October 14, 2025
The good vibes in Montreal leading up to their home opener were real. Having gone 2-1 on their season opening road trip, then signing Lane Hutson to a long and team-friendly contract, and then extending the best management group the Canadiens have seen in decades, the Habs could have completely shit the bed on Tuesday night and not killed the buzz. Instead, they pulled off a thrilling 5-4 overtime win.
Here’s what caught my eye.
Hutson was back to doing Hutson things.
Didn’t he look free as a bird? A very dangerous bird. A hawk that glides around until he sees an opening, and then goes in for the kill.
Good to see the fans at the Bell show him the love. That’s how you do a home opener, kids.
Kirby Dach has been set up for success.
It really helps that the other lines are working. And it really helps that his linemate started the season on a heater. But it was a stroke of genius from Martin St. Louis to put Dach between Bolduc and Gallagher. They’re pulling him into the kind of game he needs to play to find success.
It was nice to see Dach get his first of the season. Did you see whose shot went off him? Did you see who was also on for the Demidov goal? Noah Dobson, quietly getting things done.
Ivan Demidov is a serious gamer.
What a beauty of a pass on that Newhook goal! Demidov was dangerous all night, with the pinnacle coming on a late game-tying goal. Get used to it. We’re going to see a lot of 93 late in games when they need a goal.
That pass from Laine was also very pretty. That was his best game this season so far.
The guys who started it all continue to get it done.
With all the new shiny toys around, it’s easy to forget how foundational to the Habs are Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield. But it was these two guys who took the first team-friendly deals. They were the ones scoring goals when no one was coming behind them to help out. “NiCole” led the way to the playoffs.
And there they were again in Game 4, with overtime winding down and running the play Marty drew up… perfectly. Caufield with two perfect shots for two perfect goals, including the winner. Suzuki has not even shone yet and he has six points in four games.
How many winners have those two potted already? The thrill is that there are many more in them, and the best is yet to come.
Hab At Her 