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Ten minutes of waves, several Olé Olé: the Bell Centre is in series mode

The Montreal Canadian gave us an incredible performance last night against the Stanley Cup champions, the Florida Panthers.

Indeed, the Tricolor was excellent, as they were able to be opportunistic while giving practically nothing to the opponent.

This is exactly the kind of performance the CH needs to achieve from now until the end of the season if they want to continue hoping to make the playoffs.

Even head coach Martin St-Louis stated that it was one of the best games his team has played this season.

With such a victory against the Panthers, the Tricolor has only amplified the hopes of playoffs.

And when we talk about playoff hopes, we talk about a playoff atmosphere.

Last night, it really felt magical at the Bell Centre, especially at the end of the third period, when we fully felt the playoff atmosphere.

Whether it was the 10 minutes of waves, the countless Olé Olé, and the Go Habs Go every two minutes, the Bell Centre was completely electrifying last night.

And that’s a Bell Centre that practically none of the team’s players have experienced in their careers so far.

Only Brendan Gallagher has experienced such a playoff atmosphere, given that he is the only player on the current team who was present during the 2017 playoffs.

The Bell Centre was not full during the 2021 playoffs due to COVID-19.

Samuel Montembeault has also seen an electrifying Bell Centre, given that he was on site during the game between Canada and the United States during the Confrontation of the Four Nations.

And last night, Monty wanted to do the wave with the fans.

In short, it’s an atmosphere that has never been seen for almost the entire current team, which generates even more enthusiasm for this current playoff run.

All the players want to see such an atmosphere again, but this time in the playoffs.

Talking about playoffs, well, the fans are totally right to believe in them and to inflame the Bell Centre, given that the Tricolor is only one point away from the playoffs.

(Credit: NHL.com)

And even if we look at the percentage of points, the Canadian is in the top 8, and therefore, in the playoffs in a way.

Obviously, the Tricolor has one point less than the Rangers, but the latter are playing one more game.

The CH has a game in hand, and therefore its destiny in its hands.

If Martin St-Louis’s squad were to win all their games from now until the end of the season, that’s 16 games left, they would participate in the playoffs.

Obviously, this will probably not happen, but still, it’s encouraging to see the Canadian have their destiny in their hands.

In short, the playoff fever has taken over the city and the Bell Centre, and that’s an experience that’s priceless for all the young players on the team.

In a Hurry

— Incredible. A first in history. Poor Jacob Fowler.

— A good evening yesterday, and it’s going to take another one today.

— To read.

— Wow. Seven points in seven goals for Gavin McKenna.

— A first point this season for CF Montreal.

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Top-5 : sixth straight victory for the Senators

It was a big day yesterday in the National Hockey League, as the race for the playoffs continues in both conferences.

Every game is crucial, and we’re therefore following all the results very closely through various highlights.

Here’s what caught our attention last night.

1. The Ottawa Senators get their sixth win in a row

It seems to be finally good this time for the Senators, as this season they’re really heading towards a playoff spot.

After several long years of rebuilding, and several seasons where the team should have aspired to the playoffs but didn’t, the Senators seem to be finally back in competition.

Ottawa is currently on a six-game winning streak, including five wins after the trade deadline.

Last night, the Senators were in Toronto to face the Maple Leafs, and they managed to come out with a 4-2 win.

This is an excellent streak for Ottawa, which is now six points above the playoff line, and therefore six points ahead of the Montreal Canadiens.

2. The Rangers win a crucial game against the Blue Jackets

We had a highly important game last night, as two teams tied for the last playoff spot in the East faced off.

Despite the importance of the game, it was a one-sided matchup won by the New York Rangers 4-0.

Even though it was in Columbus, the Blue Jackets didn’t take the opportunity to go for big points.

In the end, the outcome was ideal for Canadiens fans, given that the Habs have played one fewer game than the Rangers, which puts them at an advantage compared to the Blue Jackets.

(Credit: NHL.com)

3. Karma strikes Jack Eichel and the Golden Knights in Buffalo

Jack Eichel was back in Buffalo, where it all started for him, and where everything was extremely painful for him.

And like any player who leaves Buffalo, things are going much better elsewhere, as evidenced by the Stanley Cup won by Eichel and the Golden Knights in 2023.

In short, Eichel was back in Buffalo, and as if everything was scripted, he scored a goal with less than three minutes left in the game to give the Golden Knights the lead.

Eichel obviously taunted the crowd, which booed him.

And a few moments later, with the Sabres having pulled their goalie, Tomas Hertl came alone in front of the Sabres’ net with only one shot to make to end the game.

But no, he instead tried to pass the puck back to Eichel, which didn’t work.

The Golden Knights therefore played with fire and eventually got burned, as Rasmus Dahlin tied the game with 13 seconds left.

The game eventually went to a shootout, and the Sabres won.

This is clearly karma deserved by Vegas and Eichel, who tried to taunt the Buffalo crowd even more, only to lose in Buffalo.

4. Important hat trick for Jordan Kyrou

We’re paying less attention to it, but there’s also a playoff race in the West, and it’s also very tight.

For some time now, we’ve seen two teams, the Vancouver Canucks and the Calgary Flames, but we’re forgetting the St. Louis Blues, who are just behind them as well.

In fact, last night, the Blues had the chance to catch up with the Flames in the standings, and that’s exactly what they did, winning 5-1 against the Minnesota Wild.

A big thank you to Jordan Kyrou, who scored a hat trick.

Here’s the current standings in the West.

(Credit: NHL.com)

5. Elias Pettersson wakes up at the perfect time for the Canucks

Pettersson is struggling this season, and criticism is pouring in, especially because he’s not helping the Canucks in this playoff race.

However, over the past few games, things have been going better for Pettersson, with six points, including four goals in his last five games.

Last night, he found the back of the net again, adding an assist in an important 6-2 win for the Canucks over the Chicago Blackhawks.

In short, things are going better for Pettersson, and at the perfect time, as the Canucks are fighting for the last playoff spot.

Overtime

– A first NHL goal for Scott Morrow.

– Here are all the results from last night.

– Here are the top scorers from last night.

(Credit: NHL.com)

– Today’s schedule features five games.

(Credit: Google/NHL)
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Win against the champions: the CH remains one point from the playoffs

On this Saturday evening, the Canadiens returned home in front of their fans after an average trip to Western Canada and Seattle.

For the occasion, they faced the reigning champions in a extremely important game.

Here are the lineups:

Montreal started the game like a lion.

First, on the power play, Patrik Laine scored with a shot that only he knows the secret to.

On net, Lane Hutson reached the 50-assist plateau in his career. He became the fourth defenseman to reach the 50-assist plateau the fastest in NHL history.

And the second player in the CH organization. Not bad!

A little later, still on the power play, the locals thought they had taken a two-goal lead.

Nick Suzuki found Alex Newhook at the edge of the net, but the officials determined that Brendan Gallagher committed obstruction against Sergei Bobrovsky.

However, it was just a temporary reprieve.

Cole Caufield, assisted by Juraj Slafkovsky, took advantage of a Panthers turnover in the defensive zone to double the team’s lead, this time for real.

13 of his 33 goals so far have been scored on a Saturday.

In the second period, the Panthers played more inspired hockey.

They took advantage of this to reduce the deficit to one goal.

But in the third period, David Savard directed a slapshot from the blue line and Christian Dvorak deflected the shot behind Bobrovsky.

Dvorak’s 100th career goal is a big one.

In two games this season against the champions, Montreal has only allowed one goal. The two teams will face each other again on March 30 and April 1.

Final score: 3-1.

With this win (and the Rangers’ win in regulation over the Blue Jackets), the Canadiens remain one point away from the playoffs. They have one game in hand over the Blue Shirts, who are currently the second wild card team.

The Canadiens’ next game will be played on Tuesday against the Ottawa Senators. A big game is coming up.

Overtime

– The Rocket also won.

– The Lions lost, though.

– What a save!

– What a defensive play.

– Florida and Sam Bennett are negotiating.

– Bad call by the official…

– Indeed.

– Will Patrik Laine’s experience end after the season?

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The Great 8 with 8 goals of the record

Besides the Canadian, what we need to watch in the NHL is Alex Ovechkin’s pursuit of records.

This afternoon, the Capitals and Ovi faced the worst team in the league, the San Jose Sharks. In the first period, Washington scored three goals, but the captain did not find the back of the net.

It was only a postponement for the Great 8. In the third period, he scored the fifth goal for his team, his 34th goal of the season, his 887th in his career. Do the math, he is now only seven goals away from Wayne Gretzky’s record, eight from breaking it.

His team easily defeated the Sharks with a score of 5-1.

The Russian and his team still have 15 games to play. To break the record of the 99, he must therefore find the back of the net about once every two games. For a scorer of his caliber, it’s more than possible. Let’s say his coach Spencer Carbery, who is also one of the favorite coaches for the Jack Adams Trophy, will give him all the opportunities in the world to break the record this year.

And if the record has to wait until next year, at least he still has a year left on his contract, possibly his last in the Bettman circuit. He would not want to extend his contract with the Capitals.

Besides Ovi, another of his teammates is standing out this season. It’s Aliaksei Protas, one of the most underrated players in the NHL. He scored again today, bringing his total to 59 points.

But what stands out when looking at his statistics is that he has a plus-41 record. This is not the most relevant statistic, but when the record is so good, it’s essential to highlight it.

His closest pursuer is Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb (plus-35).

Still.

In a hurry

— Even the guys from TVA Sports recognize Pierre Houde.

— Another nice mark.

— I’m looking forward to seeing him in action again.

— Let’s wait and see.

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It’s going (really) badly for Auston Matthews for nearly two months

Once again this year, the Maple Leafs are having a great regular season. Craig Berube’s men have a record of 39-23-3, and the team is headed straight for another playoff appearance.

But of course, in Toronto, all that is secondary: what matters is the team’s performance in the playoffs. It’s a challenge every year for the Leafs, and we hope that this year, the team’s stars will be able to take them far in the playoffs.

However, right now, there is one Leaf who is struggling: Auston Matthews. On paper, his 23 goals and 56 points in 50 games seem fine… but for the past two months, he’s really been struggling.

In fact, since January 23 (so, for almost two months), Matthews has only one goal at 5 against 5. And in total, he has only three goals in that sequence.

Over 16 games, it’s a very disappointing production for one of the best goal-scorers in the NHL.

And beyond the points, when we watch Matthews play this season, we notice that he doesn’t seem comfortable on the ice. In this case, the score sheet reflects what we see: there’s something wrong with the captain.

One of the theories that keeps coming up is that Matthews is carrying an injury. We know that he was affected by an upper-body injury earlier this season (he had even sought medical opinions in Germany), and in an article for The Athletic, Jonas Siegel has indeed found statistics on his skating stride that suggest Matthews is physically hindered.

He is still able to reach his top speed, but he does it much less often.

That being said, we can also wonder if Matthews is feeling pressure from being the captain. Let’s remember that it’s his first year as captain of the Leafs… and we can wonder if it’s affecting him a bit.

Without being the main factor, it can, for example, be a factor that makes him feel the need to be in the lineup every night even if he’s carrying an injury.

In any case, Matthews needs to give more. In an Atlantic Division as strong as this one, the Maple Leafs need their captain to be the elite player he’s capable of being.

It’s up to Matthews to find solutions now.

In a hurry

– Alexandre Carrier, one of Kent Hughes’ good moves.

– The Canadiens’ prospect Vinzenz Rohrer seemed to get injured today. At least he was able to get up by himself.

– Your predictions.

– He’s not the only one who would like that.

– Erik Cole and David Desharnais reunited for a Canadiens alumni game in Michigan.

– Wow!

– What an image!

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Learning French: Ivan Demidov’s maturity and dedication are impressive

Since Ivan Demidov was drafted by the Canadiens, there has been a lot of talk about the young player’s talent on the ice. His impressive season with SKA in the KHL this season is proof of that: he is a talented young player.

It’s gotten to the point where some people are wondering if he’s the “next Guy Lafleur” for the Canadiens. Nothing less.

That being said, beyond his on-ice performance, the young player’s maturity is also often mentioned. Evgeny Kuznetsov, who played with him at SKA this season, was particularly impressed by the kid’s level of maturity.

But he’s not the only one: in an exclusive interview with RG Media, Andrei Kovalenko talked a bit about Demidov, and he too was impressed by the young player’s off-ice behavior:

He’s intelligent. He’s already learning French, which is an excellent sign. – Andrei Kovalenko

Kovalenko, who is well-placed to comment (he played in Quebec and Montreal, after all), is aware that the transition from Russia to Quebec can come with its share of difficulties. However, he believes that by learning French, Demidov proves not only that he is mature and respectful of the customs of the place where he will play, but also that he will facilitate his transition to the NHL.

The fans in Montreal already love him so much, but imagine what it would be like if Demidov arrives with a basic knowledge of French.

Of course, it’s on the ice that he will have the opportunity to really win over the fans. He is expected in the city like few prospects have been before him, and the expectations are immense.

But what’s encouraging is that, in addition to his talent, everything suggests that he has a good head on his shoulders. And in a market like Montreal, that’s something that will be very, very useful to him.

In a nutshell

– Tomas Hertl could have given the Golden Knights the win. Vegas eventually lost in a shootout.

– Cole Caufield is better over 200 feet now. And above all, he’s still a scorer.

– It would be a great pick-up for the Blue Jays.

– We’ll see if the rules hold up all season.

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“On will not hold Joshua Roy’s hand” : the time for development is over at the CH

Unlike in recent years, the Montreal Canadiens are still in the running for the playoffs in mid-March. After a few seasons of enduring meaningless games in a lost season at this time of year, the team is now playing significant games.

The team wanted to be #IntheMix at the beginning of the year, and that mission has been accomplished. Everything else now is a bonus.

That being said, playing significant games at this stage of the year also means that priorities change. As close as the team is to the playoffs, they want to try to make it, and that means the priority is to win.

And that’s also a change: for a few years, the priority has been development, but today, Martin St-Louis was clear: the young players will have to be autonomous in their development, because the team has its mind elsewhere.

Hearing the coach say he won’t hold Joshua Roy’s hand is a good example of this.

With the recent injuries in the group of forwards and the thin depth in town, guys like Owen Beck (who has since returned to Laval) and Roy find themselves playing important roles in Montreal. In the past, the team would have focused its energy on helping them develop, but now they have to make decisions to win rather than develop.

This doesn’t mean the Canadiens don’t care about the development of their young players, far from it. It just means the young players will have to be autonomous in all this, because the team’s priority is elsewhere right now.

So, a guy like Roy wasn’t necessarily recalled to put him in optimal conditions for his development. He was recalled to help the Canadiens win games, no matter what role he’s given.

In the past, we’ve seen St-Louis be tolerant when his young players made mistakes on the ice, for example. Now, in a context where every point is important, we can think he’ll be much less permissive, for example, and that could be reflected in the young player’s ice time.

But clearly, it sends a message to the guys that they’d better arrive ready: the team is not there to develop right now. It’s there to win.

And it’s up to them to make themselves useful in these new circumstances.

In a hurry

– Note.

– 13 points in seven games: the Senators are on fire.

– Notice to interested parties.

– Incredible.

– Kirk Cousins won’t be leaving Atlanta today.

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Calder : Lane Hutson isn’t (really) a popular choice at The Athletic

This season, Lane Hutson is playing very good hockey in Montreal. The rookie came to energize an attack that desperately needed it, with 51 points in 65 games.

And that’s as a defenseman, it should be noted.

The young player’s strong performance places him at the top of the NHL rookies this season… and obviously, he’s a name that comes up in the Calder Trophy race. There are excellent candidates this year (Celebrini, Wolf, and Michkov are also solid candidates), but Hutson is part of that race.

Today, The Athletic published the new edition of its predictions survey among its journalists, which is done several times during the season and allows us to have their opinion on various hot topics in the Bettman circuit.

Among them, there is the question of the Calder Trophy winner… and what we notice is that the Canadiens’ defenseman is not (really) a popular choice. He finished third in the race with 17.2% of the votes, far behind Macklin Celebrini (51.7%) and Dustin Wolf (27.6%), but ahead of Matvei Michkov (3.4%). No other rookie received a vote.

These results are particularly interesting in the context where the surveyed population represents a significant contingent of people who vote for individual honors at the end of the season. This gives an idea of the general trend… which would put Hutson on the third step of the podium.

Celebrini’s 49 points in 55 games and his excellent play on both ends of the ice make him a solid candidate. As for Wolf, he’s single-handedly taking the Flames to the playoffs, an impressive feat for a goalie.

Hutson is also having an exceptional season… but the fact that he’s not alone may make things more complicated for him. He’ll need to have a strong final month if he wants to improve his chances.

And speaking of the final month, the respondents were also asked which teams from the East will make the playoffs, in their opinion. And what we notice is that out of the 29 journalists surveyed, none of them see the Canadiens (who will have to become the Capitals to get there) making the playoffs.

The Senators and Blue Jackets are seen as the teams to beat… and the Rangers are seen as a real threat. Apart from a little love for the Red Wings, no one believes in the chances of the other teams.

Over the next month, then, both Hutson and the Canadiens will have to prove their worth. The next few weeks will be very, very interesting to follow.

In brief

– Sergei Bobrovsky will face the Canadiens tonight.

– Brady Tkachuk will play tonight.

– Well done.

– Good news.

– What to expect from the Astros in 2025?

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Even with a win tonight, the CH will not be in the playoffs

The race for the playoffs in the Eastern Conference is completely crazy, with only four points separating 8th and 13th place in the standings.

The Columbus Blue Jackets are the ones still holding onto that 8th and final playoff spot, but this position is hanging by a thread since five teams are very close behind.

Obviously, the Montreal Canadiens are one of those teams, as the CH is only one point behind the Blue Jackets.

A one-point difference can change in one evening, and it’s a good thing that both teams are in action tonight.

(Credit: NHl.com)

However, there is a problem with all of this.

And that problem is the Blue Jackets’ opponent tonight, the New York Rangers, who are just ahead of the CH by one point as well.

Given that the two teams are facing each other tonight, it is guaranteed that one of them will come out of this game with two points.

So, even if the Tricolore manages to win against the Panthers, it won’t be able to wake up in a playoff spot tomorrow morning.

In the best-case scenario, the CH will still be one point behind either the Blue Jackets or the Rangers.

The CH also has to hope that the game between Columbus and New York doesn’t require overtime, because seeing both teams pick up points would be really bad news.

This is another reminder that the Tricolore really can’t afford to let points slip away, as they are all of crucial importance in this playoff race.

The point lost in Seattle hurts even more right now when looking at the standings.

If the Tricolore, who led 4-2 with less than 10 minutes to go in the game, had won in regulation time, it would currently be ahead of the Blue Jackets and the Rangers, and would therefore have its destiny in its own hands.

The CH would have had the same number of regular-time wins as the Blue Jackets, which would have led to the next tiebreaker, namely regular-time and overtime wins (the ROW column in the standings).

And there, the Tricolore would have had 30, which would have allowed it to surpass Columbus, which has 27.

In short, the loss in Seattle is one that hurts a lot right now, and forces the CH to still depend on other teams, when it could have had its destiny in its own hands.

In Rapid Fire

— Really a nice achievement.

— To follow.

— Happy birthday!

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Kaiden Guhle skated this morning at the Bell Centre

The Montreal Canadiens’ defensive brigade is no longer the same since Kaiden Guhle’s injury, for which he underwent surgery on January 29.

Guhle had torn his quadriceps muscle against the Winnipeg Jets on January 28.

Guhle is clearly missed by the CH, even if Jayden Struble has been doing well since joining the lineup alongside Lane Hutson.

It’s a shame not to be able to count on Guhle at the moment, especially in such a big playoff run.

However, Kaiden Guhle’s season may not be over, according to the words of General Manager Kent Hughes during his press conference after the trade deadline.

Guhle had skated on March 7, and now he has skated again on the ice at the Bell Centre.

Even if a return to the game does not seem imminent, it’s good news to see Guhle jumping onto the ice and training alone with the rest of the group.

Kent Hughes did not seem very optimistic about Guhle, but he had stated that it would depend on the standings for Guhle’s potential return to play.

If the Tricolore is no longer in the playoff run, the CH will not force Guhle’s return.

However, if the CH is in the middle of this run and is well-positioned, there is a good chance that Guhle will be brought back into the lineup as soon as possible.

In short, seeing Guhle skate this morning is pleasing, and it shows that he is progressing, and with the CH being one point away from the playoffs, a return to play for Guhle is still possible.

In a Flash

– The Rocket is in action today.

– To watch tonight.

– Wow, he will be closely watched.