• Caufield and the power play get the monkey off their back

• Newhook with the hot hand

• The goalie interference controversy

• The Bell Centre crowd was electric

• Game 1 recap. What went wrong and what went right.

• Should the Canadiens go back to the lineup that made them successful?

• Line adjustments and coaching decisions heading into Game 2.

• Defensive pairings. Do changes need to be made?

• Who needs to be better for the Habs in Game 2?

• Is it time to panic? We give our honest answer.

• Position by position matchup breakdown. Where do the Habs have the edge?

• What to expect from the Buffalo Sabres. This is not a team to sleep on.

• Series predictions. Who wins and in how many games?

• Jakub Dobes. One of the greatest Game 7 goaltending performances you will ever see.

• Nick Suzuki. How much did he grow throughout this series?

• Phillip Danault. The shutdown brilliance that never gets enough credit.

• Our stars of the series. Who stood out over seven games?

Montreal wins 3-2 in Tampa. Series lead 3-2. We broke it all down on the latest episode of The Locker Box Podcast.

• Brendan Gallagher is back. What his return means for this team.

• The third line was unbelievable.

• Matheson frustrations. The conversation that needed to be had.

• A gutsy road win when it mattered most.

• The Slafkovsky hit.

• Nick Suzuki was one of the best players on the ice.

• The Oliver Kapanen penalty. Was it embellishment? The call that changed the game.

• What adjustments need to be made heading into Game 5?

• Lane Hutson. OT hero. What a moment for the kid.

• Dach and his line bounced back in a big way after Game 2.

• Arber Xhekaj has been outstanding this series. The case for him.

• Are we worried about the Canadiens top lines?

We got into it.

The Habs drop Game 2 in OT 3-2. Series tied 1-1 heading back to Montreal. We broke it all down on the latest episode of The Locker Box Podcast.

• Josh Anderson was the best player on the ice. A legitimate playoff performer.

• Cole Caufield has been quiet. That needs to change in Game 3.

• Kirby Dach made a costly mistake. How much does it matter going forward?

• What lineup adjustments does Montreal need to make heading home?

• Home ice, Bell Centre energy. Can the Habs take control of this series?

Every set matchup as of Thursday morning is covered across the Eastern and Western Conferences with predictions, X-factors, and the biggest questions heading into each series.

Which contenders are legit?

Where the upsets could happen?

And the players that can take over a series?

In this episode, we dive into a full preview of the Montreal Canadiens first round series. We break down how the Canadiens match up, where they have the edge, and what needs to go right for them to win.

We also get into potential lineup decisions, key matchups to watch, and the players who can swing momentum.

Let us know your predictions and what you are watching for in this series.

In Episode 9 of The Locker Box Podcast, we break down a perfect 4 0 week featuring statement wins over the Carolina Hurricanes twice, the Columbus Blue Jackets, and the Nashville Predators. Jakub Dobes continues to dominate in net while Ivan Demidov is making his presence felt in a big way.

We get into
Dobes taking over the crease
Suzuki and Caufield heating up at the perfect time
Demidov’s development and impact
Key performances from Hutson, Kapanen, and Bolduc
Whether this team is actually built to contend

We also look ahead to the final three games, playoff positioning, and the big question in net between Dobes and Fowler.

We dive into Cole Caufield hitting the 40-goal mark for the first time since Vincent Damphousse, and then following it up with a 5-point night to reach 43 on the season. Nick Suzuki continues to drive the bus with a 4-assist performance, while Juraj Slafkovský is putting together a breakout stretch that’s turning heads across the league.

We also get into the first line debate. Has the Suzuki Caufield Slafkovský trio become a top-5 line in the NHL?

Plus, we discuss the turning point in Detroit and Matheson’s costly mistake, Guhle stepping up in a big way, our Tip Your Cap picks, and fan questions including playoff scenarios, point milestones, and ideal matchups.

The Canadiens may not be perfect, but they’re still very much in the fight.

We also highlight some positives, including strong showings from Ivan Demidov, Juraj Slafkovský, Alexandre Texier, and another calm performance from Jacob Fowler.

We discuss the development of Lane Hutson and Kaiden Guhle, whether lineup changes are needed, Slafkovský’s playmaking growth, and Cole Caufield sitting one goal away from the 40-goal mark.

To close the episode, we’re joined by goalie development expert Pierce Diamond of Diamond Cut Goaltending to break down the Canadiens’ goaltending situation. We talk about the rotation between Fowler, Jakub Dobeš, and Samuel Montembeault, the mental side of goaltending, and whether Montreal should pick one goalie to run with down the stretch.

A lot to unpack after a tough weekend in Montreal.

We start with the game against the Ottawa Senators and the decision to start Jacob Fowler over Samuel Montembeault. What does that decision tell us? We also discuss Fowler’s huge save on Michael Amadio and whether Arber Xhekaj should have been in the lineup over Jayden Struble.

We recap the Canadiens’ week, including the quiet trade deadline, their 1-1-1 California road trip, and their recent win over the Toronto Maple Leafs.

We also talk about some history being made:
• Lane Hutson setting the NHL record for most assists through a player’s first 150 games.
• Juraj Slafkovský becoming the Canadiens’ all-time points leader before age 22 with 164.

Plus:
• The conversation around Brendan Gallagher and whether he should remain in the lineup
• Our Tip Your Cap segment
• Looking ahead to games against the San Jose Sharks and Anaheim Ducks.

We break down the 4 to 3 OT loss to the New York Islanders and the dominant 6 to 2 win over the Washington Capitals, including why Noah Dobson looks so comfortable in Montreal and how Kaiden Guhle’s return is changing the blue line dynamic.

Cole Caufield continues his Mr. Saturday Night heater and now sits five goals away from becoming the first 40 goal Hab since Vincent Damphousse. We talk about what his surge means for this team down the stretch.

We also dive into the Montembeault versus Dobes conversation and why timely saves matter more than raw stats, the importance of the young supporting cast, and where the Canadiens stand in the Atlantic.

Plus a quick trade deadline pulse check

We also shift the focus back to Montreal and take a look at the week ahead

To wrap things up, we answer your questions in our latest fan Q&A segment.

We break down Canada’s 4-3 OT win over Czechia, including Nick Suzuki’s game-tying goal with 3:27 left, Jordan Binnington’s clutch saves, the six men on the ice blunder, and the OT winner. We also dive into Slovakia’s dominant win over Germany and what Juraj Slafkovský’s 7 points in 4 games means for both his country and Montreal.

Plus USA vs Sweden overtime drama, Quinn Hughes’ winner, semifinal matchups Canada vs Finland and USA vs Slovakia, Suzuki hate tweets, and the growing big game reputation of some young stars.

We also react to injury concerns, lineup experimentation involving Nick Suzuki, and the biggest Olympic storylines in our “Olymphits” segment.