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Habs Weekly Recap: Injuries and Team Dynamics Explored
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- Habs Weekly Recap: Injuries and Team Dynamics Explored
David Kirouac-Imagn Images
MONTREAL — Every day brings a new dose of Montreal Canadiens news to be absorbed, which means you're bound to miss a story here and there. On Sundays, we wrap-up the relevant NHL news stories you may have missed, so that you can be up-to-date with all things Habs.
Montreal Canadiens News And Content
The Habs would be in much better shape if centre Kirby Dach finds his rhythm. Fortunately, the last few games have shown encouraging signs when it comes to the 24-year-old's impact.[ Dach Resurgence Could Solve A Pressing Need For Canadiens ]
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In a bid to instill a little confidence, head coach Martin St-Louis once again opted to start Samuel Montembeault rather than Jakub Dobes versus the Los Angeles Kings . [ Canadiens Vs. Kings: Montembeault Starts, Armia Returns ]
Montembeault had a hard time versus the Kings, as evidenced by his hesitancy to freeze a puck in the second period. Rather than covering it up while the Montreal Canadiens were hemmed in, Montembeault attempted a pass, which landed directly on Kevin Fiala 's stick. However, it should be said that the entire team struggled against Los Angeles , putting together one of their worst efforts of the year. [ Kings Dominate Canadiens in Frustrating Match Up ]
Two Los Angeles Kings had fun versus their former team. Not only did Joel Edmundson score his first goal of the season, Joel Armia outworked Lane Hutson before scoring an easy goal.
TSN included Nick Suzuki in their 2026 Team Canada Olympic roster projection, however, some of their decisions are a little curious. I'm not sure if I'd include Zach Hyman or Tom Wilson , but to each their own.
Some former members of the Canadiens are doing well with their new teams, such as Joel Armia in Los Angeles, and Emil Heineman in Long Island. However, not all the players who featured on Montreal's lineup last year are thriving with a new work address. [ Former Canadiens Players Thriving And Struggling ]
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Habs players, as well as head coach Martin St-Louis, rallied around Samuel Montembeault following Tuesday's loss versus the Kings.
It's one thing to be frustrated with a professional athlete, but it's another all together to send them hate messages on social media. Don't be that person, no one likes that person. On a related note, Montembeault had to delete his Instagram account.
Jakub Dobes, who is currently one of the best goaltenders in the NHL, was quick to defend his teammate.
Dobes also addressed a question regarding potential chirps, following his emotional reaction after a loss last week.
Former Hab Petr Svoboda is auctioning his Stanley cup ring from 1986 to raise money for charity. At last check, the highest bid was $6,434.00 (USD).
Another day, another impressive statistic regarding phenom Lane Hutson .
Nick Suzuki missed practice once again, opting for a therapy day instead. This all but confirms the Montreal Canadiens captain is dealing with a nagging issue.
It's become apparent that the Canadiens will not win unless Jakub Dobes steals the show, or Nick Suzuki's line single-handedly drives the offence. Now that Dobes has cooled off, and the first line is slowing down, serious roster issues are no longer being masked. If the Habs are to maintain their hold on a playoff spot, they'll need some semblance of offence from players who are yet to make their mark. [ The Canadiens Have A Very Big Problem Among Forwards ]
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Martin St-Louis turned to rookie Jakub Dobes on Thursday, marking just the second time the young netminder has started a game in November. [ Dobes To Face Surging Stars ]
Dobes struggled, though he was far from the only player who had a difficult outing versus the Dallas Stars . The Habs were walloped, to the tune of 7-0, and every member of the team, including St-Louis, will have to use the one-sided loss as a learning opportunity. [ Stars Provide Montreal Canadiens With Important Reality Check ]
The Canadiens did not provide an update on forward Alex Newhook , who had to leave Thursday's game after violently slamming into the boards. Brendan Gallagher did mention his teammate's injury following the game, but we'll have to wait for an official update before drawing any concrete conclusions.
The AHL and ECHL have been playing without a CBA for a decent stretch, and it seems like things are finally starting to come to a head. ECHL players want to improve their quality of life, which includes avoiding playing three games in three nights, a very reasonable request.
There was some unfortunate news on the health front, as both Kaiden Guhle and Alex Newhook will miss an extended stretch due to injuries that required surgical intervention. Newhook will miss four months with an ankle injury, while Guhle is expected to be out for eight to 10 weeks with an abductor injury. [ Canadiens Impact Of Guhle And Newhook Injuries ]
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Due to Newhook's absence, the Canadiens opted to promote Jared Davidson from the AHL. It's a well-deserved reward for the hard-working 23-year-old, who currently leads all Laval Rocket players in goals (9). [ Call-Up Options To Replace Injured Newhook ]
Cornell held a nice ceremony prior to puck drop on Friday night to honour Montreal Canadiens legend Ken Dryden, who spent three years serving as Cornell's starter, maintaining an impressive .939 save percentage in the process.
Prospect Alexis Cournoyer stopped 27 of the 28 shots his way to register his third win of the season for Cornell. He's currently sporting a .958 save percentage, which happens to be the best among all NCAA goalies this season. [ NCAA College Hockey Stats ]
Michael Hage also enjoyed a productive night, which is par for the course considering his impressive skill set. He registered two assists as Michigan (No.2) blew Penn State (No.3) out of the water by a score of 7-1.
The Habs held an optional practice on Friday, with Lane Hutson, Zachary Bolduc , Oliver Kapanen , and Ivan Demidov being the only players who opted to show up.
The Habs offered a much better effort on Saturday night, versus their longtime rival the Boston Bruins , but it was not enough to secure a win, pushing their losing streak to three games. [ Canadiens Highlights: Classic Game Between Rivals ]
