The Habs went 2-1-1 during the second week of December, and sit third in the Atlantic Division with a record of 17-11-4.
It started with another full-on embarrassment at home, a 6-1 beatdown courtesy of the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday. The Habs then took to the road, with Jacob Fowler getting his first NHL regular-season start against the Pittsburgh Penguins after the Habs hit the organizational panic button – calling up Fowler, Adam Engström and Owen Beck.
All three played in the 4-2 win on Thursday. Fowler got the start again on Saturday and watched his team collapse under the bright lights of Broadway. Welcome to the Habs hockey, Jacob!
On Sunday, the Habs capped off the week on a positive note, with a fairly decisive 4-1 win against the Edmonton Oilers. The best part of Sunday’s game? It started with goaltender Jakub Dobeš stealing three goals from the Oilers during a five-on-three early in the first. He was the first star of the game on Sunday, and the crowd showed him the love he deserved.
Montreal Canadiens’ Three Stars
Unsung hero: Alexandre Texier (4GP | 2G 1G 3P) 2G 1A
After I cut the honourable mention section I had written last week, we received a few comments asking for something in the same vein, clearly showcasing my poor instincts for the audience’s desires.
My pick might be surprising, but that’s the idea of an unsung hero. This week, Alexandre Texier was the offensive catalyst for his line every night. He’s been responsible for carrying Josh Anderson’s lack of offensive awareness and still managed to escape a single game with a negative plus/minus rating. Texier’s two points this week were both impact moments. His opening goal against the Penguins put the Habs in the driver’s seat early, and he was one of the few forwards who remembered how to play in the defensive zone in Saturday’s collapse against the Rangers.
He had a solid game against Pittsburgh, and scored an insurance goal against the Edmonton Oilers last night. After being waived by the St. Louis Blues earlier this year, he’s become a bright spot in the Habs’ bottom six.
Third Star: Jacob Fowler (2GP | 1-0-1, .894Sv%, 3.42GAA)
There isn’t too much to be said about Fowler’s impressive NHL debut against Pittsburgh that hasn’t already been said. He proved exactly why he’s one of the best goaltending prospects in the NHL. He’s calm, technical, and comfortable in his crease, and has fantastic situational awareness.
We saw the Habs employ a team-wide protection plan for Fowler against Pittsburgh, then leave him out to dry on Saturday against New York. Fowler didn’t steal any goals in the loss, but you’d be hard-pressed to lay the blame on his shoulders. The bounce-back performance will be interesting to see, but with Montreal running another three-goalie juggling routine, and Jakub Dobeš maybe finding his confidence, I can’t begin to theorize how Montreal will handle him.
Second Star: Nick Suzuki (4GP | 1G 3A 4P)
Nick Suzuki had a great week, it’s as simple as that. In Thursday’s win against Pittsburgh, Suzuki set the tone for his squad that they were playing for Fowler and put up a dominant two-way performance. He was consistent all week, and instead of Caufield, Suzuki was absolutely the offensive leader on the top line. It does seem as though Martin St-Louis is trying to limit Suzuki’s time on the penalty kill, most likely to avoid more injuries due to shot blocks. That being said, Suzuki looks healthier than he has since October.
First Star: Lane Hutson (4GP | 0G 6A 6P)
It was elite week for Lane Hutson. Sure, the points are about expected now, but Hutson is turning into a good rush-defender and is showing the potential to become a great one-on-one defender. He is starting to develop a calmness to his game, alleviating one of the most valid criticisms of his rookie campaign: his scrambly play. If you need any proof, Hutson took 16 penalties last year. He’s only taken one so far in 2025-26. He isn’t committing the stick infractions he was last year, because he’s no longer a half-step behind defensively.
With Quinn Hughes being moved, Hutson is the most skilled defenceman playing in Canada right now. He’s playing like a full-fledged star, frequently breaching the 25-minute mark and dominating the competition.
Laval Rocket player of the week
Alex Belzile (3GP | 0G 3A 3P)
For me, Alex Belzile needs to claim this award. I wouldn’t say anyone stood out like an all-star in Laval this week, but in my opinion Belzile was the Rocket’s most solid forward, along with Captain Condotta. Belzile earns the honour even though he was suspended for the last game and will be for the two this week as well for leaving the bench during an altercation.
Next up
The Canadiens will play four games again this week, with the same daily schedule they just completed. The Habs will host the Philadelphia Flyers, Chicago Blackhawks, and Penguins on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday before finishing the week with the second half of a home-and-home against Pittsburgh. All four of these games are winnable, and the Habs need some positive momentum to carry into the Christmas break.
