Welcome to PuckTalk MTL, your home for passionate Montreal Canadiens post-game analysis, NHL reactions, and in-depth hockey talk! In this post-game episode, Kosta breaks down a dominant performance as the Canadiens overpower the Chicago Blackhawks, highlighted by Zachary Bolduc breaking the ice at home in a statement win at the Bell Centre. He also analyzes how the Habs controlled play from start to finish, examining key moments, standout performances, and the systems that led to Montreal’s strong offensive output and defensive structure. From puck possession and forechecking pressure, this game showcased why the Canadiens are trending in the right direction. For Chicago Blackhawks fans, he'll review what went wrong, including defensive breakdowns, missed assignments, and areas the Hawks must clean up moving forward. For NHL fans and hockey fans, this video delivers context, insight, and tactical breakdowns that go beyond the box score. Whether you’re a die-hard Habs fan, a Blackhawks supporter, or simply love NHL post-game coverage, this episode has you covered with sharp analysis and honest reactions. 🔥 LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE for more Montreal Canadiens content, NHL post-game breakdowns, and daily hockey discussion on PuckTalk MTL! 0:00 - Show Start 0:57 - Let's Take A Look At The Highlights 10:15 - Analyzing The Man-to-Man Breakdown That Lead To The hakws' Goal 17:54 - Being A Unique Podcast - So What If I Occasioanally Rant...And I Warn You About It! #GoHabsGo #MontrealCanadiens #ChicagoBlackhawks #NHL #Habs #Blackhawks #HockeyFans #NHLHighlights #PuckTalkMTL #CH #HockeyVLog In every episode, Kosta Papoulias takes a deep dive into the latest Montreal Canadiens news involving Ivan Demidov, Patrik Laine, Juraj Slafkovsky, Josh Anderson, Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, Kirby Dach, Joe Veleno, Jake Evans, Zach Bolduc, Brendan Gallagher, Alex Newhook, Oliver Kapanen, Habs Defencemen, Arber Xhekaj, Kaiden Guhle, Sam Montembeault, Lane Hutson, Jayden Struble, Alex Carrier, Mike Matheson, Noah Dobson, Jakub Dobes, Jacob Fowler, Kent Hughes, Martin St Louis. Dans chaque épisode, Kosta Papoulias analyse en profondeur les dernières nouvelles des Canadiens de Montréal concernant Ivan Demidov, Patrik Laine, Juraj Slafkovsky, Josh Anderson, Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, Kirby Dach, Joe Veleno, Jake Evans, Zach Bolduc, Brendan Gallagher, Alex Newhook, Oliver Kapanen, Habs Defencemen, Arber Xhekaj, Kaiden Guhle, Sam Montembeault, Lane Hutson, Jayden Struble, Alex Carrier, Mike Matheson, Noah Dobson, Jakub Dobes, Jacob Fowler, Kent Hughes et Martin St Louis. Please Click to Subscribe / Veuillez cliquer pour vous abonner: https://bit.ly/mtlhockeytalk

First period * The crowd is behind the team early trying to inspire a good start. * The Habs look eager to give them one. Hopefully not too eager because that’s often when the problems start. * Ivan Demidov pulls the puck past his defender to get in on net, but is pushed down before he can get a good backhand off. Moments later a ping rings throughout the Bell Centre as Josh Anderson tips Adam Engström’s point shot off the post. * Cole Caufield picks up the puck behind the net, walks out uncontested, and fires a shot off the neat post as he’s aiming for the top corner. Montreal has had four great chances to score, and has zero shots. * It’s the team getting dominated that finds a way to put the puck in the net. However, Ilya Mikheyev had clipped the heel of Jakub Dobeš in the crease to knock him down, and the goal doesn’t survive a quick coach’s challenge. * Alexandre Carrier overskates the puck at centre ice with a chance to lead a two-on-one. * This time the Blackhawks put the puck in the net legally. Matt Grzelcyk’s point shot is actually a pass to the side of the crease, where Frank Nazar is stationed uncontested to tip it in. * Zachary Bolduc turns back in the corner to shake his man, but then gets held so he can’t go any further. No call is made. * Some good vision from Ivan Demidov allows him to see Arber Xhekaj charging in from the point and he makes a pass through a defender’s skate to get the puck there. Xhekaj misses the net on his attempt as well. Nine shot attempts, five scoring chances according to Natural Stat Trick, only four shots. * The crowd’s energy had begun to wane with how the period was going, but immediately bursts to life when Caufield sets up Bolduc in the slot for the tying goal. Cole Caufield sets up Zachary Bolduc in the high slot, and he one-times it home to tie the game for the #Habs [image or embed]— Matt Drake (@drakemt.bsky.social) December 18, 2025 at 8:37 PM * Noah Dobson adds a few extra degrees to his windup with the puck coming across to him, That was too much additional force for his stick as it snaps on impact. * As usual, it’s a period in which Montreal was generally better than the opponent except on the plays around their own crease, one of which led to a goal against. A goal and two posts is pretty good on the offensive side of things. Second period * Brendan Gallagher does very well to spin with the puck and get it across to Engström his shot on net creates a rebound chance for Joe Veleno. More of that. * Less of the having to scramble back in defensive situations on odd-man rushes, as Noah Dobson and Jayden Struble just had to do, with the former going off for tripping. * Jake Evans and Veleno both do well by being aggressive at the top of the zone to help kill off the minor. * The Canadiens are called for icing even though Juraj Slafkovský was both first to the hash marks and closest to the puck. * The Blackhawks get a two-on-one after a good, but long, shift from the second line. The one shot against was bad enough, but three Canadiens players had raced to the net on the play and none took Ilya Mikheyev who followed up with a second shot. There’s no way he should have been allowed to get that rebound, and the Habs are lucky they’re not down a goal. * Montreal is trying to force passes through lanes that aren’t open. Another chance off a turnover is likely imminent. * Dobson dangles right in to the low slot for one chance, then Jayden Struble follows it up with another. No goal, but Dobson was hooked to earn his team a power play. * Great movement from the top unit leads to a one-timer from Caufield, but it goes off the skate of Nick Suzuki’s foot in the crease. * Alexandre Texier fires a one-timer that also hits a teammate’s foot, but this one goes in the net off Brendan Gallagher. * You know the drill by now: a Gallagher goal equals a review. This one comes off the board for an offside entry. * Evans leads a rush after the penalty expired and sets up a shot for Anderson. Knight left another huge rebound that no one could get on the end of. * Carrier is tripped in the neutral zone. Montreal goes right back on the power play. * Demidov dekes around his man, who has to stick out his knee to knock him down. The refs have decided they’re not going to call any more penalties on Chicago this late in a period I guess. * Even more scoring chances at five-on-five for Montreal in that period, and 19 total in the middle frame, but not being able to take advantage of those two late power plays could come back to bite them. Third period * Well apparently I was too early saying the power-play opportunities were squandered. The Habs used the final seven seconds of power-play time to get set up in the zone, and at 20 seconds Bolduc tips Hutson’s shot through his legs and over Knight’s shoulder. Nick Suzuki tees up Lane Hutson at the point, and Zachary Bolduc gets a nice tip on this one to make it 2-1 #Habs [image or embed]— Matt Drake (@drakemt.bsky.social) December 18, 2025 at 10:02 PM * They add a third goal less than a minute later when Anderson pounces on a loose much and bangs it in. This one is also reviewed for offside, and though there was no clear angle that showed the puck actually outside the zone, the linesmen saw enough on their tablet to overturn the call. * We’ve back to even in official goals versus overturned ones in this game. * Knight doesn’t want to see another puck go in his net so he knocks it off as the next shot comes in. Completely acceptable behaviour it seems. * The Blackhawks get some zone time, but it comes to a halt when Engström pins the puck-carrier to the glass and allows the breakout to begin. * After dominating this game for about 45 minutes, the Habs are trying to defence their one-goal lead by playing in their own zone now. * The do manage to get a very important insurance goal as Noah Dobson flips the puck back toward Knight from behind the goal line, the puck fall into the crease beside him, and Owen Beck catches his stick in the goalie’s glove to knock it over the line. Players are allowed to go after loose pucks in the crease, so that one will stand. Owen Beck? Noah Dobson? either way, the #Habs lead 3-1. [image or embed]— Matt Drake (@drakemt.bsky.social) December 18, 2025 at 10:20 PM * Xhekaj is going to the box for whacking the hands of Louis Crevier. I don’t mind the penalty kill defence coming out here to kill off two of the remaining nine-and-a-half minutes. * The Kapanen line is just cycling the puck deep in Chicago’s zone. That’s the way I like to see Montreal play with a lead. * Hutson just made a perfect stick-check to prevent the Blackhawks from getting low in the zone to set something up. He’s been a busy boy tonight with three assists and over 25 minutes of action. * Nick Suzuki hits the empty net, and the Canadiens have all but assured themselves a victory. * And just like that, Montreal is a point back of the division lead yet again. Now for the Pittsburgh Penguins to end this week with a home-and-home set. * One last, loud ovation for the crowd to salute Bolduc first — and second — goal at the Bell Centre as he’s named first star. EOTP 3 Stars 3) All because they once missed Matt Duchene being 15 feet offside on a goal 2) And cheap, too! 1) The fans will need something to entertain them the rest of the way

Game 34: Montreal Canadiens vs. Chicago Blackhawks Start time: 7:00 PM EST / 4:00 PM PST In the Canadiens region: TSN2 (English), RDS (French) In the Blackhawks region: CHSN Streaming: ESPN+, RDS, TSN+ Montreal’s performance versus the Chicago Blackhawks last season almost cost them in their charge for a playoff berth. The first meeting looked like the most winnable matchup during the year-end road trip that featured stops in Sunrise, Tampa, Las Vegas, and Denver, but ended up being the one loss the Habs had in that surprising stretch. In the penultimate game of the season, with Montreal needing a win to punch its ticket, the Blackhawks won in a shootout, forcing the Habs to claim two points in the 82nd game to complete the late-season charge. The Canadiens have already taken more points from the season series this year, claiming to 3-2 win in the third game of 2025-26 thanks to power-play goals from Cole Caufield and Zachary Bolduc and then a last-minute winning goal from Kaiden Guhle. The Habs won’t get a goal from Guhle tonight, but it’s his defensive play that the team is missing most right now. It shouldn’t be a challenge for the Canadiens to outproduce a Blackhawks team missing Connor Bedard, but it will be if Montreal allows the type of chances it has in recent games. Jakub Dobeš will be in net for tonight’s game, looking to build on an impressive start in which he had a .964 save percentage versus the Edmonton Oilers, instrumental in shutting down one of the league’s top power plays. The Blackhawks will no doubt be looking to capitalize on their man advantages without their star player as well, so Dobeš and the defenders in front of him will need to be just as determined in their defensive duties as they were on Sunday night. Montreal Canadiens projected lineup .tg {border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;} .tg td{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg th{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; font-weight:normal;overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg .tg-ymce{background-color:#BE2F37;color:#FFF;font-weight:bold;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} .tg .tg-8d8j{text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} Left Wing Centre Right Wing #13 Cole Caufield #14 Nick Suzuki #76 Zachary Bolduc #20 Juraj Slafkovský #91 Oliver Kapanen #93 Ivan Demidov #17 Josh Anderson #62 Owen Beck #85 Alexandre Texier #90 Joe Veleno #71 Jake Evans #11 Brendan Gallagher .tg {border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;} .tg td{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg th{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; font-weight:normal;overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg .tg-rjwb{background-color:#21386F;color:#FFF;font-weight:bold;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} .tg .tg-8d8j{text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} Left Defence Right Defence #48 Lane Hutson #45 Alexandre Carrier #47 Jayden Struble #53 Noah Dobson #72 Arber Xhekaj #42 Adam Engström .tg {border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;} .tg td{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg th{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; font-weight:normal;overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg .tg-n1r7{background-color:#FFF;font-weight:bold;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} .tg .tg-8d8j{text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} Starter Backup #75 Jakub Dobeš #32 Jacob Fowler Scratched: Jared Davidson Conditioning loan: Samuel Montembeault Injured: Kirby Dach, Kaiden Guhle, Patrik Laine, Mike Matheson, Alex Newhook Chicago Blackhawks projected lineup .tg {border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;} .tg td{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg th{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; font-weight:normal;overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg .tg-bobw{font-weight:bold;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} .tg .tg-nrix{text-align:center;vertical-align:middle} .tg .tg-8d8j{text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} Left Wing Centre Right Wing Tyler Bertuzzi Frank Nazar Andre Burakovsky Teuvo Teravainen Jason Dickinson Ilya Mikheyev Oliver Moore Ryan Greene Nick Lardis Colton Dach Dominic Toninato Ryan Donato .tg {border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;} .tg td{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg th{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; font-weight:normal;overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg .tg-bobw{font-weight:bold;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} .tg .tg-8d8j{text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} Left Defence Right Defence Alex Vlasic Louis Crevier Matt Grzelcyk Artyom Levshunov Wyatt Kaiser Connor Murphy .tg {border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;} .tg td{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg th{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; font-weight:normal;overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg .tg-bobw{font-weight:bold;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} .tg .tg-8d8j{text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} Starter Backup Spencer Knight Arvid Soderblom

William Shoukri and Patrik Bexell teams up to talk about Laval Rocket and the ‘Big Beautiful Brawl’ where Alex Belzile, Laurent Dauphin (whom we forgot while recording) and Joshua Roy received three games suspensions, but more importantly what has happened to Joshua Roy since his demotion from the Montreal Canadiens? He isn’t on the first line of the Rocket, is that Pascal Vincent’s fault or Joshua Roy’s? However, points aren’t coming at the pace fans, or Eyes on the Prize staff, expected. The big section of the podcast is dedicated to the renaissance of David Reinbacher, after his compatriot Adam Engström was called up to the Canadiens, he has been the rock that other defenders hold onto in Laval. He is the foundation of the whole team, especially with Jacob Fowler being up in NHL as well. Over the last three games Reinbacher averaged over 25 minutes of ice time, if people are impressed with Konyushkov doing that in KHL, they should be even more so with Reinbacher as AHL is a much better league. Should Reinbacher shoot more, should he join the cycle more? Questions that are discussed in the podcast. After the commercial break, William Shoukri brings out the intelligence of Sean Farrell, and once more the question arises where he will earn his pay down the line. There is no question that Farrell would suit the European teams’ need of high quality players. He would also make a good team into a contender by just coming over, with the Montreal top six set for the foreseeable future, is Europe the path forward for Farrell? The podcast concludes with a look into Florian Xhekaj’s return to the Rocket. --- Listen to the podcast below, or on your regular podcast platform. Please subscribe, like, share and leave comment as it helps with promotions and our reach.

Game 34: Montreal Canadiens vs. Chicago Blackhawks Start time: 7:00 PM EST / 4:00 PM PST In the Canadiens region: TSN2 (English), RDS (French) In the Blackhawks region: CHSN Streaming: ESPN+, RDS, TSN+ It has been a difficult rebuild for the Chicago Blackhawks after they waited too long to move on from their aging championship-winning core. The team that was vying for the title of best in the league for a nine-year span from 2008-09 to 2016-17 saw that come to an abrupt end, not putting together a winning season since. Last year there was even some concern that Connor Bedard, one of the most highly touted prospects in the game over the past decade, wasn’t going to hit the ceiling envisioned for him, topping out at merely star status for his team and not reaching the expected upper echelon. Those concerns are no longer there. After a 67-point 2024-25 season that carried a -36 goal differential, Bedard is currently sixth in the league scoring race at 44 points through 31 games played, on a team that ranks 25th in goals with just 93. That’s an involvement rate of 47.3% for Bedard in the offence his team creates. Now the Blackhawks need to play without his services because he’s out with an upper-body injury, likely not to return until after the Christmas break. However, even before he went down it seemed like the clock was striking midnight on their surprisingly strong start to the year. On November 18 they had a 10-5-4 record and were tied with the Winnipeg Jets for third spot in the Central Division. They have four wins in the 14 games played since then, falling five points out of a wild-card spot in the process. In that time they also saw the Minnesota Wild make a major upgrade by adding Quinn Hughes, significantly reducing their odds of claiming a post-season spot in the NHL’s toughest division. Chicago has arrived in Montreal on a three-game losing streak, most recently blowing a late third-period lead with two goals against in eight seconds to lose in regulation. At 6-8-3, they have one of the worst road records in the NHL, and most of those results came even with Bedard’s help. Tale of the Tape .tg {border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;} .tg td{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg th{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; font-weight:normal;overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg .tg-ymce{background-color:#BE2F37;color:#FFF;font-weight:bold;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} .tg .tg-8d8j{text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} Canadiens Statistics Blackhawks 17-12-4 Record 13-14-6 48.7% (19th) Expected-goal share 44.4% (32nd) 3.15 (12th) Goals per game 2.82 (25th) 3.48 (31st) Goals against per game 3.00 (14th) 26.1% (4th) PP% 21.3% (11th) 76.9% (25th) PK% 83.9% (4th) 1-0-0 Head-to-Head Record 0-1-0 Cole Caufield (17) Most goals Connor Bedard (19) Nick Suzuki (28) Most assists Connor Bedard (25) Nick Suzuki (37) Most points Connor Bedard (44) It’s a very stoppable force that visits the Bell Centre this evening, but Montreal’s defence has been easily movable all season long. On Tuesday they simply got outworked by the Philadelphia Flyers who were gifted a lead and then locked things down with their disciplined team defence. It was a frustrating result given how well the Habs had played just two days earlier versus the Edmonton Oilers, then couldn’t be bothered to put in a similar effort versus a worse offensive team. You could argue that missing Bedard will make it easier for the Blackhawks in their quest for a win as they’re more likely to get the lackadaisical defending without a star the Canadiens can focus on. Major errors on defence, like leaving a player unchecked at the side of the net, being too careless with the puck at the offensive blue line, or, a new one that we witnessed last game, a lack of communication between a puck-handling goalie and his teammates, are what’s holding the Habs back the most, and will be the reason why they miss the playoffs if they don’t start to correct the issues. The Habs went from what would have been second place in the Atlantic Division with a readily available win last game to now third in the wild-card race, and once again saw their home points percentage dip below .500. There are three more home games to play before their season’s toughest stretch of road games begins, and they can’t afford to drop another winnable match.

Montreal Canadiens news and notes * As witnessed yet again in their loss to the Philadelphia Flyers, the Canadiens are too often sunk by their lack of discipline. [Journal de Montreal] * Rookie goaltender Jacob Fowler readily admits he made a pretty costly mistake against the Flyers after misplaying the puck behind his own net.  [TSN] * With Mike Matheson out, Lane Hutson took on the heaviest workload against the Flyers and didn’t disappoint. [Journal de Montreal] * Joe Veleno aims to show the Chicago Blackhawks “what they missed out on” tonight. [Montreal Gazette] Around the league and elsewhere * Think you could pass this NHL equipment quiz full of convoluted bizarro questions? [TSN] * Leon Draisaitl made history Tuesday, becoming the first German-born player to record 1,000 NHL points. [NHL] * Brady Tkachuk also made history this week after being high-sticked five games in a row. [Ottawa Senators] * Once just an expansion team, the Washington Capitals have become a “model for success in the NHL.” [NHL] * Flyers forward Tyson Foerster is expected to miss approximately five months after undergoing arm surgery. [Sportsnet] * On his first full day as GM, Jarmo Kekäläinen sent a clear, on-point message about the Buffalo Sabres. [NHL] * The Pittsburgh Penguins are poised for new ownership. [TSN] * Edmonton Oilers’ David Tomasek is “trying not to get discouraged” as he watches his team from the press box. [Sportsnet]

Welcome back to PuckTalk MTL, your go-to source for Montreal Canadiens previews, NHL analysis, and in-depth hockey breakdowns! In this PuckTalk preview, Kosta looks ahead to a classic Original Six matchup as the Montreal Canadiens face off against the Chicago Blackhawks in a battle of skill, strategy, and endurance. He'll break down the key storylines, including lineup matchups, defensive responsibilities, and scoring threats that could swing this game. From high-pressure forechecking to special teams execution, we analyze how both the Habs and the Blackhawks plan to leverage their strengths. Fans will also get insight into potential line combinations, goaltending decisions, and which players may rise to the occasion in this intense NHL rivalry. Whether you’re a Montreal Canadiens fan, a Chicago Blackhawks supporter, or a die-hard NHL and hockey fan, this preview delivers expert insight into what to watch for and how the game might unfold. We also highlight past encounters, player trends, and strategic adjustments that could determine the outcome of this Original Six showdown. 🔥 LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE for more Montreal Canadiens content, NHL previews, and PuckTalk MTL expert breakdowns! 0:00 - Show Start 0:37 - What does Coach think about Montembeault's "demotion" to the AHL 5:48 - Defending MSL...AGAIN!!! 9:50 - Hakws' Strengths & Weaknesses 14:30 - Hawks Vs. Habs - Projected Lineups 16:09 - 5 Keys To Victory Over the Blackhawks #GoHabsGo #MontrealCanadiens #ChicagoBlackhawks #NHL #Habs #Blackhawks #HockeyFans #NHLPreview #OriginalSix #PuckTalkMTL #CH #HockeyVLog In every episode, Kosta Papoulias takes a deep dive into the latest Montreal Canadiens news involving Ivan Demidov, Patrik Laine, Juraj Slafkovsky, Josh Anderson, Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, Kirby Dach, Joe Veleno, Jake Evans, Zach Bolduc, Brendan Gallagher, Alex Newhook, Oliver Kapanen, Habs Defencemen, Arber Xhekaj, Kaiden Guhle, Sam Montembeault, Lane Hutson, Jayden Struble, Alex Carrier, Mike Matheson, Noah Dobson, Jakub Dobes, Jacob Fowler, Kent Hughes, Martin St Louis. Dans chaque épisode, Kosta Papoulias analyse en profondeur les dernières nouvelles des Canadiens de Montréal concernant Ivan Demidov, Patrik Laine, Juraj Slafkovsky, Josh Anderson, Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, Kirby Dach, Joe Veleno, Jake Evans, Zach Bolduc, Brendan Gallagher, Alex Newhook, Oliver Kapanen, Habs Defencemen, Arber Xhekaj, Kaiden Guhle, Sam Montembeault, Lane Hutson, Jayden Struble, Alex Carrier, Mike Matheson, Noah Dobson, Jakub Dobes, Jacob Fowler, Kent Hughes et Martin St Louis. Please Click to Subscribe / Veuillez cliquer pour vous abonner: https://bit.ly/mtlhockeytalk

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Starting the day with a chance to potentially move into first place in the Atlantic division, the Montreal Canadiens were in action against the Philadelphia Flyers at the Bell Centre on Tuesday night. Unfortunately, they may have been a little late to arrive to that game mentally, as they fell behind 3-1 after two periods before coming on strong in the third. Those strong 20 minutes weren’t enough, as an empty netter would seal a 4-1 victory for the Flyers. Dan Vladar stepped up for the Flyers in that third period, but perhaps if the Habs had made him work a little more in the 40 minutes before that, they’d have enjoyed a different fate. The Canadiens always get their daily recommended iron intake. pic.twitter.com/Kkkd81dIgc— Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) December 17, 2025 All these posts and crossbars certainly have something to do with it, but the overall lack of shots is a problem that has plagued the Canadiens this season. Through two periods of hockey, they mustered a paltry 10 shots on goal before doubling their total in the third and final frame, most of which they spent trailing by two goals. It was frustrating to know that they had that sense of urgency in them, but didn’t bother to bring it out until it was too late. Inconsistency is something you can generally expect from such a young roster, but the age excuse grows weaker by the game. They followed up a strong effort against Edmonton with two very weak periods, and ultimately squandered a chance to gain ground in the Atlantic division in the process. A strong third period was too little, too late, and cold comfort to fans who watched the mostly listless 40 minutes that preceded it. If this team wants to be a perennial playoff participant and take the next step in their rebuild, they have to focus on achieving some consistency, doing away with this Jekyll and Hyde act in the process. They’ll also need to address why the worst of their play seems to happen within the friendly confines of the Bell Centre. After that loss, they sport a losing record of 8-9-1 on home ice, which stands in stark contrast to their 9-3-3 record on the road. What good is home ice advantage if the benefit of sleeping in your own beds seems to sap the life out of your game? Well, they have two games left in their home stand to show the fans something to cheer about. Following that, perhaps they’ll be excited to embark on a seven-game stretch away from the Bell Centre. Oh, and while this didn’t really decide the game, I’ll leave it here just to say that anyone who does this should be forced to walk home after the game. Unbelievable. Seeler pulls Gallagher's stick into his face and the refs give Philadelphia a power play up 3-1 in the third. pic.twitter.com/GccMyyz1Gz— Matt Drake (@DrakeMT) December 17, 2025 Click the play button below to listen to your full Bottom Six Minutes, also available wherever you get your podcasts. We’ll be back on Thursday night, when the home stand continues against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Montreal Canadiens news and notes * A stint with the Laval Rocket could be a blessing in disguise for Samuel Montembeault. [Journal de Montreal] * Revisiting the Canadiens’ 2025 off-season departures. [The Hockey Writers] * Quentin Miller is making a name for himself this season. [Journal de Montreal] * Montreal sports broadcaster Michael Whalen, who died last week at 82, was a master storyteller. [Montreal Gazette] * William Trudeau is patiently waiting for his chance. [RDS] Around the league and elsewhere * The San Jose Sharks will release Michael Misa to Team Canada for the World Juniors. [Sportsnet] * Zayne Parekh is out to make a difference with Team Canada. [Daily Faceoff] * Is there a path back to a Cup window for the “mid” Toronto Maple Leafs? [Sportsnet] * New Buffalo Sabres general manager Jarmo Kekalainen is aiming for character and consistency. [Sportsnet | The Athletic] * The best and worst trades from the Kevyn Adams era. [Sportsnet] * Connor Bedard will be out until January with an upper-body injury. [Sportsnet] * How will the Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars react to the Minnesota Wild’s blockbuster acquisition of Quinn Hughes? [The Athletic] * Why Hughes is in Minnesota and not New Jersey. [ESPN] * Goalie Darcy Kuemper was placed on injured reserve by the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday after taking a hit to the head from Mikko Rantanen. [ESPN] * What’s going on with the Canadian women’s hockey team? [Radio-Canada] * Tampere and Turku, Finland, will be the host sites for the 2028 IIHF World Junior Championship. [Daily Faceoff]

Welcome back to PuckTalk MTL, your trusted destination for Montreal Canadiens post-game analysis, NHL reactions, and honest hockey breakdowns. In this post-game episode, Kosta holds nothing back regarding another frustrating Habs loss, as costly mistakes, missed assignments, and lack of execution once again prove decisive. He'll break down the key moments that swung the game, including defensive breakdowns, turnovers, and missed scoring chances that allowed the opposition— the Philadelphia Flyers—to capitalize. From questionable decisions to lapses in structure, we analyze what went wrong for Montreal and why these recurring issues continue to haunt the Canadiens this season. Coach K also examines individual performances, goaltending support, special teams struggles, and coaching adjustments need to be made but that fans are debating across the NHL landscape. Whether you’re a passionate Montreal Canadiens fan, a Philadelphia Flyers supporter, or a dedicated hockey and NHL fan, this post-game reaction delivers sharp insight and real discussion. If you’re searching for Habs post-game breakdowns, NHL game reactions, and unfiltered hockey analysis, you’re in the right place. 🔥 LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE for more Montreal Canadiens coverage, NHL content, and PuckTalk MTL post-game analysis! 0:00 - Show Start 1:26 - Game Highlights - Mistakes-A-Plenty Against Philly! 9:25 - Game Analysis - COACH GOES OFF!!! 23:21 - Coach Asks, "What Is Stephane Robidas doing exactly?" 30:02 - Don't forget to support Lou & vano and the Defend Philly Podcast! #GoHabsGo #MontrealCanadiens #PhiladelphiaFlyers #NHL #HabsLoss #HockeyFans #NHLPostGame #PuckTalkMTL #CH #HockeyVLog In every episode, Kosta Papoulias takes a deep dive into the latest Montreal Canadiens news involving Ivan Demidov, Patrik Laine, Juraj Slafkovsky, Josh Anderson, Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, Kirby Dach, Joe Veleno, Jake Evans, Zach Bolduc, Brendan Gallagher, Alex Newhook, Oliver Kapanen, Habs Defencemen, Arber Xhekaj, Kaiden Guhle, Sam Montembeault, Lane Hutson, Jayden Struble, Alex Carrier, Mike Matheson, Noah Dobson, Jakub Dobes, Jacob Fowler, Kent Hughes, Martin St Louis. Dans chaque épisode, Kosta Papoulias analyse en profondeur les dernières nouvelles des Canadiens de Montréal concernant Ivan Demidov, Patrik Laine, Juraj Slafkovsky, Josh Anderson, Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, Kirby Dach, Joe Veleno, Jake Evans, Zach Bolduc, Brendan Gallagher, Alex Newhook, Oliver Kapanen, Habs Defencemen, Arber Xhekaj, Kaiden Guhle, Sam Montembeault, Lane Hutson, Jayden Struble, Alex Carrier, Mike Matheson, Noah Dobson, Jakub Dobes, Jacob Fowler, Kent Hughes et Martin St Louis. Please Click to Subscribe / Veuillez cliquer pour vous abonner: https://bit.ly/mtlhockeytalk

* I’m not sure about these defence pairings Martin St-Louis has come up with, but I suppose we’ll have to see how they do. First period * Jayden Struble gets caught up ice on the first shift, and Fowler has already had to face one transition rush. * Cole Caufield is given about one-third of the offensive zone all to himself, but Dan Vladar saves the situation. * The checking is tight right now. It’s like watching five fencing matches taking place at once. * Adam Engström is showing good patience tonight, holding the puck on a couple of occasions to allow his teammates to change. * His pass selection will need a little work, however. The one he made to Juraj Slafkovský leaves the forward vulnerable to a hard hit at centre ice from Rasmus Ristolainen. It was clean, but Ivan Demidov still didn’t like it and went after Ristolainen with a cross-check. The rookie will have to sit for two minutes. * Jake Evans looked great on the penalty-kill shift, and it’s nice to see him starting to find his form over the last week or so. * Engström steps up at the blue line and forces the Flyers offside. That’s now how the Canadiens typically play those situations, but they should do that more often. * Montreal had a good second-line shift in the offensive zone, but that ends when Alexandre Carrier trips up Christian Dvorak with the puck back in Montreal’s end. Time for Evans to go back to work. * The Flyers are fighting just to maintain possession in the offensive zone, so they’re not getting much in terms of offence. The Oilers’ power play this is not. * Josh Anderson makes a good decision to carry the puck over the line with speed to back off the defence, then play it back to Evans. Evans whipped the puck across looking for Carrier, but Texier intercepted it from a better position in the slot and ripped it past Dan Vladar to open the scoring. Another day, another Texier goal [image or embed]— Scott Matla (@scottmatla.bsky.social) December 16, 2025 at 8:50 PM * I just praised Anderson, but he was left on the ice for the next shift and didn’t work hard enough to cover his man in the defensive zone as the play turned up ice, gliding back into the slot and making a half-hearted reach with his stick as the puck came across the ice. That allowed Carl Grundstrom to accept the pass at the side of the net and tie the game right back up. * One of those defensive breakdowns that spoils an entire period. Second period * Anderson is out to start the second period, so I don’t know what message that sends to address the defensive issues. * Demidov tips the puck on a shot from Slafkovský that was sliding wide of the net, but put it off the post. * Sean Couturier latches onto Owen Beck’s stick to prevent Beck from getting to a puck mere feet from the net, and has the audacity to complain to the ref about the call. I still think the refs need to give unsportsmanlike calls that type of behaviour. * The Flyers needed a good defensive play to prevent the puck from reaching Texier for what would have been a three-foot shot. * Demidov makes a poor decision to take the puck away from Carrier in the offensive zone and head back toward the blue line. It results in a two-on-one for Philadelphia’s top two point-producers, and Travis Konecny sets up Trevor Zegras for the go-ahead goal. * These are costly mistakes the Canadiens are making. * Evans sets up another chance for Texier, but Vladar stops him this time. * The Flyers have given up nothing to Montreal’s top line tonight. It’s being completely neutralized. * Gallagher comes out for a shift and gets the puck for a chance. He flubs the first attempt but manages to put the puck on net for a shot at least. He looks good in the opening 25 or 30 seconds of the shift, but doesn’t have the stamina for any more than that. * Montreal only has nine shots through 33 minutes. They’ve allowed a strong defensive team to play with a lead again. * The top line gets its first real chances of the game, but Vladar makes the first save and the secondary setup is picked off by Bobby Brink. * The Bell Centre ice is doing about as much work as the Flyers right now to break up Montreal’s offence. The puck isn’t go where the players intend it to. * Fowler stopped the puck behind his net expecting someone to come take it, but the one who did was Matvei Michkov, setting up Brink for an empty-netter. A full communication breakdown on the play to makes it 3-1. * What is it with the Canadiens playing their worst hockey on nights they can move to first place in the division? Third period * It’s an angry start to the period for Montreal. They want to make up for one of their mistakes right away. * Another solid shift from Oliver Kapanen’s line has several chances. with the best going to Lane Hutson, whose shot more hits the Flyers netminder than was saved by him. * It’s relentless from Montreal right now. And it needs to be if they’re going to score twice. * The Flyers are desperate for a change after an icing and end up with seven players on the ice, but the refs allow that to happen. Funny, they usually give penalties to the trailing team when it’s Montreal trying to defend a lead. * Every shift is being played in Philadelphia’s zone, but none of that matters if they don’t find a way to put the puck in. * If Montreal learns to defend this well they will be difficult to beat, but it’s going to take some effort. * A full period played in Philadelphia’s zone and it’s Montreal that gets the one penalty. Nick Seeler sees Gallagher’s stick laying across his arm with Gallagher recovering from a hit and decides to pull it up to hit himself in the face. * Anderson and Zegras are going off for coincidental roughing minors. * Konecny hits the empty net and that will stick a form in this game. * Another game in which the Canadiens beat themselves, on a night the Bruins, Maple Leafs, and Red Wings all win. Just a disappointing night overall. * Next up the Canadiens will play the Connor Bedard-less Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday. They need to regroup and snatch up those two points. EOTP 3 Stars 3) They just don’t create any pressure without Slafkovský’s board work 2) I thought he was the most noticeable player for Montreal tonight 1) They both finished even, so we’ll have to have a round two

Game 33: Montreal Canadiens vs. Philadelphia Flyers Start time: 7:00 PM EST / 4:00 PM PST In the Canadiens region: TSN2 (English), RDS (French) In the Flyers region: NBC Sports Philadelphia Streaming: ESPN+, RDS, TSN+ Mike Matheson played a great game on Sunday night, shadowing Connor McDavid for all but two minutes of the Edmonton Oilers’ captain’s five-on-five ice time and holding him to just a secondary assist. The Canadiens won’t have the benefit of Matheson’s services this evening, however, as he is day-to-day with an injury. Matheson might have played through it if there weren’t six other defencemen that Martin St-Louis could trust, but Adam Engström is proving his NHL mettle in his second recall, and tonight will play a fourth consecutive game after both Jayden Struble and Arber Xhekaj were scratched in favour of the rookie in the past three games. Engström was a +1 on Sunday versus the powerful Oilers offence, and has yet to finish a game without at least an even goal differential. The test for the defence will come from Philadelphia’s top line, on which Trevor Zegras and Travis Konecny are centred by former Hab Christian Dvorak. That will also be the challenge Jacob Fowler faces in his third NHL start and first on home ice after beginning his NHL career with a 1-0-1 record. The Bell Centre crowd is sure to offer him support throughout the night, and he can feed off that to help his club get the win that could vault it back into top spot in the division. Montreal Canadiens projected lineup .tg {border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;} .tg td{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg th{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; font-weight:normal;overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg .tg-ymce{background-color:#BE2F37;color:#FFF;font-weight:bold;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} .tg .tg-8d8j{text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} Left Wing Centre Right Wing #13 Cole Caufield #14 Nick Suzuki #76 Zachary Bolduc #20 Juraj Slafkovský #91 Oliver Kapanen #93 Ivan Demidov #17 Josh Anderson #62 Owen Beck #85 Alexandre Texier #90 Joe Veleno #71 Jake Evans #11 Brendan Gallagher .tg {border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;} .tg td{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg th{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; font-weight:normal;overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg .tg-rjwb{background-color:#21386F;color:#FFF;font-weight:bold;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} .tg .tg-8d8j{text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} Left Defence Right Defence #48 Lane Hutson #53 Noah Dobson #72 Arber Xhekaj #42 Adam Engström #47 Jayden Struble #45 Alexandre Carrier .tg {border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;} .tg td{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg th{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; font-weight:normal;overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg .tg-n1r7{background-color:#FFF;font-weight:bold;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} .tg .tg-8d8j{text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} Starter Backup #32 Jacob Fowler #75 Jakub Dobeš Scratched: Jared Davidson Conditioning loan: Samuel Montembeault Injured: Kirby Dach, Kaiden Guhle, Patrik Laine, Mike Matheson, Alex Newhook Philadelphia Flyers projected lineup .tg {border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;} .tg td{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg th{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; font-weight:normal;overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg .tg-bobw{font-weight:bold;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} .tg .tg-nrix{text-align:center;vertical-align:middle} .tg .tg-8d8j{text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} Left Wing Centre Right Wing Trevor Zegras Christian Dvorak Travis Konecny Carl Grundstrom Sean Couturier Owen Tippett Matvei Michkov Noah Cates Bobby Brink Nicolas Deslauriers Rodrigo Abols Garnet Hathaway .tg {border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;} .tg td{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg th{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; font-weight:normal;overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg .tg-bobw{font-weight:bold;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} .tg .tg-8d8j{text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} Left Defence Right Defence Cam York Travis Sanheim Emil Andrae Jamie Drysdale Nick Seeler Rasmus Ristolainen .tg {border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;} .tg td{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg th{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; font-weight:normal;overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg .tg-bobw{font-weight:bold;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} .tg .tg-8d8j{text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} Starter Backup Dan Vladar Samuel Ersson

The Montreal Canadiens have dealt with their crowded crease with likely the most unexpected option. On Tuesday, the team sent goaltender Samuel Montembeault to the AHL’s Laval Rocket on a conditioning basis. Les Canadiens ont cédé le gardien Samuel Montembeault au Rocket de Laval à des fins de conditionnement. The Canadiens have assigned goaltender Samuel Montembeault to the Laval Rocket on a conditioning assignment. pic.twitter.com/FnhMAAIOrm— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) December 16, 2025 Montembeault last played a week ago, on December 9 and prior to that hadn’t played since December 2 due to an illness. The team announced that Jacob Fowler will start Tuesday’s game against the Philadelphia Flyers with Jakub Dobeš backing him up. This will provide Montembeault an opportunity to get back into game shape without the bright lights and expectations of the NHL. The goalie has struggled this season, with a 3.65 goals against average and .865 save percentage in 13 games. The Rocket play two road games in Cleveland on Thursday and Saturday before their holiday break. Montembeault will likely be back in the NHL at that point. Montembeault last played in the AHL in the 2020-21 season with the Syracuse Crunch.

Game 33: Montreal Canadiens vs. Philadelphia Flyers Start time: 7:00 PM EST / 4:00 PM PST In the Canadiens region: TSN2 (English), RDS (French) In the Flyers region: NBC Sports Philadelphia Streaming: ESPN+, RDS, TSN+ When the Montreal Canadiens played the Philadelphia Flyers six weeks ago, the Habs were a different team. They often fell behind in games and then relied on their depth of skill to pull them back in them, tying things up and getting games to overtime. They had overcome third-period deficits in five of the first 13 games leading up that match on November 4, and on that night they did the hard work in the second period to erase a three-goal deficit and turn it into lead of their own. The Flyers turned the tables with a tying goal in the third and then claimed the victory in the shootout to end what had been a perfect 5-0 run by Montreal in games going beyond regulation. Now with injuries to Alex Newhook and Kirby Dach, the Habs have had to spread their offensive talent thinner. They’ve only had two such late comebacks since as opponents don’t have as many threats to worry about. On November 15 when Dach went down two days after Newhook, the Canadiens were sixth in the league scoring 3.33 goals a game. From that date they are an average 16th at 3.07; still good considering the loss of two middle-six players, but not nearly as capable of putting together multiple shifts of offensive pressure. Their saving grace has been the power play, which went from being 11th on November 15 to the best in the league since at 34.3%. Now they can just put all of the good players who are still healthy on a unit and generate offence that way. Tale of the Tape .tg {border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;} .tg td{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg th{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; font-weight:normal;overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg .tg-ymce{background-color:#BE2F37;color:#FFF;font-weight:bold;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} .tg .tg-8d8j{text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} Canadiens Statistics Flyers 17-11-4 Record 16-9-6 48.3% (24th) Expected-goal share 48.8% (19th) 3.22 (9th) Goals per game 2.81 (26th) 3.47 (28th) Goals against per game 2.77 (9th) 26.4% (4th) PP% 16.5% (25th) 76.2% (25th) PK% 81.6% (14th) 0-0-1 Head-to-Head Record (24-25) 1-0-0 Cole Caufield (17) Most goals Trevor Zegras (13) Nick Suzuki (28) Most assists Trevor Zegras (19) Nick Suzuki (37) Most points Trevor Zegras (32) As the Habs and Flyers meet up for the second time, they sit tied on 38 points, but have come by them in different ways. While Montreal’s have largely been the result of their offence, the Flyers are putting in the work on the defensive side. It is quite impressive that they rank ninth in goals against as the league’s fifth-youngest team, and it’s been a big jump in performance for 3.45 goals against last season to 2.77 this year. Signing Dan Vladar in free agency has proven to be a great move. The team struggled in the net last year, but he is sporting a .908 save percentage while Ivan Fedotov, once a prized prospect the Flyers system, is now playing in the AHL following an off-season trade to Columbus. Now with some goaltending, the defensive prowess they’ve had for a few seasons now is shining through. Philadelphia is one of the best teams at limiting shots against and ranks seventh-best in high-danger chances allowed after finishing fourth last year. It’s a group that doesn’t give up much, and rarely loses by more than one goal. With that needed change in place, another off-season add is helping on offence. Trevor Zegras was acquired from the Anaheim Ducks at the NHL Draft for the cost of Ryan Poehling and a second- and fourth-round pick. Through 31 games he has already matched his production from a 57-game 2024-25 season, supplanting Travis Konecny as the Flyers’ offensive leader. The story is that the Canadiens were considering making a similar move a year earlier before selecting Ivan Demidov. As things stand, the 24-year-old Zegras has seven more points on the season than Demidov, who just turned 20 a week ago. There has been a lot of comparing Habs and Flyers prospects in recent years with Philadelphia declining to select Cole Caufield in 2019 in favour of Cam York (currently the second-most-used defenceman on the Flyers’ roster), and, given their ties, the Demidov-Zegras career battle will be one to follow as well.

Montreal Canadiens News and Notes * Jakub Dobeš came up big at just the right moment. [Radio-Canada] * Goalie talk. [TVA Sports] * While the goaltending might have gotten the most attention, the Habs’ blue line has undergone a series of important changes. [La Presse] * Youth, maturity, and the on-going, non-linear development of the NHL’s youngest (but not necessarily least experienced) team. [The Athletic] * Taking a look at each team’s fastest-rising prospect, including Montreal’s. [The Athletic] * Former Montreal Canadiennes forward Kayla Tutino fully expected to be done playing when she retired, but now she’s back and playing for Team Italy. [Radio-Canada] Around the League and Elsewhere * Connor Bedard will be out until at least January. [NHL | NBC Sports | TSN] * Victor Hedman is set to have surgery, but should be ready for the Olympics. [NBC Sports | NHL] * The Sabres fire Kevyn Adams and hire Jarmo Kekalainen. [TSN | Sportsnet | NHL] * Tristan Jarry is in for a weird homecoming. [NHL] * Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews, Leon Draisaitl, and John Tavares all feel that ice size won’t be a big concern at the Olympics. [CBC] * Kendall Coyne Schofield and Renata Fast are even less concerned. [The Athletic] * Can the Avalanche keep up this level of domination? The numbers seem to say they can. [TSN] * Matthews and the Leafs in general are not playing to the standard expected. [Sportsnet] * Quinn Hughes says the move was a long time in coming. [Sportsnet] * Gavin McKenna is motivated by skepticism. [Radio-Canada]

Welcome back to PuckTalk MTL, your ultimate source for Montreal Canadiens previews, NHL analysis, and in-depth hockey breakdowns! In this PuckTalk Preview, Coach look ahead to another high-stakes matchup between two rebuilding rivals: the Montreal Canadiens and the Philadelphia Flyers. He'll break down what Habs fans can expect as Montreal battles Philly in this clash of young talent, roster development, and strategic adjustments. From key player matchups to defensive responsibilities and offensive threats, he analyzes everything that could decide the outcome of this critical game. Special attention is given to standout prospects, goaltending options, and how both teams are managing growth while aiming for competitive results. Whether you’re a Montreal Canadiens fan, a Philadelphia Flyers supporter, or a die-hard NHL and hockey fan, this preview delivers the insight you need. We also discuss recent trends, coaching strategies, and line combinations that could swing momentum in this rivalry showdown. If you enjoy Habs game previews, NHL breakdowns, and expert hockey analysis, this episode is a must-watch. 🔥 LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE for more Montreal Canadiens content, NHL previews, and PuckTalk MTL insights! 0:00 - Show Start 1:00 - Let's Support Louis Cocco and the "Defend Philly Podcast" 2:31 - Some History Between The Flyers & Habs 8:40 - The Current Flyers' Strengths & Weaknesses 15:15 - Flyers & Habs Game Day Lineups 19:45 - 5 Keys To Victory Against The Philadelphia Flyers #GoHabsGo #MontrealCanadiens #PhiladelphiaFlyers #NHL #Habs #Flyers #HockeyFans #NHLPreview #PuckTalkMTL #HabsVsFlyers #CH #HockeyVLog In every episode, Kosta Papoulias takes a deep dive into the latest Montreal Canadiens news involving Ivan Demidov, Patrik Laine, Juraj Slafkovsky, Josh Anderson, Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, Kirby Dach, Joe Veleno, Jake Evans, Zach Bolduc, Brendan Gallagher, Alex Newhook, Oliver Kapanen, Habs Defencemen, Arber Xhekaj, Kaiden Guhle, Sam Montembeault, Lane Hutson, Jayden Struble, Alex Carrier, Mike Matheson, Noah Dobson, Jakub Dobes, Jacob Fowler, Kent Hughes, Martin St Louis. Dans chaque épisode, Kosta Papoulias analyse en profondeur les dernières nouvelles des Canadiens de Montréal concernant Ivan Demidov, Patrik Laine, Juraj Slafkovsky, Josh Anderson, Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, Kirby Dach, Joe Veleno, Jake Evans, Zach Bolduc, Brendan Gallagher, Alex Newhook, Oliver Kapanen, Habs Defencemen, Arber Xhekaj, Kaiden Guhle, Sam Montembeault, Lane Hutson, Jayden Struble, Alex Carrier, Mike Matheson, Noah Dobson, Jakub Dobes, Jacob Fowler, Kent Hughes et Martin St Louis. Please Click to Subscribe / Veuillez cliquer pour vous abonner: https://bit.ly/mtlhockeytalk

After a two-game stretch where the Montreal Canadiens went 1-0-1 with rookie goaltender Jacob Fowler between the pipes, they went back to one of their regulars on Sunday night. Taking on Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers at home, Jakub Dobeš got his first start since being pulled during their blowout loss to Tampa Bay last Tuesday. The hope was that perhaps a bit of time off would give him a chance to reset and find his form from earlier in the season. He did precisely that, looking about as calm and confident as he has this season, stopping 27 shots as a difference maker in a Habs win. Jakub Dobes with some excellent work to kill those penalties. pic.twitter.com/MG3KzULXxS— Matt Drake (@DrakeMT) December 15, 2025 Some credit is certainly due to the penalty killers for their work on that long five-on-three, but Dobeš was very important during that and a handful of other kills. Special teams were the difference in this game, but against a team as offensively charged as the Oilers, you need your goaltender to be one of your very best penalty killers, and he was. For a goaltender who generally has a flair for the chaotic in net, this was interestingly one of the more reserved performances we’ve ever seen from him. He was aggressive when he needed to be, but didn’t have to scramble in his crease nearly as often as he has in previous contests. High-danger scoring chances at five-on-five were dead even at seven apiece, and yet only the Habs found any scoring on those chances. His penalty killing was important, but this game could have been a lot closer if he wasn’t so efficient for the full 60 minutes. After the game, he was named the first star of the night, and if his reaction to the ovation he received from the fans is any indication, it was something he sorely needed to hear. Boy did he ever need to hear that ovation from the fans. pic.twitter.com/XyN6YPb6j8— Matt Drake (@DrakeMT) December 15, 2025 Confidence, or lack thereof, has been the theme around the team’s goaltending this year. This is the kind of performance he can build on, and hopefully get himself back to the level he was at early in the season. He didn’t quite have to steal that game, but he absolutely earned that first star nod and the ovation that came with it. If this is a sign that Jakub Dobeš is getting back on track, it could be a huge boost for the Montreal Canadiens. Click the play button below to listen to your full Bottom Six Minutes, also available wherever you get your podcasts. We’ll be right back tonight after the Habs take on the Edmonton Oilers at the Bell Centre.

The Habs went 2-1-1 during the second week of December, and sit third in the Atlantic Division with a record of 17-11-4. It started with another full-on embarrassment at home, a 6-1 beatdown courtesy of the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday. The Habs then took to the road, with Jacob Fowler getting his first NHL regular-season start against the Pittsburgh Penguins after the Habs hit the organizational panic button – calling up Fowler, Adam Engström and Owen Beck. All three played in the 4-2 win on Thursday. Fowler got the start again on Saturday and watched his team collapse under the bright lights of Broadway. Welcome to the Habs hockey, Jacob! On Sunday, the Habs capped off the week on a positive note, with a fairly decisive 4-1 win against the Edmonton Oilers. The best part of Sunday’s game? It started with goaltender Jakub Dobeš stealing three goals from the Oilers during a five-on-three early in the first. He was the first star of the game on Sunday, and the crowd showed him the love he deserved. Montreal Canadiens’ Three Stars Unsung hero: Alexandre Texier (4GP | 2G 1G 3P) 2G 1A After I cut the honourable mention section I had written last week, we received a few comments asking for something in the same vein, clearly showcasing my poor instincts for the audience’s desires. My pick might be surprising, but that’s the idea of an unsung hero. This week, Alexandre Texier was the offensive catalyst for his line every night. He’s been responsible for carrying Josh Anderson’s lack of offensive awareness and still managed to escape a single game with a negative plus/minus rating. Texier’s two points this week were both impact moments. His opening goal against the Penguins put the Habs in the driver’s seat early, and he was one of the few forwards who remembered how to play in the defensive zone in Saturday’s collapse against the Rangers. He had a solid game against Pittsburgh, and scored an insurance goal against the Edmonton Oilers last night. After being waived by the St. Louis Blues earlier this year, he’s become a bright spot in the Habs’ bottom six. Third Star: Jacob Fowler (2GP | 1-0-1, .894Sv%, 3.42GAA) There isn’t too much to be said about Fowler’s impressive NHL debut against Pittsburgh that hasn’t already been said. He proved exactly why he’s one of the best goaltending prospects in the NHL. He’s calm, technical, and comfortable in his crease, and has fantastic situational awareness. We saw the Habs employ a team-wide protection plan for Fowler against Pittsburgh, then leave him out to dry on Saturday against New York. Fowler didn’t steal any goals in the loss, but you’d be hard-pressed to lay the blame on his shoulders. The bounce-back performance will be interesting to see, but with Montreal running another three-goalie juggling routine, and Jakub Dobeš maybe finding his confidence, I can’t begin to theorize how Montreal will handle him. Second Star: Nick Suzuki (4GP | 1G 3A 4P) Nick Suzuki had a great week, it’s as simple as that. In Thursday’s win against Pittsburgh, Suzuki set the tone for his squad that they were playing for Fowler and put up a dominant two-way performance. He was consistent all week, and instead of Caufield, Suzuki was absolutely the offensive leader on the top line. It does seem as though Martin St-Louis is trying to limit Suzuki’s time on the penalty kill, most likely to avoid more injuries due to shot blocks. That being said, Suzuki looks healthier than he has since October. First Star: Lane Hutson (4GP | 0G 6A 6P) It was elite week for Lane Hutson. Sure, the points are about expected now, but Hutson is turning into a good rush-defender and is showing the potential to become a great one-on-one defender. He is starting to develop a calmness to his game, alleviating one of the most valid criticisms of his rookie campaign: his scrambly play. If you need any proof, Hutson took 16 penalties last year. He’s only taken one so far in 2025-26. He isn’t committing the stick infractions he was last year, because he’s no longer a half-step behind defensively. With Quinn Hughes being moved, Hutson is the most skilled defenceman playing in Canada right now. He’s playing like a full-fledged star, frequently breaching the 25-minute mark and dominating the competition. Laval Rocket player of the week Alex Belzile (3GP | 0G 3A 3P) For me, Alex Belzile needs to claim this award. I wouldn’t say anyone stood out like an all-star in Laval this week, but in my opinion Belzile was the Rocket’s most solid forward, along with Captain Condotta. Belzile earns the honour even though he was suspended for the last game and will be for the two this week as well for leaving the bench during an altercation. Next up The Canadiens will play four games again this week, with the same daily schedule they just completed. The Habs will host the Philadelphia Flyers, Chicago Blackhawks, and Penguins on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday before finishing the week with the second half of a home-and-home against Pittsburgh. All four of these games are winnable, and the Habs need some positive momentum to carry into the Christmas break.

Montreal Canadiens news and notes * Bryce Pickford has caught fire with the Medicine Hat Tigers. The defenceman is riding a five-game multi-goal streak: 5 MULTI-GOAL GAMES IN A ROW FOR BRYCE PICKFORD!!! 🤯🤯🤯🚨🐅 pic.twitter.com/d0gaJGGXBK— Medicine Hat Tigers (@tigershockey) December 14, 2025 * Quinn Hughes going to the Minnesota Wild was good news for Montreal because it meant he didn’t go to Detroit. [The Athletic] * In Abby Roque, the Montreal Victoire may finally have the complement to Marie-Philip Poulin and Laura Stacey they’ve been looking for. [La Presse] Around the league and elsewhere * Emil Heineman is realizing his potential with the New York Islanders. [La Presse] * Are the Minnesota Wild now Stanley Cup contenders? [Sportsnet] * Quinn Hughes scored in his debut as the Minnesota Wild beat the Boston Bruins. [NHL.com] * Zeev Buium also scored and factored in on both goals for the Vancouver Canucks in his debut. [NHL.com] * The Canucks placed Elias Pettersson on Injured Reserve. [TSN] * Leon Draisaitl’s chase for 1000 points is increasing interest in hockey back home in Germany. [NHL.com]

In this PuckTalk Post-Game, Kosta breaks down a wild night of contradictions as the Montreal Canadiens’ Jekyll & Hyde defense finds a way to stymie the Edmonton Oilers in a hard-fought NHL matchup. If you’re a Montreal Canadiens fan, Edmonton Oilers fan, or a passionate NHL and hockey fan, this post-game analysis is packed with insight you don’t want to miss. He'll analyze how the Canadiens’ defensive structure swung between chaos and control this weekend, limiting elite Oilers stars while being unable to do the same versus the New York Rangers. From key zone exits and coverage breakdowns to strong goaltending support and timely shot blocks, we examine what worked, what didn’t, and why Montreal ultimately held its ground against one of the NHL’s most dangerous offenses. You’ll hear in-depth discussion on coaching adjustments, pairing usage, defensive communication, and how the Habs managed McDavid-speed pressure and Edmonton’s lethal power play looks. We also look at what this performance says about the Canadiens’ growth, consistency issues, and long-term defensive identity. Whether you’re tracking Habs progress, Oilers performance, or overall NHL game analysis, this episode delivers smart hockey breakdowns and honest reactions. Make sure to like, comment, and subscribe for more Montreal Canadiens content, NHL post-game reactions, and daily PuckTalk MTL coverage! 0:00 - Show Start 0:53 - How This Game Started & Game Highlights - It could have turned out much differently 5:41 - Weekend Analysis - What Were The Biggest Differences Between Saturday & Sunday 20:10 - Another 4 Game Week Coming Up   #Habs #GoHabsGo #NHL #Hockey #IceHockey #CH #HockeyVLog #edmontonoilers #canadiensvsoilers #nyr #newyorkrangers In every episode, Kosta Papoulias takes a deep dive into the latest Montreal Canadiens news involving Ivan Demidov, Patrik Laine, Juraj Slafkovsky, Josh Anderson, Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, Kirby Dach, Joe Veleno, Jake Evans, Zach Bolduc, Brendan Gallagher, Alex Newhook, Oliver Kapanen, Habs Defencemen, Arber Xhekaj, Kaiden Guhle, Sam Montembeault, Lane Hutson, Jayden Struble, Alex Carrier, Mike Matheson, Noah Dobson, Jakub Dobes, Jacob Fowler, Kent Hughes, Martin St Louis. Dans chaque épisode, Kosta Papoulias analyse en profondeur les dernières nouvelles des Canadiens de Montréal concernant Ivan Demidov, Patrik Laine, Juraj Slafkovsky, Josh Anderson, Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, Kirby Dach, Joe Veleno, Jake Evans, Zach Bolduc, Brendan Gallagher, Alex Newhook, Oliver Kapanen, Habs Defencemen, Arber Xhekaj, Kaiden Guhle, Sam Montembeault, Lane Hutson, Jayden Struble, Alex Carrier, Mike Matheson, Noah Dobson, Jakub Dobes, Jacob Fowler, Kent Hughes et Martin St Louis. Please Click to Subscribe / Veuillez cliquer pour vous abonner: https://bit.ly/mtlhockeytalk

First period * Jakub Dobeš gets the start after a couple of games for Jacob Fowler. * It’s a rough start for referee Furman South as Mattias Ekholm fires a clearing attempt off the back of his knee. We have to hope he remembers which team did that to him. * Josh Anderson goes in on a partial breakaway, but his backhand move doesn’t fool Calvin Pickard. * Juraj Slafkovský’s tips a point shot that gives Pickard more trouble, but the goaltender still makes the save. * Well so much for the Oilers getting on the refs’ bad side. Montreal takes two penalties on the same sequence as Connor McDavid is cross-checked in the back by Oliver Kapanen, then Slafkovský trips his man at the point. Two correctly called penalties, but you can probably put a one on the scoreboard for Edmonton. * A strong kill from a unit of Mike Matheson, Alexandre Carrier, Jake Evans, and especially Jakub Dobeš kills off the first 1:19. * Then Dobson replaces Carrier, and they kill off the remainder. The crowd gives everyone a long ovation. * The crowd boos as Ivan Demidov goes down, but there wasn’t enough contact for the ref to make that call. He finds one later in the shift for a hold in the corner, and the Canadiens will have their first power-play opportunity. * The top unit doesn’t have its usual accuracy on its passing, and that spoiled a couple of great chances. * Brendan Gallagher whacks away for three chances, but the last contact to get the puck in was with his foot, and that won’t count. * Alexandre Texier is going off for hooking. And Montreal had just evened up the shots after the five-on-three earlier. * They kill off another penalty, but they’re not going to get away with taking them all night. * Considering the power plays, it was an okay period from Montreal, still generating 10 shots despite only 16 minutes playing with more skaters on the ice. Second period * Demidov charges right at Ekholm as he tries to play a bobbling puck, and the defenceman has to get his stick in Demidov’s feet to slow him down, sending the Canadiens to a power play. * You see what Ekholm was trying to prevent. Demidov decides to shoot rather than pass as Slafkovský eclipses Pickard on his way to the slot, and Montreal has the lead. Ivan Demidov snipes one off the bar on the power play, 1-0 #Habs [image or embed]— Matt Drake (@drakemt.bsky.social) December 14, 2025 at 9:12 PM * Suzuki goes in on a breakaway, but doesn’t really get a shot off after his deke. * Dobeš is being very active with his stick in this period to keep pucks away from the crease. It seems like something he’s been working on in his time off. * Demidov tries to fire again with a delayed call coming, but whiffs. Don’t let that discourage you, Ivan. * Three more attempts on the power play. The Oilers were more worried about Caufield and he had a few looks. * Not as effective as the last power play, so it remains a one-goal lead. * Jake Evans works hard in the offensive zone to help Joe Veleno get the puck off the boards, then teams up with Anderson to put pressure on McDavid, who flips the puck out to the slot. Veleno is the only player there and fires it in. Of all people, Connor McDavid gives an early Christmas present to Joe Veleno, and he makes it 2-0 #Habs [image or embed]— Matt Drake (@drakemt.bsky.social) December 14, 2025 at 9:27 PM * Suzuki gets another breakaway. Stopped again. Hopefully that miss isn’t as much of a game-changer as Evans’s last night. * After a long shift in the defensive zone, Texier escapes on a breakaway. He tries the same move as Suzuki and Pickard saves his team again. * Edmonton is getting much better chances now. The Habs are in defence mode with their multi-goal lead, and that rarely ends well. * Suzuki turns and finds a charging Caufield. He dekes past his defender, then fires a shot off the post. * Montreal could have five or six goals in this period. * I don’t know what Anderson was thinking as he grabbed Darnell Nurse in the final minute of the period with the puck heading down to Edmonton’s zone. A wholly unnecessary penalty to end the period, giving the Oilers a chance to get back in the game in the third. Third period * The Canadiens have their fourth multi-goal lead in the past three games. They will attempt to hang on to one for the second time. * Another penalty killed by Montreal. That’s been critical in this game. * Trent Frederic kicks out Carrier’s feet. The ref standing 30 feet away called nothing, but the one at centre ice picked it up. Montreal can extend the lead to three. * If they can get into the zone…. * They do. This time Suzuki is the recipient of a perfect pass from Slafkovský and just has to turn his body to the right angle to deflect it in. It’s 3-0 with 16 minutes to play. Nice pass by Juraj Slafkovsky, basically just banks this in off Nick Suzuki. 3-0 #Habs [image or embed]— Matt Drake (@drakemt.bsky.social) December 14, 2025 at 10:09 PM * Hutson adds a second assist on the day and has four this weekend. * The puck come to Mattias Janmark in the mid slot. Dobeš sprints halfway out to him to cut down the angle and make the save. * Montreal is being very aggressive on the puck-carriers right now. Gallagher just knocked the puck off McDavid’s stick to turn back an attack. * They’re also sitting back and waiting for the Oilers to reach the blue line, not wanting to get caught up ice. The forwards could stand to be a little more assertive here. * Demidov is going to the box for high-sticking. These calls tend to happen when all you’re doing is defending. Another important kill. * The Oilers get the goal. Let that be the only thing Edmonton has to celebrate tonight. * Texier gets hooked as he tried to turn up on after a turnover, but continues on. He thinks about a pass but then decides to shoot, and restores the three-goal lead. Alex Texier with a short side rip makes it 4-1 #Habs [image or embed]— Matt Drake (@drakemt.bsky.social) December 14, 2025 at 10:30 PM * Slafkovský does well to get the puck down the ice, but is thwarted on his attempt at the empty net. * Noah Dobson misses as well. They can afford to fire from distance with a big lead. Maybe Dobeš will have a go. * On a shift of 4:23 seconds, Matheson prevents McDavid from creating another goal. * Montreal wins 4-1 at home, get its points percentage at the Bell Centre back to even, and takes five of last six available points. * The homestand continues on Tuesday when the Philadelphia Flyers come to town. The two teams are tied on 38 points. EOTP 3 Stars 3) He looked solid tonight (and had for the most part before the previous couple of weeks) 2) Good thing they play on ice 1) Fifteen more months

Game 32: Montreal Canadiens vs. Edmonton Oilers Start time: 7:00 PM EST / 4:00 PM PST In the Canadiens region: TSN2 (English), RDS (French) In the Oilers region: Sportsnet West Streaming: ESPN+, RDS, TSN+ It turns out the Montreal Canadiens can’t just abandon their defensive duties with Jacob Fowler in the net and let the rookie save them. They did well in Pittsburgh to limit the shots he faced to start his NHL career, but the New York Rangers were able to test him from close range on multiple occasions as familiar defensive issues cost the Habs a point last night. That was against a team that rarely scores on home ice. The Edmonton Oilers team than the Habs have returned to the Bell Centre to face has no such issues, and the calm presence of Fowler won’t be in net to save the majority of the cases when the defence breaks. At some point the team will need to make the adjustments to prevent players from standing all alone at the top of the crease if it wants to be a playoff team again this season. The task tonight is containing Connor McDavid. While they weren’t able to do that very well in the first meeting of the season in Edmonton, they have been able to lock him down at the Bell Centre in recent history as he has just one assist in his last four visits to Montreal. Expect a shutdown unit of Nick Suzuki and Mike Matheson to focus on #97 this evening as the Habs try to extend a point streak to three games. Montreal Canadiens projected lineup .tg {border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;} .tg td{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg th{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; font-weight:normal;overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg .tg-ymce{background-color:#BE2F37;color:#FFF;font-weight:bold;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} .tg .tg-8d8j{text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} Left Wing Centre Right Wing #13 Cole Caufield #14 Nick Suzuki #76 Zachary Bolduc #20 Juraj Slafkovský #91 Oliver Kapanen #93 Ivan Demidov #17 Josh Anderson #62 Owen Beck #85 Alexandre Texier #90 Joe Veleno #71 Jake Evans #11 Brendan Gallagher .tg {border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;} .tg td{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg th{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; font-weight:normal;overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg .tg-rjwb{background-color:#21386F;color:#FFF;font-weight:bold;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} .tg .tg-8d8j{text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} Left Defence Right Defence #48 Lane Hutson #53 Noah Dobson #8 Mike Matheson #45 Alexandre Carrier #72 Arber Xhekaj #42 Adam Engström .tg {border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;} .tg td{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg th{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; font-weight:normal;overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg .tg-n1r7{background-color:#FFF;font-weight:bold;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} .tg .tg-8d8j{text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} Starter Backup #75 Jakub Dobeš #32 Jacob Fowler Scratched: Jared Davidson, Samuel Montembeault, Jayden Struble Injured: Kirby Dach, Kaiden Guhle, Patrik Laine, Alex Newhook Edmonton Oilers projected lineup .tg {border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;} .tg td{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg th{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; font-weight:normal;overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg .tg-bobw{font-weight:bold;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} .tg .tg-nrix{text-align:center;vertical-align:middle} .tg .tg-8d8j{text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} Left Wing Centre Right Wing Ryan Nugent-Hopkins Connor McDavid Zach Hyman Vasily Podkolzin Leon Draisaitl Matthew Savoie Trent Frederic Adam Henrique Mattias Janmark Andrew Mangiapane Curtis Lazar David Tomasek .tg {border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;} .tg td{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg th{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; font-weight:normal;overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg .tg-bobw{font-weight:bold;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} .tg .tg-8d8j{text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} Left Defence Right Defence Mattias Ekholm Evan Bouchard Darnell Nurse Alec Regula Spencer Stastney Ty Emberson .tg {border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;} .tg td{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg th{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; font-weight:normal;overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg .tg-bobw{font-weight:bold;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} .tg .tg-8d8j{text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} Starter Backup Calvin Pickard Tristan Jarry

Game 32: Montreal Canadiens vs. Edmonton Oilers Start time: 7:00 PM EST / 4:00 PM PST In the Canadiens region: TSN2 (English), RDS (French) In the Oilers region: Sportsnet West Streaming: ESPN+, RDS, TSN+ The Edmonton Oilers have had one glaring weakness for several seasons, and that is goaltending. The team has made back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals despite the issues in net, ranking 11th of the 16 teams in the 2025 post-season with an overall save percentage of .871. The assumption from most people was that they would address the issue that has potentially cost them two championships in the off-season, but they once again went into a new campaign with Stuart Skinner as their number one. With Edmonton ranking 31st in save percentage midway through December, general manager Stan Bowman finally realized what every other person who follows the sport has known for years: a change was needed between the pipes. He looked to the Pittsburgh Penguins for a solution, swapping Skinner for Tristan Jarry. It was an expensive addition given Jarry’s salary cap hit of $5.375 million dollars for two more seasons after this one, requiring the Oilers to swap out Brett Kulak for Spencer Stastney in separate moves to make the financial element work. Was that the move that will fix the issue? Jarry does rank 20th in the NHL this season with a .908 save percentage, which would be a game-changing jump over what the Oilers have been getting. But he did have his issues last season, at one point placed on waivers where that meaty contract allowed him to go unclaimed and make it to the AHL. However, it looks like last season was the outlier and not his current start given his career mark of a .909 save percentage, so it should be a significant upgrade. Tale of the Tape .tg {border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;} .tg td{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg th{border-color:black;border-style:solid;border-width:1px;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;font-size:14px; font-weight:normal;overflow:hidden;padding:10px 5px;word-break:normal;} .tg .tg-ymce{background-color:#BE2F37;color:#FFF;font-weight:bold;text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} .tg .tg-8d8j{text-align:center;vertical-align:bottom} Canadiens Statistics Oilers 16-11-4 Record 15-11-6 48.3% (24th) Expected-goal share 50.8% (14th) 3.19 (10th) Goals per game 3.41 (3rd) 3.55 (31st) Goals against per game 3.38 (26th) 25.3% (6th) PP% 31.3% (3rd) 76.0% (26th) PK% 80.5% (17th) 0-1-0 Head-to-Head Record (24-25) 1-0-0 Cole Caufield (17) Most goals Connor McDavid (18) Nick Suzuki (28) Most assists Connor McDavid (33) Nick Suzuki (36) Most points Connor McDavid (51) The Oilers don’t need otherworldly performances from their goaltender to win games. The team easily piles up goals with the third-best offence in the NHL, and Connor McDavid leads the charge with his 51 points, four off Nathan MacKinnon’s league lead. They score on almost one-third of their power plays, making any team pay that tries to slow that offence down with hooks and holds. Jarry has already claimed a win with his new team, beating the Toronto Maple Leafs last night, so the Habs probably won’t be facing him today after just playing him on Thursday in his final game with the Penguins. The net will likely belong to Calvin Pickard instead, a goalie with an .851 save percentage this season, and one Montreal has already scored on five times this season. That particular game on October 23 was a showcase of both the Oilers’ netminding woes and their man-advantage prowess, an infamous performance from referee Garrett Rank who kept the Oilers’ nigh-unstoppable power play on the ice for the much of the final two periods with five minor penalties assessed to Montreal versus the Oilers’ one first-period call. The favourable treatment helped Edmonton overcome a 5-3 deficit in the third period to get the win in regulation, taking a vital two points off the Canadiens’ ledger. Montreal hasn’t usually needed the officials to intervene in spoiling their leads this season. The Canadiens saw the same thing happen last night in New York City, as all they have to show for a 3-0 lead after 16 minutes of play is a single point from a shootout loss. Last Sunday, a 2-1 first-period lead slipped away in just over a minute of the second frame, and Montreal took nothing from the St. Louis Blues. Following up Sunday’s game with a 6-1 loss to Tampa Bay, the Canadiens’ home record has now fallen to 7-8-1, a big difference from the 9-3-3 performance they’ve put together on the road. They will need to change their results at the Bell Centre if they want to have a positive homestand before ringing in the new year on the annual road trip through the holiday season.