Arpon Basu
@arponbasu.bsky.social
The Athletic’s senior columnist on the Montreal Canadiens, co-host of the Basu and Godin Notebook podcast, regular contributor for Habs on TSN. Subscribe at:
Print: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/nhl/team/canadiens/
Audio: https://basuandgodin.com/
Print: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/nhl/team/canadiens/
Audio: https://basuandgodin.com/
Pinned
Juraj Slafkovský has arrived for Canadiens, who can only hope Olympics again give him a boost
Slafkovský's last trip to the Olympics vaulted him to the No. 1 pick in the NHL Draft. What heights might the upcoming Olympics bring?
www.nytimes.com
No weekly Canadiens notebook today. Instead, there’s this on Juraj Skafkovský as he prepares for his next Olympic moment just as he arrives on the cusp of NHL stardom: www.nytimes.com/athletic/698...
Reposted by Arpon Basu
On the Canadiens defence, the Avalanche, and forging a path that bucks conventional hockey wisdom
www.nytimes.com/athletic/700...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/700...
Canadiens mobile defence face their mirror image and come out victorious vs. Avalanche
As the Canadiens attempt to forge a new defensive path to success, they defeated a team attempting to blaze that trail.
www.nytimes.com
January 30, 2026 at 12:32 PM
On the Canadiens defence, the Avalanche, and forging a path that bucks conventional hockey wisdom
www.nytimes.com/athletic/700...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/700...
Reposted by Arpon Basu
According to The Athletic's NHL playoff predictor, the Sabres have an 82-percent chance to make the playoffs. And they now have a non-zero chance of winning the Stanley Cup.
"We’re not just gonna go for the playoffs, we’re gonna go for the Cup."
"We’re not just gonna go for the playoffs, we’re gonna go for the Cup."
Alex Tuch says Sabres aren’t just headed for playoffs — they want the Stanley Cup
"We're not in here just to squeak in," said Tuch, who scored a hat trick against the Kings.
www.nytimes.com
January 30, 2026 at 5:41 PM
According to The Athletic's NHL playoff predictor, the Sabres have an 82-percent chance to make the playoffs. And they now have a non-zero chance of winning the Stanley Cup.
"We’re not just gonna go for the playoffs, we’re gonna go for the Cup."
"We’re not just gonna go for the playoffs, we’re gonna go for the Cup."
On the Canadiens defence, the Avalanche, and forging a path that bucks conventional hockey wisdom
www.nytimes.com/athletic/700...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/700...
Canadiens mobile defence face their mirror image and come out victorious vs. Avalanche
As the Canadiens attempt to forge a new defensive path to success, they defeated a team attempting to blaze that trail.
www.nytimes.com
January 30, 2026 at 12:32 PM
On the Canadiens defence, the Avalanche, and forging a path that bucks conventional hockey wisdom
www.nytimes.com/athletic/700...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/700...
In their final two games at the Bell Centre before the Olympic break, the Canadiens beat the Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche. Just as we all predicted.
January 30, 2026 at 2:35 AM
In their final two games at the Bell Centre before the Olympic break, the Canadiens beat the Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche. Just as we all predicted.
Kapanen to Slafkovský and it is 7-3 Canadiens. The Avs have allowed 12 goals in 24 hours.
That is Slafkovský's 20th of the season, matching a career high.
That is Slafkovský's 20th of the season, matching a career high.
January 30, 2026 at 2:18 AM
Kapanen to Slafkovský and it is 7-3 Canadiens. The Avs have allowed 12 goals in 24 hours.
That is Slafkovský's 20th of the season, matching a career high.
That is Slafkovský's 20th of the season, matching a career high.
Cale Makar went very awkwardly into the end boards on that last shift, skated to the Avs bench under his own power but looked to be in some degree of discomfort once he got there.
January 30, 2026 at 2:14 AM
Cale Makar went very awkwardly into the end boards on that last shift, skated to the Avs bench under his own power but looked to be in some degree of discomfort once he got there.
Suzuki and Carrier get out on a 2 on 1 against Makar. Suzuki over to Carrier for the goal. 6-3 Canadiens.
January 30, 2026 at 2:10 AM
Suzuki and Carrier get out on a 2 on 1 against Makar. Suzuki over to Carrier for the goal. 6-3 Canadiens.
Nichushkin to Colton in front and it's 5-3 Canadiens. That goal was coming. A timeout wouldn't be a bad idea here.
January 30, 2026 at 2:08 AM
Nichushkin to Colton in front and it's 5-3 Canadiens. That goal was coming. A timeout wouldn't be a bad idea here.
Joel Kiviranta gets one back for the Avs, puts in a long rebound to make it 5-2
January 30, 2026 at 1:41 AM
Joel Kiviranta gets one back for the Avs, puts in a long rebound to make it 5-2
Kirby Dach banks one in off Wedgewood and it's 5-1 Canadiens. Tough little stretch for Wedgewood there.
January 30, 2026 at 1:39 AM
Kirby Dach banks one in off Wedgewood and it's 5-1 Canadiens. Tough little stretch for Wedgewood there.
Puck hops on Wedgewood behind net, gets by him and Jake Evans is there to scoop it up and put in a wraparound, 4-1 Canadiens
January 30, 2026 at 1:37 AM
Puck hops on Wedgewood behind net, gets by him and Jake Evans is there to scoop it up and put in a wraparound, 4-1 Canadiens
Kaiden Guhle is back on the Canadiens bench
January 30, 2026 at 1:31 AM
Kaiden Guhle is back on the Canadiens bench
Oliver Kapanen is really good at lofting pucks into space on the PK. It has created a good number of breakaways for the Canadiens this season.
January 30, 2026 at 12:25 AM
Oliver Kapanen is really good at lofting pucks into space on the PK. It has created a good number of breakaways for the Canadiens this season.
Nick Suzuiki shorthanded breakaway, 3-1 Canadiens
January 30, 2026 at 12:24 AM
Nick Suzuiki shorthanded breakaway, 3-1 Canadiens
Nick Suzuki power play goal, cleans up rebound off an Ivan Demidov shot, second assist of the night for Lane Hutson, 2-1 Canadiens
January 30, 2026 at 12:20 AM
Nick Suzuki power play goal, cleans up rebound off an Ivan Demidov shot, second assist of the night for Lane Hutson, 2-1 Canadiens
That is Brock Nelson's 21st goal in 34 career games against the Canadiens. That is a 50-goal pace over 82 games...and this game is not over yet.
January 30, 2026 at 12:17 AM
That is Brock Nelson's 21st goal in 34 career games against the Canadiens. That is a 50-goal pace over 82 games...and this game is not over yet.
Dobson's 10th of the season leaves him three shy of his career hugh of 13, accomplished twice in 2021-22 and 2022-23
January 30, 2026 at 12:12 AM
Dobson's 10th of the season leaves him three shy of his career hugh of 13, accomplished twice in 2021-22 and 2022-23
Hutson to Dobson one-timer goal, Canadiens up 1-0
January 30, 2026 at 12:11 AM
Hutson to Dobson one-timer goal, Canadiens up 1-0
Reposted by Arpon Basu
Lindy Ruff said Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will probably miss about a week and the Sabres will evaluate him from there. To be determined how this will impact his availability for the Olympics.
January 29, 2026 at 3:47 PM
Lindy Ruff said Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will probably miss about a week and the Sabres will evaluate him from there. To be determined how this will impact his availability for the Olympics.
This is excellent.
January 29, 2026 at 3:44 PM
This is excellent.
Lane Hutson is skipping this morning’s optional Canadiens skate. Perhaps the most shocking development of the season.
January 29, 2026 at 3:33 PM
Lane Hutson is skipping this morning’s optional Canadiens skate. Perhaps the most shocking development of the season.
The Canadiens changed goalie coaches today. What led up to it and the context around it seems important. www.nytimes.com/athletic/700...
January 28, 2026 at 8:58 PM
The Canadiens changed goalie coaches today. What led up to it and the context around it seems important. www.nytimes.com/athletic/700...
Jakub Dobeš starts against Colorado tomorrow.
January 28, 2026 at 5:52 PM
Jakub Dobeš starts against Colorado tomorrow.
No apparent line changes at Canadiens practice today. Arber Xhekaj got the first rotation with Alexandre Carrier, Jayden Struble was second. Patrik Laine rotating in on the Suzuki line, Joe Veleno on the Evans line, Samuel Blais on the Danault line.
January 28, 2026 at 4:43 PM
No apparent line changes at Canadiens practice today. Arber Xhekaj got the first rotation with Alexandre Carrier, Jayden Struble was second. Patrik Laine rotating in on the Suzuki line, Joe Veleno on the Evans line, Samuel Blais on the Danault line.