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
“Honestly they’re way more skilled than us, that team,” Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk said of the Sabres after the game. “From an individual standpoint skill, they have us by a lot."
On the Sabres passing another big test with a comeback in Florida:
On the Sabres passing another big test with a comeback in Florida:
Peyton Krebs shines, Sabres pass another big test in win vs. Panthers: 5 thoughts
The Panthers struck first, but the Sabres pulled back control of the game thanks to a sterling performance from Krebs.
www.nytimes.com
February 3, 2026 at 1:52 PM
“Honestly they’re way more skilled than us, that team,” Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk said of the Sabres after the game. “From an individual standpoint skill, they have us by a lot."
On the Sabres passing another big test with a comeback in Florida:
On the Sabres passing another big test with a comeback in Florida:
Martin St. Louis has long wanted to elevate his young team’s B-game, how they perform on nights they don’t quite have it. It was non-existent earlier this season.
It just got the Canadiens 3 out of 4 points on the road against two of the hottest teams in the NHL: www.nytimes.com/athletic/701...
It just got the Canadiens 3 out of 4 points on the road against two of the hottest teams in the NHL: www.nytimes.com/athletic/701...
Canadiens’ B-game earns a point a more immature version of them never would have earned
The Canadiens fell behind 2-0 to one of the best teams in the league, but instead of crumbling as they've done in the past, they recovered.
www.nytimes.com
February 3, 2026 at 1:54 PM
Martin St. Louis has long wanted to elevate his young team’s B-game, how they perform on nights they don’t quite have it. It was non-existent earlier this season.
It just got the Canadiens 3 out of 4 points on the road against two of the hottest teams in the NHL: www.nytimes.com/athletic/701...
It just got the Canadiens 3 out of 4 points on the road against two of the hottest teams in the NHL: www.nytimes.com/athletic/701...
Nick Suzuki on getting picked on the Wild entry on the winning goal: “I felt like I was tripped.”
Martin St. Louis when asked the same question: "We expect more."
Of course, he meant from the officials, but he was careful. That pick play at the offensive blue line has been consistently called.
Martin St. Louis when asked the same question: "We expect more."
Of course, he meant from the officials, but he was careful. That pick play at the offensive blue line has been consistently called.
February 3, 2026 at 4:36 AM
Nick Suzuki on getting picked on the Wild entry on the winning goal: “I felt like I was tripped.”
Martin St. Louis when asked the same question: "We expect more."
Of course, he meant from the officials, but he was careful. That pick play at the offensive blue line has been consistently called.
Martin St. Louis when asked the same question: "We expect more."
Of course, he meant from the officials, but he was careful. That pick play at the offensive blue line has been consistently called.
Kaprizov wins it for the Wild 4-3 in OT
February 3, 2026 at 3:19 AM
Kaprizov wins it for the Wild 4-3 in OT
Phillip Danault gets his stick on the hands of Kirill Kaprizov as he drives the net and the Wild head to the PP in OT.
February 3, 2026 at 3:17 AM
Phillip Danault gets his stick on the hands of Kirill Kaprizov as he drives the net and the Wild head to the PP in OT.
Jake Evans, 8-1 in the dot tonight, sent out for the FOGO to start OT
February 3, 2026 at 3:13 AM
Jake Evans, 8-1 in the dot tonight, sent out for the FOGO to start OT
Though they let a third period lead get away from them, the Canadiens reach overtime to earn a big point. This was a difficult assignment and they've already earned a passing grade tonight.
February 3, 2026 at 3:11 AM
Though they let a third period lead get away from them, the Canadiens reach overtime to earn a big point. This was a difficult assignment and they've already earned a passing grade tonight.
Brock Faber ties it up for the Wild moments after Nick Suzuki rang one off the post. Mike Matheson stepped up to drop a shoulder, Faber moved into the space Matheson vacated and goes 5-hole on Dobeš. 3-3.
February 3, 2026 at 2:48 AM
Brock Faber ties it up for the Wild moments after Nick Suzuki rang one off the post. Mike Matheson stepped up to drop a shoulder, Faber moved into the space Matheson vacated and goes 5-hole on Dobeš. 3-3.
Quinn Hughes briefly took over the league lead for assists by a defenceman with his 48th of the season in the first period. Lane Hutson tied it back up at the end of the second.
February 3, 2026 at 2:39 AM
Quinn Hughes briefly took over the league lead for assists by a defenceman with his 48th of the season in the first period. Lane Hutson tied it back up at the end of the second.
Canadiens get two goals in 29 seconds, straddling the second intermission.
February 3, 2026 at 2:38 AM
Canadiens get two goals in 29 seconds, straddling the second intermission.
Kirby Dach gives the Canadiens a 3-2 lead right off the opening faceoff of the third period. Nick Suzuki with an incredible setup.
February 3, 2026 at 2:37 AM
Kirby Dach gives the Canadiens a 3-2 lead right off the opening faceoff of the third period. Nick Suzuki with an incredible setup.
Ivan Demidov ties it with 15.8 seconds to play, one timer off a Lane Hutson feed. 2-2 game.
February 3, 2026 at 2:16 AM
Ivan Demidov ties it with 15.8 seconds to play, one timer off a Lane Hutson feed. 2-2 game.
Man that was an incredible pass from Lane Hutson. Just ridiculous.
February 3, 2026 at 2:03 AM
Man that was an incredible pass from Lane Hutson. Just ridiculous.
The Canadiens, much like the second period in Buffalo on Saturday, are just surviving in the second period so far.
February 3, 2026 at 1:59 AM
The Canadiens, much like the second period in Buffalo on Saturday, are just surviving in the second period so far.
Brendan Gallagher snaps an eight-game goalless streak in vintage style, drives the net and tucks it around Gustavsson to make it 2-1 with 50 seconds left in the first
February 3, 2026 at 1:20 AM
Brendan Gallagher snaps an eight-game goalless streak in vintage style, drives the net and tucks it around Gustavsson to make it 2-1 with 50 seconds left in the first
Canadiens defensive breakdown as no one picks up, uhh, Quinn Hughes. As soon as he attracts Oliver Kapanen’s attention, Hughes hits Kapanen’s man, Kirill Kaprizov, and the Wild go up 2-0.
February 3, 2026 at 1:16 AM
Canadiens defensive breakdown as no one picks up, uhh, Quinn Hughes. As soon as he attracts Oliver Kapanen’s attention, Hughes hits Kapanen’s man, Kirill Kaprizov, and the Wild go up 2-0.
In the first 14 minutes of this game, Mike Matheson has played at least one five-on-five shift with four different defencemen: Guhle, Carrier, Dobson, Hutson.
February 3, 2026 at 1:13 AM
In the first 14 minutes of this game, Mike Matheson has played at least one five-on-five shift with four different defencemen: Guhle, Carrier, Dobson, Hutson.
Joel Eriksson-Ek gets a freebie from Jakub Dobeš. The first shot on goal of the game goes in and the Wild lead 1-0.
February 3, 2026 at 12:46 AM
Joel Eriksson-Ek gets a freebie from Jakub Dobeš. The first shot on goal of the game goes in and the Wild lead 1-0.
Canadiens lines in warmup in Minny
Caufield-Suzuki-Dach
Slafkovský-Kapanen-Demidov
Anderson-Danault-Gallagher
Veleno-Evans-Bolduc
Matheson-Guhle
Hutson-Dobson
Xhekaj-Carrier
Dobeš
Montembeault
Caufield-Suzuki-Dach
Slafkovský-Kapanen-Demidov
Anderson-Danault-Gallagher
Veleno-Evans-Bolduc
Matheson-Guhle
Hutson-Dobson
Xhekaj-Carrier
Dobeš
Montembeault
February 3, 2026 at 12:08 AM
Canadiens lines in warmup in Minny
Caufield-Suzuki-Dach
Slafkovský-Kapanen-Demidov
Anderson-Danault-Gallagher
Veleno-Evans-Bolduc
Matheson-Guhle
Hutson-Dobson
Xhekaj-Carrier
Dobeš
Montembeault
Caufield-Suzuki-Dach
Slafkovský-Kapanen-Demidov
Anderson-Danault-Gallagher
Veleno-Evans-Bolduc
Matheson-Guhle
Hutson-Dobson
Xhekaj-Carrier
Dobeš
Montembeault
Canadiens weekly notebook on Cole Caufield and Mike Matheson taking parallel journeys, Bruce Cassidy on how Nick Suzuki can help Team Canada in Milan and more.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/701...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/701...
Canadiens weekly notebook: Cole Caufield and Mike Matheson’s parallel journeys
Also this week, Bruce Cassidy dishes on Nick Suzuki's potential role in Milan, and the kinship between Bowen Byram and Alex Newhook.
www.nytimes.com
February 2, 2026 at 5:59 PM
Canadiens weekly notebook on Cole Caufield and Mike Matheson taking parallel journeys, Bruce Cassidy on how Nick Suzuki can help Team Canada in Milan and more.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/701...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/701...
Reposted by Arpon Basu
On Canadiens-Sabres:
From me, the potential solutions to some nagging problems that led to a Canadiens comeback win: www.nytimes.com/athletic/701...
From @matthewfairburn.bsky.social, the Sabres were unhappy it was essentially a road game and other thoughts: www.nytimes.com/athletic/701...
From me, the potential solutions to some nagging problems that led to a Canadiens comeback win: www.nytimes.com/athletic/701...
From @matthewfairburn.bsky.social, the Sabres were unhappy it was essentially a road game and other thoughts: www.nytimes.com/athletic/701...
Canadiens' big win over Sabres provides solutions to some nagging problems
www.nytimes.com
February 1, 2026 at 2:39 PM
On Canadiens-Sabres:
From me, the potential solutions to some nagging problems that led to a Canadiens comeback win: www.nytimes.com/athletic/701...
From @matthewfairburn.bsky.social, the Sabres were unhappy it was essentially a road game and other thoughts: www.nytimes.com/athletic/701...
From me, the potential solutions to some nagging problems that led to a Canadiens comeback win: www.nytimes.com/athletic/701...
From @matthewfairburn.bsky.social, the Sabres were unhappy it was essentially a road game and other thoughts: www.nytimes.com/athletic/701...
No Alexandre Texier at Canadiens practice in Buffalo today. Kirby Dach is still skating with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield.
February 1, 2026 at 4:14 PM
No Alexandre Texier at Canadiens practice in Buffalo today. Kirby Dach is still skating with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield.
According to @domluszczyszyn.bsky.social’s model, last night’s loss to the Jets dipped the Panthers playoff chances to 46%, their lowest point of the season. The Canadiens climbed to 83% with their win over the Sabres: www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...
NHL 2025-26 Stanley Cup playoff chances and projected standings
Welcome to our 2025-26 NHL projections where you will find each team’s projected point total and chances of winning the Stanley Cup.
www.nytimes.com
February 1, 2026 at 3:15 PM
According to @domluszczyszyn.bsky.social’s model, last night’s loss to the Jets dipped the Panthers playoff chances to 46%, their lowest point of the season. The Canadiens climbed to 83% with their win over the Sabres: www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...
On Canadiens-Sabres:
From me, the potential solutions to some nagging problems that led to a Canadiens comeback win: www.nytimes.com/athletic/701...
From @matthewfairburn.bsky.social, the Sabres were unhappy it was essentially a road game and other thoughts: www.nytimes.com/athletic/701...
From me, the potential solutions to some nagging problems that led to a Canadiens comeback win: www.nytimes.com/athletic/701...
From @matthewfairburn.bsky.social, the Sabres were unhappy it was essentially a road game and other thoughts: www.nytimes.com/athletic/701...
Canadiens' big win over Sabres provides solutions to some nagging problems
www.nytimes.com
February 1, 2026 at 2:39 PM
On Canadiens-Sabres:
From me, the potential solutions to some nagging problems that led to a Canadiens comeback win: www.nytimes.com/athletic/701...
From @matthewfairburn.bsky.social, the Sabres were unhappy it was essentially a road game and other thoughts: www.nytimes.com/athletic/701...
From me, the potential solutions to some nagging problems that led to a Canadiens comeback win: www.nytimes.com/athletic/701...
From @matthewfairburn.bsky.social, the Sabres were unhappy it was essentially a road game and other thoughts: www.nytimes.com/athletic/701...
Juraj Slafkovský matched a career high with seven shots on goal tonight.
February 1, 2026 at 3:43 AM
Juraj Slafkovský matched a career high with seven shots on goal tonight.