DON

The Numbers Behind the Tampa Bay-Montreal Series – HabsWorld.net ... Also a factor to consider is that the Habs enter the playoffs with the best record in the NHL since the trade deadline, with a 16-6-1 record, while Tampa Bay finished 11th at 12-8-2 over the same period. The underlying theme when comparing these two teams is that Tampa Bay is road-tested and experienced, but also has an aging core. The Habs are still in learning mode and their playoff ‘brand’ remains to be developed. Following an impressive season, if they can compete better than the series against the Washington Capitals last year, it will be a complete success towards becoming a perennial Cup contender.

Irrelevant to game and playoffs; but for fans too bad it is Sportsnet showing the games, gonna miss the TSN Hab crew. Cant wait for drop of puck but also cant say i got a good feeling about this match up. Was great that Suzuki got 100pts but a Kucherov has 508 points in last 4 years. Or similar for Dobes play vs Vasilevsky's resume; but the russian hasnt done great in recent playoffs, so we can hope he is shaky again.

God damn, folks come up with some F ugly jerseys, alot of black ones are just so lame, but the bile coloured Penquins once are quite hard to stomach. BOOOO!

Is what it is, Habs top-4 is thin without Dobson and Marty dosent trust Xhekaj or Struble to play more shifts. BUT, Habs have had 4 days off and get 2 off between 2nd and 3rd game, which should help if Marty feels the need for Matheson/Hutson play 28-30 minutes. As someone noted the PK has really improved with Hutson playing on it (no surprise, he is just a very smart player) so his & Matheson's minutes likely be pretty high, unless is a blowout.

MInni cruising to 1st game on road win, up 5-1. Opening fight in Sens game didnt help Sens one bit, nice to see them lose. HabsWorld Predicts: 2026 Playoffs – Round 1, Part 1 – HabsWorld.net Minnesota Wild vs Dallas Stars Kevin Leveille predicts: Stars in 7 games Norm Szcyrek predicts: Stars in 6 games Brian Davis predicts: Wild in 7 games Richard Roy predicts: Wild in 7 games Brian La Rose predicts: Stars in 7 games NHL execs reveal Stanley Cup tiers: How every playoff team really stacks up - The Athletic Montreal The front-office execs we polled spoke in exceptionally glowing terms about the Canadiens’ young core. This is a bona fide Cup-contender quality nucleus in their eyes. Exec 1: “I love the pace they play at. (Cole) Caufield is a rockstar with the scoring. (Nick) Suzuki is one of the most underrated players in the NHL. He’s f—ing awesome and people have no idea; they go 25 (players) deep (talking about the best players in the league) before someone mentions Suzuki’s name, it’s crazy to me. He can do it all.” Exec 2: “Montreal and Buffalo are the exact same caliber teams. I would maybe even be a bit more bullish on Montreal. I believe in their higher-end players a little bit more.” There are some question marks about their depth, though. Noah Dobson’s injury is a significant blow for the right side. A couple of panelists pointed out that the Canadiens are also, in their minds, another elite middle-six center away from championship-caliber forward depth. Exec 2: “When you look at the middle six, you look at guys like (Alexandre) Texier and (Alex) Newhook and (Oliver) Kapanen and (Kirby) Dach, I’m not sold on them as the middle pieces of a Cup-contending team.”

Good summery. Habs Stats: The Full Season – HabsWorld.net

Last change for 1st two games, so Cooper will get chance to match up. Habs have a secret weapon on faceoffs; Where the Montreal Canadiens rank heading into the playoffs Martin St-Louis recognizes that he has two players who can be expected to win the majority of their draws and has loaded both Danault and Evans onto the same line, giving his shutdown trio both a left- and right-shot option. That line has another ace up its sleeve. Josh Anderson took 33 faceoffs in 2025-26 and won 23 of them, a 69.7% win rate, the highest percentage on the team. It was no fluke; Anderson won 59.2% of his 49 faceoffs last year as well. It’s another element Anderson brings to the line if needed, in addition to shadowing Nikita Kucherov for the best-of-seven opening-round season.

TB will eat them up, when they get an odd shift. Kucherov will be licking his chops. But; neither plays much, not on either special team, nor much in 3rd period so there is that time the Habs have better d-men playing.

Down 4-0 mid 3rd KK 4g on 14 shots Laval Rocket @ Toronto Marlies Saturday, April 18, 2026 | TheAHL.com | The American Hockey League 4-3 loss Outshot Toronto 18-1 in 3rd period

No you wont, series will be over next Sunday.

Paupanekis 0pts Kelowna knocked out of playoffs. 2g 5pts 9gms. He will get to rest till late May.

Rohrer gonna dress today i wonder?

Darn fanatics eh.

Next series.

With zero coaching experience, maybe best to start with a job in the Q first.

I hope they just continue to spin their wheels accomplishing nothing for foreseeable future. Leafs finished with 5th pick pre-lottery, so they likely will get to use pick this summer eh. Seems likely they suck next year also, so would be 1 high pick this or next year anyways.

1st games Saturday, April 18 – Game 1, with Networks 3 p.m. ET, Ottawa Senators at Carolina Hurricanes; ESPN, SN, TVAS 5:30 p.m. ET, Minnesota Wild at Dallas Stars; ESPN, SN, TVAS 8 p.m. ET, Philadelphia Flyers at Pittsburgh Penguins; ESPN, SN, TVAS Sunday, April 19 – Game 1 Time/TV TBD, +Western Conference Wild Card #2 at Colorado Avalanche Time/TV TBD, Montreal Canadiens at Tampa Bay Lightning Time/TV TBD, Boston Bruins at Buffalo Sabres Time/TV TBD, Utah Mammoth at Vegas Golden Knights Monday, April 20 – Game 1 Time/TV TBD, +Pacific Division #3 at +Pacific Division #2

Sunday it gets going eh. Saturday, April 18 – Game 1, with Networks 3 p.m. ET, Ottawa Senators at Carolina Hurricanes; ESPN, SN, TVAS 5:30 p.m. ET, Minnesota Wild at Dallas Stars; ESPN, SN, TVAS 8 p.m. ET, Philadelphia Flyers at Pittsburgh Penguins; ESPN, SN, TVAS Sunday, April 19 – Game 1 Time/TV TBD, +Western Conference Wild Card #2 at Colorado Avalanche Time/TV TBD, Montreal Canadiens at Tampa Bay Lightning Time/TV TBD, Boston Bruins at Buffalo Sabres Time/TV TBD, Utah Mammoth at Vegas Golden Knights Monday, April 20 – Game 1 Time/TV TBD, +Pacific Division #3 at +Pacific Division #2

Rohrer to play in Laval. Vinzenz Rohrer reassigned to Laval Rocket | Montréal Canadiens

Huston i heard great things about.

I dont think it matters one iota, aside from Molson pocketbook. Habs are not a strong home team and are good on the road. Rest all who could use it and live with a loss.

I meant in this game, there is a playoff thread already.

Sure wish the PEI d-man was playing, without him the d is pretty thin. I guess Carrier might be back? Will the Habs be able to limit the damage Kucherov does? Canadiens will play Lightning in Eastern Conference 1st Round | NHL.com The Lightning have qualified for the playoffs in each of the past nine seasons, though they haven't won a series since losing to the Colorado Avalanche in the Stanley Cup Final in 2022. The Canadiens went 2-1-1 against the Lightning this season, including winning the last two. Juraj Slafkovsky led the team with seven points (four goals, three assists) in those four games,...

Pickford 1a 1 shot, up 3-0 in series. Protz up 3-0 in series, likely close it out today. Zharovski down 3-0 in series, likely season over this morning.

How about Reinbacher & Engstrom on 3rd pairing? Too risky for 21 & 22 yr old rookie pairing? Engstrom gets pushed around as rookie d-men do, but likely defends better than Xhekaj.