November 16, 2025
On Saturday night the Boston Bruins were in Montreal and the Canadiens were playing their first game since losing Alex Newhook long term to injury, and learning Kaiden Guhle’s sick bay would be extended. The result was a hard-fought 3-2 loss.
Here’s what I noticed.
The Habs came out mad.
Jayden Struble barely let the puck drop before he took on Zadorov, and Arber Xhekaj followed suit with Jeannot before we were five minutes in. Struble screaming “Come on!” to the bench was all we needed to get their message. We might have taken a kick in the gut but we have to kick back.
I liked that show of emotion to start this one. A visit from the Bruins may have been perfectly timed.
The Habs need more from their vets and Evans delivered.
This was a stronger game from Jake Evans than we’ve seen in a while. He added a nice shorthanded goal and roughing it up a little to his usual defensive package.
Gallagher on the power play may be taking the veteran thing a touch too far.
Marty had to get creative with his combos.
Those lines were a little surprising, but his task wasn’t a fun one. Lacking a true 2C from the start, and then losing the best version of Newhook we have seen, left the coach with a challenge. There will be some experimenting in the days ahead for sure.
It may not be a popular view but I like the call to switch out Dobson for Hutson on the power play. It’s been struggling, and so has Hutson. Now it would be great if Dobson would unleash a few shots to open up the opposing D.
About that power play…
Why was it clicking so well when Demidov was moved and has since dried up? Maybe it just confidence. Maybe Suzuki’s in jury is a factor. Maybe it’s an old dynamic playing out again.
It seems like each new player added to the Habs power play – first Caufield, then Laine, then Demidov – works well for a limited time only. There is not enough invention on a special team when getting the Habs back on the winning track has become a necessity.
Pavel Zacha would look good in the red, white and blue.
He had a great game. Of course, the Bruins are better than expected and likely keeping Zacha, and would be reticent to deal him to Montreal regardless. But it’s easy to covet him.
If I believed in moral wins, I’d say this was one.
Hab At Her 