The CH has Andersen’s number: victory, or the big picture rather than the details

I'm not quite sure where I stand on this. If I focus only on the tree (which hides the forest), I have to admit that the challenge facing the Canadiens over the next few days is too big for them to handle.

Winning three out of four games against a team you're only managing 12 or 13 shots on goal against is a nearly impossible task.

The Canadiens face the daunting task of winning three out of four games against the powerful Hurricanes; otherwise, they'll be on vacation in a few days.

They absolutely must win tonight at the Centre, or else they'll need three straight wins.

— Maxime Truman (@MaximeTruman) May 27, 2026

I was pessimistic yesterday morning, and I still am 24 hours later.

However, when I look at the forest as a whole, and not just the magnificent pine tree that has grown in front of it, I start smiling again: the Canadiens are one of the last three teams still alive on May 27, 2026. Only three teams still have a chance to win the Stanley Cup this morning: Vegas, Carolina… and Montreal!

Admit it—you would have called me crazy if I'd predicted something like this at Christmas! My spot-on prediction for this series against the Hurricanes—the Canadiens would win Game 1, then get dominated afterward—already had you coming out of your holes (for no good reason) over the weekend.

It took the Canadiens just four years to rebuild their roster. There are fans elsewhere in North America who would trade places with us in a heartbeat.

Especially since Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes are likely to significantly improve the team over the summer…

Can we win tonight?

I just reread the beginning of this post, and I can sum it up like this: in the short term, I'm pessimistic about what's to come, but in the medium to long term, I remain optimistic.

But can we hope to win tonight and even the series? The Habs would then have a best-of-three to play, with two games away from the Bell Centre.

To pull that off, Martin St-Louis will have to convince his guys to dump the puck and go get it deep in the zone. Because the way the Hurricanes' players are waiting for the Habs in the neutral zone, there aren't many ways to get to Frederik Andersen's net. And you can't find yourself with three games left to play and the obligation to win all three!

Except that the Montreal players are sick of getting beaten! Will they dare to push the puck and then go get it along the boards? Good question!

Damn, playoff hockey just isn't for a guy like Cole Caufield…

Frederik Andersen has faced 46 shots since the start of the series… and he's allowed no fewer than nine goals! We're talking about a save percentage of .804 here.

Andersen is struggling against the Habs; during the regular season, he let in seven goals on 36 shots. He definitely needs to be tested more.

Yes, since the start of this series, Frederik Andersen has looked like a fragile, “punchable” goalie, but since the start of the playoffs, he's still been solid: 10-1, 1.56, and .923. Statistically, he's one of the best in the entire NHL.

In short, the solution is simple: push the puck deep into the zone, take the hits, and get more shots on net. It could work. Otherwise, it's game over.

Will the Habs players give Jakub Dobes a gift for his 25th birthday? We'll find out tonight at 8:10 p.m.

Kapanen or Veleno? Gallagher or Veleno? Struble or Xhekaj? It won't matter much. The key will be to shoot on goal—that's it.

Overtime

From what I'm hearing, there's a better chance of seeing Philippe Eullaffroy return as an assistant coach than seeing him remain CF Montréal's (interim) head coach. I chatted about it with Gavino de Falco on IMFC Radio.

Also on the menu: the reasons behind Ivan Jaime's departure, loaned players who aren't seeing action, the backlash against Prince Owusu, Olger Escobar's future, Thomas Gillier's loan, the field and lighting at Stade Boréale, as well as the status of the Roses' coach.

Enjoy the show!