. Especially when your goalie’s name is Cayden Primeau…

You’ve got no cover… no buffer… no margin for error…

It’s no coincidence that almost no one in the Bettman circuit uses a man-to-man system in defensive territory. It’s unforgiving!

When will we see a defensive system better adapted to the league in which you play? It may work in peewee, man-to-man, but it obviously doesn’t work in the NHL.

What’s next?
The Habs will play their next five games at the Bell Centre.

Either they get back on track in front of their fans and their energy, or they’re in deep trouble.

After that, the Canadiens will play eight of their next 10 games on the road, where they won just three of their 12 games in 2024-25. Ouch!

It’s not just Kirby Dach who needs some love right now…

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Joshua Roy sold to Laval Rocket

MONTREAL, CANADA - MARCH 12: Joshua Roy #89 of the Montreal Canadiens celebrates his goal with the bench during the first period of the NHL regular season game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at the Bell Centre on March 12, 2024 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Arianne Bergeron/NHLI via Getty Images)

A few minutes ago, Patrik Laine posted an image on social networks suggesting that his return to the game was imminent. But we weren’t sure if he was talking about tomorrow.

But now we have another clue.

The Habs have announced that Joshua Roy has been traded to the Laval Rocket. This leads us to believe that Laine will be back, which is a more likely scenario than seeing Michael Pezzetta play.

So, it’s on.

The Habs didn’t have to send Roy down. But since it’s usually 22 guys this year and Roy wouldn’t have gained anything by staying in the stands, it was the right thing to do.

Remember that this week, in four games, Roy broke absolutely nothing. He was little used and of little use. Seeing him return to the AHL isn’t exactly a surprise to me, then.

He’ll help the Rocket more than the Habs – and he’ll help himself too.

Laine suffered a serious knee injury during practice against the Maple Leafs. At the time, it didn’t look like an injury that would heal in two months.

But now, it looks like a realistic timetable.

Details to come…

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Patrik Laine: “A big week ahead”.

Attention Habs fans.

Patrik Laine has just posted an image on social media mentioning that a big week is coming up. It’s safe to assume that he’s talking about a return to action this week.

We can’t be sure, but…

One thing’s for sure: last week, Martin St-Louis opened the door to seeing him return in the short term. He didn’t expect it in the next few days, but the week after that, it was a possibility.

And here we are the week after that.

It should also be noted that Laine mentioned, in his post on social networks, that he hoped Father André was a hockey fan. He took a photo in front of Saint Joseph’s Oratory.

What does this mean? Here again, it’s easy to guess.

Details to follow…

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World Junior Championship: only two QMJHL members invited

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - JUNE 29: Ethan Gauthier, 37th overall pick by the Tampa Bay Lightning, walks on the stage during the 2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft - Rounds 2-7 at Bridgestone Arena on June 29, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images)

Today, Hockey Canada unveiled its list of invited players for the World Junior Championship camp.

Basically, this means that the guys invited can take part in the practice camp, but are not guaranteed to make the club for the holiday tournament.

Here’s the roster.

What stands out is the fact that only two Québécois received their invitation: Ethan Gauthier and Mathieu Cataford. The Voltigeurs and Océanic players are the only Q representatives.

And for Habs fans, we note the absence of Michael Hage. This was expected… even if he has the stats to earn himself at least one invitation.

Details to come…

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Cayden Primeau is the NHL’s worst goalie

Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images

Statistically speaking, Cayden Primeau is the NHL’s worst goalie.

As we heard this morning on BPM Sports, of the 64 goaltenders who have played more than five games so far this season, Primeau has the worst efficiency rate (.844) and average (4.45) in the league.

Basically, he stops only 17 pucks out of 20 and gives up a goal every 13 minutes.

But aside from the stats, it’s the eye test that’s lacking. The guys play without confidence in front of him because he can’t make the right saves at the right time to give his team gas.

Yesterday afternoon, for example, on the Mike Matheson turnover that led to Bruins goal #4, making the save would have cringed the guys. That’s just one example among many.

Because Samuel Montembeault isn’t the most dominant of men, Montreal has a very weak duo. This explains why the Habs are so low in the standings.

Last year, with Jake Allen, things were going better. But he left to make room for Primeau, in particular… and the result isn’t exactly extraordinary, clearly.

(Credit: ESPN)

More and more, we’re wondering which performance will be the straw that breaks the camel’s back. So, basically, we’re wondering if waivers will soon be the answer.

I don’t think Primeau would be called for the waivers, by the way. And that’s despite the fact that he’ll be a restricted free agent at the end of the season, that he’s earning $1.1 million this season and that his footprint on the lot is $0.89 million.

But even if he went to Laval, would the Habs really want to bring up Connor Hughes, who is slowing down a bit in Laval? Jakub Dobes, who still needs some mileage before making it to the NHL?

I’m not saying the answer is no. What I am saying is that the Rocket doesn’t have a goalie ready right now to do better than Primeau.

In the short term, I think the answer is to overload Samuel Montembeault, since the only back-to-back left before Christmas is December 20 and 21 against the Red Wings.

That said, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Habs go for another goalie in the next few days. Stay tuned.

Overtime

– Cole Caufield would like to take part in the Four Nations Confrontation.

– Speaking of goalkeepers.

– Did the Habs break Arber Xhekaj?

– Wow.

– Day off for the Habs.

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Joshua Roy (very) little used and little involved: there’s no point in keeping him in Montreal

Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

The Canadiens had a big week of hockey in the last few days. The results against Utah, Columbus, New York and Boston: one win, two losses and one setback in overtime.

Three points out of eight.

The club is currently ranked 31st in the league, and the boys are showing no signs of progress. Management’s attempts to shock the team into shape are not making a difference.

(Credit: NHL.com)

One of them? Joshua Roy.

Roy was brought in at a time when there was more talk of cutting guys to (eventually) make room for the injured than when a recall was on the horizon. But still, the Habs decided to send Lucas Condotta down to bring the Québécois back.

Roy had originally been sent to Laval to get a message (whatever that message was), and he was doing well in the AHL. But since he was recalled, we haven’t seen him on the ice.

On the one hand, he’s not involved and seems lost. And on the other, it’s not as if Martin St-Louis is putting him in good conditions in terms of playing time either.

(Credit: ESPN)

Apart from Tuesday’s game, when Juraj Slafkovsky was benched and played one second less than Roy, the Québécois has consistently been his coach’s least-used player.

He doesn’t have good playing partners (bottom-6) and he doesn’t play on the powerplay. He also plays on the periphery.

The question is: what’s he doing in Montreal? Wouldn’t it be better to head back down to Laval to regain his confidence, get back some playing time… and help the Rocket get back on the winning track?

He and Logan Mailloux have one thing in common: they started the season in Laval, even though they were hoping to make the big club… they got a call-up… and they didn’t look very good.

In my eyes, sending Roy back down is the right thing to do. He could have a real impact on the results of a club that needs him, and it would get him out of the current Montreal atmosphere, too.

The Rocket couldn’t win without him this week.

This week, the Canadiens may well get some help from Patrik Laine. And even if the Habs can add him to their 23-man roster without cutting anyone else, they’ll still have to put a forward in the stands.

Why not take the opportunity to send Roy to Laval? And since the Habs have often gone with 22 players this year, I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s in the plans.

To be continued.

The Canadiens have officially sent Rafaël Harvey-Pinard to Laval, and Michael Pezzetta didn’t play a single game in November. He has played three games this year.

Overtime

– Indeed.

– Cole Caufield: very good overseas. [BPM Sports]

– Another Scott Boras client signs before Juan Soto.

– Sad news.

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“I’ve never seen Jeff Gorton so angry”: the weekend left its mark

It was quite a weekend for the Canadiens.

On Saturday, the Canadiens lost to the Rangers in familiar conditions. And on Sunday, the Canadiens lost to the Bruins in familiar conditions.

The result? Tankathon is officially my best friend again.

(Credit: Tankathon)

The games are divided into two parts. First, Sunday’s game was one where the Habs did “a lot of helping the opponent” on the ice, as the club’s coach often says.

But in Saturday’s game, it wasn’t an ugly one. After all, as Martin St-Louis said no less than six times after the game at Madison Square Garden, the club played a good game.

But clearly, he had a message to send to the referees (by refusing six times to comment on their work… without being asked) and it’s rare that he does so in a press conference.

Why did he do it this time? Was it because he sensed his boss’s frustration? One might think so, in light of what reporter Elliotte Friedman reported this morning on the 32 Thoughts Podcast.

People who were in New York over the weekend told me they’d never seen Jeff Gorton so angry. – Elliotte Friedman

If the coach said he was happy with his guys and didn’t want to talk about the officiating, you’d think the real boss of the Canadiens’ hockey operations was directing his anger at the referees.

Had it been 24 hours later, it would have been a different story, after all. Given the fact that there were players who looked bad (hello, Mike Matheson, Cayden Primeau and all those who allowed three goals in 70 seconds), it would have been understandable.

But that wasn’t the case.

I wonder what Gorton, who was playing his old teams this weekend, thinks of the Habs these days. After all, if he was this angry on Saturday, it’s probably because he sees his club’s season going in a direction he doesn’t like. #AccumulatedAnger

(Credit: NHL.com)

Overtime

– The Sharks have a great prospect on their hands.

Posts from the sanjosesharks
community on Reddit

– David Jiricek, traded (in part) because of his skating stroke? [NYT]

– 15 M worth of deadwood and first place in the NHL: congratulations to the Wild.

– Tomas Plekanec enjoys watching P.K. Subban talk about his favorite moments in the Boston/Montreal rivalry.

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Top-4: A hat trick for DeBrusk and a franchise record for Hughes

BUFFALO, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 29: Jake DeBrusk #74 of the Vancouver Canucks skates back to the bench after scoring a goal against Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen #1 of the Buffalo Sabresduring an NHL game on November 29, 2024 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Chris Conaway Jr./NHLI via Getty Images)

There were five games in the NHL on Sunday.

The Canadiens lost (again) to the Bruins… And the loss is likely to be the talk of the town today.

But let’s take a look at what happened in the other four games:

1: A hat trick for DeBrusk and a franchise record for Hughes

What should we remember about the Canucks-Red Wings game?

Simple: Jake DeBrusk’s performance.

The Canucks forward scored not one, not two… but three goals in his club’s 5-4 victory.

In fact, it was he who put an end to the debate in overtime:

DeBrusk got off to a slow start with his new team, but things are slowly coming together.

He now has 10 goals so far this season. That’s a very acceptable haul.

In the game, Quinn Hughes made history by becoming the Canucks defenseman with the most career assists in Vancouver.

He surpassed Alexander Edler in this respect:

2: A tough game for the Hawks

The longer this goes on, the more logical it is to believe that the Hawks will have the opportunity to draft again with a very good pick in a few months’ time.

The team is having a tough season, after all.

But Connor Bedard tried to put a smile back on his fans’ faces with this goal against the Blue Jackets :

On the Columbus side, there’s one player who’s been on fire since the start of the season: Kent Johnson.

The forward scored again yesterday, so he’s now collected (at least) a point in each of his nine games this season.

Things are going well for him:

The Blue Jackets eventually prevailed by a score of 6-3, but it’s not as if the two goaltenders didn’t try to put on a show.

Elvis Merzlikins and Petr Mrazek offered some real jewels :

3: One of the goals of the year for Mason Marchment

The game between the Stars and Jets had the feel of a playoff game.

The game was tight for most of the way, and the score was 1-1 in the third period.

That’s when Mason Marchment woke up, as the Stars’ forward scored a simply magnificent goal to give his team the lead:

Wow!

That goal was enough to give the Stars a 3-1 win.

Roope Hintz completed the scoring in an empty net.

Things are going well for the Stars: the team is sitting in 3rd place in its division and has a 15-8-0 record so far this season.

4: The Ducks can thank Zegras

Just before going to bed last night, I watched the first period of the game between the Ducks and the Sens.

The score was 1-1 as I was about to turn off the TV… But Jackson Lacombe scored late in the period.

The Ducks returned to the locker room with a one-goal lead:

Oh, I almost forgot…

While we’re on the subject of the first period, I can’t pass up this big check by Radko Gudas, who took down two Senators players :

Overtime was needed in the match to determine a winner between the two sides, but there were no goals.

Trevor Zegras took advantage of the shootout to give his team a 4-3 victory:

In the game, Brady Tkachuk scored two goals, Frank Vatrano collected three points (two goals, one assist) and Troy Terry finished with three assists.

Lukas Dostal was again good in front of his net, stopping 28 of 31 shots.

Overtime

– Oops.

– Love this.

– Ouch!

– Yesterday’s top scorers :

(Credit: NHL.com screenshot)

– Only three games today :

(Credit: Google screenshot)