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Top-5 : The Rangers now have the same number of points as the Habs

Yesterday, the Canadiens did not play, but there was a game that we had to watch.

The Rangers faced the Wild.

Here are the results and highlights:

1. Rangers win in overtime

The Rangers hosted the Wild and as a Habs fan, it was a game that we had to watch closely.

Unfortunately, New York won in overtime thanks to Vincent Trocheck’s goal.

Final score: 5-4.

In the win, J.T. Miller had an assist and it was his 700th career point.

K’Andre Miller also stood out with his shot.

What precision!

With this win, the Rangers joined the Habs in eighth place in the East, but since they have one more game played, they are in ninth place.

(Credit: NHL.com)

2. The Leafs are officially qualified

There may be a big race for the last playoff spots, but the division title is also at stake.

Last night, the Leafs hosted the Panthers and the stakes were high for this game: first place in the division.

In the end, Toronto won 3-2. In addition to moving away from Florida (who lost two games in two nights) and Tampa Bay, the Leafs officially qualified for the playoffs for the ninth consecutive season.

In their last eight appearances, however, the Leafs have only won one series.

If they finish first in the division, they should face the Senators in the first round.

Mitch Marner stood out in the game, scoring the second goal for his team.

He also had an assist on Matthew Knies’ winning goal.

Here’s an overview of the Atlantic Division:

(Credit: NHL.com )

3. The Hurricanes are in the playoffs

In addition to the Leafs, the Hurricanes could also qualify for the playoffs.

With a convincing win against the best team in the NHL, they got their ticket to the playoffs.

The team didn’t miss the opportunity to mock Greg Wyshynski, who had predicted that the team wouldn’t make the playoffs at the beginning of the season.

Seth Jarvis stood out in the win with a goal and an assist.

His goal was his 30th of the season.

Alex Ovechkin also found the back of the net.

His 892nd career goal. He is now just two goals away from Wayne Gretzky and three goals away from surpassing him.

4. Avalanche comeback

In Chicago, the Avalanche and Blackhawks faced off.

The Blackhawks, one of the worst teams in the NHL, gave the Avalanche a run for their money. They scored the first two goals of the game.

The next two goals, however, were scored by the Avalanche.

First, Cale Makar scored his 29th goal of the season.

Martin Necas sent everyone into overtime with 10 seconds left in the game.

Overtime was not enough to determine a winner.

In the shootout, Nathan MacKinnon served up a deke to Spencer Knight

And Artturi Lehkonen gave the Avalanche the win.

5. The Canucks lose their biggest game of the year

The Canucks are on the cusp of the playoffs.

But if they want to participate, they will have to start winning. Last night, they were crushed 5-0 by the Kraken. Their chances of making the playoffs are slim…

(Credit: NHL.com )

With seven games left and an eight-point difference with St. Louis, it will be tough…

The Flames are seven points behind Jim Montgomery’s team, with eight games left to play.

For the Kraken’s win, Jared McCann led the way with a three-assist performance.

Joey Daccord, on the other hand, made 24 saves for his second shutout of the season.

News about Shane Wright.

He scored the Kraken’s third goal and now has 41 points this season.

Overtime

– A rather eventful end to the game.

– Will he be suspended for his UFC-style move?

– Players with two or more points.

(Credit: NHL.com )

– In addition to the Canadiens-Bruins game, Lightning-Senators, Avalanche-Blue Jackets, and Ducks-Flames will be worth watching.

(Credit: Google )
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Jacob Fowler would likely be heading for a try-out in Laval

Less than 48 hours ago, Cam Robinson (Elite Prospects) reported that the Canadiens’ 20-year-old goalkeeper, Jacob Fowler, was leaning towards returning to the NCAA. This tweet, considered the result of an attempt at negotiation tactics by the Fowler family, has been dissected from A to Z since.

Now, at midnight last night, Robinson provided an update. He now notes that it is “highly likely” that Jacob Fowler will opt for an amateur try-out (ATO) with the Laval Rocket, which he would join upon their return from their road trip.

More details to follow

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Bogdan Konyushkov: the Habs prospect who disappointed in 2024-2025

Bogdan Konyushkov is a prospect of the Habs who is quite intriguing. Praised by many in the KHL during his debut, he decided to sign to stay in Russia until next year.

However, his star has faded since, and as his season just ended, there are more questions than answers about him.

What is interesting in his case is that he is a right-handed defenseman, and that is not something the Habs have in abundance in Montreal.

However, his production in 2024-2025 decreased as he only scored 17 points in 67 games. Will the Habs want to bring him back when his contract ends? The question remains. The rights to Konyushkov.

It’s not the ice time that was lacking for him this year, as he played almost 23 minutes per game on average.

While Konyushkov wants to come to North America, we don’t know if the Habs have the same willingness. We don’t feel any pressure, according to the information that has been circulating everywhere in recent months.

We will remember that the legendary Igor Larionov said in an interview with Nicolas Cloutier, from TVA Sports, that the Russian defenseman could already be an important part of the Habs.

It seems that the opinion of the Tricolore is different, at least for now. In his latest article, Cloutier reports that we don’t know if the Habs went to see him during their last trip to see Demidov play.

Konyushkov has one year left to convince the Habs to give him a chance, and honestly, I would be surprised if the Tricolore doesn’t sign him.

He could, in the worst-case scenario, go to Laval and play an important role with the team, and who knows, he could come and help the Canadiens on their third pair.

Overtime

– New podcast.

– Ayoye!

– The Wild doesn’t help the cause.

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Lane Hutson is keeping a close eye on Ivan Demidov’s performances in playoffs

The Habs have developed several ways to reach their fans in recent years, including live video game sessions featuring players.

Samuel Montembeault and Lane Hutson played live on Madden today and took the opportunity to talk about the team’s top prospect, Ivan Demidov.

To say the least, Hutson is well informed about Demidov’s actions in Russia, as his team now faces elimination.

He knew the Russian prospect had scored in the morning and, in addition to confirming to Montembeault that he was in the playoffs, he complimented him.

“He’s good, really good” – Lane Hutson

Montembeault added that he looked so skilled.

It’s amazing how Hutson breathes hockey. He always attends optional practices and never stops working. It pays off as he is on his way to winning the Calder Trophy. He has six points in two games.

Additionally, he seems well informed about what’s going on outside of the team, which is quite interesting because at this stage of the season, players are often focused on themselves.

We all can’t wait to see Demidov arrive in North America, but in the meantime, the Habs are offering us a great playoff run. Lane Hutson is a major contributor and demonstrates, night after night, that a player’s size doesn’t matter when will and talent come together.

He’s only 21, we all can’t wait to follow his progress over the next few years. He has everything it takes to be a top pair defenseman for years to come.

Overtime

– It’s incredible.

– The Rocket is in action tonight.

– Oh no.

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Biz was moved to hear the song Le But at the Centre Bell after the win against the Panthers

I thought I was the only one to notice that the song The Goal by Loco Locass was played in the Bell Center after Nick Suzuki completed the Canadiens’ late comeback on Tuesday night in overtime.

It should be noted that the real goal song played normally after the siren.

That being said, at first, the “Allez Montréal” didn’t seem like an anomaly to me, as if the old habit was back for a few seconds. After all, I grew up with this song, and it brought back a lot of memories for a generation of Quèbècois fans of a Montreal team that managed to stay in the game over the years.

However, there is one person who noticed it and cursed about it on Tuesday night, and that’s Biz himself.

The Loco Locass rapper was watching the game with Jean-Charles Lajoie, who recounted the scene during his Jean-Charles en liberté episode of the day.

“My friend Biz is close to having a little moisture in the corner of his eye. […] The Goal starts, I look at my friend and I’m moved to see that he’s emotional, and together we’re even more moved by the images relayed to us by RDS in the stands, where we see people in turn emotional singing in heart Allez, allez, allez, allez Montréal“

— Jean-Charles Lajoie

My editorial is simple tonight: The Goal will forever have a cultural, symbolic, linguistic, and emotional charge far superior – it’s not even up for debate – to the new “goal song” of the Canadiens, which is in reality a very (too) simple rallying cry that boils down to a 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 beat and a “HEY!”

The beat would be good anywhere but in Montreal… but I’m a purist, and I assume it. The removal of The Goal, in my opinion, is another important element of the Canadiens’ culture that was simply abandoned for corporate reasons.

What do you think?

Overtime

– After Ryan Leonard’s, it’s Gabe Perreault’s turn to make his debut!

– He lost some feathers…

– A nice gesture from the captain.

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There was a time when the #1 center of the Canadiens barely scored 55 points

When the Montreal Canadiens reached the Eastern Conference final in 2013-2014, their number one center, Tomas Plekanec, scored 43 points in 82 games in the regular season. David Desharnais, the team’s second center, finished the year with 52 points in 79 games.

From 2007 to 2017, Plekanec was the Canadiens’ most used center year after year, and almost always the first choice at 5 on 5. He averaged 54.3 points per season.

This being said, he was not always the most productive center. Over 11 seasons, the center who scored the most points in Montreal produced at a rate of 61.3 points per 82 games.

I’m going where with my skis?

I don’t want to harp on Tomas Plekanec, who was a wonderful two-way center for the Habs, or David Desharnais, one of the best in NHL history to have previously been a regular in the ECHL.

I just want to realize how lucky we are:

  1. In a universe where the Canadiens’ number one center was barely scoring 55 points per season less than 10 years ago, Nick Suzuki is accumulating 79 points in 74 games and should finish the season, at this rate, with 30 more points than the average observed over time.
  2. In a universe where the best center on the Canadiens was averaging 61 points per season for 10 years, Lane Hutson, a rookie defenseman, has 62 points in 74 games.

Since the beginning of the 2000s, there have been only six forwards who have had a more productive season than Lane Hutson in 2024-2025:

Alex Kovalev, Saku Koivu, Max Domi, Tomas Plekanec… Cole Caufield… and Nick Suzuki, who is at the top of the millennium.

This means that 3 of the 11 best statistical individual seasons by a Canadiens player since 2000-2001… are currently underway.

The best center, the second-best winger, and the best defenseman… in 25 years.

Of course, it’s impressive, considering the limited amount of raw talent that has passed through Montreal in the last three decades… But on the NHL scale, Pierre LeBrun says that GMs are starting to be afraid of this team. Suzuki, Caufield, and Hutson are already a three-headed monster… and Ivan Demidov hasn’t even arrived yet.

In short. My point is simply to say that we are really lucky in 2025, and that the Canadiens have by far the best foundation they’ve had in a very long time. The numbers are unequivocal in Montreal. After that, what impact will this core have on the NHL scale? That’s not done yet. But it’s allowed to wonder what the ceiling is for these three young players, and especially, the ceiling of a complete team led by these guys…

Overtime

– Lane Hutson is still learning, BTW.

– If Hutson doesn’t win the Calder, it’s nothing short of an investigation!

– There will be one, but who will it be?

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Renaud Lavoie : “I don’t understand why we’re not calling up Cayden Primeau”

With eight games still to be played, the Canadiens must hope that their two goalies will hold the fort until the end of the regular season.

Because if the Habs’ goalies string together poor performances, as I mentioned in a post today… the team will not be able to hope to make a run in the playoffs – or even get their ticket to the spring dance.

This is the most important part of the season, after all.

The problem, right now, is that the Habs can’t trust their second goalie.

Jakub Dobes is having too much trouble and other teams know he’s easy to beat high in the net.

Renaud Lavoie’s (BPM Sports) solution to this problem is simple: they need to call up Cayden Primeau to bring him back to Montreal.

Because in fact, the guy who started the season in Montreal has been on fire since his return to Laval.

I’m looking at Laval and there’s a guy named Cayden Primeau. I don’t understand why they’re not calling him up. – Renaud Lavoie

Primeau’s stats have been hallucinating since his return to Laval.

And you’ll understand when you see them:

  • 18-2-1 record
  • 2.07 goals-against average
  • .921 save percentage

Some will say he has a great team in front of him, and that helps him be dominant, and that’s true to some extent.

But the difference is that Primeau makes big saves in important moments… which is not the case with Dobes – or even Monty – in recent weeks.

Maybe the Habs will also be tempted to bring him back if Jacob Fowler goes to Laval. We’re keeping an eye on the situation with the American goalie because it seems there’s a chance he could return to university, but we’ll see.

All this to say that the idea of calling up Primeau makes sense, especially when you see how good he’s been in the American League.

You’ll tell me that the American League and the National League are completely different… and I agree with that.

But as long as they’re keeping a goalie who’s not doing the job and doesn’t seem to have much confidence, why not give a chance to a guy who’s on fire in the minors?

The question is being asked… even if we know Primeau has never had much success in the NHL.

Overtime

– The SKA’s season could end on Friday.

–

– Indeed.

– The guys like Lane Hutson.

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No points in 10 games: It’s time for Mike Matheson to wake up

The Canadiens will need the production of all their players if they want to participate in the playoffs.

From the bunch?

Mike Matheson… who has been having difficulties offensively for three weeks. The Canadiens’ defenseman is no longer producing and he must step up before it’s too late.

It’s simple: the defenseman’s last point dates back to… March 11.

He had scored against the Canucks that night, in Vancouver.

Matheson has been shut out in his last 10 games and it’s happening at the worst moment of the season.

Of course, Lane Hutson is taking up a lot of space right now… but still: the Canadiens’ veteran must start doing what he does best, which is to help his team offensively.

(Credit: ESPN)

There’s Matheson who’s “disappointing” right now, but I’ve also targeted the names of four other players who must give more in my opinion.

Let’s start with whom?

I feel like talking about Emil Heineman…

1: Emil Heineman

The Canadiens’ big forward had a great start to the season and we could even say he was on fire in December, when he collected nine points in 14 games.

For a support player, that’s really respectable production.

But since the new year and since his injury, we no longer see the Emil Heineman of 2024.

The Swede hasn’t scored since January 3 (it’s been almost three months) and he’s not capable of earning a point since then.

Heineman has a meager assist in his last 22 games…

For a team to be able to win consistently, it needs the support of its four lines. Heineman has been playing on the second line for a few games, but he’s spent most of his time on the last line alongside Jake Evans and Joel Armia.

The fourth unit isn’t doing “badly,” but we need to see more.

That brings me to Evans…

2: Jake Evans

Jake Evans was so good three months ago that we were all wondering if the Canadiens should absolutely offer him a contract extension.

But…

But since the player signed the extension, he’s been slowing down. A bit like Heineman: Evans had great moments in December – especially during the holiday trip – and it’s been tougher since then.

I’m willing to give him a small break because he’s still excellent in his role on the penalty kill and he helps the Canadiens a lot in that regard.

However, we need to find the Jake Evans we saw before he signed his contract. The center only has eight points (two goals) in his last 37 games… and that’s not enough.

Not nearly enough.

3: Alex Newhook

I said it recently in an article and I’ll say it again: I like what Alex Newhook has been bringing lately.

He’s using his speed to create chances and it seems like he’s able to exploit it more since his return to center.

That being said, Newhook is playing on the second unit and players in that position need to produce offensively to help their team.

That’s not the case with Newhook… who has only four small points in his last 15 games, since the beginning of March and since the Canadiens need to win important games.

He needs to convert his scoring chances to bring offense to the second unit. After all, Patrik Laine isn’t the best at 5-on-5 and it’s not Emil Heineman who will revive that line.

Newhook needs to be able to contribute to the Canadiens’ offensive successes.

4: Samuel Montembeault and Jakub Dobes

I decided to put the two Canadiens goalies in the same “category” because neither of them has been excellent lately.

It seems to have improved a bit for Monty: the Quebecer has won his last two games – against the Panthers, no less – but he also had a tougher stretch in the last days of March.

He seemed tired… and that’s normal.

Dobes, on the other hand, hasn’t been playing much because the Canadiens are having trouble trusting him.

That’s normal too: the big goalie has only one win in his last nine starts and that’s not enough to allow the Habs to dream of glory.

The Canadiens will need both their goalies from now until the end of the season to go get important points in the standings.

Otherwise… we can forget about the playoffs right now.

Extension

I thought about including David Savard’s name on my list.

But at the same time… I find it hard to ask a 34-year-old veteran who’s slowing down significantly to give more on the ice.

He’s doing what he has to do: Savard blocks shots and plays his role on the penalty kill.

But at even strength, we know it’s tougher because it seems like his body isn’t always keeping up.

In short, all these guys need to find a way to wake up…

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The Canadiens have put their tickets on sale for the playoffs

There is truly a buzz in town.

All eyes are on the habs’ ascent up the rankings in the East and the more it goes, the more it’s possible to believe that the playoffs are within reach.

The game against the Panthers yesterday is a good example: the Centre Bell was on fire after Nick Suzuki’s overtime goal. It’s been a long time since we’ve seen that in Montreal…

The fact that the habs are fighting for a playoff spot is also reflected in the ratings.

After all, yesterday’s ratings on RDS were tremendous:

The habs have eight games left to play before the end of the regular season and they are currently in the last playoff spot in the East.

At this level, Réjean Tremblay wrote this morning in his article of the day (Punching Grace) that the habs have put their playoff tickets on sale:

My pusher, excuse me, my habs representative, Gabriel Marcotte is preparing to press the magic button on the big computer at the Centre Bell this morning […] This morning, the habs are putting their playoff tickets on sale. – Réjean Tremblay

We can already find tickets on StubHub… but not on TicketMaster.

That being said, we’re starting to prepare for the possibility of seeing the habs participate in the playoffs, and that’s normal.

It must be a lot of work right now for the people involved in the “project”… but it must also be nice to work in a situation like that.

It’s different from the last few years, at least!

Note that in the article, we can read that the habs will only release electronic tickets for the playoffs two games at a time.

This is logical, in a way, since the habs don’t necessarily have the best chances of winning the Stanley Cup this year.

Nevertheless, just knowing that playoff tickets will be available soon… it’s something.

No one expected that to be the case at the start of the season!

Overtime

– Reinforcements in Edmonton.

– There were visitors for Monty this morning in Brossard.

– Nice contest:

– Lane Hutson is fantastic.

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The Canadiens have the second easiest schedule in the NHL from now on

Talking about rankings a bit.

Right now, the Canadiens control their own destiny. If they win the games they need to win, they will clearly give themselves a chance to make the playoffs, even if the Rangers and the Red Wings have more wins in the regular season, in case of a tie.

Here’s what it looks like.

(Credit: Sportsnet)

By the end of the season, the club only has three away games compared to five at home. The trip to Nashville is a bit weird, but otherwise, there’s not much travel to do.

The short trip to Ontario won’t be too taxing in terms of travel.

(Credit: NHL.com)

And when we look at the quality of the opponents, we can see that it won’t be that difficult. I know that nothing is “easy” in the NHL, but we can see that it’s relatively soft, as a schedule.

Boston, Philly, and Nashville this week? They won’t make the playoffs.

Detroit, Ottawa, and Toronto? They are competitive teams and will be the toughest part of the schedule until the end of the regular season for Martin St-Louis’ men.

Chicago and Carolina, at a time when the games will surely be over for the Canes? That’s okay.

And when we look at the Tankathon website, we can see that the Canadiens have the 31st easiest schedule in the league, and only the games against Carolina and Toronto are in the “difficult” category on the site.

And in the top-5 most difficult schedules, we find the Red Wings (1st), the Blue Jackets (4th), and the Rangers (5th), three teams in the running against the Canadiens. The Islanders are 13th.

(Credit: Tankathon)

During the winter, we often said that the schedule was difficult and that there were many away games. We said that by the end of the season, it would be easier.

And we’re at that point. It’s up to the players not to let their chance slip away now.

Overtime

– Anyway.

– LPHF: how negative are the media towards the Victoire? [HEOTP]

– Ouch.

– Excellent.

– Note.