Cooper’s class, the Dobes in spring, and a well-rested Sabres team are waiting for us

Maxime Truman
Cooper’s class, the Dobes in spring, and a well-rested Sabres team are waiting for us
Credit: Matt Garies/NHLI via Getty Images

It took five years, but the Canadiens finally got their revenge against Nikita Kucherov, Andrei Vasilevskiy, Jon Cooper, and the Lightning. It's funny, but Kucherov is less talkative than he was in 2021…

You can really see the difference between Jon Cooper and Nikita Kucherov. Both have been arrogant at times over the past few weeks, but only Jon Cooper reacted with true class after the game.

We all hated Cooper when he celebrated with a fist pump after one of his team's goals at the Bell Centre at the end of the regular season, and we all hated him when he gave the “one more” gesture to Canadiens fans after Game 6. However, last night, he was extremely respectful toward Nick Suzuki, Martin St-Louis, and the Canadiens organization. Once the final whistle blows, it's over; that's when you show class.

We're still waiting for Kucherov to show some respect…

OK, maybe the Habs didn't deserve it last night (nine shots and two extremely lucky goals), but the Bolts have also won games they didn't deserve to win.

They led the score for less than five minutes across the last four games… and still managed to pull off two wins in that span.

Kudos to Jakub Dobes
To say the first-round series between the Lightning and the Canadiens was close is an understatement. Every game ended with a one-goal margin, including four in overtime.

In a series like this, one more goal allowed makes all the difference. Just ask Andrei Vasilevskiy…

Jakub Dobes stepped up and kept the Canadiens' hopes alive. Over the last three games, he's allowed just four goals… on over 100 shots.

(Credit: NHL.com)

How many spectacular saves has the Canadiens' rookie goaltender made during the series? After Halak's spring, is this Dobes' spring?

When you consider that Dobes grew up idolizing Vasilevskiy, his performances are even more impressive.

Many criticized Jakub Dobes earlier this season, claiming he was too emotional. He, however, sees it as a personality trait that allows him to perform at his best on the ice.

When you think about it, the decision to completely sideline Samuel Montembeault must have been a relief for Martin St-Louis and his staff. Just think about it: not only is the starting goalie from the beginning of the season no longer the starter in the playoffs… but he's not even on the bench as a backup.

It's a 21-year-old kid (Jacob Fowler) who's there just in case…

Wow!
(Credit: Getty Images)

And Monty remains an exemplary teammate
, just like Patrik Laine, Joe Veleno, and Arber Xhekaj!

No complexes for the Habs
We know it's harder to win a game on the road than at home in professional sports. Nevertheless, the Habs secured three of their four wins in Tampa Bay during their first-round series (3-1 record). That's quite an achievement!

However, they'll need to find a way to do better at the Bell Centre if they want to get past the Sabres in the second round (1-2 record).

Offensive players missing
in action
I've been singing a lot of praises since the start of this piece, but some players still deserve a scolding. Ivan Demidov managed just a single point against the Lightning—an assist in the first game. Yet he was on the ice for plenty of minutes every night, especially on the power play.

Cole Caufield, for his part, didn't look like a future Maurice Richard Trophy winner in the last few games of the series. He'll need to do better, both on the power play and five-on-five.

Before the series began, the only offensive certainty for the Canadiens seemed to be the first line. Yesterday in Game 3, with the team's survival on the line, the coach had to shuffle his four lines in hopes of generating some offense.

That says a lot.

It's up to Caufield, Demidov, Slafkovsky, Suzuki, Hutson, and Dobson to produce consistently. That's their job; that's what they're paid for.

Hutson and Suzuki have done it, Dobes is coming back from injury, but the other three will have to step up against the Sabres.

Because we won't win a second-round series without the offensive contribution of our best players…


Some damn
big Sabres are waiting for the Canadiens

The Sabres played six games in the first round and have been off since Friday night. They'll be well-rested, unlike the Habs, when their second-round series tips off on Wednesday.

If you thought the Lightning players were big and hit hard, don't think it'll be any better against the Sabres. And it's clear that hitting the opponent will be part of the game plan for a veteran like Lindy Ruff…

The Sabres have an excellent balance of talent and toughness. They scored 20 goals against the Bruins, while being big and strong.

Here are the forward lines and defensive pairs for the Habs' opponents, listed by height:


6'0 – 6'6 – 6'4
5'11 – 6'3 – 6'1
5'10 – 6'2 – 6'2
6'6 – 5'11 – 6'3


6'4 – 6'3
6'6 – 6'1
6'5 – 6'3

With Logan Stanley (6'7) in the stands…

No, it won't be any easier for Cole Caufield in the second round.

The only hope for Montreal's forwards: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Alex Lyon aren't Andrei Vasilevskiy. Especially since, for now, we don't even know who will be the Sabres' starting goalie on Wednesday. Probably Lyon, who came in to relieve Luukkonen in Game 2 and hasn't let a puck past him since, but still…

Will Martin St-Louis be tempted to insert Arber Xhekaj in place of Jayden Struble?

Will Brendan Gallagher stay in the lineup?

Neither of them plays much, but they don't hurt the team…

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