Hockey

Canadiens 2025-26: good teams always find a way to win
Maxime Truman
Canadiens 2025-26: good teams always find a way to win
Credit: Getty Images

Good teams always find a way to win. If the following sentence is still true in 2025, and my 536 SN math hasn't totally changed with the reformation, I think it's safe to conclude that the Canadiens are a good team right now. The Habs have managed to pick up six points out of a possible eight so far this campaign, in four different arenas and often in games that could have gone either way.

But instead of thinking that the Habs deserve better, or that expected goals speak louder than actual goals, Montreal fans are rooting for a talented team that sits second in the NHL's Eastern Association this morning, just behind the Hurricanes. Wow, the Canadiens are also the second-highest scoring team in the league so far this campaign (15). What more could you ask for?If this keeps up, the Cage is going to have to up its free wing rate to six or seven goals; after four games, the diner is already dealing with two five-goal games. What jumps out at me from last night's home opener and the Habs' wonderful start to the season?

1. My colleague JT mentioned it last night on his Patreon: the most applauded players before the game were also the best during the game last night.

Cole Caufield (2 goals), Ivan Demidov (1 goal and 1 superb assist), Nick Suzuki (6th point of the season) and Lane Hutson (1 assist, best game of the season) were all warmly welcomed by the crowd and they all had a big game.The quality of Demidov's 2-point goal and Caufield's winning goal was something!2. You know, I've rapped in the distant past. I made my career in the days of Sans Pression, Muzion, Taktika, Treizième étage, Ale Dee, Accrophone… and Sir Pathétik.Never – ever – did I think I'd see a Canadiens player choose a Sir Pathétik song to make his entrance on the Bell Centre ice in his first official game with the team. It happened yesterday with Zachary Bolduc, when he chose Sir Pathétik's Pour mon pays to represent him. Thumbs up to the Poulet rouge guy for calling it yesterday afternoon !Even Sir Path appreciated it!

To see Bolduc choose a French urban Québécois song as his entrance song, that's cool! To see him choose a sovereignist and independentist song, that's also notable. Maybe it's true that young people are increasingly intrigued by the Québécois sovereignty movement,but seeing a Habs player pay tribute to Sir Pathétik at the Bell Centre wasn't on my bingo card in 2010. Sir Path wasn't the most respected of rappers, let's put it that way, but even though Bolduc hails from the same town (Trois-Rivières) as Sir Pathétik, he was only two years old when we sang at the now-defunct Maquisart with Sir Path. He got to know the artist and his discography afterwards…Malicious tongues will say that entering on a Sir Pathétik song brought bad luck to Bolduc, who didn't find the back of the net last night. I'm more of a believer in chance, really.3. The Habs' centers won more than 50% of face-offs for the second straight game (56.3%). It makes a difference when you're not constantly losing the puck when it's put in play.4. Montreal's power play (0 in 2) had another tough game, as the penalty kill failed to completely muzzle the Kraken. We'll have to be better on our special units
5. Patrik Laine picked up his first point of the season last night on Ivan Demidov's equalizer (even though he had a string of weak and/or off-target shots throughout the evening). Only Josh Anderson and Jake Evans still have a zero on their respective scorecards.6. Lane Hutson had his best game of the season, even blocking three shots. It's clear to me that the end of negotiations has given him a chance to clear his head. Good for him!7. Carey Price was present at the Bell Centre yesterday, even if the Canadiens and RDS didn't make much of a fuss about it. Just because he's now (officially) a member of the San Jose Sharks doesn't mean that Carey Price no longer vibrates to the rhythm of the Habs. One colleague dared to wonder how Price could feel seeing so much forward talent in the Montreal line-up, after having to deal most of the time with a low- to mid-quality attack. Another replied: “I guess he figures he should have left some money on the table too, to maximize his chances of winning.”True!8. Watch out for fans who can't live with questions about their team (and its Québécois players, to boot): Samuel Montembeault stopped only 18 of 24 shots (.818). Since the start of the season, the Québécois goaltender's efficiency has been just .870. Montembeault also struggled during the pre-season, allowing eight goals on 65 shots (.877 efficiency). I ask: when will we ask ourselves if Jakub Dobes deserves to keep more games?I think Martin St-Louis and Éric Raymond should seriously consider giving Dobes one of the next three games at the Bell Centre…
9. The Canadiens are relying more on a mix of talent and grit/attitude to define their identity (and I like it).

10. Ivan Demidov had one point in three games on the road, then picked up two points in his first game at home last night.Last spring, he had two points in two regular games at home, before picking up two more in two playoff games at the Bell Centre, only to be blanked in three games in Washington.

In short, Demidov is far more productive at home (6 points in 5 games) than on the road (1 point in 6 games). It's normal to see a talented young player arriving in North America have more success in front of his fans, with the latest change, than away. Demidov will have to find a way to produce on the road, however, or it won't be long before the Habs haters nickname him Ivan Demidov Domicile.11. The Habs have just won three consecutive games

12. Arber Xhekaj (10m00) and Patrik Laine (10m43) were the Canadiens' two least-used players last night. I think Martin St-Louis will be patient and wait for a loss before taking either of them out and bringing in Jayden Struble or Joe Veleno. But it'll come sooner rather than later…Xhekaj can't afford to string together games with zero checking!13. Mike Matheson and Noah Dobson have formed quite a first pair since the start of the season. They each collected a point and finished yesterday's game at plus-2. Will Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton be able to work their magic and extend Mike Matheson's contract without breaking the piggy bank?Noah Dobson had a masterful game yesterday. He's quickly making people forget his preparatory schedule (and healing).

'Prolongation'

The team's next three games will be played at the Bell Centre: Thursday against the surprising Predators, Saturday against the lethargic Rangers and Monday against the poor Sabres.

Objective: four points out of six, no less!Can't wait to see if the new trios tested at the end of the game will be used to start tomorrow night's game..

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