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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Nick Suzuki is on pace to score 119 points. How close will he get to that feat? And Will Cole Caufield FINALLY score 40 goals?

Ian Boisvert and Laura Saba investigate the hot starts the Habs are off to. Which predictions are accurate and which are going to fall short? Taking a look at the Atlantic Division, there are many surprises. Do the Habs have what it takes to stay among the Atlantic's best? Given their hot starts, Caufield and Suzuki probably have a claim to Olympic participation. Will the teams swallow their pride and pick them or leave out elite talent?

0:27 Canadiens' 119-point pace breakdown

2:55 Nick Suzuki's elite playmaking without goals

5:16 Cole Caufield's 67-goal pace reality check

8:35 Slafkovsky's path to 30 goals

10:37 Atlantic Division surprises and standings

14:18 When should teams consider tanking

16:09 Detroit vs Montreal front office comparison

20:48 Olympic roster conversation begins

23:14 Best players deserve Olympic spots

27:36 Final Olympic roster predictions

29:26 Trivia and tomorrow's mailbag

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The Montreal Canadiens have played some scary third periods lately. Are these a worrying trend or part of their development into contenders?

Ian Boisvert and Laura Saba break down the Habs final game of their Western road trip; a 4-3 overtime win over the Seattle Kraken. Jakub Dobes had some trouble in the third period - is this cause for concern? Alex Newhook has carved out a nice role as a secondary scorer on the Canadiens. Can he keep up his current pace?

0:00 Intro

0:31 Cole Caufield's Overtime Winner Against Seattle

1:41 Late Night Pajama Party Recording Session

3:15 Confidence in This Year's Canadiens Team

7:22 Jakub Dobeš Showing Signs of Regression

9:57 Brandon Montour: The Hab Killer Problem

12:22 Alex Newhook's Speed and Forechecking Impact

15:46 Was the Newhook Trade Worth It?

18:40 Newhook's Role Without Demidov Pressure

22:05 Why the Canadiens Keep Blowing Leads

26:54 Learning the Price of Winning Games

28:46 Trivia: Canadiens Players from Newfoundland

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Are the Montreal Canadiens in talks to re-sign Mike Matheson? Will a potential contract extension reshape the Habs' future plans?
We break down the latest rumors surrounding Mike Matheson's contract talks, analyzing his impressive ice time and impact on the team. We also preview crucial matchups against the Seattle Kraken and Ottawa Senators, discussing strategies to contain key opponents. Plus, we talk about rising prospect Michael Hage and his potential NHL debut.
Tune in for expert analysis on Matheson's value, Hage's development, and how these factors could influence the Canadiens' roster decisions as the trade deadline approaches.

0:00 Canadiens weekly forecast and rumors
5:05 Containing Montour key against Seattle Kraken
10:20 Arber Xhekaj's role vs Ottawa Senators
13:27 Mike Matheson contract extension rumors
19:38 Analyzing potential Matheson contract terms
24:06 Michael Hage's NHL timeline and potential
28:26 Trivia question on Habs rookie performances

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Montreal Canadiens stun Vancouver Canucks with a comeback win to finish the week with 6 out of 8 points. Can the Habs build on this going forward?
Laura and Ian break down the Habs' impressive victory, highlighting Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki's game-changing plays. The discussion covers Jakub Dobes's stellar performance, Patrick Laine's devastating injury, and how Martin St. Louis' power play tactics are reshaping Montreal's offensive strategy. Key topics include the Canadiens' recent wins against Buffalo and Calgary, emerging stars Lane Hutson and Ivan Demidov, and potential playoff implications in a tight division race.
Don't miss this in-depth analysis of Montreal's path to success. Will the Canadiens build on this momentum to make a serious push in the Atlantic Division?

0:00 Intro: Canadiens' recent performance
5:28 Win against the Canucks and power play changes
11:29 FanDuel sponsorship and NBA betting opportunities
14:21 Analyzing Patrick Laine's future with Canadiens
19:58 Game Time app for easy NHL ticket purchases
24:52 Weekly recap: Standout players and performances
30:30 Trivia question and listener engagement

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The Canadiens are not pleased with the officiating they got on Thursday in Edmonton. Do they have a case and is this part of a concerning trend?

Ian Boisvert and Laura Saba vent about the officiating being the turning point of yet another game. Why have the Habs struggled to get powerplays and will their comments after the game make things worse? After decompressing, the hosts head into the mailbag where they cover powerplay woes, whether Lane Hutson should shoot more, and some early unsung heroes.

0:00 Intro

5:41 Referees' controversial calls and player reactions

13:35 Mailbag questions and birthday shoutouts

18:15 Power play strategies and Dobson's potential

23:34 Unsung heroes: Kapanen and Newhook

27:54 Struble's potential as a starter defenseman

29:50 Joe Veleno's performance and potential moves

32:17 Trivia recap and new question

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