Montreal Canadiens sit at 9-3, but which players need to elevate their game to sustain this hot start? Arber Xhekaj faces mounting pressure as Jayden Struble emerges as a legitimate enforcer with strong defensive play, threatening Xhekaj's roster spot once Kaiden Guhle returns healthy.
Laura Saba and Ian Boisvert break down the week ahead against Philadelphia Flyers, New Jersey Devils, and Utah Mammoth, debating goalie deployment strategies for Sam Montembeault and Jakub Dobes. The hosts analyze Martin St. Louis's surprising line changes that moved Brendan Gallagher up to play with Kirby Dach while demoting Joe Veleno, and defend Jake Evans and Josh Anderson's third-line checking role against social media criticism. Key discussions include Nick Suzuki's leadership, Cole Caufield's scoring touch, Lane Hutson's development, and why Struble's fight with Nick Cousins sends the exact message this young Canadiens roster needs.
Discover why the Evans-Anderson line's real value isn't measured in points and what Xhekaj must do to secure his future in Montreal.

0:00 Intro
1:16 Weekly forecast and upcoming games
2:48 Philadelphia Flyers matchup and goalie decision
4:25 Montembeault vs Dobes debate for Flyers
7:20 New Jersey Devils high-scoring matchup
9:00 Utah Mammoth game preview
10:15 Power play key to success
14:06 Gallagher moves to Dach-Bolduc line
16:16 Valeno's role and replacement level play
19:08 New lines impact on offensive production
23:14 Arber Xhekaj needs to be better
25:45 Struble stealing the spotlight from Xhekaj
28:01 Jake Evans and Josh Anderson's defensive role
30:52 Trivia question and closing remarks

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They don't ask "how," they ask "how many?" But for the Montreal Canadiens, the "how" is starting to become a concern with their wins.

Ian Boisvert and Laura Saba breakdown the Habs 4-3 overtime win over the Ottawa Senators over the weekend. The Habs are dominating overtime, but after blowing leads late, can the Canadiens solve their problems with defending the lead? And after a light week for the Habs, Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield continue to lead the way.

0:23 Canadiens Beat Senators in Overtime

2:25 Struble Pummels Cousins

5:02 Ottawa's Identity Crisis Without Brady Tkachuk

6:26 Controversial Goalie Interference Call Explained

12:57 Nick Suzuki's 11 Game Point Streak

15:03 Cole Caufield's Incredible Week Continues

17:27 Sam Montembeault's Struggles With Key Goals

21:28 Canadiens Perfect 5-0 Record in Overtime

24:04 Defending Leads: Montreal's Biggest Challenge

29:57 Looking Ahead to Next Week's Schedule

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Montreal Canadiens' surprising hot start raises a critical question: Does Oliver Kapanen's breakout performance eliminate the need for a second-line center, or is it masking a deeper roster gap?
We tackle listener questions about the Habs' strong season opening, examining trade scenarios involving Sidney Crosby, Tage Thompson, and Steven Stamkos. We debate which top prospects—Michael Hage, David Reinbacher, or Jacob Fowler—we'd sacrifice for a legitimate center. Key discussions include the goaltending battle between Samuel Montembeault and Jakub Dobes, Mike Matheson's contract extension prospects, and whether the power play improvements stem from personnel changes or system adjustments. The mailbag also features lighter topics, including fictional hockey character comparisons for Arber Xhekaj and Kaiden Guhle, plus a spirited debate about which Canadiens player would dominate a hot dog eating contest.
Tune in for honest analysis on whether Montreal's early success signals genuine contention or temporary overachievement.

0:00 Intro
1:44 Do the Habs still need a second line center?
4:20 Trade deadline scenario: Who would you give up?
9:27 Jersey dilemma: Price, Byron, or Suzuki?
12:45 Mike Matheson contract extension discussion
14:17 Comparing Habs players to fictional hockey characters
16:11 What could derail the Habs' strong start?
18:13 Is Montembeault losing his starting job?
22:21 Best and worst airport experiences
25:37 Power play problems: Personnel or systems?
27:31 Ranking the NHL's best jerseys
29:16 Which Hab could eat the most hot dogs?
32:12 Trivia: Nick Suzuki's historic start

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