After a much-needed day off on Sunday, the Montreal Canadiens were back on the ice Monday morning in Brossard - and they didn’t ease into it. With the schedule tightening and games coming fast, Martin St-Louis used the rare practice window to run his team through a nearly hour-long session that focused heavily on special teams. Both the power play and penalty kill got extended attention, and it wasn’t just about drills - it was about sending a message.
Early in the skate, St-Louis wasn’t thrilled with the tempo and made that clear with a couple of sharp whistles and some pointed direction. The players responded, ramping up the intensity. From that point on, the practice had a clear sense of urgency - the kind of urgency you’d expect from a team that’s dropped two straight against divisional opponents and is clinging to a wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.
Behind Closed Doors: A Team Meeting Signals a Reset
Normally, after practice, the Canadiens open the locker room for media availability. Not Monday.
Instead, the team held a closed-door meeting before speaking to the press - a clear sign that the coaching staff and leadership group felt it was time to regroup. With points slipping away and playoff positioning tightening, this wasn’t just a routine chat.
When Zachary Bolduc met with reporters afterward, he shed some light on what was discussed. The focus?
Details - the kind that don’t show up in the box score but can swing games. Bolduc pointed to Saturday’s loss as a prime example of what happens when decision-making breaks down late in tight games.
“Sometimes we try to execute plays that shouldn’t be; we force plays,” Bolduc said. “When you’re leading by a goal with seven or eight minutes left, you shouldn’t be forcing the play in the offensive zone. Things like that may look insignificant, but they can make a difference in the end.”
That’s the kind of self-awareness this team needs right now. The Canadiens haven’t spent much time protecting leads in recent seasons, and learning how to manage those moments is part of the next step in their development.
St-Louis Wants Smarter Hockey, Not Just Harder Hockey
When St-Louis addressed the media, he echoed Bolduc’s sentiments but went a step further. He talked about the importance of playing with purpose, especially when holding a lead.
A shot on net with no support? That’s not offense - that’s chaos.
And chaos, in the wrong moments, can flip a game.
St-Louis emphasized the need to wear opponents down - not hand them the puck and let them reset. It’s about forcing teams to defend, to skate back, to grind through shifts.
That’s how you control a game in the third period. That’s how you finish off wins.
“We didn’t do that on Saturday,” St-Louis said. And the result showed.
Penalty Kill Under the Microscope
Special teams remain a focal point - and not in a good way. The penalty kill, in particular, has been under scrutiny. Both Phillip Danault and Alex Carrier addressed the issue head-on, and their comments painted a clear picture: the system is sound, but the execution isn’t.
“Roby [Stephane Robidas] does a very good job; he gives us rules, and we should be following them in every game,” Danault said. “Whether we’re tired or not, it’s on us.
We have three rules with Roby, and we have to respect them. If a couple of guys are asleep at the wheel, it’s going to cost us - and that’s how it is right now.”
Carrier echoed that sentiment: “We all know the rules. It’s just about executing and being on the same page. It’s not rocket science - it’s communication and execution.”
That kind of honesty is refreshing, but it also underscores the urgency. The Canadiens can’t afford to keep letting special teams be the difference - not with the playoff race tightening.
Dobes Gets the Nod in Net
While St-Louis typically keeps his goaltending decisions close to the vest, he didn’t wait this time. Jakub Dobes will get the start Tuesday night against the Vegas Golden Knights. After back-to-back losses with Samuel Montembeault in net, the Canadiens are looking for a spark - and Dobes gets the call.
It’s a big moment for the young Czech netminder. The Habs need more than just a solid outing - they need a game-changer. With Vegas coming in and the standings tightening, Dobes will have a chance to prove he can deliver under pressure.
Bottom Line
This wasn’t just another Monday practice. It was a reset - a clear message from St-Louis and the leadership group that the margin for error is shrinking.
The Canadiens are in the thick of the playoff race, but they’re also at a crossroads. The next few weeks will test their discipline, their execution, and their ability to learn from the kind of lapses that have cost them points.
And it starts Tuesday night, with a fresh face in net and a renewed focus on doing the little things right.