It’s outstanding that the Montreal Canadiens are on tempo for 104 factors, but they’re in an absolute dogfight to make the playoffs this season. They made the post-season with solely 91 factors final 12 months. This season, the east is dominating in video games towards the west, so it’s skewed like by no means earlier than.
Montreal wants each win it may possibly get and the Canadiens didn’t disappoint towards the Washington Capitals with a 6-2 win on Saturday.
Wilde Horses
All Cole Caufield has to do is keep wholesome to have the best objective scoring season for the Canadiens since 1994. That was the final time a Montreal participant hit the 40-goal milestone, with Vincent Damphousse delivering the outcome.
Since then, it’s been nothing however failure to eclipse what isn’t that beautiful a mark within the NHL. The closest was Max Pacioretty who counted 39 targets in 2013-14. Caufield’s profession excessive is 37 targets, which he achieved final season.
This 12 months, Caufield has one thing particular in his sights. Solely 30 seconds in on Saturday evening, Caufield blocked a shot on the Capitals blue line to skate in on a breakaway. He shot far aspect, simply beating Charlie Lindrgren. Caufield added a second tally within the first interval, beating Alexander Ovechkin in a goal-mouth battle to faucet in quantity 35 on the season.
The 40-goal mark is definitely attainable for the second highest objective scorer within the league. Caufield is on tempo for 49 targets this 12 months. He shouldn’t simply finish that embarrassing Canadiens run of 32 years and not using a 40-goal scorer, Caufield might be the primary 50-goal man since Stephane Richer in 1990.
It will likely be thrilling to see what complete Caufield can obtain within the last 23 video games of the season.
Alex Newhook has been sturdy in his first two video games again from a severe ankle harm and surgical procedure. Newhook has two assists in two video games since returning. Newhook and Nick Suzuki are the 2 forwards assigned to win the zone on the ability play, carrying a again cross from their very own blue line. Newhook is definitely the higher of the 2 at this endeavour utilizing his large pace.
Newhook received the zone with the ability play time working out. He caved within the Capitals defence, then discovered Zachary Bolduc, who fed the trailer Mike Matheson. Matheson discovered the far aspect. It was a lovely objective that doesn’t occur with out the pace of Newhook.
The Canadiens went up 4-1 late within the second on an incredible play by the primary line on a three-on-two rush. Suzuki carried the puck into the nook then fed Kirby Dach, who fired it upstairs with a slap shot. The primary line was the one trio that had good Corsi on the evening.
Get breaking Nationwide information
For information impacting Canada and around the globe, join breaking information alerts delivered on to you after they occur.
Each Suzuki and Jake Evans added empty-netters as Montreal appeared to make the most of each likelihood they needed to create a rating line that wasn’t precisely indicative of the five-on-five play.
Wilde Goats
The Canadiens had loads of problem in their very own zone. They spent a substantial period of time attempting to filter out the larger Capitals, however they didn’t endure for it due to a robust recreation from Jakub Dobes. He made 27 saves on 29 photographs to verify the goats phase stayed empty.
With out Dobes, the evening would have gone fairly in a different way. The Canadiens received 6-2, however the Targets Anticipated was really 2.78 to 2.25 for Washington earlier than the empty netters skewed the ultimate numbers. Dobes made it seem like all the pieces was stress-free and comfy for the Canadiens when it wasn’t.
Wilde Playing cards
The buying and selling deadline is Friday at 3 p.m. It’s turning into obvious that the Canadiens are lacking belongings in the event that they wish to make a serious run this season. It’s a tough second for administration. They don’t wish to ship a message to their gamers that this isn’t the 12 months.
The gamers really deserve greater than Normal Supervisor Kent Hughes standing pat. The membership wants an asset at each place if they’re severe about this proper now. If they don’t seem to be severe about this season, they do have an asset coming at each gap that they’ve.
If the tried Cup runs begin in 2026-27, then they’ve Michael Hage and Alexander Zharovsky coming at ahead; they’ve David Reinbacher at defence; they’ve Jacob Fowler within the internet. If the run begins this 12 months, then they want a primary line winger, a 3rd pair defender and a greater goalie.
Dach hasn’t been the answer on the primary line, although the Canadiens had a robust Saturday evening. The membership can’t appear to belief Arber Xhekaj as a 3rd pair resolution. Samuel Montembeault is nicely below league common in internet and Jakub Dobes is considerably below league common.
If Hughes and Jeff Gorton do determine to spend, then they should unload Patrik Laine who they, apparently, shouldn’t have a spot for of their line-up. Laine has been sporting a contact jersey in observe for over a month. They refuse to play him. In reality, they refuse to let the media converse to him as nicely. It feels all however assured that his time is finished in Montreal.
The longer term is extraordinarily vibrant for the Canadiens, however how rapidly do they need that future to reach. In the event that they acquired belongings proper now, the logjam of expertise subsequent season could be huge. They haven’t any expiring contracts of unrestricted free brokers subsequent season. The next season the whole third line of Phillip Danault, Brendan Gallagher and Josh Anderson are free to maneuver.
Don’t suppose that Hughes has boxed himself right into a nook. He’s really in the midst of an open area. There are not any mistaken decisions; simply fascinating ones.
Brian Wilde, a Montreal-based sports activities author, brings you Call of the Wilde on globalnews.ca after every Canadiens recreation.
© 2026 International Information, a division of Corus Leisure Inc.