Are Blown Leads Going to Bite Back — or Is This Team Just “Clutch”?

A month into the new season, it’s fair to say the Habs are shaping up to be one of the most entertaining teams in the league. With a top line that ranks among the best and scoring threats throughout the lineup, the 2025–26 squad has shown they can challenge any opponent. They’ve been competitive in every game so far — aside from the season opener (thanks to empty-net goals) and the blowout win over Detroit, every match has been decided by a single goal.

So what’s the catch?

Despite all the upside, one concern lingers: the number of blown leads. Could they come back to haunt the team later in the season?

The Stats So Far

Through 13 games, the Habs have surrendered two-goal leads in four of them, splitting those contests 2–2. In each case, they looked strong early but lost momentum — and the game slipped away. So what’s causing these lapses?

As an armchair coach who’s watched every minute, here are a few theories to kick off the debate:

1. Playing Too Passive?
Take the Seattle game. After going up 3–0, the Habs managed just three shots in the final 14 minutes of the third period, while the Kraken fired eight, three of which found the net. Did Montreal sit back and assume the win was in the bag? Or did Seattle simply wake up?

2. Too Expansive?
Against Ottawa, two of the Senators’ goals came immediately after strong offensive chances by the Habs. Were they caught out by overcommitting?

3. Momentum Swings
Both the Rangers and Oilers turned games around with surges in intensity. The Rangers’ second period was night-and-day compared to their first, and in Edmonton, momentum — and perhaps a few questionable calls — tilted the ice. Teams on a roll tend to get the breaks.

4. Bad Luck?
In the Ottawa and Edmonton games, the Habs hit multiple posts and suffered from unlucky bounces. Add in a flurry of penalties against the Oilers, and it’s easy to argue that fortune wasn’t on their side.

So what’s the answer? Too passive and you invite pressure. Too aggressive and you risk counterattacks. Momentum is often what earns the lead in the first place — and it’s bound to swing the other way eventually. Learning how to kill that swing might be the key. As for luck? It tends to even out over time.

The Experience Factor

This might come down to experience. The Habs are the youngest team in the league. Just two seasons ago, they lost a record 27 of 44 one-goal games. Back then, they said they were close — they just needed to learn how to win. Maybe they were right. Maybe that experience is why the top line is now so clutch in the dying minutes and in overtime.

And it’s not just the top line anymore. The depth is real — especially in 3-on-3 overtime. If they rotate three lines, they can run:

• Suzuki–Caufield–Hutson
• Dach–Slafkovsky–Dobson
• Newhook–Demidov–Matheson

That’s a lot of speed, skill, and belief. When they reach overtime, they expect to win.

Why Worry?

Here’s the heart of it: all that extra effort to grind out one-goal wins adds up over an 82-game season. Last year, Montreal didn’t clinch a playoff spot until Game 82. And while the narrative says Washington outmuscled them in the postseason, it’s fair to argue the Caps were simply fresher — especially in those crucial third periods.

So here’s hoping for a few more comfortable wins, some momentum-killing goals, and more ice time for the third and fourth lines because they are not chasing games. This is a good team, maturing fast. Let’s enjoy the ride — and hope they’ve got enough gas in the tank come April.