10 Thoughts: Habs Show Character in Bounce Back Win

The Habs blew their Saturday night contest versus the Maple Leafs, but were fortunate enough to get right back on the ice on Sunday as they hosted the Rangers. For the first time in 2025, their outcome was questioned after they were goalied by Joseph Woll, but also allowed far too many chances to the Leafs. This loss opened the door to a massive game that had important playoff implications, but also became an important one in measuring the progress of the team in putting the game behind them.

They called up Owen Beck to replace Michael Pezzetta for the occasion, and turned to Jakub Dobes in net. Montreal started nervously in the first period but regained their confidence as the night wore on. In line with how this team has played of late, they came back four times to earn a 5-4 overtime victory in what was a physical and entertaining affair. 

Habs Lineup

Cole Caufield — Nick Suzuki — Juraj Slafkovsky
Patrik Laine – Kirby Dach – Alex Newhook
Brendan Gallagher – Christian Dvorak — Josh Anderson
Owen Beck – Jake Evans – Joel Armia 

Lane Hutson – Mike Matheson
Kaiden Guhle — Alexandre Carrier
Arber Xhekaj – David Savard 

Jakub Dobes 

10 Thoughts

1) The Habs were the better team in the first period as they controlled the pace of play through most of it. However, there was noticeable nervousness in their play as needless risks were taken which was something they had cut down on during their hot streak. They ended the period behind 2-1 despite an 8-3 shot advantage. Play was also quite physical as nearly every whistle came with a scrum afterwards as every inch of ice was contested. Anderson was a force in this area as he even roughed up Braden Schneider enough to send him to the locker room bloody on one shift. 

2) The two Rangers’ goals were direct results of bad plays by young blueliners. The first one came after a bad clearing attempt by Hutson was compounded by bad coverage by Guhle (he had his first off period in an awfully long time) that led to an Alexis Lafreniere goal. The second was a terrible clearing attempt by Xhekaj that was jumped on by Will Cuylle. On both plays, Dobes was slightly generous though, much like Samuel Montembeault yesterday, the goal wasn’t really his fault. 

3) It was far from entirely negative for the home side in the period as they simply lacked some finish. Newhook, in particular, was flying all period long, but the entire second line missed a long line of chances. On one shift by the Suzuki line, the puck found itself behind Jonathan Quick twice. However, much like versus the Leafs, the puck found a way to not enter the net, and the line was snake-bitten a little bit. The goal that was scored was exactly what the Habs needed, a greasy one. No surprise then that it came from Gallagher who tipped home a Dvorak shot. 

4) The second period was even more physical than the first and made the entire night feel like playoff hockey. After chasing him for the entire first period, Matt Rempe finally got his fight as Xhekaj dropped the gloves and fought Rempe in what was a monster tussle that might be a serious candidate for fight of the year. Will Borgen was absolutely rocked twice, once by Slafkovsky and another by Anderson. Guhle followed by taking a penalty after another post-whistle scrum. Once again, every inch was contested hotly as both teams scored two goals in the period. 

5) The first goal of the period for New York came on a power play after a blatant Anderson cross-check in front of the Rangers’ net. Chris Kreider came to the Montreal crease and committed the same play as Anderson. The play went uncalled, and the result was space for Mika Zibanejad who fired one home. The Canadiens were furious after the play, and rightfully so. In the final minute, Matheson got caught watching the puck, forgetting his coverage as Adam Fox delivered an awesome pass to Kreider who scored to restore the lead heading into the third. 

6) The two Montreal goals came from the captain. The first goal came as a power play ended. Suzuki found Dvorak on the rush. Dvorak tried a pass to Newhook and saw the puck bounce off a defender and into the net. The goal was not a power play marker, but it missed by seconds. The second was Suzuki picking a careless Borgen pass and sniping one on Quick. The Habs should have scored more, but much like Woll the night prior, Quick was all over his crease but managed to keep the puck out of his net setting up an entertaining third. 

7) If the Canadiens were the better team in the first two periods with a 20-18 shot advantage, the ice was completely slanted in their favour in the third. The Rangers got two chances and hit two posts, but that was pretty much it as the Habs outshot them 16-6. As an overall observation on the night, the Rangers were lucky to get a point as they cheated offensively all night long.  

8) The missed chances were once again many as Laine and Newhook made too many passes with Quick completely out of the net, but it allowed Borgen to make up for a rough second period by making the save. One frustrating thing in the period that Quick did well was to take shots and get whistles. New York’s power play marker came after Dobes took a shot off the helmet and didn’t ask for a whistle which was a rookie mistake. That Quick made that play more than once in the third was a nice little lesson for Dobes. 

9) The Habs finally managed to tie the game for a fourth time. It was a Caufield and Hutson rush that created some havoc around Quick. Slafkovsky was in the right spot at the right time and buried home a rebound while being pushed into the crossbar by Vincent Trocheck. The period’s play was far less physical in the third, even more so after the Slafkovsky goal as both teams appeared content to bank the point and get to overtime. 

10) In overtime, Dobes showed some crazy character as he made two awesome saves. Easily, his best two on the night. With the Habs group stuck on the ice tired, the Rangers completed two one-timers. Dobes saved the first with a glove and the second with an excellent lateral movement. This allowed a line change and a give-and-go between Guhle who pushed the pace on the attack, and Laine who skated to the low slot and buried home the game-winner. 

HabsWorld Habs 3 Stars

1st Star – Brendan Gallagher 

For the second game, the team was creating chances but couldn’t bury them. Enter Gallagher with a Gallagher greasy goal to get them rolling. The number of battles won and positioning plays that Gallagher delivered on this night was reminiscent of prime Gallagher. He was a possession monster on this night, and he was rewarded on the scoresheet. Coach St. Louis called Anderson a culture driver after the game, I believe that whole line is the “culture leader” both on and off the ice on this team. 

Stats: 1 goal, 1 assist, +2, 5 shots, 2 hits, 12:08 T.O.I.  

2nd Star – Nick Suzuki 

As the game advanced, Suzuki came on more and more. After his goal that made Borgen look bad, he was the Habs’ best player in the third period, and the coaching staff thought so too as the leader of the club ended up with a time on ice that looked like he was a defender. He ends the night with only a goal to his name, but it could have easily been significantly more. I predict another sequence where he’ll get multiple points per night in short order. 

Stats: 1 goal, +1, 6 shots, 22:29 T.O.I. 

3rd Star – Alex Newhook 

Newhook was flying all night long. He created many chances and missed them all, but that line was a driver in the first two periods. So much time has been spent celebrating the contributions of the bottom-six on this team. Now take that same outlook and apply it to Newhook because that’s what he’ll be on this team as early as next season. He fits into that group so well, celebrate what he brings even if we’d like a little more right now. 

Stats: 1 assist, +1, 4 shots, 18:33 T.O.I.