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Canadiens vs. Avalanche: Game preview, start time, Tale of the Tape, and how to watch

Game 54: Montreal Canadiens vs. Colorado Avalanche Start time:  7:00 PM EST / 4:00 PM PST In the Canadiens region: TSN2 (English), RDS (French) In the Avalanche region: Altitude Streaming: ESPN+, RDS, TSN+ A couple of months into the season, it seemed clear that the best teams in the NHL resided in the Central Division: the Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, and Minnesota Wild. As the calendar was set to flip to 2026, they ranked first, second, and third, respectively in the overall s...

Thursday Habs Headlines: Martin St-Louis unlocked Cole Caufield

Montreal Canadiens news and notes After struggling under Dominique Ducharme, Cole Caufield hasn’t looked back since Martin St-Louis first sat him down when he took over the reins. [ Montreal Gazette ] Goaltending coach Eric Raymond was fired by Montreal on Wednesday and is a cautionary tale for his replacement, Marco Marciano. [ Sportsnet ] Has Jakub Dobeš earned the number-one spot? [ Montreal Gazette ] Rejean Houle, Chris Nilan, and Michel Lacroix remember the excitemen...

Montreal Canadiens fire goaltending coach Eric Raymond

After a few months has seen the collapse of the Montreal Canadiens goaltending, President of Hockey Operations Jeff Gorton announced that the team’s goaltending coach Eric Raymond has been relieved of his duties. The Canadiens have relieved goalie coach Eric Raymond of his duties. News release ↓ #GoHabsGo https://t.co/6mWGKeRClL — Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) January 28, 2026 Raymond will be replaced by Marco Marciano, who had the same role with the Laval Rocket. Marc...

Bottom Six Minutes: Jakub Dobeš makes a difference

After a wildly disappointing third-period collapse against Boston on the weekend, the Montreal Canadiens had two days off to forget about it and prepare for the Vegas Golden Knights to visit the Bell Centre. With the Atlantic division race becoming more heated by the day, the Habs found another one of their overtime thrillers to secure two points that will help keep pace with their rivals as we approach the Olympic break. In tight games like that, goaltending will often play a crucial rol...

NHL

Will goaltending sink the Canadiens?

With 29 games remaining in the 2025-26 season, the Montreal Canadiens are sitting in the first Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference with 65 points, a +5 goal differential, and 49.6% control of expected goals at five-on-five, adjusted for score and venue. Compared to the same point in 2024-25, they are 12 standings points better, six places higher in the standings, +28 better in goal differential, and +3.17 percentage points better at controlling play. Yet, the vibes at the moment are not g...

Wednesday Habs Headlines: Being patient with Patrik Laine

Montreal Canadiens news and notes The Canadiens are wisely biding their time with Patrik Laine. [ Sportsnet ] Kaiden Guhle’s bizarre year. [ La Presse ] The Habs need to find a winger for Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield. [ The Hockey Writers ] Joe Veleno is making the most of his time with his hometown team. [ Montreal Gazette ] Around the league and elsewhere The secrets to the Colorado Avalanche’s dominance. [ ESPN ] Ondrej Palat has been traded by the ...

Canadiens vs. Golden Knights Top Six Minutes: Jakub Dobeš improves his streak to 6-0-1

First period I’m not sure why the fans are booing Mitch Marner whenever he touches the puck. Maybe they were just sick of hearing about him after his return to Toronto. A pretty lazy start from both teams. But at least it’s not a disastrous one like the game versus Buffalo. One shot for the Habs through six minutes. They could have really asserted themselves with an energetic start, but alas. Montreal’s best chance comes off an offensive-zone faceoff win by Nick Suzuki. A...

Canadiens vs. Golden Knights: Game thread, lines, and how to watch

Game 53: Montreal Canadiens vs. Vegas Golden Knights Start time:  7:00 PM EST / 4:00 PM PST In the Canadiens region: TSN2 (English), RDS (French) In the Golden Knights region: Scripps Streaming: ESPN+, RDS, TSN+ The five teams covered by six points that rank third to seventh in the Atlantic Division are all set for 7:00 PM puck drops on a busy Tuesday night. The gap among the group could be even smaller depending on how the results play out. With that being the situation, t...

Canadiens vs. Golden Knights: Game preview, start time, Tale of the Tape, and how to watch

Game 53: Montreal Canadiens vs. Vegas Golden Knights Start time:  7:00 PM EST / 4:00 PM PST In the Canadiens region: TSN2 (English), RDS (French) In the Golden Knights region: Scripps Streaming: ESPN+, RDS, TSN+ The Vegas Golden Knights posed no challenge to the Ottawa Senators on Sunday, only managing to save themselves the embarrassment of being shut out in a blowout loss with a late goal from newcomer Rasmus Andersson to makes the score 7-1. It was the Golden Knights’ third loss i...

Laval @ Calgary recap and highlights: Rocket can’t handle a wild west shootout

The Laval Rocket entered the final portion of their trip to Western Canada on Monday night having earned at least a point in their last three games, with a win on Saturday in Calgary helping to give them a three-point lead in the North Division. The Rocket would again square off with the Wranglers with a chance to move five points clear of the Toronto Marlies, but would have to do so without David Reinbacher, who was out day-to-day. Reinbacher’s injury moved William Trudeau back up to the...

NHL

Tuesday Habs Headlines: Ups and Downs

Montreal Canadiens News and Notes Phillip Danault is enjoying the things that make this version of the Habs different from the team he played with the first time around. [ Montreal Gazette ] Nick Suzuki believes that the Habs accept their teammates as they are, and that would translate to accepting a gay teammate or opponent. [ TVA Sports ] Sam Montembeault is not alone when it comes to the Habs struggles. [ The Athletic | La Presse | Radio-Canada ] The recent struggles h...

EOTP’s Montreal Canadiens Stars of the Week

The Montreal Canadiens went 1-2-0 during the third week of January and sit fourth in the Atlantic division with a record of 28-17-7.  The Habs started the week with two days of rest before hosting the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday at the Bell Centre. Montreal put in a gutsy performance, managing to best a stellar performance from Jesper Wallstedt with a 4-3 final. Cole Caufield delivered another last-second dagger, a sweeping one-timer that beat Wallstedt with just 15 seconds left in the game...

NHL

Discussing Alexander Zharovsky’s performance in the context of the KHL’s current quality

With Alexander Zharovsky’s rise in the KHL, I reached out to an old friend and colleague, Ivan Letyagin, to get his input on the Montreal Canadiens prospect’s situation. “Zharovsky is a very talented player, playing now in my homeland city in Ufa,” Letyagin begins. “His talent and potential are so huge that I would say that there have not been any such hockey players in Russia for a long time.” There is a slight pause before Letyagin moves on to try to compare him to other top talent...

Monday Habs Headlines: Looking at the potential fit of Jordan Kyrou or Robert Thomas

Montreal Canadiens news and notes Jordan Kyrou or Robert Thomas could be deadline acquisitions who fit the Canadiens’ long-term vision. [ RDS ] Juraj Slafkovský says he and Ivan Demidov are discussing the minute details of the game trying to get better together the same way Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield have over the years. [ TVA Sports ] Goaltending and the penalty kill are threatening to derail Montreal’s season. [ La Presse ] Cole Caufield and Lane Hutson have been amo...

Rocket vs. Wranglers recap: A Pyrrhic victory as David Reinbacher leaves with injury

Badaboom! The Laval Rocket’s weekend series with the Calgary Wranglers begins with Filip Mešár scoring. Adam Engström causes a turnover on the offensive blue line and Lucas Condotta springs Mešár, who has time to deke the goalie inside out. Thirty-seven seconds in, Laval has the advantage on the scoreboard. Only a minute later, Laval gets a power play opportunity as Étienne Morin takes a delay of game penalty. While the pressure is good, it doesn’t lead to any goals. A lot of puck-wa...

NHL

Bottom Six Minutes: Letdown in Beantown

The Montreal Canadiens held a third period lead against the Boston Bruins on Saturday night, but were unable to hold on. Two goals in 12 seconds proved to be the difference as they left Boston without a point, and squandered a chance to put some distance between them and the teams around them for the fourth straight game. There will always be games where you deserve a better fate, but what hurts in this specific instance is the fact it is the fourth straight loss to teams closest to them ...

NHL

Sunday Habs Headlines: Juraj Slafkovský hoping to have a career like Marian Hossa’s

Montreal Canadiens news and notes “I’ve always wanted to be successful. I’m always striving for perfection,” Juraj Slafkovský explains. The success he’s chasing is a career like compatriot Marian Hossa enjoyed. [ TVA Sports ] Slafkovský has loved every minute he’s spent in Montreal and doesn’t understand why it is an unpopular destination for free agents. [ TVA Sports ] Jake Evans said the penalty kill cost the Canadiens the game in Boston, and admits that he was a big part of...

Canadiens @ Bruins Top Six Minutes: Montreal hands another two points to a chasing rival

It’s cute seeing the Sportsnet panel covering the Montreal Canadiens on a day they have to because the Toronto Maple Leafs aren’t playing. First period Close checking and a high pace to begin this game. There isn’t a lot of room to work out there right now, but Montreal isn’t panicking under the pressure. Samuel Montembeault leaves a giant rebound on the first shot he faces over five minutes in, but recovers in time to stop a second one. Like it did in the last game bet...

Canadiens @ Bruins: Game thread, lines, and how to watch

Game 52: Montreal Canadiens @ Boston Bruins Start time:  7:00 PM EST / 4:00 PM PST In the Canadiens region: CBC, Sportsnet E/O/P/1, Omni (English), TVA Sports (French) In the Bruins region: NESN Streaming: CBC Gem, ESPN+, Sportsnet+ For the first time since December 17, the Montreal Canadiens are no longer a seeded team in the Atlantic Division. With a win this afternoon, the Buffalo Sabres have moved into the third spot, and what was a threat from Buffalo to overtake the Canadiens w...

Canadiens @ Bruins: Game preview, start time, Tale of the Tape, and how to watch

Game 52: Montreal Canadiens @ Boston Bruins Start time:  7:00 PM EST / 4:00 PM PST In the Canadiens region: CBC, Sportsnet E/O/P/1, Omni (English), TVA Sports (French) In the Bruins region: NESN Streaming: CBC Gem, ESPN+, Sportsnet+ The Atlantic Division standings no longer feature a group of three teams at the top with a gap to the wild-card race. The Buffalo Sabres reeled in the Montreal Canadiens with two wins in eight days, and those results have also allowed the other chase...

Kori Cheverie focused on growth as Victoire continue to try and find the right combinations

The Montreal Victoire remain a work in progress — and head coach Kori Cheverie is more than comfortable with that reality. Ahead of their upcoming game against the Ottawa Charge (Saturday, 2pm, CBC/Radio-Canada/YouTube), Cheverie emphasized growth, experimentation, and patience as key themes for a team still finding its optimal combinations, especially up front. One notable absence from practice was forward Laura Stacey, though Cheverie downplayed any concern saying that she would wait fo...

Saturday Habs Headlines: Zachary Bolduc raises level for mid-season roster battle

Montreal Canadiens news and notes Zachary Bolduc feels the urgency to bring his best game as the Canadiens are about to have a surplus of forwards and some roster decisions to make. [ La Presse ] Part of that push might be that his waivers exemption is up in five games’ time. [ La Presse ] There is an option to give Patrik Laine a conditioning stint in the AHL without having to activate him off IR. [ TVA Sports ] Montreal finally has its power forward in Juraj Slafkovský....

NHL

Friday Habs Headlines: The Laine Question

Montreal Canadiens news and notes What is the plan for Patrik Laine? [ The Hockey Writers | La Presse | RDS | Radio-Canada | Journal de Montreal ] Kaiden Guhle said the success of the Heated Rivalry series might open the door to the NHL’s first openly gay player. [ Montreal Gazette ] The Habs are finally no longer chasing, but rather are now being chased. [ Journal de Montreal ] The late Phil Goyette was remembered for clean living on and off the ice. [ NHL.com ] A...

NHL

Canadiens vs. Sabres Top Six Minutes: Montreal can’t overcome a bad start to a critical game

First period Tage Thompson’s line gets the puck to the front of the net just 15 seconds in. That can’t happen with the same regularity it did last week if Montreal wants to win. At the 44-second mark, Buffalo gets the puck past Lane Hutson at the blue line, and Jason Zucker scores on the ensuing two-on-one. Montreal didn’t hear the wake-up call 30 seconds earlier. The Habs have begun to come alive a bit after the goal. Kaiden Guhle takes Zucker’s helmet directly to the ch...

Canadiens vs. Sabres: Game thread, lines, and how to watch

Game 51: Montreal Canadiens vs. Buffalo Sabres Start time:  7:00 PM EST / 4:00 PM PST In the Canadiens region: TSN2 (English), RDS (French) In the Sabres region: MSG Buffalo Streaming: ESPN+, RDS, TSN+ The Montreal Canadiens’ lead over the Buffalo Sabres was reduced to three when the Sabres won a head-to-head game a week ago. However, the Canadiens have recovered with a couple of wins since, gaining ground to hold a four-point edge despite Buffalo playing three games since last Thurs...