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Josh Anderson wore cut-resistant socks for the first time in his career yesterday

Right now, it is impossible not to respect the work of Josh Anderson.

We know that the Canadiens veteran is playing hurt. And yet, he is giving it his all on the ice like we saw him do during the playoffs in 2021.

When Andy plays like that, he is really useful for the Habs. He deserves the attention he has been getting lately:

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Ivan Demidov is likely to finish the season in junior

We are all looking forward to seeing Ivan Demidov arrive in Montreal.

This is normal, he is one of the best prospects in the National League and we all expect him to be able to help the Habs quickly.

But at this level… let’s note that we shouldn’t necessarily believe he will arrive in town as soon as the SKA of Saint-Petersburg is eliminated in the playoffs.

Marco D’Amico talked about it in a recent article (RG Media) and it’s very well explained: a source told him that if the SKA is quickly eliminated in the playoffs, the Habs’ prospect will continue his season in the MHL.

The MHL, let’s remember, is the equivalent of the junior league in Russia.

And let’s also remember that Demidov broke all records in this league last season…

In 23-24, Demidov played 30 games with the SKA-1946 St-Petersburg in the MHL.

And he collected… 60 points, including 23 goals. The Habs’ prospect also helped the club win the championship with 28 points in just 17 games.

What I’m trying to say here is that he has nothing to learn in a league like that… and if he is forced to finish the season in the MHL, he will play in a lower caliber than his talent.

Especially since, well… Demidov is one of the most productive players in the KHL this season, one of the best leagues on the planet. This won’t stop his coach from leaving him out tomorrow, but that’s another discussion.

The Habs’ prospect, playing in a league like the MHL, would not be able to progress because he was already too strong last season.

Note that according to Marco D’Amico’s information, there would be only one way to see Ivan Demidov leave Russia to finish the season in Montreal.

The Habs would have to make it to the Stanley Cup Finals, which will take place in June.

The reason is simple: Demidov’s contract with the SKA will end on May 31.

In Overtime

– No surprise here.

– A chance that the Habs can count on them.

– Ah yes?

– To follow.

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Patrik Laine hated Brendan Gallagher

Brendan Gallagher has been playing in the National Hockey League (NHL) since the 2012-2013 season.

His reputation is well-established, and in Montreal, we know what he can bring to the ice.

The Habs fans love him… but fans of other teams hate him. A bit like Brad Marchand! #Pest

Because he is capable of bothering his opponents, because he is a bit of a pest, because he has a smile on his face when he is annoying other teams… Gally is also a player who is not very well-liked by other NHL players on the ice.

Patrik Laine said it, after all: he hated Brendan Gallagher before arriving in Montreal.

But since he’s been playing with him… he loves him. Laine had never met him off the ice:

It makes you realize how lucky we are to have a guy like Gallagher in Montreal.

Because even at 32, he hasn’t changed. He continues to be just as disliked by everyone because he plays his role as a pest to perfection.

It’s hard not to appreciate this player in town!

Gallagher is a demanding guy with his body.
(Credit: Screenshot/Twitter)

Laine praised Gally, but he also took the time to speak well of his captain.

The Finn made a point to mention that Suzuki has been excellent since the end of the 4 Nations tournament.

And he also referred to the fact that Suzuki is a great leader for the group. The Habs are in an important period right now, and #14 has risen to the occasion:

The Habs players never hesitate to praise their teammate, and it really shows that the group in Montreal is united.

We know the guys are close, after all. And it shows when we see them giving it their all for each other on the ice, like they have been for a few weeks now.

It’s beautiful to see, especially.

Overtime

– Nick Suzuki, as a captain, is in the same category as Bob Gainey and Serge Savard. [Bob Hartley – BPM Sports]

– Absolutely.

– Well done.

– Good read.

– Maxime Truman has news about today’s CF Montreal practice:

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Ivan Demidov, the Habs’ top scorer, will be left out tomorrow because he « must practice »

The SKA of Saint-Petersburg will be in action tomorrow against Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg.

And Ivan Demidov will not play.

Not because he is injured, sick or whatever we might think… But because he will be left out by his coach. 

Roman Rotenberg made this decision because the opposing team has big players.

The SKA coach claims that Demidov may not be ready to face a physical team like that… and that’s why he said in an interview that he wants to see his young player spend time in the gym to improve his strength.

Great. #Not

Did Demidov refuse to extend his contract with SKA and is that why the organization is punishing him?

Of course, maybe that’s the case… because leaving the team’s leading scorer on the bench – even if SKA is facing a physical team – is really illogical.

It doesn’t make sense, at least.

It’s like Martin St-Louis deciding to remove Suzuki or Caufield from the lineup for a game against the Bruins because he thinks they’re not strong enough to perform well against a robust team…

Well, that wouldn’t fly in Montreal! 

Lucky for SKA, the season will end soon because at some point, this becomes ridiculous.

Demidov is on a cold streak: he has not collected any points in his last four games and it has been seven weeks (January 28) since he last scored… but still.

No coach in the NHL would make the decision to bench a talented player like him, and this adds more emphasis on the fact that in Russia, young players are not treated properly.

Extension

With 49 points (19 goals) in 64 games, Demidov is not only leading his team in scoring and third in goals for SKA, but he’s also the 22nd top scorer in the KHL this season.

I wonder if we’ll see him in the playoffs… And if not, I really think we’ll be in trouble with the habs management. 

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The heavens aren’t helping Joshua Roy because basically, he doesn’t seem to be helping himself

Help yourself and the sky will help you.

This old expression is still valid today, except that I prefer the atheist version: do what you have to do and everything will be fine.

How many times have I told my children to always do what they had to do before thinking about playing, going out, turning on the PlayStation, etc.?

If I were Joshua Roy’s father, I would say the same thing to my son: do what you have to do and the rest will be fine.

On the ice, Roy doesn’t do what he has to do. Yesterday, almost everyone played well. Even the first trio and Samuel Montembeault, who received some criticism on social media, deserved a passing grade after the game. It’s no coincidence that Gilbert only gave out two positive comments this morning on BPM Sports.

There was no recipient of the “I regret it, but he must play better” comment.

Except that there is one guy who needs to play better if he wants to stay in the best hockey league in the world: Joshua Roy.

Joshua Roy must give more if he wants to pursue his career in the NHL.
(Credit: Getty Images)

Yesterday, he didn’t get any points, he finished his workday at minus-1, he gave a hit… and he had two shots on Linus Ullmark’s net. At least…

This season with the big club, Roy hasn’t scored in eight games, with a cumulative differential of minus-4. He was recalled for his sense of offensive play, being placed with offensive players.

Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton decided not to bring help to their locker room, especially on offense, and Joshua Roy is getting another (last?) chance to prove himself. But he’s not taking it.

Is he too slow – both on skates and in his decisions with the puck – to establish himself in the NHL?

I’d like to see him eat the boards and give it his all on the ice to answer that question. Right now, I have the impression that there’s unused fuel in Roy’s tank…

Do we really feel that the young Quebec forward is playing with the energy of desperation and last chance when he jumps on the ice?

Off the ice, Joshua Roy doesn’t seem to be doing what he has to do either. And I’m not talking about his evenings or love life…

On October 20th, Roy failed to show up for a signing session he had scheduled with Universe Collectibles. The organizers called and texted him, but he didn’t respond to his cell.

The next day, his agent Olivier Fortier had said on BPM Sports that he was already in talks with the organizers to reschedule the missed session for free. The fans who were present, disappointed and angry, fully deserved it.

Now, five months later, the aforementioned session still hasn’t been rescheduled.

And nothing leads me to believe it will be soon.

I have a lot of trouble with no-shows, ghosting, lack of respect for a company’s customers (or in this case, fans), and unkept promises. That’s why I took a few minutes yesterday, during the Stanley25 podcast, to talk about Joshua Roy. The excerpt is already available.

The goal of all this is to make sure this signing session takes place. I’m even offering to organize it with my boy JT.

Back to hockey…

Roy is currently in the second-to-last season of his entry-level contract. I hope he’ll be sent back to Laval soon. Why not recall a guy like Alex Barré-Boulet in his place? Or Owen Beck? Or Sean Farrell? Or Jared Davidson? Or Lucas Condotta? Or Florian Xhekaj?

AHL call-ups should be based on merit. Right now, it’s not Joshua Roy who deserves to be with the Habs the most among Rocket players.

Extension

Also in this week’s episode (Stanley25): the incredible marketing of the Montreal Nets, the poorly maintained arenas in Quebec, the scenario of a first-round win by the Habs over the Capitals, the patience needed before encouraging Ivan Demidov in Montreal, the solitary and quiet side of Patrik Laine, the reasons for Josh Norris’ departure, Emil Heineman’s difficulties, Luc Gélinas’ demand to Chantal Machabée, and the incredible sequence of the Habs.

Good watching!

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Standing: the Canadiens control their destiny

Recently, I wrote that if the Habs wanted to make the playoffs, they would have to become the Capitals of Washington. Why? Because it’s the only East club playing for more than .676, which is what the Habs needed to get 92 points in the standings.

And now, a few games later, what does it look like?

If we still assume 92 points is the base for the playoffs, we see that the Habs will need 19 points in 15 games from now until the end of the season. To do that, they will have to play for .633.

(Credit: Sportsnet)

But the big difference is that over the past two games, the Habs have moved up the standings. Right now, Martin St-Louis’ men are sitting in the last playoff spot.

That doesn’t guarantee a spot, since the team, which is playing for .545 this season, doesn’t have much room for error.

However, the difference between the last few days and the standings as of last night is that the Habs control their own destiny. If they win enough games, they can make the playoffs without overtaking anyone.

Obviously, that’s true today, but it won’t necessarily be the case going forward. After all, if the team loses tomorrow night against the Islanders, that will change things.

What can also help the Habs, whose chemistry is excellent in town, is that the other teams in the running don’t seem to be in control. But again, that can change quickly.

The Blue Jackets seem to be running out of gas. The Red Wings are losing often. The Rangers don’t seem to want to take it to the next level.

Right now, among the eight worst teams in the East, the team that can be the most fearsome is Patrick Roy’s team. Last year, they came back in the standings, and that can happen again this year.

The guys know how to do it.

Beating the Islanders tomorrow night in regulation would create a five-point gap, but would also improve the Habs’ record, which has only 24 wins in 60 minutes this season. And that’s the first tiebreaker if two teams have the same number of points after 82 games…

Tomorrow’s game will be really important. But you already knew that, I think.

Overtime

– Good news in Laval.

– What to do with the 2026 All-Star Game?

– Extending overtime: not in the plans.

– Gary Bettman doesn’t like the format.

– Collective bargaining: negotiations in April.

– Interesting.

– To note.

– Nice.

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It smells like playoffs in Montreal

It smells like playoffs in Montreal. Right now, it’s not more complicated than that.

Attention: I’m not saying it’s definitely going to happen – and I’m the first to have doubts because the team can’t afford to make mistakes. But currently, Nick Suzuki’s Canadiens (who is playing his role as captain and first center well) are rolling well.

And they are in a playoff position.

(Credit: Sportsnet)

These days, the weather is nice in Montreal, the snow is melting, and the team has real chances of making the playoffs for the first time since 2021, the year of the Stanley Cup final against Tampa Bay.

In my opinion, if Justin Trudeau was at the Canadian Tire this week, it was to buy a seat for the parade in June… #OrNot

But joking aside, there’s a sense of excitement. Yesterday’s game was highly anticipated, even if the playoffs are still a month away. On Saturday night, against Florida, the six-minute wave is an example of the fans’ commitment, who are hungry.

And it’s understandable.

The last time there was a playoff game in Montreal in a full Centre Bell was in 2017. Canadiens fans are clinging to the hope that it will just keep going well.

And it’s carrying the city.

But I think it’s more than that. After all, the Canadiens’ fans bought into the reconstruction plan of Kent Hughes, Jeff Gorton, and Geoff Molson knowing that one day, it would get better.

And this summer, the stars will align. The team should go get a big center player and Ivan Demidov will arrive in town, which will add two top-6 players – if everything goes as planned.

I think that’s part of the current optimism. After all, Demidov has been expected for a while…

Obviously, we shouldn’t put the cart before the horse. However, it’s clear that right now, we understand why the wave surrounding the Canadiens is bigger than in the past.

in overtime

– To read.

– I’m jealous.

– Portraits of Passion MLB: the 30 teams are done. [Passion MLB]

– Return to play to be expected for the Colorado captain?

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Rocket : New contract for Lucas Condotta | Long absence for Rafaël Harvey-Pinard

This morning, there are two pieces of news to note from Laval.

First, the Canadiens announced that Lucas Condotta, who is the captain of the Rocket de Laval, has signed a new two-year contract with the Habs organization.

This is a two-part agreement.

He has been in Laval for several years and has had a few call-ups here and there in Montreal. But clearly, he knows that for the next two years, his role is not going to change.

And he is obviously okay with that.

Without his contract, he would have been eligible for full autonomy this summer. The Habs are therefore keeping an important piece of the puzzle in place since even if Condotta only has three goals and 23 points in 50 games, he is appreciated.

He plays his captain’s role well.

But in this race for the playoffs for the Rocket, it’s not the only news this morning related to the farm club, as a medical update on Rafaël Harvey-Pinard has been announced.

We learn that due to an upper-body injury, the Québécois forward will be out for six weeks.

His regular season is therefore over, and he could return in the playoffs, if all goes well. And if he played for the Panthers or the Golden Knights, his salary would be– ah no, sorry: I’m mixing up several files.

This is a tough blow for RHP, who missed the start of the Canadiens’ season due to an injury and has never been able to regain his place in Montreal. He will be a restricted free agent this summer.

Overtime

– He won’t do like Brett Favre.

– Ah yes?

– Speaking of the Rocket.

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From undesirables to essentials: Anderson the monster, Dvorak the star and Gallagher the playmaker

Do you feel it, the playoff fever?

I don’t know to what extent the habs really have a chance to make the playoffs this season. After all, in the event of a tie, regular season wins count – and the habs are at 24 only.

But I’m not necessarily here to crush the wave: this morning, the habs are in the playoffs.

(Credit: Sportsnet)

The chances of seeing the habs qualify mathematically are around 31.2%, at the moment. But when you look at how the guys are playing, it seems like it’s more than that.

Why? Because something is happening right now, in Montreal.

And on that topic, it’s clear that Josh Anderson has his say. The guy has been playing hurt for many weeks, but he doesn’t let it show on the ice.

He had 1000 opportunities to take evenings off (again yesterday, he was almost cut by a skate), but he continues to have his say in the team’s successes.

Without him (and his trio in general) last night, the habs wouldn’t have won 6-3 against Ottawa in a big hockey game.

He scored the goal that tied the game 3-3 and later in the game, he made a great effort to score in an empty net and make it 5-3. His teammates rewarded him on his return to the bench and it was deserved because he was a monster on the ice.

Then, after the game, he was warmly applauded by the fans, who recognize his efforts.

But for him, it’s normal to do all that: he wants to win in Montreal. The last few years have been tough, but he still wants to win here. That’s why he’s making the efforts and redeeming his difficult 2023-2024 season.

But we must not forget his trio in general, tonight. And it must be emphasized because seeing that the first trio was more discreet and the habs still won, it says a lot.

Brendan Gallagher and Christian Dvorak were important.

In total, the trio got nine points. There were Anderson’s two goals, but we must not forget Christian Dvorak’s four points. The guy had a Wayne Gretzky vibe, last night.

Besides his three assists, Dvorak opened the scoring in the beginning of the game. Yes, he took advantage of the fact that the goalkeeper was destabilized without his stick… but it’s still a goal, let’s say.

I don’t know what Dvorak put in his Honeycomb yesterday morning, but I want some too.

But we must also talk, about that goal, about Patrik Laine’s powerful shot that made Linus Ullmark lose his stick… and about Brendan Gallagher’s clever pass to his center player.

Gally, yesterday, it was three points, including a goal in an empty net. Like the members of his trio, Gallagher has gone from undesirable to essential to the habs’ successes this season. He’s no longer “to be thrown away” for the fans.

And by the way, the habs’ little warrior, who must be eager to return to the playoffs one day, has reached 16 goals this season. It’s really not bad, after all.

But there’s not just that trio that made noise during the game.

What makes the habs in a position to make the playoffs this morning? What are the elements that led the habs to a big win?

1. Nick Suzuki is one of the best players in the National League since the break. He was probably whipped by his “forgetting” with Team Canada, but also by Kent Hughes’ words, who asked him to win games to not trade players.

Clearly, he understood things.

Yesterday, it wasn’t his trio that stood out, but he found a way to score – on the second powerplay wave – which became the winning goal in the game.

It was a bit the same for Lane Hutson, who scored via a play sequence that only he has the secret to among the habs’ defensemen. It made the difference in the game.

2. The habs came back from behind twice in the game and we must emphasize the work of the defense. 25 minutes for Mike Matheson… 28 shifts (almost 20 minutes) for Alexandre Carrier… almost 23 minutes for Lane Hutson…

They made the difference. And still on the blue line, even if Arber Xhekaj played little, he kept the Senators quiet. There were no outbursts.

3. Samuel Montembeault was not perfect during the game. He let in two goals that he would probably like to see again (especially the Senators’ third)… he extinguished the crowd at times… he knows he owes one to his teammates.

But by the way, he won the game. And this save deserves to be seen again.

Does Montembeault, one of the most used goalies in the National League, need a little rest? Is he capable of becoming the goalie the habs need again?

In my eyes, it’s just a tougher game – but really not horrible anyway – after several excellent games. If it continues, it will become a trend. We’ll see.

4. Juraj Slafkovsky had to be Brady Tkachuk, yesterday. I talked about it in a post yesterday morning, but it didn’t happen. That being said, even Brady Tkachuk wasn’t Brady Tkachuk, yesterday.

It was especially Josh Anderson who was Brady Tkachuk, yesterday. #Warrior

5. We could also talk about Alex Newhook who wants to break through, but we’ll end with this: the Senators are in a good position to make the playoffs, but they missed their chance to distance themselves from the habs.

With a regular season win, Ottawa would have had a seven-point lead over New York and eight over Montreal. The difference? The Senators are not desperate right now, unlike the habs.

overtime

This morning, there will be an optional practice at 11 am in Brossard. And then, the habs will head to New York because tomorrow, Patrick Roy’s Islanders are on the menu.

Will it be an important game, you say? Obviously.

The Islanders’ win last night tightens the standings and with a New York win tomorrow, there would be only one point between the Islanders and the habs after the game.

It’s not over yet, this race.

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Top-5 : All Canadian teams in the playoffs except the Flames

Nine games were on the schedule in the NHL last night.

The Canadiens were in action too, and they beat the Senators.

Here are the other results and highlights:

1. All Canadian teams in the playoffs except Calgary

If you had told me that as of March 19, all Canadian teams would be in a playoff position except one, I would have said: “I guess the Habs are the team out of the playoffs?”

Well, no, it’s true that all Canadian teams are in the playoffs except one, but the team not in the top 8 of their conference is the Calgary Flames. Last night, they won 2-1 against the Rangers, but the Canucks did the same against the Jets, so Calgary is still out of the playoff picture.

(Credit: NHL.com )

In the East, the three teams from north of the border are in a playoff position.

We don’t see that often.

(Credit: NHL.com )

Obviously, there are many games left before the start of the playoffs, but if the playoffs were to start tonight, six Canadian teams out of seven would be in the tournament, and five would have a chance to make it to the second round.

The Canucks would face the Jets, and logically, one of these teams would be eliminated in the first round.

The seventh Canadian team, the Flames, is not out of the picture either… They are two points behind the Canucks. But if there’s one Canadian team that Habs fans don’t want to see in the playoffs, it’s Calgary. #FirstChoice

2. The Oilers reach 40 wins in style

If the Canucks, the Senators, and the Habs are not guaranteed a playoff spot, the Oilers have a good lead.

Last night, they reached the 40-win mark in style. A 7-1 win against Utah.

In the win, Connor McDavid proved why he’s still the best player in the world.

Besides McDavid (one goal and two assists), Zach Hyman, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Mathias Ekholm also did well with three points each.

The game plan was to counter Leon Draisaitl, who was on an 18-game point streak.

This streak came to an end, as the German did not score any points on Edmonton’s seven goals.

3. Sidney Crosby fourth in history for points with a franchise

Sidney Crosby continues to dominate.

Last night, he scored the second goal for the Penguins and thus surpassed Wayne Gretzky in terms of points scored with one franchise.

It was his 1670th point.

Gretzky will be surpassed by the Penguins captain and (possibly) by the Capitals captain this season.

And with all his political controversies… Not a good year for the 99.

The first goal of the team was scored by Joona Koppanen. It was his first in the NHL.

Pittsburgh was up by two goals in the third period, but the Islanders woke up and scored four unanswered goals.

New York won 4-2.

Patrick Roy’s team will face the Habs on Thursday in New York. A very important four-point game, once again.

4. The Flames and the Capitals help the Habs

The Penguins may not have helped the Canadiens last night, but the Flames (a 2-1 win against the Rangers) and the Capitals (a 4-1 win against the Red Wings) gave a good helping hand to the Montreal team.

In Washington, the best team in the NHL, beat the Wings. In the win, Tom Wilson scored his 30th goal of the season.

The last few years of his huge contract will hurt the Capitals, but for now, he’s honoring his contract wonderfully.

One of the best power forwards in the NHL (with Josh Anderson).

In the Capitals’ 45th win of the season, Pierre-Luc Dubois also scored. His 18th of the season.

In the other game in New York, Artemi Panarin also reached the 30-goal mark early in the game.

But it was the only goal for his team in the game.

Nazem Kadri and Matt Coronato scored the goals for the Flames in the first period, and that was enough to win.

Only 13 shots for New York in this game.

5. Michael McCarron kicked out of the game

Michael McCarron came to play last night.

But unfortunately, he was maybe a bit too intense. He hit Pavel Buchnevich hard, which earned him a five-minute major and a game misconduct.

St. Louis won 4-1.

The Blues are far from having said their last word in this playoff race. They have the same number of points as Vancouver, but with one more game played.

Tomorrow, the two teams will face each other.

Dylan Holloway stood out in the win with three assists. In his last 12 games, he has 14 points.

Overtime

– Matt Rempe goes on a hunt for zebras.

– His 40th in his career.

– At the last second.

– You’ll never guess who led the charge last night…

(Credit: NHL.com )

– Four teams are in action tonight.

(Credit: Google)