November 5, 2025
The Philadelphia Flyers were in town on Tuesday night, and after falling behind badly in the first period, the Montreal Canadiens were able to salvage a loser point with a final score of 5-4.
Here’s what caught my eye.
Sam Montembeault had to fight to turn his luck around.
It was a bit of a surprise when Monty was announced as the starter. Perhaps there was some awareness of Team Canada leadership in the building. Or perhaps the coach really is that committed to Montembeault as his starter.
That start was rough. Three goals on the first six shots sounds worse than it was for the goalie. The first was a crazy deflection that you can hardly blame him for. The second might have been the one he should have had, but it did come while shorthanded. On the third the Flyers power play connected again on a rebound in front of the net that was the sixth shot. It looked like this game would be a blowout.
But credit to Monty. He battled, along with the guys in front of him, and they made a game of it. Now who gets the call next? I’d still go Dobes. He’s been hot – you can’t turn the AC on him.
Kirby Dach got a new linemate and some new luck.
Dach has looked good for several games now, and I loved seeing him rewarded. Both goals had him in close, exactly where he needs to be. That line works. Let it be.
Should the Habs have dealt for Trevor Zegras when they had the chance.
Poehling, a second and a fourth round pick is all it cost the Flyers to land him, and that’s sure looking like a bargain right now. I wonder how he’d look with Demidov.
That’s the big question in Montreal right now. Who is the centreman for Demidov’s line? Because it is his line. The young Russian has adjusted beautifully in the NHL and his power play prowess is really something to watch. But at five-on-five he needs a pivot.
It used to be that the Habs were looking for guys to save them from their free fall. Now they need a final big piece to launch them into contention. Will they be lucky enough to find a guy who fits their needs?
Their luck may have run out in extra time, but they’re still 9-3-1 to start the season, and that’s not all luck.
Hab At Her 