The Habs wrapped up their 2025 schedule with a trip to Florida to take on the defending champions. Florida scored twice in the third to take the lead but Montreal pushed back to force overtime where Nick Suzuki was the hero with the winner on the power play to give the Canadiens the 3-2 win.
It was a rare light week on the schedule for the Habs thanks to the holiday break. However, they made the most of their limited action, picking up three of four points including one of their better comebacks of the season.
Montreal pulled off a huge third-period comeback on Sunday to get the game to overtime. However, the Lightning scored on both their chances in the shootout while the Habs didn't, giving Tampa Bay the 5-4 victory.
The first half of the season was a solid one overall for the Habs. But things could still go a lot better yet, especially if they get some of the things on this holiday wishlist.
The 2026 World Junior Hockey Championship is set to run from December 26th through January 5th. The Habs are well-represented at the event with five prospects taking part. We'll keep track of their stats here.
While they added an NHL goalie in Samuel Montembeault, Laval was still down effectively their entire front line for their games in Cleveland. That lack of firepower was costly as the Rocket dropped both games.
Topics in our latest podcast include the Phillip Danault trade, Samuel Montembeault's struggles and what's next for him, and Juraj Slafkovsky's continued improvement as he helps to anchor the second line.
Montreal's save percentage is starting to tick up with Jacob Fowler's strong showing but that wasn't the only reason that the Habs have done better in recent weeks.
The Habs have signed one of their prospects from the draft back in June, announcing on Wednesday that they've signed defenceman Bryce Pickford to a three-year, entry-level contract.
The Habs had their last game before the holiday break in Boston, a place they hadn't won in for nearly six years. However, that streak is now snapped as Montreal potted four unanswered goals in the third to pick up the 6-2 win.
