Game 58: Montreal Canadiens vs. New York Islanders
Start time: 7:00 PM EST / 4:00 PM PST In the Canadiens region: TSN2 (English), RDS (French) In the Islanders region: MSGSN Streaming: ESPN+, RDS, TSN+
The NHL season was on hiatus for three weeks as the Olympics took place in Milan, so, as you get with television shows that go on break, a “previously on” recap is required. The last time we saw the Montreal Canadiens in action, they were in Winnipeg wrapping up a three-game road...
about 2 months ago
· 4 reads
As a difficult February began to enter its final days, the Laval Rocket found themselves in one of their toughest stretches in quite some time. Ahead of them lay three games against divisional opponents, starting with the Toronto Marlies on Wednesday night, and just behind them was a nasty three-in-three weekend in Central New York. While the Marlies were sat 15 points back of the Rocket in the standings, every single game between the two sides had been tightly contested all season.
Makin...
about 2 months ago
· 1 reads
Montreal Canadiens news and notes
Alex Newhook’s return is sparking an internal competition for a playoff push as he focuses on getting back to where he left off. [ Sportsnet ]
With Newhook back in the lineup, Martin St. Louis has some difficult decisions to make. [ TVA Sports ]
His Olympic experience lit a fire under him, and now Juraj Slafkovský says he’s coming back with extra motivation. [ Montreal Gazette ]
Despite their disappointment of not taking home the gold, Sl...
about 2 months ago
· 1 reads
With just a week-and-a-half to go before the NHL trade deadline arrives at 3 PM ET on Friday, March 6, there isn’t a lot of game action coming out of the Olympic break to make final evaluations of players. There may have been a roster freeze in place during the international tournament, but all the league’s general managers would have been assessing the options to either improve their rosters for a playoff run or add assets with contention in future seasons in mind.
We’ve already seen a f...
about 2 months ago
· 4 reads
Montreal Canadiens news and notes
Defensive details are the name of the game as the Habs prepare for the home stretch. [ Sportsnet ]
Oliver Kapanen and Alexandre Texier insist that Milan is now firmly in the rear-view mirror. [ La Presse ]
Kapanen left Italy with a medal and a ton of experience to use going forward. [ Radio-Canada | Montreal Gazette ]
Cayden Primeau only has good things to say about new Canadiens goaltender coach Marco Marciano. [ La Presse ]
Is Jord...
about 2 months ago
· 3 reads
Montreal Canadiens News and Notes
Jaromir Jagr liked how the players from the Czech Extraliga played, but also expressed particular praise for Juraj Slafkovský. [ Sport.sk ]
Around the League and Elsewhere
Mikko Rantanen will miss time for the Stars after the Olympics. [ TSN ]
Likewise, the Jets will be missing Josh Morrissey. [ TSN ]
Nazem Kadri isn’t looking for an out, but it seems likely that his time in Calgary is coming to an end. [ Sportsnet ]
The Jet...
about 2 months ago
· 4 reads
After a golden morning in Italy, the Laval Rocket took the ice once again in Utica less than 24 hours after thwarting the Utica Comets in a shootout on Saturday night. Laval’s hard-fought win pushed their point streak to 10 games and opened their lead atop the AHL’s North Division to seven points before puck drop.
With some bumps and bruises along with a possible illness going around the team at the end of a three-games-in-three-days stretch, there were some lineup changes for Pascal Vinc...
about 2 months ago
· 4 reads
Montreal Canadiens news and notes
Lane Hutson believes Team USA’s gold medal ranks right at the top of the list of hockey accomplishments by the American men. [ Journal de Montreal ]
Juraj Slafkovský was named to the Olympic All-Star Team, joining Connor McDavid, Macklin Celebrini, Cale Makar, Quinn Hughes, and Connor Hellebuyck. [ NHL.com ]
Hutson won the fastest skater competition at the Habs’ skills showcase. Arber Xhekaj once again had the hardest shot at 107.3 mph, while ...
about 2 months ago
· 4 reads
Despite Canada starting its line of Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, and Macklin Celebrini, it was Jack Eichel, Matthew Tkachuk, and Brady Tkachuk who had the early jump in the Gold Medal Game, spending an extended shift in the Canadian zone. They had a lot of possession, but no shots as Canada survived the early pressure.
With the opening 90 seconds survived, the Canadians began to get involved in the game offensively, generating the first two shots on goal on solid scoring chances. Cel...
about 2 months ago
· 4 reads
2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics
Gold Medal Game: Canada vs. United States
How to watch
Start time: 8:10 AM EDT / 2:10 PM CET In Canada: CBC (English), ICI Tèlé, RDS (French) Streaming: CBC Gem, RDS
When the NHL put together the 4 Nations Face-Off a year ago to bring an international flavour to its mid-season showcase, the games between Canada and the United States proved just how close the two nations were. The final game set the tone for this year’s Olympics, the first...
about 2 months ago
· 6 reads
Montreal Canadiens news and notes
Oliver Kapanen stayed ready for the possibility of being called upon by Finland, and after playing well on Saturday he earned the praise of Sebastian Aho, and a bronze medal. [ Radio-Canada ]
Juraj Slafkovský was disappointed that he couldn’t help Slovakia win an Olympic medal, but his profile was raised on the international stage, to the point that Finland game-planned around the Habs winger for the Bronze Medal Game. [ La Presse ]
Nick Suzuk...
about 2 months ago
· 4 reads
2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics
Bronze Medal Game: Slovakia vs. Finland
How to watch
Start time: 2:40 PM EDT / 8:40 PM CET In Canada: ICI Télé (French) Streaming: CBC Gem
Friday was a disappointing day for Finland at the Olympics. The team put in a great effort that had it playing better than Canada, containing their superstars with tight checking while also being able to produce offence, getting out to a 2-0 lead early in the second period. Thinking that was enough, th...
about 2 months ago
· 4 reads
With the Olympics still in full swing, the Laval Rocket continued their busy end-of-February schedule as their road trip through North Division rivals continued. After their winning streak was snapped in a shootout on Monday against the Toronto Marlies, the Rocket headed across the border to Rochester for a showdown with the Americans who sat 12 points behind Laval in the standings. While Laval had a bit of breathing room at the top of the division, the Syracuse Crunch remained five points beh...
about 2 months ago
· 4 reads
Montreal Canadiens news and notes
Martin St-Louis says the drills Alex Newhook has participated in over the past few days were designed to test his recovery, and so far the coach is encouraged by what’s he’s seen. [ Journal de Montreal ]
The practice helped the players have some fun with the game before things ramp up for a return to play on February 26. [ Journal de Montreal ]
The players may have been at an outdoor practice yesterday, but their minds were in Milan on the Oly...
about 2 months ago
· 3 reads
2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics
Semifinal 2: United States vs. Slovakia
How to watch
Start time: 3:10 PM EDT / 9:10 PM CET In Canada: ICI Télé, RDS2 (French) Streaming: CBC Gem, RDS
The United States capped of a run of three quarter-final games that went to overtime. Quinn Hughes scored the winning goal three-and-a-half minutes into the three-on-three period after Mika Zibanejad had tied things up late for Sweden. It was the closest Team USA came to losing in the four g...
about 2 months ago
· 3 reads
Finland’s identity on the international hockey scene is solid team play no matter which tournament they’re playing, and early in the semifinal they were using that style to get the puck through the neutral zone and into the attacking end versus Canada. The Canadians had a couple of chances, but when the Finns got the first power play with just under 10 minutes played, shots were 7-3 for Finland as it was deploying the better tactics to begin.
Struggling to get the puck to the net, Sam Ben...
about 2 months ago
· 4 reads
2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics
Semifinal 1: Canada vs. Finland
How to watch
Start time: 10:40 AM EDT / 4:40 PM CET In Canada: CBC (English) ICI Télé, RDS2 (French) Streaming: CBC Gem, RDS
Nick Suzuki hit the post with an open net on a play that would have given Canada a late lead. When Czechia look a 3-2 edge instead with under eight minutes to play in the game, that moment looked set to be replayed as the missed opportunity as Canada got upset in the quarters. Instead...
about 2 months ago
· 3 reads
Montreal Canadiens news and notes
Nick Suzuki is stepping up for Canada at Milano Cortina 2026. [ TSN ]
Suzuki is no stranger to big moments. [ La Presse ]
Juraj Slafkovsky, the NHL star who loves the Winter Olympic stage. [ Milano Cortina 2026 ]
Slafkovský and Slovak teammates Simon Nemec and Dalibor Dvorský are living out a childhood Olympic dream. [ The Athletic ]
How the Canadiens can clear their bottom-six logjam. [ The Hockey Writers ]
Brendan Gallagher co...
about 2 months ago
· 3 reads
It was another instant classic between the United States and Canada for the gold medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics as it took overtime yet again.
Megan Keller snuck a backhand past Ann-Renée Desbiens 4:07 into overtime off a long pass from Taylor Heise to clinch the gold medal in the United States’ 2-1 win over Canada on Thursday.
Keller made an inside out move on Claire Thompson, and her shot snuck through the Canadian goaltender. It is the third gold medal for the Americans at the ...
about 2 months ago
· 4 reads
There are a lot of ways to describe a Canadian hockey team, but one word that is rarely used to describe them is “underdog.” On Thursday, that is exactly what Canada’s women’s hockey team will be as they face a rematch against the United States.
This situation, to be frank, is unprecedented. Last week’s 5-0 loss to the United States was their worst loss ever at the Olympics, and by extension, in the program’s history. Sure other games have had bigger scorelines but for it to happen on the...
about 2 months ago
· 5 reads
Montreal Canadiens news and notes
Nick Suzuki made his precence known when he scored the biggest goal of his career to help send Team Canada to the semifinals. [ Sportsnet ]
Though Suzuki’s spot has been in question, his versatility makes a strong case for keeping him in the lineup. [ TSN ]
Noah Dobson and his wife are loving life in Montreal. [ Montreal Gazette ]
Juraj Slafkovskýrallied Slovakia with grit and energy after taking a hard hit, keeping Olympic medal dreams a...
about 2 months ago
· 4 reads
What a day of quarterfinal action, as we saw three overtime games as we get set for the medal round.
Slovakia 6, Germany 2
Slovakia put their foot on the gas, and would not pass up the opportunity that a solid round robin performance and favourable draw gave them.
Pavol Regenda opened the scoring with the only goal in the first period, and the Slovaks really turned it on in the second period. Milos Kelemen and Oliver Okuliar scored 33 seconds apart to make it 3-0 followed by a D...
about 2 months ago
· 5 reads
2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics
Quarter-final 1: Slovakia vs. Germany
How to watch
Start time: 6:10 AM EDT / 12:10 PM CET In Canada: Sportsnet (English) RDS (French) Streaming: CBC Gem, RDS, Sportsnet+
Germany had a fairly easy time versus France in the qualification round, scoring early, ending the opening period with a 3-0 lead, and going on to claim a 5-1 win. They face a much tougher opponent today in Slovakia, which also has the benefit of an additional day off wit...
about 2 months ago
· 6 reads
Montreal Canadiens news and notes
Alex Newhook hit the ice as the Habs returned to practice. Patrik Laine did not suit up. [ Montreal Canadiens | Sportsnet | TSN ]
The Canadiens have exceeded expectations. Now, expectations must change. [ RDS ]
The Habs know that Team Canada can count on Nick Suzuki when the spotlight grows bright. [ RDS ]
Would Brad Marchand’s return sideline the Canadiens’ captain? [ Radio-Canada ]
Juraj Slafkovský is the story of the men’s Olympic...
about 2 months ago
· 2 reads
2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics
Qualification Game 1: Germany (6) vs. France (11)
How to watch
Start time: 6:10 AM EDT / 12:10 PM CET In Canada: Sportsnet (English) ICI Télé (French) Streaming: CBC Gem, Sportsnet+
Winner’s quarter-final opponent: Slovakia (3)
It seems like Germany’s star players have spent as much time arguing with each other as actually playing hockey, believing they can perform better than scoring just seven goals through three games. Today they ...
about 2 months ago
· 2 reads