The Canadiens’ opening month has already delivered a little of everything: flashes of structure, stretches of sloppiness, and enough growing pains to keep the conversation focused on process instead of the standings. At 4-3-1, Martin St. Louis’ team has banked four wins through eight games, including a 4-3 win over the Buffalo Sabres that closed out a demanding opening run.
The biggest reason Montreal has been able to stay afloat is the top line. Cole Caufield’s multi-goal night against Buffalo showed exactly how dangerous that unit can be when it gets rolling. Nick Suzuki has been driving the middle of it all by winning over 60 percent of his draws in recent outings, a key detail that keeps the puck in the offensive zone and gives Juraj Slafkovský and Caufield room to build sustained pressure.
The numbers back that up. Over the last three games, Montreal’s top line has posted a 54.2% possession share at 5v5, a shot attempt differential of +14, and an offensive zone start ratio of 62.5%.
That’s the kind of profile that can tilt a game. The issue is what comes after that.
Depth scoring has been inconsistent, and the Canadiens have needed younger defenders like Lane Hutson to jump into the attack and manufacture extra chances.
The lineup picture is also getting crowded by injuries. Sam Montembeault is out with a lower-body injury and is targeted to return around Oct.
- Ivan Demidov is also on Injured Reserve with a lower-body injury and is targeted for a return around Oct.
- Florian Xhekaj is on Injured Reserve with an undisclosed injury, while Mike Matheson is dealing with a lower-body issue and is day-to-day / out.
Oliver Kapanen remains on Injured Reserve with a lower-body injury.
That shortage has made defensive stability even more important, and that’s been an area of concern against heavier forechecking teams. The Hurricanes and Capitals both exposed problems in front of the net and in the breakout game earlier in the schedule, leaving Montreal with clear work to do in its own end.
The Canadiens get a lighter three-game week from Oct. 18-24, 2026, starting at home against the San Jose Sharks before heading out for two road games. The week begins Tuesday, Oct. 20, against San Jose at Centre Bell at 7:00 PM ET on ESPN+ / RDS. Montreal then visits the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday, Oct. 23, at the United Center at 8:00 PM ET on NHL Network, before finishing Saturday, Oct. 24, against the Winnipeg Jets at Canada Life Centre at 6:30 PM ET on Sportsnet.
It’s a useful stretch for Montreal, and the tests are straightforward. San Jose and Chicago give the Canadiens a chance to build more five-on-five rhythm, while Winnipeg will show how well the defensive system holds up against a team that can strike quickly in transition. For now, the benchmark is simple: cleaner puck decisions at the blue line, better zone exits, and fewer breakdowns before the schedule stiffens later in October.
In Other News...
Dylan Larkin Just Gave Canadiens Fans A Reason To Revisit This Dream
Dylan Larkins name still has a way of lighting up the Bell Centre, and a recent visit by the Red Wings captain only fed that old Canadiens daydream a little more. Montreal fans gave him a notable reception, the kind that reminds everyone how easily a big-name center can become part of the citys ongoing wish list, especially when the organization is always looking for ways to upgrade down the middle.
Larkin didnt exactly pour cold water on the whole scene, either, praising the atmosphere in Montreal and calling it one of hockeys best arenas. Even so, the practical side of the story has not changed much, with Montreal not currently listed among the 10 teams on his reported trade request list and no deal anywhere near confirmed. For now, it is still more reminder than resolution, but it was enough to make Canadiens fans revisit a dream they know well. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Win Exposed A Sabres Problem Fans Have Seen Before
The Sabres have made a habit of flirting with disaster, and the latest example came in a 4-3 overtime loss to Montreal after Buffalo clawed its way back into the game. There are signs of progress in spots, with Jack Quinn, Josh Doan and Josh Norris all showing better form, but the bigger picture still looks familiar: too much inconsistency, too little clean defensive hockey, and not enough margin for error when the game tightens.
What has made the trend harder to ignore is how often Buffalo has had to lean on late rallies just to collect points. That approach can keep a team afloat for a night, but it is not a recipe for staying competitive over the long haul, especially when the margins are so thin in the standings. The Canadiens exposed that reality again, leaving the Sabres with another reminder that the comeback formula only works so many times before it catches up. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Came Shockingly Close To A Franchise What-If With Brett Hull
Brett Hull recently reopened one of the more fascinating what-ifs in Canadiens history, saying he was very close to signing with Montreal in 2001 before ending up in Detroit instead. The timing alone makes it intriguing for Canadiens fans, since Hull was still a proven scorer with a chance to alter the direction of the franchise, even if landing him would not have guaranteed instant contention.
On a podcast, Hull recounted the kind of recruiting pitch that makes these stories linger, including a conversation with Canadiens icon Jean Bliveau as Montreal tried to make its case. What tipped the balance away from the Canadiens was a late push from Detroit, and Hull wound up with the Red Wings, where he won a Stanley Cup in 2002 instead of becoming part of a very different Montreal chapter. [Read more 🡒]