The Montreal Canadiens hosted the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday night at the Bell Centre. It was a night of nostalgia as the Avs wore Nordiques Blue to face the red-donning Habs. The result was a shocking 7-3 win for the home team. Here are my quick notes from the game. The Habs really wanted thisContinue reading “Game 54 was a demonstration of how maddening the Habs can be”
Tag Archives: Arber Xhekaj
The Habs have a pressing need and there are potential targets
The Olympics are approaching swiftly, and with them the February 4th trade freeze. Pundits tell us some teams have set this as their preferred deadline in advance of the season’s actual trade deadline in March. The Montreal Canadiens could get in on that. In recent weeks, specific aspects of the defense group have been clarified.Continue reading “The Habs have a pressing need and there are potential targets”
Guhle returned to action in Game 45 but it was Xhekaj that shone
On Saturday night, the Montreal Canadiens greeted the Detroit Red Wings at the Bell Centre. The result was a 4-0 loss. Here’s what caught my eye. Xhekaj has won the 6D spot. It has been obvious that this was the preferred approach. The Canadiens want Arber Xhekaj’s size and physicality in the line-up. But theyContinue reading “Guhle returned to action in Game 45 but it was Xhekaj that shone”
The Habs kicked off the New Year with a big Game 40 win
On New Years Day, the Montreal Canadiens were in their third game of a five-game road trip, this one in Carolina to face the Hurricanes. The result was a 7-5 win. Here are some things I noted. The Habs were missing Mike Matheson. It wasn’t exactly a defensive clinic, but the depth defenders stepped upContinue reading “The Habs kicked off the New Year with a big Game 40 win”
The call-ups were enough to wake up the Habs for Game 30
December 12, 2025 On Thursday night, the Montreal Canadiens were in Pittsburgh to face the Penguins with some fresh line-up changes. The result was a 4-2 win. Here’s what I noticed. I didn’t love how the coach used his call-ups. Martin St. Louis made the easy choices. The decision to play Jacob Fowler was madeContinue reading “The call-ups were enough to wake up the Habs for Game 30”
After a Game 29 beating, the Habs have a blatant problem, and not just in net
December 10, 2025 On Tuesday night, the Montreal Canadiens entertained the Tampa Bay Lightning at the Bell Centre. It’s a good thing the Lightning were entertained, because the fans surely were not. It was an ugly 6-1 loss for the Habs. I have one overarching take from the game. The Canadiens have a veteran problem.Continue reading “After a Game 29 beating, the Habs have a blatant problem, and not just in net”
Coach’s line juggling got the Game 26 win
December 4, 2025 On Wednesday night the Montreal Canadiens greeted the Winnipeg Jets at the Bell Centre. The coach had not changed his roster dramatically – Davidson was in for Florian Xhekaj and Dobes was starting – but he did put the lines in the blender. The result was a 3-2 shootout win. Here’s whatContinue reading “Coach’s line juggling got the Game 26 win”
Game 22 was a relief for Bolduc
November 27, 2025 On Wednesday night the Montreal Canadiens were in Utah to face the Mammoth for their 22nd game of the season. The result was a 4-3 win. Here’s what caught my eye. Bolduc needed that power play goal. The Habs really need to practice the 5-on-3 power play because that was a bitContinue reading “Game 22 was a relief for Bolduc”
A Game 20 stinker begs some questions
November 22, 2025 The Washington Capitals were in Montreal on Thursday night. Perhaps the Canadiens were hoping to avenge their playoff loss last Spring, but the exact opposite happened. The result was an embarrassing 8-4 loss. This stinker leaves me with questions. Can the Habs be competitive with this tandem? They were for a portionContinue reading “A Game 20 stinker begs some questions”
Game 10 for the Habs was all about Demidov and Dobes
October 26, 2025 After a disappointing loss in Edmonton on Thursday, the Montreal Canadiens had a very slow start in Vancouver on Saturday night. But after falling into a 2-0 hole, they turned it around and the result was a 4-3 win. Some things caught my eye. The power play is looking lethal since Demidov’sContinue reading “Game 10 for the Habs was all about Demidov and Dobes”
Hab At Her 