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Canadiens Highlights: Habs Burned By A Lack Of Focus
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- Canadiens Highlights: Habs Burned By A Lack Of Focus
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Montreal Canadiens hosted the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday night in the second half of a back-to-back games that required travel for the visiting team.
Only two lineup changes were made: Jakub Dobes replaced Jacob Fowler in net, and Adam Engstrom stepped in for fellow rookie David Reinbacher.
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The game needed overtime, a familiar outcome for both clubs. The Habs have gone to overtime or a shootout nine times this season, while the Sharks have done so 10 times.
In the end, San Jose emerged with a 4-3 overtime win.
For the view from the other side of the rink, make sure to visit San Jose Hockey Now.
Let's dive into the highlights!
Intent To Blow
The Canadiens appeared to score first, but yet another disallowed goal reared its ugly head. It was the fifth or sixth time already this season that the Habs have had a goal denied, a frustrating all things considered.
In this case, the referees had an "intent to blow", which is why the goal did not count despite reaching the back of the net before any official whistled.
The #GoHabsGo score before the whistle blows, but it's the "intent to blow" that matters.Goal No. 328 that has been disallowed this year. https://t.co/68Cs3omTsN
— Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) October 20, 2026
Definitely Blew It
The tumultuous start gave way to a very rare giveaway by veteran Jake Evans, who could not have picked a worse target, as it was Macklin Celebrini who was given a free breakaway.
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It was the second game in a row in which the Canadiens allowed their opponents to score a shorthanded goal.
Celebrini scores after a brutal giveaway by Evans. 1-0. https://t.co/ZfB3IdrQfU
— Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) October 20, 2026
O Captain
Fortunately for the Canadiens, they responded quite well to the unfortunate series of events in the first period. Nick Suzuki got his team on the board following a very nice interception by Juraj Slafkovsky , who, in all honesty, has had a relatively difficult start to the season.
It's not necessarily that Slafkovsky has played poorly, but he's also struggled with puck control in the early stretch of the season. That usually happens when a player is gripping their sticks too tightly, and nothing solves the issue quicker than registering their name on the scoresheet.
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It was Suzuki's fifth goal of the season, as well as his 11th point in just nine games.
Nick Suzuki gets the #GoHabsGo on the board after a very nice play by Juraj Slafkovsky.1-1 https://t.co/xZWudukMIe
— Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) October 20, 2026
Slafgoalsky
The Canadiens were in a familiar situation with the score tied at 1-1. For the most part, they controlled the play, and were the better team at 5v5, but they were not capitalizing on their opportunities.
That is, until Slafkovsky decided to enjoy one of the best games in his career, which including one of the nicest goals you'll see this season. A fantastic individual effort by the 22-year-old Slovak left Darnell Nurse in the dust, before tucking the puck behind Alex Nedeljkovic.
As previously mentioned, Slafkovsky needed to kick-start his season to match the production of his first-line teammates, and Tuesday night was certainly a statement effort.
BEAUTIFUL GOAL BY SLAFKOVSKY!He burns Nurse before scoring to give the #GoHabsGo a 1-0 lead. https://t.co/srONlJLRM0
— Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) October 21, 2026
The first line kept the good times rolling when Suzuki and Cole Caufield combined for the type of goal we've seen well over 100 times in the last few years to give the Canadiens a 3-1 lead in the second period.
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Beyond Slafkovsky having one of the best games of his young NHL career, the entire top line was a dominant force versus the Sharks. And when a team's best players are performing at their best, the results are usually very encouraging.
Of course, the true test would take place in the third period, as the Canadiens have had a very difficult time closing out games in which they establish a two-goal lead.
Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki in their natural habitats.3-1 #GoHabsGo https://t.co/JAAuBVE7Ka
— Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) October 21, 2026
This Is A Rerun
Shockingly, the Canadiens ended up losing their two-goal lead in a few moments, just as everyone predicted. They're a young, talented team, but their inability to maintain focus for 60 minutes is concerning. It was the fifth time in this early season that they coughed up a lead for which they worked incredibly hard to establish.
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The Sharks would go on to win in overtime, capitalizing on the window that was opened by Montreal's collapse.
The Sharks tie the game after a very nice passing play on the powerplay. As per tradition, the Habs lose focus after building a two-goal lead.3-3. #GoHabsGo https://t.co/bBODIfzNTY
— Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) October 21, 2026
The Montreal Canadiens will be on the road on Friday, facing the Chicago Blackhawks. The puck drop is scheduled for 8 pm ET.
All Montreal Canadiens statistics are 5v5 unless otherwise noted, via Natural Stat Trick .
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