Montreal Canadiens news and notes
- The Canadiens players and coaches are trying to stay inspired by milestone chases for Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki, while also trying to stay focused on the team game that has them playing their best hockey. [La Presse]
- Last year Suzuki was the first Habs player to achieve an 82-point season since Alex Kovalev in 2007-08. This year, three players could hit that mark. [Radio-Canada]
- Suzuki says it “would be incredible” to win the Selke Trophy and join the list of players who’ve won the award that he looked up to in his formative years. [TVA Sports]
- Suzuki and Caufield work well together, but their play goes to a league-best level when they’re joined by Juraj Slafkovský. [RDS]
- Mike Johnson says Slafkovský’s play is proof that processing speed and awareness can develop after a player is drafted. [Montreal Gazette]
- Jakub Dobeš is proving himself as one of the top rookies in the NHL, and maybe the most important. [Montreal Gazette]
- The difference between Montreal’s rebuild and those of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Vancouver Canucks is that Kent Hughes realized that the star players were only part of the solution. [Montreal Gazette]
- The Canadiens are building upon their league lead in blocked shots. [TVA Sports]
- Winning faceoffs helped give Montreal an edge in the win over the New York Rangers. [Radio-Canada]
- Montreal is fifth in the latest power rankings. [The Athletic]
- Kaiden Guhle and Phillip Danault took therapy days on Friday. [RDS]
- Vincent Riendeau has helped Montreal build up its goaltending prospect cupboard, and now seems set to take on a bigger challenge in the KHL. [TVA Sports]
Around the league and elsewhere
- Alex DeBrincat is doing his part to stop the Detroit Red Wings’ plummet. [NHL.com]
- The San Jose Sharks’ late-season push is raising Macklin Celebrini’s profile in Hart Trophy consideration. [NHL.com]
- The Edmonton Oilers are playing their best hockey of the season, aiming for a late run to a Pacific Division title. [NHL.com]
- Brady Tkachuk was fined $2500 for whacking Buffalo Sabres forward Beck Malenstyn in the face with his stick while sitting on the bench. [NHL.com]
- Damon Severson will miss the rest of the season after undergoing surgery for a shoulder injury sustained last week in Montreal. [NHL.com]
- Jack Hughes and Aerin Frankel threw out the first pitches ahead of the New York Yankees’ game on Friday. [NHL.com]
- The Toronto Maple Leafs have been officially eliminated from playoff contention. [NHL.com]
- Looking at every trade from Brad Treliving’s tenure. [Sportsnet]
